gc

Yesterday I went to a gardening/DIY shop called Focus. They were selling packages of bulbs for .10 pence each. All of them need to be planted by the end of December and there were lots to choose from. I went nuts and bought £3.50 worth, THAT'S 35 packages of BULBS!!! I've got irises, tulips, narcisis, daffodills, alliums, crocus, ranuculus, snow drops and snow glories, puschkinias and... Today, since the weather was dry and sunny, I planted 1/3 of my bulbs in pots, borders and around trees. Tomorrow I'll start again. phew! Come on spring! Kimberly, This summer was so wet (which means here, less sun than normal) that lots of my veggies didn't do anything. My tomatoes vines didn't yeild even one edible tomato. This was much better than last year when the plants didn't grow large enough to transplant. (gotta find a tomato that grows here!) My bell peppers only grew to two inches in height and my beans were just sad to look at. Next year I am planting more types of onions, since they do well here and potatoes and I think I'll grow zucchini/courgette again but this time in a raised bed to keep a better eye for the slugs. The slugs got more zucchini/courgette than I did! leafy, I might try some sweet potatoes, I love them! :) I do miss the sunny south. I'm originally from the southern part of Louisiana and there were years where I could garden 365 days, no frost. gc

So, will you be coming to the Brit Bar-b-que to cook? :) gc

geisha, I believe this recipe is not the icing fondant. But, I found a site that has a recipe for icing cakes and cake decorating fondant that does not use geletin. Its called European fondant. You may find something to help you in your search. Here is the link Pastry Wiz gc

I used to make this recipe every year at Christmas for my Brother as a present. They were such a hit the first year that I made him two boxes every year after, one to take home and one to share. They take a little time to make and I've never been able to end up with something that is as pretty as the store bought ones, but they taste good and look impressive. Long Stemmed Cherries Supreme (chocolate covered cherries): 10oz jar maraschino cherries with stems, drained 2 tablespoons rum Fondant: 1/3 cup sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated) 2 teaspoons light corn syrup 2 1/4 to 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar Coating: 12 oz package dipping chocolate* In small bowl, combine cherries and rum;stir. Allow to soak 2 hours; drain on paper towel. In medium bowl, combine corn syrup and condensed milk; blend well. Add powdered sugar gradually, stirring until mixture forms a stiff smooth dough. (If all powdered sugar cannot be stirred in, knead mixture and sugar on counter until smooth dough forms.) Wrap small amount of fondant around each cherry to cover completely. Refrigerate about 20 minutes or until fondant is firm. In top of double boiler or in heavy saucepan over low heat, melt dipping chocolate, stirring constantly. Holding by stem, dip chilled cherries into chocolate making sure to cover completely. Place on waxed paper; refrigerate until chocolate sets, about 10 minutes. Dip chilled candies into melted chocolate again, making sure to coate completely. Place on waxed paper; cover loosely with waxed paper. Let stand several days in cool place to allow fondant to liquify (DO NOT REFRIGERATE.) Store in tightly covered container in refrigerator. 2 1/2 dozen candies *Tip: If dipping chocolate is unavailable, in heavy saucepan combine 6oz. pkg. (1 cup) semi-sweet chocolate chips, 1/4 cup light corn syrup and 1 tablespoon water. Cook over low heat until melted, stirring occasionally. Dip and store as directed above. gc

You did good! gc

That's a nice picture. Looks like they had fun getting there too. gc

I'm sure if we marinate that little mouse it'll taste just fine! :unsure: gc

Leafy, those are nice memories! gc

I love baking bread! I'll give this one a try, thanks. gc

Twinky, how did you do on your interview? gc

now I see, we always called ours sausage; smoked, hot, italian etc. What is the difference between bratwurst and sausage, other than it being German? gc edited because...how the heck did I do that? :huh:

Twinky, It sounds like we have a similar back garden, 'cept mine slopes downward and your upward from the back of the house. :blink: Longish and narrow with concrete running down almost center. I have a smallish garden screen that we made, kinda-sorta, that limits the vision of the very back where I have the compost bin and trash burner can. Its small so it doesn't limit your vision completely and it is set at an angle so it gives diminsion, kinda-sorta. We used an old 8 sided framed trellis piece that hubby picked at when he was at uni. A little ivy growing up it and bob's your uncle (I love that saying). We are also planning on putting new pavers down on the patio and sidewalk. :) I like the idea of putting in cut flowers in the border. What are you thinking of putting in the border? leafytwiglet, Thank God we have wonderfully quiet neighbors. Next door on one side, daughter is a singer. I've requested a few of Eva Cassidy's songs and that on nice days her windows are open wider. gc

30 X 70 is huge! :) My entire back yard is about 35 long X 24 wide which includes a side walk that runs the length and a washing line with concrete stand. The front yard grassy area is, hmmm maybe 8' X 10', then there is a pretty raised 2 tiered walled garden that my husband built. When I moved here the back garden was all lawn with two smallish trees and a number of dead bushes. My husband is NOT a gardener. Now, we still have one of the smallish trees, a blackthorn, but we've added a young cherry tree. Since the yard slopes downward, I've begun tiering. I've gotten one stone wall built and am working on a second (the dirt is in place) :) I've put in a small border and started a fuschia hedge along the bottom end. Its small, but I've packed it with plants and pots and even managed an area for cuttings and seedlings. Its far from looking like a "pretty garden", but it now looks like a garden. One thing I'm delighted with, it takes no time at all to cut the grass! I have no problem with wildlife. Besides magpies, crows and seagulls, very little wildlife visit here, yet. There wasn't much for them to get excited about in this yard. But I'm changing that. gc

Welcome! gc

All of my teeth are sweet! I live with two diabetics, so I dream of sweets :D gc

Pumpkin Cheesecake with Bourbon Sour Cream Topping Ingredients: For the crust · 3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs · 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans · 1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar · 1/4 cup granulated sugar · 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled For the filling · 1 1/2 cups solid pack pumpkin · 3 large eggs · 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon · 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg · 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger · 1/2 teaspoon salt · 1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar · three 8-ounce packages cream cheese, cut into bits and softened · 1/2 cup granulated sugar · 2 tablespoons heavy cream · 1 tablespoon cornstarch · 1 teaspoon vanilla · 1 tablespoon bourbon liqueur or bourbon if desired For the topping · 2 cups sour cream · 2 tablespoons granulated sugar · 1 tablespoon bourbon liqueur or bourbon, or to taste · 16 pecan halves for garnish Preparation: Make the crust: In a bowl combine the cracker crumbs, the pecans, and the sugars, stir in the butter, and press the mixture into the bottom and 1/2 inch up the side of a buttered 9-inch springform pan. Chill the crust for 1 hour. Make the filling: In a bowl whisk together the pumpkin, the egg, the cinnamon, the nutmeg, the ginger, the salt, and the brown sugar. In a large bowl with an electric mixer cream together the cream cheese and the granulated sugar, beat in the cream, the cornstarch, the vanilla, the bourbon liqueur, and the pumpkin mixture, and beat the filling until it is smooth. Pour the filling into the crust, bake the cheesecake in the middle of a preheated 350°F (176.7*C) oven for 50 to 55 minutes, or until the center is just set, and let it cool in the pan on a rack for 5 minutes. Make the topping: In a bowl whisk together the sour cream, the sugar, and the bourbon liqueur. Spread the sour cream mixture over the top of the cheesecake and bake the cheesecake for 5 minutes more. Let the cheesecake cool in the pan on a rack and chill it, covered, overnight. Remove the side of the pan and garnish the top of the cheesecake with the pecans. I haven't tried this recipe, but it looked like something special. I've made a sour cream topping on cheese cake before and it was good, but I've always mixed it with whipped cream and fresh berries. gc :)

With an acre you can have plenty of compost bins and a couple of wormories and some bags making leaf mold and not have to put up a screen! Must be nice. :) Do you have a large veggy patch? gc

paw, Does it apply when using amazon.uk? gc

Hey Leafytwiglet, welcome! I will let you know how the beans do :) Nice to have another gardener around. what did you use for composting before the black bin? Spring in January, sounds like home...no place like home, no place like home... gc

The English have been known to throw something on the pit. I've been to a couple of bar-b-ques and they were a lot of fun. What is served is a little different. The Bar-b-que Menu: Store bought frozen burger patties Sausage, very good Chicken, was ok Bread not exactly a bun, but good Salad, no dressing Lots of condiments to choose from A number of deserts Lots of alcohol and of course hot tea I've not found any bar-b-que sauce here and most of the people I've met don't use marinade. At Kentucky's the b-b-q sauce is very strange. To be honest, I'd never eaten at a Kentucky's before, so the b-b-q sauce might be strange in the states too. :unsure: Most people I've talked to think of Mcdonald's when they think of a burger. I've been to a couple of "casual" garden parties, those were wonderful! The best in English cooking! gc

I thought I would chime in on this topic since I loved my last two cars. I had a Chrysler Lebaron convertable and I loved it! It was fun to drive and looked great. Don't know the mpg, but I could drive a long time on a tank. Never had problems with it and yes it was regularly maintained by a mechanic. After I totalled it :( I got an Acura, standard and fun to drive. Again, great gas milage and few problems. It floated away in Katrina or I wouldn't have gotten rid of it. Now I have a Vauxhall Vectra, standard, turbo diesel injection, 4 door with a hatchback. It gets 50 mpg which is about 42 mp U.S. gallon. Its a GM make. gc

I hope you had a wonderful birthday! gc

I've read that you can plant broad beans in the UK in November in the milder areas. Plymouth is pretty mild. I'll just have to watch the wind that blows up through our back yard. Time will tell all! :unsure: The peas are sweetpeas. I usually plant them in Fall for a spring showing. My husband was going to build a cloche for me since I don't have a greenhouse. We went to B&Q to look for materials and found a "sun tunnel" there. That's what I'm using to house my seedlings and cuttings through the winter. Do you know what I'm talking about? Once you try the spinach soup, let me know how it tastes :) I have a recipe that I picked up from one of my favorite restaurants, Olive Garden, called Tuscan Garlic Chicken. It calls for 1/2 lb of whole leaf spinach. I cooked it for my mother-in-law's birthday dinner. She ate every bite! When I moved here she was hesitant to try my cooking as she likes "English food". This was one of the dinners that changed her mind about my non-English cooking. If you want the recipe let me know. gc

Thanksgiving in my family is very traditional, turkey, trimmings and family. Since I've moved, my new tradition is phone calls to all my family and close friends and chicken. So for dinner tonight we had chicken, rice and mushroom gravy, brussel sprouts and plenty of conversation. :) gc edited my lack of punctuation

Thanks for the composting tips. The Daffs coming up really can't be covered since they are in pots with cold weather bloomers. One can be carried inside when it gets too cold, but the others in the stone planters :unsure: Live and learn. My sweetpeas have sprouted! I think I might put in another set down for good measure, don't think you can have too many of those. And my spinach are sprouting too. I want to put in some beans also. gc