madbaker | A failed chocolate souffle makes an attractive beret.

I bought a basket of elderberries at the farmers' market because, well, they were there. And because I played Teddy in Arsenic & Old Lace.

I'd never cooked with them before, but I thought I'd make elderberry jam. I've made lots of jam over the years, so this shouldn't be any different, right?

...apparently elderberries sweeten up dramatically when they are cooked. I wound up with half a jar of sticky elderberry sludge, I mean syrup. It should still taste good over ice cream or on pancakes, though.

Dawn and I saw a red-tail hawk soaring low over our yard today, shrieking and (presumably) looking for food. Keep your cats indoors! Pretty cool - we're not in downtown San Francisco, but I still didn't expect to see one here.