Saturday 28 February 2015

Lift Mikhallil - Pickled turnips

My little helper just likes to watch, doesn't eat turnips!
I wasn't able to get to the allotment for a few months (fractured, chipped & dislocated shoulder), and I had told a friend they could help themselves to anything that was ready to harvest. 

I got down there for the first time this week and had quite a few turnips/swedes to harvest.  I wasn't sure how much of them were saveable - you can never tell till you cut them open, because they'd been in so long.

I decided to pickle them, using an Egyptian recipe, so I hope they turn out as nice as I remember when I was there!

The usual disclaimer applies - I fudge recipes, so what actually happened is in itallics.

2kg turnips (2.3kg turnip/swede mix - before top'n'tail)
1 beetroot (didn't have any, sent b/f to the shop for one)
6-8 cups of water (forgot to measure)
3-4 tablespoons salt (used more, because I didn't read the recipe properly!)


Wash turnips & beetroot, scrub well. (turnips needed peeling, b/f came back with 5 precooked beets)  Cut into pieces. 




Sprinkle with salt & leave to sweat for 24 hours (used all salt).







Boil water with salt and put into pickling jar to cool (this is how I ended up using more salt). 







Drain turnips, squeeze gently and put in jars with the beetroot.





Should be ready after 24 hours.

Sunday 22 February 2015

The annual seed swap

We had our annual seed swap and I think it was the best one so far.  There seemed to be more people than usual, it may have actually helped that the weather was totally rubbish & no one wanted to be out in their allotment!

There is a big write-up on one of the main organiser's blog here if you want to read more about it.

Manx music for us all

















Chocolate & Bacon, you say?!
Chocolate Bacon & Beer!










my raffle winnings
Got some potatoes & fartichokes









Friday 20 February 2015

1st visit of the year - just browsing

I managed to fracture, chip and dislocate my shoulder on 8 December, so this is the first time I'd been able to get to the allotment.  I only took photos this time round, and was pleasantly surprised at the lack of work needed - I'd imagined it a million times worse!  All beds need some work, and if I was back to full health, it's really only a full day's work.  I need to be patient and pace myself, which will be hard.
Dogwood rose (rosehips)










Asparagus bed

Monty frame for beans/peas










3 sisters bed


Strawberries & herbs








Bed 2


Bed 1 - turnips & swede still okay










Bed 3 - bronze fennel ok

Bed 4 - yams & roots ok












Manx Codlin apple tree

Strawberries












Bed 5 - not used yet

Fruit cage

Rhubarb corner










I wasn't expecting a harvest!