Category: Cooking

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INFLATION

Inflation up due to fuel and food prices. On both counts the BBC fails to give the full picture. Fuel prices fluctuate with the international market. Until we have Net Zero or near we will continue to suffer from surges in price. Food prices are subject to the vagaries of climate change. Cocoa and coffee have been particularly affected. The impact of the war in Ukraine is also hitting many foods such as grains. In yesterdays Guardian Simon Jenkins was banging on about wind turbines on the Pennines – whilst I agree that the impact should be kept as low as possible there are consequences to our ever increasing demand for energy and consumer goods. the poor working for minimum wage do not have the luxury of the landscape of the Pennines – also the area was polluted during the industrial revolution and “the dark satanic mills”! Wind farms are not particularly ugly and may have a limited impact on wildlife – but are cleaner than the emissions from fossil fuel burning.

If we went to war tomorrow, whatever the reason, factories across the land would start producing weapons of destruction – the money to fund them would be found instantly. I suggest something similar for the climate emergency. Factories making solar panels should be started, wind turbines located in all coastal and upland regions where appropriate. Also – why the huge wind turbines – how about garden ones, and water turbines where appropriate. Insulation provided free or at low cost.

But more importantly is the mind set. Products should be made to last. begining to ramble now! Yesterday a European politician said that tariffs would mean the end to transAtlantic trade. I am sure he was refrring to the USA as Canada is a source of flour and maple syrup! But that would be a good thing generally? I doubt there is much produced in the USA that could not be made in Europe. Unhealthy breakfast cereals would be the first to go. Right I am going to make cheese straws – cheddar cheese, local flour, homegrown basil and dried tomatoes.

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ATTACK MODE

Ed Miliband has got it correct. The way to deal with the climate deniers is to face them head on with facts. The government should also do this with migration, pensions and many other topics – but start slowly.

The facts about climate change/warming are indisputable, even with the petrocompanies pumping millions into false scientific reports. Net zero will not happen overnight, unfortunately, and may come with an initial cost – but like my solar panels (7 years and I was in profit- so maybe 8 if I had taken out a loan). Yes the grid infrastructure will need reform and renewal at a huge cost. But once done, and with onshore wind and a solar subsidy for individuals we can make a difference that will not only save pounds but lives too.

Whilst my neighbours cut their lawns to the roots, and spray them with insecticide, my garden goes from strength to strength. Sage and thyme and rosemary are established and going strong, the yellow rose is brilliant but the others are taking their time. Lovage is good and te mints are struggling. However self seeded fennel, evening primrose and chicory are doing fine. The hanging baskets are also blooming. Regarding insects – lots of hover flies and some bees, butterflies – lots of small skippers (must be breeding?) and whites. No others yet despite the buddliea growing rampant at the back, and numerous nettles. Lots of ladybirds at the moment. I have stopped feeding the birds at the moment as the bird food was sprouting due to lack of interest! i will start in the late autumn again.

I have just had to tie back the fennel and evening primrose so the postman can get to the front door! I fight a constant battle with grass and brambles – but regarding the latter – I am leaving some to produce blackberries. My mulberries are rippening and should be ready latter next week – they do not transport well so will need to be picked and eaten!

So we are going to get some rain? A rain bomb is a possibility? What is a rain bomb? Not something that was around when I was teaching meteorology, but basically a torrential downpour associated with a thunderstorm. Most of the houses shown inundated with flood water are recent builds?

Just going to make cheese straws with sun dried tomatoes, basil, mustard, pepper and sprinkled with parmesan! No recipe so fingers crossed! Oh, just remembered to add garlic! Or is it to much?

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AWFUL

I am constantly surprised by just how bad the government were. NHS waiting lists; migration figures; water company negligence; education in a mess; housing crisis; the legal system; prisons. Just what were they doing?

Will Labour be any better or is it the system? First signs are not great. Has anything noticably changed for the better? Winter fuel payment fiasco; benefits cuts; inertia about water supply. The overall consensus is that we are getting more of the same ineptitude. Pandering to the RWPress and failing at every step with new policies. I do not want to hear about the multi billion black hole left bybthe tories. I want to hear about reform of just about everything. Every government department should be tasked with how they are going to revolutionise their policies within the budget restraints. I do not expect to agree with all of them, but a vision of the future is needed, fast. Starmer seems proficient at international relations which is a huge improvement on the past 15 years

Domestic news – my nextdoor neighbour was spraying weed killer on dandelions in her lawn. I hope the poison does not affect the growing number of insects in my jungle. She is fighting a never ending battle as my garden cherishes dandelions and the chicory, evening primrose and fennel are spreading! My roses are also looking good – hopefully they will grow in size over the next year to become fully fledged bushes. I might get some more in the autumn. I have red x2, white x2, yellow x2, white x3, purple x1 and orangex1. I also have a mallow that has appeared in the back lawn! i am cutting the sky rockets on my apple tree – I know it is not the time stated – but it feels right to me! Sage is escaping and rosemary and oregano is doing well, as is my lemon mint by the patio.

I might make some cheese straws with crushed pepper, basil and sun dried tomatoes later. I watered the hanging baskets at 5.30am this morning but may have to do them again later.

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JUNE – DIARY

is nearly upon us. Will it be ‘flamin’ June”? High pressure is steady across much of Europe casing record heat waves in Spain, Portugal and southern France. TBH this year has been perfect for me in Somerset, enough rain, lots of sunshine and not too hot. First raspberries should be ready tomorrow with sunshine today, ready for the grandchildren to pick. Tomato plants are looking healthy – I need to get some canes for them and think about deleafing them near the pots? They will definitely be earlier than last year when first pick was not until July – Aaron has tomatoes on the ones I gave him already! Roses are lovely with the old red one and the new yellow bush one competing, although the purple one is very/too fragrant!

My birthday meal tomorrow – Maz is very busy, Adam half way through GCSE’s and Erin just started new job so I have told them I will see them later (another excuse for a feast!). I may have gone over the top – last year we all went for a meal and I paid £250 for a meal that was OK. So this year I have spent £200 on – well a JamJam preference! I have beef, pork and lamb which I will marinade and serve with tortilla wraps and salad; oh and wine! And, well lots of salad!

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SPRING

Elderflowers are ready – at least 2 weeks earlier than last year. I have also just made another batch of strawberry jam. 5 jars ready for their labels! I hope this lot sets – I take temperatures and use a plate from the freezer, but still get a semi-liquid. Tastes good though!

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The JamJam Journey: Crafting Homemade Delights

OK so my nick name has nothing to do with jam – it was my granddaughter’s corruption of gran I think. However I have made a lot of jam! mainly strawberry as I live 30 minutes from Warrens Farm shop in Draycott who sell the best strawberries – ever? And now I have my own label thanks to Aaron at Sandford Stores, North Somerset.

Orders cannot be placed as it is friends only! I have just made first 2kg and plan more tomorrow. Will I need a label for pickled onions? Maybe one for Kate to design? Other ones? Tomato recipes – not sure where to concentrate if this summer leads to a bumper crop? Suggestions welcome – the JamJam brand will expand? maybe pots of dried herbs? Or if I get clever rose petal scent?

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OMG

I have just had my first Cheddar strawberries of the year – OMG how can a fruit be so … sweet, pretty, scrumptious? It is an hours round trip for me to get to Draycott – is it worth it? Do bears shit in the woods? Will you need a sprinkling of caster sugar? Definitely not. Personally I would not diminish the flavour hit on the palette with cream, maybe authentic Cornish clotted cream if you must. They are so …. ridiculously fantastic that I am not scoffing them – just saviouring each one and then contemplating when to have the next!

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SHIT

The orange man baby Luddite is pushing for more drilling of fossil fuels. Climate deniers have a good argument in that alternatives are more expensive! Who wants to pay more for fuel and thus everything else? This wehere economics is totally fucked up. We factor in insurance as a cost of transport – so why not factor in the environmental cost. The public needs to have the details – future predicted cost of temperature rising -versus the cost of taking action now. there will always be numbskulls who put personal welfare above societies, this is becoming increasingly common as individuals exist in their own echo chambers. The frog in boiling water analagy is a good one, except these people will be the ones demanding action to help them when disaster occurs. A strong line needs to be taken – cough up or shut te fuck up!

The same is true of our food. The use of pesticides and chemicals on our food is disgusting. The average cost of takeaways per person in the UK is £641p.a. – that is over £11 per week per person. the average spend on food per week is £42. Quick calculation – that is approx 25% of food budget goes on takeaways – and that is without the proportion spent of over processed foods. Society is fucked …….up! 75% of supermarket food sales are processed. With both parents needing an income to pay a mortgage it is no wonder the NHS suffers!

OK I have stopped moaning! What we need is an anti-growth coalition. I am quite open that we need fewer immigrants – not for reasons of colour or religeon, but because we have enough people for te room available. We need better use of our resources. Less chemicals on food, less transport, greater community.

And I just made a gumbo https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2013/feb/13/how-to-cook-perfect-gumbo. excellent – next up is lemon meringue pie!