Scapece (Zucchini)

This is a treat we would have right at the start of the summer. My Mum would only ever make it with the first zucchini/corgettes of the summer – before the seeds have a chance to thicken. I have made it as she used to with malt vinegar.

We would eat them after a day of steeping, simply on bread with a pinch of salt.

Sunflower or Extra-virgin olive oil enough to fill the pan you use to 1 cm depth
8 first of the season (young) zucchini
12 leaves fresh mint, torn in 2
4 cloves garlic, in thick slices
malt vinegar (coeliacs please use red or white wine vinegar)
Salt

Wash the fruit and cut off the stem. Then slice into a 1cm thick (not too thin not too thick)

Heat the oil in your chosen pan for frying.
Once it is hot add the zucchini to make a single layer in the pan. If you prefer you can do this in a larger pan deeper in oil 🙂

Fry until turning golden, then turn each slice to colour on the other side.
Allow the zucchini to cool on some kitchen paper.

Into a bowl or jar make the marinade of garlic, mint and the vinegar.

Do not add the salt at this stage.
Add in the zucchini, cover with a lid or cling film.
Leave in a cool spot (not the fridge though) and eat up over the next 3 days.

🙂

Lovely

🙂

4 Day Juice Detox

So sorry for the delay in posts. The garden is so very bountiful that it is very hard to have time and not fall asleep.

Here is the 4 day detox I did a few weeks ago – essential if you are feeling sluggish after a slow start to the summer.

Liver Flush Daily Detox
Extra Virgin Olive Oil – anywhere from 2 Tbsp. to 1/3 cup, as you prefer
Freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice, 1/3 cup
Fresh garlic, 3-5 cloves
Fresh ginger, 1/2″
Cayenne Pepper, dash to taste
Freshly squeezed orange juice, 2 cups
Put all ingredients in a blender, blend and drink immediately. You’re under way!

Liver & Kidney Detox
3 apples
3 beetroots
3 tomatoes
3 large carrots
3 sticks of celery
3 cucumber
3 juiced lemons
Put all ingredients in a blender, blend and drink 8 fl oz/250ml each hour over an 8 hour period.

Green Drink
3 apples
3 sticks of celery
3 whole cucumber
2 large pieces of ginger root
3 heaping handfuls of parsley
3 heaping handfuls of spinach
Put all ingredients in a blender, blend and drink 8 fl oz/250ml each hour over an 8 hour period.

Super Colon Detox
3 beetroots
3 large carrots
3 sticks of celery
3 whole cucumber
2 large pieces of ginger root
3 juiced lemons
3 heaping handfuls of lettuce
3 heaping handfuls of parsley
3 heaping handfuls of kale
Put all ingredients in a blender, blend and drink 8 fl oz/250ml each hour over an 8 hour period.
Think about all the good you are doing for your body!! Enjoy!

Elder Strawberry Jam

I know I am lucky – but I temper that thought with the knowledge that I am the one that works the garden. It’s just me, mother nature and the magical sprites and fairies that populate the garden for good or bad depending on their mood.

All the fruit and elderflowers are from my garden. I am a bit fussy about my strawberries.

In the UK at the moment the only strawberry that is easily available to buy is Elsanta – which is a prolific fruiter but the berries are very low in flavour, scent – just not very good. Try the other varieties (I can’t remember the names of all the varieties I have but I have 4 types to spread the season over a few weeks) Do not shy away from the little wild/alpine strawberry, they are great for taste 🙂

This time I had my lovely Daughter No1 to help me – I’m hoping the love of ‘jamming’ has found it’s way into her soul too.

This is the BEST jam you can have. Quintessentially British and the flavour is outstanding.

It is essential that you do not cook this any further than stated as you will get a firm set and then all the nuances of fresh strawberries will be lost. That sort of jam can be bought at any supermarket for 40 p a jar.

This is something very special -easy to make and will set you on the path of ‘getting’ why it is you would want to make your own jams and chutneys.

I make this in my jam pan, if you only have a 4 litre (pasta) pan then halve the amounts.

Elder Strawberry Jam

2 kg / 4 lb granulated sugar
1.5 kg strawberries (washed and hulled – in that order)
100 ml lemon juice
10 heads of elderflowers (rinsed in cold water – if you have any black flies then either wipe them off but if you are a Vegan then just cut that part of the stem off and pop it back into the garden)
100 ml pectin ( or the cores of 6 apples tied in a muslin bag)

You will need about 10 1lb/480g glass jars.

Wash the jars in soapy water a rinse throughly. You can leave these to dry and then place on a baking sheet and pop into a cold oven. Turn it on to 250˚F/130˚C/Gas 1/2 until the jam is made (about 20 minutes)

I sterilise my jars by standing them onto a large tray and filling them to the brim with boiling water (be careful if you do this because the jars can crack – although I have NEVER had a jar crack). Once the water is boiling pour the water into the jar to fill only 1/6th of the way full – this will allow the glass to begin to temper and you should not have any problems. Allow the jar to stand for 5 minutes and then reboil the kettle and fill the jar with the boiling water.

Pop the lids into a pan of boiling water and allow to simmer away until you need them – don’t do this with plastic lids – they will need to be sterilised in a baby bottle fluid like Milton.

*If the jar has a flaw or is cracked it will now shatter – but it would shatter anyway once in the oven or when you have added the hot jam. Best to get it over with whilst it only contains a little hot water on the side where you can see where the glass has gone!

Pop the fruit into the pan and crush lightly with a fork, a masher, the end of a rolling pin or your hand – just to the the juices flowing.

Add the sugar and stir. Add the bag of apple cores at this point if you are using them.

Turn the heat onto very low and allow the sugar to dissolve (maybe 5 minutes). You will know when it is dissolved as it will not sound scratchy when you stir it.

Add the lemon juice and elderflower heads.

Turn the heat up and pop in the thermometer (if you are using one). Bring to a rapid boil for about 20 minutes (or until it reaches 130˚C).

Turn off the heat and remove the elderflower heads (and apples cores if you have used them). Give it a good stir and use a ladle to carefully remove any remaining foam. (Most will disappear once you have stirred it).

Add in the pectin and stir.

Empty the jars of the now tepid water. Fill with the hot jam. While still not pop on the lid and turn to just seal.

After 10 minutes (using a cloth to hold the jar) tighten the lid. After an hour fully tighten the lids down

Scrummy on a fresh scone, toast, filling a cake or even on yogurt 🙂