What a wonderful post, Ilva ... I'm a supporter of slow food, but not a joiner, either. I think there's a spiritual dimension to cooking - dishing up love as well as food ...

All that, and then the recipe ... I'd never thought of using brown sugar in lemon curd - brilliant; or using rosemary - delicious ...

Thank you for sharing
Joanna
joannasfood.blogspot.com
Joanna Cary | Homepage | 05.21.07 - 12:06 pm | #

All I did was reading the words LEMON + CURD (duty calling here).
I am hooked. I am addicted to those two words (only KEY LIME can top these two).
If I am good til evening, I shall try to read your recipe and cook my own cord.
Mille grazie (and no thanks to my fridge, no more lemon yogurts *rats*).
Merisi's Vienna | Homepage | 05.21.07 - 12:25 pm | #

I love lemons and I have been looking for a good lemon curd recipe!! Yum.
Sara, Ms. Adventures in Italy | Homepage | 05.21.07 - 12:28 pm | #

Ilva, you're writing real essays nowadays, not just food blog posts
My rosemary plant is way too small at the moment, so this recipe will have to wait. My lemon balm, on the other hand, is quite large, and I was thinking about you last night when taking care of that herb yesterday. I remembered you like lemon balm a lot..
Pille | Homepage | 05.21.07 - 12:39 pm | #

Thank you for that link Ilva. That article was very interesting. I've never even eaten lemon curd. It looks delicious though!
Sally | Homepage | 05.21.07 - 2:24 pm | #

Hey Ilva - I'm sending this to my mum, as she makes delicious Lemon curd, and Orange curd too, so hopefully she may make me some of this... hmmmmmm
Roo | 05.21.07 - 3:46 pm | #

I haven't experimented nearly enough with herbs in sweets. I once had a really nice lemon tart with rosemary at a restaurant though and I don't know why I've never tried to recreate it.
brilynn | Homepage | 05.21.07 - 4:14 pm | #

Ilva, I would never have imagined adding rosemary to lemon curd...

Your photos are always so stunning!
Patricia Scarpin | Homepage | 05.21.07 - 5:11 pm | #

That's an unusual way of flavoring lemon curd! I love this idea and will have to test this gorgeous association of flavors...
Rosa | Homepage | 05.21.07 - 8:36 pm | #

I decided to bake, to wind down from work, and made lemon bars, inspired by your curd recipe. Not having fresh rosemary, I added fresh gingerroot juice (grated the root on this little wonder grater from Alessi, I also zested the lemon with it).
If you would like to come over tomorrow for some Eary Grey with lemon bars, I will gladly share with you, as a little thank you for a relaxing evening activity.
Merisi's Vienna | Homepage | 05.21.07 - 8:41 pm | #

That combination sounds very interesting Ilva, I make many bottles of curd to sell so will definitely start trying out brave new flavours such as this one, and maybe lavender as well. They do go well together i believe. Thank you for inspiring me once again.
Colleen in South Africa | 05.21.07 - 10:18 pm | #

what a beautiful fusion of ingredients..
Jann | Homepage | 05.22.07 - 4:01 am | #

joanna-Good to hear, let+s go slowly!

Merisi-well, you are like some sort of bomb, you just need a little to go off! A post about something you like and there you go, straight into your kitchen!

Sara-lemons are so gooooood!

Pille-My lemon balm grows wild in the garden nowadays, it smells great when I mow the lawn! So I bet I will be thinking about you next time I see any!

Sally-Try it!

Roo-I bet your mother already has her own perfect recipe for her curd! But thanks, it's a great compliment!

Brilynn-so it's time you start to experiment with herbs!

Patricia-Thank you, sweetie!

Rosa-something for your Sunday breakfast/brunch maybe? I lost your email so I tell you here that I can't participate because I don't eat breakfast or brunch...

Colleen-I'm happy to hear that! Please tell me if your customers like it if you ever make and sell any!

Jann-thanks a lot!
ilva | Homepage | 05.22.07 - 9:52 am | #

I did it for relaxation purposes (is there anything more relaxing than cooking when you don't have to??)!
And then, right in the middle of it, I got a call, which put me instantly in utter stress, and the kitchen was left a mess the whole night.
Still, I enjoyed the quiet cooking while it lastet. ))
Merisi's Vienna | Homepage | 05.22.07 - 1:01 pm | #

Am slow in posting, but made your Rosemary Lemon Curd recipe yesterday. Turned out Beautiful! and of course,YUMMY! I have a picture of my finished product and a link to your site for recipe. I think that it's my new comfort food! Loved it warm!
Cynthia | Homepage | 05.22.07 - 1:32 pm | #

Love the savory bit of rosemary amid the curd ...
Alanna | Homepage | 05.22.07 - 1:46 pm | #

i made some lemon curd last night too...my daughter wants to have tea and scones on her day off thursday.
cindy | Homepage | 05.22.07 - 5:52 pm | #

merisi-good!

Cynthia-Great! And you are right, it's a perfect comfort food!

Alanna-chewy and nice...

cindy-wow, lemon curd all over the blogosphere!
ilva | Homepage | 05.23.07 - 5:45 pm | #

Hi Ilva -
Your comment about the "time, care and energy put into their making" couldn't be more true. I made a pesto last night entirely with my sharp knife on my cutting board, and it was 10 times better than any processor-pesto I've ever had.
And as a general comment, your blog is one of the most beautiful I've seen. Your photography is amazing, your recipes are so simple yet inspiring, and your writing is...can't think of one word for it...readable, comforting, friendly. If you published a book, I'd definitely buy it!
Vicki | 05.24.07 - 5:47 am | #

Vicki-oh, I'm blushing down to my toes! Thanks a lot for those words!
ilva | Homepage | 05.24.07 - 9:26 am | #

Brava, Ilva! Pat Fusco and I live within a few miles of each other, so I'm especially proud to see that she has featured your cooking.
cookiecrumb | Homepage | 05.30.07 - 4:34 am | #

cookiecrumb-Thanks! It feels strange to 'appear' in a paper so far away!
ilva | Homepage | 05.30.07 - 4:06 pm | #