tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014100274699311649.post2396780461477318000..comments2024-02-28T01:14:13.415-08:00Comments on Our Smallholding Adventure: Monday night preserving - Rhubarb wine, rhubarb vodka, chamomile tea and drying herbs!Tracy - Our Smallholding Adventurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00693567749134384866noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014100274699311649.post-7580748382922494362017-07-07T10:28:18.311-07:002017-07-07T10:28:18.311-07:00So impressed with how much you get done! This post...So impressed with how much you get done! This post guilted me into going out and picking my chamomile and some mint to dry. It's a start!<br />I am awful at wine making and suspect it has do to with either sanitation or our water? There's always an off flavor even after aging. :(Cottontailfarmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06603586688895863727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014100274699311649.post-42286009386840932822017-07-05T04:35:14.932-07:002017-07-05T04:35:14.932-07:00Oooh I can't wait!! I'll be looking up you...Oooh I can't wait!! I'll be looking up your barbeque sauce too! xTracy https://www.blogger.com/profile/05866363148112288322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014100274699311649.post-28549105727515440312017-07-05T04:33:41.903-07:002017-07-05T04:33:41.903-07:00Hi Tricia - I'd love that recipe please, is it...Hi Tricia - I'd love that recipe please, is it on your blog? I'll link to it!Tracy https://www.blogger.com/profile/05866363148112288322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014100274699311649.post-91132834676559525362017-07-05T01:06:25.951-07:002017-07-05T01:06:25.951-07:00I picked really quite a lot of blackberries last y...I picked really quite a lot of blackberries last year but could have made a better effort so that is my plan. Would like to have enough to keep some in the freezer for over the winter, for the vodka, to make some puds with apple and rhubarb, if I am gifted some. Not sure with all that there will be any left over for jam. I'm just going to always make sure I pick some whenever I go out and to go on walks specifically to pick. Cabbages worked out ok I think!xLouise Houghtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13074355125344865358noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014100274699311649.post-69914791222136283882017-07-04T14:35:35.910-07:002017-07-04T14:35:35.910-07:00The Champagne is divine. When I process mine I us...The Champagne is divine. When I process mine I use the tynes of a fork to take the flowers of the green stem. It is the green stem that can cause bitterness in the brew. It is time consuming but I sit on my Nan's kitchen stool have the radio on and sit and process the flowers into a bucket I then get the hot water, and lemon slices and sugar into the bin. There is no need to add yeast as there is a natural yeast in the flowers. The elderflowers have finished around here - the heat wave turned them into berries. It does look as though there are going to be a lot of berries there. Tracy think Pontack sauce, elderberry jelly (the secret ingredient in my home made barbecue sauce) bramble jelly, bramble and apple roll ups.... <br /><br />xxPattypanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10533048669555871726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014100274699311649.post-40834505671254830472017-07-04T14:31:53.741-07:002017-07-04T14:31:53.741-07:00In one of the Sarah Raven books (cookery one) ther...In one of the Sarah Raven books (cookery one) there is a recipe for Apple and Blackberry Gin/Vodka. I can dig the recipe out and leave it with Tracy if anyone wants it.<br /><br />PattypanxxPattypanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10533048669555871726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014100274699311649.post-33069165499021205262017-07-04T12:19:15.622-07:002017-07-04T12:19:15.622-07:00I wanted to go back for more elderflowers to do ch...I wanted to go back for more elderflowers to do champagne but I think they're done for the year now :-)Tracy https://www.blogger.com/profile/05866363148112288322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014100274699311649.post-38340141715742578232017-07-04T12:18:28.788-07:002017-07-04T12:18:28.788-07:00I keep thinking about the blackberries too! We di...I keep thinking about the blackberries too! We didn't have any last year and I really hope they do well this year instead. Well done for doing the cabbages.<br />I am going to make blackcurrant jam, this year is jam year lol! xTracy https://www.blogger.com/profile/05866363148112288322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014100274699311649.post-69911974467111544092017-07-04T12:15:32.019-07:002017-07-04T12:15:32.019-07:00This is exactly why I do it Jackie - if I don'...This is exactly why I do it Jackie - if I don't the days just keep on rolling - I have come to learn that if it isn't planned in, it won't get done xTracy https://www.blogger.com/profile/05866363148112288322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014100274699311649.post-66323902670915456102017-07-04T12:09:33.878-07:002017-07-04T12:09:33.878-07:00hi Tricia, I didn't know that about the kids b...hi Tricia, I didn't know that about the kids bottles tablets - I'll have to check them out thank you. Nor did I know you could dehydrate fresh pasta but obvious now you say it! Going to check the link for chamomile now. The rosemary is nearly done, there was quite a big lump of it! Take care and thank you for the valuable input! xTracy https://www.blogger.com/profile/05866363148112288322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014100274699311649.post-62355494699067442572017-07-04T08:24:09.741-07:002017-07-04T08:24:09.741-07:00Tracey it's great to see you try different thi...Tracey it's great to see you try different things. We had our Elderflower champagne on Saturday and it was beautiful, the best yet. Living Alone in Your 60'shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08848266282669835475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014100274699311649.post-8101255361772712712017-07-04T08:22:52.051-07:002017-07-04T08:22:52.051-07:00Oh Louise I'm going to steel your idea of blac...Oh Louise I'm going to steel your idea of blackcurrant vodka I probably only have enough for a small bottle. <br /><br /><br />Living Alone in Your 60'shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08848266282669835475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014100274699311649.post-78063298818681849892017-07-04T00:50:38.461-07:002017-07-04T00:50:38.461-07:00Chic! I am sooo impressed. I really want to try ma...Chic! I am sooo impressed. I really want to try making blackberry vodka for Christmas when I go foraging for them in August, or blackcurrant if we get enough of our own! I am going to do my best to get the cabbages processed for the freezer today. There are three good sized ones to slice, blanch and get in the freezer-looking forward to seeing it in there ready for the winter!xLouise Houghtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13074355125344865358noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014100274699311649.post-21561163389564042762017-07-04T00:09:26.449-07:002017-07-04T00:09:26.449-07:00Perhaps I too should dedicate one even a week to s...Perhaps I too should dedicate one even a week to such tasks...life is so hectic at the moment it's easy to push things aside. xWinters End Ramblerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17924495691256051693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014100274699311649.post-67789064350079685882017-07-03T15:58:26.026-07:002017-07-03T15:58:26.026-07:00Hi Tracy
John Wrights books are the ones I use. ...Hi Tracy<br /><br />John Wrights books are the ones I use. With regard to sterilising the powder you can buy for sterilising wine equipment is called metabisulphate. However you can use baby sterilising tablets that you buy in a little box and they are in foil sachets. When it comes to sterilising the demi johns I clean them with the sterilising solution then bung them in the oven on a low heat just to finish them off. I normally leave them in the oven until they are cold. You can also clean the wine bottles in this way.<br /><br />I have some fancy fresh pasta, some tagliatelle and chestnut mushrooms and kale to bung in the dehydrator. I get plastic containers either oblong or round with lids from the pound shop to store things like stewed apple, tomato sauce carrot and swede crush in the freezer.<br /><br />The chamomile can be used as a hair rinse for blondes it is supposed to heighten the colour but can be used in a variety of ways notably in bath and beauty products. It is very soothing. Here is a link https://whisperingearth.co.uk/2010/04/13/five-things-to-do-with-dried-chamomile/<br /><br />I usually dry Rosemary in brown paper cones hung up off one of my dressers the paper cones keeps the dust and nasties at bay. It soon dries naturally.<br /><br />Keep up the good work.<br /><br />Pattypan<br /><br />xPattypanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10533048669555871726noreply@blogger.com