Snowdrops at East Neuk

Dr Anne has read about the snowdrop display
at Cambo Estate Gardens, Fife.
www.camboestate.com/SNOWDROPS.aspx

Greygranite has posted an amazing picture.
http://greygraniteblogspot.blogspot.com/

East Neuk's snowdrops are late. They maybe need a some tender loving care.

Snowdrops are adaptable. They like sun or shade. They like a moist growing season followed by a dryer summer. They like an alkaline soil rather then an acid soil. A cool root run is better than one that is baked dry. When planting they like a pinch of bonemeal under them for encouragement.
Pavord, A. (2009). Bulb. London: Octopus Publishing Group Ltd.

Katherine Mansfield

In Wellington NZ, Dr Anne visited the birthplace of Katherine Mansfield. She was deeply moved by this visit feeling at one with her. She bought her Selected Stories and particularly enjoyed The Garden Party, A Cup of Tea and Her First Ball. Dr Anne contacted her literary mentor, Grey Granite to tell how wonderful this visit was and had she read any of her work. Of course she had. She dug out her copies for a Christmas read.

Mansfield, K. (2008). Selected Stories. Oxford: University Press.

Stead, C. K. (2004). Mansfield, a Novel. London: The Harvill Press.

Drying Apples. (Mrs McArthur's Wartime Cookbook)

Drying apples.

Wipe apples, remove cores. Slice into rings 1/4 inch thick. Steep the rings 10 minutes in water containing 1and 1/2 oz salt to the gallon.

Thread the rings on sticks or spread on trays. Dry in a very cool oven leaving door open until like chamois leather. It will take 4 hours. Turn once or twice during drying. Cool for 12 hours then pack in paper bags, jars or tins and store in a dry place.

Comment: This has proven to be a really good snack.

Apple Chutney

Apple Chutney

Ingredients:

2 lbs apples

3/4 lb sugar
1/4 lb raisins
1 onion
1/4oz curry powder
pinch of cayenne
1/2 tablespoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon all spice
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 pint vinegar

Method:

Soak all night in vinegar. Boil together next day for half an hour with lid on pan. Stirring occasionally. Remove lid and stir over quick fire until it turns thick.

Bottle

Comment:

This recipe was really easy to execute. Dr Anne added 1/2 teaspoon chillie as she has no cayenne. The proof will be in the eating of it.

Apple Dumpling (Mrs McArthur's Wartime Cookbook)

Mrs McArthur's Apple Dumpling.

Mrs McArthur is Dr Anne's paternal grandmother. Dr Anne's dad loved his apple dumpling and even after he died her mum made one apple dumpling each year.

Ingredients:

2 teacups flour;

1 teacup breadcrumbs;

1/2 teaspoon baking soda;

sugar;

good lump of margarine.

Method:

Rub margarine into flour lightly, add salt and baking powder. Roll out on board. Fill bowl with prepared apples and cover with paper. Steam for 2 and 1/2 hours.

Comment: Today was the day for Dr Anne to make her first Apple Dumpling. She set out the apples, peeled and cored them and put them in some cold water. With no stale bread in the house she crumbed some scones. She added flour, butter, sugar (less than what she thought was required because of the sugar in the scone mixture) and a little water to get the 'right' consistency. She rolled out the pastry and fitted it into a buttered ceramic bowl. She filled the bowl with the apples and a little sugar then put on a pastry lid doing her best to seal the pastry. Instead of making a cover with greaseproof paper she looked out a piece of cloth used by her mother. She then put the bowl in a large pot of boiling water and steamed it for two and a half hours. She even remembered to check that the water did not run dry.

Verdict: The dumpling tastes pretty good. She will do it again next year.

Apples

There was a glut of apples in 2009. With three trees at East Neuk there was an abundance of Discovery, James Grieve and Sunset, all eating apples. Dr Anne bought a beech storage box, she wiped and wrapped the apples setting them out on the trays. Some of the apples she stewed and put in the freezer. Now in February 2010 she has been out checking the freshness to find that they are in tip top condition.

Dr Anne has found a handwritten cookery book with a number of apple recipes. The book dates back to the late 1930s and early 1940s when her mother was cook at Durn House, Portsoy for the late Sheriff and Mrs Walker.

Dr Anne is going to try out and share these recipes over the next few weeks.

Garden at East Neuk

When Dr Anne was a young child the garden was the domain of father. There was a hen run with half a dozen chickens. The rest was cultivated much like a farm with a rotation of crops: potatoes, onions, carrots turnips, kale, cabbage of all types, caulieflowers etc. There were strawberries, raspberries, blackcurrants and gooseberries. There were two old apple and a pear trees. There were straight rows of dahlias and crysantemums. Mother had barrels, pots and borders of annual flowers such as alysum and lobelia, petunias and busy lizzies.

Mother took over the garden in 1982. The garden was landscaped and developed over 27 years winning 'Best Garden in Portsoy' three times.

Now the garden is the domain of Dr Anne. Watch out for her reflections as she develops it to a new dimension. With this in mind Dr Anne spent many an hour in the Botanical Gardens in NZ and OZ. She loved the Christchurch Botanical Garden. On her return home she joined the Royal Horticultural Society http://www.rhs.org.uk/

Watch this space.

Housekeeper and Cook

Dr Anne was never the housekeeper and cook at East Neuk. Her role was away from the home. She left early morning and often did not return until late. When she was at home she always had emails to deal with and letters to write. Housekeeper and cook was the role of Mrs McArthur.

For Dr Anne, clothes mysteriously went from the linen basket to the wardrobe. Shoes found on the shoe rack were always clean and shiny. Packed lunch was found in a cool bag at the back door when Dr Anne was ready to set out for the day. Supper was ready and almost on the table when Dr Anne walked in at the end of the day. A priviledged life you may say. Yes and very much appreciated.

Dr Anne now has the role of housekeeper and cook. Watch this space for her attempts.

Looking for Paradise, found Eden

Dr Anne went to NZ and Oz to find Paradise.

In Auckland she found the Eden Garden. This was a disused quarry next to Government House which was donated to the Nation. The soil was volcanic and planted there were rhodies, camellias, azaleas, hostas under the trees, winter hydrangeas etc. etc..

There were wonderful walks around the garden. The ambiance was amazing.

Heaven on earth.