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  • Got any Nuts?

    Posted on October 19, 2009
    Tags: food, ,

    Sweet Chestnut from Oxleas Woods

    Sweet Chestnut from Oxleas Woods

    It was a lovely sunny day yesterday and lots of dogs were out taking their people for a walk and cavorting around the woods at this time of the changing seasons. In august I remarked on the bumper crop of blackberries to be found on the hill, and it’s also been a good year for the Sweet Chestnut trees in Oxleas Woods, with their crop in full swing around about now.

    In just a few prickly minutes, my pockets were full, and before long the nostalgic aroma of roasting chestnuts filled the kitchen (luckily this wasn’t joined by the sound of explosions as they had their tips cut off before going under the grill), I also saved a few to plant in pots. Italian chestnuts, which are about twice the size, are also in season, and can be bought in the run up to Christmas; and the west-end chestnut sellers will probably be setting up their little fires around this time.

    I’m now looking forward to the first frost, which will be the cue to make sheperdleas sloe gin, this time of year is also a busy one for fungi, who make a strong showing in Oxleas Woods in autumn, especially on the lower, damper slopes, although I’m not really sure which ones are poisonous/hallucinogenic/inedible/edible, perhaps the rangers might be able to answer this kind of question on one of their parkland rambles.

     

  • Fruits of the Hill

    Posted on August 16, 2009 | Reply
    Tags: food,

    blackberries

    Brambles, no pain no gain...

    Well, 2009 was not a good year for plumstead plums, well at least in my orchard anyway, the late frost zapped the spring blossoms with the result that I only got 6 victorias this year :(

    On the plus side, the weather conditions this year have led to a bumper crop of wild blackberries, I have never seen so many on the hill, and whilst still a bit sharp tasting, and with sharp thorns for protection – I had a go at my first blackberry and apple pie of the summer today, and it goes like this:

    1. several handfuls of wild blackberries, washed to flush out insects (no pesticides then, could be organic).
    2. the same amount of apple slices.
    3. a pie dish.
    4. sugar to take the sharp edge off the berries (if they are really sweet then this could be skipped).
    5. pastry as you like it, I just mixed together 5 Oz butter with 4 Oz of plain flour and 2 tbsp water for 30 secs, and then added another 4 Oz flour to make the pastry for rolling out on top.
    6. bake for 20 minutes at 200º celcius, then about another 20 at 180º.

    With this year’s yields looking so promising, i’m hoping to make jam next.