TARRAGON & THYME

I am very lucky in that I have quite a nice selection of clothes - I would not say I am fashion conscious but I do like nice things. With my step-son's wedding coming up at the beginning of September I have been looking for something to wear for his big day.  Unfortunately I am not svelte bit a little tubby round the midriff despite in the past eight years going down from a size 26 to a size 18.  Not through dieting but being sensible and walking a lot as it helps keep my joints active and keeps my weight under control.  That is why it is important to me to still be able to walk as much as I can (despite having the operation on my foot before Christmas).  I still have too many bumpy bits but hey I am down to a size 18.    That to me is a result. I quite fancied the idea of a smart dress that did not make me look too big as I thought it might be more slimming but everything I like the look of either did not like me.  I am not an old lady yet (with ...

Just waiting for my tea to cook so am taking the opportunity to do a quick post. Been a very busy day at work and I am going to be busy this evening.  Once tea is eaten then into the throes of Peach and Chilli chutney and hopefully a batch of plum jam done in the jam maker whilst I am doing the chutney.  I was quite pleased with the flavour of the apple chutney I made last night. The Peach and Chilli chutney is one of my favourites; very much a ladies chutney and one which I have been making for a few years now.  Together with the five spice pickled peaches they make some lovely eating with a plate of ham and pork pie.  Yum.  I love to be busy and I love this time of year for squirrelling away all sorts of goodies.  So I shall be plodding through the week to get as much as I can done. The recipe for the chutney is here: http://tarragonnthyme.blogspot.co.uk/2016/08/peach-and-chilli-chutney.html And the recipe for the five spice pickled peach...

So named because it came from the Darling Buds of May recipe book and I thought it would be easier for me to remember which recipe I used. Ingredients 6 to 8 large Bramley apples about 4lb in weight 1 pint of malt vinegar 1 large onion About 1 1/ packets brown sugar 1 - 1/2lb 2 teaspoons of ground ginger 1/2 a teaspoon of mixed spice A good pinch of salt A pinch of cayenne pepper Method Peel core and chop the apples and cook them in a big jam /maslin pan with half the vinegar and the chopped onion until they are pulpy. Add the rest of the ingredients and cook until thick. You will have to keep stirring to stop mixture burning. This will take quite a long time of gentle simmering and the mixture will reduce rapidly.  Dont worry it is meant to do this. There's a way of telling when the mixture is cooked.  Take a wooden spoon and drag it along the bottom of the pan through the mixture.  If it makes a parting and you can se...

Things are quiet. OH not well and in bed his bad is back and when I went with him to take Missy for a walk we ended up doing an abbreviated route.  I have been in the kitchen cooking more beetroot which is now cooling and waiting to go into its vinegar and an Apple Chutney that I have not tried before but which is from the Darling Buds of May cookbook.  Perhaps it should be called Perfick Chutney.  Its a simple one and the quantities seem about right do not think it is going to take too long to thicken up.  It also ahs onion, cayenne, ginger,  dark brown sugar, mixed spice salt and malt vinegar.  I think it will make up for a lovely chutney to have with a bit of cheddar and my pickled onions which will get done one night during the week.  I am at my happiest when in my kitchen.  So that will be a few more jars for the pantry.  It looks as though I am going to be cooking all week.   I am also hoping to get some of the plums turned in...

...........I ts speaking to me.  The simplicity and using up bread.  Sourdough is used in the recipe but on the basis that you use bread for summer puddings etc. I thought I would use an unsliced loaf and cut it in thick slices to achieve the same effect.  Here's me making use of what I have rather than necessarily going out and buying something.  It looks stunning and it necessarily uses up bread  that may go to waste and seasonal fruits from the hedgerow. Ingredients: 750g of prepared hedgerow fruits as per the method below 50ml of red wine 5 tablespoon of golden caster sugar 8 slices of day old sour dough bread clotted cream to serve Method Place the fruit and red wine into a saucepan with 4 tablespoon of the golden caster sugar.  Cook gently until the fruit is soft.  Taste and add extra sugar if too tart. Remove the crusts from the bread spoon a little juice from the fruit into a non stick 900g loaf tin line the base of t...

With this new book to me (second hand from the Charity shop) For £1 yesterday. It has some super recipes in - ones that you would want to try.  It is split into four sections relating to the seasons.  It has a lot of luscious recipes in - I have only browsed through the book and already several recipes are jumping off the page what I call substantial solid eating in line with the seasons.  Take for instance in the autumn section: Mussels with thyme and bacon Creamy garlic and thyme mushrooms Chicken liver pate Chestnut and bacon salad chicken ham and wild mushroom pie Cinnamon beef casserole Cobnut meringues Steamed chocolate pudding with hedgerow sauce now that looks lush upside down plum tart Blackberry omelette Damson Betties Pear apple and blackberry compote Rosehip and Cardamon cake Hedgerow shortcake tart pear and ginger loaf potato and savoy cabbage soup So I am looking forward to using this book I really am.  It represents really g...

I also nipped into the charity shop this morning; not really looking for anything but I came away with the following: A little green Le Creseut Jug £1.50 A recipe book from the Landscape Magazine - all seasonal recipes and some lovely recipes £2. Another lovely cook book this time from Lorraine Pascale.  Some yummy recipes in there as well.  £2. Jamie Oliver's 15 minute meals.  One that I did not have also £2. Another couple of books also at £2 apiece.  Some interesting recipes in the first one and a Nigel Slater cookbook.  Both of which I am looking forward to browsing and reading. This picture was bought for the picture frame.  I am not keen on the print but this nice sturdy pine frame for £3 I can do a lot with.  I am not sure what I am going to do with it yet.  I have lots of pieces that would look good in it; but I have an idea in mind will have to have a play and see what I can come ...