Spiced Runner Bean Pickle
31 Aug 2010 1 Comment
in Cooking and Eating, In the garden, Ty Guen
It’s the last day of August and already we have so many beans we don’t know what to do with them. With the recent rain we have had the beans have really put on a spurt. Nothing like a drop of good old fashioned rain to get things going in the garden. So, while browsing some web sites/blogs l came across the idea of pickling the blighters. This recipe comes from the Summer Cookbook by Delia.
Runner Beans
First gather said Runner Beans. You will need 2lb for this recipe, that’s prepared weight ie. trimmed and sliced. Click on the link for the full recipe.
Spiced Runner Bean Pickle Recipe
Nearly there
For me, there is always something quite special when making pickles, chutneys, jams etc at this time of the year. The smell of onions simmering in malt vinegar always reminds me of Autumn. Quick, time is running out…fill those shelves with preserves and we will be safe for the winter!
9 jars of pickle
A word about the recipe. I followed it to the ‘t’ but found it to be too liquid. I had to empty the jars back into the pan and add a further amount of cornflower before l felt it was at the right sort of chutney consistency. We now have to wait at least a month for it to mature before we can try it out. I’ll let you know.
Jan’s Birthday
29 Aug 2010 4 Comments
in In the garden, Ty Guen
Another year, another birthday only this was a big one. So, with that in mind, James came over with Jan’s friend and are staying with us sharing the celebrations. Last week l had a few outdoor activities lined up but the weather was bad so they are postponed until next week when the weather looks much better.
Jan & James
On Friday Jan & Julie had a full body massage which went down very well. Saturday was spent getting ready for the party here.
Party Night
Later in the evening we lit a camp fire and we all sat round it on straw bales. It was a great evening as the weather was kind to us and when the moon rose it was magical watching it appear and disappear behind the clouds.
Camp fires
Thanks to everyone for contributing to the food and for Jan’s lovely presents. Same time, same place next year…..
Burn, baby, burn
Blackberry & Apple Pie
27 Aug 2010 1 Comment
in Cooking and Eating, In the garden, Ty Guen
I love cooking but l have never really tried my hand at making Shortcrust Pastry before. I found an excellent recipe by Jamie Oliver in his book Jamie at Home and so, with a deep breath and cold hands, l went for it.
A mini Harvest Festival
The above picture shows some of the produce l am getting from the garden right now. It’s great to harvest crops at this time of the year after all our hard efforts. The onions are drying off in the greenhouse as are the shallots but my garlic has failed again so l give up on that now. The white rot gets to it before l can.
Blackberry & Apple Pie
So, with the blackberries picked from the nearby hedgerow, apples from the garden and Shortcrust Pastry made by my own fair hands, it was all down to the taste test. Jamie seldom lets you down and he didn’t this time either. If anything l had a put a tad too much ginger in the pie but is there really such a thing as having too much ginger? Next? Blackberry & Apple Cobbler…a sure Autumn favourite especially with lashings of cream or custard.
This week we are celebrating the present Mrs Hunt’s BIG birthday. We are having a shindig here tomorrow so pics to follow.
Cucurbita
20 Aug 2010 1 Comment
in In the garden, Ty Guen Tags: cosmos, Cucurbita, pumpkin, squash
The Genus Cucurbita covers all squash, pumpkins and ornamental gourds. In my garden l have a small mixture of squash and pumpkins but nothing to really get too excited about…apart from one.
This boy self-seeded amongst my leek bed so l decided to leave it and see how it got on with no interference from me! Of course, it has romped away whereas the others have really not done much at all. I have high hopes for this lad and expect him to be weighing in on a close personal record.
My butternut squash are doing okay but that is about it. Oh well, there is always next year!
Oh, and l just love these Cosmos that have been flowering their heads off all summer despite hardly any rain and the soil being dry as a bone!
Build your own Tractor
17 Aug 2010 2 Comments
It’s funny what you can come across sometimes isn’t it when you least expect it….like this life-size tractor made from straw bales.
The attention to detail was remarkable; not just a real plough on the back but painted tyre treads as well.
I think the driver may have had one or two ciders too many!
Time to Stop and Stare
16 Aug 2010 1 Comment
Time to Stop & Stare
We have no time to stand and stare?
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep, or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty’s glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this, if full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
William Henry Davies 1871 – 1940
Crowded beaches
14 Aug 2010 1 Comment
This is about as busy as it gets up here and that’s busy enough! Actually, there is something really nice about seeing our beaches buzzing with families on holiday. Within a couple of weeks things will be back to normal and we will have our beaches back to ourselves again. I shouldn’t think there have been many on the beach today as we have showers and there is a bit of a chill in that NW breeze.
Busy beach
All of these beaches are within a 10 minute drive from us and were taken last Sunday.
Runner Beans
13 Aug 2010 2 Comments
in Cooking and Eating, In the garden, Ty Guen Tags: new potatoes, runner beans
This year l decided to try and grow my runner beans and sweet peas together. Its with mixed results. The sweet peas are brilliant this year; picking huge bunches everyday, but the runner beans have struggled a bit to get a grip on the poles and, instead, training themselves around the sweet peas. My fault l suppose, as l should have helped them out a bit more.
Anyway, they taste fantastic and l could quite happily eat a whole bowl of them with a big knob of melting butter on top! My spuds have been good this year too and this weekend l will dig the rest up and store them for the Autumn and, hopefully, into the winter.
New additions
09 Aug 2010 2 Comments
in Brittany, Ty Guen Tags: Breton horses, Ty Guen
Heck, where is the time going?
I cannot believe so much time has slipped past since my last entry on here! There is too much to add here all in one go but one of the nicest things to happen here in recent days is one of our local farmers has put his Breton horses in our field to graze for a few weeks along with a 4 month old foal. He is so friendly, it was love at first site and his Mum is so proud of him.
Very warm here at the moment but the evenings feel a little Autumnal. Bring it on. I love Autumn.
The gite is going very well and we have had some really lovely people come to stay with us so far.
Proud Mum
