Amaryllis (Hippeastrum)
Finally the amaryllis that I bought just after New Years Day is flowering. We’ve had a lot of fun watching this giant gradually produce three thick stems with heavy buds. The stalks are well over two feet. This particular bulb guaranteed three flower spikes. I potted it up in normal potting compost in an eight inch pot. Within days the first two buds emerged. The third took a while to appear but is now catching up fast and now we have the promised three. The first bud has gradually unfurled over last two days. Here’s the flower. We...
read moreSmoked haddock with a creamy shallot and parsley sauce recipe
Danny and I are going through a fish phase. We’ve uncovered loads in the freezer, bought on offer from the Waitrose fish counter. Thick, luscious fillets, sold off at the end of the day for the change from my pocket. Once we started eating this fish our imaginations were tickled and we began to play with saucy ideas for fish, real and virtual. Curiosity drove me to pay full price for this cheap smoked haddock from Tesco this week, to try out our recipe idea. It was easy, tasty and extremely quick to make. The onions added depth and...
read moreGenesis
When I came to the cottage fifteen years ago there was basically a large field at the back with a leylandii hedge along one side, a few shrubs, a small pond and a lot of grass. It was romantic in a way when I opened the back door but the mowing was a killer and I fancied a bit more variety. Back then I was reading the tomes of the Great House garden writers: Christopher Lloyd, Vita Sackville West, and my all time favourite garden designer Russell Page. I had also visited Hidcote Manor and had been completely bowled over by this fabulous garden...
read moreGrow your own Heroes
This afternoon I made a cup of tea and, feeling nosey, examined the books in the bookshelves of the empty house where I’m working. My attention was drawn to the title of a slim hardback book, “Grow your own Heroes.” Intrigued, I reached for the book immediately but I had misread the title. It was “Grow your own Herbs.” Produced by Culpepper, a small, interesting and reasonably comprehensive book with pretty illustrations. I mulled about this mistake as I worked through the afternoon and finally came to the...
read moreValentine’s freesias and heart shaped comfort
We don’t push the boat out on Valentine’s Day but we do get a tiny present for each other. It’s easier for me as I do the big shop every week and can see the supermarket displays for at least a month. Danny’s Valentine’s Hunting Trip is always on Valentine’s eve. Last night, he suddenly found that he was part of a large posse of men that were desperately searching the card racks at Waitrose. Eventually an assistant was called who explained that they had sold out at teatime. I don’t know where he found...
read moreSimple rack of lamb recipe
Rack of lamb (best end of neck) is such a treat. There are 6-8 cutlets on a joint. Sometimes we treat ourselves to one from Fred Fitzpatrick’s. His chops are much chubbier than the supermarket ones so he cuts the rack in half and we pop one half in the freezer. Our freezer clearing project has unearthed several delights and tonight we ate a half rack of lamb that had been languishing in the freezer disguised as something else. For years I used to order rack of lamb when I went to a restaurant, imagining that it would be a palaver to...
read moreSnow on the vegetables. Broccoli and early broad beans
I was a bit worried by last week’s snow and shot down before breakfast, in my dressing gown and wellies, to shake the snow off the broccoli netting. I keep the broccoli under nets to protect it from greedy woodpigeons. But the weight of the snow could snap the stems however sturdy. The fences only vaguely support the netting. I need to make a sturdier structure in the middle of the border this year. The dry weather last summer meant that John delayed planting the broccoli until August. This has dramatically effected their growth. They...
read moreSmoked cod with egg and crème fraîche sauce recipe
I love the combination of smoked fish and hardboiled eggs. I’m a sucker for kedgeree especially the fragrant recipe at the back of Rich Stein’s Seafood Lovers’ Guide. A couple of days ago I retrieved some smoked cod from the freezer and dallied momentarily with the thought of making kedgeree. Laziness was the inspiration for this dish. I’m pleased with this recipe. It is very quick, tasty and rather classy. Both the fish and the sauce took just minutes to cook. The chips were a bit naughty but worked well with the...
read moreWallflower ladybirds
I was amazed to see that my wallflowers had tiny red buds three days ago. But on closer inspection the buds turned out to be a group of ladybirds huddled together amongst the leaves. I was delighted. These little beetles are valuable. Felling a bit like a younger Silas Marner I did a spot check of all ladybirds clinging to our wallflowers. There were twenty six. Worth £14.99+ if I had bought them from a ladybird farm. But leaving cash aside, ladybirds stop aphids being too much of a problem in our garden. I drove off to work feeling smug and...
read moreCarol’s homemade herby croutons recipe
I hate throwing bread away. I have cleared enough space in the freezer so that I can stock up on smaller loaves that will not lurk in the bread bin and get dry and mouldy. I will buy big loaves every now and then as it is the perfect excuse to make these delicious croutons. They perk up a salad, an omelette, a bowl of soup or fill that gap when one ranges through the fridge for that tasty little something. Before Carol showed me how to make herby croutons, I used to fry a few if we needed them. They were always a bit touch a go. These baked...
read more
Most Recent Articles
I made two litres of dog food by mistakeOn Monday I decided to test out the theory that cottage pie is best made with pieces of beef rather than minced… »
Recipe for meatballs and spaghetti with red wine, tomatoes and bell peppers. Foolproof slow cooker/crock pot recipes“Please don’t buy mince again. I just don’t like it.” Danny grumbled out of the kitchen. “But you like… »
Win £50 worth of B&Q vouchers with The Cottage Smallholder and Direct Line Grand DrawFor those of you who missed out on the metal bedstead competition: we’ve got another great prize to offer you!… »
New layout for CSH – testers wanted pleaseDanny here, everybody. 14% of our visitors use mobile devices, such as tablets, iPad, smart mobiles and so on.… »
Update on the remaining Min PinsIt’s been seven weeks since The Conteesa died suddenly in her sleep. Danny buried her in the garden under the… »
It’s the little things that make the differenceI don’t often write much about the little things that give me pleasure. They initially seem too insignificant to… »
Recent Comments
{ I was thinking the same as Magic Cochin but then like you I don't have my phone attached by an umbilical cord wherever I go.... } – Wed 8 :47 pm
{ Good point but I don't tend to take it about with me everywhere 
} – Wed 7 :25 pm
{ Doesn't your mobile phone have an alarm setting? C x } – Wed 6 :32 pm
{ I would put it towards a bbq, it's just a shame you can't purchase some sunshine from b&q } – Wed 12 :04 am- { Hi Lesley The clucking means that she is brrody also plucking her own feathers is a sign too. } – Tue 11 :58 pm
- { Hi Lesley They have to stay in the broody coop 24/7. Could you put in a garden shed or garage? } – Tue 11 :57 pm
FD