Sunday 11 October 2009











Went to the allotment today after having visited Castle Espie to say "hello" to the brent geese and have soup. Marrow is still going for world domination. We harvested some carrots, admired everything else and I supervised the head gardener doing some weeding. Everything seems to be doing well. Our pumkin is also going for world domination.

We already had courgettes from the last time at home which is why this qualifies as an allotment dinner. Also the structural engineering done by the head gardener to make the home-smoked rainbow trout had to be seen to be believed. And we used herbs from our garden for the smoking.

This is what he did.
Got a biscuit tin and drilled two holes in it.
Got old gas camping stove.
Put a layer of sawdust out of the garage into the bottom of the biscuit tin and put some rosemary and bay leaves on top. Dampened the sawdust. The sawdust was also from his making the raised beds for the allotments in the garage. How River Cottage is that?
Then put chicken mesh over the sawdust in the tin.

Make your courgette gratin:

Ingredients:

Courgette, finely sliced
oil for frying
garlic
cheddar parmesan and breadcrumbs combined

Place Rainbow trout on to the chicken mesh. Light your gas cooker to high heat and leave to smoke. Doesnt take too long.



Method

Heat the oil in a pan.

Add the garlic and cook until soft.

Add the courgette and cook until browned.m

Pack tightly in layers into a loaf tin.

coat with cheese and breadcrumb mixture.

Cook at 180 degrees in the oven for 20- 30 minutes.

While the courgette is cooking, cook your fish in the smoker! It only takes a very short time. You will know it is done when you hear the fat sizzling!

Sunday 4 October 2009

and another moment

Went today. no photos as battery needs recharged. The marrow is going for world domination. The corn may yet ripen...................we are always hopeful. Harvested a courgette and all our tomatoes. some had ripened some will yet with the help of Mr Banana as the actress said to the bishop.................I went for a short walk along the flood defences and was rewarded with the sight of thousands of brent geese feeding off the eel grass in Strangford. It was a memorable sight.