A little Catch up

Today I have not been firing on all cylinders.  Just one of those things.  Some days are good and some days not so good. Just how it goes.

Although I have done lots of bits for the challenge, I have not specifically posted about this.  That will happen tomorrow. However I have carried out the maintenance tasks on both sets of wines, the Sourdough starter, the yeast, burping my Garlic honey.

Fermentation Corner

I seem to have developed a little group of things that are all fermenting.  I am keen on having a go at Saurkraut and in due course would like to have another go at Water Kefir and Milk Kefir and Kombucha.  My dresser would seem to be the hotspot that my ferments seem to be liking at the moment and it would be a shame not to use it to its full potential.

Wines

I have the wines (not in their demijohns yet but will be later in the week - they will go on the windowsill). 

I have the yeast to add to the Blackberries tomorrow.  The starter is in a little jar on the dresser.

Sourdough Starter

My Sourdough Starter is also on the dresser.

I am pleased with how the Sourdough starter is progressing.  Looks a lot better than my previous attempt.  This time I am using a bowl and I have left it on my dresser covered with a tea towel and not in a jar.  I seem to be able to get it whipped together better as well so at the moment I think I will carry on with it being in a bowl.  It seems to like it there, and I think I have found a draught free place where my bread will be able to rise in the future.  When we had a full water tank and airing cupboard, I used to pop my dough in there to rise.  The first pictures are from this morning.

And after feeding this evening.

I just hope that I get a decent loaf out of it this time round.

I have also started a "Ginger Beer Plant".  This is something we always used to do when growing up.  It is a long time since I last made it, and I have been craving some for a little while. The plant can be turned into the drink next Thursday which allows for the seven feedings, and so I need to make a diary entry in  my calendar as otherwise I will forget.  In the interim I have to feed up to next Wednesday night with one teaspoon of ginger and one teaspoon of sugar.  Yes I know it is explosive, but I have the proper bottles where I can burp the bottles for the first week until the contents settle down.  

I also have in mind to make some Apple Pop as well.

It feels good to be getting back into doing stuff I used to do on a regular basis and which was part of my housekeeping activities.  Simple things that bring a lot of pleasure in the doing, the making and the eating and the drinking.

I am also terribly pleased with how the Blackberries in syrup have turned out as well.  I am going to try and do some more of these if I can.

I would also like to make some Blackberry syrup and some more Bramble Jelly.

Today has really been primarily a cooking day and making sure that we had a good meal for this evening in particular.

At mid-day we had fresh Corn on the Cob which was delicious.

Main Meal

I set too today, and cooked for tea chicken thighs with the bone in. I always think that you get far more flavour if the meat is cooked on the bone. I paid £4 for two packs of thighs from the Co-Op.  I had initially gone to buy some mince, but I was not paying £5.30 for one pack of mince when I could purchase two packs for £8.  That is false economy.  I thought I would get the mince later in the week when I can buy two packs.  I can make a Cottage pie, and also some Cornish style pasties with this to make the meat go further, a good meal on both counts especially if served with fresh veggies which is what I intend to do.

There were about six decent sized thighs in the pack.  I sprinkled them with some Herbes de Provence, and roasted them in the oven.

All prepped up and ready to go into the oven.

How they came out.

Must say that the meat was lovely and tender.

To accompany them, I chose to roast potatoes, squash, sweet potato, leek and onion.  I blanched the potatoes, squash and sweet potato first otherwise they take forever to cook.

I made a gravy from the meat juices and the veg juices and it made a lovely warm and filling meal, which was very tasty.

I then set too and made a homemade Rice pudding.  I just fancied one.  That was made with pudding rice, 1/4 of a can of evaporated milk, sugar and a little grated nutmeg.  A bit of butter was dotted on top of the milk to encourage the skin to form.  It was lovely.  OH was surprised and he enjoyed it too.  Long time since we have had a rice pudding.  Must do it again soon.

The Rice pudding all prepped up to go into the oven.

Cooked and as it came out of the Oven.

I also have the ingredients apart from the Jalapenos to make a Sweet Pepper Jelly which goes particularly well with a cream cheese and stuffed Jalapenos.  I keep pectin sachets in but when I checked I had not got any left. This morning I was sorting out all my canning lids, seals and rings and other preserving equipment out to see what I had and imagine my delight when I found some Pectin that I had forgotten about.  Might just have to get the Jalapeno's tomorrow.

Like last year, I seem to be trying a few new recipes here and there.  It is always good to expand my knowledge and also my repertoire.

Catch you soon.

Pattypan

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