Natures freebies...

I really do love this time of year, where I can pop on my cardie & wellies and go for a wander down the country lanes and come back laden with goodies to fill my pantry up.

I have been hooked on foraging for a good few years , well since my husband bought me Richard Mabey "food for free"  this year I am going that extra mile with gathering free food cos now I have a pantry to fill and a big one at that so I am  taking full advantage of the countryside offerings.

so far I have been really busy filling the pantry with various jams, chutneys & pickles ( will add individual photos and recipes etc to the blog when I get chance )
I have also took up wine making so all these free ingredients have come in very handy, so far I have Elderflower, Elder berry, Peach , Apple, beetroot & date on the go ready for Christmas. ( Again I will add individual recipes and photos soon)
 

Anyway...I had a spare hr this afternoon so off I went and gathered up this little lot.

These will be turned into Plum wine, Blackberry Jam and sloe Gin!

My husband went back to the plum tree this eve and collected 5ibs of plums so I will be making jam and plum brandy with those ready for christmas.

Plums have all been washed, Blackberries are soaking in salt water to get rid of the grubs and the Sloes are ripening... alll ready for me to work my magic on them tomorrow.

2 of my fav recipes ......Veg , lentil & mixed bean soup & sweet n sour pork

Whilst hubby is watching the footie I thought I'd nip on and share 2 of my all time fav recipes.

Veg, lentil & mixed bean soup

can mixed bean salad
can green lentils
can chopped tomatoes
can baked beans
handful of split lentils
2 large leeks
large onion
4 medium carrots
1 small swede
1 green 1 red and 1 yellow pepper
2 ham stock cubes
salt and pepper
mixed herbs

Chop all the veg into chunks, pop it all into a slowcooker, or large pan iif you want to do it on the stove, I prefer to do mine in my slowcooker cos then I can just forget about it without worrying if its boiling over or burning the bottom of the pan..lol

Add all the other ingredients, give it a good stir and cook on high for  3hrs

Then you should end up with something like this.

Its really is delicious and the ingredients costs just a few pounds, for a weeks worth of lunches! ... it freezes well too.


Sweet & sour Pork

500g chopped Pork, chicken or whatever meat you fancy
1 small tin of pineapple rings (chopped up)
1 onion
Mushrooms (optional)
Peppers (optional)
4Tbsp Tomato purée
2Tbsp Sugar
3Tbsp White wine vinegar
1Tbsp Soy sauce
200ml water
pinch of pepper
Fry meat & onions till brown, add the mushrooms & peppers

then in a separate bowl, mix the Tomato purée, Sugar, soy sauce, white wine vinegar & water, give it a good stir

The smell is blooming gorgeous!

Pour the juice over the meat, onions & peppers and leave to marinate for a few hrs or even over night!

when you are ready to pop it in the oven add the tin of pineapple with the juice and cook for 30mins - whilst cooking, pop some long grain rice in a pan, when cooked pop it in a wok, add 2 eggs and a dash of soy sauce and fry for 5 mins...

you should end up with something thing like this. 

Much cheaper then sweet n sour pork & egg fried rice from the take away plus there is loads left over to freeze for another day.