Saturday 5 July 2014

Empty jars, and the kitchen has a chat.....



There are more empty jars than full ones on the shelves in the larder now,
and yesterday we ate the last of the potatoes sealed in kilner jars.
And what a success they have been,
DIY fast food, 
just open the jar, rinse the potatoes, then into hot frying pan together with a little oil, chopped onion, chopped peppers, etc, plus any seasoning to hand, and voila, ten to fifteen minutes later, done. 
The onto plate with omelette or somesuch,
and lunch is served. 

I have been arguing with the kitchen for the last week or so.
Now it might seem strange to say that I have been doing such a thing,
but I kid you not, the kitchen really has been arguing with me.
And it was all over what tiles were to be put on the floor. 
Green, that is what I thought we might have,
and then I waivered, thinking that perhaps we should stay with the 'norm', 
which is terracotta. 
Other things, though, sidetracked us for a few days,
and meanwhile, 
every time I walked through the kitchen on the way through to the temporary kitchen,
quite clearly ' green tiles' was placed in my head,
and "no" I would say, terracotta is to be the colour,
but the kitchen was persistent,
and eventually won the day.
Perhaps it is the long, long, spell of hot and humid weather we are having,
which saps all energy, leaving only the inclination to lie down and have a sleep,
perhaps that is what has led to me and kitchen into arguing,
but one thing is for sure,
the kitchen definitely was not going to opt for the sensible terracotta,
no, it is to be a sort of greeny colour,
and goodness only know what other colours I shall be able to put with that colour,
but hopefully the kitchen will tell me.
I hope I shall not be now abandoned.
I hope that, just as clearly as I heard 'green',
the kitchen will inform me as to what other colours it would like in its space.

Meanwhile, Lissie (Mum cow) and Mum Piggy are getting bigger by the day,
the rottweiller girls are in disgrace because they decided to go walk about in the middle of the night,
the new Orpington cockerel was found dead from we know not what,
the sheep are happier now they are shorn,
and the year is marching on. 
Crikey, how is it that time seems to speed up as one gets older!
And how is it that the kitchen demanded those green tiles!

Bye for now,
Vx

15 comments:

Sunnybrook Farm said...

I like your Kilner jars, I haven't seen them in the mountains of Virginia but I use a similar system that came from my great grandmother's. They have glass tops and a rubber with a metal bail that clamps down when sealing. Very simple and reliable system to use glass and rubber like that. We haven't canned anything but pickled beets so far. Your larder looks good with all the jars even though empty, it won't be long until potatoes are ready to harvest.

John Going Gently said...

Nice to catch up x

Vera said...

Sunnybrook Farm, hi! I still have pickled beets left over from last year, but not sure what to do with them! And yes, our potato crop is nearly ready to be harvested, so lots of canning of some those potatoes ahead.
I was given some of those glass and rubber jars that you speak about, but like the separate screw lid and sealing lid better - they are the ones that the people here in France use the most. Vx

John, likewise. I do visit your place regularly, and love the variety and humour held within those pages. Vx

Kev Alviti said...

You know my love of these jars! Sounds a great way of preserving the potato harvest.

northsider said...

Your kitchen looks like it's nearly there, Vera. I once made chips from a bought tin of new potatoes. They were OK.

Rhodesia said...

Have already brought in some of our potatoes. Please tell me how you stored them in the kilners as I find it is too hot for storage in the barn and they keep growing!!

May not be slimming but we love beets done like this:
1 cooked beetroot cut into strips
225 g dark brown sugar
150 ml malt vinegar
15 ml corn flour
Juice and grated rind of 3 oranges
Preheat oven to 150°C/ 300°F/ Gas Mark 2. Put the strips of beetroot onto a baking tray. Mix the sugar with the vinegar in a pan over low heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Mix the corn flour and some of the orange juice together and then add the rest of the juice to the pan with the grated rind. Simmer for another 5 minutes and then stir in the corn flour mixture to thicken the ingredients. Pour over the beetroot and then place in the oven to warm- about 5-10 minutes, or until ready to serve.
Diane

Vera said...

Kev, it's those small potatoes that I put into the canning jars, and they really do help to provide the basis of a meal when I am pushed for time.

N. Dave, I suppose that the way we cook our canned potatoes is similar to making chips out of them!

Diane, oh you super duper person! What a lovely recipe, and thank you so much for taking the time to send it across to me.
Are you enjoying the Tour de France? It comes through our local town, so there is an excitement already in the air!

Ohiofarmgirl said...

i'm glad that your kitchen won - i think you should go for a spectacular floor and not sensible at all. but i think the green will be sensible on it's one. such progress! as for the beets - salad! yes put them in a nice tossed salad.

Vera said...

OhioFarmGirl, if either you or I were sensible we would probably not be living the life we do! And thanks for the beetroot idea, will give it a try.

Kerry said...

I'm really enjoying reading your blog. We are off to live in France at the end of the month and will be growing our own veg. Do you have a canning recipe for your potatoes and perhaps equipment needed too. Thanks x

Vera said...

Hi Kerry, where in France are you going to live? We are down in the SW, near to Tarbes, so if you are ever down this way do come and say hello. Love your cards by the way!
As for canning potatoes...... Keep an eye on my blog, and I shall post a link shortly.

Kerry said...

Thanks Vera. We will be on the Deux Sevres/Charente border. Looking forward to the link x

Denise said...

Your kitchen will look wonderful when it is finished, Vera!

Rhodesia said...

Yes Vera always enjoy the TDF. Looking forward to the potato canning, I need it quite soon :-)

Kerry is not too far from us. Diane

Niall & Antoinette said...

TDF came close to us last year and we went to see them. It was really good fun :-)

Bon courage with all the canning.