It's been a bit of a "strange" week...
...almost 4 seasons in seven days...
...but...the "winter" one is always my favourite.
Throughout this awful period, a welcome constant has been our weekly Riverford Organics delivery...
...every Monday a box full of veggie (and sometimes fruity) delights turns up meaning that it extends the time that we can stay away from supermarkets and contact with larger numbers of people.
They have been so good despite having been inundated with new customers/orders. I do hope that they keep many of them and that not too many are "cherry-pickers" who will drop them like hot potatoes when things return to "normal"!
Back a few weeks before Christmas we had our usual indulgence in a couple of "Squash Boxes"...
...which see us through well into February if we keep them warm enough.
This week I've used two small "Sweet Lightning" squash to make a delicious chutney to accompany an equally delicious board of cheese picked up in Ludlow just before we found ourselves "locked-down" again!!
2 Sweet Lightning (or other small) squash – quartered and de-seeded Put in a roasting tin/tray; drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle over a mix of ¼ teaspoon each of ground cumin, ground coriander, dried thyme and salt. Bake in a 200 degree fan oven for 45 minutes or until nicely browned and caramelized. Leave to cool and then scoop out the flesh. Put 2 tablespoons of olive oil into a pan and fry one medium yellow onion chopped finely – it needs to be translucent and soft but not brown. In a saucepan put 100ml raw organic apple cyder vinegar; 80 gms soft brown sugar; 50 gms golden sultanas; 25 gms slivered almonds; ½ teaspoon black poppy seeds. Bring to the boil to ensure the sugar is well dissolved. Add in the onions and squash flesh. Mix well to heat through. When hot, spoon into a couple of prepared glass jars. This is just lovely with some freshly baked bread and a chunk or two of great cheese!!
Stitching indoors has echoed the scenery out-of-doors too...
"Snowy Winter" by Little House Needleworks supplied by The Patchwork Rabbit...
...who have a wonderful range of charts and supplies to keep us all happy through difficult times!
And...
...last but definitely NOT least...
...is my newly acquired (used) copy of Nigel Slater's "Tender"...
...which will be a constant companion through this coming year of garden adventures :-)
Until next week...
...with love from Ty Mabon
x C
