Martin B Posted April 23, 2007 Share Posted April 23, 2007 Well then, it is officially the growing season, and by the sounds of it we're all going to be buried under endless amounts of fruits and vegetables. I have a few ideas of how to preserve some foods. Pickled Onions, Strawberry Jam and Tomato Chutney all spring to mind. How will you be preserving your crops? Spill the beans. Martin. All recipes appreciated also! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted April 23, 2007 Share Posted April 23, 2007 Preserving excess? Now there's a thought - just having some fresh from the garden will be a complete novelty! I'm not thinking that far ahead yet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted April 23, 2007 Share Posted April 23, 2007 Tomato and Chilli jam Chutneys Jams Compotes Freezer Sacks in the shed (potatoes, if they grow) Nets of onions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted April 23, 2007 Share Posted April 23, 2007 Big batches of ratatouille,frozen into portions My home made tomato soup,frozen Beans & peas frozen too I have a very big freezer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted April 23, 2007 Share Posted April 23, 2007 Runner and French Beans, Caulifllower, Peas will be frozen Peppers, Strawberries, Herbs, Tomatoes will be dehydrated. Turnips, Leeks, Squash, Courgette, Parsnip, Cabbage I have no idea Lettuce, Cucumbers, Spring Onion, Salad Potatoes, mini Corn will be eaten. Beetroot I hope to pickle. Compost bin Pumpkin will be made into soup and a lantern Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helly Welly Posted April 23, 2007 Share Posted April 23, 2007 Martin, get hold of the following book, its really useful. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Store-Your-Garden-Produce-Self-Sufficiency/dp/1903998255/ref=sr_1_1/026-4026631-8146864?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1177350758&sr=1-1 Oh to grow successfully enough to need it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted April 23, 2007 Author Share Posted April 23, 2007 Ta for the ideas I like the sound of chilli jam! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted April 23, 2007 Share Posted April 23, 2007 I will post the recipe soon. I gave loads away as Christmas pressies and OH designed cute Christmas labels for the jars! Bless 'im! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 23, 2007 Share Posted April 23, 2007 I make soup and freeze some stuff, but my freezer is tiny and we don't get through enough preserves in jars to warrant making any. The person to speak to about preserving is Dilly - she's Queen of the Preserves! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted April 23, 2007 Share Posted April 23, 2007 Not growing any beetroot myself, but Dad often gives me the surplus from his garden. Hope to make beetroot jelly. Cook and dice beetroot, add to jars then fill with raspberry jelly made with wine vinegar. Delicious! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted April 24, 2007 Share Posted April 24, 2007 I make jam, cordials and chutney but some things I prefer frozen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted April 24, 2007 Author Share Posted April 24, 2007 Cordials! That's what I wanted to hear! Give it away? Sell it. I have many a recipe from Dilly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffygrue Posted April 24, 2007 Share Posted April 24, 2007 Veg I tend to freeze.. though mushrooms tend to be soup-ified and then frozen. Fruit either ends up in jam or homebrew, depending on whether I let the other half brew it. Lavender/elderflower also ends up in cordials. Got an ice-cream maker for Christmas, which may result in some pretty good ice-creams this year, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 24, 2007 Share Posted April 24, 2007 Can anyone tell me what to do with broad beans ( keep it polite ) I don't believe I have ever eaten one in my life! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tara.F Posted April 24, 2007 Share Posted April 24, 2007 pick off the plant tops once flowers have set (this deters the dreaded blackfly) and stir fry them. some people use small, immature pods whole like mange tout. I like my broad beans (out of the pods) blanched then fried with small cubes of pancetta or bacon and chopped spring onions. you can aslo add a tin of tomatoes if you like when you get smaller amounts towards the end of the crop, take out of the pods and blanch (I slip them out of their skin too to reveal the jewel like bean inside) and spread on a lid to freeze before putting in a freezer bag. Over the course of a season I add to this bag all my 'odds an sods' that are not quite enough for a meal, onions, peas, the odd bit of broccoli etc. By winter time you have a wonderful veggie mix for stir fries and stews Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 24, 2007 Share Posted April 24, 2007 Thanks TaraF.....that's my kind of cooking! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted April 25, 2007 Share Posted April 25, 2007 Can anyone tell me what to do with broad beans ( keep it polite ) I don't believe I have ever eaten one in my life! Egluntine, you don't know what you are missing! best fresh and young, just cooked lightly and then served with a bit of butter ... if they are older, cook them and serve in parsley sauce. Yum, yum .. Back to Martin's original thread, it's the first time I've grown veg for years so I don't know if I'll have any surplus - tomato chutney, and freezing some veg - I'm expecting a glut of courgettes/squash, and I'm guessing they will be best frozen as soup. Fruit - if I get any raspberries, they are going in my Rumtopf! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
