50p a day til Christmas - healthily?! Weezl's next challenge...

In_Search_Of_Me

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/basilgnocchiwithsimp_74596.shtml
PP this is the one Weezl modified which contains real pots...have to say I'm not a fan of smash but can understand that it must be cheaper for our weezl!
Forgot to say PP those veggies look yummy or nom nom as Weel would day! Beautiful colours!
Was taling to my bessie mate re piggy head & she grew up on a farm; apparently boiled pigs head & trollers were a regular and she says that her mum made yummy stuff with the marrow bone...fond memories apparently but I still go for he yiew...Mr Weel may be a convert but nope, still not me!

Skintmama

This thread, as with the previous one, is very inspiring and a great read so thanks to all who contribute.

Weezl - regarding the pigs head, I used to make a good brawn with just half of one........rather easier to fit in the pot! No recipe, just copied my Dad who simmered it until cooked (hours)..... drain and cool it. Take off all the meat and cut into little pieces, place in a basin. Meanwhile boil up, skim, strain and season the stock. Pour this over the meat to just cover, not too much or everything will float! When it is refrigerated and set it really is meaty and delicious.......and in no way resembles the head of a pig!

Maxjessdru

Hi everyone - first post on this thread and finding it hard to keep up:p

Promised some foraging recipes from preserves on your last thread but then life took over so I never got round to it! Anyway, here they are:

Blackberry Jam
2lb blackberries
2lb sugar
2 tbsps lemon juice.

Wash the fruit in cold water and allow to drain well. Put in large pan and cook over a low heat until a soft pulp. Press the fruit with a wooden spoon to extract the most juice. Add sugar and lemon juice, stir over a low heat until sugar dissolved then boil rapidly until setting point reached.

Blackberry & Apple Jam
1lb blackberries
1lb cooking apples (weight when peeled and cored)
2 tbsps water
2lb sugar

Wash the berries and drain. Chop apples into small pieces and put into pan with water. Simmer 10 mins then add blackberries and continue cooking until soft puree. Add sugar and stir over a low heat until sugar dissolved then boil rapidly until setting point reached.

Blackberry & Elderberry Jam
1lb blackberries
1lb elderberries
4 tbsps lemon juice
2lb sugar

Wash the berries and drain, put in pan and simmer till just soft. Add sugar & lemon juice and stir over a low heat until sugar dissolved then boil rapidly until setting point reached.

Bramble Jelly
2lb blackberries
1/4 pint water
sugar and lemon juice (see below)

Wash the blackberries, put into pan with water and simmer gently until v soft. Press with a spoon to release juice. Strain through a jelly bag or muslin and measure the juice. Add 1lb sugar and 2 tbsps lemon juice to each pint of juice. Heat juice, add sugar and lemon. stir over a low heat until sugar dissolved then boil rapidly until setting point reached.

Rowan Jelly
2lb rowanberries (mountain ash tree berries)
1/2 pint water
sugar (see below)

Wash the berries, put into pan with water and simmer gently until v soft. Press with a spoon to release juice. Strain through a jelly bag or muslin and measure the juice. Add 1lb sugar to each pint of juice. Heat juice, add sugar and lemon. stir over a low heat until sugar dissolved then boil rapidly until setting point reached.

Rose Hip Syrup

1lb rose hips
3 pints water
sugar

Wash the hips then chop or grate while bringing the water to the boil. Do not allow hips to stand after chopping. Simmer the hips in the water for 5 mins then allow to stand for 15 mins - keep pan covered. Strain the liquid and measure. Add 10oz sugar per pint of liquid (or to taste - add 8oz first then taste). Reheat juice until all sugar dissolved then pour into sterlized jars. (Can also be frozen in ice trays).

My book also has lots of wierd and wonderful jams and other preserves - including banana jam (and variations) and marrow and ginger:D Will get round to posting these at some point!!

Also, a couple of pages back people were discussing produce from the garden. I find the easiest things to grow are fruit. I have a large row of raspberry canes, a huge old bramley apple tree and a number of fruit bushes. Most fruit bushes (blackcurrant, redcurrant and gooseberry) are the easiest things to propogate. All you need to do is cut off a stem, stick it in the ground and I guarantee it will grow and produce fruit in its second year. I now have 6 blackcurrant bushes from my original one!

If you know anyone with an apple tree, can I suggest you put in an early request for any extra they cannot use. Everyone I know (in my part of the world at least - London/Essex) says that their fruit trees are having a really good year. I have been in my house for 10 years and I have never seen so much fruit - lots of jam making coming up - apple and blackberry, apple and blackcurrant, apple and raspberry .......

Katgoddess

Just wanted to delurk to say I am reading this thread with interest and have subscribed to your blog. I've just had a very demanding baby and everything is up in the air at the moment but look forward to trying some of your recipes at some point. Esp the hummous and gnocchi.

Herewegoagain

shaz_mum_of__2 wrote: »

Hi there Weezl made your gnocchi (having it tomorrow)

I followed your recipe but i rolled a floured fork over the little balls they look good

Will probably have a "leftover veg" tomato based sauce with them and some h/m foccacia type bread




Shaz

ps i made all the packet mash up and making potato bread with the othr half with a tablespoon of dried onions in too ...nom nom with cheese and chutney

This looks great, I will have to have a go, that's my kind of price:D

Hey, Max,
Am looking forward to making HM jam and your recipes will come in very handy.:T :T


Just received the collins gem food for free, can't wait to have a go, but the book and writing is so small I may need a magifying glass as well as my spec's for this ha ha. Wish me luck:D

hmkn

Maxjessdru wrote: »

Hi everyone - first post on this thread and finding it hard to keep up:p

Promised some foraging recipes from preserves on your last thread
My book also has lots of wierd and wonderful jams and other preserves - including banana jam (and variations) and marrow and ginger:D Will get round to posting these at some point!!


Also, a couple of pages back people were discussing produce from the garden. I find the easiest things to grow are fruit. I have a large row of raspberry canes, a huge old bramley apple tree and a number of fruit bushes. Most fruit bushes (blackcurrant, redcurrant and gooseberry) are the easiest things to propogate. All you need to do is cut off a stem, stick it in the ground and I guarantee it will grow and produce fruit in its second year. I now have 6 blackcurrant bushes from my original one!

If you know anyone with an apple tree, can I suggest you put in an early request for any extra they cannot use. Everyone I know (in my part of the world at least - London/Essex) says that their fruit trees are having a really good year. I have been in my house for 10 years and I have never seen so much fruit - lots of jam making coming up - apple and blackberry, apple and blackcurrant, apple and raspberry .......

Thanks for the tip about the fruit. I don't have any fruit trees myself (bushes and raspberries going in allotment next year!) but I do have nice neighbours with apple, pear and plum trees :j Will start being extra nice to them

BTW Marrow and ginger jam is really delicious. Think courgette cake- you can't really taste the marrow and it's a good way to use up surplus or if someone donates one to you! Courgettes would work too, and it's a good way of using up too large ones that are a bit watery. Marrow and pineapple is good too- free (or cheap) marrow and an end-of-market/special offer pineapple means cheap jam and lovely Christmas pressies!

Which preserve book have you got? My 'basic' is an old Good Housekeeping one, but I was thinking of treating myself to another more modern one as an early Christmas pressie (got to be early as I make loads of jam etc in the autumn :cool: ) and I've been looking at Sensational Preserves online.

HMK

In_Search_Of_Me

ooo yummy recipes pepys!! I have a great preserving book but Weezl has it - Weezl can you post the name & title of the yellow one - he softback. Hardback is nice but more in the other & some unusual ones! Mind you am happy to type up recipes for pepys to save people spending. ANother great way of gtting books with the excitement of the hunt is by going to car boots, charity shops and 2nd hand book shops. More time consuming than amazon or ebay but more fun and its fab when you find the one youre after!!
Have agreat day all...Weezl has gone quiet!! Hope you have a nice day forraging today Mrs! Are you taking your book with you?! Try not to poisen yourself with dodgy berries! Hello lovely lurkers & new people & a special hello to the regulars...Ceridwen please dont not post we'd miss ya!
have had a look at the lentil pate and recon if you substitute the oil for fry light that it would be free on a green day. What do you think Bob...have I got that right - would hate to mislead people...? WIll try & make it tonight or over the w/e and will report back...

taplady

PenPen - your veggies look fabulous!:T

weezl74

Morning all!

Just a quickie, as am preparing for the visit of my friend from school.

Sorry I wasn't very clear with the gnocchi recipe, you can easily use fresh potato!

Ceridwen, I'm sure an organic one wouldn't be pricey, and if you can grow your own basil, then gnocchi with pesto would be a thrifty meal, even with the organic price premium!:money::money:

Hiya maxjessdru, Ta very much for those recipes :T:T:T

Hiya and welcome skintmama! glad you're feeling inspired...

jo1972. well done on making the things you've got stretch so far:T:T:j

Shaz, those gnocchi look fab! Wish I knewABOUT THE FORK TRICK SOONER! OOps didn't mean to shout, caps lock was on!!

Back soon,

Weezl x

acetate_monkey

Maxjessdru wrote: »

Rowan Jelly
2lb rowanberries (mountain ash tree berries)
1/2 pint water
sugar (see below)

Wash the berries, put into pan with water and simmer gently until v soft. Press with a spoon to release juice. Strain through a jelly bag or muslin and measure the juice. Add 1lb sugar to each pint of juice. Heat juice, add sugar and lemon. stir over a low heat until sugar dissolved then boil rapidly until setting point reached.

Thanks for that Maxjessdru, I look fwd to harvesting the rowan berries growing nearby:T
Have you made this ? Do you know how much lemon to use? Does anyone know roughly how much is 2 pounds of rowan berries- a carrier bag, half of one, 10 bunches etc?
Thanks for the lovely jam recipes, looking forward to them on HM bread