Last year during the peak of the pandemic with lockdowns and restrictions in most places the world started baking. Oddly I didn't. I did quite a few things during the various lockdowns, including developing an obsession with all things barbecue, as well as doing quite a bit of "grow your own" gardening. But no baking. One of the things I wanted to do was to get a bread … [Read more...] about Making Bread With a Bread Machine
cooking
The Satisfaction of Eating Your own Fruit
For the last couple of years I've had a couple of berry bushes that produce very small amounts of fruit. Not enough to do anything with. This year, however, I've got quite a few things planted that will hopefully produce fruit and vegetables in usable quantities. The first fruit to produce a crop was one of my strawberry plants that gave me enough decent sized … [Read more...] about The Satisfaction of Eating Your own Fruit
Home Brewing One Week On
Last weekend I started my home brewing adventures and experiments. In the end I put on two different brews at the weekend and added a third during the week: a basic honey mead which was pretty simple and straightforward. Honey, water, yeast and a very little else. As I really don't know how well this is going to turn out I opted to only do one demijohn worth, which is … [Read more...] about Home Brewing One Week On
Another Project to Keep Myself Entertained: Brewing
When I was growing up various neighbours and family friends would brew all sorts of magical drinks. You'd see the demijohns with those mysterious bubble air locks attached and possibly some tubes or the odd barrel in their garages and basements. When I was a teenager I tried my hand at making cider once. It took months, but it was potent! But that was about 30 years … [Read more...] about Another Project to Keep Myself Entertained: Brewing
Greenhouse Progress
It's been a couple of weeks since the greenhouse was installed. I moved all the various plants I had bought as well as some of the seedlings and other stuff that I was trying to grow into it. I've also been trying to move all gardening gear into either the greenhouse or the shed. There isn't a huge amount of stuff, but it's nice to be able to win back the use of my kitchen … [Read more...] about Greenhouse Progress