If you read my post from last week about vegetables to grow in a small garden, you'll know how I like to rave about home-grown peas.  They are ridiculously easy to grow in the early stages, and with a bit of TLC they can produce succulent green pods filled with delight over the summer months.Start off by planting your seeds into modules of compost; this year I've planted Duchy Originals peas after previous success with this company.  Make sure the seeds are covered with compost and water well.  Starting them off in a greenhouse or polytunnel is best, although we had some luck on a warm windowsill in our first year.  They should be watered every few days, more if it is exceptionally hot for the time of year, and you should see growth within the first few days.  Leave the plants in the warm place until all chance of frost has disappeared (late May / early June here in Lincolnshire).

The next stage involves leaving the pea plants outside during the day, and bringing them in at night - hardening off.  Do this for about a week until you are ready for them in your vegetable bed.  By this point, I have usually gathered twigs and branches of a similar width and length (see images above) to provide support for the pea plants - push one into the soil for each plant.  Water well and cover with netting or chicken wire if you suffer from greedy pigeons as we do.

The key to growing peas is to plant them over a period of a month or so; this ensures a constant supply and means that you're not podding for a whole day at a time (we fell foul to this in our first year).  However, if you do find yourself with a surplus, fear not; they freeze excellently and you simply need to blanch them first.  For this you should put the peas into a saucepan and just cover with cold water.  Put on a high heat and remove from the hob just after the water begins to boil.  Then sieve the peas and put straight into a bowl of cold water; they should remain in here until cool and then should be dried on a tea towel or kitchen roll before freezing in bags.  It's worth the effort and is easier than it sounds!

Happy planting!

CC

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Recently Mr CC and I visited York for a couple of nights and I have finally got round to documenting the trip.  It started, as all trips to York should, with a view of the magnificent minster, its towers blazing into the bright blue sky (and only a few with scaffolding!).  We didn't go in - we've done that before - but simply gazed at its beauty for a while, before realising it was a bit cold and we were actually in need of some refreshment.

You have two choices in York: you either pick one of the small, quaint tearooms (of which there are numerous) or you go to Betty's.  We chose the latter.  It had been a while since we'd indulged ourselves, and the smaller tearoom on Stonegate did not let us down.  I ordered a cinnamon hot chocolate and a plate of winter berry pancakes.  Mr CC opted for a scone and a China rose petal tea (I know - he's much fancier than I am). My order was the clear winner, but his didn't look bad either, and a sip of his tea and nibble of his scone was enough to convince me that he had also chosen wisely.

When subsequently full absolutely stuffed we meandered our way back around to the minster and fell into our idea of heaven, and a frequent highlight of our visits to York - The Minster Gate Bookshop.  This time we were relatively restrained and only left with a few choice selections each.  If you're passing and can spare a few minutes (or a few hours - it's huge) take advantage.

A further highlight of that first day was our visit to the National Trust's Treasurer's House. I know, I know, National Trust again, but when you have the card you may as well make use of it!

The Treasurer's House was running tours on the day we arrived, and although I'm normally averse to these, preferring to explore a property at my leisure, it was actually informative and interesting; our guide shared plenty of spooky tales as the house is supposedly haunted by a number of ghosts from across the ages including Roman soldiers and a murderer!  If you're looking for somewhere to hook the imagination (young or old) this is the place.

Our second day featured a hidden church, a wedding fragrance and a step back into time. Check back later in the week for the second post!

CC

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This summary is a little late but what's 5 days?!  I had a wonderful March and can't quite believe it's nearly been April for a whole week.  Let me take you through my month...

(From top left) St David's Day heralded the start of the daffodils in the garden, and now they brighten up every corner; I started planting seeds in earnest; homemade quiche - the recipe will be on the blog soon; the most incredible pancakes at Betty's in York; snowdrops still lingering; going back in time at York Castle Museum; a view and a statue; family birthday celebrations; York Minster in the sunshine.

I hope you had a wonderful month!

CC

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These beauties appeared at the beginning of the week and brighten up the barren borders no end.  Happy Friday!

CC

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I've been inspired by Vivatramp to start a new blog series to do with another of my favourite things - lists.  I have lived my life through lists at times: to do lists, shopping lists, life lists, lists for lists, the list goes on...  In fact I find they focus me like no other organisational method can, so I will unashamedly admit to being a list addict.

This series of lists will guide me through each month of the year, and although these ideas already exist in my ever-growing pile of notebooks, it seems more definite and concrete to share them with you all on here.  So here goes.

1. Make more time for reading.  Having a full time job plus blogging and the upkeep of our house and garden, really does reduce the amount of time I have left for reading.  It's something that I have always done at night in bed, just before falling asleep; it would calm my senses before enabling me to happily drift off.  Unfortunately, my body clock is rebelling.  Now, as soon as my head hits the pillow I switch off and all hopes of reading drift away with consciousness.  I need to fall back into better reading habits so that I can really enjoy the sensation of losing myself in a gripping tale.
2. Blog at least 5 times a week.  I know that if I say just 2 or 3, then I'll lose focus, hence the optimistic statistic.  I work much better when I have a set routine; I like to know what's happening when, and that means my weekdays should ideally follow a similar structure.  I'm also supposed to be eating porridge every morning in an attempt to have a healthy breakfast, but that's not really working.  More structure required!
3. Live in an organised house, rather than organised chaos.  Reading the previous goal, you'd be forgiven for thinking that I live in an extremely organised house.  You wouldn't be the first to make that mistake.  My house is organised for approximately 20% of the time; at weekends I will often get a sudden but bursting urge to tidy, clean and sort out everything in sight.  This will tire me out so much, that the house will be neglected for the rest of the week.  So the plan is to do little and often.  We shall see.
4. Carry out random acts of kindness.  This needs little explanation; I am quite good at remembering birthdays, anniversaries etc.  but I really would like to cheer people's days for no other reason other than genuine kindness.  Probably the most important of my goals this month.
5. Stop slouching.  Must.  Stop.  Slouching.  On.  Sofa.  My sofa is the best sofa in existence if you want to lounge around, sleep, stretch out... but I need to learn that the desk is much more suitable for blogging and work, especially because I occasionally suffer from lower back pain.  That said, I am often quite lazy once I'm settled in a certain location, and am currently writing this post while stretched out on the sofa.  Not a great start.

Do you have any goals to share?  Please leave links and / or ideas below!

CC

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Inspired by the new #bookbloggers chat on Twitter last night (every Tuesday 7-8) I have decided that this blog should feature a few more book-related posts.  It is, after all, the obsession in my life that has lasted the longest.  So I'll kick off this new-found enthusiasm with my top 3 books that every countryside dweller shouldn't be without...

1. 'Fork to Fork' by Monty Don.  This man is my God.  I was introduced to him through Gardeners' World and have since read pretty much every book he has ever written.  I love the self-deprecating tone he adopts at times, and the honesty with which he shares his life.  Any gardener or cook is bound to sympathise with the plights and dilemmas he endures and the successes he achieves.  This book documents the journey from plot to plate that is so important in our house, and adds a few delicious recipes along the way.  I urge you to give this book some time.  You won't regret it.  
2. 'The New Complete Book of Self-Sufficiency' by John Seymour.  An oldie-but-goody here.  John Seymour wrote the classic books introducing the idea of self-sufficiency to a consumer-obsessed world.  My parents followed some of his advice when they set up their small-holding, and although some of the ideas are outdated and not all are relevant to my life, I have nevertheless been inspired by the straight-talking tips that Seymour includes.  Intriguing diagrams an added bonus.  
3. 'Forgotten Skills of Cooking' by Darina Allen.  Mr CC was actually bought this for his birthday a couple of years ago but I have hijacked it for my own weekly use in the kitchen.  Whatever food you are looking to include, there is more likely than not a recipe for it in here.  The recipes are clear and Allen offers interesting and often unique approaches to ingredients.  For those of you who want to learn how to gut a fish, make elderflower cordial or know which part of a lamb is best for which cooking style, this is the book for you. 

Please do let me know if you have any other countryside book recommendations - happy reading!

CC

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This is another quick, easy and healthy recipe for a mid-week meal.  I add varying amounts of chilli flakes, depending on how hot I want my meal on that particular day!

Salmon and Chilli Noodles

Ingredients:

•          2 salmon fillets
•          Juice of 1 lemon
•          2 nests of thin noodles
•          Chilli flakes
•          Handful of mushrooms
•          1 red pepper
•          1 medium onion
•          Soy sauce
•          Olive oil
•          Salt and pepper

Instructions:

1.     Pre-heat the oven to 200°C / 392°F.
2.     Place the salmon onto a baking tray and thinly coat with olive oil.  Season well and add a squeeze of lemon juice.
3.     Cook for approximately 20 minutes, or until the edges begin to crisp and the salmon is steaming hot throughout.
4.     Whilst the salmon is cooking, thinly chop the onion, pepper and mushrooms.
5.     Fry in a pan on a medium heat with a tablespoon of olive oil until al-dente.
6.     Add soy sauce, the rest of the lemon juice and chilli flakes according to taste.  Season well.
7.     Leave to simmer on a low heat and cook the noodles (approximately 3-5 minutes boil).
8.     Mix the noodles with the vegetables and sauce in a pan.
9.     Plate up and place the salmon fillet on top.

Depending on the season, you can replace and/or add different vegetables.  For example, thinly sliced courgettes and spinach also work well if you have them.  Do let me know if you have any suggestions for this or any other recipe.

CC

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It’s often the case that despite desires for half an acre of glorious grassy field behind your house, staring you in the face is an odd-shaped piece of muddy back garden.  Surely this can’t suffice to provide produce for a couple or family?  Here are 5 vegetables that say it can.

1. Courgettes.  Last year I had one plant in a hanging basket, another in a pot, and a third in my flower border.  Not only did they look spectacular, but they provided us with enough courgettes to roast, fry and stew all summer long, and even a few to pickle for the autumn.  They do tend to spread quite intrusively, but once they are fully grown you can expect a plentiful supply; the more you pick, they more they produce!  Sow seeds once the weather is warmer – around May – and plant in their final position once all chance of frost is gone (beginning of June in Lincolnshire usually).
    
2. Chard.  Walking around my garden last week, the realisation hit me that not only had my chard plants survived, but they had been consumed frequently over the autumn and winter months, seemingly unaffected by the cold weather.  Chard is full of vitamins and is so easy to add to pasta dishes, curries and stir-fries.  It picks like lettuce and cooks a little like spinach.  It is also a vibrant wonder to observe in your garden; go for the varieties with pink or orange stems such as ‘Rainbow Chard’.  Sow seeds any time from February/March onwards.
    
3. Carrots.  They aren’t as good as courgettes and chard in terms of yield quantity, however the taste of home-grown carrots is simply too irresistible to count them out of your small plot.  I have tried growing carrots in a number of different ways, but the best (and easiest) way is simply to sprinkle seeds thinly over raked soil and rake over once more.  I have always grown ‘Nantes’ and find them not only delicious but also of a good size.  Even if you only manage one row of carrots, it will be worth it I assure you!
    
4. Early potatoes.  By this I mean those that you can use as new potatoes early in the season.  Last year we planted the classic ‘Charlotte’ variety and were extremely pleased with the creamy, soft taste compared to previous years.  Although potatoes can take up a lot of room, you can also grow them in pots on your patio, freeing up space for other tempting edibles.  Potatoes need chitting in a dark place (start in February) and should then be planted into the ground around Easter time.  A top tip to improve the start of their growth is to line the holes with comfrey leaves; these are often found around the countryside or in back gardens and can be an excellent resource to plunder.
    
5. Beetroot.  I pondered long and hard whether beetroot or peas deserved the last spot.  In principle, peas would have been miles ahead in terms of the enjoyment I get from them in my own garden; I eat them like sweets straight from the pods and relish in the sweetness only freshly picked peas can provide.  However, they do take up an inordinate amount of space.  We managed to be self-sufficient in peas from July until November last year, however this was the product of a 6m x 1m plot, evidently not the option for most.  So beetroot got the spot, and I really do love beetroot.  It’s got an earthy, wholesome flavour that is eons apart from the pickled beetroot you buy in jars.  It’s easy to sow (exactly the same as carrots) and can be picked small for salads or large for roasting etc. 

Dreaming of past summer days and balmy summer nights...

CC

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Mr CC got me this book as a stocking gift for Christmas.  I think he saw the title and thought it would be appropriate for our first Christmas as a newly-engaged couple, but he'd also done his research and thought I'd enjoy the different cultural perspectives the book offers.  He was right (as usual with his book choices).  The book did not only provide a different angle on marriage, it also made me consider how different our life values might be if we had simply been born elsewhere.  The protagonist's move from Bangladesh to marry an American man she met online, and her subsequent attempts to fit in with her new surroundings are thought-provoking and at times humorous.  However, it is the struggle of her parents to escape the life they have always know that forms the backbone of the story.

This project has forced me to make time for reading; a hobby that sadly gets neglected when life gets in the way, but one that brings me great happiness when I actually get round to it.  So for next month I'm going to tackle another.  This book is one I bought in the best bookshop in the world - Shakespeare & Company in Paris (right opposite the Notre Dame if you are interested) - in 2010 and it has lingered on my bookshelf ever since, hiding away behind more recent purchases.  But no longer!

The book I've chosen is Ernest Hemingway's A Moveable Feast.  Being set in Paris, I'm sure it will alight my passions for the city once again, and let's face it, anything with the word 'feast' in the title has got to be worth a read.

Check out Circle of Pine Trees for more information about The Year in Books or for some more great recommendations.  Happy reading!

CC

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I don't know about you, but things around here can get pretty hectic when it's time for dinner mid-week.  I try to cook from scratch every day, but finding recipes that I can just leave in the oven while I'm getting on with other things is a necessity if I'm ever going to get any sleep or see Mr CC.  I've played around with this recipe for a while, and I usually change 1 or 2 ingredients depending on what's in the cupboard or veg box, but it's so easily adaptable that this is never an issue.  I'm a big believer in local and seasonal produce, so if you're anything like me this may affect what you include as well.  I find courgettes are often too mushy, and anything leafy just burns, but mushrooms work well, as do kohl rabi, carrots, beetroot etc.

Sausage and Roast Veg

Ingredients (to serve 2):

• 4-6 sausages (preferably from your local butcher)
• 4 large / 6 medium potatoes
• 2 medium onions
• 2 bell peppers
• A handful of other veg
• 3 sprigs of rosemary and a sprinkle of thyme
• Salt and pepper
• Olive oil

Instructions:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 200°C/392°F.
2. Peel and chop the potatoes into medium-sized chunks.
3. Add the potatoes to a pan of cold water and bring to the boil.  Leave to boil for another 2-3 minutes.
4. Drain and shake the potatoes in the pan so that they have fluffy edges.
5. Add a little oil, salt, thyme and the rosemary to a roasting tray.  Place in the oven for 1-2 minutes until sizzling.
6. Add the potatoes and shake so they are well covered with oil - cook for 20 minutes..
7. At this stage also put the sausages in the oven on a separate baking tray.
8. While the sausages and potatoes are cooking, prepare the veg: wash, peel and chop into medium-sized chunks.  Half the onions.
9. After the 20 minutes is up, turn over the sausages and give the potatoes a good shake (you may have to scrape them from the bottom at this stage - but that just means they'll be extra crispy!
10. Add the veg to the roasting tray with the potatoes (if you're doing this for any more than 2 people, you'll need a separate roasting tray for the veg) and coat with another layer of oil.  Season well.
11. Cook for a further 20 minutes, or longer depending on your oven.  The veg should be crisp and the sausages browned.
12. Serve plated up for dinner or in pitta breads for an informal get-together.

I'm hungry just thinking about this now.  Enjoy!

CC

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The National Trust has long held a special place in my heart.  As a child I remember multi-coloured rugs, picnic baskets and walking boots as we hiked around the properties and then wandered through the enchanting buildings, usually leaving a muddy trail behind. It was inevitable, then, that as soon as we reached the point in our careers where days out were actually affordable, a National Trust membership for Mr CC and I would not be too far behind.  Today's post features a place that is of even greater import since August last year when we got engaged on a visit to the property: Fountain's Abbey.

We like to explore places a bit differently, and so instead of going to the Abbey when we arrived, we followed a walking route handily provided on the website and aptly named the Boots, Gaiters and Vistas walk.  The advice states it will take you approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, and with a picnic stop (and proposal!) along the way, it took just a little over this.  The walk around the estate was beautiful, if a bit of a trek at times.  There are stunning views across the valley (hence the 'Vistas'), herds of cows to pass and muddy tracks to climb; a great mix of terrain if you're looking to build up an appetite.  The other attraction was the lack of people.  Don't get me wrong, I am definitely a people person, but when you're on holiday it's sometimes nice to escape from everything and everyone.  Walking back through the deer park with a sparkler on my finger definitely made the crowds that followed a lot more bearable!

If you're not up for such a trek, there are plenty of walks in the Abbey grounds to enjoy.  Fountain's Abbey has so much to offer that you'll never see it all in one day, and that's the beauty of it!  Check out this link for more information on activities and events, particularly over the Easter break.  Have fun!

CC

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