Home Baking

I have an acquaintance who is exactly the same age as me - but we couldn't be more poles apart. When I talk about what I have cooked or baked, she almost smirks! I can tell that she thinks I'm some sad old, mad old lady who's ready for a Shackletons high chair and a blue rinse!

Her standard reply when I bake is "but you can buy that in Morrisons!". Her hubby argues often with her about how much she spends.

My Yorkshire Parkin is baked using my old school cookery book recipe. It fills the house with the most gorgeous aroma of ginger. The recipe says to leave it a week to go sticky - it never makes it past the next day.
My Apple and Blackberry crumble is made with berries that hubby and I picked on a late summers day and froze. We "scrumped" the apples from a tree that was on the old colliery site. They are very sweet eating apples, a really old variety and so tasty. The berries and the apples are free. So for a few pence I am able to make the most scrumptious crumble to warm our cockles on a winters eve.

(If you look very closely, one apple has the worlds tiniest snail on it! It didn't make it into the crumble! Hows that for organic! )

And when hubby walks in from work, and can see that Ive made the effort to make him his favourite pudding, the smile on his face is priceless.

Now you don't get that shopping in Morrisons, and we never argue about how much I spend.

Everybody's doing it!

Sunday was a perfect day. The weather was gorgeous and so we went for an early morning walk around the lakes. We took a bag of bread to feed the fish, then filled the bag on the way back with what looks like the last of the blackberries - but they were huge ones.
Sky should always be this colour - except at sunrise and sunset.

Then it was back to an afternoon of pottering around in the garden.

And finally, I decided that I would do what everyone else who has been to see "Julie & Julia" has done - and that is make Julia Child's Bouef Bourguignon.
I haven't bought the book (yet!!) so I used this recipe from the internet. It looks a bit long winded, but I think that's just the way its written. I found it a bit salty (I suppose thats the bacon), but it was totally delicious and was scoffed in no time - followed by our forraged blackberry crumble.

A bit of a lie in, a lovely long walk, the sun on my face, a spot of foraging, gardening, time spent with my family, cooking to feed my brood, sharing a nice bottle of red - What a perfect day.

Along came a spider........

The onset of darker evenings is slowly forcing me indoors earlier and I have finally started to sew again in preperation for you know what!! I have started experimenting with corsages and brooches.

However I had a bit of a shock when this monster crawled out of my sewing box!!! Thankfully a knight in shining armour was able to liberate him into the great outdoors - I just hope he stays out.

I love this deep purple velvety pansy.

And here is one of my displays moving into Autumn. It has been filled with pebbles, sea glass and driftwood all summer, but now contains Autumnal leaves, pine cones, acorns, rose hips and "helicopters" (see below). I dont know if you can see, but there is a candle in the top which gives off a warm rosy glow as the evenings turn chilly.

Helicopters (I think that they are from the Sycamore tree, but please enlighten me if I'm wrong). I still cannot resist playing with these at this time of year. The young man and I had hours of fun when we went to pick these. Snap them in half and throw them in the air and they twirl back down to earth, just like the blades of a helicopter.

Bestowed with gifts and freebies

One of the side effects of blogging, and something I hadn't realised would happen, is that you sometimes receive lovely things through the post from bloggy mates. The lovely Lisa recently sent me a perfect little heart shaped white stone that her family had found on a beach, and a buttony heart that she had made just for me. Many thanks Lisa, these were totally unexpected and made my heart sing when I opened both packages.
And then Collette in a moment of madness decided to give away hundreds of hexagons because she was overwhelmed by the amount of projects she had on the go. So they found their way to my house!! That'll keep me out of mischief over the winter! She also sent me a fabulous red felted heart (modelled in a previous post). Many thanks Collette

Hubby and I went for a walk this evening and gathered a few Damsons. Last year I made Damson Chutney ( a Delia recipe from the tinter), but I made so much, that in spite of giving jars and jars away as presents, I still have loads left. So this year I am going to make Damson Gin (as well as Sloe Gin). If you find me "slurming my worms" you'll know why!

We also risked wasps, nettles and brambles to gather some more blackberries for the freezer. I remembered a poem my Grandma taught me:

In the Hedgerow, plump and sweet,

Blackberries ripen and ready to eat.

The Nightshade berries are ripening too,

But DON'T eat those whatever you do!!

I was inspired by Nina to have a go at Blackberry liqueur - its almost ready!

Ive been really lucky and bagsy'd free tickets for myself and a few friends to see a free preview screening of "Julie & Julia" before it is released. I don't know if any of you have ever used http://www.seefilmfirst.co.uk/ but it is excellent for getting to see films before most people have even heard of them (we saw Slumdog Millionaire 7 weeks before it was released!). You print your own ticket so you don't' have to queue and they just show the film - no annoying adverts. Films usually start at 6.30pm. And its totally FREE!

We don't get much time to watch TV at our house, but lately I have been loving:

* the Gryff Rhys Jones "Rivers" series - so so interesting.

* The new series of Coast - always fascinating.

* Jam and Jerusalem - so funny and touching and perfect for Sunday evenings

* Who Do You Think You Are - Kim Cattrell came across as so lovely and the story was so moving. I bet the family up in the north east nearly died when they found out the truth.

Many thanks to all who continue to leave me such lovely comments. I really do appreciate each and every one. And a continued thanks to all you gifted and talented and clever people for providing me with inspiration. xxxxx

Familiar Places

In "My Family and Other Animals" the highest accolade that Mrs Durrell gives to a place is that "she could have her ashes scattered here". Well I certainly give that accolade to Monsal Dale in Derbyshire. I feel so lucky that we can get to one of our favorite places in the world so easily. I know that it is a favorite of some of you other bloggers too (Rosie and Rowan ) so I thought I would take you on our walk. Photographs do not do justice to this spectacular landscape. The valley is so deep, cut out by the river Wye below.

The river was very swollen and fast flowing following yesterdays all day downpour.

The path to Litten Mill was flooded.

You can just see the mill owners gothic mansion peeping out of the trees high above the valley.

The mill (in the fore ground) has been converted into luxury apartments - I'd love one of these. In the background are some of the old mill workers cottages. The mill was used up until 1965. It used to be a cotton mill, and they also distilled peppermint and other herbs that are grown locally. I find these tranquil, beautiful valleys so amazing. I would love to be able to step back 100 years and see how industrial this valley was then.

The walk along the disused railway track is full of the most amazing wild flowers and fruit. I loved this carpet of herbs - I think it is wild Thyme

The boys could not believe how giddy I got when we found huge patches of tiny wild Strawberries. They had a wonderful smell, but they were very sharp tasting!!

We also found wild raspberries - it was a foragers delight!!

After scrambling up hill and down dale, I couldn't resist dipping my tootsies in the river. Very refreshing and highly recommended.

After Monsal, we made our way home via Great Lonsgtone where there are many beautiful houses. Mr Darcy could come calling here!!

They were holding their Well Dressings this weekend. These are made out of flower petals and are really beautiful.

The Morris dancers were very entertaining outside of the Crispin Arms - I always think there is no more English a sight than Morris Dancers outside of a pub on a hot summers day.

And finally we finished off with Bradwells Ice Cream (this Derbyshire ice cream gives the Cornish version a run for its money!!)

An absolutely perfect day.

Today at Heartshaped towers.........

I have started a batch of Elderflower Champagne (recipe from the tinterweb - courtesy of Hugh Fearnley Whatsisbob). I made this last year and it is the most gorgeous summer beverage ever. Be warned if you make it though. It gets VERY explosive VERY soon. My first bottle emptied itself all over my kitchen ceiling after only being bottled for 1 day!!! This year, I am going to try not screwing the caps on the bottles until the day before I want to drink it. I'll let you know how I get on. I am making it in my Grandads "pantion" (I think that is how you spell it). I have to say that this does get used lots in my kitchen. The concoction makes the whole house smell divine. As soon as I have finshed this batch, I will make some Elderflower cordial - an essential ingredient in my summer G&T.


Recipe here - http://www.channel4.com/food/recipes/chefs/hugh-fearnley-whittingstall/elderflower-champagne-recipe_p_1.html


I am also sprouting beans. I have always sprouted seeds and beans to use in salads since I discovered Alfafa in Cranks Covent Garden in the early 80's, but I often found it difficult to find affordable seeds and beans to sprout. Last year in ST Ives I discovered the wonderful Living Food shop, so this year I stocked up again. They do mail order (and I believe they don't charge p&p either) http://www.sproutingseeds.co.uk/ This week I am doing Mung and Aduki beans. Delish!

I am growing baby salad leaves and have raised them off the ground along with a courgette plant in an attempt to stave off slug attack.

I am also making heart shaped ice cubes for my G&T courtesy of the lovely Lisa . May thanks Lisa, but you are really naughty - you shouln't have.




And I am going to take this great bag to bits to make a pattern. My daughter bought a dress in Penzance and they put it in this fabulous bag made from recycled newspaper. If I can figure it out, I will save a load of money and also save the world at the same time. I did bring "Le Monde" Newspaper home from France last year, so a few french paper bags will look really different.

I could have been a star.

Hi All, Hope you have had a good weekend. This morning was the first cricket match of the season for the young man, so Dad and I sat in the absolute freezing cold for 4 hours watching and supporting him. His team had a great match and they won, so it made up for the cold. All the parents joked about how the sun would come out as soon as the match was over, and low and behold it did. We got home and I put the dinner on - a bargain turkey from Waitrose bought late on Easter Saturday (top tip from "Cottage Smallholder") and shoved in the freezer till now. Should have cost £24 and cost £8.00. I love a bargain, and it will feed us for the week!! Whilst the turkey cooked, we went for a walk across the old coal tips - now a lovely unspoiled area.

The coal mine that had been here in the past had been used as a location for a couple of movies after it had closed down. One was "Pit Ponies" a disney film, and the other was "The Price of Coal" which was written by Barry Hines. I remember auditioning for the part of the miners daughter one afternoon at comprehensive school (we didn't have a choice, the headmistress made us all go). Barry Hines had been my English teacher when I first started there, but he left to pursue other avenues shortly after. It was a few years after "Kes" had been made into a film (also shot around here - i'll photograph some of the locations at a later date). I was auditioned by Barry Hines and the film director Ken Loach. I remember being disapointed as I had gotten it into my head that he was the one who played Ken Barlow in Coronation Street (Bill Roache). Anyway, I was scared to death, but managed to get into the final 3!!! On my final audition, I was far more relaxed, totally over acted, and lost the part to a girl called Jayne Waddington who was very shy at that time. And that was the end of what could have been my brilliant movie career. I could have been having Meryl Streep around to share the turkey!!! Actually, its a good job I didn't win the part. I was about to leave school, and had secured a position in the office at a local opticians with the fantastic starting salary of £14.50 per week (my friend got £16.50 on the dole!!) I would have had to give up the job, and my mum said that she wasn't going to let me do that as jobs were hard to find in 1976. My mum still tries to clip my wings even though I am nearly 50!!

Anyway, the colliery is no longer there and the area has been left to go back to nature. The hills are covered in cowslips, forget-me-nots, comfrey, teasels, bluebells etc

One of my favorite plants for "foraging" is just about to bloom - the wild garlic. It has a very distinctive garlic/onion smell and usually grows by rivers or streams. You can use all of this plant. The bulb you can use as you would a garlic bulb. The leaves can be chopped very finally and added to mayonnaise or salads, but my favorite bit is the white flower which is totally edible and looks amazing in salads. It tastes just like garlic butter. Be warned though that all of it is much stronger than ordinary garlic, so avoid eating if you are out on the pull later!!!

Summat for nowt.

I love foraging for food. Natures own food fresh from the hedgerows tastes out of this world. As the year progresses, I shall take you on my foraging trips, but for now, you will have to make do with a (really bad) photo of the remnants from last year. In the glass is my Sloe Gin. I had never tasted this until a neighbour told me how to make it. Its very moreish! The bottle (that looks as if it contains a urine sample!!) is what is left of my Elderflower cordial. Very lovely addition to a G&T but almost equally lovely with sparkling mineral water. I also have Damson Pickle (a la Delia Smith recipe) , a few jars of Mixed Berry Jam (my own concoction using Blackberry, Elderberry and Damson) and some Apple Jelly. This year I am going to have a bash at nettle soup and nettle beer (never used nettles before). Last year I made loads of Elderflower champagne - highly explosive - but so refreshing. I dont think I left it long enough to become alcoholic, but it was one of the nicest drinks I have ever tasted. I know some of you are foragers, so I am looking forward to trying new things that you suggest as the year goes along.

PS You may have noticed the heart shaped bit of wood I thought I would include in the picture. Hubby found it in the woods and carved our names on it and gave it me on our wedding anniversary. We have lots of heart shaped things around here - but no heart shaped diamonds !!!