TARRAGON & THYME

 I am cleaning again and I have just washed up some of my vintage glassware.  This is only a teeny amount quite a lot of it is still boxed up. It will be enough for us though. Just the two of us for Christmas. OH enjoys a little drop of Gin every so often.  Unfortunately I am a lightweight when it comes to a drink.  I have a small amount of Gin in a glass but it is always watered diwn wlth plenty of lemonade.  With ice cubes in it is very refreshing. I usually use aclarge Gin glass or a half tumbler. I have several different Gins, Vodka and Brandy on the go. We have Cherry Brandy, Mixed fruit Vodka, Passionfruit Gin, Sloe Gin and Damson Gin.  There is Lemoncello in the shed. It is little things like this that make all the difference. Catch you soo . Pattypan x

Serving ware seems to have gone out of style with the younger members of society however I still love to entertain and decorate things nicely no matter what the occasion, and I have over the years managed to acquire a lot of beautiful items.  Some of them I have inherited, some of them I have collected and quite frequently I have found nice items in the Charity shops, auctions, and also Ebay.  I thought I would share some of these with you in the run up to Christmas.  This particular post focuses on metal ware. With candlelight on the table the flickering reflects itself in the metal ware and creates a different kind of atmosphere especially in the winter months and mire particularly Christmas. Going round the Charity shops on a regular basis has given me a feeling for the things I do and do not like.  Sometimes I am not able to afford pieces when I see them, but seeing things means that I actually remember that this may be something that I would like. When I first g...

It is all systems go here still.  I had stored a lot of things in plastic boxes but some of them have split and the contents are not clean.  As these are going back into kitchen am cleaning as going along so that they will go into clean cupboards.  We have a busy week this week as gas man coming to change meter and put smart meter in.  Tuesday afternoon we have a gas inspection and then on Wednesday the fridge freezer will be arriving. OH has dome wiring to do in readiness for fridge freezer as going in different spot. I am also hoping he will be able to put shelves back up on wall as I could do with the storage. I am hoping on Thursday he will start projects in the kitchen. So ut is going to be a busy old week.  Will get there eventually. Fingers crossed snd toes plaited.  Have roast pork and stuffing for tea.  Lots of lovely crackling.  Right must dash  Catch u soon. Pattypan x

We were woken early by a delivery man at 8:30am - alarm had gone off at 8:00pm and I had fallen back asleep.  Dealt with that.  Then decided we were still going to do what we normally do (and what the alarm was set for originally) and go and get some fish. Went to the bakery on the way; too much of a queue so decided to go on and then call back on our way home. Went and got the fish.  Today we have a Plaice each for tea just served simply with bread and butter, brown shrimp, Crevettes, cockles and a crab each. Then on our way home called at Harvest Barn and have bought my regular fix of a large meringue Raspberry and white chocolate.  Have also bought some banana chips for my home made muesli and for the Christmas store cupboards couple of bottles of Clementine and Orange juice.  Have also bought a round/truckle of Godminster cheese. Harvest Barn sell a lot of whole foods as well in quite good size bags and at a reasonable price. Called in at the Bakers; there w...

 ....is progressing much better than it was.  Just to explain my dining room has been used for the best part as storage from items I brought back from a storage locker.  A lot of stuff has been re-homed but what is left I am keeping.  I am gradually sorting through boxes, cleaning if necessary and then re-packing.  It is not just a case of go into the room, quick swish round and ta da everything is done.  This is why it is taking so long, but even with what has been done thus far I am very pleased with progress.  Everything smells lovely and clean.  I may be untidy but never unclean. This house is not easy to keep clean in any event and that is why I always seem to be cleaning. The furniture is also getting a good scrub down in readiness for a good polish later in the week.  It needs a good coat of beeswax. It is also good to find things that I will use over the Christmas period.  We like cheese and I have a proper cheese safe. OH has be...

It is funny how a simple thing sparks a memory or memories.  I have been thinking about making Apple Pop again.  It is sometime since I have made it.  The story behind this is that when I was a teenager, as mum used to work before she was taken seriously ill, I was expected to help out with bits of housework, including my own washing and ironing and also being in the kitchen to assist mum with cooking, baking and washing up.  My father was determined that I would be able to cook properly and keep home by the time I left their care and this was something that was certainly achieved. Mum at that time used to make an awful lot of wines and beers and she was very good at making them and blending them just like my Nan was.  I was encouraged to have a go and I used to make the Ginger Beer for the family (until my Dad got shot by a batch one summer whilst working in the garage) and then he banned me from making it. I was encouraged to make the yogurt for the family in ...

  I am particularly fond of wooden Christmas decorations and whilst sorting out some of the boxes last night I found these. The first item is a German candle propelled automaton which I love.  These have always fascinated me. The second is a star lightbox with woodland animals. The third is a nativity arch that lights up. My Hurdy-Gurdy music box which technically is not a Christmas decoration but which I use as such. A small Berry Heart Wreath A Trio of Decorations My Hurdy-Gurdy music box which although technically is not a Christmas Decoration is used as such.p A new triple wicked Ginger and mandarine candle from Wilkos smells lovely. And finally a set of six vintage medallion baubles. Some more later on as I find them. I an trying to use what I have this year without having to buy much.  One of those years where I think everyone will be grateful for much more important priorities after this very difficult year  Take care keep safe Pattypan x Pattypan

 I am starting to reclaim the dining room.  I have had a very busy afternoon washing a corner section of the wall down.  I have a lot of things in boxes and these have been scattered throughout the room.  Some of those have been washed down and stacked in the washed out corner section and I am now about half way down one of the walls where the first dresser is.  I am just about to clear the dresser down and give that a good scrub and sort that out as well. On the first part of the wall I used to have some pine shelves for a while. It was a dresser top (a Ducal one) which I had bought from the Charity shop.  For sometime that has been in the shed, but if I can I am going to get that put back up in the dining room.  I think I will be able to have this up with the new fridge freezer.and then have my Ercol Tea Trolley along side underneath the shelving.  It is just a matter of buying some screws and re-screwing it back up. As far as the dining room ce...

 After a lot of effort. some trapped fingers one or two blue words we eventually managed to get the two old fridges out of the dining room into the street ready for an early collection. which is another job out of the way.  Unfortunately we did not get to the one in the garden but that can go in the next lot.  At least the two fridges are gone as is the old dishwasher.  However the doorways were extremely tight and we had to get the fridges through two corner bends before getting it into the passageway and into the front garden. We were going to the tip but it is chucking down with rain, so after a bacon butty I am going to set too and restore order to the dining room as best as I can. The dining room definitely needs decorating but am not sure it will get done before Christmas.  I have seen some nice anaglypta type paper and then have a colour in mind with which to paint it. Just simple and clean that will tidy the room up.  Think might have to paper the c...

 The dishwasher has been playing up.  I did not get involved on the instruction side and have left OH to do this.  He has been prepping machine and it keeps switching itself off.  That has thrown a big pebble in the pond as I have not been able to get done what was anticipated.  So he has gone back to the drawing board instruction book and is now downstairs attempting to get it to co-operate.  I am keeping clear. I have cooked roast beef though.  We should have had this on Sunday but got diverted onto something else.  We have Yorkshire pudding, green sliced beans, peas, Kale, carrots and broccoli with some steamed potatoes (we mash them ourselves on our plates  - or should they be called crushed potatoes?). I am looking forward to my tea and I think it is what OH needs as he has been a bit in the doldrums today where everything is negative and nothing has a positive side.  He suffers with bipolar, SAD and I have found in common practice ...

is the well known phrase from the song The Christmas Song which we all associate with Christmas.  However to me it is an important reminder that yes it is about time that I had that seasonal fix of roasted chestnuts.   My dear dad got me addicted to these as a child. When I was a little girl there used to be a regular trader at Christmas in Peterborough who used to have a brazier and sell roasted chestnuts.  My Dad informed me that when he was growing up there used to be a man with a Hurdy-Gurdy as well (he grew up in Lincoln). My brother and I had never tried them before and so he bought a bag and shared their precious contents with my brother and I. I remember the weather was bitter and we had gloves on and the Chestnuts warmed our hands and we loved them.  Mum was not keen. Dad got us hooked and ever since I have had to have a few roasted Chestnuts just before Christmas.  The other thing that I used to remember is that the Sally Army Band and Choir alway...

 After fighting with the kitchen and then getting the dishwasher in situ, I then went and made coffee and we ended up having sausage sarnies for mid-day.  They were very tasty and went down a treat. Since then we have been and walked Missy and called into the Co-Op down the road (we have two within walking distance) as I needed some more latte capsules for the "Tassimo".  I also found some marzipan and so have bought a couple of those home as well.  I was unable to locate Tassimo pods so went on to Waitrose.  They had some in but not what I was after so it may be a quick trip into town either tomorrow or Wednesday. I also managed to get the dishwasher tablets for the new dishwasher. I also bought a small net of Chestnuts.  I have been craving some roast Chestnuts for the past couple of days. I then went on to the Co-Op near where I live and could not find any there either.  So will definitely need to be a trip into town. I also bought back a few basic ...

 The Dishwasher is actually in situ.  Sigh of relief and a big gasp.  Not that the kitchen has not fought us all the way.  I have a tiny galley kitchen with  no room to swing a rat.  The previous dishwasher is/was sited on top of the washing machine, which then leads onto the bathroom.  Very tight indeed. We managed to get the old one out by sliding it over the draining board.  However as soon as OH undid the tap - talk about Waterloo.  There was water everywhere and the valve was not shutting off properly.  Lots of mugs of water later he managed to get it under control.  I could have throttled him though as in the middle of it all he wanted the pliers and I was supposed to know where they were.  He is the one that uses tools and does not put them away.  Well this time I had no idea at all and I know I have bought new pliers.  So I was a little bit vocal with my displeasure.  Found him something though - not what...

Apologies this should have been posted last night but a headache rather got in the way of things as well as an acidosis attack later on. Tracy, one of my Welsh Dresser tops. Photos taken at different angles and half shelves.  It would seem that great minds think alike x Saturday It has been a busy day and I have been in the kitchen all afternoon and I am now tired and have started off with a headache which I could do with out.  Enough is enough and I am now sat down to rest.  Tomorrow is another day. I have managed to check on the Mincemeat it is nice and juicy and I have added some spirit, glace cherries and also some mixed peel to the mix.  The mixture is slowly creeping up the jar. This is the mixture before adding in the extras. This is the mixture with the ginger, cherries and mixed peel as well as some Dark Rum.  It is smelling gorgeous.  However still some more fruit to go in yet. I also intend to do a version using oranges and Grand |Marnier with so...

Saturday morning is fast becoming the time when we nip to a local village town, collect our weekly selection of fish and shellfish; perhaps go to the bakers, sometimes call at the farm shop and/or the butchers. We have done that this morning although we had set the alarm to leave reasonably early we slept through eventually waking up at about 8:45am wherein there was a mass panic to get out so that we were able to get what we were after on the fish front.  There is a saying "The early bird catches the worm" ,and this is very pertinent when it comes to the fish stall we go to.  We like a fresh crab each and sometimes if you are not there in time they do not have them.  So there is a method to our madness. OH went and sorted out what we wanted today whilst I babysat Missy in the car.  He came back with a crab each, Crevettes for him, Crayfish for me, some cockles and we are having Mussels cooked in garlic and butter for tea this evening.  I am very much looking fo...

It has been a wet and horrible cold day here in Peterborough.  Work is still progressing in the kitchen.  I have been washing and drying stuff most of the afternoon.  It is cold in there and so I have escaped upstairs for a little heat before going back down again. I am bundled up in a thick jumper with a fleece on top.  My hands have been intermittently going blue as being in and out of water albeit with Marigolds on.  I am at long last making progress I am glad to say but am going back down after I have had my tea.  Canned tomato soup tonight just something quick. warm and fill me up.  Then I will start another charge at getting the kitchen fixed and sorted.  The window will be washed out later on and new nets will be hung up once OH has cut me a new net wire.  Tomorrow with a bit of luck the old dishwasher will be out and the new one in. Then the work will really start for OH. We have the collection people coming on Wednesday to collect th...

A lot of people order their main meal for Christmas Dinner in advance or utilise their local supermarket.  Time has now come for us to consider placing an order. For the past few years excluding last year our main meal has been ordered via our Butcher.  Last year we had a Turkey Crown from Aldi for the first time and we were bitterly disappointed. Despite being slowly cooked the Turkey was as tough as old boots.  We shall therefore be ordering from our Butcher the main components that we need over Christmas. Our main Butcher at Johnsons of Old Hurst has this year instigated an online ordering service for Butchery items which is easily accessible online.  OH was doing some research of his own last night and we had been talking of going down to the Farm to place an order in any event.  I love going here as it is a Foodie Heaven.  Prices are a bit higher but the quality of the food speaks for itself. Their Cornish pasties are to die for.  They have a big ...

The scene is set, I have had Christmas music playing in the background and in an attempt to get some Christmas smells and spirit into my soul I have set about making some mincemeat.  It is very cathartic. I have also lit a new apple cinnamon candle that I found at the Chemists the other day.  It is not a Yankee Candle one but it smells lovely. I love late autumn/winter days where you can light a candle, and there is the smell of spice in the air from making goodies for the Christmas Pantry and perhaps having a glass of mulled wine or cider as an aside or even a slug of Sloe Gin.  The darker days are meant for celebrating life in this fashion. In reality I made this batch of mincemeat  a few days ago; i grabbed a few spare moments where I could.  I will probably add a few more layers to it over the coming days. I have made many variations of mincemeat over the years  and these are included in the Mincemeat Posts below.  My favourite organic way of makin...