Category: Seasons

  • January flowers on the Llŷn Penisula

    Wandering through the garden today I was amazed at how much was in flower. We’ve had a really mild winter so far, but cold is on its way and some of these flowers will not survive. How many can you identify?

  • Spelt, ginger and cardamom cookies

    This is the latest in the Short and Tweet Challenge. I just love using spelt in baking. I add it to yorkshire pudding batter, shortcrust pastry and love it as a percentage in my sourdough bread. We’d made these cookies when we first got Dan’s book and loved them. This time I had a look…

  • Vegetarian Haggis Recipe

    When I tweeted the meat version haggis recipe, I was asked on twitter whether I had a recipe for a vegetarian haggis. I did not and said that I would develop one. I’ve now done this and it’s below. Modesty isn’t going to prevent me tooting my own horn: I think it’s really good. I…

  • Cider vinegar muffins, egg & salad

    I was very keen to have a go at this week’s ShortandTweet Challenge as one of the recipes was for these muffins. And that meant I could use our hens’ eggs in the recipe and the cider vinegar I had made earlier in the year. A bonus was the chance to incorporate some foraged salad…

  • Llŷn Peninsula sunset 12th January 2012

    On our way back home tonight the sky was alight with the most beautiful colours. We drove down to the Promenade in Pwllheli to take these pictures from the beach. The dark lump to the far left is one of the St Tudwal Islands known for their wildlife. We often have spectacular sunsets: this was…

  • A new haggis recipe from Wales, via London

    Haggis is one of my most favourite savoury meat dishes. It’s spiced and has a nutty smoothness. It’s a great way of using offal and an economical make-ahead dish. Traditionally it’s made with a sheep’s heart, lungs and liver (the ‘pluck’), mixed with oatmeal, suet, onions and spices and packed into the sheep’s stomach. It’s…

  • Chickweed recipes: pakora & hot dressed salad

    I picked a load of chickweed (stellaria media) after I took all the pictures for this post on the 52 Week Salad Challenge. It’s a very versatile ingredient. When at its peak like this it can be easily eaten raw and is also great cooked. As the plant gets older it can get a bit…

  • 52 Week Salad Challenge – January pickings

    Michelle over at Veg Plotting suggested on twitter the other day a challenge to grow or forage some salad every week of the year. It’s a great idea and so I’m joining in. I thought it would be fun to see what was available at this time of the year. We’ve had a very mild…

  • Haggis Lasagne Recipe

    I made a huge pile of haggis yesterday that we had with pearl barley risotto. To continue the Hibernian/Italian theme, I ‘ve paired it with home-made pasta today. The roasted tomato passata, dried tomatoes and preserved courgettes are all bounty from the summer: saved for a winter treat. I’ll add the recipe for all this…