General Chat

Evening- LG, you could always get someone to take a photo of you all dressed up and a hat on. But take a pic of your back view?

Love Auntie's new one, even though the original was a work of art. Thought you might have been moving/cleaning this weekend. And I bet the new owners will scrub it out all over again

YG's growing produce sounds like my tomatoes. If they all ripen at once, we'd be eating tomatoes morning, noon and night! And I know what you mean about the cost. I've spent £20 on compost and doubt if the produce would cover that. Still, at least we know it will from garden to plate in 30 minutes or less. You can't get fresher than that! :-) :S

Brown Owl our tent is leaking...........(I know, so is mine)

Brown Owl I'm cold ...................(me too and so is everybody else)

Brown Owl my sleeping bags wet ................(I wonder if it had something to do with the fact that someone left the door open and it was RAINING!), So what did she want me do do about it?

Brown Owl i wish Daddy was here...............(Me too then he can help with the bedroll)

I don't know how you all managed it but it rained ALL weekend except for about 4 hours yesterday.

Hi DET. I am overun with bedding plants but I have managed to find homes for a good few of them. Taking some over to the littlies later this week and helping them plant up their own little patch just like the one in my garden that they have already worked on. Smallest pulls them out again if she is in one of her moods though :-(

Aw RMS - what a shame. :O Thinking back to my guiding days, I can't remember any time when it rained most of the period. Perhaps its selective memory - lol At least they have come close to nature - perhaps too close - and got lovely and muddy. :D

Hope the littlies remember to look after their plants, and it isn't left up to mum and dad.

morning all my garden is somewhat neglected this year cos of all thats going on indoors so i have kept is tidy and any major stuff will have to wait this year .
It has been wet here but not overnight so I am risking the washing out today

Morning all - Please can we have some of your rain? At least the washing ought to dry............if I can get motivated to put it on - lol

Morning all.
Apologies to RMS I missed your post last night as I was so tired I did not know what tyo do with myself LOL. Well that is one of the many joys of being a guider. Why do you think that we never go under canvas ? we use the luxury of a Guiding hut :D

Looks like it might rain here soon DET as the grey clouds are gathering just as I have hung the washing out Grrrrr :-(

We've got blue sky and sunshine here but the garden got a good soak yesterday, so I'm happy about that.

Sounds like RMS had a good time........... :D :D :D

all four loads of washing is dry inspite of a sharp shower earlier here . I am trying to type with a kitten on my shoulder fun eh he is so affectionate and loves a cuddle on an afternoon but he is a time waster too

Was a bit late leaving work and had planned to dig over one of the borders, but although it has been hot all day, the black clouds came over as I was driving home. They have cleared now and we are back to some blue sky but the wind is getting up and it is time to cook tea!! So the border won't get done!!

Is anyone good at pickling beet? I have tried before, but it usually doesn't keep it's colour particularly well and puts me off eating it!! Must be doing something wrong! Mind, I will need a few saucepans and bottles lol!

I only tried it once YG and the beet bled too much, lost a lot of colour. My mother said I should have put a spoonful of vinegar in the water to stop it from bleeding too much. I didn't bother trying again, gave it up as a bad job.

hi do you cook your beet whole no cuts in skin just wash it and trim the stalk cook in skins cool down peel, slice and add to the pickling vinegar if you stab it it will bleed and lose its colour
beetroot chutney is nice too
just found this recipe , love the email YG

gredients

* Up to 2kg fresh beetroot
* 1 ½ litres vinegar - either malt vinegar or wine vinegar, depending on your preference
* 1 tablespoon whole coriander seeds
* 1 tablespoon whole peppercorns
* About 10 whole cloves
* 1 bay leaf (dried
* 100g Sugar (optional


Method

1. Chop the stalks off the beetroot, leaving an inch at the end. Scrub the beetroot gently to remove any mud, but taking care not to damage the skin. Wrap them in foil and bake at 180 degrees C for up to 2 hours, until they are tender.

2. While the beetroot is baking, make the vinegar mixture:
* Put the vinegar, coriander, cloves, peppercorns and bay leaf in a large pan
* Bring to the boil for about 1 minute.
* Turn off the heat and cover the pan.
* Leave the flavours to infuse for about 2 hours.
* Drain before using.

Note: if you prefer sweet pickled beetroot, add 250g sugar to the vinegar before heating. Stir well to make sure the sugar has dissolved.

3. If the skins were thick, you can peel the beetroot - it's up to you. Wear gloves, if peeling, or it'll take ages for your finger nails to return to their usual colour!

4. Slice the beetroot into 1/2 cm slices.

5. Put the slices into sterilised jars.
* Wash the jars in hot, soapy water and rinse well
* Put upside down in an oven at 100 degrees C for 20 minutes
* Allow to cool slightly and then fill whilst still warm
* Use a vinegar-resistant lid (i.e. plastic-coated, so no metal comes into contact with the vinegar, or this would corrode and ruin the pickle)

6. Bring the vinegar mixture to the boil and then fill the jars.

7. Seal the jars with an airtight, vinegar resistant lid.

8. Leave for a few weeks before eating. Gently shake the jars every week or so, to allow the flavours to infuse.

Another idea for beetroot :

Cook and peel it then dice it into cubes and add to Mashed spuds YUm Yum Yum :D

I'll have to send some over LG when it is ready. Would you prefer raw or boiled before I attach it to the elastic!!

Boiled please YG :-).

Well it will have a softer landing!!! As long as my aim is good and the elastic is strong, we will be ok!

Lol YG can't wait I love the stuff !!! Pickled beetroot in a sandwich is absolutely lovely (to me that is !)

It won't be ready for PB, otherwise I would have brought some for you!

Oh that is a shame, still perhaps if we are up your way in the Summer we can collect some LOL