Spring 2012

A meeting at my place. Also some lovely photos from Kate here. Thanks to little Gene for being here, and Sadie and Scout for so much entertainment, beautiful girls.

Autumn at Don's

We had our Autumn meeting at Don's warehouse in Northcote. It was such a good day.
Nice to be in such a big open space, the rope swing was very popular. As was the record player.




There was quince chutney, rhubarb chutney, homegrown cherry tomato chutney, peach brandy butter and National Trust pickled onions. Nomnomnom.




I made a brioche plait, all soft and sweet. I also made watermelon rind pickle, the recipe is from the Time Life Good Cook Preserving book. It's a weird consistency, but tastes good! I also bought a couple of jars of bread and butter pickles, as I wasn't sure how well received the watermelon rind would be, and I have been making lots of pickles and jam. I also took a few jars of fig and vanilla jam, the neighbour's tree has been very abundant, and still has fat figs ripening. They aren't so good to eat fresh, but make very nice jam.

Pickled Eggs!

Ominous, and also kind of interesting. Drew hosted our autumn harvest chutney club so he could make people eat his pickled eggs; as Kate understandably refuses.



It was a good one. There were takeaway eggs, feijoa chutney, jelly and quince and feijoa two tone jelly, tomato chutney, piccalilli, plum jam, crabapple, rosehip and pomegranite jelly and quince paste. Innovations in packaging from Rachael, Annie and Lydia. Poached figs with cream. Feijoa jelly with marscapone. If only I were hungrier at the time.

Spring Chutney Club

Some people went to great efforts. Raised the bar. Like Estelle, who roasted lamb, and brought it still warm, in time to try with her mint sauce. And Lydia who made corn fritters to try with her delicious Barbie sauce. I also have fond memories of Zoe's Red Pepper relish and Donald's Loquat and Mango chutney, but I came away with some runny jam and an I owe you note for some other runny jam. Sometimes the chutney lords don't smile on you.








It was a lovely picnic though, and Rachael and I made a Rocket cake for Sailor's fourth birthday. Clancy and the twins slayed us with cuteness and well, it's just a good bunch, even the ones with the runny jam.

Chutney Club Christmas Cricket

Yes, there was chutney and picnics and cricket and hooping (no hooper!) and cricketers moustaches and sausages and little children and a sack of presents... Was nice...