First post for 2015

Hard to believe! However now that study is almost done, and things are happening in the garden again I will try and post more often.

Stage 1 of the garden makeover has begun with these 2 rascals - Laverne and Shirley. Currently nearly 6 weeks old and the cutest things on 4 trotters. They have been hand reared so come when called, love to play, and Laverne in particular already loves belly rubs :-)

More garden renovation (read destruction) and porky tales to come - promise!

Mint overload

My mum gave her mint plants a radical haircut, and presented me with half a black garbage bag of mint stems!  Waste not, want not, so I have made (or am in the process of making):

Mint syrup (part 1), mint jelly  (9 jars)

 Dried mint (10 trays worth!) and about a litre of mint sauce

 

I guess it is lucky there is plenty of lamb in the freezer!

They grow up so quickly

October 20th - hatched within 48 hrs

October 30th - first day out of the nest, still in the same tree

November 2nd - out and about with mum and dad

Fishy or fruity...or both?

Nigel Slater's mackrel with rhubarb and sherry vinegar. In a nutshell: pan fried mackerel served with oven baked rhubarb. The sherry vinegar comes into it at the end when you are rewarming the rhubarb in the pan before serving. Mine was a bit mushier than Nigel's, and didn't look pretty, but the taste combination was surprisingly good.