Following on from Hot, Hot, Hot yesterday
I decided to dry the chillies have collected so far and have pegged them whole to the top of the Dresser. I have two Habanero and one Cayenne thus far.
Saturday I went into the greenhouse to open up and check everything okay; a lot of my plants were planted late but my Cucumbers now have flowers on them so fingers crossed will get some cucumbers soon. I hope so and if I do I will pickle them for G. I will also buy in some as well as other veggies for pickling. I really am not expecting much this year as everything got scuppered and I was late planting up. Will see what happens. Never say never.
The other Habaneros are also starting to colour up and the Cayenne are going berserk although have yet to colour up. I am getting handfuls of beans as well. I have two pumpkin plants on the go, but yet again am not sure whether will get anything. Tomatoes are also flowering well. As it is so late not sure will be getting anything, but anything will be a bonus. Next year though, will start earlier and have a more concerted plan and effort in getting things going. For me, wherever you are if you start a garden, you have something to keep you peaceful, something to nurture and something to look forward to (although not always guaranteed)! It is the having a go which is the cathartic part.
Mint
The mint has also exploded and so I am going to be able to harvest more for tea. So more mint will be finding itself attached to the top of the Dresser along with the chillies.
I also want to make some mint sugar, and preserve the mint flavour for use in winter months. It can be used in fresh fruit salads to pep things up a bit, also added to hot chocolate drinks, and milk shakes i.e. chocolate in particular, trimming cocktail glasses, or sorbet or ice cream dishes. It is very simple to make, you just whizz up about 1/2 a cup of fresh mint to one cup of sugar and blitz in liquidiser or food processor. I am going to be drying mine in the oven for about half an hour on the lowest setting on your oven.
I also want to have a go at making some mint syrup to keep on the Pantry shelf as well. So lots of potential out of a now medium sized patch of Black Peppermint. It will just cost me a little time and a little sugar and fresh mint. Making use of what I have to hand around me and making something of it. There is also a mint chutney that I have not made for some while that I think deserves an airing. Recipe link is here:
The humidity today has been awful. Apart from getting bedding washed and out on the line, taking advantage of getting things clean, dried and aired, I have kept to the house. I hurt and today is not the best but will get there and get some jobs done and dusted although not what I had planned.
I have a Gammon soaking at the moment. It will need a couple of water changes prior to me cooking it and will have that some in some sandwiches for later on. Am just not cooking whilst it is like this. Ham and mustard sandwiches sound bliss to me.
Mustard
Which reminds me I also need to get some Mustard seeds soaking for making mustard.
Recycled Jars
I am also pleased to report that I have found another couple of jars of pickles which had been purchased for G. He has now eaten them and has one in waiting, which means that I now have three large recycled jars which I am going to put soup in for storage on the Pantry shelf. Will make a batch as soon as I have about 6 large jars to make a batch. I want to gradually move up to processing meat and storing that on the Pantry shelf as well or the components of a meal.
Lots of plans, only some will be achieved, but each little you do is a learning curve and helps you get plans in perspective for the following year.
Right am off to potter. No post later on tonight as I just wish to potter a bit where I can. Besides I am plotting and planning for things later on in the year as well.
Have a lovely evening everyone.
Could really do with a nice glass of Cornish Cider.
Catch you soon.
Pattypan
x
Hi, I came across your blog from someone else's, now I don't remember which. We are at the end of growing season and most of the produce had been processed. I have some herbs to cut and bring in still. Mint grows like crazy, you will have plenty for years to come! I put up 12 quarts of fermented pickles in recycled containers. I am a jar and container collector, too. It's nice to meet you. Tarragon is a favorite herb of mine!
ReplyDeleteHello Sandra, pleased to meet you. I had to grow extra mint as I hardly had any at the beginning of the season and needed it for mint tea over the winter months. It soothes my stomach when it is upset and so I found I like my naturally home dried mint leaves better than the bought stuff. So set too and have dried some. Determined to have more for next year. I still have loads of preserving to do, but this year have not put up as much as I would like due to costs, but even so am not doing too badly. For that you have to be grateful anything is better than nothing. I drive my partner barmy as I always save the jars if I think they are going to be useful. I like for everything to be nicely presented as well. Tarragon is one of my favourite herbs too. This year did not manage to get a plant but normally grow it and then make a stash of Tarragon vinegar which is lovely as part of a homemade prawn cocktail sauce and general use on salads etc. Fortunately I still have some vinegar from last year. What produce do you grow or is it a general across the board thing. We used to grow pretty regularly and for a few years it got left off, but started late again this year. Next year is going to be very different. Pop by again Tricia x
ReplyDeleteTricia, Since 2017 I have grown my produce in containers. I used to have a huge vegetable garden, but I have simplified life! I grow a couple of tomato plants, zucchini, eggplant, fennel and summer squash. Lots of basil, tarragon, sage, parsley, rosemary and thyme! My neighbor is a prolific gardener and gives a lot of peppers, beans and cucumbers. I'm generally set for the winter. Yes, everything costs a lot, being frugal with jars and preserving what we grow certainly helps. BTW, I usually start late, this year was different for me.
DeleteHi Sandra, sorry have had a technical glitch with the settings on the blog, not sure what has gone wrong. In the past we have grown a lot of stuff and I normally
ReplyDeletegrow in loads of containers. I did not get the compost in time or the greenhouses up so that rather scuppered things. Hopefully next year will be very different. Also planted loads of stuff that did not set and it is stuff that I normally have no trouble with i.e. Nasturtiums, Courgettes, some Pattypan squash and some other pumpkins. Also late with the herbs. So not much of a productive year but it has kept me occupied. Hopefully will get a better return next year. x