I haven't done too much harvesting this week, but there's been a bit of an apple theme....
First appley thing was bottling up a batch of homemade apple cider vinegar. It's really easy to make....put a load of apple scraps like peels and cores into a jar or whatever (don't include any 'off' bits though). Fill the container with water and add a few spoonfuls of honey (this helps to speed up the ferment) and give it a stir. Cover it over with muslin or similar (so air can flow but flies are kept out) and leave for a couple of weeks to ferment (keep an eye on it for mould on top). Then strain off the liquid, compost the appley bits, and pour the liquid back in your container for another couple of weeks or longer depending on the flavour you like. Here's my latest batch, ready for bottling....
Then simply pour it into a bottle or two for storage...
Cider vinegar can be made without adding the honey, but it takes a lot longer.
Veggie-wise we've made a few meals with home grown produce, like this stir fry with the last courgettes, some chard and one of the peppers from last week.
I've made another sweet chestnut terrine, using our own kale and chard instead of broccoli, and chestnuts that I'd prepared last week.
Err I forgot to take a 'baked' photo though...here's one before they went in.
I also roasted some chestnuts at the bottom of the oven...they came out of their skins quite easily this way...tasty too.
Jan made a roasted butternut squash and rice dish, with some beans and courgettes from the freezer and drizzled with some of that cider vinegar, mmm. I now have three butternuts left - this dish can make a came back for sure.
And lastly, more apples, this time from a glean at an organic orchard...here's just some of them...look at them alllll! We had a fantastic turn out of volunteers this time, who really got stuck in, despite the rain. Well done everyone for a great day, harvesting apples that have gone to good use at various charities.
That's me this week, thanks for reading. I'm linking in with Harvest Monday hosted by Dave at Our Happy Acres.
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That apple cider vinegar sounds ridiculously easy! It's just fermented apple scraps with water and a bit of honey?? Sounds too good to be true. What do you do if some mould forms on top - is it still OK to keep going? The chestnut terrine sounds nice too. We have loads of chestnuts round where we live, so I might be tempted to make that. Did you use your own recipe, or could you point me in the direction of one please?
ReplyDeleteHi Mark, yes it really is that easy to make the vinegar! If you keep the apple bits submerged (eg weigh down with a plate or keep poking them under everyday) there shouldn't be any mould. If a tiny bit appears I just scoop it off / remove that bit of apple, and have had no problems. You might also get white froth on top, which you can just scoop off aswell. The liquid will go cloudy too, which is the 'mother' (strands of protein / good bacteria etc)....I'd suggested just doing a bit of googling, there are much better explanations than mine!
DeleteYep, take a look at my post last week, which has a basic outline for a chestnut terrine recipe. Preparing the chestnuts is the most labour-intensive part...foraging for them is fun though, it seems to have been a good year for chestnuts :)
Wow, that's a serious amount of apples. I'm very impressed with the homemade apple cider vinegar, it's never occurred to me to make my own, it's a great idea.
ReplyDeleteHi CJ, yep it's really easy, just needs a bit of counter space. I happened to see a recipe last year via Facebook (Mother Earth Facebook page I think). Obviously best to use organic apples. Give it a go, you'll never need to buy cider vinegar again :)
DeleteI need to try making cider vinegar. I say that every time I read about you making it! The gleaning is such a great idea too.
ReplyDeleteHi Dave, yep it's too easy not to try! Especially if you're using apples up already for something else and have the peel and cores left anyway. I make the vinegar as a side product when I'm making apple cake or mixed fruit mush etc.
DeleteThat seems like a great way to use up apple peelings and such. I make my own red wine vinegar by just putting wine and some of the previous batch of vinegar in a big jar with a loose fitting lid on top. No other work is necessary other than to filter it, but it does take a long time. Which reminds me, I haven't checked up on it in months!
ReplyDeleteHi Michelle, yes...a bonus apple product! Well, red wine vinegar sounds even easier though, I might try that too. I've read that apple cider vinegar can take months to make if you don't use honey (have also read that some people use sugar rather than honey). If I had more counter space I might try making cider vinegar without it but at the moment I'm preferring to get batches made and stored....they may appear as Christmas presents!
DeleteI just can't believe how much food you manage to glean that would otherwise be wasted.
ReplyDeleteHi sue, it's incredible the amount of food that gets wasted. The wildlife will be enjoying the apples left behind though...there were loads of fieldfares and blackbirds around the orchard.
DeleteWow - look at all those apples! I'm surprised you still had some courgette lying around this late in the season - that's very impressive.
ReplyDeleteHi Margaret, we harvested about 3 tonnes apparently, phewee.
DeleteI'm sure those will be my last tiny courgettes, the plants are a goner now.