TARRAGON & THYME

Many people wish to get hold of fresh yeast from time to time. I have been lucky up until now, but had problems getting hold of this as the store I get it from had run out. I also think they may be selling up in the not too distant future, so it may well be I will be utilising this link myself too. By chance I found this link the other day for those of you wishing to obtain a supply of fresh yeast for breadmaking . You can keep this in the fridge, but I would suggest freezing the same in ready portions to maximise your usage and expense. It works out at £4.77 for a 500 g block. This link also shows various other different yeasts some of which are suitable for wine and beer making. I hope that this is of assistance to you all The link is http://amazon.co.uk Then on the search facility type in: Kitchen & Home then type in yeast. Hope this helps Pattypan xx

There are a few things that I would like to get done this week, although I don't want to over-extend myself at all, so we will start small and if I manage to get these done then at least will have an opportunity to add some more to the list. Make the Seville Orange Marmalade. Make Lemon Marmalade. Make Pumpkin Marmalade Do the ironing [part done 25.01.10] Make the crab apple and cranberry jelly (frozen cranberries) Knit at least another square for the knitted throw/blanket. [started] Pot up the Amaryllis kit I was bought for Christmas. Pot up the Paper Whites kit that I was bought for Christmas. Start off a fresh ginger beer kit. [done 25.01.10] Cut some more strips for my denim clippie rug. Pheasant Casserole for tomorrow night (was still frozen tonight) Did this last night before I went to bed - got it on the go. Added, home dried mushrooms, leeks, carrots, peas, the remains of the gravy from Sunday lunch, mixed herbs, teaspoon of marmite, thyme, parsnip, marigold vegetable pow...

Its been quite a leisurely day today, nothing to strenuous, more washing and drying done - have the ironing to do tomorrow night. After making a start on organising some of my seeds into plastic sleeves for my Lever Arch folder we sat and watched a biography programme on Mark Knoppfler. OH and I both like his music a lot. It was quite apt actually as I had bought OH his latest single as part of his Christmas present and it turned out a couple of the songs played were actually on the album which I had bought him. After that finished we sat and listened to the CD. It was extremely good. Really shows the influence of Folk and other types of music on his life. It was a case of one man and his dog after that. I then de-frocked the freezer of some items for tea. I took out some lamb chops, carrots,cauliflower, a pheasant, some red cabbage, some pumpkin, some French Pate, and some plums, all for use either today or for the next couple of meals during the week. I always make my own mint jelly...

I am currently trying to organise load of bits and bobs into a Lever Arch file(s) in order of month. I have put dividers in From January to December and any snippets of information relevant for an individual month including recipes, food in season, wild fruits and offerings in season, gardening bits and bobs, winemaking, beer making etc. etc.is being put under the relevant section. Well thats the plan, sort an extension of my diary really but very much work in progress. Will be sort of a check list of what I can actually do that month, but whether I actully do it is open to the vagaries of life and of course whether I can afford to do it or not. I thought that I would take this strategy a step further and try and organise my seed collection, which currently has no rhyme or reason to it, and is just shoved in a box. I therefore thought that I would put the relevant seed packets into plastic sleeves under the relevant months. Where there are a couple of months where the seeds can be...

Its been cold again, very cold, and after the period of snow, its nice to see a bit of sunshine now and again, but today alas was not one of them, its been cold and grey and last night it chucked it down with rain. Its weather like this that tends to make my arthritis flare up - and for this past fortnight I haven't been too bad, so will just have to keep myself warm. If I go cold - I find it very difficult to warm up again. Its been a long old week and I still have the remains of the dreadful cold bug that has been tooing and froing in our neighbourhood, but I am a lot better than I was. However it has left me very tired, so I haven't done very much today apart from pottering around doing housewifely chores, i.e. the washing machine has been whirring away, load after load, closely followed by the tumble drier. Now it is fixed it is working much more efficiently at drying its contents. I managed to watch a programme I had recorded during the week, My Dream Farm with Monty D...

A message for Blakefawc You seem to have posted a message to me - unfortunately I have been unable to read it. If you would please like to try again - I was having problems with blogger yesterday evening so this might be the reason for me not being able to read the message. Thank you Pattypan

I am so sorry to have been away from my blog for a little while I have had a most horrid cold which I still haven't shifted, I have had two colds in the space of a fortnight and a half, both stinkers, the second one being a lot worse than the other. I spent two days asleep in bed off work and then went back, really before I should have done, but I am hoping am experiencing the tail end of it. Fingers crossed toes plaited. But having colds piggy back as I have has left me feeling very drained and tired and as a result I have had a few early nights to try and get myself recharged. As I tend to loiter on my blog later at night - something has had to give in order for me to rechage. To make matters worse I have been going spare as my mum was re-admitted to hospital on Thursday and I haven't been able to go anywhere near her which has driven me absolutely crackers and I only live at the end of the road. My lovely brother though has been going to visit her and has been keeping me...

Its been a quiet day here in Peterborough today, nothing much doing, no hurry to do anything but just chill for a short while. Most of the snow has melted again, although it is extremely cold out at the moment. Have got most of the washing done, and dried now that my tumbly drier is working again, so nice clean clothes again. I sat down for a little while this afternoon as wanted to look through a couple of books at recipes and also a couple of books that I have had for a while. Wasn't able to get the veg for dinner today from our Greengrocer, we think they have had the weather really bad, living out in the fen but they didn't put in an appearance, and quite frankly I cannot blame them. We took Missy for a walk down by the river again tonight,and let her blow off some steam; everytime she heard something she yapped, big brave pup that she is. We had her on the lead to start with but then let her off for a while and she kept moving off a little way and then coming back to eith...

Yesterday we more or less got rid of all the snow; it started with a small heavy snow shower early evening quick heavy and silent and then it stopped. However, it was extremely cold. So cold I kept the heating on overnight, as this house is a cold house in any event and despite us having thick quilts on top of the duvet and my hottie bottie I still get very cold; and I didn't want the animals to be cold, bit soft really, but it has paid off becuase the house has been nice and snug most of the day. I had to get up early morning about 3.30 a.m. and we had had tons of snow at least 2 to 3 inches, a proper winter wonderland with the dustbins wearing white top hats. The quietness at that time of morning, especially with the snow falling is eerie as the snow muffles any natural sounds. We have had one or two more flurries since then, although the through roads are remarkably clear the local Council have done a good job on them. Well we took Missy out for a little while this evening, bei...

Hello I'm Missy Well we have only had her one day so far and she fits in just fine. At the moment she is currently snuggled up on a quilt next to other half fast asleep. You have had a busy day little girl. Tyson is not a happy bunny - well for the best part he is a grumpy old man, and he has clipped Missy across her snout this afternoon which really upset her. Bless her she went in heart and soul tail swishing backwards and forwards as the household that she came from had cats and Tyson just clipped her. She was just being fussy and curious and in happy to meet you mode. He knew he had done wrong because he went and sat on the bottom of the stairs waiting for me to go to him and when I did he bit me! Give it a bit of time he usually comes round eventually. The Culprit We had a better introduction with Squeak Missy and her touched Noses and sniffed and although her tail puffed up a bit she seemed more accepting of Missy. Squeak was just as nervous as Missy. Most of the day she has ...

There has been a long tradition on both side's of my family for handicrafts, dressmaking, crafts etc. In fact one Great Great Aunt (My mum's Great Aunt Sue) was a Tayloress by profession and my Great Aunt Ivy on my Dad's side of the family always was doing something, but she made the most beautiful crotchet mats; one set which she made for my Nan was a set of graduated mats with pansies crotcheted on to them. I have these mats somewhere as I inherited them from my Nan as I had always admired them. This was one of the reasons why I wanted to learn to crotchet in the first place. As a result since I was a youngster I been able to crotchet in a fashion, (never quite like Aunt Ivy) although I encompassed an odd way of doing it to start with - more like finger knitting. However when I went to college every Wednesday afternoon was a recreational afternoon with a three hour period of either crafts, sport or cooking. I chose to do crafts and the teacher who saw me and my efforts p...

Well it was another busy day at work today and another cold day. We had several flurries of snow which were quite heavy and then magically they disappeared the sun came out, melted all the snow and we were virtually snow free to all intents and purposes. We had to nip to the animal feed store which is nearby where I work - just to get some more cat food to keep the moggies happy. I ended up looking around the store at the animals they had there which is fatal. Fortunately we came away without anything apart from a number to ring for my OH. Equally dangerous. When I got home, my tumbly drier was fixed so I was really pleased to be able to get on with the washing pile that had accumulated during the week. There has been more washing these past few weeks as I and my partner have been wrapping up with extra layers of clothes to keep ourselves warm and we both have fresh clothing every day. That number was rung, which sounded promising and we then had a journey to Ramsey out in the fen...

Working full time I rely quite heavily on my washing machine and tumble drier (well in the winter months) to keep me in lovely clean dried clothes. Well that's my normal expectation, but during the spring and summer months I use my washing line. The other evening I put a load on to dry and went back about 5 times to it not realising there was a problem and my washing was still shall we say slightly damp. Mentioned it to OH who made investigations and then could not decide what the problem was - I told him straight away no heat thought the thermostat had gone (well I am an Engineer's daughter). Tonight it decides to take it to pieces and then says I don't think its the thermostat that looks intact. I think you had better have a word with your brother! (Tumble drier was orignally my brother's and when he upgraded he gave me this one he is a very good brother) Therefore two telephone calls later Brother to rescue. Told OH what he needed to do and yes the thermostat ...

Okay I have succumbed to having toasty toes rather than frozen ones. Yes I have bought the hot water bottles out of retirement - not something you tell everyone is it that you have a hottie bottie lurking in the cupboard, let alone two, now literally warming up my bed. OH is not impressed, but then he does not have arthritis, raynauds syndrome etc. and he objects quite vociferously if I dare to stick my cold feet on the back of his legs. Well it's what I thought they were for! !I'm very naughty Ok you are saying it is not strictly cool and it my affect my street cred (not that it is high profile anyway) but I would rather have my hottie botties to keep me snug and warm than freeze. I think I have an old stone one somewhere as well. Now I think I could make them a little more glamourous think I have some crazy cover patterns somewhere. Now that might be an idea for a present or two later on in the year. Pink Fluffy ones quite appeal! Now where was that sewing machine.

Today January 6th is my blog's birthday. It is exactly a year since I launched myself into the world of blogging (and I wondered what the heck I was getting myself into) and I've learned a lot, but what I didn't expect was how much I have enjoyed doing it and for all of the friendships I have made along the way and for what I have myself learned. Thank you very much for your support, feedback and friendship it means a lot to me, and to top all that I have had over 10,000 hits within that period. Here's to the next year. Thank you all so much pattypan xx

Well it was a tad difficult first thing. OH hasn't used our only mode of transport for about four days and had it parked off road at a friend's house because the tax needed renewing, [we don't have any parking] which he has subsequently dealt with. Went to start the van which was caked up with thick ice, found that he had a flat tyre, and then the van wouldn't fire up, so he rang me and said that I would have to walk to work otherwise wasn't going to get there. Got myself kitted up in my walking gear just got out of the house and fort knox all locked up and he had managed to intercept me to let me know that he had managed to get the van going and the tyre pumped up so I did get a lift into work after all. Whilst taking me to work, OH realised that he had left his phone in the house and would have to go back for it. Then he dropped me at work - I realised I couldn't get in and had to go through Reception to borrow an electronic fob which allows me to go ab...

It has been another quiet day here - it makes a change to actually get to relax rather than chasing around trying to catch my tail, so I am enjoying and trying not to feel guilty. Yesterdays snow, after falling quite hard after about an hour disappeared and we had no more snow fall, but the temperatures fell round here last night and it was quite slippy this morning. In fact I am not quite sure whether the temperature has increased or not today. I went out to the dustbin this afternoon at about 3 p.m/. and had to tug at it the lid as it was frozen solid. Even the tops of the lids were rhimed up. We are very lucky compared to other areas of the country. This winter to me is very reminiscent of what the winters were like when I was a child, growing up. In particular I remember the winter of 1963 where there were deep snow drifts and roads blocked off. What I do find incredible though is that despite the roads being salted the pavements in this region never are. This is where the most dam...

It has been a quiet relatively lazy day here at chez pattypan today. True to my word last night I started to continue with a long term piece of craft work i.e. a knitted blanket/rug that I started last year. I am working it in different shades of lilac and white. I had some wool available and it was easy to get at, so I continued knitting into the quiet of the night apart from the clickety click of my needles. I was subsequently late to bed as I lost track of the time. Working and concentrating on my knitted square losing myself in my thoughts and the repetivive rythm of the needles and the wool. Needless to say I wasn't up early and I was watching the television and the weather forecast (I nearly put knitting forecast!) and was just remarking upon the fact that there seems to a lot of snow about again. I literally turned from the television and looked out of the window and this scene greeted me. Within the course of ten minutes quite a bit of snow had f...

January - according to the books (I am only a novice gardener so don't really know) is the ideal time to plant: Jerusalam Artichokes Rhubarb Blackberries Blackcurrants Blueberries Gooseberries Loganberries Raspberries Red and white currants

Just some ideas as to what to make for the Pantry this month or as I call it the "Putdown". They are just ideas - some of them I will achieve other's I won't but its good to have a check list as a reminder as what is potentially open to you to have a go at this month. This is just my list - it is very much work in progress and no doubt will be added to in due course. Just because Christmas is over doesn't mean to say that there isn't work to be done i.e. squirrelling away a few pots of this or that to ensure that there is something interesting to put on your family's table, and some items are seasonal like Seville Oranges and its nice to have a few jars of this available to give as presents and/or the basic ingredients to hand to make a batch of marmalade etc when you do have time to play. I have had bought Seville Marmalade but there is nothing quite like home made Seville Marmalade that really is a treat for the palate. Sometimes ingredients come your ...

This is just a list of the items that are potentially available during January - Some items are at their best others readily available. If you have access to a good vegetable market and/or meat/fish market or Butcher it will help you choose what you cook for your family - our Fish/Meat Market in Peterborough is very reasonable price wise and they also cater for the mixed community in Peterborough so you do tend to get some unusual things. I noticed when I was in there the other day that they had dried salt cod avaialable and half a pigs head/full pigs head, oxtails, fillets etc. I bought a load of pigs liver for making pate from here quite cheaply. With regard to vegetables if you can afford it is worth investing in a vegetable box scheme or alternatively if you don't have a market it might be worth making friends with an allotment owner or better still having a go yourself. It will bring you all kinds of new experiences and lots of friends. SO WHATS IN SEASON THIS MONTH - HERE...

Not resolutions as such but a list of things that I need to get done and/or achieve during this New Year. I need to buy some heavy duty fabric to make a door curtain for the back door together with a wind stopper for the bottom of the door to keep out the draughts. I already have the curtain track and the curtain tape and pad for the wind stopper. I am intending to try and use up a lot of the bits I already have in-house rather than going out and just buying (which I cannot afford to do I can only window shop). I have kits that I have started and then put to one side and I have other brand new kits that I haven't even started. I have various knitting on the go as well. I am seriously looking forward to having a go at playing with different crafts this coming year. This list is just the first draft no doubt I will add to it as I go along: Start making Christmas presents/cards now for next year. My friend Margaret really impressed me with the little cross stitch card she made for m...