TARRAGON & THYME

 On offer with the Book People at the following link £6 from £16.99 which WH Smith were selling it at.  Good buy. http://www.thebookpeople.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/qs_category_tbp?pageNumber=1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10051&langId=100&categoryId=48148 Have a good mosey if you follow the link as there are some lovely books at some very good prices.

As funds are short and I cannot always afford to buy what I would like each week (although I don't do  too badly in order to get a variety of things within my pantry I have decided to focus on one item per week (if I get more made it will be a bonus) but if I aim at least for one item I should be able to work my way through the considerable list of items I have decided to try this year.  Some are long standing recipes others are brand new that I have never tried before - but that is the beauty of preparing preserves for your own pantry you vary it according to your own tastes and the bonus being that you come up with something that is not commercially over produced and you know what has gone into it. My main aim believe it or not is to relax.  I lose myself in my own little world focusing on what I am doing, but its also  a time to dream especially if standing over a pan of bubbling chutney, gently stirring so that the contents do not stick as the liquid gradually ...

Evening everyone, its been a busy day here again.  Our lodger is staying another night i.e. the grandson, his granddad is keeping him entertained so that I can get on. I have prepared about 8 pints of sugar syrup for bottling various fruits and I have dealt with pears in syrup, clementines in syrup, apple and blackberries in syrup, have dried some more sage, done some more research, written a couple of new posts to follow shorty, fed Charlie (the cat who I am babysitting - there was no food left so think he or another cat is eating it), fussed Demetri (another stray cat who has gone partly ferrel he used to live next door until his owners moved and he found his way back I am hoping to reunite him with his original owners shorty); he tends to come to me for a fuss and turns his nose up if I offer food - he hasn't much weight on him at all and I am concerned about him being out in bad weather especially if it is as cold as last year - he usually comes to me for a  bit of a fuss...

Well it's been busy and I have only just sat down.  Been on the go all day doing various things.  We have a lodger overnight - the grandson has arrived and been eating us out of house and home, and he keeps popping down to see if I am okay.  He is playing games on the upstairs computer with his Granddad. We have had a rib of roast beef for tea with roast potatoes mashed potatoes, peas, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, yorkshire puddings and it was scrummy.  We have had a lot of chicken in the past few weeks and for once decided to have a change. Here is the roast just after being put in the oven.  I chopped a couple of sticks of celery and carrot and also an onion and popped some water in the base to keep it moist as this is the base of the gravy stock the rib was then popped on top and a tin foil roof put on and cooked for the first hour in this way I then take the foil off and continue cooking. Half way through cooking The Roasties Prep...

I suppose really bottling and preserving of any sort is one of my passions alongside anything to do with food of any type.  I started preserving in my own right when I first got married at the tender age of 19 years (quite a few years ago!). If I remember rightly it started with a passion for home made pickled onions and apple chutney. My journey into preserving was. in many respects a continuation of a process that had been going on year in year out since I was knee high to a gnat.  A task that marked the passing of time and of the different seasons.  There was a choice, to live well or live not so well and my grandparents  out of necessity working the land meant that the food they had was good and unadulterated and that they fed their family well (and others) during difficult times. We used to mark the seasons by the different activities and indeed we used to look forward to them as it was a way of celebrating the seasons and a time when we worked as a family i...

At the beginning of the month. I experimented with making some Lemon Vinegar Cleaner  - as per this post here http://tarragonnthyme.blogspot.com/2011/08/20110806-my-day.html  and the link on how to make it courtesy of Just Like My Nan Made.  The first jar is ready to use and I must say I am very impressed with this.  I was worried that the house was going to smell of vinegar, but no such thing, just citrusy - and fresh.  I have used some to clean the cooker - it is an excellent degreaser and also some in boiling water to wash my dressers down and I am very pleased.  It also works well in the bathroom. So thank you Nelly Mary for sharing.  I am really well chuffed with this so much so it is going to feature regularly on my cleaning itinerary.   There is nothing nicer than a clean fresh smelling home.  It  is pleasing that something so simple can really be so effective.  So much so it has inspired me to have a go at some other r...

Its been a busy one.  I was up early and pottering about, took a leisurely pace, had a couple of cups of tea, read some articles, waited for someone to call at the house before we departed to go on the monthly stock up.  No supermarket involved here. First of all we took Missy for a quick run and also to see whether there were any more puffballs.  There wasn'tone in sight, but then again we have been picking early and we think that the weather may have been too dry for many to develop; now the weather is getting more autumny we may have more luck.  The season and the month are all out of kilter at the moment, Victoria plums are early, everything seems earlier than usual, makes me wonder whether we are going to have yet another very bad winter.  I hope not as the past two have been bad enough, but I am stocking up here and there as I can so that we have plenty to eat.  With the weather going all autumny on us I am starting to think of cooking more substanti...

Its that time of year again when all the produce is coming in and you end up trying to get it all processed and saved as fast as you can.  The farmers are bringing in the grain large hay stacks are starting to rise in the fields and there are plenty of wild fruits in the hedgerow.  An abundance of things of which to take advantage of and get the pantry stock-piled a way of getting through until the next time of abundance and making sure you and yours are fed.  I have a lot to do as usual and hope to get the following done eventually some of which will be processed within hours some within days whereas others can wait until a little later.  The most pressing matters being those where I have the fresh fruits like the pears and the blackberries  and the plums and want to use them at their optimum freshness.   They are not in any specific order, just as they came to me.  Perhaps being a tad over ambitious as usual but there we go thats me a typical Taurean...

Its been a busy day at work and then me flying off to see the physiotherapist.  She is pleased with me and I have some more exercises to work on to try and get some more movement in my core muscles.  I have to carry on with the exercises I was given which includes the aptly named "Tom Jones" which are pelvic thrusts, (if you get my drift) Knee Hugs and slouch over correct which straightens the back out to its correct position. There are also two more exercises to add to the regime. These include double bum tucks, single bum tucks just one cheek at a time (you want to try this not as easy as it sounds) and also more pelvic floor muscle work, where I have to do  5 repetitions twice a day with a minimum hold of three breath cycles.  The aim of this exercise is not to be tough but to have an element of relaxation as this will make the muscles work much more efficiently.  This time the exercises are on my back though - I need to work on this one as this is where I am...

Its been a busy day today at work and at home and I am shattered.  Its been hectic since I got in, I cooked tea -we had the Hawaain Chicken  for which the recipe is here http://tarragonnthyme.blogspot.com/2009/01/hawaain-chicken.html  and this is what it looks like And it was very tasty.  All done within an hour of coming home, with the rice being done in the microwave. I have spoken to my mum and she is keeping well Have some tidying to do now (the washing up) and some more washing to do - never seems enough time during the week to really do the things I would like to do, thats why I end up going a bit mad at the weeken. Will pop back if I can Hope everyone is okay take care Pattypan xx

I had a lay in today  - such wicked luxury and apparently I missed a thunder and lightning storm.  Needless to say this morning started off grey and I couldn't decide whether I was hot cold or indifferent.  So I popped my sweatshirt on as I felt a tad chilly and got outside and it was warm.  We went and walked the dog - I didn't get to forage OH was in a hurry, but I did have a good look around and I think I will be going one night in the week again (didn't get last week) as operation book case was on the cards and finding his toolkit which is dotted in different places around the house proved something of a problem, but it got done the book case has been fixed and I then spent some considerable time -restocking the books.  Phew we have a floor again.  Now just have to get the rest of the room sorted but at least all the books have been rearranged.  I thought I would show you some photos of what I have been talking about - these are only part...

The first time I made this I was highly suspicious - I am not keen on anything too hot on the chilli front, not being too keen on chilli but this is a delight and really peps up a cheese sandwich and is also good with cold meats, and also a good cheeseboard.  Since I made it however it has been a regular recipe that I make every year. Be careful when handling chillis they can burn other parts of your body if you just handle them and then wipe your eyes for instance.  Needless to say this one was learnt the hard way - so I would advise caution - I always wear a pair of disposable latex gloves to handle the chillis. Ingredients 1lb red capsicum peppers 4oz red chillis I use the long thin red chillis 1 1/4 cups white vinegar 2lb sugar 1 cup light packed soft brown sugar Method: Remove the seeds and membrane from the peppers and chilli. Cut the pepper into large flattish pieces and cook skin side up under a hot grill until the skin blackens and blisters.  Whilst...

The weather started off really sunny here today - a perfect washing day and I got a wriggle on and was up early to take advantage of this natural drying weather.  Sadly it has now come over cloudy and grey and the sun has done a disappearing act.  But at least I got some of my washing done. Hopefully will get it finished off tomorrow. I have managed to do two roasting pans full of tomatoes in readiness for another batch of passata; trouble was I couldn't find my bottles - but hey alls well that ends well I have more than I thought I had and have been able to put my mother's old kilner jars into service again as some Liefeheit metal seals and rings that I had already fit perfectly which I am pleased about.  I have two jars that seem to have a larger seal so I am going to look into getting some seals and rings for these too.  I use a lot of the tomato sauce for pasta which we tend to have every week so every time I can bung up a couple of extra jars it always helps....

At the moment I have several friends  whose loved ones are ill or relatives who are not too clever at the moment.  If you get a spare few moments to yourself will you please . put up a prayer for them and others who need the comfort and strength of prayer at a difficult time.  Sometimes it is a transition from one situation to another - sometimes it is more difficult and sadder than that.  But the power of prayer can be a positive thing and it is an outpouring of pure love, setting a true intent but helping others along the way which is always a good thing as it is straight from the heart the best kind of medicine. Thank you for sharing your love Pattypan xx

Well I had my appointment at the General Outpatients Department at the hospital this morning and all went well.  During the endoscopy they took a biopsy to check for a nasty bacteria and the results have come back clear.  It would seem that they caught me in time - there was a lot of inflammation in the oesphagus primarily caused by the hiatus hernia and too much acid production and the medication is working well.  My mother has a hiatus hernia and it would seem that I have followed suit and am on the same medication as her. I am going to be on this for life now, and the Consultant has told me that in about four months I may be able to reduce the medication to one 20 mg tablet per day rather than the twice I am currently on.   In that time frame So alls well that ends well - I have now been officially discharged re the tummy problem.  I am greatly relieved, now have to get the rest of the problems resolved in a similar way.  I am quietly very chuffed upward...

I have quite a bit of mending work to do as various outfits need a little touch up here and there.  I have a few cotton summer skirts of the ethnic variety that are really lovely to wear but the elastic always goes well saggy after a couple of washes.  There's nothing wrong with the material or skirt itself but when the skirts were made they were given the deep elastic which is stitched in and I have therefore got to manage to re-route some elastic to tighten the waistbands up.  It doesn't help that I have lost inches off my waist too.  I don't at present have the funds to replace them, so its make do and mend time. I have several skirts of this ilk to prepare - I have some elastic already but I think I may have to go and get some more as I don't think I am going to have enough to complete them all.  After all money is tight and you have to make the most of what you have at the present and besides another outfit is another outfit. I also have a couple of pairs...

Just a quick pop in just to make sure everyone is okay.  Its getting very back endish again more autumn than summer.  Its been chilly here this evening and I have popped one of my thick sweatshirts bought from the West Country as it has gone more than a tad chilly -  at this rate I will soon be back in my thermals.  What a mixed up weather year we have had this year so far. I have the hospital again tomorrow - I don't know its all appointments at the minute.  Last Thursday I had the physiotherapist who has given me some exercises for my back and my feet.  Tomorrow I am back at the General Outpatients Clinic for the follow up on the Endoscopy and how the medication for the hiatus hernia is working - must say am a lot more comfortable these days.  Next Thursday I have the Physio again - it would appear I have to go every couple of weeks  to start with.  On the 21 September I have to go to Rehabiltiation Clinic to be measured for shoe inserts a...

I was sent this, by a friend this evening, and although seeing the funny side it is rather thought provoking as it is true  - we didn't have the green thing back then, but we did other things instead.  The Green Thing     In the line at the store, the cashier told an older woman that she  should bring her own grocery bags because plastic bags weren't  good for the environment.  The woman apologized to him and explained, "We didn't have the green thing back in my day." The clerk responded, " That's our problem today.  Your generation did not care enough to save our environment." He was right -- our generation didn't have the green thing in its day. Back then, we returned milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over.  So they really were recycled. But we didn't have the green th...

Sorry just a quick pop in as have sat down after humping books around.  I have had the books in and out the bookshelves quite a lot recently and not managed to get them back where they should be - I have therefore been - restocking the shelves to try and get the best out of the limited room available.  They have just got to fit!  I love my books and use them regularly and as I have said am trying to restore law and order to them - then when I am in a hurry I may just well be able to find what I am looking for.    I may not be entirely successful as I have been trying to order them by subject but I only have a few larger shelves for the taller books to slip into so may have to do some re-ackifurbitation!  Whilst I am tapping away at the keyboard my faithful Squeak is laid like a dog at my feet (this is the cat) whereas Missy my canine friend is sat on the settee - don't go there I think the roles have got confused somewhere along the line.  Anyway ...

Its been a good day, but as usual has gone far too quickly! Following on from this morning I have been making chutney a Pineapple Coriander and Lime Relish and a Hot Hedgerow Chutney.  We went for the second time foraging down the riverbank and I picked over 1kg of blackberries which I have used in the chutney.  The next batch of blackberries will be for some more blackberry and apple jam, and I also want to make some bramble jelly,probably a couple of lots.  Then anymore will be frozen or bottled for puddings during the winter months.   The Pineapple Relish The Hot Hedgerow Chutney I also picked some elderberries  so I may do some elderberry jelly - didn't get lots but enough to fiddle around with the berries are just starting to turn purple and hang their heads with their weight.  I am trying to make the best use of what is around.  OH has agreed to take me again during the week.  I love all this squirrelling away and putting thing...

I have been playing in the kitchen today - and have made a batch of Pineapple, Coriander and Lime Relish.  And so far from the little tastes I have had its going to be a winner.  The only thing I would say that is if you are not keen on chilli only use part of the amount in the recipe.  The recipe is taken from Ghillie James' Jam Jelly and Relish ISBN 9787-1-85626-909-4 originally £16.99 but I located mine for a fiver.   I  really like the recipes from this book and the suggested uses too.  Brilliant. The author indicates that this is a relish that will complement both fish and chicken dishes. Makes about 1 litre - keeps for about 6 months (might be worth making a double batch) 1 large pineapple peeled and cut into medium sized chunks 2 red onions peeled and chopped 5cm piece of fresh root ginger peeled and finely chopped 2 long red chillis deseeded and chopped 2 large garlic cloves peeled and sliced 1 small bunch fresh coriander stems and l...

Its quiet just me, Squeak and Missy plottering around.  OH still upstairs asleep.  I am enjoying the silence of the house whilst I sip my first hot drink of the day.  I am tired but today is not a day for lying in - I have lots to do and so little time to do it.  I sit planning what I need to do during the course of the day due to my absence yesterday.  Some foraging is on the cards too. The washing machine is loaded and whirring round and round so there will be a steady stream of washing going out onto the line throughout the day.  The sun is out the weather is good must make the most of it getting the washing dry without having to turn on the tumble drier and so use precious electric. I have further preserves to make but I have started off with a gentle job.  I put a big bunch of fresh sage up to dry a couple of weeks ago.  This morning in the stillness and the quietness of the house was the perfect time to sit and gently rub the dried leave...

Today has not been a normal Saturday in the life of Pattypan.  There has been no visit to the vegetable shop, in fact I was at my destination for 9.30 a.m. ready and roaring to go. Today I have been helping my friend Jackie and our other friend Linda on a beginners to mediumship workshop and they have been a fantastic group.  It has been lovely to meet so many new faces too.  There is nothing more rewarding than a beginners class and to work with spirit; many go on to follow through and sometimes we don't see them for months and then when we do its lovely to see that they have come on in leaps and bounds.Quite  a lot of today's group have a basis in Reiki like myself.  Its a joy to work with spirit and it has been a joy for many of today's trainees to give their first tentative messages and then be absolutely gob-smacked when their information has been accepted and proved to be right.  Many of today's people come from all different walks of life and only ...

Well its been a tad hectic today to say the least, haven't had a moment to stop until now.  Its been bery busy at work and I left the office early today as my appointment came through from the physiotherapist.  I worked through my lunch hour because things were so manic we have lawyers going on holiday - some were working evening shift and I have been the only secretary in as the other secretary who works part time is on two weeks holiday and there were and have been tight deadlines on specific pieces of work and hearings to prepare for.  Fortunately I have had some help from some of the secretaries upstairs which has helped a lot. I left on time, but will have a very busy day again tomorrow.   I attended the appointment with the physiotherapist and came away with some simple exercises that I can do throughout the day to help start to build on the core muscles to strengthen them.  It would also seem that I have gone flat footed as a result of not walking ...