Desriable Elderberry and Blackberry Cordial

Ingredients 

45g Elderberries

115g Blackberries

150g Caster Sugar

1 Teaspoon Lemon juice

1/2tbsp Red Wine Vinegar 

200ml Water

Instructions

1. Add all the ingredients into a pan and heat on low, stir occasionally. 
2. Once the majority of the berries have burst, push it through a fine sieve over a bowl.
3. Add 200ml of water to the pulp to make sure all the juices have been sieved.
4. Place into a air tight bottle and it will keep up to 2 months.  Once opened store in fridge. 

Heartwarming Italian Meatballs

Ingredients 

For the meatballs:

200g  minced beef

200g minced pork

1 teaspoon italian herb seasoning

pinch of salt & pepper

2tbsp grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra to serve

For the pasta sauce:

2 x 400g tins of chopped tomatoes

250g of roasted on the vine cherry tomatoes

2 cloves of garlic, peeled

1tbsp spicy chorizo, chopped

1 teaspoon of tomato puree

1 teaspoon of granulated sugar

1tbsp olive oil

pinch of salt and pepper

Instructions

1. Place all the meatball ingredients into a large bowl and mix to combine.
2. Heat a large pan with oil.
3. Mould your meatballs into the size of golf balls, a ice cream scoop works wonders.
4. Place your meatballs into the warm oil and cover with a lid and cook on low for 1 hour.
5. Meanwhile, you can start cooking your tomato pasta sauce.
6. Preheat the oven to 190C, and arrange your cherry tomatoes in a roasting dish, and cook for 20 10 minutes, or until split.
7. Add the oil and the garlic cloves and cook for a minute, or until the garlic cloves look softer.
8. Pour the tins of chopped tomatoes, tomato puree, sugar and seasoning.
9. Bring to a Simmer and cook for 1 hour. Once your cherry tomatoes are cooked take the off the vine and place them into your sauce, if you prefer a smoother sauce, blend them up just before you put them in.
10. Once you meatballs are cooked place them into your pasta sauce and let them combine with the sauce for 5-10 minutes.
11. Meanwhile, boil your pasta.
12. Put everything to together on a plate, grate over some more Parmesan and serve!

How to grown your own vegetables

Part 1: Potatoes

Anyone can grow potatoes, even if you are living in the city and don't have a garden!  

There is something quite special about growing your own organic produce, harvesting and then eating.

I've used the plastic potato sacks (3 in a pack with carrying handles … reusable) from the garden centre.  You could use a thick black bin liner, an old tin drum etc.  Just make sure there is drainage holes.  Seed potatoes are available from the garden centre, spring to autumn.

• If you plant the seed potatoes in intervals, 4-6 weeks, you can harvest over a longer period.
• Each shop bought planter is suitable for about 5 seed potatoes.
• Line the planter with good quality potting compost to 4cm.  Place the seed potatoes with the shoots facing upwards and cover with a further 6cm of potting compost.
• Keep the soil damp but not waterlogged.  Feed with a high potash/ low nitrogen feed.
• If there is danger of frost, then cover with a fleece until this has passed.
• When the shoots have grown 7cms high add another layer of compost,  so it covers the tips by a couple of CMS.  Continue to do this until the shoot are CMS above the planter.
• Now leave the plant to grow.  Watering when its dry but not too saturate the soil. Feed as before, periodically.
• The plant should produce small flowers and once these have died then then potatoes are ready to harvest.  
• Some varieties don't flower but start to die off.  Just feel beneath the soil to see if there is any hidden treasure… there probably is so its time to harvest!
• Tip the bag out, collect your treasure and wash.
• Wash out you bag, if you used a commercial one and plan your Maris Pipers for Christmas lunch.
• I've just planted mine today. (27 Aug 15)