tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post5437910638972758337..comments2024-03-28T15:55:53.792+10:00Comments on down to earth: Preserving food and drinksUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-65822146724824231212018-06-23T07:29:36.836+10:002018-06-23T07:29:36.836+10:00Thank you.Thank you.Catehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08997071643007495600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-22682851165757381482018-06-22T15:32:10.191+10:002018-06-22T15:32:10.191+10:00With the surplus free food I get I often turn thin...With the surplus free food I get I often turn things into preserves. One week there were hundreds of chillies. I popped a couple of chillies into a bottle and added oil and allowed the chillies to infuse. Apples have been peeled and dehydrated as have swedes, turnips, mushrooms and zucchinis. Just remember to take out the big seeds if you use big zucchinis as the seeds aren't great when the zucchini is rehydrated. Oranges and cumquats, lemons and limes get turned into marmalade. Also lemon and lime cordials. I have made pickled beetroot and pickled cucumbers. Jama from homegrown or foraged berries. I take the various preserves along to the couple of food swaps I go to and theres normally a made rush (especially if fig jam is presented).<br />Claire in MelbourneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-7077179645615794552018-06-21T21:57:25.122+10:002018-06-21T21:57:25.122+10:00Hi Rhonda,
After reading your post and collecting ...Hi Rhonda,<br />After reading your post and collecting a whole washing basket of lemons from my backyard tree, I made (for the first time) the lemon sirop (or lemonade ?), and I'm so so glad I did it. It tastes so delicious, one could never find anything even remotely comparable in the shops. And I really like that I exactly know what's inside, no chemicals or other nasties. I also recently tried your 5-minutes bread and it's now a favourite. I've been baking bread for years but this recipe is a keeper for when I don't have time or the energy to kneed a loaf.<br />Also, what I find motivating is the satisfaction and real sense of achievement when making something at home. Being everyday food, pickles, lemonade, our home-made pizza of Friday night, bread, or growing herbs and the odd veggie (I'm not a good gardener, herbs are my great achievement), the satisfaction and pride (and small miracle sometime :-)) is incomparable. The small satisfactions that make a difference between a normal/boring and a happy day.Corinnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07053135713813698181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-35411971042126260422018-06-21T09:43:47.085+10:002018-06-21T09:43:47.085+10:00Such a delicious post! Until now we have only ever...Such a delicious post! Until now we have only ever preserved food that we've grown on our farm ourselves, but the other day I noticed that we only have three jars of pickled cucumbers left which means we'll be out within a month. Usually I'd buy the odd jar or two from the grocery shop while I wait for next summer's harvest, but this year I'm contemplating buying a few kilos and pickling them to my recipe instead. They won't be local or seasonal but neither would the ones I would buy in the jar. And at least this way I know my girls will eat them. xxKatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04234467488696653117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-62781360315455032132018-06-20T18:13:09.368+10:002018-06-20T18:13:09.368+10:00Lovely new photo of you Rhonda - you look great.
I...Lovely new photo of you Rhonda - you look great.<br />I preserve a few things and want to do more in retirement. As well as providing for my family I find homemade/ preserved goods are always welcome as gifts to others. I make small bottles of chilli sherry - a splash adds a kick to soups and casseroles in the winter months.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-11136881830483090382018-06-20T13:45:48.325+10:002018-06-20T13:45:48.325+10:00I never wear gloves for beetroot, Cate. A good was...I never wear gloves for beetroot, Cate. A good wash with soap will get rid of the red.rhonda jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08962112306968959985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-54379573962451446042018-06-20T13:36:50.206+10:002018-06-20T13:36:50.206+10:00what a lovely idea!what a lovely idea!africanaussiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16660727599623626163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-36859057916468708892018-06-20T12:39:29.891+10:002018-06-20T12:39:29.891+10:00Thank you, Rhonda, for sharing the pickled beets r...Thank you, Rhonda, for sharing the pickled beets recipe. My Granny used to make the best but, alas, she has been gone many years and I never got the chance to get her recipe. I think it is sad that we sometimes become interested in something our grandmothers canned, baked, sewed, etc. after they are gone and we cannot ask them how. I hope that young women who read your column take heed of this and inquire of their grandmothers while they still can. As for me, I will take your recipe and make my own. I did have a question, though. I have always heard to wear gloves while peeling beets as they will stain your hands horribly if you don't. Do you find this to be necessary?Catehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08997071643007495600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-47124228798779861302018-06-20T08:06:47.422+10:002018-06-20T08:06:47.422+10:00You really are a very encouraging lady and I appre...You really are a very encouraging lady and I appreciate it. I also just noticed your photo without glasses! Amazing! You look about 55. I love it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-22232934762787301562018-06-19T19:31:47.943+10:002018-06-19T19:31:47.943+10:00Great tips there Rhonda. I love your new look wit...Great tips there Rhonda. I love your new look without the glasses.Susannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-37378651266028726252018-06-19T17:26:47.589+10:002018-06-19T17:26:47.589+10:00Hi Rhonda, old reader/commenter here. But I haven&...Hi Rhonda, old reader/commenter here. But I haven't commented for ages. You look younger in your photo! I have moved back to Brisbane from the Sunshine Coast to care for my parents. My life has slowed down, I love it in so many ways. My Mum who is 86 is one of those 'chuck it out' people, although in other ways she hoards. I have taken over the kitchen, cooking from scratch, freezing surplus etc. Today I froze homemade chicken stock. It's another journey. Kathryn xAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-49839248783970074762018-06-19T12:09:55.331+10:002018-06-19T12:09:55.331+10:00Me too, thanks for the beetroot! Just when a daunt...Me too, thanks for the beetroot! Just when a daunting amount is almost ready to be pulled and we haven't eaten up last year's frozen beets yet. I needed something new to do with a beet.Kathynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-67086884108853210352018-06-19T11:32:08.249+10:002018-06-19T11:32:08.249+10:00This is a great post Rhonda. One of my friends onc...This is a great post Rhonda. One of my friends once started “The Ladies Preserving Society”. A bunch of us all got together and we would each bring 10 jars of a homemade preserve. Plus a tasting jar. And then we each got to take home a jar, so we would leave with 10 different preserves. It was so much fun and so good to spend time with like minded people. <br />We would vote for the most popular and once my Strawberry Sweet Chilli Sauce was the winner! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03637346165841125299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-66015609731078215912018-06-19T10:35:35.323+10:002018-06-19T10:35:35.323+10:00I just picked a large bowl of hot Asian chillies t...I just picked a large bowl of hot Asian chillies this morning. I find them too hot fresh, but sliced and pickled and kept in the fridge and after a few weeks they seem to mellow out. I love popping them onto my individual serving of stir fry for some extra zing (that way the children don't complain about the dish being too spicy!) Noni from AdelaideAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01013171748420251740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-42884143701328690172018-06-19T08:18:10.822+10:002018-06-19T08:18:10.822+10:00Thanks for the beetroot recipe! We have a heap of ...Thanks for the beetroot recipe! We have a heap of beetroot growing that might be too small to sell but would be perfect for some preserves. Pickled beetroot are my dad's favourite!Kat from Fig Tree Creek Permaculturehttps://www.figtreecreekpermaculture.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-54730372722504073402018-06-19T08:01:54.961+10:002018-06-19T08:01:54.961+10:00I am determined to make some pickles this summer a...I am determined to make some pickles this summer and I always get lots of apples from a neighbour so drying them would make a change from freezing. Thank you for the instructions.Margie from Torontohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10103835021764804099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-80200089306899804322018-06-19T00:09:34.402+10:002018-06-19T00:09:34.402+10:00My grandparents always had jars of dried apples in...My grandparents always had jars of dried apples in their cupboards and my grandfather never went on a trip without some for snacks. I put cut apples in a quart of water with a teaspoon of salt. The cut apples will keep up to a week in the fridge without browning. I do not care for apples with a lemon flavor so I was so glad to read about this method and it works so well. I also do the salt water when I prep peaches for canning and they keep their color very well.Lanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09380649410508372279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-43657040455914728882018-06-18T17:22:21.421+10:002018-06-18T17:22:21.421+10:00A great post of really useful links thanks Rhonda....A great post of really useful links thanks Rhonda. My eldest likes ginger ale but I have never made it myself. I’d like to give it a go! XxEmma Christianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08500696381837942950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-61979373725224793042018-06-18T16:50:27.988+10:002018-06-18T16:50:27.988+10:00I preserve quite a lot around here. It started wit...I preserve quite a lot around here. It started with one or two things and then every season I add a few extras - these days I preserve a lot of our food and have replaced many store bought items. Pre-kids I did a lot more 'mammoth sessions' where I'd harvest the glut or stock up at the markets and preserve, preserve, preserve. These days I have to be a little bit more strategic and so have embraced 'small batch preserving' - it might take me a few weeks to preserve up enough tomatoes in little bits but it gets done in the end. It's also a great way to try new things out in small amounts. <br />I've also enjoyed a great many preserving sessions with friends and each time I open a jar it reminds me of that time spent together. It's a great way to tackle a new preserving activity that might be a little daunting to get started on.<br />I dried my own apples and pears for the first time this year after a foraging windfall of both. Such a good addition to the pantry. I'm now using them up in our homemade fruit bread and snacks. <br />I probably should confess that i'm a little obsessed with preserving and preserves!<br />Hope that your post inspires a few readers to get in there and give it a go.<br />cheers,<br />Laura<br />Grow Gather Enjoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05069999391136930106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-46625888720105452402018-06-18T13:24:31.580+10:002018-06-18T13:24:31.580+10:00Looks oh so yummy.
Coffee is onLooks oh so yummy.<br />Coffee is onpeppylady (Dora)https://www.blogger.com/profile/01649272822470007714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-44783966334766474732018-06-18T11:28:49.404+10:002018-06-18T11:28:49.404+10:00That bread looks delicious! I make a batch of Toll...That bread looks delicious! I make a batch of Toll House chocolate cookie dough, and keep it in the fridge. Since I live alone, I just bake one dozen at a time. I also freeze homemade bread crumbs for topping casseroles like broccoli cheese. Stewed fruit is also delicious. I find it easier than canning. Love all of your photos. Everything is so colorful and fresh! Thanks for sharing.TheAwakenedSoulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11636961399581011120noreply@blogger.com