A Bit of Art...here and there...

This week I have been absent from

blogging and most internet communications

as my laptop has decided that the battery is just plain "exhausted"...

So in the time that I have had spare

I have been doing a bit of

mixed media art...

adding bits here and there...

painting, glueing and colouring...



and not forgetting to add a smidgen of crochet...

so that was my first attempt
and I am fairly happy with how it turned out...
I added lots of things I love
and
things that remind me of what I love...
like recipes, letters, material etc...

I think that I would like to try another one...

We will see how I go...

So for now my blogging will be a tad here and there
until I get my computer working properly...
But I will be checking out as many of my sweet dears blogs
as often as I can...

Happy Valentines Day My Dears...

What a great way to start the week...

Bunches of flowers...

whether from a loved one, friend or neighbour

or maybe a bunch picked by yourself from your garden...

It really doesn't matter

They just make the day seem so much brighter...

So to all my dear friends

here is a bunch for you...

Picked from the garden of a local fellow

whose garden is just amazing...

Some Zinnias...

a favorite flower of the butterfly...

Also this week I have finished off some crocheting...



A lovely red wool vest
from the same Japanese crochet pattern book that I have mentioned
here...
This ended up begin about a size 14...
I will be making my next one a little bit smaller...

 I did find it very quick and easy to understand...

and the subtle detail on the top and edge was just perfect...
If made in wool thou you will use about 300grams so it does pay
to get more just in case...

So that it about all here at River Cottage this morning...

I do hope you all have a lovely day...

Mr Benjamin...Bunny...

I would like you all to meet

Mr Benjamin Bunny...

He is a Lop eared Cashmere fellow...

Very handsome

with the quietest nature...

Very Fluffy
and adores cuddles...

I think he quite likes to be photographed as well...



Of course now with Mr Bejamin residing here at River Cottage
I might not have much spare time...

So I needed a project that I could just do every now and then...

Click on the photo below for details of
the inspiration behind these colours...



So for now I will just be plodding along with some crocheting...
and getting lots of cuddles on the couch...

I hope your week has started out as sweet as mine...

So until next post
Keep up the Granny Goodness...and Hug A Bunny or two...

Chutney cooking

I am officially obsessed

with Chutney making...

 

I have about 6 jars  made

and will be looking for some more recipes soon...

The two on either side are Kasundi

a Indian style tomato chutney...

That is so yummy I have already opened 

one of the jars and am half way through already...

I would have to say I made this a bit milder than what it should have been

but I prefer mild not hot...

The one in the middle is an Apple chutney but I did find this a bit peppery 

and will be changing that recipe

next batch...

I have also made a Peach Chutney that is a little spicier

for my husband

and that tastes like a good chutney...

 

For the Kasundi I used the recipe HERE...

But did change a few things...

So I will write it out for you

if you like...

250ml olive oil

2 tablespoons turmeric

2 tablespoons ground mustard

2 tablespoon ground cumin

1 tablespoon garam Marsala

Heat the oil and place the above ingredients in a large pot

and gently heat...

Be careful it doesn't burn...

You just want to bring the flavours out...

In a separate bowl place

2 tablespoons of crushed garlic

2 tablespoons crushed ginger

1 tablespoon crushed chilli ( more if you like it hotter)

*I used the pre-made supermarket variety of these in jars...*

mix in 50ml of malt vinegar...

Stir well and add to pot...

Heat this all through for a few more minutes...be careful not to burn it...

and don't stick your nose in for a good smell

as it is could have you in a coughing fit...

Add to the pot

2 kg of  Cherry Tomatoes quartered

1 teaspoon of salt

125 grams of brown sugar

and 170 ml of malt vinegar

Bring to the boil

and the turn down a bit

and cook for about 1 1/2 - 2 hours...

Heat washed jars in oven on low heat..

Using an oven mitt pick up jars and place hot chutney into jars

until overflowing...

be very careful not to burn yourself...

Place lid on jar...

Wipe  outside of jar and let stand until cool to touch...

You will find that the jars with the metal lids the best to use...

The ones with the lid that has the "pop up" circle in the middle...

You will notice that the cooler the jar gets the button in the middle of the jar will depress

and vacuum seal the chutney inside...

Now that's it...

Oh! almost forgot...

It goes really well on crusty bread...

Yum!!!