TARRAGON & THYME

I am not quite sure what is going on with blogger I am in effect posting posts some 12 hours before they show up either on Blogger but quicker with Bloglovin.  Sometimes it is even posting a couple or more posts that were written singularly together.  Also and not that I am complaining the stats have been off the beam this week.  Does anyone have any ideas if I can remedy the way the individual posts surface or are we in the hands literally of Blogger. Posted at 20:10pm Pattypan x

We bought Cornish pasties at the farm today and they were absolutely delightful.  We had them at lunch time and they were really delish.  OH thought I had bought them for tea but I had other ideas.  After buying the Amber mist cheese I had decided that it would be an ideal accompaniment to a proper ploughmans - here is a link to who produces this particular cheese which is made by the Snowdonia Cheese Company: http://www.snowdoniacheese.co.uk/cheese/amber-mist/ The Snowdonia Cheese Company make really wonderful cheese it really is lovely.  So far we have tried the Ginger Spice, Black Bomber, Red Devil, Green Thunder and Red Storm.  They are all fantastic proper cheese with a proper tang in every individual variety. And each named cheese is very individual and very moorish There are a lot we haven't tried yet as well.  My brother is in Wales this fortnight and I have texted him to look out for said cheese as he is in...

Last night I was taken out for a meal to the Original Burger Company in what was the Old Still Pub at the end of Westgate Arcade in Peterborough.  Its a lovely old building with a lot of atmosphere and we were lucky enough to be in the garden for our meal.  I went with OH and my step-son and future daughter in law.  The food is honest, well presented and full of flavour but simplicity itself and their sweet potato chips are to die for.  Despite my mouth being sore I managed to tackle three quarters of my bun which was delish and I polished off my sweet potato chips.  We had a lovely evening and it kind of finished of a very lazy day for me for a change. This morning we were up bright and early and out the house for 8:20am to go to Johnsons Farm shop at Old Hurst.  It was a beautiful morning and a good journey across the back roads of the Fen - rather than travelling along the A1.  It is much more pleasurable.  We had arranged a rendezvou...

For a while now I have had an urge to have a go at making some Pickled Vegetables, very much to drag off the shelf for an impromptu lunch or supper as is often the way here.  We are quite happiest with simple fare on a grab and run basis.  However there has been something holding me back - what if I don't like them. Now I absolutely adore Pickled Onions and Piccalilli - and I am a little unsure about the veggies. They always look wonderful and vibrant. I have an inkling that the OH will eat them quite happily in any event so they will not be wasted so I have decided to have a go tomorrow night as there are a few ingredients I need to get together.  Thought would try this tester pot and then if I liked it would prepare some more - especially as the new veggies are coming in and it will be an optimum time to prepare this; and also bearing in mind that you have to store for a month before using for the ingredients to "Pickle". The ingredients for thi...

Feel a lot better than I did last night and despite some discomfort and bruising I have so far managed to resist any kind of pain killer.  I have a strong pain ceiling in any event but I do not like popping pills and do not take them unless I absolutely have to.  I am also speaking more normally and have managed to eat two small meals soft food based.  So am getting there.  I am so glad however that I took the time off work.  It has meant that for once I have been able to give myself some tlc and some time to heal properly.  I have slept heavily and late and then have been curled up with a book.  I paid a visit to the Charity shop the other day and came out with some paperback books to read and two new to me cookery books for £3.  So not bad going really they are: This is the one I am currently reading - its really good and I am enjoying it thus far. So plenty to keep me occupied. Catch you later. Patty...

Its been raining here this afternoon just gentle rain - its not cold but it is tipping out a bit.  Demetri is out hiding under the tree. Will not come in silly so and so and he hates the rain. And me  - well I am a cheap skate where I can be and if I can (excuse the pun) I prefer to recycle jam jars and bottles if at all possible although it is not something that you are always able to do - the intentions are there but sometimes things just do not work out for one reason or another; it might be for a simple reason that you cannot find the right sized lid.  I try and match things up if and when possible and recycle jars - it just costs me a little time and effort.  However some things I buy new from the start depending on getting the right jar for preserve I anticipate making. This all leads back to me talking about Terrine jars and how I needed some more on my earlier post. I was sorting out the cupboard under the stairs  when I came...

Well the Deed is done and the two teeth have been removed.  I pre-warned the Consultant that I get stressed quite easily as I don't like needles and  she was very good talking to me throughout trying to soothe me during the procedure which was uncomfortable and there were a couple of horrendous cracks as she fought to remove the teeth and the roots but she got there and she said that they had come out cleanly and I therefore did not need stitches or indeed antibiotics. She said that I had been very good throughout the whole procedure - I tried to be However I am now on clear liquids only for the rest of the day and a soft food diet.  My face feels as though it is blown up like the Mitchelin man, but slowly very slowly I am starting to lose the numbness in the gum.  I have some paracetamol to take a little later when I am not dribbling everywhere and can swallow properly. Tomorrow I start the salt water regime and I have to be careful not to dislod...

We love our grub in this house - a little too much at times but I am always looking for ideas where I can make something and keep it in hand for a couple of weeks or so - really like a short store delicatessen - but this time storing in my fridge.  We are quite happy come a lunch time to grab a chunk of cheese and some crackers, or bread, served with a  salad and some chutney or just crackers chutney and cheese or pate.  So we are quite easy come easy go in that regard.  However I am always looking for ideas.  I bought two pate jars yesterday from John Lewis so now the hunt was on "figuratively" speaking for something to go into them.  I think I have found a recipe that will do this nicely.  The recipe is from Gifts from the Kitchen by Annie Rigg ISBN 978-0-85783-296-2.  (A lovely book it is too). The idea behind this particular recipe was to give some friends a treat come Christmas or another celebration. Rillettes ar...

Its been a long day extremely busy and has been non stop and I am completely cream crackered so much so I am contemplating going to bed early and then starting early tomorrow morning.  I have a tooth extraction x 2 appointment tomorrow for 11:00am so think of me please.  I absolutely hate the Dentists. I was treated to my tea this evening half a Peking duck with pancakes and onion and cucumber and Hoisin sauce.  I must say it went down very well OH had to help me out - he had already had a meal in his own right.  These days I just do not have the appetite I did when I was younger. I went to John Lewis at dinner time and got my Dolly, pie funnel and bun cutter.  I am hoping to play over the weekend.  I also managed to buy two Kilner Terrine jars I got the last two.  I need some more but thought would get a couple here and there in readiness.  I am trying to do as much I can when I can so that I have things in hand.  I a...

one or two new pieces of kitchen equipment.  And by the way these are items which I have my eye on are items of my own choice and is not an advert for said company. Since I attended the Pork Pie making class I have been looking around for a few additional pieces of kitchen equipment mainly what is known as a "dolly" for moulding pork pies and I came across one pretty much after the class which is quite substantial and a few other pieces to boot that I was not expecting to find.  They are from the new Paul Hollywood baking range and the pieces appear to be quite substantial. The following are not my photos but saved from various web sites Emporium and John Lewis First of all the Dolly   T hen there is the baguette tray, and old fashioned pudding steamer bun stamp pie cutters pie funnel and pork pie tin.  Needless to say I shall buy one at a time as I can afford it.  However the Pork Pie Dolly the bun cutter and the pie funnel are to...

Very simple tea tonight.  OH was starving and could not fancy anything I came up with so instead of talking about it I just set too and started cooking.  We have had home made chunky chips with vinegar and sea salt accompanied by a couple of fried eggs each and some bread and butter.  Its gone down very nicely and has just been enough for tea.  Often it is the simplest things that are the best.  Just going to wash it down with a cup of tea. Would not dine with the Queen now (not that she would ever ask me. We also exchanged and completed contracts on mum's bungalow today.  A tad sad as this is really saying goodbye to our family home of some 46 years.  I just hope the new people will be as happy as our family has been over the years.  Time to move on.  A new page to write and hopefully find my forever home in the not too distant future.  I hope you all have a lovely evening. Right had better get a wriggle on still l...

Also in the same basket as the recipe for Autumn Berry Bircher Muesli. Its a Woman's Weekly recipe for a light carrot cake - I love how lovely and light the colour of this cake is and that is why I must have kept the recipe.  What I had not appreciated when I chopped it out is that it is Gluten free.  I am very interested in Organic and Vegan cooking  but so far have not tried Gluten free.  I am very interested in the alternative more natural ingredients that are used as substitutes.  I hope to make it this weekend but where the heck am I going to get Xanthum gum - any ideas?  Might have to pay a visit to Asda.  Apparently this is a good one to freeze (can be stored for one month)  however needs to be defrosted fully - you freeze it without the topping and add that once fully defrosted.  Might be good to batch bake when you have not had time to bake and visitors come calling. For the cake: 250g/8ox gluten free oat fl...

Doesn't it look yummy. On my recces through Pinterest recently I have been finding lots of recipes for meals in jars.  To tell truth  I had not really paid much attention to them beforehand but the more I read the more I take on board the simplicity and thorough preparation involved to give you something good to take to work or to have breakfast already prepared waiting for you when you get up of a morning or to take breakfast with you and eat it on the run. Therefore finding the recipe card for September from Waitrose during my tidying up on the dresser the other day seemed almost serendipitous.  I have tended to collect certain Waitrose recipe cards but I had forgotten about this one.  I normally stuff them into a plastic sleeve in a large Lever Arch file I have but this one was waiting patiently in my basket on one of  my dressers, I am a big believer in having breakfast.  In reality I do not always manage it but m...

I have had physio again today and all the walking to has completely cream crackered me and I am grumpy as my tooth is playing up a little bit. So not a happy bunny.  Still up to my ears with the cleaning but then I know the house will be lovely and clean for the next month and so I am hoping to play a little bit this coming weekend although as I have said I am going to be busy during the week.  I really want to get back to my preserving and also to some of my handicrafts  - I need to finish off some projects namely some crochet and get started on finishing off some of the numerous ufos as well as some of the items I have purchased from Ebay part worked.  I also want to start hand piecing a patchwork something which I can pick up and put down and work at my leisure.  There was rather a pretty one worked in diamonds with a white background that came up on Ebay but I missed the auction it went for over £100  - worth the effort that has gone into it b...

Now that the kiddies are on holiday - get them involved and occupied making their own pudding for after dinner.  You do of course need a long sundae glasses for this for optimum effect.  Makes quite a posh looking pudding which is quite simple to do although supervision of youngsters at all times is recommended i.e. with hot water for making the jelly or chopping the jelly.  Its an easy way of keeping the children entertained and getting them involved with food in the kitchen.  Its not always up to the Teachers to teach the children they can learn an awful lot from you too. You will need: 1/4 packet of red jelly 1/4 packet of yellow jelly A can/tin of peach slices drained and then chopped 1 can/in of pineapple chunks A family block of vanilla ice cream (or the tub out of the freezer) 1/4 pint of double cream which has been whipped 4 glace cherries Make up the jellies as directed on the packet, allow to set and then chop the jellies. Put small...

This is the latest book I have purchased from Amazon. (this is not an advert by the way just my own personal view) by Domenica Marchetti ISBN978-0-544-61-162-7. It has been on pre-order for months and arrived on Saturday.  It has some very interesting recipes in.  I can see at this rate I am going to end up have a fridge solely for keeping preserves in and a freezer for the home made liqueurs. I have always had the greatest respect for Italians they garden and grow their own produce which is often a family thing and a way of keeping the family close and carrying on family traditions. They also preserve as much of their food as they possibly can - and I love Italian food.  I have yet to play with the recipes and there are quite a lot - in fact it is a lovely book. It is sub-sected into different chapters. A general section encompassing , the introduction, safety, water bath canning and pressure canning. The main sections are then: Foods ...

Way too hot restricting comfortable movement.  I have been beavering away still not finished. Have just had tea - a shepherds pie which has gone down very nicely as I really needed something substantial to eat.  The poor animals have really not known what to do with themselves and I have been making sure that they have ice in their water every so often but they seem to have gravitated to different parts of the house trying to keep cool. We have some of the windows open too. Well the lollies were lovely and refreshing and so was the lemon sorbet.  I remembered to take a photo of the lolly but not the sorbet.  It was very refreshing.  The trouble with this heat is that it really takes it out of you.  I want to get on but just cannot so things are not getting done as quickly as I would have liked.  It feels heavy as though we are going to have a storm. Well here's the lolly I had already nibbled a little bit before I remembered to take th...