Casalinho

Tag: preserving

  • In the Kitchen: Broom Blossom Pickles

      The hillsides and road edges are vibrant yellow here at the moment with the blooms of the broom bushes (Cytisus scoparius – Scotch, or Common Broom). The flowers have an interesting flavour, and I like to pickle a few jars for use on salads through out the year. As with any wild food, don’t more »

  • Eat Up All Your Vegetables!

    I wrote this back in 2014. Spending some time away from home reliant on supermarket veggies brought it to mind again. If you’ve gone to all the time and trouble to grow something delicious and nutritious, you’ll want to make the most of it. Well, that’s the way we look at it anyway! We don’t more »

  • Seasonal decor?

    Seasonal decor, Casalinho style. Home made chorizo and morcela dry curing above the stove. It’s been a busy few weeks, with the killing and processing of our first home grown pig and the completion of the olive harvest keeping us busy. More on what we’ve been up to in due course, but in the meantime more »

  • In the Kitchen: Cheese Pie

    It’s been a while since I’ve shared a recipe as there are so many sites out there dedicated to doing that better than I can. But occasionally there’s something I discover which pushes all the right buttons for me, and this is one of those ideas. ‘Cheese pie’ is a fabulous way to use up more »

  • Preserving an Abundant Harvest

    As summer draws to a close we’ve a huge abundance of foods coming out of the garden.  Nothing will be allowed to go to waste. As I look around me, these are just a handful of examples happening right now.  Whilst we use a wide range of techniques to preserve our bounty, we’re making the more »

  • Our Week in Pictures: 10th November 2014

    Our weekly round up of what volunteers have been working on at Casalinho, our developing permaculture project in central Portugal. Well autumn has certainly arrived! Cooler temperatures and the threat of rain have reminded of how much winter preparation still remains undone.   Left to right, top to bottom: 1) Beyonce enjoying an autumnal morning walk more »

  • Our Week in Pictures: 6th October 2014

    Lots of people on site this week including some new volunteers, and plenty going on as usual. But the focus has really been on the grape harvest, with foot stomping the grapes being a popular activity. The first batch of wine has now started it’s secondary fermentation, and another batch is on the way. Grapes more »

  • Our Week in Pictures: 29th September 2014

    Another busy week! Making up for the rain of last week we’ve been cracking on with the first part of our grape harvest and wine making. Harvesting and produce preservation continues, with tomatoes and quinces still being top of my processing list. Volunteer Marjolein has been filming this week, which has given Jeroen a marvellous more »

  • Our Week in Pictures: 22nd September 2014

    We’ve had our first taste of autumn weather this week, somewhat early, with lots of rain and tremendous thunderstorms.  We can’t really complain though, look at these photos of Lisbon today. Wet soil easily compacts so we’ve not been doing a great deal in the veg garden as a result. A seemingly simple task of knocking more »

  • In the Kitchen: Elderberry & Pear Chutney

      With a proliferation of elderberries and plenty of windfall pears at the moment, this elderberry and pear chutney recipe has been a tasty way to ensure that none go to waste. As with most of my recipes, my quantities are vague and my ingredients interchangeable. Taste it when it’s boiled down and tweak the more »