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Hot Smoking Trout

January 16th, 2012 | 2 Comments

This weekend was our very first venture into the world of smoking…the food type! We have been given a Ronnie Sunshine hot smoker for Christmas. It is described as a compact  type (40 x 25 x 11cm ) that can smoke 4 trout, it has two trays and can also be used for thin cuts of meat, poultry, cheese and vegetables cooking and smoking in one go.  I like the fact that its neat and packs away into itself. It  also came supplied with Alder wood chips. We read all the instructions, first thing before any cooking was to bring the smoker up to 100C , It helps to stop the metal warping or so I am informed.  We had to do this by putting it on the hot plate on top … Read entire article »

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Happy New Year!

I know its been an age since I last tapped at the keys, life just seemed to get in the way but I’m ready to start again. Well that said, I have a list as long as my arm of ideas to try. I want it to be an experimental time. Exploring possibilities. Firstly, I have a plan to build a smoker, hopefully in the Spring. There are so many ideas of what could be smoked, it exciting. Last year both our ancient old pear trees died. We have bought replacements, so it’s out with the old and in with the new. (The old will be use to fuel the wood-burner.) A greenhouse to bring a greater … Read entire article »

Fruit Cage 2010

We have added to the content in the fruit cage we bought last year,  just in case  anyone is looking for suggestions you could check out this site  http://www.wmjames.co.uk/fruit-cages.htm We bought our cage from them  So far  it has stood for a year without any problems. Having gone through a winter which was so cold and a lot of snow. The netting is still in place and it still feels secure.  It’s probably one of our better investments seriously increasing the amount of fruit harvested from the blueberries, currents and strawberries. The fruits we have added are Honey berries  Lonicera-Haskap. from the honeysuckle family (but be careful as not all honeysuckle fruits  are okay to eat). These are … Read entire article »

Ricotta Quiche

This is a great way of making the most of a little. I like to make these on a Friday when we are going to be out in the garden on Saturday. It takes the hassle out of finding something for lunch. I made some with egg and bacon and some with leeks but you can use an alternative such as smoked salmon or broccoli.I would normally use a mix of milk and cream but had some Ricotta left so the perfect way to use it up. Surprisingly for me the Ricotta is amazing to to cook with, everything ends up ‘souffled’. I just love it! Shame is that I took the picture once the … Read entire article »

Mixed Salad Leaves

The first of the season, mixed salad leaves a couple of days aways from harvest. This is one for anyone anywhere to try.  We use a plant pot drip tray, it has ‘run of the mill’  compost as a growing medium and a packet of mixed leaf salad seeds. It has taken about three weeks to get to this stage. It stood outside on the patio without protection of any sort but could easily have been grown on a window sill and would have probably given earlier results. [Translate] … Read entire article »

Lemongrass Grown in the UK – One year later

This pot of Lemon Grass is the result of a piece bought in the supermarket and rooted at home last year. (If you are interested look in the archives at Lemongrass and other Seedlings and Seedlings Progress from 19th February and 7th April 2009).  I admit it doesn’t look much but it has survived.  I kept it outside all through the summer and autumn taking it in to over winter in the shed. It had no other protection and considering the winter we have had it is a wonder it is still alive and kicking.  The temperatures plummeted below freezing in December,January and February and the mean temperature for the winter period was 2.3C for … Read entire article »

Setting seeds

We  spent most of last Saturday setting seeds for what we hope will be a bumper harvest, so fingers crossed they all pop up and grow big and strong.  Even the beautiful Pobble cat likes to get involved! I have upload an on going list of  ‘Seed sowing and Veggies Planted for 2010′ which I hope will be helpful to any budding gardeners out there. This year I want to run a trial on how seeds from the cupboard will do if sown and planted in the garden. I have mostly used beans but there will be others and I will update you on the progress. Yesterday I found some Carob seeds or also called St. John’s bread … Read entire article »

Filo Parcels with Prawn, Ricotta and Swiss Chard

This is a quick and easy to do, you can have all the ingredients bought in from the supermarket or if you have time can have a bash at making the Ricotta and using chard from your garden. I bought the filo pastry which is so easy to use, on each layer brush with olive oil or melted butter. For the Ricotta I used a Sicilian recipe find it here at  http://isicilian.boonrepublic.com/2010/03/24/how-to-make-ricotta-cheese/ I did cut the quantity down to a quarter as there is only the two of most of the time.  It couldn’t be more simple to make and the result is lovely. I used a recycled 750g ice cream tub and it was filled to … Read entire article »

Swiss Chard and Chick Pea Soup

Swiss chard is the first of the new greens from the garden.  I wanted to make a soup that will show it off to its best and  one that could be eaten hot or cold. In this soup you have the bitterness of greens, sweetness of coconut milk, sourness of the lime and heat from the chilli. It gives an Asian tang to our humble but well loved  Swiss chard. Packing a punch in flavour but aiming to be able to use alternative ingredients where possible giving the most flexibility.  Swiss chard could be change with kale, spinach or any other beet or bitter greens, chick peas can changed with cooked or canned beans maybe lentils or … Read entire article »

Limoncello

I love this alcoholic drink, it’s fresh and has full on flavour, it is also so easy to make. I picked up the recipe thanks this blog  http://2friends4cooking.com many thanks to you both for your kind permission to share. You will need the following 8 Organic unwaxed Lemoms 1 ltr Vodka 350g White Sugar 1 ltr Water (I use tap water but you might prefer to use bottled) Peel the lemons making sure that as little of the pith is left on Add the vodka and lemon peel to a plastic container and leave to infuse for 7 days Make a sugar syrup with the water and sugar Add the cooled syrup to the vodka and lemon peel Bottle in sterilised bottles This drink can be … Read entire article »

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