Quiet winter days.

Well it appears winter has finally settled in….It has been raining here for what feels like forever, but the reality is it’s only been a week or so.  Even then it has mostly been short showers that deliver a few mls at a time, several times a day.  Such is the way after so many beautiful sunny winter days. 

My kitchen is currently filled with drying racks, but I throw my hands up at the sheets and towels.  They are currently going straight in the dryer.  There is no room in this little cottage while it only has 4 rooms for this many people, animals and sheet drying on top of that.  It’s madness I tell you!   

Aggie is patiently waiting for any tid-bits to drop. 

You see, we are on school holidays here, three whole weeks of them!  Though I can’t believe one week is finished already.  We have spent lots of time at home, resting and simply catching up.  There has been cooking to do, and the boys are enjoying taking part peeling the veggies, and cutting things up for hot soups, and various other bits and bobs.   

Fresh baked sourdough....

William and I have made a fresh batch of sauerkraut, and there has been sour dough baking too.  My sauerkraut recipe is basically 1 tablespoon of salt to 1Kg of veggies, this time we used cabbage and grated carrot.    

Lots of squeezing and bruising the veggies to release the juices. 

Will has been so helpful in tending to the fire for me, it appears he has taken it over as the young man in the house.  Yesterday was one of those days I felt like I just couldn’t get warm.  The wind whistled and howled all day long!  

Much love,

Emma

xx

making sauerkraut.

Sometimes we struggle to use a whole cabbage, and knowing how good fermented foods are for you I have been meaning to explore making sauerkraut for quite a while. 

The other day I went online and ordered a 3L ceramic fermenting pot.  Mad Millie brand, I am very happy with the quality of the pot, it's handmade and I love the bright green of the pot.  So cheerful!  The ceramic weights are perfect and its such and old simple traditionally designed item.  It has a water well around the top to seal it, and a little vent so it automatically "burps" itself.

I know you can ferment veggies with what ever is on hand but I actually don't have any containers big enough to hold a couple of litres of food, which are already not being used.  I decided it would easier with purposefully designed equipment and after searching online I settled with the "mad Millie" pot.  It will be something I use forever I can see already.

This link and instructions popped up into my news feed and it really is delightfully simple. 

Milkwood: making simple sauerkraut with whatever greens you've got.

I love that it's broad, it uses ingredients on hand, there is no need for specific starters as some places mention and that it encourages a variety of different kinds of vegetable ferments.  Which works for me!  I'm always looking for ways to use up left over bits and bobs, and I have since discovered I am completely in love with sauerkraut.  Crunchy, salty, sour, soft and squeaky.  Incredibly delicious.

One more simple skill under my belt.  Do you make fermented veggies?  Is it on your "to do" list to try? 

Much love,
Emma