A Busy Time of Year

It’s been a busy week in the garden and kitchen. Harvesting is in full swing and I don’t want to waste a scrap. Strawberries are ready every day so I’ve been squirelling away all the surplus. The freezer is almost full now with scarlet treasure for the winter. I might make strawberry jam this year. Such a power-pack of flavour on hot buttered toast on a cold day.

Broad beans have almost finished. The last few were growing faster than we could eat them so I’ve frozen a few to prevent them from becoming tough. I always “blanch” them first. This is cooking in boiling water for two or three minutes before cooling quickly and freezing. I spread them on a baking sheet first to open-freeze them then transfer them to a container. This way they don’t stick together in a frozen lump and it’s easy to shake out as many or as few as I need when cooking a meal.

I froze only enough beans for a couple of meals and with the cost of electricity it’s not economical but it’s satisfying to have your own produce stored away for later.

I also made and froze mint sauce. For some reason my mint is a bit sparse this year. I usually use my favourite apple mint but had to add some spearmint this time. I had enough to put four little tubs away. It tastes exactly like fresh when it thaws and it’s such a treat.

So easy to do and delicious. The kitchen smells fantastic while I’m doing it! The recipe is in my Earthy Homemaker’s Cookbook. You will find it with this link: https://geni.us/eANQu

Thank you to everyone who left a review about my cookbook, on Amazon. Your kind comments are so much appreciated.

The garlic had dried off on the bench in the greenhouse so I trimmed the dry leaves and outer skin. Stored in a basket in a cool place, it’s ready for use now and will last for a while. Tastes wonderful.

Still lovely flowers to enjoy when the hard work is done.

And on a hot Summer’s day it’s cool and lovely under the trees. I love the dappled light filtered through the leaves and the shadows cast over the paving.

I was delighted to see a hedgehog in the garden the other day. I haven’t seen one or any traces of them for a while. They are very welcome in our wildlife-friendly garden. They will eat the slugs and snails which make gardening a frustrating process at times.

These light mornings often wake me early and inspired me to write another poem.

Summer Mornings

Sleep eludes me on these Summer mornings
As light fills the room.
Blackbirds herald the early dawnings
Wakened from night's pitch-black gloom.
They speak to me of day's renewal,
Time to stir and rise again.
The sun is shining like a giant jewel
And the moon is on the wain.
All thoughts of sleep are fast receding,
I'm wide awake, alert and keen.
The energising light of day is leading
To pleasures which are yet unseen.

I was up very early on Saturday and baking by six o’clock. I’ve been toying with a recipe for carrot cake. I know there are numerous recipes out there already but I’d like to create my own using my quick methods and wholesome ingredients. I want it to have a good texture and plenty of flavour so that it can be eaten with or without icing. For some reason, carrot cake is usually served with cream cheese frosting but I’m not too keen on it. Although I love other kinds of icing, I’d like to make a cake good enough to be enjoyed for itself.

I did a try-out but I’m not satisfied yet. Wasn’t bad. Nice crumby texture. But I’m going to tweak my recipe to see if I can make it special. I will post it if I succeed.

Meanwhile, much to keep me occupied. The peas are swelling their pods so they’ll need using or freezing for later, roses and campanulas need dead-heading to encourage them to flower again and constant watering of our dry sandy soil always needs doing.

I hope you’re finding jobs which bring you pleasure and not just work. With you again next week. Bye for now.