Island Hill

One breezy Sunday George and I took a trip to Island Hill, the last time we were there it was a lovely sunny day but unfortunately the tide was right in so we didn't actually get to go out to the island.  Determined not to make the same mistake twice, this time I actually checked the tide tables to make sure the tide would be out and it certainly was....

The place looks so different when the tide is out.

There was some beautiful blossom in the hedgerows.

This is the path out to the island.

I spotted these walls and steps and wondered if maybe there had been a house on the island at some stage?

The view towards Scrabo tower.

The branches of the hedges had all this moss growing over it, very magical looking

There is a small airport in Newtownards and there were lots of small planes tootling about in the sky.

I loved the mustard yellow of this rock, it reminded me of this coat!

Island Hill is off the dual carriage way between Comber and Newtownards in County Down.  It is free to visit, there is a car park and the walk is pretty accessible apart from the bit from the main path across the lough to the island path which is a pebbly beach.  There are picnic tables near the car park and it would definitely be a good spot for a picnic or even a fish supper ;-)

I’ll be doing some book illustration at this event, tomorrow and Saturday.  Head down if you get the chance, should be lots of fun!

New printable seed packet....

In order to improve on the various crumpled envelopes I have seeds stored in I though I would make a printable seed packet to do the trick.  

Simply print out the image on A4 paper and cut round the edges.  Fold the flaps and use glue or doublesided tape to fix in place the bottom and side flap.  I’ve left the top flap unglued and simple folded it in but you could fix it with some fancy MT masking tape or a removable glue dot or something.

There are two to choose from the coloured version or a black and white version that you could use to print on to coloured paper - you could have coloured coded packets for flowers or vegetables or even for where they are from in your garden!

As well as making them for yourself you could print some and fill them with seeds to give as Christmas presents..

Anyway enjoy!  To get the downloadable files just head over to the Longshot Press main site here!

Rhubarb Chutney Labels

Inspired by a bumper crop of rhubarb, I have created some chutney labels for you to download and print to beautify your own homemade jars of chutney.

You can download the file over at the main Longshot Press site.

Here is the recipe I used to make the chutney:

4lbs rhubarb

6 large white onions

4 large apples

2lb 4oz brown sugar

3 pints brown vinegar

2lb 4oz sultanas

some mixed spice (all the recipes I looked at had a variety of spices in them but I had a jar of mixed spice so that’s what went into mine!)

Simmer for 2 hours and then put into sterilized jars.  Decorate jars with chutney labels!

Note:

Rhubarb chutney makes the most amazing bacon sandwich accompaniment.

Enjoy!

Free printables

The other day I finally ran out of all the chutney I had made last summer (mainly because I had given lots of jars away as presents, not just because I had eaten it all!)  Anyway I decided I would make some more but as I the vegetable garden is pretty bare at the moment I headed to the shops to see what vegetable bargains I could find.  In the end I ended up with two bags of carrots for the princely sum of 58p so carrot chutney it was!

After making the chutney I decided the jars deserved a lovely label to go with them and as I am such a lovely person I thought it would be nice to offer it as a free download to all you chutney makers out there.



Just head over to the longshot press site to download the printable file - if you don’t have label paper you could just print on normal paper and cut out and use double sided tape or pritt stick to attach the labels.

I got my labels here.

Some Carrot Chutney recipes…

This is the recipe I used via moneysavingexpert

1 lb—500gm carrots washed and chopped, for a fine chutney grate the carrot.
(I put mine through the food processor grater attachment)
3 oz—88gm brown sugar
3 oz-88gm sultanas
1 pint—510 ml vinegar, malt or white
1 teaspoon mixed spice1 teaspoon ground ginger
12 peppercorns
1 bay leaf
 (I left this out)

Method

Put all the ingredients in a pan. Bring to the boil. Simmer till all the ingredients are tender, stir occasionally. Do not overheat so that the chutney sticks to the pan. Do not put a lid on the pan when cooking the chutney. The chutney should be tender and the liquid syrupy.
Warm chutney jars, use a jug to put the chutney in the jars. Wipe clean, put on wax lids, top off with the cellophane lid and rubberband. Let the chutney cool, label and store.

Other recipes

Delia online

Nigella.com