September 5, 2010

Gooseberry and elderflower for Natascha

Here’s something we made earlier!

Now onto the rowanberry jelly!

This is a great recipe from an old friend on Skye…Ros Burgess…she wrote a great book about countryside and island cooking and making…the berries are ready Right Now…so for those of you who want to have a go this is what I do. Ros’s book is called ‘Notes & recipes from an Island Kitchen’..with fab illustrations from Judith MacLachlan.

Rowan Jelly

1.4kgs(3lbs) rowan berries

6 cloves (which I miss out)

450grs cooking apples – bramleys

1.1L (2pts) water

1 lemon rind (I used lime)

White sugar

Pick your berries (best right now before a frost and the birds have got to them) Take them from their stalks and put into the preserving pan with the chopped apples. Add the lime and the water. Simmer gently for an hour or so until the fruit becomes soft. Strain through a muslin bag or pair of (clean) tights over night and squeeze out the juice into the pan. Add 450grs(1lb) sugar to 600ml(1pint) if juice. Stir over a gentle heat till the sugar is dissolved. Bring to the boil and boil for 10mins. Keep testing till jelly starts to set. Pour into jars which have been sterilised and are warm. Cover, seal and enjoy! Great with cheese or with winter root vegs, meats or in sauces…..

This summer has been pretty wild really …not windy or wet but definately STORMY.  I can’t believe it is now September, but it is and I am so happy…autumn is coming and I love it!

I’ve really enjoyed writing up my notes over the past months but this summer I experienced how powerful this medium is for causing caos and unpleasantness. My dear friend Annie Modesitt experienced some horrendous bullying on the net, the storm which errupted over the UK Knit camp and the Ravelry group steering clear of Stirling …all really horrid stuff. I must admit it has taken me a few weeks to pluck up courage to continue with this journal but a light went on in my sleepy brain this morning and I realised what was important….

I love knitting and I love each single stitch that I knit….

What else is there to know…knitting shows me how to love..it opens my heart and allows me to share what I learn…that is what this diary is about. Knitting, sharing and finding joy in every stitch. The way to happiness…and when you find happiness you find love…

for all the bullying bloggers … hope you find happiness through your knitting , you will certainly not find it in angry words…..

So here I am at home….with dog, cat, son, garden, studio and lots of knitting to do and to write about..

dixx