For the last three months we have been using a stove top kettle that had no handle or whistle. We do not like to buy things new. But after failing to find a replacement at a car boot sale or the tip we eventually had to give in. A kettle full of hot water and no handle is a dangerous thing but a pan of water just isn’t very easy to pour a cuppa from. Don’t be daft, of course I didn’t spend that much on a pretty Alessi kettle! Scroll down to see my cheap, green version! 😉 Well […]
Canning Fruit – Homemade Tinned Tomatoes
One of the easiest methods of preserving fruit is ‘canning’ or ‘bottling’ at home. The following technique can be used for any fruit, though you may wish to add some week sugar syrup, rather than brine to other fruits. We home preserve cherries each year in exactly this way. Canning Tomatoes at Home Whenever canning fruit at home make sure you have blemish free, ripe (but not over-ripe specimens). Small bruises and so on may be cut out but diseased fruits should not be included in the home canning process. First remove any stalks from the tomatoes and score […]
How to Make Yogurt at Home
Or as we would say: How to Make Yoghurt at Home. This is a really simple Homemade Yoghurt Recipe. To make yoghurt or yogurt at home you need no fancy equipment or machines. To make great yoghurt you certainly do not need an expensive yoghurt maker. You can make your own healthy natural yoghurt just as it has always been made – cheaply and naturally. Making Yoghurt at Home – Simply The ‘Starter’ The starter is simply a small batch of yoghurt which will supply your milk with all the right yeasts and bacterias to get it to turn itself […]
Olive Oil Pickled Lemons Recipe
This is the second recipe for pickles, we use here at Casa Dirty Boots to preserve lemons. It takes a little longer than the first recipe for preserving lemons. None of the work is difficult though. The lemons are finely sliced and can be used whole in dishes so you do save a little time and effort in the future! No need to remove the flesh before eating. And, as the end product is preserved in olive oil you get a virtually ready-made salad-dressing thrown in too. Olive Oil Pickled Lemons Recipe Wash the lemons well (ideally these should be […]
Middle Eastern Preserved Lemons Recipe
Yep, I’m still working my way through the supply of free citrus fruits. Each year I make two different batches of preserved or pickled lemons. There are many preserved lemons recipes but I’ve whittled it down to two Casa Dirty Boots favorites! This one is pretty traditional and great for using in tagines or other Middle Eastern dishes. Preserved lemons with chicken or lamb is always a firm favorite here. If you find yourself with a surplus this is very quick recipe to preserve lemons: Middle Eastern Preserved Lemons Recipe Wash the lemons (this should really be made with unwaxed […]
How do You Clean Your Toilet?
I know, its a bit personal isn’t it? But if you’re trying to live a self sufficient life you don’t want to waste lots of money on commercial cleaners. And, if you’re trying to live a ‘greener’ more sustainable life you certainly do not want to use harsh chemicals if possible. Similarly, anyone with a bio-digester water treatment system knows that the addition of bleaches and similar products will stop the bacteria doing their magic on your waste. You can go out and buy commercial ‘green’ cleaning products but you don’t need to. We find them overpriced and never that […]
Thankyou to the RSS Subscribers!
Well, Mr Dirty Boots and yours truly have been blogging this blog for just under two months and we’ve got just over fifty RSS Feed subscribers! It feels like a little mini landmark for the site. So to the RSS Feed Subscribers: Yay – Thank-you for following! Now if there is anything in particular you would like to see more of, on this ‘ere blog please let us know. We enjoy the interaction and are happy to oblige if we can. All you subscribers give yourself a little ‘whoop‘ and a clap, from us! Many thanks – it really is […]