Not So Much Knitting and a Bit More Cooking

I've been busy making jars of stuff. Actually I should say "we've" been busy because Robert has been very helpful with the tedious chores. At the market, once a month, I sell about 50 jars of stuff and so every month I have to make about 50 jars of stuff, to keep up the stock.
What I have here is (in clockwise order from the top left) English Pub Chutney, Summer Berry and Juniper Jam, Dried Apricot and Almond Jam, Lime Curry Pickle, Kashmir Chutney and last but not least Gherkin Relish.
Only a couple of jars of the relish because a woman asked me to have a go at making some. Her daughter lives on it and the only brand she can buy in the supermarket is really, bright, emerald green. She wanted to know if I could make some without all the added numbers on the nutrition label that designate the colours and preservatives. I did quite well and then to my own dismay, realised I had used gherkins with numbers on the label! This year we will plant lots more cucumbers so that we can overcome the number s problem by making our own gherkins.
Next week I will make the Lemon Curd/Butter so that it is fresh.






I'm in the process of making some more "English Pub Chutney". I call it this because it attracts people's interest and they taste it and like it and then buy it. It is a very simple green tomato, green apple, onion and raisin chutney and is the sort that they seem to serve in English Pubs with a "Ploughman's Lunch" or even a plain and simple cheese sandwich. Please let me know if you want any of my recipes. I don't post them because this is primarily a knitting blog but if I'm not knitting I'm stirring away in the kitchen.



I also show you this picture of a tile that is behind the gas cook top. The tiles are scattered amongst the plain cream ones and each show a different herb and a rhyme from a Mediaeval Herb book. I didn't realise what this one said for a few months after I had the tiling done and then I read it more closely.
The herb is Solomon's Seal, which I don't know about but the advice is ...
The root of Solomon's Seal stamped while it is fresh and greene and applied, taketh away in one night, or two at the most, any bruise, black or blew spots gotten by fals or women's wilfulnesse in stumbling upon their hasty husbands fists, or such like. Gerard's Herbal
Thank goodness I don't need any for the prescribed causes but it might be handy for a general bruise.
I have done some knitting and the Jet Cardi No. 1 in Bendigos' Rustic has reached...back and half a front...stage
Last but not least, next door's Camelia tree which I can see from the kitchen window and in which the blackbirds return to nest each year, is blossoming. There is always one branch which gives a mutant with light pink outer petals with dark pink inner petals. Here is one alongside it's unitone siblings.
I shall go and ponder it again now while I do a steak and chips lunch.


Cheers to all, Gilian