Dacorum Steam Rally 2010

July 25th, 2010

We went to the Dacorum Steam Rally again on Sunday.

Previously …

Cherries

July 25th, 2010

Thanks Netherbury and P for all these lovely cherries.

We stoned the whole lot of them. It took 1 hour with both of us:

Broad bean and bacon risotto

July 24th, 2010

The recipe was roughly from this one.

Courgette

July 23rd, 2010

From the garden. As it turns out, courgettes are really easy to grow.

魚拓鳥拓

July 18th, 2010

Click for bigger!

Look! It happened to someone else as well!

Hot dogs

July 17th, 2010

I made some not very successful caramelized onions (in the orange Creuset pan).

These tasted just like the American version that I had in Boston.

Gammon and broad beans

July 13th, 2010

The gammon recipe was one by Nigella which was pretty tasty, particularly cold the next day:

Recipe for gammon, and for swede.

Some broad beans from the garden:

Sparrowhawks like tiny birds!

July 12th, 2010

Nom nom …

Previously …

Hand blender

July 12th, 2010

A Breville hand blender, to replace the one which I stole from Erin many years ago. Essential for soups.

Tiny birds like ujimushi!

July 11th, 2010

Previously and previously.

Tacos

July 10th, 2010

This recipe for beef tacos comes from Nigel Slater’s excellent book Real Fast Food. However instead of buying the pitta breads, I made these ones from scratch. This was really delicious:

Toaster

July 8th, 2010

I don’t think I’ve ever owned a toaster before.

Potted fish

July 7th, 2010

Potted shrimp and potted mackerel.

This was very simple to make:

  1. Take a whole pack of butter [makes two ramekins as shown], and melt on a low heat. Add garlic.
  2. Grill the fish, or use a pre-cooked or smoked fish.
  3. Clarify the butter (filter out all the “bits” in it).
  4. Then put the clarified butter back on the heat and add chilli / cayenne pepper / paprika / thyme / rosemary to taste.
  5. Put the fish into the ramekins and cover with the hot butterfat.
  6. Place in the fridge overnight.

You can “pot” just about any meat or fish.

Hot lamb curry

July 6th, 2010

Also from Brit Spice.

Table and chairs

July 5th, 2010

From fleabay:

This is definitely going to improve summer days. Now where’s my gin and tonic?

Swede soup

July 5th, 2010

Made with the swede and potatoes from the garden. The recipe.

Bird hits window!

July 4th, 2010

It’s a baby blackbird, I think. He was a bit shaken up for a few minutes, but eventually flew away, so I think he’ll be OK.

Swede and potatoes

July 4th, 2010

The swedes in the garden have been a great success:

… but the potatoes, oh dear:

More curry

July 3rd, 2010

I was very happy with this curry from “Brit Spice”. The three curries are: prawn, yellow split peas, and beans with ginger. Plus I made some fried breads and a salad from the garden:

Tiny birds like onigiri!

July 2nd, 2010

I’m wondering if they will eat the umeboshi in the middle …

Previously …