Daddy's Champ

Hello again!

I decided to put those leeks to good use and make the little man some baby food. I thought I'd just post up the recipe here in case anyone was interested. It struck me as I was digging them up that these leeks have nearly been in existence as long as he has (including the pregnancy). I started my leeks in February in leftover mushroom containers. (An idea borrowed from here!

With the leeks being little weedy specimens it made sense to apply them in much the same way I would spring onions. As I had a few potatoes lying about it made sense to combine them into the Irish dish: Champ.

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Recipe

6 baby leeks or 2 large ones
4 medium potatoes
3 Tbsp whole milk
1tsp Olive oil or cooking spray
20g Grated Cheese *
Double Cream *
Butter (Unsalted) *

*optional

Method

- Roughly chop the leeks...

-And/or blend...

-Soften gently on a low heat in a frying pan brushed with the olive oil.

-Whilst the leeks are softening prick the potatoes a few times with a fork and place on a microwaveable plate. Microwave for about 15 minutes, turning them half way through. You'll know when they are ready as the will be soft to touch.

-Allow to cool and scoop out the flesh. Mash (don't blend*) and combine with the milk/butter/cream/cheese. 

(*Blended potato turns into a sponge like texture when you freeze it making it hard to re-heat)

-Add the soften leeks and combine. Place into ice cube trays and use within a month. This recipe made 7 portions of about 3 tablespoons. 

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Meanwhile on the plot I've planted some parsnips because I was desperate to plant something. Hopefully it will stay fairly dry, they'll germinate and grow. Last year I grew 1 parsnip (total) out of a whole row, but my seed was old and therefore less likely to germinate.

At home I sowed some beetroot/kale and Nasturtiums in modules so I can get them in the ground early. My broccoli/cauli are coming on well and their second leaves are just coming through. My dianthus and spring onions are just popping through whilst the leeks are starting to stand up straight.

Til next time happy gardening.

Chris

The Sowing Begins

Hello all :)

I am delighted to say my broccoli/cauliflower seedlings are well on their way. Sadly one succumbed to my clumsiness as I crushed its little stem when I knocked over my cloche. Four or five seedlings were withered and yellow looking so I lopped them off quick, hoping it was a bad seed and not a disease.

I have constructed a tin foil fort for my seedlings in an effort to reduce their legginess, which makes them look like they are encapsulated in a NASA grade habitat.

My leeks also are beginning to  pop up, one is definitely the master leek and is lording it over his tiny little buddies. I popped down to the allotment this morning to try out my new hoe, and evicted some leeks of the previous generation from the ground in anticipation of a pasta dish. They aren't the biggest specimens but I'm sure I could call them micro-leeks and make a fortune selling them to Michelin star restaurants.  

It was lovely to go down to the allotment today, a lot of people getting busy, Jim a few months ahead as always on his stunning plot and Dot full of energy and chatter. The weather is picking up which is nice too. I've liberated the shorts from the wardrobe for the first time this year!

Tomorrow I'll sow some bits and bobs, and I'll let you know next week.

Have fun!

Chris

Bring on Spring!

Hello!

I finally got round to digging over the plot, and managed to do almost all of it in one go. I was surprised how little root matter was left in the ground; it seems my digging over the last two years has really paid off. I'd love to know where the Mares Tail pops up from each year though as I see no evidence of it in the ground. I even got to level out my sunken corner that flooded a year previous with some home made compost.

As always I cant wait to get sowing and so I've started some little seedlings on the windowsill.In my eternal wisdom I didn't bother to label the cauliflower or the broccoli and so it is a little bit of a mystery as to which is which! I'll have to hope that when the first leaves come through they becomes a little easier to distinguish.

I've also sown some Dianthus seeds and spring onions last Sunday in modules. I planted the spring onions 10 seeds to a module so they will grow in bunches I can cut and bundle when ready. Finally I've started my leeks in an old miushroom packaging tub. I had good success last year with this method, so hopefully it will work again. I can just see one or two little seedlings popping through.

I've recently harvested a few leeks and I have roughly 10 or so remaining. These were put into Jamie Olivers Pea and Potato Puffy Pie, as a substitute for the peas. This is a really nice, cheap recipe and was lovely and warming on a cold winters day.

My seed packets are all sorted ahead of the sowing frenzy soon to begin. Until next time happy gardening! :)

Chris 

2015: New arrivals

Last August our lovely little boy Leonard was born. My wife was amazing throughout the pregnancy. He grows and changes so rapidly its mesmerising. Hopefully next year I can make him a little patch on my plot and he can join in. I expect I'll be doing all the boring work, but I reckon a pack of radish and he'll be well away!

This year I'm going to mix it up a lot: for starters, no beans. Last year I grew a lot and we couldn't eat them all. I'm hoping a break will make them more exciting next year.

I'm also going to limit myself to 1 courgette plant. I have tried every courgette recipe going and as tasty as they are it is time for a change.

My sister in law kindly gave me some carrot seeds. Now, I've never actually grown a carrot to a point where it is edible so this will be a challenge. I understand they need to be planted 75cm high to avoid the dreaded carrot fly, so I'll be looking to put them in containers in front of my shed.

Our family loves kale, and so this year I will grow some! I also got a dehydrator for Christmas, and so home grown kale chips appeal to me. (Especially when they are £3 a bag in ASDA!)

I had a year off from corn last year, and the year before I cheated and was given some ready to plant seedlings. This year I plan to raise my own from seed,

Broccoli and cauliflower are also family favourites thanks to some delicious recipes. From Jamie Olivers best cauliflower cheese to Kelly's fabulous Gobi Masala. (I'll have to write that one up.)
Both are new crops for me to try also.

One thing I will be growing again are beetroot as they were an absolute breeze to mature. They also happen to make the best brownies.

Lastly I will be sowing crops like pak choi and radish that grow quickly and fill the gaps in my beds early and late season. I also have a row of onions and garlic I have overwintered. Onions are new to me but last year my garlic spent most of the winter under water. It amazed me some were even edible when I dug them up in June!

Good luck planning your plots.

Chris :)