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Showing posts from July, 2009
Our first camping trip was a great success last weekend. The weather was ok, the site was good and we all had a great time. We spent two nights in Kent, at a site not far from Headcorn, just to try out the new tent! We took the right stuff, after spending hours in Camping International, and just about got it all into Ian's new car. We are now getting ready for the big camping holiday next week to Dorset. Lets just hope the weather is warm as they have predicted! Can't wait! Here is a picture of Moss, our little dog, all cosy in our tent!

A quick look around the garden

I had a meeting this evening so quickly checked the veg patch before I left to sit in the village hall for 2 1/2 hours! I noticed three rows of dwarf beans have broken through the soil today, I'm sure I didn't see them this morning! Not bad for a 19p packet of seeds from Netto. Also the dwarf peas have germinated. Great, more veggies for the next few months. We are planning a camping trip, well two actually. We haven't had a holiday for almost six years so it was time to do something about that. On Sunday we are off to get a new 4 man tent and camping equipment. First trip will be to a camp site in Sussex in a weeks time then I've found a great site in Cromer, Norfolk. I've never been camping, but for some reason I really fancy doing it this year. Ian has been to most camp sites in the UK, as his family did this most of his childhood. He's surprised that I want to do it. Jack likes camping and the dog will also come along. A proper family camping trip! Anyway I

Pickled shallots

Tonight I decided to prepare the shallots for pickling on Sunday. I cut and peeled 80! I must be mad, but actually it was very therapeutic after a day in the office. So they are now sitting in the prepared brime ready for the pickling vinegar I need to make on Sunday, before putting them into jars. I should get 6 large jars out of them ready for Christmas! I was very lucky that I have a friend who works for Opies and he gave me 12 brand new jars. Oh and I need to make some nice labels in case I give a couple of jars away as presents.
A busy afternoon in the garden today. I had some spaces in my veg patch so I sowed some dwarf beans, beetroot and dwarf peas and had a tidy up. I forgot I had a packet of dwarf peas and it wasn't too late to sow them. They were the 19p ones from Netto, bargain! That way I get a late harvest long after the current peas have finished. I planted up my last remaining celeriac. I think I have 15 in the garden now (thanks Anne) The French beans are flowering like mad so hopefully we should be eating them quite soon. Ihave been giving them some tomato plant food once a week! I harvested more peas yesterday and a bag of new potatoes, they were lovely. Oh and some courgettes. It's funny you wait ages for them to grow then all of a sudden you are picking them every day. I did buy one yellow variety this year and they are so sweet. The ones in large pots are doing really well. So next year I will just put them in pots and save some room in the veg patch. Here is a picture of the last of m

Potatoe & Pea Frittata

I had some fresh peas and courgettes to cook tonight and this is what I made! I added one green and one yellow courgette and lots of fresh peas. Ingredients 100g new potatoes, diced 150g fresh peas 3 tbsp olive oil 1 onion finely diced 8 large eggs Salt & ground pepper 4 tbsp freshly grated Parmesan Method 1.Bring the potatoes to the boil in salted water. Boil briskly for 5 minutes, then drain. Then leave until you're ready to add them to the frittata. 2.Preheat the grill. Heat the oil in a non-stick, ovenproof frying pan and fry the onion until it begins to soften. Add the potatoes and cook for about 10 minutes - don't let the mixture brown too much. You want it sweet and soft, with nothing crisp about it. Add the fresh peas for the last couple of minutes cooking. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl to cool slightly. 3.Break the eggs into the bowl and beat in. Season and add the Parmesan. 4.Put your frying pan back on the heat; it should still be nice and oily. Pour the