Category: Cooking

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JAMJAM

First jamjam of the year underway with 3.5kg of finest cheddar strawberries just purchased. I also have some elderflower liquor to jazz it up a bit. Still too cold to start planting but I have the seeds and the pots waiting. I also got some rhubarb for a crumble!

Thunbergs meadowsweet along with a wall flower in glorious blossom and bluebells coming through.

Meanwhile back to the war. Trump says talks have been positive and is suspending air strikes for 5 days. Iran says not talks have taken place! Has he run out of missiles or ???? Two days ago he was going to obliterate their whole infrastructure.

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STARTER

New sough dough starter – called Millie. With the weather set to be wet for another month I thought I would get some and make sourdough rye and normal. Places in Cornwall have had 50 days consecutive rain and we cannot be far short.

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BAKING

I tend to over do things so, having made a herby baguette yesterday, I have gone for just garlic and sun dried tomatoes today. I thought about herbs as well, but maybe too much. Di was very pleased with the herby ones. I also made a lemon drizzle – one of my favorites. And now I am pondering about making cookies – possibly nuts and dried fruit?

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’tis the time of year for lists.

Best football story – a tie between Sunderland, Curacao, and Sao Tome and Principe. Politican with worst bullshit – Again a close run thing between Trump and Farage with Truss desperately trying make an impact longer than a cos lettuce. Worst lie – Peace in Gaza – death stalks Palestinians and Israel continues to defy UN regarding the occupation and killings on the West Bank of the Jordan River. The ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM! Climate change continues to be ignored despite …TFO…. Most hyped sports event – Ryder Cup – who actually gives a fuck about multi-millionaires preening themselves whilst facing abuse from right wing thugs. Christmas Cake time!

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BANKING

Wash your brain! a while back somehow someone mahaged to scam me – fortunately the bank notified me that there was a mysterious £35 coming out of my account – clever bastards. Anyway they sent me a new debit card and pin. Like an arrogant tosser I thought I could remember the new pin. Yep got cash and no problem.. 3 months later and I had run out of cash and used the machine in the shop. I thought that i remembered te pin – but I am therefore very, very stupid. The bank cancelled my card so I had a very pleasant discussion about my stupidity with someone called Maureen in a call centre in Manchester and she sent me my Pin again. And today I used it to get some cash! TBH I did not need it, but feel more comfortable with the back up in my pocket!

Crowd Farming have just sent me organic mangoes from Spin. I love those guys and gals – it may cost a little more but is supporting farmers not shareholders and the bonus payments to directors. So I am stocked up with garlic, lemons, mango and avocados. My apples are brilliant – so I could survive in luxurious food for at least 6 weeks – nearly Xmas! On which I have bought some brandy for the xmas cake.

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DOMESTICS

Another batch of pickled shallots made, I do about 500g at a time as it gets boring! Bay leaves from garden added together with come chilli . And I will make a pouliss tonight for tomorrow. Apples nearly ready – thinking stewed apples with cinnamon and cloves and allspice, and maybe some raisins. Then I could also make cookies by just adding butter, flour and oats? Wet and windy today and last night.

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SEPTEMBER

Has definitely crept upon us. Trees begining to turn their leaves brown as they recall nutrients from their outer limits. Even the tomatoes are on go slow. It was chilly this morning having a shower and for the first time in months I had to close the bathroom window.

I am waiting with bated breath to find out what the standards advisor reports later today. If guilty as charged it will be like finding out that Mother Teresa was a former Nazi guard, gary Lineker hates crisps and the world actually is flat!

I will get back to preparing pickled shallots – an excuse for crying!

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DOMESTICS

I was thinking about an attack on the garden – gloves on, secateurs ready – then I noticed a caterpillar on the nettle I was about to attack! – so gloves off and I will wait another couple of weeks.

So instead I put some lamb to marinade with garlic, lemon, cinnamon and herbs and salt. A Felicity Cloake recipe for kleptiko. I might go and get some shallots to pickle tomorrow, and thus strawberries for jam too. The weather is turning so it will give me something to do! Well I could try cleaning? Nah! Coconut cookies with strawberry jam appeals to my creative spirit! And then maybe soak raisins or sultanas in brandy and make some xmas style cookies?

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BBC APOLOGISES

For not calling Robert Jenrick an absolute prick? Nothing more to say!

Whilst calling out pricks – Trump, Putin and possibly Zelenskyy. Netanyahu and his cabinet colleagues must be included together with all involved in Sudan and wars elsewhere. Starmer and Lammy have applications for the pricks club pending!

Enough negativity – it rained last night (a little) and the sun is shining. So time for another list – todays are favorite kitchen condiments and I have tried an approximate order!

Sea salt – rainbow pepper corns – chillie flakes – coriander – cumin- mixed herbs (although I have fresh most of the year, rosemary, sage, marjoram, thyme, basil))- cinnamon- bay – za’atar – cloves – paprika. I seem to collect many others that are rarely used too! Actually the 3-10 positions change with the seasons and my taste buds!

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COMFORT FOODS

What are the UK’s most popular comfort foods. i.e. ones we turn to when we want a quick and easy ‘nice’ meal. So here goes; quickest and easiest are beans on toast or cheese on toast or both! A little more effort is spat bol or pasta tuna mayo. I will often turn to a can of tomato soup with added pepper, then there is a bacon sandwich with egg, mushrooms and tomatoes and even fried onion. If more time there is the baked potato with cheese and then possibly roast chicken. And a quick if out and about – a baguette with dairy lea spread with fingers! Out and about preference would be a pasty. This list needs sorting! Beef stew is a late addition!