A Pillow Book

I wanted a blog to reflect my life and, as with most people, I do and am many things, decided to create a Pillow Book. It will have thoughts, ideas, observations and little snippets of my day to day life. So, thank you Empress Consort Teishi....... I bow to you and your great work and hope, in some small way, mine might be great too.

Saturday 29 September 2012

Apple Butter



Normally at this time of year you can walk through any rural area and see boxes of apples at the ends of drives, on walls, balanced in old prams, mostly for the taking, an abundance shared, sometimes, if they are particularly marvellous, a sum of money is asked for. Sadly this year after a summer of weather never of which has been know for many decades, there are no such boxes. So when a friend was glad to share the harvest of his apple tree I happily accepted. Many years ago when living in Canada for a short time I came across apple butter. It is one of the many ways to preserve a harvest, mostly found in North America and Eastern Europe. It's silky flavoursome richness can be eaten on toast, swirled through a cake mixture or pancakes. If minimum sugar is added it can be eaten with pork, or on cereal, a particular favourite for me on proper wet muesli.  I had  made it once before but found the long slow simmering problematic but in my research came across a recipe that used a slow cooker...the recipe didn't disappoint.....



Apple Butter

5.5 llbs of apples peeled, cored and finely chopped
4 cups of white sugar
2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt

1. In a large bowl mix cinnamon, cloves, salt and sugar. Add apples and mix well.
2. Place apple mixture in the pot of a slow cooker, cover and cook on high for 1 hour.
3. Reduce to low and cook for 9-11 hours (overnight). Stirring occasionally until mixture is thickened and dark brown.
4. Blend with a hand blender until smooth.
5. Pot in sterile jars, seal. Keep cool and refrigerate once opened.



So thank you to the giver of apples..... a pot of Apple Butter is on its way x

Monday 10 September 2012

Made in Britain...


Just over six weeks ago we  waited with anticipation and now it has  finished, but what a time was had by all! I visited London twice over the Olympic period and it was a London I did not recognise, not my London, the London I lived in and commuted to where no one looked you in the eye, where each person had a bubble around them that could not be penetrated. No, this new London had people talking on the tube, ice lollies handed out at main line stations, people with foam hands saying 'welcome' 'have a wonderful day' there were others telling you where to go, trains to be got on without tickets being checked and locals setting up tables with cups of water  for the passing crowds. Oh London I have never seen you so joyous or quite so full of life. 

The Olympics were amazing but the Paralympics well they were society changing. I was lucky enough to take my youngest daughter to Greenwich on the first day of eventing, what a humbling experience that was. As each competitor came out the commentator gave a brief description of their disability, their life and circumstances. As the morning progressed, despite the torrential rain, I felt myself changing, my problems seemed insignificant compared to a surgeon who, due to illness, was  paralysed and whose fingers were too numb to hold a scalpel. Or another young woman who, was once a stunt rider, after a hay bale falling on her back was now a paraplegic....I could go on...but you get the picture. Metaphorically they all just got up and got on with it...and on it went....and I ended up realising, I really just need to shut up, because I can get up and run and walk and not have to rely on anyone else. But over the next fortnight came the society changing bit, we have all realised  watching paraolympians they are amazing, and daring and just damn good sportsmen who we can watch and enjoy as much as any other sport. It has shown us that not to be an inclusive society it unacceptable. Everybody is different and everybody is the same and acceptance of this is the legacy of this summer of Olympics then as Seb Coe said we can all be proud to look on the bottom and read 'Made in Great Britain'