When we moved all our possessions into boxes and suitcases a few weeks ago and decamped to my Mum’s (so the builders could take our house apart and, hopefully, put it back together to be much better) I brought a gigantic box of tins and jars. When I say gigantic, I mean gigantic. It took … Continue reading Carrot and rhubarb jam (aka Christmas in a jar)
Cooking
Five woolly baked delights
Which came first: the scheduling for the Great British Bake Off final or National Baking Week? (I ask this rhetorically, simply because I am too lazy for the three second Google search that would undoubtedly give me an answer…) Whichever it is, with two such prestigious events in the space of a fortnight, this is … Continue reading Five woolly baked delights
Blackberry and apple vodka recipe
...AKA a photo a day: August 19th... Yesterday was all about jamming and chutneying. But even after making 10 jars of the blackberry and apple jam, we still had plenty left over. With the rest of the blackberries, I decided to make a couple of bottles of fruit vodka. We have some seriously cheap, seriously … Continue reading Blackberry and apple vodka recipe
A photo a day: August 18th
Ah the overpowering scent of vinegar wafting through my house! It's everywhere: in my hair, my clothes, the freshly-washed laundry waiting to be folded... But it's when you step into the kitchen that it really burns your eyes, bringing tears streaming down your cheeks. Yes indeed, it's my first pickling day of the year. For … Continue reading A photo a day: August 18th
A photo a day: August 14th
On holiday in Rye two weeks ago, we had supper one night at the Ship Inn. Because we were on holiday, I treated myself to one of the delicious-sounding but outrageously expensive cocktails.* After a long, serious study of the cocktail menu and a weighing up on the pros and cons of various appealing options, … Continue reading A photo a day: August 14th
Spiffing elderflower cordial recipe
Elderflower cordial is one of those drinks that make me feel that I’m a character in an Enid Blyton book. You know how the Famous Five went on endless picnics and every time someone drank a bottle of ginger ale, they’d proclaim to the other four, “I do declare this to be the best ginger … Continue reading Spiffing elderflower cordial recipe
Bounty from the weekend
Not much chat this morning (I've got a Monday morning head on, I'm afraid) but just a few pics of things I harvested / grew / stole over the weekend, along with plans for their transformation... First up, this verdant little bunch of wild garlic leaves. I've felt a little jealous of the country lifestyle … Continue reading Bounty from the weekend
The world’s simplest recipe: apple and plum compote
Almost a month after making the failed apple cake and the much more successful apple and sage jelly and (not) bramley lemon curd, I still had seven apples left from the great tree-picking. I’d left them really far too long sitting in the fruit bowl and they weren’t looking very perky anymore. I also had … Continue reading The world’s simplest recipe: apple and plum compote
When cooking goes wrong: a cautionary tale
If you dropped by here last week, you’ll have seen my posts about our apple windfall and the appley deliciousness that followed in the kitchen. It all sounded rather perfect. Reading back I rather envy this person with their idyllic life: picking the apples from the trees in the garden, making some preserves, heck, even … Continue reading When cooking goes wrong: a cautionary tale
Apple glut part two: Not bramley lemon curd
Those reading this blog yesterday, will have seen my post about the utterly delicious sage and apple jelly I made from the apple glut at our new house. The jelly was fantastic, but it didn't make a big enough dent in our apple pile (which I sadly didn't photograph, so you'll just have to imagine … Continue reading Apple glut part two: Not bramley lemon curd
Wolves in London 