I used 20 leeks that I pulled up yesterday, and our own spuds naturally, locally grown celery – I must buy some seeds and grow some this year, and garlic.
After I cooked it, I whizzed it with my twizzle stick which turned it into a Cream of Leek and all the rest soup. It made 17 cup fulls. I have frozen 13 of those and the rest we are having for lunch. – Not fattening.
I spent the rest of the evening preparing oranges and lemons for marmalade. The photo shows it in its first stage. Everything has been shredded (apart from the pips) and 9 pints of water have been added and it will be left to soak for 24 hours. I will cook it on Saturday and add whiskey to some of it – that makes it taste wicked!
The last thing I have been doing this afternoon is making yoghurt. I will let it cool overnight and strain it in the morning as we like it really thick and creamy. It saves a fortune making it yourself and is so much nicer as you can add all your own flavourings – fruits, muesli, nuts, dried fruit, honey, or just plain! I rather like it with a spoonful of home made boozy mincemeat now and again!
If you look closely you can just see the whey that has separated from the yoghurt, but I will strain the whole lot as you get even more out that way.
I have to be up early to make the bread tomorrow morning, or at least get it to its first rising, as we ate the last tonight. I have to be out by 9am for an appointment, but will hopefully be back in time to beat it up, get it to rise, and cooked in time for lunch.
We went to a town today and I got some plain bread flour to mix with the Doves wholemeal. The strong white bread flour wasn’t organic, like the Doves, but we can suffer that for 49p a bag. It had been recommended to me by other people.
So I am off to bed and feeling like I have achieved quite a lot. I have even done the stacks of washing up, and cleaned the cooker – well the top anyway.
What a productive day! I write this just having finished a batch of marmalade - very satisfying! I missed the Seville Oranges last year so I resolved to make up for it as soon as I saw them this time. I added whisky to the whole batch but may make another without.
ReplyDeleteThe soup looked excellent - those wizzers are brilliant, aren't they...
All the best, Mike
I've only just discovered your blog, and think it's WONDERFUL. I completely empathise with the seed packet problem, and am trying to work up the courage to do an audit here! What a great day you had yesterday - I only got as far as buying the Seville oranges, so today I'll be catching you up. This year, for the first time, I'm freezing some Sevilles, as my stepmother has done this with great success for years (just put 'em in).
ReplyDeleteI'm just about to start making yoghurt, and wondered if you could say how you strain yours - coffee filter papers? muslin-lined seive? (As you may have guessed, I'm really a food blogger!)
Best wishes,
Joanna
http://joannasfood.blogspot.com