Category Archives: In the kitchen

Sourdough – first (and last?) time

Posted on July 11, 2021 by Helen

I woke up early this morning, excited to bake my first loaves of sourdough bread. By the time my daughter came down to start making lunch, I was disappointed instead. The first loaf out of the oven was leaden and … Continue reading →

Posted in In the kitchen | Tagged , | 4 Comments

It’s here!

Posted on July 9, 2021 by Helen

Earlier in the year, just before the third lockdown, we took a trip to an Everhot and Aga showroom to investigate an oven which would also be a source of room heating. Or rather I wanted to see the model … Continue reading →

Posted in Crafts, In the kitchen | Tagged , | 8 Comments

First attempt at homemade dandelion coffee

Posted on October 25, 2020 by Helen

Following my post ‘Herbs for Health’, I duly got my garden fork out yesterday and dug up a number of dandelion roots and, after giving them a good scrub, put them in the dehydrator. It’s a shame I had dug … Continue reading →

Posted in edible weeds, In the kitchen | Tagged , | 32 Comments

Herbs for Health

Posted on October 23, 2020 by Helen

To speak an obvious truth, the pandemic is affecting all our lives and most certainly not always for the best. At the same time, it would be remiss of me to suggest that my life has come to a complete … Continue reading →

Posted in edible flowers, foraging, forest garden, Health, herbs, In the kitchen, Permaculture | Tagged , , | 30 Comments

“Betty Botter bought a bit of butter“

Posted on October 16, 2020 by Helen

Red Lodge Farm has started selling cream from their raw milk. Or maybe they have always sold it but there was never any on the counter when I arrived until recently. After my last failed attempt to churn a pat … Continue reading →

Posted in In the kitchen | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

Unexpected raspberries

Posted on September 30, 2020 by Helen

The other day, I was disappointed. Whilst picking raspberries, I managed to pull not only the one I wanted off the plant but in doing so, off came the branch with two which were not as yet ripe. Thinking that … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, In the kitchen | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Don’t mind us!

Posted on September 4, 2020 by Helen

It is well and truly harvest time. So, my vegetable share from the local farm has become quite big as well as varied. Nevertheless, it would be such a shame to leave windfalls laying on the ground, even if they … Continue reading →

Posted in Days out, Health, In the kitchen | Tagged , , | 21 Comments

Moving online

Posted on August 28, 2020 by Helen

I hear that more and more people are shopping online these days. Even before the pandemic, it was an increasing trend, but now there appears to be panic that the high street is dying and so we should all get … Continue reading →

Posted in Good for the environment, In the kitchen, Reading | Tagged , , | 15 Comments

Churning butter

Posted on August 23, 2020 by Helen

Occasionally, I’ve made butter from cream and it has involved a degree of labour – but not as much as today. I was churning away manually with a bowl and whisk. An hour in total and starting to get quite … Continue reading →

Posted in In the kitchen | Tagged , , | 28 Comments

Harvest come early

Posted on August 22, 2020 by Helen

It’s almost a week since I last ventured into WordPress land. Working from 7 in the morning till 6 at night doesn’t help matters. However, it is the weekend, of which I’m already nearing the end of my second day, … Continue reading →

Posted in climate change, Gardening, In the kitchen | Tagged , , | 10 Comments