...and Cooking Them

July Recipes

Blackcurrant Jam

My favourite jam - tasty and the high pectin of the blackcurrants makes it one of the simplest to make.

The following ingredients will make 8 standard jars of jam but can be adjusted pro-rata to make more or less.

1.3kg (3 lb.) blackcurrant fruit
0.75 litres (1.5 pints) water
2 kg (4 lb.) white sugar

Wash and drain the fruit and simmer in a pan with the water for 30 minutes to an hour so that the fruit has softened and the mixture is reduced by approximately a third.

Add the sugar slowly and stir until fully dissolved. Raise to the boil until a drop of the mixture wrinkles when left on a chilled saucer for a few minutes.

Transfer to sterilised jars, cover with waxed paper and seal.

Courgette Salad:

Serves 4-8 as a side dish.

2 large courgettes
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon lime/lemon juice
1 tablespoon honey
2 teaspoons poppy seeds (or sunflower, chia or pumpkin seeds)
1 crushed garlic clove
Salt and pepper

Coarsely grate the courgette and toss with all of the other ingredients, adding salt and pepper to taste. Serve quickly, before the moisture is drawn out of the courgettes. Perfect as an accompaniment to all barbecued food. Simple, quick and delicious!

Pea and Ham Soup

So much better than canned soups and perfect with small toasted buttery croutons. Serves 4

450 g (1 lb (peas)
100g (4oz) butter
1 small-medium onion
50g (2oz) cubed bacon or pancetta
500ml (1 pint) chicken or vegetable stock
1 clove garlic
1 teaspoon sugar
Finely chopped mint leaves
100ml (qtr pint) milk or cream
Salt and pepper to taste

Fry the onions in the butter until soft. Add the bacon/pancetta and fry until browned.

Add the peas and stock and heat until the peas are cooked. And the garlic, sugar, mint and seasoning and blend until smooth.

Return to the heat and stir in the milk/cream until warmed through.

Courgette, Potato and Cheddar Soup

Serves up to 8.

500g (1lb) chopped potatoes (unpeeled)
2 vegetable stock cubes
1kg (2lb) coarsely chopped courgettes
1 bunch spring onions
100g (4oz) extra mature cheddar (grated)
Nutmeg
Salt and pepper

Put the potatoes in a saucepan and just cover with water. Crumble in the stock cubes and bring to the boil. Cover and cook for 5 minutes. Add the courgettes and cook for a further 5 minutes. Add 90% of the spring onions and cook for a final 5 minutes.

Take off the heat and stir in 90% of the cheddar and season with nutmeg, salt and pepper. Whizz to a thick soup, adding more hot water to achieve your favoured consistency. Serve scattered with some freshly grated nutmeg and the reserved spring onions and cheese. Alternatively allow to cool and freeze for up to 3 months.

You use a combination of cheddar and a blue cheesed for extra flavour.

Preserving Fruit and Vegetables

Jam, Pickles and Chutney

Preserving Vegetables and Fruit

Preserving is a simple way of using fruit and vegetables, and it’s homely and satisfying to have jars of jams, chutneys, pickles and relishes in our cupboards. It is the perfect way of using surplus produce when there is a glut. And, by making them ourselves, we have control over their ingredients and can avoid the use of unnecessary colourings, flavourings and preservatives. They also make ideal gifts.

Jams, jellies, marmalades and conserves are a mixture of fruits and sugar to which other flavours (e.g. spices) can be added
Curds contain eggs and are cooked slowly at lower temperatures than jam (and, although they keep well when unopened, need to be refrigerated once opened)
Chutneys and relishes are made using an assortment of vegetables and spices with additional fruit, sugar and vinegars used as a preservative
Pickles preserve fruit or vegetables by fermenting them or immersing them in either vinegar or brine

The nutritional value of all food deteriorates after it is picked. Preserving fruit and vegetables this is further reduced by washing, cooking, leaching and degradation. Many of these are unavoidable but can be limited by, preserving in oil rather than a sweet sauce, by pickling large chunks rather than grated vegetables, and by storing in cool dark spaces. And, although there is some loss of nutrients, preserved vegetables have historically helped to combat starvation and prevent scurvy throughout northern European winters. But the main reason for preserving fruit is to extend the shelf life of our produce, and, perhaps far more importantly, the taste!

Preserving doesn’t need any specialist equipment (although items such as preserving pans, jam funnels, and sugar thermometers are an advantage) and they require ingredients that are commonly available in any supermarket.

Making Fruit Last Longer

Ripe strawberries can bruise and otherwise deteriorate within a day or so of picking but can be kept fresh by the process of maceration.

Wash and drain freshly picked strawberries and slice them. Add two tablespoons of sugar to each 500g (1 lb.) of strawberries and stir. After allowing them to rest for an hour or so, add two teaspoons of vinegar (balsamic or cider vinegar are ideal) and stir again.

If you are feeling adventurous add a few twists of black pepper.

The mixture can be stored in the fridge for up to a week.

June Recipes

Paella

A superb summer dish which uses some of the first legume crops.

500-750g (1-1½lb) meat/fish (choose from chicken, lean pork, prawns, squid, mussels)
8 tablespoons olive oil
2-3 large carrots, sliced
2 onions
4-5 garlic cloves
1 smoked sausage, sliced (chorizo is ideal)
1 red pepper, sliced or chopped
2-3 tomatoes
100-200g (4-8 oz.) mixed legumes (broad beans, peas, french beans)
1 cup rice (long grain is fine but a Spanish paella rice produces better results)
2 cups water (for a richer paella include stock and/or wine)
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
pinch of saffron
salt to taste

Gently fry the carrots and onions in the olive oil until the onions have softened. add the meat/fish (reserving the prawns/mussels), sausage and half the red pepper and cook until the meat starts to brown.

Add the garlic, smoked paprika and saffron and stir for 5-10 minutes. add the rice and water/stock and simmer gently for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add the remaining red pepper, legumes, chopped tomatoes (and prawns/mussels if reserved) and continue cooking gently until the mixture has thickened. If the rice is still firm then add some more water and cook for a bit longer (I like to slightly caramelise the Paella rice).

Serve with slices of lemon, crusty bread and a green salad.

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.

Roast Beetroot

Roasting or baking beetroot brings out a lot of their natural sweetness. They can stainy so you may wish to handle with rubber gloves and protective clothing when handling.

They can be eaten raw as an accompaniment to a hot meal or, when cool, used as the basis of salads (try it with crumbled feta cheese and thinly sliced red onions over a mixed green salad, drizzled in olive oil).

Whole beetroot, washed (allow two medium or one large one per person)
2 tablespoons of oil (light olive, rapeseed or sunflower oil)
Coarsely ground sea salt
A few sprigs of fresh thyme (or a generous pinch of dried thyme)

Coat the raw beetroots with the oil, sprinkle with with salt and thyme and place in a baking tray in a pre-heated oven, 200°C.

Bake until the beetroot is soft but before it wrinlles or shrinks – usually 30-40 minutes for medium beetroots 45 minutes for large.

Remove from the oven and peel the beetroot (if using for a salad, allow to cool first).

Add more seasoning if necessary.

Gooseberry Fool

A traditional refreshing summer dessert that goes well with crisp shortbread. You can substitute the double cream for Greek yoghurt or thick custard (or a mixture of the above).

400g (1lb) gooseberries
100 (4oz.) white or golden sugar ·
300ml (½ pint) double cream or Greek yoghurt or thick custard ·
Sprig of mint or head of elderflower (optional) ·
Vanilla seeds from one pod or half a teaspoon of vanilla extract (optional)

Top and tail the goosberries. Heat in a pan with half the sugar until soft and the fruit starts to burst. Allow to cool, and then chill in the fridge.

Beat the cream (or substitute ingredient) with the remaining sugar until thick. Combine with the chilled gooseberry syrup – either totally combined or rippled.

For extra richness add either a head of elderflowers or a sprig of mint to the gooseberries before cooking them and/or add vanilla pods/extract to the cream mixture.

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.

Lavender Shortbread/Lavender Sugar

(Makes 12-20 biscuits)

A distinctive biscuit which can be eaten alone or as an ideal accompaniment for a rich vanilla ice cream. Ideally the lavender flowers should be added to the sugar at least two weeks in advance so it may be useful to make a large batch that you can re-use.

125g (5 oz.) sugar or castor sugar
½ teaspoon lavender flowers (or scale up the above in proportion if making a larger batch for storing)
200g (8oz) butter, softened
250g (10oz.) plain flour
50g (2oz.) rice flour or semolina

At least two weeks in advance, finely chop the lavender, mix with the sugar and store in an air tight container.

Separate the flowers from the sugar immediately before making the biscuits. Put the butter and sugar in a mixing bowl and combine until the mixture is smooth.

Add the flour, rice flour/semolina and lavender flowers seeds and mix with a spoon until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Pour onto a floured worktop and need to form a smooth dough. Chill the dough for 15 minutes.

Roll the dough out to a 5mm/¼in thickness, and cut into your preferred shape.

Chill for a further 30 minutes. Place on baking paper on top of baking trays and sprinkle with a little extra lavender sugar. Cook at 180⁰C/ 350⁰F for 15-20 minutes, until pale golden-brown.

Place the biscuits onto a rack, sprinkle with sugar and allow to cool completely.

May Recipes

Crumble Mixture for Fruit

The key to good crumble mix is the ratio of flour to sugar/butter. This recipe will provide four generous portions, but just adjust the amounts in the same ratio for more people (or bigger portions!)

100g (4oz.) plain flour,
50g (2oz.) salted butter
50g (2 oz.) sugar (white, brown, golden, or demerara)
pinch ground cinnamon (optional)
handful finely finely chopped walnuts

Use your hands to rub the flour and butter together until they form a 'breadcrumb' like mixture. Combine with sugar (and chopped walnuts/cinnamon if used)

Spread over the fruit mixture - some sweetened rhubarb with crystallised ginger is perfect at this time of year but, in summer, can be replaced by sweetened damsons or plums with mixed spice then, in autumn, apples or pears with dates.

Bake in a heated oven at 200degC for about an hour, but check at five minute intervals after around forty minutes - the top should be golden brown and the fruit syrup should bubble up around the edge of the dish.

Spinach and Bacon Salad

Fresh greens complemented by salty bacon and crunchy bread A meal for two or side dish for four to six...

one good handful of baby spinach leafs
100g (4oz.) smoked streaky bacon
2 slices white bread (thick cut sourdough is ideal)
2-3 tablespoons light olive oil
1 tablespoon cider or white whine vinegar
Seasoning (salt/ground black pepper)

Wash and dry the spinach leaves.and put in a large bowl.

Cut the bacon into small strips and gently cook with a little olive oil in a frying pan until the white fat turns golden. Remove the bacon and allow to cool.

Meanwhile cut the bread int o cubes and fry in bacon fat/olive oil (add more olive oil if the bread absorbs it and the pan goes dry) until they turn golden brown Turn off the pan.

Dress the spinach leaves with the vinegar and seasoning. Stir in the bacon slices and sprinkle the bread cubes/croutons over the top.

April Recipes

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.

Rhubarb Crumble Muffins

Makes twelve "standard" sized muffins.

Ingredients:

175g (7 oz.) caster sugar
175g (7 oz.) rhubarb cut into small cubes
2 tbsp sunflower oil
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
125ml buttermilk/natural yoghurt
200g (8 oz.) plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

For the crumble topping

50g (2 oz.) soft brown sugar
50g (2 oz.) plain flour
25g (1 oz.) porridge oats
1 tsp ground cinnamon
50g (2 oz.) butter

Pre-heat the oven to 220⁰C (200⁰C fan) and place twelve muffin cases in a cake tray.

Stir the sugar and rhubarb together and set aside to soak while you prepare the crumble mixture.

Mix together the soft brown sugar, flour, oats and cinnamon, then rub in the butter to form a coarse crumble topping.

Stir the sunflower oil, egg, vanilla and buttermilk (or yoghurt) into the sugar and rhubarb mixture. Add the flour, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda and stir well for fifteen seconds (don’t be concerned if there are patches of dry flour). Spoon equally into the muffin cases and top with a thick layer of the crumble mixture.

Bake for 15-18 minutes until golden brown.

Nettle Soup

A “win-win” of a soup – a satisfying combination of a delicious and nutritious snack and the removal of a nuisance invader from the plot!

Make sure you wear gloves when picking, and select only the youngest 4-5 leaves together with the bud. (and you will need a large supermarket shopping to collect enough nettles).

You can substitute nettle leaves for spinach if you are not feeling so adventurous.

200 (8oz.) nettle leaves
1-2 large onions
100 (4oz.) butter
4-5 cloves garlic
1 pint vegetable or chicken stock
100g (4oz.) thick cream or crème fraiche
Salt and pepper to taste

Wash and rinse the nettles and set aside to drain. Finely chop and fry the onions in butter until golden brown, adding the garlic cloves, crushed for the last 2-3 minutes. Add the nettles and stock and simmer gently for a few minutes. Blend the soup so that it forms a smooth puree and season with salt and pepper.

Pour into serving bowls, and decorate with a generous swirl of cream/crème fraiche. Serve with fresh crusty bread.

Carrot Cake

A moist cake to use up any carrots that you still have in store. This recipe is taken from Andi Clevely’s “The Allotment Book”.

175g (6 oz.) carrots
2 free range eggs (medium)
100g (4 oz.) brown sugar
75ml (3 fl oz.) vegetable oil
100g (4 oz.) wholemeal self-raising flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
50g (2 oz.) desiccated coconut
50g (2 oz.) raisins or sultanas For the icing
40g (1½ oz.) butter or margarine
75g (3 oz.) brown sugar
Grated rind of half an orange

Grease a deep, 18-20cm (7-8”) cake tin and pre-heat an oven to 190⁰C (375⁰F). Grate the carrots finely.

Whisk the eggs and sugar together until they form a thick, creamy mixture. Gradually combine with the oil. Add the remaining cake ingredients and mix together until smooth. Spoon into the tin and level the surface. Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes until golden brown and firm to the touch.

Allow to cool on a tray. Beat the butter/margarine until soft.

Blend in the sugar and orange peel and spread evenly over the surface of the cake once it has cooled completely.

March Recipes

Rhubarb and Custard Tart

Makes one 300mm (12”) diameter tart (8-12 portions).

450g (1 lb) sweet pastry,
450g (1 lb) early rhubarb cut into 25mm (1”) lengths,
1 small vanilla pod
150ml (1/4 pint) milk
150ml (1/4 pint) milk
3 egg yolks
One heaped teaspoon of plain white flour
100g (4oz) white castor sugar

Pre-heat the oven to 220°C (425°F) and Line a circular tin with the pastry and bake blind for 10-15 minutes.

Warm the milk and cream gently but do not boil. Scrape the seeds out of the vanilla pod and add to the milk/cream. Add the sugar, egg yolks and flour and whisk together, allow to cool slightly and pour into the pastry base.

Arrange the rhubarb pieces on top of the custard and bake for 25 minutes. Serve warm or cold.

Spring Greens with Lemon Dressing

Nutritious greens with strong lemon flavours for a healthy (and tasty) side dish.

250g (½lb) broccoli
450g (1lb) spring greens
2 garlic cloves, crushed
zest and juice of one lemon
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Seasoning (salt/ground black pepper)

Make the dressing by mixing the garlic, lemon juice and zest, olive oil and some seasoning together.

Bring a large pan of water to the boil, then add the broccoli and greens, and cook for about 5 mins until tender. Drain well, then toss through the dressing and serve.

Chick Pea and Chorizo Stew

A rich and hearty dish enriched with the last of the seasons kale leaves.

2-3 carrots
1 onion
Half garlic bulb
3-4 tablespoons olive oil
1 chorizo ring (peeled and chopped)
1 400g tin chopped tomatoes
Water (half the volume of tinned tomatoes)
400g tin chick peas
Salt, pepper and sugar to taste
Good handful of tender kale leaves

Gently fry the carrots and onions in the olive oil for 10 minutes. Peel and chop the garlic cloves and cook with the carrots/onions for five minutes. Add the chopped chrizo and cook for a further five minutes.

Add the tinned tomatoes, water and seasoning and simmer gently for one hour.

Add the chick peas, kale leaves, stir in and warm through.

Serve warm with crusty bread.

For extra richness sprinkle with grated cheese (strong cheddar or Spanish Manchego are both ideal).

February Recipes

Love Cake

Valentine’s day coincides with the Hungry Gap so this newsletter’s recipe makes use of stock cupboard supplies.

150g butter
250g white sugar
6 large eggs
250g Semolina
250g chopped nuts (Cashews are best)
2 tablespoons rose water
2 tablespoons runny honey
Zest of one lemon and one orange
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon black pepper (optional)
1-2 ground cloves
100-150g candied peel/stem ginger/glace cherries (optional)

Preheat oven to 150⁰C.Grease a shallow 25 X 30cm (10” X 12”) cake tin and line with baking paper.

Beat the butter with the sugar until smooth and then combine the eggs to form a creamy and light mixture.

Stir in the semolina and chopped nuts, then gradually combine the other ingredients.

Pour the mixture into the lined cake tin and place on a middle shelf in the oven for 1 hour or until golden brown. The final cake should be golden brown and soft, so check after 30 minutes to ensure the cake is not browning too quickly and cover with foil if it has started to go brown or if it is developing a crust.

Transfer to a tin after removing from the oven, place the lid on the tin and allow to cool.

Ribollita (Tuscan Bean Stew)

A tasty and nutritious peasant stew from a tourist region of Italy. Serve topped with grated strong cheddar or parmesan alongside crusty bread

2 tablespoons olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
1 onion, finely chopped
2 celery sticks, finely chopped
1 carrot, chopped
5-6 garlic cloves, crushed
pinch of chilli flakes (optional)
400g can chopped tomatoes
500ml hot chicken or vegetable stock
400g can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
250g cavolo nero or savoy cabbage, chopped
150g stale crusty bread torn into rough pieces

Heat the oil in a large saucepan or flameproof casserole dish over a medium heat and fry the onion, celery and carrot with a pinch of salt for 15 minutes until softened. Add the garlic and chilli flakes, and cook for a further 5 minutes.

Stir in the tomatoes, stock and beans. Bring to a simmer and add the cavolo nero/kale and cook in the stew for 10 minutes.

Stir through the bread and cook for several minutes until the mix has warmed through and the bread has dissolved, thickening the stew. Add further seasoning if necessary.

Spoon into bowls, drizzle with a little more olive oil.

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.

January Recipes

Brussells Sprouts Salad

Raw fresh Brussells Sprouts are surprisingly good raw in salads – give them a go in this variation of a Waldorf!

50g (2oz.) fresh nuts (hazelnuts or walnuts are ideal)
100g (4oz.) fresh Brussells Sprouts
2-3 tablespoons of dressing (olive oil with wine or cider vinegar)
One apple – Cox’s Orange Pippin is perfect
25-50g (1-2oz) stilton or strong Cheddar
Seasoning – salt and crushed black peppercorns

Pre-heat oven to 180°C and toast the nuts for 10 minutes. Allow to cool and chop or slice thinly.

Peel the sprouts and slice thinly. Put them in a small bowl and toss with the dressing and seasoning. Slice the apple and stir in with the sprouts.

Crumble the cheese and loosely toss with the sprouts/apple. Sprinkle with the nuts and serve.

Chinese Style Chard

An accompaniment to an oriental meal or quick and easy snack on its own.

150-250g (6-8oz) of chard

1 tbspn sesame or sunflower oil

3-4 cloves garlic, crushed

1 tbspn dark soy sauce

Chilli seeds (optional)

Blanche the chard in salted water for 2-3 minutes and drain. Heat the oil in a hot frying pan or wok, add the chard and garlic (and chilli seeds if you like additional spice). Stir occasionally for 3-4 minutes. Add the soy sauce and stir for a further 2-3 minutes.

Serve with additional soy sauce to taste.

December Recipes

Tuscany Black Kale (Cavolo Nero) Salad

An unusual accompaniment to grilled meat, fish or chicken. Serves 4.

450g (1lb) of cavolo nero leaves
2-3 tablespoons olive oil
2 crushed garlic cloves
White wine or cider vinegar (optional)
Herbs/spices to taste
Good pinch see salt

Remove the kale leaves from the rib, chop into 50mm (2”) lengths and blanch in salted water for 5 minutes. Drain thoroughly and allow to cool.

Italian Greens

A delicious development of the traditional way of boiling greens in salt water. An ideal accompaniment to a roast dinner (including Christmas Dinner!) or pasta dish.

Approximately 500g (8oz.) of greens: cabbage, kale, broccoli or a combination
2 tablespoons olive oil
3-4 cloves garlic
I-2 small chillies
10-15 green and/or black olives, thinly sliced
Heaped tablespoon capers (optional)
Small handful cherry tomatoes, halved
Salt and pepper to taste

Cut the greens, rinse, drain and boil in salt water for a few minutes. Thoroughly drain again and keep warm.

Finely slice the chilli and crush the garlic with some salt. Gently fry in olive oil for a few minutes

Add the drained greens and warmed through.

Add the olives, capers and tomatoes and stir occasionally for another five minutes until the tomatoes start to soften. Serve.

Spiced Red Cabbage with Apple

A simple sweet/ savoury accompaniment to hot or cold roast meats:

One medium red cabbage, 450-600 g (1 – 1½lbs)
4-5 star anise
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
200ml (½ pint) water or stock
50g (2oz) brown sugar
100ml (¼ pint) cider or wine vinegar
2-3 cooking apples
Salt and pepper to taste

Finely shred the cabbage and simmer with all the ingredients other than the apples in a saucepan for approximately 30 minutes.

Peel and core the apple and chop into slices. Add to the pan and simmer for a further 15 minutes until the mixture is thick.

Squash/Pumpkin Chutney

Makes 6-8 jars

1.5 kg (3lb) of squash/pumpkin flesh
450g (1lb) tomatoes (or tomatillos)
450g (1lb) onions
50g (2oz) sultanas/raisins
750g (1½lb) soft brown sugar
2 garlic cloves
2 teaspoons of pickling spice1 red c
hilli (optional)
2 tablespoons salt
600ml (1 pint) cider vinegar

Roast the pickling spice with the salt for 15 minutes, then crush in a mortar and pestle.

Chop the pumpkin, tomatoes and onions, and cook in a pan with the vinegar sugar, raisins/sultanas, chopped garlic and chopped chilli. Bring to the boil and add the ground spices and salt. Simmer until the mixture thickens and then pot in sterilised jars. Allow to ferment for at least two weeks before use.

The squash chunks should retain some of their firmness and provide a ‘nutty’ texture. - perfect with a strong cheddar or to accompany a curry.

Parsnip Puree

Serves four – delicious with turkey, gammon and roast pork.

1 kg (2lbs) parsnips
100g (4oz) butter
2 tbspns double cream
Salt and pepper

Boil, peel and trim the parsnips and boil until soft (10-15 minutes). Drain and reserve the water. Blend the cooked parsnips with the butter and cream. Add the reserved water until it has the consistency of a sauce.

Return to the pan and season to taste.

November Recipes

Squash Curry

A delicious side dish or served with a flat bread for lunch.

2 tablespoons coking oil
1/2 tspn mustard seeds
1 large onion, thinly sliced
Half a pumpkin/squash, skinned, seeded and cut to cubes
4 garlic cloves, crushed
3 cm ginger root, peeled and grated
1 green chilli
Curry leaves
1 tsp of turmeric powder, or 1cm of grated turmeric root
1 cup of water
1-2 medium tomatoes
salt
sugar

Heat oil in wok and fry the mustard seeds with the sliced onion. When the onions have softened add the suash/pumpkin, garlic, ginger and curry leaves. Stir occasionally until the squash has softened and started to cook, taking care not to burn the spices.

Lower the heat to minimum and add the turmeric powder, tomatoes, water, salt and sugar. Stir occasionally and serve when the mixture has thickened and the squash stars to break up.

Pumpkin Pie

This American favourite is even better when it’s made with home-grown pumpkins or squashes – delicious (hot or cold) with whipped cream.

One supermarket 9” pastry base (or make your own if you prefer!)
500g (1lb) pumpkin or squash flesh
2 large egg
I tin condensed milk
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ - teaspoon ground ginger
Grated nutmeg (to taste)

Boil the squash/pumpkin in salted water for 15-20 minutes. Drain thoroughly and allow to cool. Blend all the ingredients in a bowl and mix until smooth. Pour into the pastry base and cook for 40-45 minutes at 200°C - although the timing will depend on the moisture content of the pumpkin. Check at 30 minutes and then every five minutes, and reduce the oven temperature to 150°C if the pastry or topping are showing any signs of excessive ‘darkening’ (burning!).

Hard Fruit Chutney

A delicious chutney, made in a slow cooker, and which requires a short time (2 weeks) to mature.

1kg (2lbs) cooking apples
450g (1lb pears)
225g (½lb) onions
450g (1lb) mixed dried fruit
4 cloves garlic
60g (2½oz) root ginger
1-2 fresh chilli(s)
1 lemon
1 tablespoon grain mustard
600ml (1¼ pints) malt vinegar
450g (1lb) brown sugar
1 tablespoon molasses
2 teaspoons salt

Peel the fruit, ginger and garlic and remove the seeds and core from the apples and pears and chop coarsely by hand or in a food processor. Add all the other ingredients and cook in a slow cooker overnight.

Poor into a large pan (not copper or aluminium) and cook until the chutney thickens and there is no thin liquid.

Funnel the mixture into sterilises jars and fit wax discs. Store for at least two weeks and refrigerate once opened.

October Recipes

Borlotti Bean and Fennel Stew

A hearty stew for those colder evenings – perfect with rustic chunks of crusty bread (serves 4 lunches or 2 dinners).

2-3 tablespoons light olive oil
1 large onion, finely chopped
5-6 garlic cloves
1 teaspoon fennel seeds
Half a fresh fennel bulb (optional)
1 bay leaf (optional)
1 can of tomatoes
1 teaspoon white sugar
1-2 cups borlotti beans, fresh from their pods
1-2 cups water
2-3 strips lemon peel
2 tablespoons capers
Salt and pepper to taste
Chopped parsley to garnish (optional)

Gently heat the oil in a saucepan and cook the onions until soft. Add the garlic (chopped or crushed), bay leaf and fennel/fennel seeds and cook gently for 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add the tinned tomatoes, sugar, beans and water and cook at a steady boil for approximately 45 minutes.

Add the lemon peel, capers (these two ingredients make all thedifference!) and season the mixture. Simmer for a further 15-30 minutes until the beans soften and have a creamy texture.

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.

Apple Traybake Cake

A delicious cake which can be made richer by adding cinnamon and raisins or dates to the middle layer. Good on its own cold or hot with custard.

500g (1lb) Cooking apples (apples peeled, cored and thinly sliced)
350g (10oz.) Self raising flour
280g (8oz.) Caster sugar
225g (6oz.) Butter (or margarine)
4 Medium eggs
1 Teaspoon vanilla extract (or seeds from one vanilla pod)
2 Teaspoons baking powder
2 – 3 Teaspoons demerara sugar (to decorate)

Preheat oven to 180⁰C/350⁰F.

Line a large baking tray with buttered/oiled greaseproof paper.

Put the butter/margarine, caster sugar, eggs and vanilla into a bowl and mix. Sieve the flour and baking powder into the bowl and combine with the other ingredients. Add milk if the mixture is too thick and doesn’t drop off the spoon easily.

Spread half of the mixture into the lined baking tray and then arrange half of the apples over the mixture.

Put the rest of the cake mixture on top of the apples and then arrange the remaining apples again on top

Sprinkle the apples with demerara sugar.

Bake for 45-50 minutes. The cake will be cooked when the skewer comes out clean.

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.

September Recipes

Lemon Courgette Loaf

Ingredients for the loaf

150 ml vegetable oil
200g (8 oz.) caster sugar
3 medium eggs
3 Finely grated zest of 2 lemons and juice of 1 lemon
1 large courgette, around 200g (8 oz.), coarsely grated
1 large courgette, around 200g, coarsely grated
250 g self-raising flour
½ tsp. bicarbonate of soda

and for the drizzle

Finely grated zest and juice of 1 lemon
75g (3 oz.) white sugar

Pre=heat the oven to 180°C/(160°C fan/gas mark 4. Grease and 900g (2lb) loaf tin with baking paper.

Combine the oil, caster sugar, and eggs with a wooden spoon. Stir in the grated courgette and the zest and juice of the lemon. Sift in the flour and baking soda, then gently stir until smooth. Bake until golden and a skewer is clear when withdrawn from the centre (approximately one hour).

Remove from the oven and skewer the surface of the cake to allow the drizzle to penetrate.

Mix the drizzle ingredients and pour the cake while still hot and allow to cool before serving.

Shakshouka

A versatile sauce for surplus tomatoes which can be frozen and enjoyed throughout the year.

3-4 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, sliced
4 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
1 teaspoon powdered cumin
1 small green chilli
500g (1 lb) tomatoes (skinned if you prefer)
Fresh coriander leaves
Salt and pepper to taste
1 egg per serving

Finely chop the onion and gently fry in the olive oil until the onions are soft and translucent. Add the garlic and spices and stir until the flavours are absorbed by the oil.

Add the tomatoes and continue cooking gently until they have broken down and the mixture becomes thick. (The mixture can be frozen at this point.)

Finely chop a small bunch of fresh coriander leaves and stir into the mixture. Form slight depressions and crack eggs into these. Continue cooking until they are lightly poached.

Serve with flatbreads.

Tomato Chutney

Makes 6-7 jars

3kg (6lb) tomatoes (mix varieties and combine ripe/unripe fruit)
500g (1lb) finely chopped onions
300ml (1/2 pint) cider vinegar
25g (1oz.) salt
350g (6oz.) demerara sugar
Paprika/chilli/cayenne to taste

Wash, peel and chop the tomatoes and cook gently with the onions until reduced to a thick pulp.

Add the other ingredients and continue cooking until thick.

Pour into sterilized jars and store for at least four weeks before use.

Plum Butter

Butters are an alternative to jam (but with more reduction of fruit) which was a popular element of Victorian and Edwardian afternoon teas. They can be stored for three months or more, stretching the taste of summer to around Christmas.

Despite their name they do not contain any butter.

1.5kg (3lb) whole ripe plums
600ml (1 pint) water
1kg sugar
Juice and zest of 2-3 oranges
Cinnamon and/or cloves to taste

Remove stones and place the plums in a large saucepan with the water. Bring to the boil, reduce the heat and simmer for up to an hour until the plums have collapsed.

Allow to cool and strain. Return to the pan and add the spice, orange juice and zest and heat for ten minutes. Add the sugar and boil gently until the mixture has thickened.

Place in warmed sterilised jars and store in a cool dark space. Use within three months.

Runner Beans with Garlic

A variation on traditionally boiled runner beans which abound at this time of year.

2 tablespoons olive oil
4-6 sliced garlic cloves
500-600g (1-1½lb) runner beans, trimmed and sliced
Sliced chilli or red pepper flakes (optional)
Sea salt
Coarsely ground black pepper
Juice of one lemon

Heat the oil in a shallow pan and add the garlic and cook for a few minutes until soft and starting to brown. Add the (raw) beans and chilli red pepper flakes; and mix well. Cover and turn the heat to low until the beans are tender (10-15 minutes), turning occasionally. Season and stir in the lemon juice before serving

Sloe Syrup

This River Cottage recipe is a good way to use sloes and the syrup can be poured over ice cream, yoghurt or pancakes for a dessert/breakfast, or added to cold drinks such as orange juice or gin and tonic to add a bit of sharpness.

1kg (2lb) sloes – washed, dried and pricked
750 ml (1¼ pints) water
uice of one lemon
800g (1lb 12 oz.) white sugar

Put the sloes in a saucepan with the lemon juice and water (it should just cover the fruit). Bring to the boil, reduce the heat and simmer for about ten minutes until the the skins have burst and the liqueur has turned purple. Allow the juices to drip through a muslin cloth for an hour or more (do not squeeze the fruit as this may release tannin from the skins).

Measure the liquid and add 100g of sugar for each 100ml of juice. Stir over a low heat until the sugar is dissolved and then boil hard for three minutes (remove any pink scum that forms as best you can and the rest should disperse as the syrup cooks).

Transfer to sterilised containers and seal straight away. The syrup will last for up to six months and should be refrigerated once opened

Toasted Pumpkin / Squash Seeds

The fruit is the main food of the pumpkin/squash but the seeds are highly nutritious and delicious If roasted with salt and/or spices.

Raw whole seeds of one large pumpkin/squash
50g (2 oz.) butter or 2 tablespoons sunflower or rape seed oil
Good pinch of salt (or garlic salt)
Ground Spices (optional) from; chilli, black pepper, paprika, coriander, cumin

Preheat the oven to 150degC (300degF).

Wash the seeds and drain thoroughly. Toss seeds in a bowl with the oil/melted butter and salt/spices. Spread in a single layer on a baking tray (a sheet of parchment paper or foil will make cleaning up a bit easier!) and bake until golden brown (45 minutes to an hour). Allow to cool slightly but enjoyed best when still warm.

(Remember to keep some seeds back for planting next year!)

Spiced Red Cabbage with Apple

A simple sweet/ savoury accompaniment to hot or cold roast meats.

One medium red cabbage, 450-600 g (1 – 1½lbs)
4-5 star anise
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
200ml (½ pint) water or stock
50g (2oz) brown sugar
100ml (¼ pint) cider or wine vinegar
2-3 cooking apples
Salt and pepper to taste

Finely shred the cabbage and simmer with all the ingredients other than the apples in a saucepan for approximately 30 minutes.

Peel and core the apple and chop into slices. Add to the pan and simmer for a further 15 minutes until the mixture is thick.

August Recipes

Gooseberry Upside-Down Cake

A refreshing variation on upside-down cakes – there’s a tartness to the caramelised top (bottom?) which is superb with crème fraiche.

Soft brown sugar
Gooseberries (green or red)
2 large eggs
100g (4oz.) sugar
A few drops of vanilla extract
100 g (4oz.) butter or margarine
100 g (4oz.) self raising flour

Grease a round 8″ cake tin with butter.

Cover the bottom with a generous quantity of soft brown sugar – a good few millimetres. Cover the sugar with a single layer of gooseberries (topped, tailed, washed and drained).

Make a sponge mixture by mixing the butter, vanilla and sugar, gradually combining the eggs and finally the flour. Bake in a moderate oven (180-200⁰ C) for 35-50 minutes until golden brown and a skewer comes out clean.

Allow to cool, chill, turn out and serve.

Mary's Blackberry Cheescake

A delicious cheesecake base which is suitable for other toppings such as blackcurrant, strawberry or mixed fruit syrups.

For the base:

200g (8 oz.) digestive biscuits
75g (3 oz.) butter
Crushed hazelnuts (a small a handful)

For the cheesecake:

300g (12 oz.) double cream
one pack cream cheese
Seeds form one vanilla pod (or ½ teaspoon vanilla essence/extract

For the topping

one tablespoon water
50-75g white sugar
75-100g (3-4 oz.) blackberries

Melt the butter in a saucepan. Take of the heat and add the digestive biscuits and pound until the mixture has the texture of a dry crumble mix. Add the hazelnuts if you Spread the mixture evenly across the bottom of a 200mm (8”) round oven-proof dish.

Combine all the cheesecake ingredients and stir until smooth. Pour over the cheesecake base and bake in a pre-heated oven set at 150°C. Remove from the oven after 45 minutes and allow to cool at room temperature for about an hour and then refrigerate.

Add the sugar, fruit and water to a small saucepan and simmer gently until the blackberries have broken down and the mixture starts to thicken. Allow to cool and refrigerate.

Pour the fruit mixture over the cheesecake when served.

Fennel Pasta Sauce

3-4 tablespoons olive oil
1-2 teaspoons fennel seeds
One onion
4-6 cloves garlic
One fennel bulb, thinly sliced
One tin chopped tomatoes
Tomato puree
Black pepper
1-2 teaspoons white sugar
Salt to taste

Peel and finely chop the onions and gently fry with the fennel seeds nuts until they soften and brown. Peel

and crush the garlic and add to the pan with the chopped fennel for a further 10 – 15 minutes.

Add the chopped tomatoes, tomato puree and season pepper/chilli seeds and sugar. Cook slowly for at least 30 minutes (the longer the better) and add salt if needed before serving (if the pan is oven-proof.

Serve with boiled drained pasta and grated parmesan cheese.

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

Dealing with Excess Produce

Even after giving away some of your produce to friends you may still be left with more than you can use - what a lovely problem to have!

Preservation is all about reducing the rate at which our crops decay.

Freezing is the simplest, quickest and most convenient means of preserving, and it is easy to store crops in small batches as they ripen. Most vegetables can be blanched then drained and frozen. Tomatoes, peppers and courgettes can be used in pasta sauces and ratatouille that can be frozen. Soft fruits can be open frozen straight after picking or cooked as syrups or purees and then bagged in small or large quantities.

Making jam is probably the most common/popular method for preserving fruit and soft fruits produce some delightful jams/conserves. Add sugar (similar weight to that of the fruit) and a lemon per kg (2 lb) of fruit and heat the mixture until a drop creases when dropped o a chilled saucer. Pour into sterilised jars when hot and seal the lids (these will produce a satisfying ‘pop’ as the contents cool). Try adding crystallised or powdered ginger to apple or gooseberry (or other tart fruits) to strawberry jam.

Pickling – preserving in vinegar or a vinegar-based sauce – can provide a delightful range of colours and flavours from simple pickled onions and other vegetables through ploughman’s pickles to mango chutneys and classics such as piccalilli. They should generally be left for at least one month before use to allow the flavours to combine and mature. Fruits – particularly apples, plums, pears and gooseberries - can also be cooked with sugar and vinegar to produce chutneys and pickles that are delicious with cheese and cold meats (mix 500g plums with 500g sugar and 250ml of white vinegar for a delicious cheese ccompaniment!).

Bottling is less common but not difficult – simply pack fruit or vegetables into bottling jars and cover with syrup, water or brine, then cook and seal them at high temperature to ensure that there are no bacteria present.

Drying fruit is an excellent way of enjoying excess crops throughout the year. You can slow dry them in an oven or use an electric dehydrator. Most fruit is suitable and so are tomatoes and chilies. Use fresh fruit in good condition remove all stones and any blemishes. Sliced fruit should be soaked in a 50:50 mixture of lemon juice and water. Hard fruit will need soaking for thirty minutes to an hour, plums and berries will need about half as long. The time it takes to dry fruit depends on the size and their moisture content. Apples, pears and plums can take 8 to 10 hours at 50°C-70°C. Berries will take slightly less time at a lower temperature of 40°C-50°C. The fruit is ready to store in sealed jars when there is some ‘give’ and no moisture is released when squeezed. The fruit is perfect for snacking and can be re-hydrated and stewed to make pie fillings and mincemeat.

Lockdown Recipe

Spicy Bean Burgers

This tasty recipe should help you through the lock-down, particularly well with a slice of strong cheese and rich tomato ketchup or chutney.

Makes eight normal sized burgers or four whoppers.

One medium onion, finely chopped
2 tins kidney beans (or Borlotti or Cannellini)
1-2 carrots – parboiled, then cooled and diced
1 Large egg
Breadcrumbs – equivalent to 2 slices of bread
One small chilli pepper - finely sliced
1-2 garlic cloves, crushed
Finely chopped coriander leaves
Pinch cumin seeds (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste

Fry the onions until soft in a little oil or butter and allow to cool.

Drain the kidney beans well and mash them thoroughly, but leaving some of the beans partially intact.

Mix with all of the other ingredients and form into patties. Fry in cooking oil or barbecue just like beef burgers.

... AND COOKING THEM