Chooksandroots

LATEST ARTICLES ( 235 )

• Blackberry Vodka

  With the abundance of blackberries around this year, and if you fancy a change from crumble, why not give this a whirl. Started now, it will be ready for... Read more

  Posted on 10 September 2013 GARDENING, HOME

• Sweet Dumpling Squash

  

  I thought it was a butternut squash I was growing, but the fruit was nothing like anything I’ve bought in the shops. After a trawl around Google, I discovered i... Read more

  Posted on 04 September 2013 GARDENING, HOME

• Tomato and Basil Soup

  

  My tomatoes are now ripening up well, but due to the wily caterpillars – they’re in the greenhouse, but I’ll be damned if I can find them – nibbling holes in... Read more

  Posted on 02 September 2013 FOOD & DRINK, RECIPES

• Results Are in

  So… off I went down to the village show hall after the judging had taken place, and my friend and I meandered around looking at all the entries and the... Read more

  Posted on 31 August 2013 GARDENING, HOME

• Jury’s out

  

  Who knew that the ‘fun’ village show could be so stressful?This morning began with me furtling around the garden in my pyjamas, harvesting my top veggies. Read more

  Posted on 31 August 2013 GARDENING, HOME

• Vegetable Show Tomorrow

  

  Well, after a full on grow your own summer, the village show is upon us. It’s tomorrow, folks, and I’ve entered and got my stickers for six categories. Read more

  Posted on 30 August 2013 GARDENING, HOME

• A Glut of Courgettes

  

  It was only a few weeks ago I was merrily harvesting two inch long courgettes – much to the hoots of laughter from my family – to use in stir fries. It’s a... Read more

  Posted on 29 August 2013 GARDENING, HOME

• August Garden

  

  Some pictures of this month in the garden…Runner beans on the archesNancy the chicken having a free range around the gardenFusto Fior tomatoesSquash plantsI’m... Read more

  Posted on 26 August 2013 GARDENING, HOME

• Saving Seeds

  

  Part of the pleasure of growing your own has to be the smug feeling when you saunter off down the garden or allotment and busily harvest free produce. Read more

  Posted on 23 August 2013 GARDENING, HOME

• Cabbage White

  

  Looking out of the window last week, I’d be forgiven for thinking that – despite the lovely weather – it appeared to be snowing out there. And only over one... Read more

  Posted on 19 August 2013 GARDENING, HOME

• Runner Beans Are up to Speed

  

  As the world went slightly hysterical over the coming of the new royal baby, I was having a smug little moment to myself down on the patch with my own little... Read more

  Posted on 06 August 2013 GARDENING, HOME

• Leaf Cutter Bees

  

  As everything in the garden has been a tad late this year, we didn’t quite manage to harvest any strawberries in time for Wimbledon, but they are ripening off... Read more

  Posted on 30 July 2013 GARDENING, HOME

• Redcurrant Jelly

  

  You may remember a good few weeks back, my neighbourand I went to great pains to chuck netting over her redcurrant bush, to save the fruit from the hungry... Read more

  Posted on 21 July 2013 GARDENING, HOME

• Cauliflower Cheese Soup

  

  II peeked at my cauliflowers – which had been going great guns a week or so ago – and was slightly dismayed to find the end two weren’t firm, nutty balls of... Read more

  Posted on 16 July 2013 GARDENING, HOME

• Spuds Galore

  

  This week I’ve harvested my first crop of new potatoes. The flowers have just begun to form, and yes, I know you shouldn’t dig them up until they have finished... Read more

  Posted on 13 July 2013 GARDENING, HOME

• Greenfly and Blackfly

  

  Meandering around the garden at the weekend I was delighted to notice clusters of buds appearing all over the rose bushes. A closer look revealed however, that... Read more

  Posted on 10 July 2013 GARDENING, HOME

• Eat Your Greens

  

  As my cabbages have started to heart up nicely, I’ve been trimming off some of the outer leaves to let more light and air around the plants and give them a bit... Read more

  Posted on 02 July 2013 GARDENING, HOME

• Jamaican Adventure

  

  Not quite a gardening post, but still jolly exciting!The article from The Hinckley Times – loving the ‘Our Lynnette’ headline – is all about my debut into TV... Read more

  Posted on 28 June 2013 GARDENING, HOME

• News from Cluckingham Palace

  

  With Her Majesty the Queen dashing around celebrating 60 years on the throne, I bring mixed news from my very own Cluckingham Palace. Read more

  Posted on 19 June 2013 GARDENING, HOME

• Netting the Redcurrant Bush

  

  It’s fairly safe to say that my next door neighbour has the largest, most unruly redcurrant bush I’ve ever seen. To my knowledge, it’s never been pruned or... Read more

  Posted on 16 June 2013 GARDENING, HOME