Making chicken feed of my mortgage

muddywhitechicken

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS wrote: »

Hi MwC, you have given me a brilliant idea then - I never thought of brining gifts for birthdays, Christmas etc. I have a few foodie friends and that would be super, along with a couple of recipes. I have some !kea Kilner type jars - I could layer the ingredients, finish with a festive ribbon or something similar.

Fab

Many thanks, Tilly x x

And I may well steal your idea for my Christmas hampers :rotfl:

Thanks Tilly!

MWCx

edinburgher

Ah - so brine mix as opposed to brined items? That's a really good idea for a foodie!

When we get a garden, I'd love to make HM pickles for Mrs E, she *loves* them. And no, she isn't even pregnant (more's the pity!)

muddywhitechicken

Eggs IN 5 (but still no white egg )
Eggs OUT 2 (poached for dinner)

Apart from a bit of cooking, gardening and walking, I don't appear to have done a great deal today

- 12 jars of victoria plum, russet apple & sloe gin mincemeat

- 2 hours of gardening in the sunshine = 1 flowerbed tidied, another flowerbed and the pots to do tomorrow

- 1-hour walk

muddywhitechicken

Woke up at 09:45 That is not like me at all as I'm normally an early riser - I must have needed the sleep!

I appear to have slept through some heavy rain but the sun is shining now

So my plan for today is laundry, gardening and spicy pear pickle making but first a cup of tea and some breakfast...

Have a good day everyone.

MWCx

abouttimetoo

Hi MWC, how the spicy pear pickle going? Sounds delish

Was thinking about you before as just put my first ever batch of chutney on. It's a 'novice' recipe I got on line and had a load of windfall free apples from a friend so thought I'd give it a whirl. No harm done if it's horrible as apples free and other ingredients cheap and already in the house and I only made half quantities to be on the safe side

Regards
ATT

muddywhitechicken

abouttimetoo wrote: »

Hi MWC, how the spicy pear pickle going? Sounds delish

Hi ATT

I'd forgotten what a faff it is to make...

It took me 2 hours to do the prep and get it to the simmering point, and it has been simmering for 2 3/4 hours now.

Totally worth it though however I'll be waiting until Mr MWC is home to help with the peeling/coring/chopping before making a second batch :rotfl:

MWCx

muddywhitechicken

Eggs IN 2
Eggs OUT 2 (eggy bread for dinner)

Miss MWC tried to lay an egg today but it was a softie and it squished all over her and the nest box. She looked a bit peaky this afternoon so I'll have to keep an eye on her

No gardening done although I have mucked out the chicken coop, tidied the house and cleaned the bathroom

The spicy pear pickle is still cooking...

muddywhitechicken

Finished :j

I forgot that it always takes longer than 20-30 minutes to get it jammy...

14 x 125 mL mason jars + 2 x 250 mL clip top jars filled

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Morning MWC, your preserves sound great. I don't know where you get your energy - since the dark mornings and nights have arrived, my energy is disappearing. Send some over please

Have you decided how to put your hampers together for people?

Best wishes Tilly x

abouttimetoo

Hi MWC

Well done on getting your pickle done, I really like the sound of pear pickle, nom nom

I got my chutney done last night and I'm pleased (but a little amazed) to say it was a roaring success :j

It's all bottled up and labelled with most of it going to friends and good neighbours as a little gift, not for Christmas but 'just because'

Can help feeling a bit proud of my little self

I've taken a photo of the jars, they can't compete with the feast for the eyes photo you put on here recently but if I ever get round to moving photos to my laptop I might even post it on here

Regards
ATT