TARRAGON & THYME

Yep I still intend to make more Marmalade.  I obtained more Seville Oranges at the weekend; this time for a batch of Ginger Marmalade.  I am very partial to Ginger in all it's variants so for me finding this recipe kinda kills two birds with one stone The recipe makes about 10lb in weight Ingredients 1 1/2 lbs/750g Oranges; sweet or Seville Oranges 1lb/500g lemons 1oz/25g fresh root ginger peeled and chopped 6 pints/3 1/2 litres of water 6lb/2 3/4 kg of Sugar 8oz/225g preserved ginger finely chopped Method Was the Oranges and Lemons and cut in half.  Release the juice from the fruits by squeezing on a lemon squeezer or using a reamer.  Squeeze the juice and pour into a large pan.  Tie the pips and root ginger into a muslin bag and add to the pan.  Slice the Orange and Lemon Peel into thin shreds without removing the pith; add to the pan.  Add the water to the pan and then bring to the boil.  Reduce the heat then simmer gently for ab...

At present I have no vegetable garden and have been unable to harvest crops from the back yard.  But that doesn't mean it isn't on the agenda or that I cannot do a little bit to help eke out the fresh produce that comes my way.  It means a little bit of work, but then anything worth doing is worth that little bit of extra effort.  So I live in a City; I am lucky in that I buy most of my fresh vegetables from my local greengrocer or from the main market in town.  I do on occasions cherry pick items that I am after from the supermarkets but most of my shopping is for the best part done through the Greengrocer and the Butcher and spotting the best price between the supermarkets for specifics although I tend to use stores like Lidl and Aldi and then if I cannot get what I want there - go store hopping.  I use own store brands where I can and I use a lot of pasta, noodles and rice. I quite often freeze those vegetables or items that I buy and which we do not get ro...

I didn't get up very early this morning and my dream didn not continue from yesterday's rude awakening.  When I did get up I had a sprawl in my jim jams on the settee with a hot mug of tea and I then went blog hopping.  I found a tutorial on patchwork that I got quite into and which has inspired me to have a bash at some of the projects i.e. squares to do a sampler quilt.  It was a video tutorial and what I saw I was very impressed with.  Time flew whilst I was having fun and then real life kicked into play and OH delivered a bacon sarnie with a nice hot cup of tea.  I then got a wriggle on and got baking. I have made two loaves of the Brack  they are cooling on the freezer at the moment but they look and smell very nice.  I then made two loaves of the malt loaf that I have made before, and it smells delicious too.  Both these recipes were cooked in the oven together with two x 2lb loafs on each shelf and took about 2 hours or thereabouts at Gas ...

Last night before I trod up the wooden stairs to Bedfordshire I prepared some mixed dried fruit by soaking it in some hot extremely sweet tea (me thinks this is a good way of using up some dried fruit that is perhaps getting a little bit by its best). Today I am going to finish it off when I put the cooker on later on and hopefully produce a couple loaves of "Tea bread" for eating as a snack with some cheese and an apple or spread with some butter. In effect a cut and come again cake.    I am also going to make some of the Sticky Marmalade Tea loaf as well, and I will freeze any extra loaves for future use. My family have always made this type of loaf, primarily round Christmas when my Nan used to make them and give them to family members; a role which my mum has taken on in recent years.  Ever mindful that I have someone at home who will not always get himself something to eat or snack on when he is hungry for fear he takes something that I could make a meal out of (...

This morning did not start with an auspicious start -someone thumping on the door downstairs and by the time you get something on to cover your modesty, and get downstairs of course the culprit has scarpered.  However he had poked through a delivery card for collection from the main sorting office counter!  To make matters worse it wasn't even for us! I really had not wanted to get out of bed - I was in the middle of a delicious dream and now for the life of me can't remember what it was all about.  You know when you have a feeling that things were good and you can't shift it.  That's the feeling I have been left with all day.  I wonder if my dream will continue tonight!  Needless to say once roused I could not go back to sleep so I got up.  This all happened at 8 a.m. It has been a beautiful sunny day here in Peterborough.  Cold but at least the sun was out.  It says something when you go outside and it is perishing and then you come back ...

Well what a song and dance.  They knew there was a leak and could not locate it.  The plumber has just gone.   It has been a little bit of a devil, but all is sorted and we now have the heating on Arrgh. Phew is more like it he has had all sorts of pipe work apart in the process.  However it would stem from a problem at the gas meter.  A couple of years ago it was replaced and one of the British Gas engineers replaced the meter.  However it would appear that instead of changing and replacing the joint that was in there he has bodged it and it has only just come to light because that is where it was leaking.  The poor old plumber (he is 72) has had a heck of a game with it.  But we now have the heating on and OH is cooking some egg, sausage and bacon, to be swiftly followed by a mug of tea.  The best part is we have not smelt any gas in the house at all and this has only cropped up during a routine yearly maintenance review.  Well al...

My Index Counter tells me that 60,000 hits have been recorded since my early days of writing this little blog.  I want to thank each and every one of you for continuing to support and read my humble mumblings  It truly is appreciated.  Please if you are a "lurker" you are more than welcome to leave a message as I love to receive them. Thank you once again - it means a lot Pattypan x

Sorry haven't been around much this week I have been in and out quite a bit and I am now very tired.Why is it that whenever anything is scheduled to be done work wise - something always goes wrong. The Landlords Plumber/Gas Fitter was due to come and do the yearly check on the gas appliances in the property. We got everything ready for him and he duly came and did his bit.  He tested the pressure on the gas mains and it was extremely low.  He subsequently reported it to the Gas Board who came and checked the supply. They have indicated that it is something to do with the pipework in the property and so tomorrow morning instead of having my usual Saturday lie in - I am going to have to be up and ready for him to come and do the necessary repairs.  This evening the gas supply has been cut off - I am not allowed to cook anything and we have no heating.  It has been blooming freezing.  Deep sigh. I just hope everything is resolved tomorrow Have just had a bit ...

Now that I have made my marmalade what do I use it for apart from on my toast. There are several things you can do, and I am always looking for different ways of using something that I make up and for different recipes etc.  This weekend I intend to make the recipe below as it will be using something up that I have to hand and also trying a new recipe that I haven't made befor;  and as we are rather fond of fruit tea loaves of any kind this kind of covers several issues..The recipe is taken from a magazine scrap that I had cut out unfortunately I am not sure which one. Ingredients 6oz butter at room temperature plus extra for greasing tins etc 4 1/2 oz marmalade of your choice 6oz light muscovado sugar 3 eggs beaten 8oz self raising flour 1/2 tsp baking powder 2 tsp ground ginger 1 tsp of mixed spice packet of pecan halves The recipe says to use a chunky marmalade to give extra texture (but I personally do not like chunky marmalade).  It also suggests that i...

When my Nan passed I asked if I could have her kitchen stool and my request was granted.  It is not a particularly prepossessing piece of furniture but it is old and it does hold a lot of memories for me. Apparently originally it had a seagrass top but when the top disintegrated the eyelet holes were chopped off and a solid board seat was added with some vellum to cover it.  This is now well battered and it is overdue refurbishment.  The stool has barley twist legs.  The wooden stain was almost none existent and it had gone white and I have started to stain it again with an eye to re-varnishing it and also putting on a soft furnishing seat.  I have some rust coloured furnishing fabric, a patchwork remnant that I picked up which I think will suit the stool well.  I too use this battered old stool for sitting on when I am processing fruit and vegetables for the freezer or processing my onions for pickling.  I have never recovered anything like this ...

Just a little something from my friend to say thank you for teaching her how to make marmalade Cute isn't he

Its been a very busy day again at work; I was late leaving which has subsequently put me out of my stride for the rest of the evening.  Never mind I sort of got there in the end! OH had managed to resist the left overs from yesterday night's tea  (although he had polished off the remnants of the stew) so we had a quick filling meal which was ready in minutes and thoroughly enjoyed the second time around, just as much as the first time.  So I have made the most of what we have had and not wasted anything to boot.  I am off to have a rootle in a few minutes in the freezer to see what I can liberate.  There is all sorts in there, and I have plans with which to put quite a few more items in there as well.  I shall invest in three chickens at least when I get paid and pop them into the freezer (I buy them fresh and then pop them into the depths of the chest freezer).  They are so useful as I can bung one on the rotisserie, deep fry a chicken cut into port...

Well tea was a success and very tasty.  Went down very well indeed despite it being late.   There is a scuttle full for tomorrow night as well (that is if OH doesn't pick at it during the day tomorrow - I have my suspicions that he may well tuck in and that I will have to find something else for tea).  Have missed the Midwifes programme so will have to watch it on Catch up TV.  Got the second batch of marmalade done and now I am shattered.  Just need to wash my hair and it is time for bed. Will upload the photos tomorrow night too tired to do it now Take care Pattypan x

Its been a busy old day -  the sun has been out for the best part but the wind has been rough and a little chilly again.  I was up early for me on a Sunday before 9.00 a.m. and I finished cleaning the kitchen out and started making my marmalade.  I have prepped two lots of Seville Oranges 4kg in all, all by hand and have enjoyed the peaceful pottering and being free to run with my own thoughts whilst I was processing my oranges.  One batch of the Seville Orange Marmalade is completely done.  I have 10 x 1lb jars for my efforts and it tastes wonderful.  I am well chuffed with this.  I have taken some photographs and wouldn't you know it the battery died half way through and we couldnt find the battery charger so I have kidnapped OH's to complete the process and will post the photographs to the Seville Orange Marmalade recipe I posted earlier on.  The second batch of marmalade will have to be cooked later on.  I have my roast pork on the go - y...

Be Back Soon Am Busy in the Kitchen Making Marmalade Pattypan x

Well I made this from scratch - this is what I call real comfort food. Plain Sponge Pudding 4oz butter or margarine 4oz sugar 2 eggs beaten A few drops of vanilla essence 6 oz self raising flour a little milk to mix Half fill a steamer or a large saucepan with water and put it on to boil. Meanwhile, grease a 1 1/2 pint pudding basin. Then cream together the butter and sugar until very pale and very light.  Add in the beaten eggs with the essence and about a tablespoon of the flour beating well after each addition.  Then fold in the rest of the flour  with a little milk once the eggs are incorporated until a dropping consistency is achieved. Put 2 tablespoons of golden syrup in the bottom of the greased pudding bowl before adding the mixture. Cover with greased greaseproof paper or foil incorporating a pleat into the greaseproof or the foil as this will allow the pudding to expand.  Put in steamer and put on lid.  Cook for about 1 1/2 hours. ...

We are having home made stew done in the slow cooker.  Its bubbling away as I am writing this post.  I had a small tray of  stewing beef (located from the depths of the freezer), really not enough for a stew, but once padded out with  dried thyme, marigold bouillon powder, parsnip, swede, carrots, parsnip, red onion, leek, white onion, dried orange peel, a tomato, white pepper, bay leaves and some pearl barley should mean that we have a filling tasty warming meal.   No doubt OH will want his dumplings, but I am not that fussed with them think will give them a miss today.  I am going to serve this with creamy mashed potato.  This should mean that we get our five a day today. However the naughty side has to come out - its always lurking beneath the surface and I have an inkling for a home made steamed treacle pudding served with home made custard too.  I have been very cold this week and to me this means I need more substantial fuel to keep t...

Good morning from wet and windy Peterborough.  The sun is out the wind is blowing (not a hooley at the moment but it is rough) there is blue sky up there and Demetri doesn't like it.  He had asked to go out earlier on  (all my cats have been very vocal his call sounds very prehistoric) so I obliged and when I popped my head out to see where Squeak was as well the pair of them came charging in.  Demetri had been parked under the patio table his normal des res during the day if he doesn't want to come in and hasn't been elsewhere.  I don't think that they are particularly keen on the wind.  Demetri is now nearly asleep on his favourite cushion and Squeak is parked on the top of the settee looking out the window.  Well the radiator is there so she is keeping warm.  That cat is not foolish.   She sleeps with me on the bed and always manages to park heself where my hot water bottle is. She has also managed to nearly scoff all Missy's breakfast as ...

Well this evening I have been teaching my friend how to make marmalade.  We made two batches which equated to 10 jars of Seville Orange Marmalade.  She spent just under £6 on ingredients and each jar of marmalade worked out to approximately 60 pence a jar and it tastes fab.  She quickly got to grips with it and more or less did the second batch herself  This is the recipe I posted earlier for Seville Orange Marmalade.  And I have mine to do today when I get up that is - I have to locate jars first. Catch up with you later today Pattypan x

After I eventually managed to get them round up fed, and ready for bed this is how they show their contentment.    Peaceful just how I like it! Well it is nice and warm inside and it is wet and cold outside.

It is my nephew's 18th Birthday today - Happy Birthday Christopher hope you have had a lovely day! Its a big year for you young man. I understand that he has had some friends over today for a Pizza Party but it has had to be limited to some extent as poor lad has Exams starting tomorrow (He is currently in the 6th Form studying for his A levels (in his second year).  . This afternoon: I have been to see the Arthritis Consultant today who is very pleased with me and is quite impressed at all my efforts at retaining some kind of improvement in my health.  So I am well chuffed that I am on the right path.  Some of you may know that I have a disc out of alignment that had in the past couple of years more or less crippled me up.  I had to have an MRSI scan to find out what was going on and they identified this last summer.  As a result of that I have had to go to see the physio and from there to a Pilates back class to build up my inner core muscles, which class h...

Tonight I got home from work and was ravenous and couldn't settle on anything to eat so rather belatedly I hit the freezer to see what I had and which took my fancy.  I ended up with a bag of boil in the bag kippers and some bread and butter followed by some melon and ginger for pudding;. That simple meal bought back many memories for me; memories that had not been ressurected for some time.  This meal is one that I used to have regularly when I was growing up but which I first tried at the home of my Aunty Rene and when I went to visit it was a regular Saturday night tea, with Marks & Spencers Orange and Mint chocolate covered wafer biscuits as a treat for afters. My Aunt lived in Wellingore Hall nr Lincoln in what were originally the kitchens and which had been converted to a flat for my Aunt and her family.  My Great Aunty Kit actually bought the Hall and turned it into posh residential flats for professional people.  A Beautiful building that had its own b...

Didn't get round to the marmalade tonight - too tired have spent the evening doing battle with the computer.  It was dreadful earlier on kept getting timed out on everything I tried to do.  Was minus 4 when we went to work this morning and it has been blooming cold all day.  Its especially cold out there at the moment.  I still do not have a lot of energy and am still very tired so haven't done very much as a result. Trouble is I am itching to get on with things and am getting very impatient as I have a lot to do and I want to get on with things Marmalade will not get done tomorrow so it looks as though it will be Thursday.  Tomorrow is my eldest nephew's 18th birthday - where has the time gone when I wasn' looking. Didn't have much trouble getting the cats in tonight.  In fact things are nice and quiet and they can be found curled up asleep in companionable silence.  How long it will last for I do not know.  Don't they look sweet. But...

Traditionally in this country the preservers amongst us during the months of January to February put down Seville Orange Marmalade for the year as this is the time when the Seville Oranges are available to us.  There are however different types of marmalades and they can be made throughout the year not just now.  There are also different methods of making marmalades, so far I have come across  at least four methods, but no doubt there are more out there.  I thought it might be useful to have a go at these methods and then compare what I have made and how I have made it to see which way I prefer best. The recipe below utilises Method 1 of making marmalade which is probably one of the easiest methods and a good place to start.  This provides for a thick chunky marmalade if the peel is cut thick, but I chose to cut mine quite fine as I don't like it thick.  This  method consists of washing the fruit, cutting the fruit in half, squeezing out the juice, re...