I have had some raspberries soaking in vinegar for several days and finally strained and bottled the raspberry vinegar. This is a wonderful addition to a salad, at any time of the year.
I did manage to get some reduced/yellow sticker strawberries whilst out and about. The strawberries were covered in sugar and left overnight to macerate. Boiled for 20 minutes with some lemon juice and hey presto strawberry jam.
Five jars ready for the cupboard, I am a great fan of jam on toast.
I plan to harvest some of the herbs that I have been growing over the next few days and hanging them to dry ready for Winter stews and casseroles.
Our neighbour has brought down some of his sheep to the field right next to our back door. We have had some fun watching them watching us. Mickey(our dog) goes right up to the fence for a look but soon becomes disinterested and never barks at them.
How did you spend your weekend?
See you soon.
You have such a good start for Christmas gifts. The raspberry vinegar sure sounds lovely. And the strawberry jam looks delicious. How lovely it is to see the lambs out in the field with buttercups? Have a beautiful afternoon. ♥
ReplyDeleteYour oils look really interesting and I know that I would be thrilled to receive one so I am sure all the future recipients will be equally happy.
ReplyDeleteI would never have thought of spring onion oil, a very productive time in the kitchen, well done.
ReplyDeleteA very productive time in the kitchen! The spring onion oil is a great idea. X
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a little girl we used to have raspberry vinegar (and maybe a little sugar) on pancakes.
ReplyDeleteAll your concoctions look interesting, but the vinegar and jam especially got my attention. You mentioned buying overripe ones. Can you tell us a little more in a post about how and why you select them for jam? And I'm also wondering (sorry to be a pest) if it's possible to make a small batch without canning them? Like possibly freezing them (will that work?) or just refrigerating them?
ReplyDeleteI have never been taught to preserve things and I find it fascinating how you make your own groceries so to speak. Any info you share will be most appreciated. I know I can't be the only one so ignorant of the art of preserving.
Oh my! You have been very busy in the kitchen. Everything looks delicious, especially that strawberry jam. I’m also very fond of jam on toast. What a wonderful view outside your door! I would love to look at those sweet little faces too. And how good Mickey is not to bark at them.
ReplyDeleteOur weekend was a busy one but not very productive. I had a bridal shower on Friday evening and we had a birthday party on Saturday. I’m back at the lake this morning and it supposed to be a very, very hot week. Close to 100°F all week. Thank goodness for air conditioning! Blessings, Betsy
There is nothing like homemade,you really have been busy.The chilli oil looks so festive with the red and green peppers.
ReplyDeleteOur weekend was very quiet but enjoyable just the same.
There is a field of sheep that we see while out walking and it's always nice to stop and watch them.
Hope you both have a good week x
It is such a good feeling when you start stocking your store cupboard against the hard times of winter. Great idea about the spring onion oil.
ReplyDeleteI really like the sound of that oil and vinegar, I'm sure they are delicious.
ReplyDeleteAnd strawberry jam is always a good idea. I managed to make some a couple of years ago from strawbs that we grew at our allotment but I've not been good with thinning out and renewing our plants so this year they only produced enough for a few fresh servings. Perhaps I'll get myself in gear later this year so we'll get a better harvest again...
I made raspberry vinegar a few years ago and it was the loveliest colour!!
ReplyDeleteI like how you make use of marked-down strawberries to make jam. We love our jam around here and go through it fast.
Dear Lorraine, Your latest makes look like they are delicious and things I would like to make one day. I have just spent some time catching up more thoroughly on your posts since I got back to Oregon in March. I am thanking God with you for Gerard's recovery, and the visits you had with your folks and family. Thanks so much for sharing your creative projects and your life adventures and travels. It is always grand to see how your grands are growing! While we did not get the house on the market July 1st we are now nearly ready for realtor photos and are so grateful for progress! Blessings to you and yours :-) xx
ReplyDeleteYour oil, vinegar and jam look so good! You're such an inspiration. I constantly admire all you accomplish and wish I had your creative drive. I feel like such a couch potato after reading your blog posts.. LOL! Have a super week. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
ReplyDeleteHow delicious, what gorgeous colours too!
ReplyDeleteI love raspberry vinegar and I just know of a great wild raspberry spot that I shall visit on my way back from work. Thanks for the timely prompt, I sometimes forget to make things when the season is right (missed the elderflower altogether this year!). x
ReplyDeleteGreat!! i like that raspberry solution. and jams looks so yummy. You did really hard work for it.
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I have never heard of spring onion oil, very interesting! I like home made jams too!
ReplyDeleteHow lovely, your cupboards must be well stocked now. I've just been catching up on the posts I missed whilst I was away and I'm glad that your trip to see your mum and dad put your mind at rest, it must be hard to be far away from them, especially when something happens and you're not on hand to check on things yourself. I see you've had another little trip away too, many congratulations to your daughter, you must be a very proud mum.
ReplyDeleteOh I do love a bit of jam on toast but I am being very good at the moment and not indulging due to a bad blood sugar reading last time I was tested.
ReplyDeleteThe oils look so pretty.
Hugs-x-
Summer in bottle and jars !!!!
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely day !
Anna
Very productive! I've made chive oil before and loved it.
ReplyDeleteThe bottles look very pretty with the different oils. I'm sure they make a lovely gift. What a treat to look out your window and see the lambs grazing. I'm sure you never tire of it.
ReplyDeletexx Beca
You have been as industrious as ever I see. I was hoping to make Gooseberry Jam as usual, but had a disappointing crop. Otherwise, it has been far too hot to spend any length of time in the kitchen.
ReplyDeleteLovely to watch the sheep. It must be so wonderfully peaceful and quiet.
The M25 has been horrendously noisy here for the past few weeks. Today it has been especially loud.
I haven't canned anything in years. I need to get back to that someday. I like the raspberry vinegar. I would like to try that.
ReplyDeleteYou really did get a lot accomplished! How you will enjoy the tastes of summer when fall and winter come. I would love to have sheep to watch as you do. Very pastoral scenes...
ReplyDeleteThe sheep are so cute. How lucky to have farm animals at your back door. Sheep are funny creatures and lambs are adorable.
ReplyDeleteIt's satisfying to have a well stocked cupboard of home made preserves. I have been bottling ripe tomatoes although most of them I use for cooking or add to salads, picking them as they ripen. I like the idea of looking out of your window and seeing your neighbours sheep.
ReplyDeleteWow you were a busy bee to do all this for winter ! Must be real good ! Love your neighbours, they are cute, we don't have the same lol !
ReplyDeleteCompared to what you did on your weekend, Lorraine, mine was rather unproductive. The ways in which you prepare oils and jams is always interesting to read about, even though I won’t be makiny any myself. When we were homeowners we did have a garden and tried our hand at limited canning and freezing, but now as apt dwellers we are no longer gardeners.
ReplyDeleteYour preserves look wonderful, home made strawberry jam on thick buttery toast, mmmm perfectly delicious. What a lovely view looking out at the sheep, they are very effective grass cutters! Mickey is very good, I fear my two would bark at first but then be ok.
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