TARRAGON & THYME

I have been scrubbing the kitchen out again today still got a way to go but I have also been veggie shopping and stocked up on essential veggies to keep the stomach full and keep the gremlins at bay. I like to use fresh veg where I can  and if necessary freeze the veg myself.  I tend to use proper greengrocers or a market for the bulk of the items although some items I do get from the supermarkets like Kale, herbs, Chantenay carrots, oyster mushrooms/other exotic mushrooms like Shitake mushrooms etc. Today I have bought: Red Onions for pickling in vinegar - you don't just have to do pickled onions or shallots although I have some more of them to do to. Pickling Onions some for freezing some for pickling Shallots some for freezing some for pickling Swede for adding to carrots for crush Sweet Potatoes for roasting and for freezing.  These are a firm favourite. Parsnips for roasting and to be frozen Carrots with the swede for crush to be froz...

The weather here has been decidedly back-endish proper autumn this week.  We do not have rain forever then get overfilled in three days on the trot. Walking into work on those three days I got absolutely drenched despite being in all weather waterproof gear.  We have had the mists, very eery and the beautiful colours of the leaves on the trees always beautiful and beautiful sunsets (although very little sun during the day) Much as I love this season my body complains and I become a bit like the tin man from the Wizard of Oz! When its cold you need something warm  something to stick to the ribs from the inside for me it is definitely Soup weather.  A meal in itself and when you haven't got much money to go around its a warming cheap meal in itself and if made from scratch retains so much more goodness and flavour.  I tend to make my own stock from a chicken carcass or decent vegetable peelings and store it in the freezer for soup and for gravy...

Things have been very busy here - too busy - its just the depth as usual. I had a hospital appointment last Thursday, a follow up with the Epilepsy Consultant who is happy that my meds are keeping me under control - well something has to.  They do make me very sleepy at times though so he is going to pop me back into GP care - I know for the best part what I am doing with looking after the condition.  He is going to write to the GP though allowing me some flexibility with the dose  (if I need to) although initially I am to stick with it and see how it goes. We did a little more at Mum's on Saturday this time dealing with her clothes and personal bits and the kitchen.  Made me a little emotional, because slowly a little bit at a time the ties are being loosened - and I don't like it - the floor is moving under me things are changing and I am having to be brave when I just don't want to be.  The clothes are bad enough but splitting all her baking bits and...

I have a lot to do tomorrow  - OH has gone fishing and so I am getting stuck into the bedroom big time.  I wanted him out the way in the nicest possible sense as a lot of the stuff that is in the bedroom needs sorting and re-organising and to do that I have to make a mess and use the computer room where he normally hangs out so I should be able to get a wriggle on. If I were to do it when he was around it would just be moan  moan moan.  He does not do mess.  So its better that he is elsewhere whilst I get stuck in. However it means an early start so I shall not be long before I go to bed.  I really need to break the back so to speak whilst he is out of the way and once this room is sorted quite a lot of clutter elsewhere can be homed.  Some of it is my mum's stuff, but there is a heck of a lot of craft stuff as well and you sort of forget what you have and do not have.  I also have some clothes that need sorting out and I will...

Still have Internet problems and machine is a little quicker but cannot now post photographs on the blog.  Cannot work out what has happened as I can get as far as choosing a photo for loading and then it does not bring up the screen to say it is done and the screen freezes so you cannot get out of it, so until I can sort out what the dickens is going on we will have to be photographless!  However I think that the supplier will be coming in, in the end as OH still cannot use his machine. The mustard was completed successfully and I now have 10 little jars ready for the Pantry. I am quite pleased with the flavour I really do think that it will go with sausages and mash and onion gravy. I have left it predominantly as a grain mustard but  I have made one lot of Piccalilli the River Cottage recipe and I have the Spicy Piccalilli ready to process and finish off tonight the recipe from Waitrose that I posted the other day. I prepared all the veggi...

I am always on the look out for different or interesting recipes  and those made with foraged foods are always dear to my heart.  It is another Sarah Raven recipe from Sarah Raven's Complete Christmas Food and Flowers ISBN: 978-0-7475-9510-6 To quote Sarah "Rosehip syrup made with hedgerow rosehips is delicious particularly with the additional spicy flavours of cinnamon, cloves, and star anise.  It is also famously full of vitamin C and so excellent for drinking through the winter to keep colds and flu at bay.  It tastes good as a cold or hot drink diluted one part of cordial to five of water or drizzled over ice cream.  Make plenty for yourself and some extra bottles to give away.  Use small bottles as the syrup will not keep for more than a week or two once it has been opened". Ingredients 1kg rosehips 2 cinnamon sticks broken up (optional) 6 cloves (optional) 3 star anise (optional) 450g granulated sugar. Method Crush the...

I received a comment from my friend Bovey Belle yesterday indicating that she had some grapefruit to use up that she had found cheaply so I suggested either Grapefruit Curd or Pink Grapefruit Cordial. You see I too have some Grapefruit to use up.  To boot recently I have also seen Pamplemousse (Grapefruit) Cordial for sale in the supermarkets at quite an extravagant price so |I thought I too would try the Pink Grapefruit cordial as I thought it might be different.  The Recipe is from Sarah Raven's Complete Christmas Food and Flowers ISBN: 978-0-7475-9510-6. I am scheduled to make this later in the week but thought I would share the recipe here in case you wanted to have a go too. Sarah describes it as "a good winter alternative to elderflower".  Its not too sweet and apparently has a clean refreshing taste.  Best diluted about one part of cordial to four with fizzy water. Makes approximately 3 litres Ingredients: 6 Pink Grapefruit 1.8 litres of boi...

I am having major problems with the Internet at the moment.  We both have new mobile phones, and we have also received a new hub and Tivoli box.  Yesterday OH contacted the provider, he was told what to do and subsequently did it.  Since then the Internet has been particularly slow in the case of my lap top which I write this blog from; so it may be a bit hit and miss with me being able to get on to actually write posts, but if it does not get any better the provider will be coming out to look at the set up because its the worst its ever been at the moment, so If I am not around  - I will be as soon as I can. Today has been busy in that I have had chores to attend to  - the washing  - and I have got most of it dried out in the fresh air which I am quite pleased about, pottering in the kitchen.  Oh bought me some horseradish roots so they are soaking at the moment then they will get grated and then popped into ice cube trays with a little water so ...

I like my veggies whether cooked from fresh or preserved and pickled for another day.  Pickled Cabbage puts in a regular appearance on my pantry shelf as OH quite likes it.  Its also a good way of livening a salad up in the winter months and the colour gives that plate of food a little more attraction after all we reportedly eat with our eyes first! Here are the official instructions: 1.5kg/3lb red cabbage 3-4 tablespoon of coarse salt 600-900ml/1 to 1-1/2 pints cold spiced vinegar Method Remove the outer leaves from the cabbage then wash and quarter the cabbage.  Take out the hard white centre core and shred the cabbage finely across the leaves.  Spread cabbage in a shallow dish then sprinkle the salt over the top and leave overnight.  Drain off the "brine" by placing it in a colander and leaving it to drain. Then wash the cabbage well before draining again. Sterilise your jars either in the dishwasher or in the cooker. Pack into glass jars not too t...

It is useful to make this in advance especially if you are going to be preparing Pickled Red Cabbage, Crisp Pickled Shallots or onions where you will need a cold spiced vinegar.  It keeps well in bottles on the pantry floor. Ingredients: 25g/1 oz peppercorns 7g/1/2 oz blade of mace 7g/1/2 oz cloves 6 bay leaves 15g/1/2 oz bruised root ginger 2 teaspoons of mustard seeds 7g/1/4 oz whole allspice 7g/1/4oz stick of cinnamon 4 chillis crushed 1 tablespoon of salt A generous litre/2 pints of malt vinegar I have always been taught to use whole spices when preparing spiced vinegar for pickles as ground spices can leave the vinegar cloudy. I also tie all my spices into muslin and then pop the bag into the vinegar boil for about three minutes and then leave the spice bag to soak until the vinegar is cold.  Then remove the spice bag squeezing out any vinegar.  Either bottle in sterilised bottles and seal and pop into the pantry or use once it is cold. You can use ...

I have posted before about making home made mustard but thought it worth an airing again here.  It is relatively easy to make and is another home made condiment that can be varied by the types of seed and flavourings to which you add to it; even by the choice of beer or cider, or addition of herbs, honey, vinegar  I tend to buy my mustard seeds in bulk and predominantly from Asian food shops (as it works out cheaper to buy them like this).  The darker the seed the stronger the flavour. The best tutorial I have come across is from the Rosie Makes Jam recipe site which is here. Rosie Makes Jam Wholegrain Mustard with Beer It does keep for longer than you think it will but I tend to make it in small jars and keep in a cool place;  and then hand on the excess as a gift/present to friends but it is a very useful condiment for cooking especially when you need a little piquancy in a dish or want to devil a dish or a sauce.   I pack it into tiny little ...

OH is particularly fond of Gherkins.  He is Diabetic so for him Gherkins are like sweeties for him. The jars that are left after he has eaten the gherkins are of a decent size and I do where I can recycle jars by sourcing replacement lids.  The jars are nice and large but up until now I have not been able to source lids.  However I have eventually done this from the Jam Jar shop.  I predominantly recycle for food but there are other uses. http://jamjarshop.com/jam-jar-lid-082 They are also nicely shaped jars which can be turned into candle lanterns to decorate the home or to make lanterns for the garden.With a little paper cutting or glass painting you can end up with some very distinctive lanterns and then with the addition of candles or tea lights (or artificial tea lights/candles) you can end up with some home made lanterns. I have also recently bought new large jam jars from Lakeland 4 x 2 pint jars for £5.97 for the four. Which works out  at ro...

  Now I have the dehydrator I am going to have a go at this fantastic garland.  I love garlands made from natural materials and this one is lovely. Garlands   http://gardenmatter.com/diy-dried-orange-garland/ http://www.pneumaticaddict.com/2014/12/3-d-plywood-trees.html Wooden Christmas tree freestanding decorations   http://www.thedesignconfidential.com/2011/11/diy-modern-wooden-christmas-tree Just ideas as I come across them.   http://www.blackanddecker.com/en/ideas-and-inspiration/articles/diy-semi-mini-christmas-tree   http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/make-and-decorate/entertaining/how-to-build-a-wooden-christmas-tree-centerpiece  http://www.lowes.com/creative-ideas/decorate-and-entertain/wood-cutout-christmas-tree/project TO BE CONTINUED

This is the recipe from Waitrose that I am going to try this weekend.  It suddenly occurred to me that not everyone has access to Waitrose so I thought I would pop the recipe up for those of you who don't. Ingredients: 1.8kg of fresh vegetables (try a mix of shallots, cauliflower florets, runner beans, cucumber, butternut squash, courgettes, carrots, peppers all washed and trimmed). 100g sea salt 568ml bottle of malt vinegar 200g golden granulated sugar 1tblsp English Mustard Powder 1 tsp ground ginger 2 tsp ground turmeric 2 tblsp black mustard seeds 1-2 tsp of crushed chillies 3 pieces Stem Ginger in Syrup finely chopped 1 tblsp cornflour Method Cut all the vegetables into bitesize pieces and place in a bowl.  Add the salt and stir to mix then cover with a clean tea towel and leave to stand in a cool place for 24 hours. ine was left in the fridge. The next day drain away the liquid and rinse the vegetables thoroughly under cold runni...

 I thought that I would post this information up whilst I remembered and have recently come across the information hopefully so that I remember where the details are in one place instead of turning the house upside down when after the relevant information. MISTLETOE AND HOLLY http://www.kissmemistletoe.co.uk/ Just a few notes and links to things that I have come across so far - if I don't pop them in the one place when I need the details I will be scrabbling around causing havoc so its simpler to be organised from the start. HEIRLOOM CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS INCLUDING ADVENT CALENDERS AND SNOW GLOBES giftskingdom.co.uk (There are some lovely items here and they are a little pricey) - I love the Advent Calendar house with drawers which when opened activate the festive scene at the top.  It is £99 but it is lovely.  Traditionally I tend to go for the more unique pieces of decoration. It is known as the Magical Heirloom Musical Advent Calendar and I think...

Where has this year gone?  So much has happened.  So much has changed. And we are well into autumn the different colours of the leaves on the trees giving a fantastic display.  Even my Holly tree in the front garden has lots of berries on it.  Country law indicating that if there are a lot of berries then it is likely to be a bad/cold winter nature providing food for the birds to get by with.  I must say these past few mornings have been a lot chillier there has certainly been a dip in temperature. October to me heralds the arrival of pumpkins and squashes both of which I use prolifically.  We love roasted squash or pumpkin here and I always pop some into the freezers so that we can get our pumpkin fix with our roast dinner.  I also make a breakfast marmalade with pumpkin that is delicious too.  Me and my food eh! I popped round to the Co-op last night and they had a delivery of pumpkins two for £3.  So I may well pop round tonight a...