The Drying of Mint

It's really simple. No mixing, measuring, or adding. And yet, I almost missed the chance to enjoy our mint through the fall and winter. Right now, everything is in bloom. Bright purple flower abuzz with bees, and this is the wrong time to harvest. Luckily I started a couple of weeks ago. Last week, I took the bunches tied with string out of our shed and brought them into to be stored in jars.

Ironically (or perhaps not to those who know better), the mild spearmint has the stronger dried mint scent, while it is quite mild when fresh. The peppermint was quite a bit less potent. Perhaps I picked the wrong time to harvest them. That is always a possibility. But it is a joy to have fresh, um, dried mint for tea.

Apple Chutney Improvisation

Well it turns out that I couldn't make the "English" recipe for apple chutney, as "Allspice", apparently, does not exist in Belgium. And I didn't feel like using black peppercorns. So, I compromised and with the ginger added two cardamom pods and 4 or 5 cloves.

It didn't come out with chunks of apples, but rather like a purée. But we've already eaten the half jar extra as a condiment to burgers (lamb and veggie) and with potatoes. It is spicy and sweet with a hint of apple.

That same day, I had some red currants from a friend's garden. It wasn't enough for a pot, so I added some cherries. We just ate opened it today, and it has a lovely red-purple color and taste. The raspberry-currant one was a bit tastier, but we are not complaining. Here's to raspberries, currants and all things red.. combined with a bit of ginger and green apple!

Apples and Things

Over the past week, our apple tree has been shedding some of the smaller fruit. I can't tell whether it is the wind, or some sort of self-pruning mechanism.

Then, this past weekend we had friends over with their 7 month-old baby, and then more friends with two more kids. These kids are tall enough to reach the apples, and so they did. "I was just caressing them", the oldest said. Hmmm... the bite mark in one of the three picked apples says that perhaps some sort of fairy tale fantasy of "picking fruits in the forest" was running through their minds...

So now we have 7 small green apples... and someone suggested CHUTNEY. What a great idea! Now that I've begun making preserves.

I have found two recipes. One that is more "English". The other more "Indian". I haven't decided which one I'll make yet. Any votes?

Champagne Currant-Raspberry Jam

Champagne currants (as opposed to black- or red currants) look like perfect pale pink transparent spherical jewels, but they are sour and seedy, even when at their ripest. So, this week, we picked them all and today began the great experiment. My first attempt at making jam.

I added a handful of raspberries, mushed them all together. Bring to a boil, add lots of sugar, cook some more... and my first pot of jam!

Only one pot. But, I'm so proud! Hopefully, it will still be around when my friends from Switzerland come by at the end of the month.

I ma-ade ja-am! I ma-ade ja-am! And it looks beautiful.

Catch-22

So, I'm not good at this blogging thing. And I don't really have much to say. Ok, well that's a lie... but still deciding whether this will be a food blog or a political blog or a blog on health and wellness.

Currently, this is what is on my mind:

The EU says it will sue the U.S. if they bail out GM and Ford. And, I have to agree with the EU and the Republicans(!). These companies have been managed so atrociously for so long, and now that there is some money out there, they think they can get some. The nerve! All the rest of us have to suffer the consequences of our actions. They have had so many opportunities to run the company well. They have capital, reputation, access to highest echelons of power. It is not as if this is some poor, run-down part of the economy.

Plus, if they get bailed out, what will stop the steel industry, the airline industry, the construction industry from asking for bailouts? These are also huge parts of the global economy. There isn't enough money too bail them all out. Even the IMF has just said that they are short on funds to bail out the countries that they expect to be coming to their door hat in hand.

Then again, if GM and Ford go under. The U.S. is almost assuredly headed toward a depression.

What is the greater threat?

A return

I've been away for a while. Dealing with the contradictions that pull us in life, well... at least pull on me. And I have finally made the plunge. I have expunged Bloomberg from my life, and I am now self-employed. Sometimes, I am super-energized and focused. Sometimes, I am scared shitless. But it hasn't even been a week yet, so I assume things will smooth out with time.

I'm also on the look-out for a partner. Someone with whom I can develop this business, or we can develop each other's businesses. I definitely want to be part of a community of alternative/complementary therapists. And the trick is finding one in Belgium. Not impossible though. Keeping an eye out...

This afternoon the sun is finally out after about 18 hours of rain. I was starting to see moss grow on the fence in the garden. I've just finished a cup of hot chocolate and I'll give Peter a massage.

All is well.

Spring Patio

We had the first breakfast on the patio this weekend (twice!). Well it was noon, but it was the first meal of the day. And yesterday evening, we had dinner on the patio too! I think we can finally say spring has arrived in Flanders.

We planted thyme, parsley, and our strawberry seedlings. We also bought a couple of lavendar plants and planted a baby tomato plant. Perhaps it's all wishful thinking.

But sitting on your patio in the sun, or in the warm evening air, having just planted little things that may grow. . . *sigh* It was a great weekend.

We also did a lot of biking - 35km from Nederzwalm to Gent. :) And I did really well. It would be good to do a biking trip through France or somewhere. I'm trying to convince Peter that I can do it. I think he believes it now.

Now, I'm just thinking of the yummy things I'd like to cook. :)