The Great Strawberry Project

Hello folks, Guess who went strawberry picking on Friday. (Have you guessed yet?) I had a great time but my friend Sharon and I, got a little carried away, OK a lot carried away. I picked two of these trugs of strawberries, and she picked three. I weighed them when I got home and I had about 5kg to process. GULP!!!

I've spent virtually the whole weekend in the kitchen and have very sore thumbs from hulling all the strawberries, here's what I've made.

Three jars of strawberry curd.

A big preserving jar of strawberry liquor.

21 jars of jam. Only 20 here as one has already been opened and is being scoffed.

And six strawberry fools.

Needless to say, I never want to see another strawberry for a very long time!

I'm off over to Sharons later to bottle up the elderflower champagne we made on Monday, I hope its good. But before then I'm having a bash at making my own pizza sauce with oven roasted tomatoes. I've already made my pizza base this morning, I've left the dough to rise and it smells yummy. Also need to make a sponge cake for hubby's lunch box this week. UMMM what shall I fill it with...............?????? Off to plan this weeks meals now, I started this last week to save money and waste and its working so far, and we're eating better too.

Also a big thanks to Nita for this scrummy wedding cake. Hubby and I enjoyed it in the week with a cuppa.

TTFN

Pixie xxx

My Friends Allotment....

Thought I'd post some pics on here of my friend Sharon's Allotment, its so pretty. Doesn't the gate look just like a fairy gate.
Went on the council website today and got the number I need to contact to go on the waiting list for an allotment. Just need to give them a ring now.

Picked some blackcurrants yesterday and have spent today making blackcurrant jam. All the recipes I had were for far more blackcurrants than I had so I made it up. will post pics and recipe when camera battery is recharged. It set lovely and tasted great got Mr Pixies seal of approval so that's OK. Decided to seal in hot jars with wax discs and metal lids while jam was hot this year. Last year I did the let it cool down and then seal method and got mould and the whole lot had to be chucked away. I was devastated as I wanted some for Christmas presents. There has been lots of debate on the CL forum about which way is best, but it seems to be 50/50. fingers crossed for mould free jam.

Looking forward to out trip to Mudeford tomorrow to go crabbing. I'm hoping to get a tub of fresh cockles on the sea front too. Can't beat cockles and malt vinegar. All coming back here for a BBQ. Got some lovely burgers and sausages today from the farm shop. Hoping its gonna be a lovely day.