Members, if you have any tips or recipes you want to share, please e-mail them to info@ctbworks.co.uk
Plant spacings
Get the best out of your plot by getting your spacings right - this encourages the growth of healthy, productive plants. Download the guide here. For a free laminated version please send an A4 SAE to the Treasurer.
Jan
Use of conifer chippings as mulch
We looked this up on the RHS website, which advises 'Fresh conifer clippings can contain plants toxins and must be composted first for at least 6 weeks to avoid leaching of chemicals such as tannins out of the woody material which can harm plants'.
T & C, Plot 105
Grow your way to 5 a day
Find out about the contibution to your diet of various fruits and vegetables. Download Grow your way to 5 a day (Word document).
Dot
Kale
Try this tasty recipe for kale vegbox-recipes.co.uk/recipes/kale-recipe-1.php
Broccoli
Running out of ideas for purple sprouting broccoli? Try this one. (No responsibility for the name of the website!).
http://www.sofeminine.co.uk/w/recipe/r1465/broccoli-with-chestnuts-black-pepper-and-pancetta.html
Rhubarb
Timperley Early is a relatively sweet variety which crops early. The combination of rhubarb and ginger is well known one but have you tried stewing rhubarb with Sweet Cicely which not only tastes good but also reduces the amount of sugar required?
www.rhubarbrecipes.co.uk
Jan
Leeks baked with ham
Very easy recipe as long as you can make a white or Bechamel sauce with butter,milk and flour.
For 4: 8 leeks trimmed - if very long 1 cut into 2 lengths for each serving; flour,butter, milk for sauce + half a teaspoon of Dijon mustard; 8 small slices of your favourite ham.
Boil leeks for a few minutes until soft but not too floppy - leave to drain well. Butter a baking dish big enough to lay all leeks out in one layer. Make sauce by usual method - saute flour in butter,add warmed milk and stir like crazy until you have a fairly thick sauce. You need enough to cover everything. Stir in mustard and cook gently for a few minutes. add salt and pepper. Lay out slices of ham, place leek on each one and roll leek inside ham slice. Lay side by side in buttered dish, pour over sauce, bake in oven at 150C for 20 minutes.
Variations: you can add cream to the sauce for a richer dish.
You can put sliced or grated cheese on top (finish under grill)
Ken
Parsnip soup
Here's a winter warmer our family really enjoys
1kg parsnips 1 large onion, 1 tablespoon butter, 2 cloves garlic, 1tspn curry powder, 1 tin tomatoes, 1 litre veg stock, 1 bay leaf Sprig of parsley + thyme
Peel parsnips if old and chop them roughly. In a large pan, saute the onion and garlic in the butter until lightly browned. Stir in the curry powder and cook for 1 minute, stirring all the time.Add the parsips and stir. Add the tomatoes, stock and herbs. Season and bring to the boil. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes until parsnips are just tender. Remove herbs. Liquidize and adjust seasoning.
Cath
Potato Jane
Fill a large casserole dish with alternate layers of sliced potato, lightly fried onions and cheese, starting with the potato and ending with the cheese. Pour in half a pint of milk or thereabouts and season with salt and pepper. Bake with the lid on for about an hour at gas mark 6 or equivalent. Serve with green veg. or ratatouille.
This reliable standby has been a favourite in our family for at least 3 generations. I have no idea who Jane was.
Ted