... AND COOKING THEM

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Rhubarb Vodka 

A quick and easy way to preserve any surplus rhubarb. Delicious on its own or mixed with lemonade or a sparkling wine.

Ingredients (the exact proportions don't matter, so you can add adjust the relative amount of fruit and sugar to suit your own taste):

• 500g (1lb) of rhubarb
• 500g (1lb) of sugar
• 1 litre of vodka 
• 2-3 vanilla pods (optional, but worth the effort!)

Simply soak all of the ingredients and store in a cool dark place. I use 2 litre kilner jars, but any air-tight container will do. Initially the liquid will need inverting or gentle stirring every day or two to stop the sugar from setting. It is ready to bottle (or drink!) after 3-4 weeks - when the liquid turns a pale shade of pink and the rhubarb turns a pale brown/green colour. 

You can leave it for much longer (up to a year) and the rhubarb taste becomes more pronounced. 

For a special treat add two or three vanilla pods. 

Kale and (Wild) Garlic

This side dish can be prepared with garlic but has a more subtle flavour if you use wild garlic leaves which are at their best in early April just as the plants start to flower.

Ingredients (per person)

• Kale - 25-30g (1oz.) 
• Garlic (one clove) or wild garlic (a generous handful)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil 
• one quarter of fresh lemon

Blanch the kale in salt water and drain. If you are using 'ordinary' garlic,  crush the garlic and gently fry in olive oil before adding the kale. If you are using wild garlic, add raw to the drained kale and gently coo in the olive oil until wilted.

Squeeze the lemon over the mixture and serve while hot.

Sprouting Broccoli with Chilli and Anchovies

An unusual accompaniment to simply grilled meat or chicken. Enough for 4-6 portions.

• 1kg (2lb) purple sprouting or long stem broccoli 
• Half garlic bulb
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• Pinch dried chilli seeds
• Half tin anchovy fillets
• Squeeze of lemon (optional)

Trim the broccoli, blanch in salted water until tender and drain. 

Roughly chop the garlic and fry gently in the olive until soft. Add the chilli flakes and anchovies and cook until the anchovies have broken down and thickened the olive oil. Add the broccoli and warm through.

Anglesey Eggs

A simple and economical meal using seasonal leeks. The following makes four servings for a light supper or lunch.

• 500g (1lb) mashed potato
• 25g (1oz) butter
• 2 large leeks, washed, finely sliced and blanched
• 250ml (½pt) milk
• 100g (4oz) strong Cheddar cheese
• 4 eggs
• Salt and pepper to taste

Mix the mashed potato, leeks, butter milk and seasoning in a bowl. Divide the mixture into four and spoon into individual oven dishes to approximately 1cm (½”) below the top of each dish.

Form a hollow in the mixture in each bowl and crack an egg in the hole. Sprinkle grated cheese over the top of each dish and bake in a hot oven the eggs are cooked and the cheese has browned.

Stuffed Rainbow Chard 

I found this variation on dolmades (stuffed vine leaves) in Monty and Sara Don’s book: Fork to Fork. The main ingredient is large (and, ideally, colourful) leaves of chard. For the stuffing you will need: 

• 75g (3 oz.) basmati rice 
• 1 large onion 
• 4 tablespoons olive oil 
• 2 tablespoons pine nuts 
• 2 tablespoons sultanas 
• Sea salt and pepper (you could also add garlic/chilli/fresh herbs) 

Parboil the rice in salted water for about 5 minutes. Soften the onion in the olive oil and sweat for a further two minutes. Add all the other stuffing ingredients. 

Blanch 6-10 large (brightly coloured) chard leaves for 1 minute in salted water. Drain and add a handful of the stuffing and fold/roll into a parcel. 

Pack the parcels into an oiled oven-proof dish and pour in water to 10mm (1/2”) up the sides and bake at 190°C (375°F)) for approximately 25 minutes. 

Thai Squash Soup 

Serves four. 

• 1 medium-sized squash (butternut or similar texture) 
• Salt and pepper 
• One generous slosh of olive oil 
• 2-3 fresh red chillies 
• 3 cloves garlic 
• 1 thumb fresh grated ginger 
• 1 large bunch fresh coriander 
• 2 limes, zested and halved 
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce 
• 800 ml unsweetened light coconut milk 
• 300 ml chicken stock 
• 200 g rice noodles 

Chop the squash, de-seed, cut into chunks (skin on) and roast at 180 °C with the dried chilli, salt and olive oil for 40 minutes. 

Pummel the garlic, ginger and coriander into a paste and mix with the lime and fish sauce to form a thin paste. Heat a large pan and add the paste and squash flesh for 1-2 minutes then add the coconut milk and chicken stock (add more chilli/salt/pepper/lime/fish sauce/sugar to taste). 

Simmer for 15 minutes then add noodles to the soup and, simmer for a few more minutes, then serve with freshly chopped coriander/chilli. 

Quince Marmalade

This is recipe from the National Allotment Society which first appeared in the 1845 boo, Modern Cookery by Eliza Acton. It can be used as a jam on toast or served with savoury foods such as cheese or cold meats.

• 2kg (4lbs) quince
• Water
• Granulated Sugar

Wash and scrub the fluff off the quinces, then peel and core them. Place in a large pan and pour over enough water to almost cover. Bring to the boil and then simmer/stew for 35-45 minutes until the fruit is soft. 

Strain and pass the fruit through a food mill. Put the pulp back in the pan with the strained juice and add 280g sugar for every 500ml of juice (1½lbs per pint). Stir and dissolve under a low heat until the mixture resembles a thick porridge. Poor into sterilised jars/pots and label.

Fruit ice-cream 

To make 2 litres of ice-cream (a typical supermarket tub) use 

• 250g (8 oz) strawberries (or a mixture of soft fruit: strawberries, raspberries, currants), 
• 250g (8oz) double cream and 
• 125g (5oz) white castor sugar 

(If you store your sugar with vanilla pods the ice-cream will taste even better!) 

Puree the strawberries then mix in the cream and sugar. Put them in an ice-cream maker. If you don't have an 

ice-cream maker (then add it to your Christmas list and) put the mixture in a 2 litre tub and put it in the freezer, give it a stir every hour or so to keep the mixture smooth before it sets. 

If you keep the ice-cream in a freezer, it will set harder than shop-bought ice-cream so remember to take it out and allow to de-frost for 15-30 minutes before serving. 

Beetroot Chutney 

A nice ‘Branston’ style pickle, and a good way of preserving surplus beetroot. 

• 1kg beetroot 
• 500g onions 
• 750g cooking apples 
• 500g raisins 
• 1kg sugar 
• 2-3 tablespoons ground ginger 
• 1 litre malt vinegar 

Peel and grate or chop the (raw) beetroot and peel and finely chop the onions and apples. Then put in a pan with the other ingredients. Bring to the boil and then simmer until thick. Pot in sterile jars. 

Summer Pudding

Use blackcurrants, redcurrants and an assortment of other summer fruits to make this summer favourite. Serve with fresh cream or crème fraiche. 

• Medium slices of white bread (crust removed) – enough to line a 1 litre bowl and make a lid.
• 750g (1½lb) of currants and other soft fruits (raspberries, strawberries, gooseberries, blueberries, blackberries)
• 100g (4oz) white sugar

Line the base and sides of a 1 litre bowl.

Gently simmer the fruit with the sugar –until the sugar has completely dissolved and then a few further minutes so juice starts to run from the fruit mixture. 

Reserve 1-2 table spoons of the juice. Poor the fruit and juice mixture into the lined bowl and make a lid out of the bread slices so that the pudding fills the bowl to just below its top. Cover with cling film, place a saucer on the top and put a weight on top so that the lid is slowly and gently squashed into the fruit mixture. Place in the fridge and leave overnight. 

Turn the pudding out and pour the remaining juice over the top.

Broad Bean Hummus

Perfect with crackers, pitta bread or toasted sour dough bread.

• 450g (1lb) of broad beans
• 1 tsp spices (from cumin seeds, coriander seeds, black pepper, paprika, chilli seeds)
• 2 crushed garlic cloves
• Sea salt to taste
• 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
• Water
• Parsley or coriander leaves

Boil the shelled beans in salt water for five minutes, cool under running water, and remove from their skins.

Bake the seeds gently in a medium oven. Grind to powder in a mortar and pestle with the salt while still warm.

Place the beans, spice mix, garlic, olive oil, and a small amount of water in a blender and blend to a smooth puree. Add more water if the mixture is too thick, and more salt if needed.

Sprinkle with a small garnish of chopped parsley or coriander.

Strawberry ice-cream

To make 2 litres of ice-cream (a typical supermarket tub) use 

• 250g (8 oz) strawberries (or a mixture of soft fruit: strawberries, raspberries, currants),
• 250g (8oz) double cream and 
• 125g (5oz) white castor sugar  

(If you store your sugar with vanilla pods the ice-cream will taste even better!)

Puree the strawberries then mix in the cream and sugar. Put them in an ice-cream maker. If you don't have an ice-cream maker (then add it to your Christmas list and) put the mixture in a 2 litre tub and put it in the freezer, give it a stir every hour or so to keep the mixture smooth before it sets. 

If you keep the ice-cream in a freezer, it will set harder than shop-bought ice-cream so remember to take it out and allow to de-frost for 15-30 minutes before serving.