Well, this year I only grew one tomato plant called gardener's delight which is a small, sweet cherry type tomato. The elderly man round the corner decided that he wanted three plants again this year, a beefsteak, a standard and a cherry.
Last year's crop wasn't very good because we had some srong winds which damaged the stems of his plants and he didn't water them as often as I had instructed, but mine did alright although the crop was quite small. This year, I kept nagging him to feed twice a week and water at least once a day because this was something he could manage easily and I certainly wasn't going to go round every day to do it!
So this year, he has an excellent crop even though some of them are badly cracked because he was erratic with the watering despite my instructions! The trouble is, he doesn't eat as many tomatoes as I do and he certainly doesn't cook. His cooking is heating up ready made meals! The beefsteak tomatoes are really big and he didn't know what to do with them because quite a few others ripened at the same time, so he gave them to me.
As they are quite badly cracked, I skinned and de-seeded them and made them into a tomato paste for pizza topping with onions, garlic and herbs and put it in the freezer. As there are still a lot to come I am sure I will be creating other tomato dishes in order to use them up.
Next year he has said he will have three of the cherry ones because he likes them the best but he still won't use the crops from three plants!
Tuesday, 31 August 2010
Monday, 30 August 2010
The things you see........
Despite it being a bank holiday I woke up at 5:30am this morning but it was still dark. I was going to make a cup of tea but decided to wait and put the radio on to listen to the news and the farming programme. Before getting back into bed, I looked out of the window because I could hear voices.
I saw what I can only describe as two 'new age' travellers with back packs and a scruffy looking dog trotting along beside them. They seemed to be in a hurry because they were striding out as they went up the road. When I see people at that time of the morning, I often wonder where they've been and where they are going. Normally anyone going past at that time of the morning is on the way to work but I didn't think these two were. Anyway I got back into bed and dozed on and off.
Eventually, I got up about 6:30am and came down to make a cup of tea. As usual. I opened the curtains at the back then went out to put some seed on the bird table for the sparrows' breakfast and change the water in the bird bath. I noticed two strawberry plants a friend had given me looked a bit limp so I watered them too. Then I came through to the front room to open the blinds enough for me to see out but no-one can see in and that's when I saw a little old man pushing a bicycle with four large cane chairs tied on. They towered above him and that made me wonder where he was going too.
It's at times like this that my imagination runs riot and I come up with half a dozen scenarios, every one of them should be in a crime novel! Perhaps I should start writing.
I saw what I can only describe as two 'new age' travellers with back packs and a scruffy looking dog trotting along beside them. They seemed to be in a hurry because they were striding out as they went up the road. When I see people at that time of the morning, I often wonder where they've been and where they are going. Normally anyone going past at that time of the morning is on the way to work but I didn't think these two were. Anyway I got back into bed and dozed on and off.
Eventually, I got up about 6:30am and came down to make a cup of tea. As usual. I opened the curtains at the back then went out to put some seed on the bird table for the sparrows' breakfast and change the water in the bird bath. I noticed two strawberry plants a friend had given me looked a bit limp so I watered them too. Then I came through to the front room to open the blinds enough for me to see out but no-one can see in and that's when I saw a little old man pushing a bicycle with four large cane chairs tied on. They towered above him and that made me wonder where he was going too.
It's at times like this that my imagination runs riot and I come up with half a dozen scenarios, every one of them should be in a crime novel! Perhaps I should start writing.
Sunday, 29 August 2010
One of those days!
It started at 6am this morning. I was woken abruptly by my neighbours banging about outside loading cardboard and other rubbish onto the large van he owns. Sadly, I knew they weren't moving because they weren't putting any furniture on the van. I still can't work out how they could get up at that time because they are usually both 'wasted' when they come home on a Saturday night (or should I say early Sunday morning) and normally she is incapable of standing unaided (and not just on a Saturday)!
Well, after discovering what the banging was, I thought I would doze a while before getting up but just as I started to drift off, I was brought back to reality when they started banging the doors of the van and the front door, then after stalling the van a couple of times, they were gone.
Of course, I couldn't get back off to sleep and as Eden was awake too, I came down and made some tea.
When we were up I started on breakfast and all was going well until the toast started to turn a little too dark around the egdes. That led us both to a mad rush to get the kitchen door shut before the fire alarm started screeching as it is far too sensitive.
Disaster averted, the rest of the day continued with various little mishaps until the spectacular finale late this afternoon while I was making dinner. Sarah was coming with Harley to pick up Eden and take her home so I always cook a dinner and today we were going to have roast beef with all the trimmings..........that is until I dropped the tin of yorkshire puddings just as I was putting the tray onto the oven shelf. Eden gave me a hand to clear it up and I quickly made another one then we all had dinner when they arrived.
After they had gone home, I washed the dishes and cleaned the mess out of the oven which by this time had baked on.
I have decided to do nothing else today so I shall sit here until bedtime!
Well, after discovering what the banging was, I thought I would doze a while before getting up but just as I started to drift off, I was brought back to reality when they started banging the doors of the van and the front door, then after stalling the van a couple of times, they were gone.
Of course, I couldn't get back off to sleep and as Eden was awake too, I came down and made some tea.
When we were up I started on breakfast and all was going well until the toast started to turn a little too dark around the egdes. That led us both to a mad rush to get the kitchen door shut before the fire alarm started screeching as it is far too sensitive.
Disaster averted, the rest of the day continued with various little mishaps until the spectacular finale late this afternoon while I was making dinner. Sarah was coming with Harley to pick up Eden and take her home so I always cook a dinner and today we were going to have roast beef with all the trimmings..........that is until I dropped the tin of yorkshire puddings just as I was putting the tray onto the oven shelf. Eden gave me a hand to clear it up and I quickly made another one then we all had dinner when they arrived.
After they had gone home, I washed the dishes and cleaned the mess out of the oven which by this time had baked on.
I have decided to do nothing else today so I shall sit here until bedtime!
Saturday, 28 August 2010
Childhood memories again
Yesterday as I drove back after picking up Eden I was telling her what we were going to have for dinner and said that I hade made some orange jelly with mandarin segments in as I know orange jelly is one of her favourites. We were going to have this with some creme fraiche and then I remembered some of my childhood favourites.
Because I had two brothers and two sisters and money was tight we had some quite different 'treats' as children. Of course there wasn't the choice of foods that we have today but despite this, we ate a very healthy diet. Sometimes as a special treat for dessert we would have evaporated milk instead of custard on home made pies or on jellies. This to us was as good as cream. Eden has never had this so I have said that I will get some one day so that she can try it too.
I can also remember giving this to my two when they were small too, tinned peaches with evaporated milk was special and they also had things like Angel delight which you can still get today! There was also another dessert that I used to make with evaporated milk and a packet of jelly and that was a cross between a milk jelly and a mousse. I used to make a packet of jelly to half the quantity and leave until just beginning to set. Then I would whip a small tin of evaporated milk until it was very thick and frothy then fold it into the setting jelly. This was put in the fridge for a few hours until set and always finished off in one sitting!
Perhaps I should revisit some of my favourite childhood recipes and try them out on Eden from time to time.
Because I had two brothers and two sisters and money was tight we had some quite different 'treats' as children. Of course there wasn't the choice of foods that we have today but despite this, we ate a very healthy diet. Sometimes as a special treat for dessert we would have evaporated milk instead of custard on home made pies or on jellies. This to us was as good as cream. Eden has never had this so I have said that I will get some one day so that she can try it too.
I can also remember giving this to my two when they were small too, tinned peaches with evaporated milk was special and they also had things like Angel delight which you can still get today! There was also another dessert that I used to make with evaporated milk and a packet of jelly and that was a cross between a milk jelly and a mousse. I used to make a packet of jelly to half the quantity and leave until just beginning to set. Then I would whip a small tin of evaporated milk until it was very thick and frothy then fold it into the setting jelly. This was put in the fridge for a few hours until set and always finished off in one sitting!
Perhaps I should revisit some of my favourite childhood recipes and try them out on Eden from time to time.
Friday, 27 August 2010
Who wants one of those?
Watching bits of a property programme yesterday, I was rather surprised when the presenter showed the couple that the 'mystery' aspect of the particular house that they were viewing was a hot tub!
This thing was stuck outside and had a lid over it but I have never been able to see the point in these things anyway. Who in their right mind would want to take a bath outside, especially in the winter? What is even more disturbing is that I have heard that people invite their friends round to join them in the darned thing!
Even on the Archers they had a hot tub which the whole village were keen to try at one time but I haven't heard any more about it for a while. I can't think of anything more disturbing than getting in a large bath of bubbling hot water, outside, in the middle of winter with other people. Even if they are wearing their swimwear!
When I go to pick Eden up, I pass a showroom that sells these hot tubs in Bath and they have just moved to bigger premises so despite the recession, business must be looking up.
As for me, I think I will stick to bathing or showering alone in the privacy of my own home and that way, I won't scare the horses (or children)!
This thing was stuck outside and had a lid over it but I have never been able to see the point in these things anyway. Who in their right mind would want to take a bath outside, especially in the winter? What is even more disturbing is that I have heard that people invite their friends round to join them in the darned thing!
Even on the Archers they had a hot tub which the whole village were keen to try at one time but I haven't heard any more about it for a while. I can't think of anything more disturbing than getting in a large bath of bubbling hot water, outside, in the middle of winter with other people. Even if they are wearing their swimwear!
When I go to pick Eden up, I pass a showroom that sells these hot tubs in Bath and they have just moved to bigger premises so despite the recession, business must be looking up.
As for me, I think I will stick to bathing or showering alone in the privacy of my own home and that way, I won't scare the horses (or children)!
Thursday, 26 August 2010
Unbelievable!
Last night I watched an excellent programme on BBC1 about the amount of food that is wasted in the home, the supermarket and on the farm. The four chefs who were a little sceptical at first about redeeming food that had been thrown out for various reasons, such as reaching the 'sell by date' or the fact that it didn't look very 'pretty', did a superb job of creating a banquet solely from food that would normally have been wasted.
I have never been able to understand why the supermarkets dictate to food producers that everything must be a certain size, shape or colour and anything that does not conform is not acceptable. We are all quite different from one another so why should lettuces for example, all be identical and what is wrong with a tomato or an apple with a small blemish? As for little eggs laid by young hens, they have absolutely nothing wrong with them and I am sure people would buy them if they had the opportunity.
In this day and age it is crazy to be throwing away good food, we might as well throw away money. If we were able to buy the food that is currently being discarded for whatever reason we could all save a considerable amount of money on food bills every year. Living on my own, I for one would love to be able to buy some of the small fish that the fishermen caught last night but said nobody wanted. The trouble is, we are not given the chance because sadly, the fishmongers and supermarkets want us to buy the expnsive stuff. On the continent, especially around the Mediterranean, the housewives buy all the little fish from the fishing boats and they make the most wonderful fish stews as well.
Most of the problem in this country is that a lot of women will tell you that they don't have the time to cook because they work, when the real truth is that they don't have a clue how to cook, especially the cheaper cuts of meat or offal. I would bet my pension that any Asian family living in this country does not go out to a takeaway for an Indian or Chinese meal because they all make their own and most of them have large families too.
We have to put our food waste in a special bin which is collected every week, but the only things that go into mine are eggshells, apple cores, onion peelings and the occasional chicken bone. Most of my vegetable trimmings go to the lad round the corner for his guinea pigs and everything else is eaten!
I have never been able to understand why the supermarkets dictate to food producers that everything must be a certain size, shape or colour and anything that does not conform is not acceptable. We are all quite different from one another so why should lettuces for example, all be identical and what is wrong with a tomato or an apple with a small blemish? As for little eggs laid by young hens, they have absolutely nothing wrong with them and I am sure people would buy them if they had the opportunity.
In this day and age it is crazy to be throwing away good food, we might as well throw away money. If we were able to buy the food that is currently being discarded for whatever reason we could all save a considerable amount of money on food bills every year. Living on my own, I for one would love to be able to buy some of the small fish that the fishermen caught last night but said nobody wanted. The trouble is, we are not given the chance because sadly, the fishmongers and supermarkets want us to buy the expnsive stuff. On the continent, especially around the Mediterranean, the housewives buy all the little fish from the fishing boats and they make the most wonderful fish stews as well.
Most of the problem in this country is that a lot of women will tell you that they don't have the time to cook because they work, when the real truth is that they don't have a clue how to cook, especially the cheaper cuts of meat or offal. I would bet my pension that any Asian family living in this country does not go out to a takeaway for an Indian or Chinese meal because they all make their own and most of them have large families too.
We have to put our food waste in a special bin which is collected every week, but the only things that go into mine are eggshells, apple cores, onion peelings and the occasional chicken bone. Most of my vegetable trimmings go to the lad round the corner for his guinea pigs and everything else is eaten!
Wednesday, 25 August 2010
Bird Brains of Britain
I always get quite angry when people think that birds don't have brains and can't think for themselves. OK, so they don't have the same kind of thought process as we do but they are certainly not stupid by any means. Scientists have shown that birds can solve problems and many people in the past have trained various types of birds.
Wild birds can often die of shock if they have been caught by a cat, which just goes to show that they experience some form of emotional reaction such as fright. They may not have any visible injuries but the shock kills within the first twenty four hours, so that is why the RSPCA will advise you to keep the bird in a quiet, dark place for a day and if they are still alive after that, they can be released.
In my garden I have fed successive flocks of house sparrows for the last twenty five years. Just a few weeks ago there was a sparrow hawk sitting up on the roof of a house across the road watching the flight corridor the sparrows use to get to my garden from the park, but they could see him there and didn't come to feed for about a week.
Then I noticed one morning that they all came in a flock, ate their seed very quickly without any chirping and left all within ten minutes. The same thing happened in the evening too. All the time there was a lookout perched in the honeysuckle where he couldn't be seen. Usually when they come to feed they are a noisy bunch and they will often spend the whole afternoon 'pinging' about the garden, having a bit of seed, then a drink and a bath, then some more seed. Then they will all sit about preening themselves in the honeysuckle or on the fence and they cheep constantly. I have often called them the 'chip chip' gang because of the constant cheeping noise that they make!
This behaviour has been repeated every day for a couple of weeks but I have also noticed that they don't always come at the same time and frequently use different routes. So, I can only assume that the sparrowhawks are still around the area and these little birds are clever enough to use tactics to outwit them in order not to be the dinner menu for a sparrowhawk.
Obviously there is safety in numbers!
Wild birds can often die of shock if they have been caught by a cat, which just goes to show that they experience some form of emotional reaction such as fright. They may not have any visible injuries but the shock kills within the first twenty four hours, so that is why the RSPCA will advise you to keep the bird in a quiet, dark place for a day and if they are still alive after that, they can be released.
In my garden I have fed successive flocks of house sparrows for the last twenty five years. Just a few weeks ago there was a sparrow hawk sitting up on the roof of a house across the road watching the flight corridor the sparrows use to get to my garden from the park, but they could see him there and didn't come to feed for about a week.
Then I noticed one morning that they all came in a flock, ate their seed very quickly without any chirping and left all within ten minutes. The same thing happened in the evening too. All the time there was a lookout perched in the honeysuckle where he couldn't be seen. Usually when they come to feed they are a noisy bunch and they will often spend the whole afternoon 'pinging' about the garden, having a bit of seed, then a drink and a bath, then some more seed. Then they will all sit about preening themselves in the honeysuckle or on the fence and they cheep constantly. I have often called them the 'chip chip' gang because of the constant cheeping noise that they make!
This behaviour has been repeated every day for a couple of weeks but I have also noticed that they don't always come at the same time and frequently use different routes. So, I can only assume that the sparrowhawks are still around the area and these little birds are clever enough to use tactics to outwit them in order not to be the dinner menu for a sparrowhawk.
Obviously there is safety in numbers!
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