Wet And Wild

I am glad to say that all is well here in our little cottage.  Storm Callum hit with a vengeance yesterday and through the night.  There was a 60 - 80 mph damaging wind making for a noisy night as it rattled and pounded against the stone walls.  There was an Amber warning for localised flooding in Stornoway and 27 of the 28 routes of ferry cancelled.  We have woke to a dreary and overcast morning but we have been rewarded with such a beautiful sky.

The girls have settled in well and have been out exploring their new environment.  Mickey goes down with us but isn't bothered about them at all, so we are thrilled. 

I have had some raspberries soaking in  a mix of distilled vinegar and white wine vinegar for a taste of Summer through the Winter months. (About 4 days)

It was bottled yesterday, along with some chilli oil.

Red cabbage was shredded and divided between the colander and slow cooker.  The cabbage in the colander salted and left overnight all ready to be rinsed off and packed in jars ready for the pickling vinegar.  The slow cooker cabbage cooked with pears and port all ready for braised read cabbage for the freezer.

As it is Communion weekend here in our little corner of the world I have been busy baking for the wonderful occasion and fellowship throughout the weekend.  A shoulder joint of pork in the slow cooker for pulled pork.  Mixed grain bread in the breadmaker.  A large pan of broth bubbling away on the stove top.  Quiches, all ready to be cut.  Mince pies with a crumble, nutty top and banana bread.

I am now going to make a fruit tart and a trifle to take for desert when we go to our friends and neighbours for lunch tomorrow.  A wet and wild few days that doesn't compare to the devastation occurring around the World.  We have a lot to be thankful for 

A warm welcome to new followers, I hope you enjoy my little adventures through life.

See you soon.

Time In The Kitchen

I have had quite a productive weekend, preparing preserves for the store cupboard.  A taste of Summer in those Winter months.  Some simple oils that also double up as a little gift for friends and neighbours.  The familiar well tried and tested chilli oil and a new addition scallion or also known as spring onion oil.  I used the Good Food recipe available on google.

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.

A lovely way to get the grass cut.  I love to look out of my window and see the lambs.

How did you spend your weekend?

See you soon.