Title: Comment: <p>A friend of mine lives in a small flat but has managed to get an alotment on the outskirts of the village, I have my small garden with veg patch and numerous pots and grow bags and her father-in-law has chickens ..... So last night we put our heads together, I'm growing as many herbs as possible that we all use, salad veg, tomatoes, chillis, possibly peas / beans and I also have a big cherry tree so I'm  in charge of jams and cherries in brandy.  My friends doing spinach, potatoes, carrots, courgettes , onions and peppers.  And most Springs and Summers her father-in-law's chickens manage to produce about 40 eggs a week which is enough for all of us. </p><p>As produce becomes ripe we will pick and deliver to each other during the week, herbs will be taken as and when needed and at the end of the Autumn various jams, chutneys and preserves will be bottled up and shared out too.   </p><p>On top of this, my friend and I do a bit of foraging for elderberries and blackberries which all get put to good use.  And we've become quite good making nettle soup.</p><p>Its nothing on a huge scale but will, hopefully, keep us going over the course of the summer without too many trips to the shops for veg.  And as her husbands hours have been cut at work, my OH's work is eratic in the building trade at the moment and her F-I-L has retired, this plan of action should work well and benefit us all. </p> Submit > < Back

Title: Comment: My entry for the Easter Menu competition. A light yet satisfying main course making the most of seasonal spring veg. Submit > < Back

Title: Comment: One of my Nans recipes. A warming, filling fish dish. Its quite rich so I serve it in individual gratin dishes. Submit > < Back

Title: Comment: <p>I've been using essential oils for years, I'm usually raving about them and now I've started to seriously study them. I thought, if you're interested, I'd write a blog about treating minor ailments for your information, though some of you may know alot about the subject already. </p><p>My family have had nasty runny noses, coughs and chills this weekend and so last night I put some oil in the electric vapouriser (safer than candles with kids around) and everyone feels a bit better this morning. You can get good quality essential oils from Essential oils direct, on the internet or the basic oils can be bought from Boots.  For colds, chills and snotty noses we used 4 drops of frankincense, 4 drops of myrrh, 4 drops of chamomile and 2 drops of bergamot in the diffuser. Wonderful scent, clears the nose, helps sleep, kills bugs in the air and helps kill off the virus. Couple this with a warm bath before bed with 3 drops of teatree oil (for adults) 2 for children. This stimulates the immune system and kills just about every cold bug going.  </p><p> Care must be taken with children, pregnancy and high blood pressure so always read the instructions in the box. And do a skin patch test if you are unsure. Never use neat essential oils (except teatree on cuts and wounds) and never drink essential oils. Remember, less is more.</p><p>Always dillute essential oils in a carrier oil such as apricot kernal oil, or a unscented lotion, or in the bath water.  2 drops of oil to 5ml carrier oil or lotion and only max of 4 drops in the bath. You can also use as a steam inhalation of 2 drops per litre of hot water. </p><p>Other oils good for colds and flu        Lavender, Rosewood, sweet marjoram, lemon and lime. </p><p>Muscles and joints           Idealy use these oils as a massage, diluted in oil or lotion as above or in the bath.    Lavender, Clary sage (use only at night), lemon grass, sweet marjoram and black pepper. (use black pepper sparingly) </p><p>Tension and stress        Use in bath, as massage or I prefer a vapouriser during the day. Bergamot, geranium, chamomile, cedarwood, lemongrass and french basil. </p><p>You can mix essential oils, but only use 2 or 3 oils at a time and keep an eye on the dilutions. </p><p>Cuts, wounds and insect bites   You can use neat teatree oil on these problems but not near genitals, mucus membranes or eyes. </p><p>For insomnia  use  2 drops of clary sage, 2 drops of chamomile and 2 drops of sweet marjoram in a vapouriser. </p><p>To help children sleep, you can safely use 2 -3 drops of chamomile in their bedtime bath. This works a treat. </p><p> </p><p> </p> Submit > < Back

Title: Comment: A really filling vegetable main course of as a side dish for meat. Hearty, warming and you can use almost any veg or left overs. Submit > < Back

Title: Comment: I saw this ready made in a well known supermarket and thought "I can make that myself". Its a sweet, smokey flavour to chicken breasts, everyone here loves it. Submit > < Back

Title: Comment: A really easy meal using left-overs. I made this today for dinner tonight and due to lack of cash till next week, I used up bits and pieces from the freezer and fridge. Its handy to have a small portion of bolognase meat sauce knocking around in the freezer. Submit > < Back

Title: Comment: A great salad for any time of the year. You can substitue the Rocket for other seasonal leaves. Submit > < Back

Title: Comment: <p>Hello Everyone!</p><p>I kept an eye out of the window Tuesday night as the snow fell here in Surrey but nothing prepared me for the first step out of my front door. Its never been knee deep here in the six years we've lived in the village. </p><p>Schools were closed ..... I remember as a teenager, walking 4 miles to school in deep snow but now we have the Health and Safety Laws which must prevent kids from slipping over on this white stuff as much as possible despite the fact if you give them a day off they're all going to go and throw themselves down the nearest steepish hill on a tea tray!</p><p>I walked to the village  and was surprised at the number of idiots who drove to the shops. If they live at the top of the hill, then its 2 miles at most but then they were obviously buying for a siege, because when I got there the bread had run out and so had the milk. There was little in the way of veg as the lorries couldn't get through to deliver in the night and fruit was getting a bit thin on the shelves too. </p><p>I had already done an inventory of my store cupboard and freezer and I have enough to keep us in hot, hearty meals for two weeks but then I can be a bit OCD-ish when it comes to making sure the freezer and fridge are full.  I can deal with the bread situation but I'm a bit stuck for the milk as I don't have a cow in the garden, I can only hope my very nice milkman dons his wellies and the parish council have seen fit to arrange gritters for the roads, though the only snow plough I had seen had broken down in the high street yeaterday morning. </p><p>When it comes to gritting the roads, you'd think we'd have it sussed by now, especially after the practice run just before Christmas. But nope, they know the snows a commin' but the grit has run out or they don't bother to grit till its 8 inches deep at which time its pointless. </p><p>We've also made sure I have candles at the ready, there's so much ice on the powerlines that they will come down and seeing as the roads are stuffed then the electricity people wont be out to fix them if there's a problem. </p><p>Well, thats my rant over...... Happy Snowman making!</p><p>Love Kate. </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> Submit > < Back

Title: Comment: Another of my Nans recipes. This dish is great for supper or lunch and I serve it with garlic bread. Or you could serve it as a side dish to fish or pork. Submit > < Back