Mmmm, just seen this recipe for nettle pesto on Joanna's Food. It looks amazing! I almost wish I was back at home to try it out. Nettles are packed full of healthiness, they grow everywhere (you could say like weeds...) and yet I've still not managed to get into cooking them myself despite being told years ago how good they are and how easy they are to cook with. This recipe looks really simple, so I'm thinking it must be a good one for anyone looking for an introduction to wild food. It is the best time for nettles in the UK right NOW. For the best nettles pick the young fresh green tips of the plant. Be careful not to pick from anywhere that is likely to have been sprayed with chemicals and pick as far from paths as possible (to avoid dog pee). I'm slightly gutted I can't do this myself this year, so can someone please make it for me and let me know how it is?... Nettle Pesto Nettles Mint (if you've got it, or other herbs, or none) Garlic Wholemeal bread Cheddar Oil Pick a colander full of young nettle tops (you'll need gloves). Rinse them, then plunge them into boiling water for one minute ...

My new student is flying! Last week we made this amazing roast vegetable lasagne. I'd never made a roast vegetable lasagne so I was a little nervous about how it would turn out, but all went to plan and it was very tasty indeed. I'm a little worried I could be out of a job soon though, apart from putting together the recipe and a bit of advice on making sure the cheese sauce was smooth, she did the whole thing. Gonna have to do something really tricky next time or I'll be out! It could probably do with a bit more cheese, there wasn't quite enough saved for over the top, I like it  when you get a nice crispy cheesy topping. It still got 8 out of 10 Andy points, so a potential 9 I recon with this adjustment. Roast Vegetable Lasagne 4 cloves garlic, chopped Olive oil 1 red onion, cut into chunks and separated 1 aubergine, cut in half and sliced 3 courgettes, sliced 1 red and 1 yellow pepper, deseeded and sliced 15 mushrooms, sliced 2 x 400g tinned tomatoes, chopped 2tsp paprika 3 tbsp oregano Salt and freshly ground black pepper 8 lasagne sheets 8oz cheddar cheese, grated 2 oz butter 2 oz plain flour 1 pt milk nutmeg Pre-heat oven to 190°C, ...

It's soup time, yipeeee! One bonus of it getting colder and darker is that it makes soup suddenly seem like a brilliant thing, which of course it is! I've already started cooking up a huge vats of lovely fresh soup and am very much looking forward to more to come. It really is so easy to make and far, far tastier than the gloopy gunk that comes in tins. Years ago when I was working I used to eat tinned soup quite often and Marzena, a Polish girl who came to work with us was astounded that you could actually buy soup in tins. "Soup comes in tins?... Really?... I can't believe it.... but why?". At the time I thought she was bonkers, now I feel exactly the same (about the soup/tin thing, not her being bonkers. Although actually she is a bit). Most simple soups follow the same basic idea, cook your onions off in a a little oil, or butter (nicer), add the chopped vegetables, cover to sweat for ten minutes or so, then cover with stock and leave to simmer until all veg are soft and then blitz it, maybe add a bit of cream. Lovely jubbly. While I'm on ...

I started this post weeks ago, then got distracted, so it's now well out of date and the recipe for summer pudding using the then seasonal fruits is not seasonal anymore, but since I've got his chance to catch up I might as well do it as it was really easy and a lovely treat. It's a couple of months since we were there now, here is a little post about our stay at Plan-it Earth in Sancreed, which is pretty much at Land's End in Cornwall. I think I might have mentioned it before, it's a seven acre small holding which runs eco-education courses and has two yurts for holiday rentals. We'd gone there wwoofing, intending to stay for just three days, but ended up staying over a week. It was a really great place. We learnt loads and had a great time. As an added bonus for the first couple of days we were able to stay in this lovely yurt before the next guests arrived. The first day there was a bit of a downpour and we spent most of the morning weeding the polytunnel, dashing out into the garden to pick artichokes and redcurrants in any dry spells. ...

So today is our last full day at the farm house in Devon. What a lovely week it has been, so relaxing. We've done very little other than sleep, eat, read, sit in the sun and hang out with the various animals there are around. As much as we love the tent and our two hob camping chef it's been amazing to have a real kitchen, and the chickens have provided us with a huge amount of eggs which have contributed to some very tasty meals. Quiche recipe coming up. I'm going to really miss the chickens. They're so funny. The way they walk is ridiculous, and the way they run even more ridiculous. It's as though their head is attached to their legs by a string through their body and it wobbles backwards and forwards faster the faster they go. They hear you coming out of the back door and if they're not already there by the time you have got outside they'll come racing across the yard sliding to a stop by your feet. Bwoooooooaaak! Can't wait until I have some of my own. Despite their cheeky bean eating behaviour I'll also miss the cats. In fact I'd rather they ...