Good morning, everyone. As the nights get longer, I'm finding more and more that I wake in darkness and today is no exception. However, Beeb tells me that we're going to have a fine day with some sunshine this morning although temperatures will remain below 20C. Fine by me - it all sounds very comfortable.
I've decided to allow the switch over to the new version of Blogger rather than constantly switching back. Since the last time I tried it, there have been several changes, presumably as a result of feedback received in the meanwhile.
I had particular niggles around the posting of images where one had to go all round the houses to do what one used to be able to do in a few clicks and they have simplified that considerably, thank goodness. It's also much easier to find the 'new post' button.
Now to get to grips with new-look Facebook as well. Two at the same time seems like very poor organisation to me (if these huge companies do actually talk to each other at all).
Yesterday turned out to be a very busy and very satisfying day.
After setting off the dehydrator, checking the planning, sorting out the kitchen and getting dressed, etc, I went down to the garage to do whatever needed doing. I flattened some cardboard boxes which are now in the recycling bag, put some glass jars in the metal and glass recycling box and put the wicker baskets in the car. When I looked through what remained, there was very little left to sort out so I just pushed a few things around to make it quite clear what's staying and what's going and it's now ready for Kevin to give me a quote.
One quick change later and I was off to Lindsey's for personal training. The hour passed very quickly and very enjoyably (whoever would have thought I would ever say that about physical exercise) with lots of chatter about this, that and the other.
Another quick change, a snatched lunch and a flask of coffee later and I drove down to the allotment where Beth had just arrived. We transferred the baskets to her car before getting going. We dug up the rest of the potatoes (real beauties) before tackling the runner beans. This wasn't the easiest task and I'm glad there were two of us but eventually the canes were all released and back by the shed and the tendrils of stem and leaf were all gathered up and on the compost heap.
We had a good chat under the tree over the flask of coffee before sharing out the potatoes - two for you (Beth and Al) and one for me - and admiring the dwarf beans. As there was time and Beth needed the loo, we both went back to mine for half an hour before she went home and my students arrived. After that, I was able to relax and check the dehydrator.
I think I may have cut the apple slices a bit thin - it's something I will learn - but I have to say they are delicious! Ditto for the one pear I tried. They are now in air tight jars with little bags of silica crystals to draw off any residual moisture. Beth wants me to try making an apple leather next so I will read up about that. I don't have quite so many apples as she took some home plus all the tomatoes I got from the allotment but there's still plenty. The book I got is American and says to use corn syrup which we can't get over here so I am assuming hone y will be an acceptable substitute - we will see. I'm also assuming cornstarch is the same as our cornflour and is a thickener.
Today is much easier, thankfully.
It starts off with a swim at seven be fore home for shower, hair and breakfast. Kevin comes around this morning to look at the garage rubbish so I have to stay in and will use the time to look up making apple leather and doing generally houseworky things as well as making some tomato soup. Beth's coming round for lunch and then we're popping back to the allotment for an hour or so of digging over and weeding.
Then it is tuition, followed by this week's SW meeting before I crash out for the evening.
After all yesterday's photos, today's post is photo free!! Maybe I can take a few photos of the mess down the allotment as we work to give it the autumn haircut! How exciting!!!
Have a super day and, as things look to be tightening up rather, have a safe and happy day too. xx
Honey won't work so well for fruit leather you can buy corn syrup quite reasonably on Amazon .
ReplyDeleteYou can use you dehydrator with finely chopped kale which can make a lovely chinese style low calorie 'seaweed' sprinkled with a little sea salt :)
I love crispy kale, thanks for letting me know. Also about the honey/corn syrup.
Deletexx
The dehydrator looks fun... might have to see if I can mimic the effect with the halogen oven. Corn syrup substitutes vary a bit depending on the recipe, golden syrup, glucose syrup, agave nectar and honey are all possibles, but as Jane says honey might not work on a fruit leather. Most of the UK recipes I've found are just fruit, but they don't keep as long as all the US recipes that include corn syrup. I've not tried this one, but it looks interesting: https://www.self-sufficient.co.uk/Make-Fruit-Leather.htm. Tried the BBC one once but didn't get it quite right. Still edible, but not really a fruit leather my fault rather than the recipe, tho.
DeleteI've been Googling a bit too and thanks very much for the link. Does the halogen go cool enough? Worth a try to see, I should think. I have agave nectar too so I can see a bit of investigation coming along.
Deletexx
Good temperatures for working outside today - forecast is for a mini heatwave next week! Have a good day
ReplyDeleteHopefully it will be a relative heatwave, not like the last one! I'm OK with September Summers.
Deletexx
You're as busy and productive as always and it sounds like the dehydrator is a success.
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy your time at the allotment. I've been in the garden this morning, clearing away some of the sunflowers. It won't be long before the grass receives it's last cut of the year. X
I think it is, yes. I will definitely use it.
DeleteToday's plans have unravelled rather, not all bad, some good and I'm able to have a nice rest, much needed.
I plan to give the allotment grass a final haircut next week sometime. It won't grow much after that, I think.
xx
Gosh you sound busy!!
ReplyDeleteWe 'put the Veggie Patch to bed for the Winter' back home in Wales at the weekend.
Although it was hard work it was quite pleasant working now that it's cooler and when you stand back and see the results of all your labour it's even more pleasant isn't it. That it is also that last time that we will have to do this is even better. Even if the house doesn't sell we won't uncover the beds next year so fingers crossed no weeds will appear. The only thing left growing is the rhubarb :-)
In a way, that is quite sad, but you are protecting it for someone else to come and enjoy so that's a very positive thing.
DeleteIt's definitely worth it; worth the hard work and the thinking and planning. It's that life cycle that determines everything really and it is so good to be a little part of helping it along, I think.
xx
Corn flour might be very close to North American corn starch. Not too sure if the honey would work...Some people use corn syrup like a pancake syrup, so perhaps if you had a very light tasting pancake syrup you could use that.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
It would be worth a try, especially as I get more confident with all this. Maybe golden syrup might work too.
DeleteI'm guessing cornflour would do the trick, it must be very similar, as you say.
Thanks very much.
xx