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and the sun came out…
Today is the first day that it hasn’t rained or sleeted or snowed for …I can’t remember it’s been so long. I have managed to give the Honeysuckle a hair cut and fix the climbing net on to the fence. Hopefully it will give the honeysuckle a better hold and stop it flopping about. We have spent quite a few hours looking at seeds, debating what to grow. A few more weeks a we will start to sow, fingers crossed for a good growing season. Last year seemed to be wet and wetter, not a lot of sun either. Some successes and some failures but that’s the way it goes. The lemon grass which I started from a piece that was bought at the local supermarket is just about hanging on in … Read entire article »
Filed under: Gardening, Veggie Plot
Apricot and Almond Cereal Bars
I have made these bars in the hope they will stave off my crisp addiction. I have agreed with my daughter to fore go the three C’s; chocolate..mmm, cake and crisps for the forty days of Lent. We have done this over the years making Easter eggs all the more appreciated and enjoyed. Mostly we have gone without chocolate but some years have changed it to make it a bit more challenging. One year we stopped eating meat and chocolate, I never went back to eating meat but the chocolate, well…there was no contest there. This is a simple and quick recipe loved by all who have tried them. Hope you will like them also. The picture actually shows the second batch, these I made up using apricots and hazel nuts with … Read entire article »
Filed under: Uncategorized
Date Cake
This is a recipe that brings many of my childhood memories. Helping my Mom to make this cake, the first task I was allowed to do was to take the stones out of the dates and then onto chopping with my Mom overseeing. It is such a simple recipe, that was then and still is now, a great one for beginners to start with. So if you feel you can’t bake a cake this one will prove you can! You will need the following 1 tablespoon Butter 1/2 teaspoon of Vanilla Essence 1 teaspoon of Bicarbonate Soda 1 cup Boiling water 1 1/2 cups Self Raising Flour 1/4 lb Dates or a mix of Dates and Sultanas 1 Egg 3/4 cup Sugar A dash of warm milk Set the oven to 180C, 350F or Gas Mark 4 Butter and flour a 1lb … Read entire article »
Another one bites the dust! Peelers that is..
So sorry if I gave you false hope. Ummm…that really good peeler, with the ceramic blade and twisty thing for the left or right handed, the all singing all dancing one is now condemned to the bin. I know, I was so pleased to find one that was going to be perfect but alas, it was not to be, the weak point was where the blade was held in place by two tiny little pieces of plastic that were fixed into two holes. After a few days of work, the blade began to continually popped out of its sockets and the frustration started all over again. I think unless any of you do have a better idea I’ll resort to the slightly more than occasional cut fingers and use my paring knife. Just … Read entire article »
Filed under: Uncategorized
My New Fruit/Vegetable Peeler
I have to admit to loosing my old and ancient peeler, I believe it gone to the great compose bin in the sky but more probably the big one down the bottom of the garden. You would think that replacing a peeler would be a simple thing to do but this isn’t so, or rather, I haven’t found it easy. The first I bought looked exactly the same as the lost article but it just didn’t seem up to the mark. The blade was set too wide and made peeling difficult. So the search was on but I have been shocked by some of the prices and to tell the truth, badly designed product that is out there in the shoppingsphere. The light at the end of the tunnel was a peeler from JML. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Product Review
Palestine Soup
The Jerusalem Artichoke was brought into England back in 1617 and John Franqueville gave two small tubers to John Goodyear. The original name for this tuber was Girasol and then to Girasolem and onto Jerusalem Artichoke, is actually from North America but grew so well that it is said John Goodyear stocked all of Hampshire, England. Now being called Jerusalem Artichokes the soup inevitably became Palestine Soup. I have adapted the recipe that I have to suit us by adding potato but you can try using more or all artichoke it’s a matter of taste. The original recipe called for smoked bacon but as I don’t eat meat I have attempted to give it some of the smoky flavours and umami taste , you may or may not … Read entire article »
Filed under: Celery, Jerusalem Artichokes, Onion, Recipes, Savory, Soup
Fire Crackers
I have been trying out a few ideas over the holiday, savory crackers and sweet biscuits. It’s been such fun just to mess about with ingredients. The ‘fire’ in the crackers comes from chillies and ginger, a great combination with a touch of fresh coriander. The options though are limitless, so don’t hold back, check out your spice racks and have a go. If you don’t use the fresh ginger you will have to use a little bit more of the yogurt or cream cheese to form the dough. These were great just on there own as nibbles and great with cheese by adding a bit of a kick instead of the plain old salt crackers. To make the dough 1 1/2 cups of plain flour 1/2 cup butter 1 or 2 teaspoons salt 1 teaspoon … Read entire article »
The Apprentices’ Soup
While I was away last Sunday ‘the apprentice’ took over the kitchen and made this lovely winter garden soup. Fresh from the garden; 4 carrots 4 small winter radish 2 jerusalem artichokes 1 medium leek 4 bay leaves 1 small celery head 2 ‘Rooster’ potatoes 2 ‘Pink fir apple’ potatoes – both waxy so hold together well in soups. Olive oil to sweat the vegetables From the garden – stored 3 large shallots 3 garlic cloves Plus stock, seasoning and bouquet garni Peel and chop all the vegetables keeping the potatoes separate for use later Add the olive oil, bouquet garni and vegetables to sweat down until soft Add the stock and bay leaves Add seasoning to taste (sea salt and black pepper) Add the potatoes Leave to simmer over a low heat until the potatoes are cooked. [Translate] … Read entire article »
Filed under: Celery, Jerusalem Artichokes, Leek, Potato, Recipes, Savory, Soup, Winter radish (Mooli)
Khitchari (Complete Meal in One)
This recipe comes from Diet for the 21st Century written by David Wright, it is egg free and meatless cooking with 100 non-dairy recipes too. If you want to get hold of a copy: ISBN 0-9692669-0-1 . This is an all in one recipe and I can usually find most of the ingredients in my cupboard. To make you will need the following: 100g (1 cup) well washed Basmati Rice 112g (1/2 cup) washed split Mung Beans 2 med Carrots peeled and cubed 1 small Sweet Potato cubed 1.5L (6 cups) Water 78g (1/2 cup) Cracked Wheat Ginger Root cubed to taste (I have used a piece about 1 inch) 60ml (1/4 cup) Ghee or Light Vegetable Oil 1/2 tablespoon Mustard Seeds 1/2 tablespoon Cumin Seeds 1/2 tablespoon Ajwain Seeds (if you have not got these maybe a little thyme instead) 1/2 … Read entire article »
Filed under: Cracked Wheat, Mung Beans, Recipes, Rice, Savory
Dorset Apple Cake
Looking for a good recipe for apple cake and found this one, I have made it quite a few times now and it’s always successful. It’s simple to make and quick too. The apple and lemon taste lovely and it makes a really good ‘cut and come again’ cake. When I make this cake I double the quantities in the hope it will last a little longer, you can do the same you just have to adjust the length cooking time but the recipe below is for the original amounts. To make you need the following: 7oz Self raising Flour 1 teaspoon of Baking Power 1oz Cornflour 4oz Butter 4oz Golden Caster Sugar 1/2 lb Cooking Apples (peeled and diced) 1 Lemon (the zest of) 1 Egg (large) 1 tablespoon Milk 2 oz Sultanas (optional) 1 Cooking Apple (peeled and finely sliced), Fresh … Read entire article »
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