TARRAGON & THYME

Its been a long old week and I am ready for the weekend.  I have a long weekend as I have Monday off ostensibly to try and get  some bits done.  My heating pad turned up today for making the home made bread prover and I shall procure a box either over the weekend or on Monday to put operation bread prover into practice.  I will need this for my next Sourdough attempt and also for ordinary bread making.  The pad itself is nice and narrow but has a three way temperature gauge - it also has a washable cover. This evening I have rejoined Ancestry as I have the urge to do some more serious work on the Family Tree information.  It has been quite productive thus far.  I thought I would join this up with the photographs I have of extended family. I am beginning to think that I am in the fortunate position of having quite  few photographs from one source or another. I had contemplated taking out the full subscription but have ...

Quite a while ago I posted about making your own proving box; to be exact a out three years ago.  And I still I have a problem when it comes to bread baking in this house as my tiny kitchen unless  I have the cooker on full blast is too cold and I mean freezing cold.  When it comes to proving bread because it is not warm enough the bread tends to be far too dense not enough rise on it.  I should be able in due course be able to use my Dehydrator for this purpose; but I got to thinking what if I was doing something else in the Dehydrator that took up all the shelves I would need to have an alternative way of proving the bread and after all bread is a staple in many homes across the country not just mine. So I am going to cobble together my own.  Will let you know how I go on but Here are some links that may be useful in researching how to make your own Proofing Box. http://www.thewilbournegroup.com/Sourdough/SourdoughStarterProofingBox.htm h...

... It was delivered to work this afternoon two very large boxes but it appears to be in excellent order. Its a good job OH collected me from work. I ordered not only the Bielmeier preserving cooker but also the juice extraction unit for the top.  Now all I have got to do is play which I am looking forward to.  Essentially this is a very large hot water bath for processing. Ideal for anything that does not have to be pressure canned.  However the pressure canner is still firmly on the list.  One of the reasons I have gone for this piece of equipment is that I have a very tiny kitchen with no room to swing a rat in.  So wanted something that could function independently in another room if needs be and left safely. Yes it is large but I have been struggling on my gas cooker with getting a maximum of five jars in at one go and processing that way so have only been able to produce small amounts at any one time.  With the bargains I...

Sorry I have not been around today to post but things have been hectic here again and I still have not got the planned jobs completed.  I have been out again this evening as well; but I have been amongst friends which has been lovely. I am desperate to get some work done.  I am in tomorrow evening so I might be able to get a wriggle on then. Tonight the OH has dined on Steak from Lidl and he reckons its some of the best steak he has ever eaten.  Was a rib eye. Me I have had a crab pate sandwich and trifle. We have a herb roasted stuffed chicken for tea tomorrow evening together with lots of veggies.  I am hoping that there will be some meat left on the bone so that I can get either a chicken curry or a cream of chicken soup on the go as a bonus meal or two utilising the carcass to make chicken stock.  I also bought some spinach today which I intend to use for home made pizza on Friday evening together with some fried onions, goats cheese, ord...

I still have two nets of Shallots and a net of Pickling Onions to process.  Even though I processed quite a lot in the run up and before Christmas I did not have enough time to get these done. I am not going to waste them though. I am going to process them and get them done and out the way especially at the way we are chomping (I say we but I mean he) is chomping his way through them at the moment.  So in hindsight it is probably a good thing that I am going to have some replacements. I think in total I had 6 stone of onions in all to process.  And they go so well with cheese a big thing in this house we both love it. After the veggies are done for the freezer tonight - I hope to start processing these with a view to getting them finished off tomorrow night (that is one batch).  I will process the others on Thursday evening. We have a chicken lattice tart thingy for tea.  Something new from M & S.  Thought would try and if liked would try ...

That is being back in work for a full week.  Fortunately I have next Monday off and I am hoping it will be a day to play although I must make an appointment to go and see the Doctor who has been wanting to see me for a while.  So I really must go before they get stroppy with me.  And to be absolutely honest I have not really been up to scratch since losing mum.  Have been a bit down for me - which I do not cope well with.  So last night I gave myself a good talking to and I am trying to be more positive.  I think I have sessions like this more than anything because of the pain.  When it is constant there is no let up and that's really when I get low.  But hey I am a lot luckier than others.  These are issues that I am having to face (as are so many other people).  However though I am determined not to let them rule my life.  When people cannot see an issue they do not realise that pain can be quite as debilitating as it is.  S...

I bought a stalk of Brussel Sprouts for Christmas and even though they are keeping well and fresh on the stalk (that's why I buy them like this if I can) it is time to get them prepared and into the freezer so that I can just pull a bag of Brussels out when I need them. I also have some parsnips and carrots to prepare in the same way.  I have spent good money on them and so for a little time and effort it is time to squirrel them away so that we have good eating during these winter months. These are the two projects for tonight when I get home from work.  I also have a little bit of ironing to do and more washing so before I know it the evening will be gone. But hey its a start to the first wee back at work and getting back into the old routine. Catch you later on Pattypan x