TARRAGON & THYME

Were purchased yesterday just 1kg for eating.  OH is fond of plums anyway and I am a big fan of Victoria Plums.  I wish I could find a couple of the Black Diamond plum trees that my Granddad used to have they were really delicious a dark purple black plum with divine yellow flesh.  My grandparents grew Victorias as well. They are not cheap this year £3.50 a kg at the moment so if you can get them any cheaper then you really are doing well. I have a tray of 5kgs ordered for next Tuesday for bottling and for chutney and I will also order another tray for later in the week for jams and jellies and sauce and look out for reductions to make some Victoria plum wine which is one of my favourites.  My Nan always used to make it.  It always used to develop a second fermentation and was more like a sparkling pale pink champagne when she used to make it a very tasty wine. So next Tuesday when I take delivery it looks as though I am going to be very b...

Well the semblances of anyway.  The garden is long and narrow and there is plenty of room for potted trees down the side of the garden as well as the Potager.  Have a lot of clearing to do on the lower level yet though.  Hopefully that will be achieved this year so that I can get a wriggle on next.  I had a fruit garden down the bottom originally but it has all fallen into disrepair so from the Greenhouse onwards will be set for a sort out and there will be a lot of trips to the tip. Today I am not at all popular with my neighbour as I have more trees arrived today two Yellow Hornet Crab apple trees.  These are to be planted up in larger tubs and to join two William Pears, and two Quince and two Fig.  However I am not telling him this just let him come to his own conclusions.  I am not planting them into the garden as I don't want to be here any longer than I have to and want to take any trees I have with me but I need to move things f...

Well the strawberries that I managed to get at a bargain price are now in the fermenting bucket on their start of the journey to make Strawberry wine.  I decided that it was a good way of using these up without wasting them as I had no real time at the time of purchase to turn them into jam and I most certainly did not want to waste them.   The recipe I have followed is here:  Strawberry Wine Prepared Strawberries starting to go into the bucket. With the sugar mushed down with a wooden steak hammer or a potato masher. This will now be left for a couple of days for the juices to flow.  Then the yeast etc. will be added and the contents left to brew. More photos to follow TBC Pattypan x

As many of you regular readers already know I am a bit nuts about the Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady collection and over the years have been able to build up quite a collection of differing items. Dorma the original makers of the Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady bedding ranges have in production a pattern very similar to that of the original Country Diary range.  They in particular have a cushion which I have been casting my eye over but I am not prepared to pay £35 for it.  I have therefore been a little cheeky and I am going to attempt to have a go at making my own. I have cream cotton and all the embroidery threads now I just need to get the scale worked out and then the embroidery completed. I have cheated a little bit and have taken a couple of photos of said cushion to work as my base line. The embroidery seems to be handworked although you can never tell these days as some of the advanced embroidery machines really do a superb job.  So I ...

I have come back with various bits and bobs from Asda.  Some Lemon grass to make cordial, some more shallots for pickling, (I also need to put some up in the freezer as during the winter months I always add a few shallots to the Sunday roast [and to Christmas dinner], gives a little more flavour with the onions caramelising  these are added to the plate to eat and adds a bit more flavour to the meat juices for making gravy).  All I do is peel them and then freeze them whole and then when I want to use them add them frozen and whole to the roasting dish and cook as you would for roast potatoes.  They also help colour up the meat juices for the gravy. There are some Blueberries for Blueberry compote to serve with yogurt for breakfast in a morning or on top of a cheesecake or as part of a muesli based breakfast.  I also need to freeze some for Blueberry muffins.  Another favourite here.  Some more chillies for drying and for chilli sauce.  Peppers...

It started off all nice and peaceful like.  No problems.  I went into town and met up with my friend we had a fish and chip lunch today and then I nipped to Asda to do a little shopping. By the time I got back the kitchen was flooded!  The cat had climbed up in my absence into the window and knocked the kitchen taps which are the lever type.  They are now definitely going.  When OH comes back from his fishing these will have to be dealt with.  She is not doing it on purpose.  I have noticed that if she jumps or climbs anywhere she kicks out with her feet and I think it is this action which is undoing the levers on the taps. Needless to say I was not a happy bunny.  I had just about managed to get cleared up before OH came home and we walked Missy.   The washing machine and the dishwasher are in full flow and I have a lot more stuff to do over the course of the next few days.  Well it will get done when it gets done. Pork...

It was a bit hectic in the kitchen last evening a I cooked another couple of the pork pies and thought I would share the photos with you.  They were a success and tasted just like we remembered them.  Two more of the pies plus a couple of the sausage rolls which were equally delicious as we had them for supper last evening. In their raw state After their initial cooking Having had their jelly popped in and left to set overnight. The finished halved pie with the jelly in. OH was not aware that I had bought another couple of the pies and was extremely pleased to have an impromptu breakfast of pork pie.  He has also taken a couple of chunks to have with his roast beef sandwiches for lunch. Simple things have given a lot of pleasure and he has enjoyed his brekkie.  One pie down one to go.  Think I will be paying another visit to Franks the Butchers pretty soon. Right had better get a wriggle on. Catch you soon. P...