Bad wind

Woo that got your attention! Truth is I find myself in the tail end of a one time hurricane. I felt the need for distraction from what's going on outside. So here I am!!

Firstly can I say a huge thank you to all those who comment or read. I am always amazed by the generosity of bloggers. Free knitting advice, inspiration and encouragement with the running, heaps of delicious food, someone even liked my hair. Cue Snoopy style skippy dance

I say blogging is distracting me from the weather but fact is the kitchen is distracting me from that.

Today I am dealing with windfall pears, tomato and chilli's.

Chilli Jam, quite pokey.

Pear and walnut chutney

Its all leading to a life of crime however as I needed 8 oz of cooking apple that I didn’t have but that my neighbour who is on hols does have. Yes friend I’ve been scrumping.

I now need to get rid of some of my preserves as I am drowning in them. I love making it (eating it too) but there is only so much a girl can get through.

Glutted

The only problem with taking your hols at this time of year is that you come home to a mountainous pile of fruit and veg that need dealing with urgently.

So far I have;

Tomato soup, Passata roasted on the leftover heat of the barbe, Celery soup made today and enjoyed for lunch, all in the freezer

I have of course had much of the produce fresh in salads etc. or out in the garden, peas find it hard to make it indoors. The dog also loves them. Just the teen to convince. He has had beetroot and declared it ok. He was especially keen when I explained that genetically he was quite likely to have golden wee wee as a result.(sorry about that)

I also have so many plans for pickles preserves and chutneys plus various dishes which I can freeze and enjoy later in the year.

I look forward to sharing the process with you.

Living off the fat

First pickings this week



I have not grown land cress before and discovered a mountain of it. I read that it is very like water cress so I made soup.

Or is that  “purest green” that I have made?

Feta on top. I only had a few peas that day but I could tell that I will be inundated in a few days time. Now, I can happily make myself ill just eating the little beggars off the plants but some say I should share. So! what are your fave pea recipes.

I have been picking strawberries in the rain this morning and as I type I am listening to the sound of lids pinging as the jam I made cools. Its impossibly easy to make, I cant think why I’ve not done it before. I am not a huge fan of jam but I have just forced some down on a fruit scone. No, I make the jam for my lad who still, (he’s13) likes jam and cheese sandwiches. I only allow them on a Friday (for Gods sake woman) Yes Friday is a jam day so we don't use much and now (sorry Tiptree) we buy none but thanks for the free jars.

Royal wedding

 

What a great day

We decorated…….

No opportunity was missed for patriotism.

We had a feast and watched on tv.

The things in paper were asparagus frittata cooked in prosciutto ham cases. Mum made them from this recipe in good food magazine. Highly recommended to accompany fizz. We also had coronation chicken in lettuce cups, pork pie, quiche and sausage rolls. I stopped short of sandwiches but we were after traditional British party

Here is the fridge “ before”. Its nothing like that now.

A great family day in which we made memories and celebrated being together and Britishness

Easter

Some family traditions

Some time off to enjoy the sculpture park.

 

Highly recommended by the way. It was all free apart from £4 parking all day. Take a picnic. We were there all  morning and barely scratched the surface.

Tomorrow, how we celebrated the royal wedding.

Thomas cook

I know he's only 13 but School has recently asked the kids to choose their technology subject for GCSE. Sounds ludicrous but it actually a good idea in that this subject and its 60% coursework will be out of the way before year 11. To that end Thomas has chosen Catering. We won’t know for sure if he's been successful for some time yet. However he is adamant. SO, new rule, Thomas makes Sunday dinner. We will do other things in the hols I’m sure but we started last night with a simple but mega cottage pie.

I have his permission to show and tell, so here he is. My hugely proud Son showing off the fruits of his work.

 

Now considering he was in a mood before we started I think it ended well. Apron helped a little.

The pie was tremendous, it was accompanied by carrot and Swede mash , peas and Yorkshire puddings.

For the love of pie

 

 

For a change from the usual roast Sunday dinner I decided to make pie. Primarily because my meat and tatties son will eat AND enjoy it. But its cheap and delish too. I (of course) learned to make it from my Mum as a child.

Careful caramelisation of the meat is essential for a rich brown colour.

Then onions are browned in the meaty pan.

Naturally I can do nothing kitchenwise without my constant friend. On hand in case anything gets loose.

Old speckled hen ale to scrape up the meaty bottom of the pan. I used half a can and topped up with homemade chicken stock. My husband uses all ale. The meat was dusted in flour before I started which acts as a thickening agent.

At this stage it went into the oven for 3 hours at 130 degrees. After that a shop bought puffed pastry lid went on and It cooked for maybe half an hour. I don’t remember exactly. I egg washed the top for a lovely golden colour. We had this with  Swede and carrot mash, roasty taties and Towering Yorkshire puddings, made by a genuine Yorkshire man. Mmmmm bliss. The Yorkshire man washed up too

Goals

At the start of a new year, many of us consider a fresh start. I have never understood this. Not the part about reviewing and reflecting on the status quo as this I believe allows you to move on in life, to grow and to learn. No, the thing that I don’t understand is the why now. The whole new year new start idea feels like preparing to fail. Its so much pressure, a whole year doing a new thing. So, resolutions are not for me. I did think that goal setting sounded good though. Less pressure and no failure, just working towards achievement. I take no credit for this however as the idea was totally sparked by my cousins Facebook post so cheers Dave!!!!!

Anyhoo, the goals…..

To hand write a personal letter every month. (already done one so far!!)

To finish one item per month from the UFO pile (I will share the progress for this one)

To eat more meat free meals.

Behold last nights tea. I did plop some beef suet dumplings in with it. Note I said meat free not vegetarian.

My last goal is simply ‘to look up’. Its amazing how much is missed by not doing so. The stargazing live programme inspired this goal and I have seen meteors,lunar and solar eclipses because of it.

 

I will be reviewing my success and setting new goals regularly through the year.

Have you set any goals? I’d love to know.

By the way putting the TV on and crocheting a few squares for SIBOL is a totally achievable goal for a ccccold Friday.

Wreath

I made this too from stash , leftover tree and last years wreath moss ring. It cost me nothing but time and very enjoyable time it was too.

I have also made these too for gifts for friends. I used this recipe from good food magazine, the only change was chocolate was also added. They have resided in my freezer for a while, part cooked until nearer to Christmas when they were cooked again and packed up ready. I am all for a home made treat for family and friends

         

 

Getting festive

So, I was hacking ice off the car for half an hour and the temperature was reading minus 11. Pilates will have to go. Shame really, I love it. Any hoo, we are having friends to lunch on Sunday so I thought I’d get ahead. A rich warming beef casserole is slowly plopping away and the next 2 hours are all mine!! I am hoping to……

make the door wreath

assemble an arrangement

blog

clean

You note I said hoping.

We put up the tree at the weekend.

  And decorated.

Well I say we. My lovely husband knows better than to help and T is never interested. I am a total Monica when it comes to the tree. In fact the wrong positioning of the lights can  ruin  Christmas. I hope to give you  proper guided tour tomorrow.

I’m off now to have another crack at defrosting the car.

The things you do for your children.

T was supposed to be going to a party last night at school, games and such. All dressed up in Halloween garb. At the last minute it was cancelled. I realise that it could be down to a bad choice of day but it was mentioned that a lot of the kids thought that the party was “lame” and “for kids”. Well pardon me, at 12, THEY ARE KIDS!!!

So, T was gutted and I felt sad so………

Severed fingers and eyeball cakes.

 

Out of the garden pumpkin.

He dressed up as the Terminator and I think the evening was saved.

Back to the ferrero project, here is this weeks offering. By the way feel free to make these to sell. If anyone asks Tell them where the pattern can be found. Also, I feel that I should mention that the suggested hook size is just that, a suggestion. I crochet loose but with these things am a bit tighter so play around.

Also I would love to see what you make so show a picture here http://www.flickr.com/groups/crochet-ferrero/pool/

Pattern is here

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