A few questions for you all

mummy2jack

Well I will start with saying hi to you all

I have been lurking for sometime, I did join and post a few months back when I first started on the road to OS living... By cooking from scratch, Halfing my dishwasher tablets and using Tescos own brand labels etc have all help me save money and by doing these types of things I am slowly but surely clearing all my debt.. So many thanks to you all :beer:

Right..1st question.. Hazelnuts.. My OH does metal detecting so is always in fields in the countryside the other week he came across a whole load of hazelnut trees.. Now other than eating them as they are is there anything else I could do with them as I intend to make the most of them and go pickking when they are ready.

2nd question... My OH as also come across plum, pear and apple trees on his travels.. What month is best to pick these and when I do can I freeze them?

Look forward to you replies...
Emma

Teria

Hazlenuts are nice chopped up in cakes. I usually end up eating them though.
Apples can be frozen, but need cooking first. I don't know about pears, but my step mum does something with plums in syrup, which preserves them somehow?

thriftlady_2

Apples and pears will be ready September/October, plums are earlier -August/September. I wouldn't bother freezing apples and pears they store well if kept dry, cool and not touching each other (wrap in newspaper). Plums freeze well for cooking but don't expect to defrost and enjoy them as if fresh;)

Chutney is a good way of using up these fruits if they are less than perfect.

maypole

thriftlady wrote: »

Apples and pears will be ready September/October, plums are earlier -August/September. I wouldn't bother freezing apples and pears they store well if kept dry, cool and not touching each other (wrap in newspaper). Plums freeze well for cooking but don't expect to defrost and enjoy them as if fresh;)

Chutney is a good way of using up these fruits if they are less than perfect.

Also make delicious plum jam.

betterlife

hazelnuts will last for ages in an airtight container maybe one of those glass jars with metal sealy thingy. great for just eating and cakes, cookies, flapjacks, homemade musili, on cereal etc. apples, pears and plums can be frozen, or pureed then frozen, you could make some apple and blackberry (they will be ready to pick in the wild in sept) pies, crumble and jams. plum pies and crumbles and jams aswell. jam when put into sterelize jars with wax disc and screw top will keep for ages aswell in a cool dark place. luck you finding all this free food.x

BB1984

You could make stewed fruit and freeze it in portions, delicious on pancakes and with icecream.

You could make a load of fruit crumbles, they freeze well too, i believe (never tried, we always end up eating it all straightaway!)

bb

annelouise_2

Jams and stewed fruit crumble/pie/poudding comes to mind.The freezer is a marvellous thing.

annelouise

Farway

Apples, pears are ready when they easily detach from the tree

If you have to pull them or twist them off they are not ripe

Much the same with plums, but some are ready now, you will get a clue when you see them on the ground, luckily they do not all ripen at once or overnight