Monday 3 February 2014

Verification, Housewifery and Better Weather

Hiya!
I was complaining about the verification fiddler to YD , "You do know you have it on your blog don't you mother"?   Eeeer no! So I guess those of you who have seen me moaning about it have wondered about my duel standards. Well, YD has helped me to get rid of the thing and we will see if I am inundated with spam. I don't think I'm a big enough blogger to be of interest to anybody though.

I'm so pleased that people found the good advice that I shared in my last post useful. It would seem that neatness is not a quality common amongst fellow bloggers!. Perhaps we should strive to be neater. Why is this not a resolution as important as paying off the mortgage early, or a sealed pot challenge or living on 50 pence a day or finding 100 things to do with and empty yoghurt pot? Hmm food for thought.
In the spirit of one who knows her place I have searched for other ways to improve my housewifery and have some more gems to share over the next few posts.

The last three days have been dry and mostly sunny. I was able to go into the gardens to see what there was to have with yesterday's meat and potato pie and tonight's lamb taginy-type casserole and if there was anything to tempt some very bored rabbits. While picking some perpetual spinach I was surprised at the size of last year's beetroot that were sown alongside the spinach. I pulled a couple and found that there were some small root hairs showing, a sure sign that they will start growing again, when they will become tough as they flower and go to seed. I pulled up half of the row, cooked them and find that they are still quite tender. I will pull the rest up tomorrow and pickle them. The rabbits were happy with the outside of the brussels and some jerusalem artichokes that are still growing like weeds in the three veg plots.
With regard to the veg to go with meals I found Brussels, Brussel tops, Spinach and black kale.
Tonight's meal was a home grown affair. .. Home grown lamb casseroled with lamb stock, whole shallots, (soaked) borlotti beans and  frozen tomato passata. At he last few minutes before serving I added a little shredded spinach. To make this more "tagini" I added some pickled sliced lemons at the start of cooking.. I pickled these lemons a couple of years ago and they are still wonderfully unctuous, though their colour is now very drab. If you ever come across some reasonably priced unwaxed lemons I would recommend pickling some in salt. I made three jars and gave one away as a gift.. I will share my recipe is anyone is interested. I served the casserole with a few of the last pink fir apple potatoes and some brussel tops.
 Here is another summer picture to cheer us all. The golden rod is always covered in hoverflies and honey bees.

Need to leave blogland now and get on with some Civic Society stuff.
I believe we have another storm on the way.
Keep Warm
Gillx

10 comments:

  1. I get spam but it all goes to a spam folder and I delete the lot unread every few days. It's not a hassle! :-)
    J x

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    1. Thanks for that Joy. I'll give it a go and see what happens. Won't cost me anything to dlete will it?!
      Gill

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  2. I refuse to have 'verification', and have no problems, but I did stop anonymous comments.

    I always leave a couple of Brussels plants to sprout. Each sprout left on the stem will grow and flower, and can be eaten just like PSB. Do you use Raz al Hanout in your tagines? I add plenty of Cinnamon; it really gives an evocative Moroccan flavour.

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    1. Don't remember ever having an anonymous comment. I suppose it depends on what they say!
      Had to look up Raz al Hanout. I think it is what I call Moroccan spice. When I do an actual Tagine I use Cayenne, Cinnamon and Turmeric. I also put dried apricots in ( I know some people used dried fruits but I prefer apricots) In the dish above it was more an homage to a tagine as I only added cayenne.
      I have never let brussels sprout but I do let them "blow" for a more spring cabbagey sort of veg. I could try leaving them to flower if I don't need that part of the garden in straight away in the spring.
      Gill

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  3. We've definitely got another storm coming tomorrow, I got caught today in a hail storm delivering my leaflets! Horrible!

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    1. I saw that in your blog. You really did have a horrible day!.
      Hope things improve
      Gill

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  4. Yes please do share that pickled lemon recipe - Tesco usually have some unwaxed ones.

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  5. I agree word verification is annoying but I used to get so much spam (the bad kind) that I kept it for a long time. I finally eliminated anonymous comments, removed verification, and no more spam. I did lose a few folks who used anonymous to make valid comments, but it's a relief to not have spam. Love your homegrown meal plans!

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  6. Thanks for commenting Leigh.
    I'll see how it goes with the verification business.
    Over the last few years I've been looking into preserving without using electricity ( including the preparation). The beans and lemons and overwintering veg are part of this.
    Gill

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