Soop's Kitcheners...

Galen I just cooked the grapes for a while, mashed them, then strained through a cloth into a bowl and left it overnight. Then 450g of sugar to 1 pint of juice, added some pectin although I think the pips have enough. Boiled for about 10-12 minutes. It may be a bit too solid.
The green/red tomato chutney was yesterday - I used Delia's recipe but I am sure that the tbs of cayenne pepper is a misprint as it is hot, hot, hot!! DS will probably like it (if he can eat 10 jars!).

Lona I hope you and your family are OK whatever the problems are

Oh Lorna whatever it is I hope you are ok ((huggs)).

Soop I do hope you get good news soon ((huggs)) for you (and one for MacS too if he doesn't mind). You are not bellyaching you are anxious and worried and there are others in the kitchen who have some idea of what you are going through. You do so much to support others now it's our turn to try and give you some support

Nellie I have just had my kitchen done, I know how you feel. It will be lovely when it's finished. Another gin?

Anno glad you are feeling a bit better. Hope you enjoy your fish pie.
Will someone please bring in the grape jelly! It's not fair to keep us waiting

Galen is your skirt for your birthday cruise? If you do get a kilt made you will have to post a picture. By the way I loved your description of yourself in the "what do GN look like" thread but you forgot to add sharp wit and sense of humour to your post

Morning all! Any of that grape jelly around?

I've put the kettle on, put leaves in the pot and made some coffee.

I hope you get a letter this morning soop

Lona (((hugs))) - if it would help to talk, we are always willing to listen and are totally unshockable!

Anno would you care to share your tablets? My head is thumping this morning and my eyes feel ready to pop out! Glad they are working for you.

Nellie, having work done in the kitchen is horrendous - it seems like a good idea until it starts!!

DD has another wedding fayre this weekend so we are on duty all weekend - I may be gone some time!

My 5 kilos of red/yellow/green/ black tomato chutney is just on the hob. Can see a frantic dash to homebase tomorrow for more preserving jars. Can't do the grape jelly til I've got an empty preserving pan!

Lona So sorry to hear you and your family are having such a grim time. You are always so supportive of other kitcheners, that I forget you have your own concerns. Here's hoping your troubles will be resolved soon.

Kitty, sorry. You wouldn't like the taste this antib leaves. I am eating extra strong mints to counteract it.
Lona. Families can put you through the mangle. Something could be brewing in mine. I feel like a fire blanket. I hope you will come out the other end intact.

I sense that a lot of people deserve a big bunch of Sincerely hope life brightens for you all and wishing you strength to cope with whatever comes.

On a different note.
Can anyone tell me the technique for bottling my hot chutney on my own?
Very basic I know, but I've never done it on my own before!

Put the chutney in a pyrex jug, with care. Glass jars should be clean.

Cover with inert medium , wax circles, and put on top gently, when cool tighten.

Success YEA

Kitty. and others I am discovering that.

The young lad who came in to start the job screwed up big time and yesterday the company sent in the cavalry of experienced staff to finish the job.

One is even working today to get finished but will be back on Monday.

It became clear the poor lad was well out of his depth and he ended up breaking about a three meter worktop, at which point he left the job. I feel sorry for him he has a very young baby, but his work was not acceptable.

The company have done their best to get it done but should possibly have noted his lack of expertise earlier.

Right now I just want my kitchen sink back in.

Jeni I just make chutney like l make jam and bottle it hot using my stash of lids. I ladle it out of the preserving pans into the jars, if that is what you mean. Are you having trouble lifting and pouring it out of the pan because of difficulties standing?

Thank you all, no doubt we will all survive and come out stronger, but when my kids hurt, then I feel their pain.
and to you all.

Oops sorry Galen. Why do I only remember the username I first knew GNers by. Like Jingle.

I can never remember who has changed names when.

I have some green plum tomatoes which have grown as a "sport" in the small bed with the Swiss Chard. I do not know if there will be enough of them to make a decent chutney. But I will get some other stuff to put with them.

A very sunny and mild good afternoon to my lovely Granspal Kitcheners.

A circular type thingy was all that the postman delivered today. Deep sigh! MacS has said that he will phone the surgery if there is nothing of significance in Monday's post. We had a wee hug and went for a long walk. Thank you for all your kind and supportive comments. They mean a lot to me.

Galen Wonder Woman get bottling...and don't forget that us lot would love a virtual taster. My mouth is watering.

Lona Never think for a single moment that you are alone with all the hassle and stuff that is blighting your life. If having us lot to talk to helps (just a little) then we are most certainly here and rooting for you.

kitty enjoy the hustle and bustle and keep smiling.

anno I do hope that you will feel a whole lot better very soon. Take it easy in the meantime. (hugs)

Soutra Toby's comment made me giggle.

harrigran I wish you a safe journey. x

kitty Rory has spent the best part of today sitting on the door mat watching a young pheasant. Although he's bemused [he makes strange "yipping" noises] he makes no attempt to approach the bird which is therefore perfectly at ease as it hoovers up the fallen bird seed.

Standing and handling hot pans and liquids

Lona, thinking of you

Galen* Can see a frantic dash to homebase tomorrow for more preserving jars.

I did that dash yesterday for jars for my grape jelly - but I found the jars were cheaper in Wilko's (quite a bit cheaper) so worth a trip if you have one near you.
Yes, I use the pyrex jug method - with the chutney I used two jugs, one to dip into the mixture then poured the chutney into the other jug, keeping the outside clean so that I didn't get drips all over the jars, or you could ladle it into the jug. Then I sealed them whilst it was still quite warm (very warm in fact, oops!).
I am hoping the kitcheners will try some very very hot tomato chutney in a couple of months' time to let me know if it is edible or should be thrown away!

In the meantime here is some grape jelly and some square crumpets with lovely butter to keep everyone's strength up.

Thanks. I'll try that.
Just extracted 1L of red grape juice and put it in the fridge. I'm only a third of the way through the grapes and they have to be hand selected as they're starting to go mouldy.
How much grape jelly will one litre make?
If I've got enough I'll compost the remaining grapes.
I'm exhausted. Do,estic goddess I am not!

I think I had about 720 mls of juice, used about 625 gms of sugar and juice of a lemon (probably not necessary). It was probably not a scientific measurement but it seemed to work. It filled 3 small kilner jars and a couple of spoonfuls over which I ate just to test it! Is it worth it? I was exhausted as well.

I hear the sugar czar is on his way to the West Country knocking on doors and checking cupboards for excess use of sugar in jams and chutneys.

ps not Lord Alan, I mean this one:
[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/10566542/Wean-yourself-off-orange-juice-says-government-health-tsar.html]]

www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/10566542/Wean-yourself-off-orange-juice-says-government-health-tsar.html

Using one of these makes life easier

They look good!

(of course, so does going to the supermarket. When I told DB I was making plum jam he said in a bewildered voice - 'but they sell it in the shops!)

rose when I told my son (as a child) that something he had his eye on cost so-and-so, he suggested that I went to the bank...because they give you money

Galen...you my dear are extraordinary. Who says? I says...and so do the others, so there!

'tis time to get my bot off this chair and make some effort to appear to be housewifely. When I mentioned to MacS that I no longer liked housework, he said...well, our home is clean and it's neat and housework's not exactly the most important thing in life to be concerned about. I nodded. He grinned. That's sorted then...he whispered as I tickled him with the feather duster.

It will soon to be the right time to enjoy a G&T and MacS will have his wee dram. Rory will have chicken. Happy Saturday evening to all of you. I shall pop in to see what's what in the morning.

soop

Yes, DH is wondering what I am doing in here on the computer for so long. Typing up family history of course

Time for a chilled white and off to make a curry.

Have a peaceful and pleasant evening everyone.