I’ve grown artichokes for two years now. Grown from seed as much for their dominant structures as their distinct green globes. Over the years, I’ve eaten a few but not many – but this is all set to change. The memory of my first artichoke remains clearly with me. I was 13 and in France… Continue reading Growing globe artichokes…
For years I’ve tried to forage for wild garlic but never successfully found any close to home. When the wild garlic season hits full force, usually in April, I always think I should’ve grown my own. So, last year I did just that – in pots. This year they bloomed wonderfully. It was a small… Continue reading My first foray into wild garlic…
We’ve now been in lockdown for 28 days… …and today I got myself into a proper funk. I didn’t even want to cook – that’s how bad it was. I was thoroughly fed up – with the lack of freedom, lack of variety and lack of people. Although I’ve become rather used to the new… Continue reading The joy of frugal food…
…you know you’ve got too much time on your hands when you make an inventory of your freezer – yes that’s actually happened, I did that – and guess what, I rather enjoyed it! We all know that most of us have no idea what’s in there and it’s true to say I didn’t. Who… Continue reading Isolation forces freezer adventures to continue…
…isn’t, in reality, much different to normal life here. There’s one big exception though and that is the fact that I currently have no work. Being self-employed, and working mostly with events, means that I no longer have an income stream whilst the Covid-19 pandemic unveils itself. Of course I’m nervous about what the future… Continue reading Isolation on the farm…
A few months ago I met a wonderful woman who, in an instant, I felt I’d known a lifetime. There were many memorable things about her but most notably it was the fact that she was carrying her sourdough starter with her in her handbag (…it’s a long story). She immediately inspired me to start… Continue reading My adventures into the world of sourdough…
In December our first Hereford cow left the farm. We look after a small herd of Herefords who live outside for the majority of the time – feeding on grass and pottering about as they wish. In the winter months they’re nestled in an open cattle shed feeding on homegrown hay. Farming isn’t particularly in… Continue reading Musings on meat…
Do you make new year’s resolutions? I don’t always do it myself unless someone puts me on the spot and asks me what mine are for the year ahead. However, this year I felt full of optimism (and flu) as the bells struck midnight and so decided to attempt a number of resolutions for 2020.… Continue reading New year’s resolutions…
The day I thought would never arrive was here – it was the grand finale of The Great British Bake Off. For the past ten weeks I have baked (and occasionally cooked) my way through nine technical challenges – I’ll not lie it has felt like a lifetime. At times it has been emotional, at… Continue reading Would my souffles rise to the occasion…
It was the semi final – things were getting serious. Surely this week’s technical challenge would be a stinker. And, true to form, Prue threw in a smoking grenade – a gâteau Saint Honoré. Her words of wisdom? “This is very difficult to make look good, good luck.” WHAT?! Naturally, Saint Honoré is the French… Continue reading It took five hours to make and five minutes to demolish, but was it worth it?
