TARRAGON & THYME

Yesterday lunch time it poured it down with rain so everyone headed for the main shopping centre in town whilst the deluge carried on outside.  I ended up popping into Lakeland for a mooch around which is dangerous and quite simply I came away with three books. The first one: How to Pickle has a lot of spiced and fruit vinegars in, such as orange and rosemary, tarragon, raspberry, chilli and garlic and a good all round pickling vinegar to add to pickled onions, chutneys etc. There is also a recipe for pickled oriental quinces which sounds intriguing as well as the usual suspects pickled cabbage and pickled shallots and pickled peppers with garlic and dill as well as salsa recipes and fresh relish recipes.  A nice little book with some very different recipes in. The second one: How to Preserve.  Another really lovely little book covering Jams and Jellies, a lot of lovely slightly different jam recipes here.  Fruit Curds; the one that is catching my eye at...

My eldest nephew who has been at University studying for his Degree in Chemistry  and then his Masters has qualified with a First.  He has now obtained employment where he is being sponsored to do his Doctorate at Warwick University where he has been for the past three years. Gran and Granddad would have been immensely proud.  Very well done. My youngest nephew has been studying for his final A Levels and if all goes to plan he will be going up to University this September. Very very proud of both of you. Aunty Tricia x

A few posts back I talked about using Pectolase to rid little mandarin oranges or Clementines of the pith without all the hard work of using a paring knife.  Well this evening I have started the experiment of using this technique to see if it is actually as good as they say it is. I peeled about 20 little clementines and popped them into a separate bowl.  Once all prepared I got a bigger bowl and popped some water into the bowl and then dissolved about a teaspoon and a half of Pectolase into the water to make the solution.  I then popped them into the bowl.  I have popped a plate on them to submerge them and then cling filmed the bowl and I shall have a look tomorrow night to see whether it has worked or not.  Its worth a try as I managed to get 20 small Clementines for £1 the bag.  I am trying to keep them whole as I thought they would look good on the Christmas table served as a dessert in a Grand Marnier and sugar syrup - bottled and hot ...

Well the preserves are slowly starting to mount up.  I have the following made so far and still a load more to make. Strawberry Jam Rhubarb and Strawberry Jam Rhubarb Jam Pear and Chocolate Jam Gooseberry and Elderflower Jam Cherry Jam On the list to do Apricot and Amaretto Bilberry Blueberry Blackcurrant  - have enough for Jam and Cassis Elderflower Cordial So I am slowly getting there Still loads to do though However I think that the Pantry needs sorting a little before I make much more so that is on the to do list.  Hopefully OH will put the new flooring in whilst I have it bottomed out. Right had better get a wriggle on. Catch you later Pattypan x

.. and they tend to be the things we use a lot or have a need to use and they seem to have a hell of a mark up on them. For many years I used to go to Iceland in Peterborough and buy the catering packs of baking ingredients when they used to sell them. I baked regularly and it worked out far cheaper this way. Latterly it was Bookers but I am going to investigate again buying ingredients by bulk in this way. Take soap powder for instance.  My preferred soap powder of choice is Persil but I cannot afford the prices charged by the supermarkets nor the price charged for fabric conditioner.  Where there's a will there is a way though and I have decamped from the supermarket to the Cash N Carry.  I use Hyperama in Peterborough.  I buy my Persil when it is on offer but for the best part check which soap powder is on offer and the best deal that particular month and buy accordingly. I have more allegiance to my pocket rather than to a specific brands altho...

Sorry this post should have been lodged on Monday but real life got in the way! Dinner was delicious.  It was the end piece of silverside the pointy end and it only cost me £10 which I was quite chuffed with price wise but it was oh so full of flavour.  It was an ideal size for the two of us plus some sandwiches as well.  I was well happy as I have said before I would rather pay a little more for good quality meat that has the flavour and not have so much in quantity but it was a win win on this one.  I shall certainly look at other joints there as well.  We have for the best part chosen to look at the smaller cuts which make a meal. As I was out yesterday I got my hair washed before I went out but it does have a mind of its own its a bit wild and wonderful and for a day or so it goes flyaway and you cannot do anything with it and that's with a serum on for anti frizz.  For work I tend to wear my hair up in a clip as I have earphones, a compute...

We have had a lot of rain overnight again and although the sun is out it is still quite damp underfoot.  On the one hand we need the rain but it would be quite nice if it dried up properly in-between. I think I have laid funny overnight as my neck keeps locking so am having to keep giving it a quick massage to warm up the muscles a little bit and getting things freed off a little bit. We have just had some buns to eat.  OH had Cambridge Blue in his I had Somerset Brie with redcurrant jelly.  Very nice it was too followed by an egg custard each.  I am off out for a little while shortly so I thought I had better give him something to eat as we are not eating until later.  I have a small joint of silverside to cook and am going to serve home made horseradish sauce from some frozen horseradish ensconced in the freezer together with mixed veggies and home made Yorkshire Puddings. I also have a chicken to cook to have possibly with salads during the week....

OH has has a very large pork chop for his tea.  Thick and large served simply with some baked beans. I on the other hand have had a little bread and cheese.   No ordinary cheese mind but a crotin of goats cheese popped onto toasted French baguette and then dressed with French dressing (although I used a dash of cider vinegar) with fresh mixed herbs out of the garden and a little side salad - not much just a little.  It tasted fresh and wonderful and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  Sometimes you have to have a little of what you fancy.  He fancied Pork chop I didn't; but equally he would have turned his nose up at my bread and cheese.  It made a lovely light change as I had not really wanted anything substantial especially after the breakfast I had this morning. I have also bought a couple of round deep dishes ideal for a pudding or pie from the charity shop together with six little stoneware soup bowls which go with some I already have....

This morning started off nice and sunny and warm.  We have been to the Johnson's Farm shop at Old Hurst for a stock up on some meat. We met up with my step son and his fiancée for the main reason of the day and that was to breakfast together.  Was really tasty and really good.  And then to the shopping part of the trip. We have bought two different kind of sausages; he has Old English and I have my Black Fen.  I have bagged them up into twos and we have six bags apiece and they have been segregated so that god forbid he does not get my sausages as he is not keen on them.  I have also split a kilo of Green back bacon into packs of four and with one pack of six.  So that is breakfast or either tea sorted.  We can take our pick.  They are all nicely ensconced in the freezer so that we get the most out of our pennies, together with some 2 rib eye steak, 2 packs x 2 Barnsley chops, some minted lamb steaks, a joint of silve...

Its been a busy old week and I had hoped to get a post popped up that I prepared the other day but in the greater plan of things real life has reared its head and I have had to deal with other things.  I have since popped this post up entitled "Mulled Pears". Its rained on and off all day yesterday and we had a lightening strike in the office  - which fortunately I did not see but it upskittled a colleagues computer but then she was sat by the window. We also had a disappointing tea last night.  A little while ago I bought some breaded cod goujons.  I had never had them before but thought that they might make a meal and I popped them in the freezer. As I am currently working through the freezers for meals so that I can restock again come the autumn this was a meal that came out of the store. Never again.  The chips I did were lovely but I do not think I am ever going to buy fish prepared this way again.  If we have it I shall buy fre...

I think this says it all

Now that longest day and summer solstice has been and gone my thought tend to start to necessarily thinking about items to put down/up onto the pantry shelves for the winter months and to give my family a treat of something a little different. I grew up in a family that took its food very seriously and it had to be good quality food.  In fact you could mark the seasons with the routines and events and family "get togethers" to either gather and collect or process those elements that had been cherished and nurtured to produce a healthy crop either by friends or by my grandparents.  Bartering was a common practice where everyone got what they wanted without money changing hands. Growing and bartering was out of necessity because they like others of their generation could not always afford to buy and often reverted to making things themselves to get by.  And it is the getting by that is the important thing here. I miss those days where the family would...

Seems to be fair so far I have a line full of washing out which will hopefully be all nice and dry by the time I get home.  Fingers crossed and toes plaited.  It seems a better day lets hope the sun comes out to play again. I am part way through a post but did not manage to get it completed so I will probably pop this up later on.  The "boss/supervisor" i.e. Missy came up to oversee operations but is now snoring her socks off oblivious to everything.  OH had steak, chips and onion rings for tea last night.  We are having a fry up later for today's offerings. Hope you have a lovely day. Catch you soon. Pattypan x

Its a pity they do not learn practical life skills in the schools would be so much easier for everyone if they did.  Things like budgeting, cooking, needlework, practical hands on skills like repairing things, gardening, preserving and learning to make the most of what comes to hand.  These life skills go in hand with academic skills one is practical the other shall we say "technical".  Take me I am very lucky.  Not only did we have academics in the family people who studied and worked hard - so we had good role models in that they stuck at things even when things were not easy but we also had practical people too.  Me well I tend to be more practical than academic although I could do the academic thing when I was a lot younger and in fact utilised the local Library to help do my homework/study all in a quiet environment.  Sadly the beautiful old library in the village I lived in has now gone - even though we still actually need them. ...

I cut the pork pie tonight and its not bad.  OH was impressed.  Even the jelly had gone right.  A nice textured meaty pie with lots of flavour and the pastry was nice and crisp.  So am well chuffed. It went down very well with a slice of bread and butter and some tomato ketchup. We have also had chicken stir fry for tea. I cooked the chicken thighs first and then I cooked the mixed stir fry veggies that I had in the freezer and then added a little more fresh veg, onion, some crystallised ginger, and courgette.  I also added a stir fry sauce with extra pineapple to the chicken whilst the rice cooked in the pinger.  Takes 12 minutes and comes out extremely well.  Now completely stuffed.  Did not manage to take a photo of the plated up food. It looked pretty but here are the veggies and the chicken in preparation. Looked very colourful and was very tasty.  Bit shattered tonight have not been fir...

Where my mojo just got up and left the building. I have not got much achieved at all.  I have done a little more sorting in the garden - still not finished  - no photos until it is and I have watered up all the plants utilising the rain water which saved me going into the house for supplies. I have dealt with the pork pie but it is presently cooling so will reveal when all nice and cold and the jelly has been added.  Does not look too bad for a first attempt.  Come pay day I will make some more and freeze them and just get them out as I need them.  That way going solo will prove to me whether I can make them or not.  I think in the longer term it will also be cheaper to do them myself this way.  Its given me some ideas to play with as well.  In the past I have made a very large feasting pie made from turkey breasts and sausage meat.  I think I may well be making some of these and dealing with them in the same way.  That way the...

We are have had Hawaain Chicken for tea tonight together with rice. The recipe is here if you would like to try it http://tarragonnthyme.blogspot.co.uk/2009/01/hawaain-chicken.html It comes up slightly different each time I make it as I tend to use the ingredients I already have in the house rather than the exact ingredients.  Take tonight for example, I had no soy sauce, only red pepper and red onion. (The recipe called for a red and green pepper, white onion)  Soy sauce is salty and so  I  used a chicken stock paste, and some brewers yeast paste (from M & S) similar to marmite as a substitute and it came up more or less the same except that the sauce was a brown one instead of very pale.  Still tasted as good.  The bonus is I am using up ingredients that would otherwise go to waste and I hate waste.  If you haven't got peaches then you could use pineapple as it is a sweet and sour.  I forgot to take photos, but this re...

I slept a little later than intended but now intend to get a wriggle on.  I have had a change of plan in that I am not going to be sorting the back bedroom today and removing stuff to the unit.  That is for tomorrow today I am going to be in the kitchen getting things sorted, some jam made.  I had hoped to get some more Elderflowers today and it may still be on the cards but after I came home from the Pork Pie making class last night we had torrential rain again and really you need the Elderflowers to be dry before you start working with them. Especially for drying. We will see how things go.  I will go with OH to walk Missy and make my mind up then, armed with my carrier bag and scissors. Its still very overcast this morning and feels as though it will rain.  The temperature has dropped a little as well.  I also need to raid the freezer to find something for tea.  OH could "eat a scabby donkey" apparently.  This is al...

Good evening ladies and gents, It has been a very pleasant evening weather wise and I have  also had a lovely evening learning how to make hand thrown moulded pork pies with the use of a wooden dolly mould. Its been absolutely brilliant and I have thoroughly enjoyed myself. I attended at Willowbrook Farm for 6:45pm and was met with a lovely Ploughmans salad which I was not expecting and a lovely cup of tea.  We were then provided with the basics, we would need for the class (disposable gloves and aprons) and a fun questionnaire as well.  The course Manager is Jo Fane and the Pork pie class was run by I think Sue.  She makes all the pork pies for the farm.  Here is the link to the website.  http://www.willowbrookfarmshop.co.uk/ There is a problem with the website linking properly at the moment which I have raised with them.  My reaction though when I could not get through on the website was to ring the shop direc...

Go to Pork Pie Making class and make first pork pie Eat the evidence Make Pineapple Jam Make Pineapple Jelly Make Marmalade Preserve oranges for bottling (an experiment) using pectolase Make Elderflower Champagne Make Elderflower Wine Make some Tiger buns Remove boxes into storage Dry some Elderflowers Make some apple juice Sort herb border and plant herbs Sow more seeds Pot on those seeds already through Cook meals Washing Ironing Housework Think that will do for starters. What do you have planned for the weekend. Pattypan

Its been a long old week, quite painful at times because of the damp and I am very tired. This evening we had a scratch tea of cheese on toast which went down well.  We have not done so badly during the rest of the week with quite substantial meals so it will do no harm.  Sometimes it is the simplest of foods that bring the most comfort. I have a lot of boxes to move to the unit on Saturday but it needs doing so that I can create more space to do my crafting and also to move.  It is long overdue.  I think I am going to concentrate on that room for Saturday a best I can.  I am itching to do some serious cooking.  The freezers need running down a bit so that I can stock up some more seasonal goodies. I have spent a bit of time on Thursday evening looking through the Kilner jar site on Facebook.  Lots of lovely recipes to experiment with and to put up for Christmas entertaining. This weekend I am hoping it will be fine as I want to co...