Thursday 24 July 2008

Just pottering

I'm having a slow start today. With no need to charge off and do anything in particular I'm having a quick wander round everyone's blogs seeing what they've all been up to. Moonroot has been talking about creativity and how the Summer brings it out in her and also about the battery hens she has rescued. Read their stories I guarantee it will bring a tear to your eye.

Last year I so wanted to get everything just right and do everything that I had read about or seen on tv about self sufficiency. I spent lots of time running round in circles and I used up loads of energy worrying about how to do things instead of just getting on with it. This year I've calmed down a bit I'm the new chilled out me. I stay chilled out for oh hours at a time. With only slight episodes of veg plot envy and wishing for a finished house.

And low and behold

We have a wider range of potential food in the garden.

I'm using the food because it gets picked and I get on and make something with it.

I'm using up all the groceries I buy because I just get on and do something with them.

I have made

Redcurrant jelly - and used it with duck and in desserts

Apricot jam - with just enough apricots to make three jars instead of a boat load that put me under pressure to use them all.

Roast Aubergine and Tomato Quiche and Roast Aubergine and Tomato Soup I didn't think I liked aubergines

Beetroot Soup - a delicious surprise, who would of thought that would taste great?

oh and many curries and cornish pasties to fill up the freezer and make quick meals for working days and lots of other stuff.

Today I'm going to work in the garden till lunchtime when it gets too hot. Then cook up yesterday's shopping and whatever I get out of the garden this morning.

So sorry but I just have to get on now because next door has far more stuff growing than me.

5 comments:

Kitt said...

Will you post the beetroot soup recipe, please? I've got some I need to use. (I'm always coming home with more produce than I know what to do with.)

"Just getting on with it" is something I need to work on. I'm very good at spinning my wheels over researching Just The Right Way to do something and not actually, you know, doing it.

Bravo on getting things done!

Breezy said...

Hi Kitt I got it from this site

http://vegbox-recipes.co.uk/ingredients/beetroot.php

softinthehead said...

Well done you - so easy to procrastinate isn't it! I was very restrained this year due to my new career/lifestyle and therefore only planted two tomato plants - nothing else and am now regretting it. I envy your self sufficiency = when I get to France .....blah blah (wait a minute ...that wouldn't be procrastinating would it?! :)

Moonroot said...

I'm a terrible procrastinator, so this is highly impressive!

I've tagged you for a meme; details on my blog.

Breezy said...

SITH I know what you mean we didn't do potatoes this year and now I'm reduced to buying the shabby specimens in the supermarket I wish we had

Moonroot but I am always so impressed by the things you get done. Actually that goes for Kitt ans SITH too. Perhaps we are all rather fabulous but terribly modest