What are you making with your Edible Harvests ?

@Adam I After making quince and medlar jelly I decided life needs something else. So membrillo was one that can be saved and last for some years in a closed tin.
Then with the quinces I peel, core and slice them. Put them in glass bottles in a cool oven for 30 minutes and then cover them with hot syrup and seal. These can then be used as they are, added to a cake mix or put in a flan with creme fraiche.
The medlars are a different story. Thankfully 2 neighbours in our village love them so we are glad to be able to pass them on. This year they are ready far earlier than ever.
I have made quince wine when we have had a glut and it turned out really well.

 

I bought a Vranja quince years ago. I have never managed to make anything with the fruit as I don’t have a knife that is big enough and sharp enough to cut up what seem to be blocks of balsa wood. Plus, I have never smelled this mythical perfume that they are supposed to emit. Still, it’s a handy tree to tie the washing line to, so I mustn’t complain.

 

@Tidemark I wonder have you harvested the quinces when they are yellow? This is when the fragrance comes and is also when you can work on them. I peel them with a potato peeler, then cut them in half and quarters, deseed them and then cut them into slithers. Yes it is hard going and I have to stop after doing so many to give my arm/hand a rest.
I am sorry that you haven't had any success with them. They are worthwhile.

 

Yes, they are yellow. They look very pretty. And the squirrels see the ones at the top of the tree, too high for me to reach, as a challenge, gnawing at them a bit just to see if they really are edible. But even the squirrels give up, which says something.

 

@Tidemark very odd. We have squirrels here but they have never gone for the quinces. Walnuts and hazels yes but never quinces.

 

Our squirrels eat just about anything. Or try to.

 

they look so good, better than the one me and hubby made in cake tin..we will have to try them in muffin tin nk time..thanks for sharing photo.

 

I picked about a kilo of hops which fills a big pillow sack, its in a netted bag. I hung it to dry in my bedroom as it gets good sun and ventilation but the smell is so absurdly strong I removed it 5 minutes later to somewhere outside. My nose is burned out entirely. Last year it wasnt anywhere near this strong. Its been half an hour and I still cant smell anything else and im not even in the same room...

 

my folklore book says ' have been know in which quite wakeable people, going into an oast house where hops are being dried, have been impelled to sit down anywhere and go into a long and sound sleep'
country folk once considered hop pillows, (smaller than the usual pillow case) as local superstition until a dr in attendance on George III prescribed such a pillow for his royal patient- with great success.

 

my folklore book says ' the savour of young garlic , an old herbalist says, will be sweeter if you crush the cloves a little before planting to bruise them, and also if you set olive stones amonst them'

 

im trying another new recipe not done before called ' Pork in Celery Sauce' to make use of my celery, onions and apples . Will put it on low in my slow cooker this morning ( we now try to use our slow cooker from Autumn till nk Spring ) & only use the oven once a week for batch cooking on a Sundays.

 

I have been busy making a homemade icepack which is now perched on my cheekbone. I went out this am to pick huge cookers as gales are due on Friday so expect anything not picked will be blown down. A massive apple decided to smack me one and I now have a good going “ egg” on my cheekbone.

 

Ow! Oh dear, yes, our Bramleys are falling out of the tree from quite a height just now. They are very big this year and would make good ammunition in a Roman onager. You have my sympathy.

 

You are so right, to hell with boulders just lob some of your Bramleys or my huge cookers ( no idea what variety mine are but not Bramleys) at the “ natives” and watch them turn tail!

 

no cooking for me today..woke up with really bad sore throat and feeling unwell. Instead of Friday we will just have good old British fish and chips and any herb salads we can find in the garden ie sorrel, chives etc.
Might try my damson gin out tonight l made about month ago
This morning l might see if l can find the small clump of lemon balm iv got somewhere in the garden, as l read last night a tea of it is good to deter for the start of a cold.. worth a try.