Showing posts with label jam. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jam. Show all posts

Friday, September 21

jazz in the garden



We had our annual open garden bash recently.
It's  ...£1 at the garden gate...and then buy some cake and drinks...if you want.
I always panic over the weather, after all we are up here in the N.W. of England and you know all about  the Manchester rain jokes!...
Anyway...the sun shone...and the breeze was balmy...and the garden filled up with neighbours, friends and family.

The music was great...we had Helen Monks and her band...
Michael Healey her dad... gave us a fabulous jazz set on the Saxaphone..
...the local musicians gave us some great times...
and your's truly did her best to keep the gang happy with the usual music..and a few new ones.

And so here are  just a few pics to let you into some more of the goings on at 
The Potters House Penketh and the crazy days we get up to.....
Every year just before we start I say..."never again"...
...and then when it's all over and really successful I think..
."Oh... what shall we do next year?" 




...the day starts with setting up the sound system...



...the musicians arrive...



...a bit of a traffic jam!...



...and Esther and the potter await the coming cakes!...


 ...Isabelle and the potter...pops...guard the cakes!...



... the workers grab a bite to eat before the gates are opened...

...and in come the public...to get a seat in the sun...












the garden fills up...



...the son is shining...
...service is ready...so let the party begin...







...Helen Monks and band...



...Mickey L....easy listening and always a joy...



...Billy P.....Mr. Cool...


...your's truly with Billy S. on key board..
I never have to worry...if I make a mistake...he covers it up...the best!


...and Michael Healey...wowing us with an amazing jazz set on sax.....
a well known N.W. musician gave us some great music...
...so good!

Then just when we were all done...
 along came Sam to lull us into a late summer dream with some gentle ambiant music...
... and French melodies on the accordian.




...is everybody happy?...
...bet your life we are!


 




Wednesday, August 24

tomato and chilli jam?!!!

The greenhouse is exploding with tomatoes of all shapes and sizes.
We have painted the kitchen..."we" is royal ...the potter did it!...anyway I had a sort out of recipes in books and scraps of paper and found this jam one that I had experimented with last year.
It goes really well with cheese and cold meats...but the potter had it on his pasta for evening meal and declared it good!
This makes about three jars of jam

2 red onions..finely sliced
1 tsbsp olive oil
1 tsp cumin seeds
6 garlic cloves..chopped
20grs fresh root ginger finely chopped
3 red chillies seeded and chopped
1 kg tomatoes roughly chopped
500 grs soft brown sugar
200ml white wine vinegar [or white wine]
50ml fish sauce

Fry onions in oil for 15 mins 'til caramelised and soft
Add cumin, ginger, chilli : cook for 1 min.
Stir in tomatoes, sugar, wine and fish sauce.
Simmer, stirring regularly for 45 mins 'til thick.
Spoon in sterilised jars, cool, seal and store in fridge for two months
Or spoon into freezer pots and keep for longer!
.....or not if it all gets eaten!



Guten Appetit