Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

MyHappinessProject

Here is a great link to instructions for how to make MORROCCAN MINT TEA using fresh mint leaves -
http://honestlyyum.com/10328/moroccan-mint-tea/

dND

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

First lot of chutney made 6 lbs which is cooling down in its jars and the second lot is simmering away on the hob, something different as I had peaches and nectarines in the fridge that had gone just that bit soft so I found a recipe for Peach and Nectarine Chutney which smells amazing, lots of spices and my kitchen now smells like Christmas!!!

Reminds me of a bumper harvest of nectarines I had a couple of years back (one of the advantages of being in SW France ) I realised I was missing mango chutney so did a bit of and experiment and made a French version. I substituted the nectarines for the mangos and prunes (this area is famous for them) for the dates. Even though I say it myself it was lovely.

It's fun to use what you have and also to experiment a bit. Chutney is lovely as you can use it with so much. That's probably why I also like quince or redcurrent jelly so much too, you can have it with sweet or with savoury so it gets used up - important when you live alone.

[Deleted User]

OK Courgette Chutney Recipe

1 kg of courgettes chopped small
1 kg of tomatoes (ripe or green) skinned and chopped
500g of apples (any) peeled cored and chopped
500g of onions chopped small
500g raisins/sultanas
500g dark brown sugar
600ml of malt vinegar
1 teaspoon of salt
2 tablespoons of ground ginger
1 good teaspoon of ground cloves
2 flat teaspoons ground pepper
1 tablespoon ground coriander
1 flat teaspoon of chilli powder
1 teaspoon ground turmeric

Everything into a heavy pan/maslin pan bring to the boil stirring until the sugar is dissolved and then simmer it slowly for a couple of hours until it is a dark, thick unctuous brown goo. Bottle up into hot sterilized jars and pop the lids on straight away. Leave for a couple of months to age before using.

Thus will make you around 6 x 1 lb jars of chutney.

We've just stood in the sun and bagged up in a big paper sack half a hundredweight of perfect sound maincrop Desiree potatoes that have been spread on the lawn drying off this morning. They're a really good size this year, I forsee lots of lovely Jackets in the colder weather. They are now in the dark at the bottom of the stairs wrapped in a wool blanket to keep them dark!

meritaten

more chutney today! I had a good bit of marrow left over from making piccalilli the other day and found a nice sounding recipe on tinternet - it wasn't quite enough marrow for the recipe, but I DID have some granny smiths apples so made up the weight with those. I tried the chutney and its really lovely! I could happily eat it straight away but will be good and stash it away for Christmas.
so the veg has all been prepped for the next lot of piccalilli and is sitting in its salt bath. I do need more jars though, so will pop over Home Bargains in the morning, as their one pound mason jars are perfect and only 59pence each. (it grieves me to pay for jars but nobody except DD has given me empties).

[Deleted User]

I shall be making a batch of red tomato chutney tomorrow as I've just picked yet another colander full of them from the greenhouse. Other than that unless I get given something we don't grow the only other chutney I'll be making is a wartime apple one that is scrumptious and very economical, as and when the apples on our big old tree are ready for harvesting. I make this every year and we always run out, I must make a bigger batch this year.

GreyQueen

:beer: Thank you so much, Lyn, I have copied-and-pasted that into my Recipes folder, entitled Mrs LW's........

Lynplatinum

Evening all

Yesterday and today v busy with friends coming round and work! On Friday one of my dear friends invited me out to get photos for our local beer magasine and to try to raise sponsorship for our beer festival from publicans. So nice to be driven around in a posh car as I usually end up driving!

Vulpix you are welcome join me in trying to loose weight but I have fallen off the band waggon today as my good friends from Portsmouth (my surrogate son and daughter) came up to visit and so I made chocolate brownies! Fatal then another friend and her new man came round and we had an Indian take away and then went down the local pub for a couple of pints. Not good! Very nice but not good for the waist line!

misstara - by gf do you mean gluten free?

anyhooo back in the dieting saddle again tomorrow
In that spirit here is the Jam!e O recipe for courgette salad - really fresh and clean tasting he partners it with very rich riccotta fritters in a rich tomato sauce - so it goes well with rich sauces but I have also used it with well spiced grilled meats of various sorts:

(For 4 people)

400g firm courgettes
1 tablespn olive oil
1 fresh chilli or pinch of dried chilli flakes
bunch of fresh mint
1 lemon (juice and fine grated zest

1)grate courgettes (box grater - largest holes or food processor)
2) in a bowl mix together all other ingredients v well
3) Add courgettes - leave for about 1/2 hr before serving (not good the next day)
Nite all!

villagelife

Fairyprincess - many thanks. I have left my mint in the oven over night and I'm sure it's dry so I will finish it soon.

iamsalt

Hi everyone

I picked 6 courgettes yesterday from the garden, and I sliced and dried 3 in the dehydrator I got for my birthday, they take up half an old jam jar of space and are ready to be used for the winter in casseroles and other suppers. I love that I can then choose what I want to do with the others as I am not feeling as overwhelmed as usual with the glut.

I picked loads of gherkins so will start pickling them today as I salted them overnight. Now all I have to do is pick enough blackberries for oh to make wine, me to make jam and syrup (I use instead of squash and to go with ice Cream!)

I have a question for people. I was given a load of old jam jars yesterday and most still have their labels on. How do I best get them off so I can label them myself? New Labels were bought in stapples last year in the sale 10p for 50 in anticipation.

I have also discovered my inner geek, I have been keeping track in a cash book how much I have spent on the garden this year, and then also estimating how much I am picking from the garden in supermarket prices. Hopefully this will help me to focus on what I grow and get the best from it, although I wo uld be happy growing anything if it gets me outside! Have a lovely Sunday.
S x

silvasava

Iamsalt - soak the jars in hot soapy water & the labels will peel off depending on the glue used. If the backing doesn't come away scrape it off with a knife. Lakeland sell sticky stuff remover which is excellent for removing any stubborn glue - I used it on the boat windows to get the years old glue left on from stickers - very impressed!