Facebook has just reminded me that five years ago I spent the day at the Luton Hoo Pumpkin and Apple Day, retreating from the crowds from time to time to sit on the haystacks and feed my 6 month old daughter. Today I have been in the town square enjoying our community garden Apple Day. We've been … Continue reading Pumpkin and Apple Season: Two Warming Autumn Soups
When we inherited our allotment last March, the only crop which had overwintered was a collection of celeriac - clearly beloved of the previous occupants if the quantity, amount and size of the plants was anything to go by. I've long been a fan of the nobbly, bald vegetable after having it in soups in Austria … Continue reading Allotment Soup Challenge: Celeriac and Blue Cheese
We've been having festive fungal fun all through December in our house, thanks to the Oyster Mushroom Kit sent by the nice people at the Espresso Mushroom Company. This week it's been the highlight of the process - harvest, cooking and scoffing them in waves of warm garlicky goodness. On Day 16 they were ready … Continue reading Oyster Mushroom Advent Calendar: A Christmas Harvest
Facebook has just reminded me that five years ago I spent the day at the Luton Hoo Pumpkin and Apple Day, retreating from the crowds from time to time to sit on the haystacks and feed my 6 month old daughter. Today I have been in the town square enjoying our community garden Apple Day. We've been … Continue reading Pumpkin and Apple Season: Two Warming Autumn Soups
Last week the courgettes were destined for savoury fare in my courgette and chilli cornbread. This week's courgette production shows no let up, so I've been experimenting with sweet uses of courgettes. First I tried a courgette chocolate cake using a recipe from the Delemere Farm Goat's Milk carton. It was meant to be avocado and chocolate, but ended up … Continue reading Plot to Plate: Courgette Tea Bread
Everywhere you look at in my house at the moment there are courgettes of different shapes and sizes. In the sinks, the fridge and on the worktops. It's a lovely problem to have and I'm intending to conquer it by including courgette in every meal and snack for the next few weeks. I might just … Continue reading Plot to Plate: Courgette and Chilli Cornbread
I've sometimes grown fruit and veg in the garden and then had insufficient time, in the whirl of hectic family life, to harvest and/or cook it, which rather defeats the object of growing it in the first place. Now my youngest is at school I'm resolved to make more time to enjoy the fruits (and veg) of my … Continue reading Plot to Plate: Stuffed Summer Squash
It was too hot tonight to spend much time in the kitchen - what was needed was a quick supper for the family to eat in the garden. Salad is plentiful at this time of year, so add a bit of pasta on the side and job done. Pesto is great to mix with speedy … Continue reading Hey Presto – Pesto!
The best thing about scones with raspberry jam and clotted cream is that you get two bites of the raspberry. You can make the jam in July with a glut of summer raspberries as we did, or wait until the autumn fruits begin and then start jamming. Or even make jam all summer long with both … Continue reading Scones with raspberry jam and clotted cream – perfect for a summer afternoon tea
It's June, the weather is warming, there's been plenty of rain (!) and the rhubarb is looking on top of the world. From the small knuckles of underground potential, huge forests have grown in a few short weeks and now, in a Jurassic corner of the fruit cage, garden or allotment a jungle threatens to swamp any … Continue reading 8 Delicious Recipes for Surviving a Rhubarb Glut…