TARRAGON & THYME

We do not often hear this expression, this name for 31 October 2017, it more often being referred to as "Halloween".  When in fact "All Hallowes Eve" is the correct name when supposedly the  veils between the earth and the spirit world are at their closest and communication between the two worlds takes place. The Wikipedia information says as follows: "Halloween or Hallowe'en, also known as Allhalloween, All Hallows' Eve, or All Saints' Eve, is a celebration observed in a number of countries on 31 October, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows' Day. It begins the three-day observance of Allhallowtide, the time in the liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints, martyrs, and all the faithful departed". The Daily Express printed the following article: "Where did All Hallows Eve come from?  Halloween is celebrated each year on October 31, and takes its name from the Christia...

This recipe has been talking to me for weeks but unfortunately at Blackberry time I was unable to find a lot of blackberries.  However I did note the other week that Waitrose had them in both fresh and frozen.  Fortunately yesterday I was able to get fresh blackberries not wildings but still blackberries. I already had the brandy in the house.  The recipe comes from Notes from the Jam Cupboard by Mary Tregallas.  This book is wonderful.  Sometimes when I buy a book I am not too inspired until I start reading the wonderful recipes - this is a wonderful book and has some seriously wonderful ways of using the preserve made and supplied different options for using.  Well worth the buy. Ingredients: 1.75kg (3lb 13oz blackberries) 550ml (19 fl oz) water 1 tablespoon of whole cloves 1 tablespoon of grated nutmeg 2 large cinnamon sticks 900g (2lb) white granulated sugar 300-350ml (10 to 12 fl oz) brandy Makes about 2 litres (3 1/2 pints)....

Things I would like to achieve this week are: Bottom out the kitchen cupboards clean everything out and reorganise. Imperative in the run up to Christmas in view of the fact that I have a lot of cooking to do and I want to get the specialist containers etc. ready to use without having to do a deep search to find them. Sort out the pantry. Make mustard (the seeds are soaking as we speak). here is the link to a post I did previously on this  http://tarragonnthyme.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/something-else-for-pantry.html and here is a new link  https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/mar/01/make-your-own-mustard-recipe Finish the Raspberry Vinegar. Start a new batch of Raspberry vinegar. Make orange and passionfruit jelly. Ginger sauce. Red onion marmalade. White onion marmalade. Tomato ketchup Brown Sauce. Make first batch of pomanders. I think that will do to start with. Catch you soon. Pattypan x

I have seen the first of the small nets of Chestnuts at £4.50 a strip net.  I shall look around to see if I can find any cheaper.  Chestnuts are something I always have in at Christmas but I always weigh up the costs.  I want to have a go at several of the recipes below but the Ruth Mott Chocolate pudding is an absolute favourite. As I mentioned recently I was doing some research for some future posts (this one included) and I ended up on You Tube checking out the videos from River Cottage Especially those that I had not come across before.  One in particular by John Wright of River Cottage fame entitled "Ginger Nut Fizz" which is a cocktail drink  that took my fancy.   GINGER NUT FIZZ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krVY9ZBqykg&list=PLYaaknvJdmGvcdZcu2BHQzsY7PLizNVjT&index=1 Within that video John Wright mixes in a Chestnut Brandy at which my ears pricked up as it smacked of something different.  I like different.  I have since ...

As most of you know I am nuts about Christmas and I just love Christmas decorations whether they be home made or boughten (as in the words of my friend Bovey Belle). So I thought I would share some of my decorations with you; I have managed over the years to build up quite a nice collection of things; some of them very expensive "one-offs" and others home spun and made at home but all of them part of my precious collection. The ones below are the ones I have easiest access to at the moment. I have always been bought up to look after the decorations some of which are memories in themselves if bought by a family member or even made.  Irreplaceable. This cheeky moose is a favourite as well This Santa and Moose if you pull the strings the legs and arms shoot into the air. This is one of two brass candle rings I found last year on offer at M & S I think they were £40 apiece but I got the two for £30. A light u...

I have been pottering quietly in the kitchen doing a bit of this and a bit of that until the cat decides that the top of the kitchen unit looks a good place to hide and goes scrambling up to the top of the cupboard knocking down bits and bobs.  When I do eventually get through to find out where the heck she is all I can see is a tail  - she has buried herself in one of the boxes.  She has been removed rather rapidly which she does not think much of but the kitchen is not her domain and she is not required in it especially when I am cooking!  OH has gone to walk Missy - so we shall have tea when he comes in. I decided I had too much to do to cook a roast so I have cooked the steaks and made onion gravy to go with them.  We have Yorkshire pudding and veggies to go with so that should sort out the bottomless pit that is my OH.  Updated: tea was not too bad it was tasty and nice and warm and has gone down very well. Its just about to go dark; the moon is...

Makes me happy as in the words of John Denver. Today the sun is out it is cheerful weather although the gentle wind (compared to yesterday) has a bit of an edge to it.  But we have to be thankful for small mercies for this time of year the weather really is not that bad.  With the clocks going back last night there has definitely been a shift in the Circle of the Year I can feel it.  It is the time of year where everyone hibernates like hedgehogs, and either watches TV or is busy working on something that interests them in the meanwhile.  As usual it has also sent by bodyclock haywire including OH.  He was up at 5:00am this morning instead of the usual 6:00pm! I have been to the local shop and had a root around the reduced counter and have come away with two trays of stewing steak (£2.30 a pack) and two sirloin steaks (£2.75 a pack) and a chicken for £2.50.  All will be useful additions to this week's recipe menu.  Steaks are for tomorrow ...

One of the golden rules in this household is that when it comes to Christmas I am more than happy to do everything necessary in the preparation of Christmas and am quite happy to cook the Turkey and everything else to go with it.  However, then its my turn to have a break.  This is another reason why I make so many different pickles, chutneys etc. because after Christmas dinner we are on cold cuts, cheese, pickles, cold meats sometimes served with a little bubble and squeak.  This is so I get to have a rest too and am able to do some things that I want to do over the holiday period.  This year I have Christmas at home.  The firm I work for has given us an extra three days holiday which means that we do not have to work between Christmas and the New Year for which I am grateful.  I also have the week off before Christmas in order to get as much as I can get done, done. We are a tad partial to a lot of cheese in this household - a family tradition. ...

This morning started early with a large cup of coffee with a shot of rum in it as it was bitterly cold (Masawatti coffee).  I needed something to reinforce me.  OH took me to Lincoln and I took my thickest coat, hat, scarf and gloves as well as my Uggs (all wrapped up like Nanook of the North) - it is always colder in Lincoln than here (well for the best part).   I went to Lincoln to spend time with my cousin at her cosy home.  It was good to spend girlie time with her which we have not done for so long and also go into Lincoln itself for a little shopping trip.  I did not get time for a sewing machine tutorial with her today (and I still have not let her know that I have the Janome) I want to learn a bit first and if I can get my butt into gear maybe have a go on my own with my own machine all well and good and make her a little something. She would not expect anything less. We are due to meet up again in November so that will be good and I may then let on the...

Where is the year going to.  It seems to be speeding up the older I get.  I am not old in the greater scheme of things, but sometimes I just feel like "Methusalah" and time seems to race and you do not get time to catch your breath and spin yourself round in the process - sometimes losing all sense of direction and having to cope with what is.  The older you get the more precious people in our lives start to "disappear" only with us for part of our journey but a very precious part their impact and love never forgotten, their presence still with us but we cannot hold give them a hug and hold them close; but still ever present ever in our hearts. It was bitterly cold here in Peterborough tonight.  On went the heating later on when the temperature had dipped (I try for as long as I can not to put the heating on but when I get cold that's it) and I also upped the minimum temperature to lock in over night as this house does get very cold; and I don't want th...

One of the perks of preserving stuff and putting it up in your pantry is that you can quite economically prepare a small hamper as a present for a friend or a loved one out of what you have in stock.  This is one of the other reasons I make so much as I have found over the years that people who are busy often quite welcome home made preserves, because of the flavours and they have not had to go to the trouble of making something themselves.  I therefore see this as a win win situation. I am always keen to use the equipment that I have to hand and also preserving something which I do not have to nurse and so frees me up to do other things i.e. multi-tasking. A slow cooker fits into this wish list very nicely. I like Dulche de Leche (toffee sauce).  You do not need much of it, but to buy it in the shop it costs an arm and a leg for a jar so for me it makes sense to make it yourself, keep what you want and then dish it out as presents to friends and family alike. ...

Well I gave in - eventually and that was only because there was 20% discount from M & S on the Stag Candleabra from M & S and I am very chuffed with them.  I have been looking wishfully for the past few years or so at the different variants on a theme but never managed to save up enough in time. Therefore when I saw these I was determined that if it is one of the only new things I have on the Christmas decoration front this year then so be it.   With the 20% offer on I went in yesterday but they did not have any on the counter.  I was reliably informed by one of the Assistants that they were going quickly.  I therefore thought that I would go back today and if they had any then I would treat myself and if not I would order them to take advantage of the discount.  A considered purchase but I think they will look lovely in a front room on a small table or elsewhere rather than just on the dining room table as they are so distinctive. They ar...

Its been a busy old week with one thing and another; and this evening I decided to nip into town as it was late night shopping in the Queensgate Centre in Peterborough.  So I duly tottled off after work into town. I went to several places before I descended on M & S to get one or two bits on the food front and I also investigated the magazine rack at M & S.  I ended up buying  the Good Food Magazine Christmas 2017 edition as a result. I have not done much since we got back in but I did drag my magazine out and started to peruse the same.  I always browse through carefully to see if there is anything new to try or a different article that inspires me or just basically a different take on things.  Imagine my surprise when I found a recipe entitled Maidens in the Mist.  Oh I thought that sounds interesting  - a different pudding for the repertoire.  As I began to read the small print  it said "Maidens in the mist.  Also call...