TARRAGON & THYME

Well it is the season to be merry!  This evening I cracked open a bottle of Sloe Gin that I had made a few years ago and boy has it warmed me up.  I was not able to locate any sloes this year but will definitely try and source some for next as my limited stock will not last for ever.  Sloe Gin is one of the spirits I first played with and has remained a constant to be made every year that is if I can get hold of the sloes.  Next year though I will start buying the odd bottle of Gin and Vodka where I can funds allowing so I have a stock ready for later in the year ready to utilise - Toffee Vodka, home made Lemoncello, Blackberry Whisky, Rhubarb, and Gooseberry voddies are other recipes that can be made  also utilising a gin or vodka base, even pear drops or bubble gum can be used. Tomorrow night now I may well have to make some mulled wine.  Another favourite.  I have a lot to do today so it will be nice to sit down in the warm and relax and let the w...

Evening everyone it has been a busy old week and is going to be even busier next week midnight oil and all that jazz and I have to get the Christmas decorations up and the .  I have next week off on holiday am back at work for one day and then we are off for the Christmas holidays.  Despite getting off to an early start Christmas has crept up on me and I really have to get a wriggle on next week.  Mind you I do like a challenge. I missed delivery of a parcel today which I sorely need. ( I had a clothes rail collapse and as a result I have clothes hanging where they should not be and they are in the way) so I have bought a new sturdier one on which to store my clothes.  I have rearranged delivery and it should be with me shortly so that I can bring organisation to my bedroom again and find what I am looking for.   Today we have had a bit of fun in the office.  Four of our brave chaps volunteered to have their legs waxed to raise funds for Chari...

Yesterday I bought  loaf of bread in readiness for making sarnies for OHs packup this morning.  I got up early and came down to make them.  Could not find the loaf.  I knew I had bought one looked everywhere in desperation still unable to locate. I therefore got dressed (I had anticipated going back to bed for a little while longer) and toddled off to the shop.  Could not get a loaf so bought him some nice crusty buns.  OH was out for the count whilst all this was going on.  Came back to the house was in the process of preparing said buns when I happened to look up and noticed a bag on one the kitchen cupboard's door handles.  Guess what was inside  - one loaf of bread.  At least I found it but he still got buns for his pack up. Well I suppose its a whole lot better than putting the kettle in the fridge! Do not ask  - I think it is going to be one of those days. Catch you later Pattypan x

A few more goodies added this week some made some bought still loads to do. Bottled dark plums in syrup for the Christmas Plum Sweetmeats 6 jars More Pickled Onions More Pickled Shallots 5 pint jars and one small jar of Cherries in syrup  8 jars Peach and Ginger Chutney 2 bottles apple slices in syrup 2 Packets Boudoir Biscuits 2 packets Cadbury Honeycomb Fingers 5 jars Pear and Fig Preserves in Spiced Port Syrup 2 cases bought meringue nests 2 boxes Choco Liebniz biscuits  I have also sourced two decorative wreaths for the Christmas Dinner Table.  The plan is at the moment to have a white table cloth and in the centre to have a long thin mirror onto which the two wreaths with two pillar candles will  be placed with some other candles and the mirror will reflect  the candle light.  The wreaths have been sourced from my Greengrocer and she is keeping them for me as she has a nice cold room into which to store then in whereas at the moment I ...

Tomorrow I have a day off  and the plan is to bottom the lounge out and get it tickety booh in ready for Christmas well so I can get the decorations and the tree up. However today I managed to get 4 bags of fresh cranberries.  Marks & Sparks did not have any and I obtained mine at £2 for 300g from Waitrose so tomorrow I am going to start the first batch of Cranberry and apple jelly.  Well at least start it off  as I have plenty of apples at the moment and you have to leave it overnight to drip through a jelly bag so it will get finished off on Saturday evening.  I hope to get some more cranberries probably next week and also make some chutney and I also have a recipe for Cranbrillo from one of the Christmas magazines the Good Housekeeping Christmas Collection 2013. This will be ideal with the cheeseboard. However to serve with the Turkey each year I make fresh Cranberry sauce with Grand Marnier liqueur and we use the jelly during the rest of the holiday...

December has slipped in quietly here although I have been busy as I had managed to acquire fruit at very cheap prices and so I have been busy popping stuff up in bottles  - some will be used at Christmas and some for the New Year - my Glass Pantry services us all year long and I make stuff when I come across bargains and I have the spare cash to take advantage. Today I have prepared some pears and figs in port which is a recipe from Ghillie James' Cookbook called Jam Jelly and Relish -  and I made the Mulled Spiced Pears and Figs which rather took my fancy especially when she said that she served it with cold meats and a wedge of Manchego Cheese or in the alternative a bowl of good vanilla ice cream. I think cinnamon ice cream might go just as well too.  I made double the quantity and have five jars and used a whole bottle of port (fortunately I had it in the cupboard) and it made the most delicious syrup I love mulled wine anyway but I snaffled the left over syrup a...

I am still stockpiling shirts in order to have a go at my first patchwork quilt and this morning I have managed to acquire two more to go with the several other shirts I already have in my stash.  I still need a few more but they will come in time.   I am hoping to start cutting what fabric I do have during the Christmas break when I have some  time to myself and can concentrate once all the humdrum has calmed down. I need to ground myself and produce something practical at the same time.  I love the charm of quilts and how much love has been placed in each stitch or each creation producing something cosy and warm to snuggle up into such bliss such individuality.  To me the warmth a home made quilt brings is magical especially as so many are pieced out of the smallest scraps of fabric. I also like home knitted or crocheted blankets as they add so much comfort and cheer.  I aim for next year to learn how to knit aran style and make some aran style thr...