Local produce!

[Janice]

Just have to say that living in the Country has some perks!

Went for a little drive yesterday, to the other side of the village and outside a cottage was a stall (wallpapering table really!) and I got some fresh veggies.

Broad Beans - picked that morning, 50pence a bag
Marrow - picked that morning, 50pence each
Beetroot - picked that morning, 50pence a bunch (and there is about 8 or 9 beets in the bunch)
Freshly dug potatoes - 20pence a pound
Cabbage - 40pence each.

We had the beans amd Marrow last night and they were delicious, having the Cabbage this evening.

The potatoes are out of this world and will do nothing for my waistline!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love beetroot but havent cooked it myself for such a long while - does anyone do it in their microwaves??? How long would it take, any ideas?

 

[Hilary]

You'll be chewing on a straw and leaning over the five-bar gate any day now, Janice

I've never tried microwaving beetroot as I'd be afraid of how many walls would end up purple if one of them 'burst'! We boil them, but it would certainly be energy-saving if we knew how to micro them.

I've never been much good at making marrow in the least appetising - what did you do to it?

 

[Janice]

LOL about the beetroot! We'll see if anyone else has any suggestions!

The marrow - I cut it lengthwise, peeled it, and scooped out the middle. Then I cooked some minced steak with onion and carrot and stuffed the marrow. Rubbed the outside of the marrow with some butter and sprinkled a crumbled oxo over it - wrapped in Foil and baked in the oven for about 20 - 25 minutes.

I have to say it was really tasty - it is a bit fiddly to roll it in the foil, but worth the effort

Served it with New Potatoes, Broad Beans and gravy.

Forgot to say I also got from another farm some Raspberries and Blackcurrants. They were £1.50 for a pound of each.

Made a crumble with some of the blackcurrants - bit sharpe but oh so delicious with caster sugar sprinkled on!

 

[LindseyUK]

Janice- no advice about the beets I'm afraid but just had to ask- did you get the marrow recipe from a book or did you rustle it up yourself? You sound like a professional chef! It sounds lovely...
You sound like someone who could make something delicious from a tin of tuna and some old carrots!

Please see my earlier post about Scottish tablet if you're also good at making sweets!

 

[Janice]

Hi Lindsey - thank you very much, what a nice compliment

Actually I did just make it as I went along a few years ago and it was a hit with DH so when Marrows are at their best and not over big - I do this now and again and it goes down a treat (Gets me a few brownie points too!)

I actually found a recipe for cooking Beetroots in the microwave and here it is:

Trip the leaves from the beet, but leave a good 2" of the stalks. Dont cut the stalks, tear them off (no idea why but I did as I was told!) and dont trim the roots. Just give the beets a real good wash in cold water to remove all the dirt and mud.

Place in a large Pyrex mixing bowl and pour boiling water over.

Cover with Cling Film and pierce it.

Cook on 70% for 25 - 30 minutes.

(I had 5 medium size beets, 1 large and 2 small in my bunch and cooked them for 30 minutes)

Lifted them from the water and left on a plate to cool slightly. Whilst still warm - top and tail, and rub skins off.

Let me tell you they are just about perfect! Couldnt resist one of the medium ones - for the sake of research, you understand. The rest will be put in jars ready for Lunch on Sunday when we have visitors coming

 

[LindseyUK]

Be careful Janice- I once ate so much beetroot that it turned my wee pink!
I thought there was something seriously wrong and almost went to the doctor till I remembered I'd eaten a whole family-sized jar the previous day!

 

[Janice]

LOL been there; done that!!!!

When I was expecting my son, I ate so much beetroot, by the jarfull each day - that I had a similar problem. Only thing was - I had to dip the beetroot in Sherbert!!! I know, sounds disgusting now but oh boy - it was heaven at the time

 

[Hilary]

I'll try the micro beetroot method this weekend!

 

[Janice]

.......... not the sherbert?????????????


LOL

 

[elisebutt]

Luv stuffed Marrow - have you tried it stuffed with a bolognese style sauce, heavy on the garlic - divine!!

 

[signtalker]

Janice living in the country does have its perks doesnt it!!!, at present the two fields next to me are full of new potatoes!!.

if you feel like a coffee any time were about 30 fields over from you, as the combine harvester drives LOL


jules

 

[Janice]

LOL Jules - I've got Rapeseed in the field behind our house, and I cant wait for that to be harvested!

I looked on the map and the distance between where you live and I live is greater than between where I live now and where I used to live!!!!!!!!!! LOL I thought you lived quite close, but it would take about an hour and half

That Stuffed Marrow recipe sounds delicious Elise - DH will love that as Bolognese is his favourite. One for brownie point scoring in the future I think