Busy in the kitchen

Posted by Rosie

I have now (almost) cleared the backlog of harvested fruit and veg that was cluttering up the kitchen. Tomorrow I will pick a load more and get on eating, freezing, pickling etc yet more fresh produce.

I took this photo a couple of days ago when I had made Tomatillo Relish, Pickled Runner Beans and Pickled Cabbage, Chilli Piccalilli and Marrow and Ginger Jam. After today I can now add to this list: - Tomato Ketchup, Hot Chilli and and Courgette Pickle and Bread and Butter Pickles (i.e. pickled cucumber, pepper and onion). I do like laying down supplies for the months to come with a few extras I hope to sell. In fact, one of the builders bought some Marrow and Ginger Jam and Chilli Piccalilli and would like to buy some more soon.

It wasn't just preserves though - there was a couple of skinny leeks and a rather root-fly eaten carrot; they went in tonight's mince with the passata left over from the ketchup recipe. Simon barbecued some custard marrows in an oil and herb dressings for lunch and I made a salad from tomatoes, rocket, mizuna and a bit of left over feta (all lurking in the fridge). The beans were a bit tough so they went in the pig bucket with a few sad-looking apple cucumbers. A neighbour had given me a bag of late plums and they've been stewed. Everyone was too full for pudding tonight but at least that means I can have them for breakfast.

But I didn't manage to completely clear all the harvest - I picked a cabbage to go with the mince and only afterwards remembered I had some broccoli in the fridge. That'll have to be eaten tomorrow. I also still have a bowl of physalis or cape gooseberries. I did dip some in chocolate to decorate a friend's birthday cake but the rest are sitting on the side. Somehow though, I don't think they are going to last very long! They really are delicious and with British supermarkets selling them at £8.40/kg, whilst I may not have a lot, I reckon I do have a bargain treat there.