Pickling and stuff - The Accidental Smallholder

Saturday 18 August, 2007

by Rosemary at 3:28pm in Growing 2 comments Add your own

It's piddling rain here today. The hills have disappeared in a shroud of cloud. On the bright side. it's not cold and it's given me an opportunity to try out the Driza-bone coat that I bought in Australia! Dan and I took the dogs for a long walk this morning and then had a couple of hours in the garden - well, we were wet anyway. Dan was clearing a stoney part of the field so we can level it with topsoil and reseed it. I lifted the rest of the beetroot and weeded the brassica bed.

We've had the best crop of beetroot ever. We sowed two varieties - Boltardy and Forono. Forono is a cylindrical beet which I think is really good for pickling. In fact, I'm pickling both today. The pigs get the leaves, which they love. I've just taken the beetroot out of the oven; once it's cool enought to handle I'll remove the skins, slice and jar then prepare the vinegar, pour over and seal. Easy peasy.

I've also pickled some pears today. They're nice with cold meats and cheese. I bought pears for this - the four on our tree are for eating, if we get them before the wasps and other pear predators. In the past, I've used the recipe in Delia's Christmas book but this time (shock, horror) I'm using one from an old copy of "Country Living" magazine. They should be kept for a month before eating, so I'll have to wait to see how they do.

Just the shallots to go now! Oh, and the chutney...