It has been a wet and horrible day

......here in Peterborough.  The type of damp day that gets into your soul.  It rained as well yesterday.  We do need the water though.

I have been stuck at the sink as well, washing and then sterilising lots of jars in readiness for preserves yet to come.  I have already been relatively busy this week on that score.

Yesterday I cooked the proverbial Cottage pie, and there was a load left over for today.  We have devoured that and it has warmed us up very nicely.  Simple food that does so much good.

I only ever have one portion.  OH, has two.  This is a good two- day meal that is very filling.  These types of meals are good for me as spending one time in the kitchen making a dish for two days opens up a little time for me to concentrate on other things like items for the Pantry shelf jams, conserves, pickles, chutneys, bottled fruit etc.

I am also not at the moment doing a big shop at a supermarket.  I could do with it generally but with prices being as they are I am only buying basics like butter, lard, margarine for baking, milk, sugar, some meat and fresh veggies and fruit.  If I can pick up a bargain, I will.  We are eating well, although a little restricted on what I would normally do, and I am managing to put items away on the Pantry shelf that will come in extremely useful in the weeks to come. My aim is to provide one good hot meal per day.  We can have soup, sarnies or a snack midday.  However of an evening we always have a hot meal, whether that be a scratch meal, chips with Quiche, beans or cheese on toast or something centred around meat. Every so often I am doing a little bake.  I rarely buy bought cakes, biscuits etc. I have no freezer just the pantry and whatever I manage to squirrel away.  I am working with selected ingredients and budgeting for them.  Last week I was able to buy Squash, courgettes, red onion, and pickling onions.  This week I was able to buy the rest of the veggies I needed to make Piccalilli for OH.  He had not requested this, but I know that he likes it.  It goes a long way too as he uses it with sandwiches and also with meat Pork Pie and cheese platters; therefore, it will prove to be a useful preserve especially as I have made a double batch.  I still have quite a few pickles to make including Red Cabbage, Pickled Onions, Bread and Butter Pickles.  Beetroot is done as are Pickled Eggs.  I have just about enough time to do some Chutneys as well, I let them cure for a month to six weeks.  A lot of Chutneys cure in the jar and develop their flavours there.  They will be made with ingredients I have in house.  I always keep a lot of fruit and associated items in.

This week I am after some pears and potatoes.  I have used up the sack I bought six weeks plus ago.  Will see what I can locate.  I will need my general range of veggies.  We still have some meat, and I am very grateful to have what I do have.  I also have the option of being able to pad meals out with a starter such as soup and puddings, such as apple pies, crumble or Sponge (Eve's pudding) as well as other choices.  I do feel the need for a Quiche and an Egg custard somewhere down the line though.

The rest of the mushrooms are now in the dehydrator and that will be another good job out of the way with.

Right back to sorting out some more bottles.

Hope it has been better weather with you today than it has been with us.

Catch you soon.

Pattypan

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