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| Courgette and Tomato Chutney |
I'm celebrating a cookery triumph this weekend. My first attempt at making chutney - including the whole sterilising the jars palaver - is deemed a success! I used this Courgette And Tomato Chutney recipe on AllRecipes and, surprisingly for me, didn't tweak any ingredient other than halving all the quantities. The chutney is delicious served alongside toasted pita bread with homemade hummous!
I read a great Treading My Own Path post back at the beginning of March where Lindsay was going to try to establish her absolute minimum wardrobe by wearing 3 outfits for 30 days. At the time, we were travelling so I only had about half my clothes in the motorhome, but I promised myself when we got back home (and I'd done the laundry!), I'd count up my clothing and see what exactly I have to wear. Then I'd keep track of what I actually Do wear!
So, excluding undies and swimwear, I have: 2 dresses, 6 long shirts, 12 tops and t-shirts, 4 vest tops, 4 cardigans, 1 fleece jacket, 6 skirts, 3 pairs of trousers, 2 ponchos, 2 coats and 5 pairs of shoes.
It doesn't look like much when listed like this and would probably all fit in a good sized suitcase - if I wore my hiking boots anyway. I am happy with most of what I've got and don't feel the need to rush out and buy more - even second-hand. I might be able to condense this wardrobe even further by using a trick Lindsay explained in one of her earlier posts. Basically, she tied a scarf around her clothes rail at the left end. Anything she wore was then moved to the left of the scarf when it was put away. At the end of three months, every unworn item still on the right-hand side of the scarf could be considered for discarding. I wonder what this exercise might leave for me?
28th Apr: Win an ebook copy of An Empty Nest by Sandy Day.
29th Apr: Win a signed copy of The Stars In The Night by Clare Rhoden plus a metal poppy brooch made by a Melbourne craftswoman, and a cross-stitch poppy card.
(All current giveaways here)
On my blogs this week were:
Stephanie Jane
5 Books, 1 Theme - The Great War
Books From The Backlog - Once Upon A Time In The West ... Country by Tony Hawks
Literary Flits
April In Paris by Michael Wallner review
The Seventh Train by Jackie Carreira review
The High Court by Chris Ledbetter Spotlight + #Giveaway + Guest Post
Caught In A Web by Joseph Lewis Spotlight + Excerpt
Demian by Hermann Hesse review
Once Upon A Time In The West ... Country by Tony Hawks review
The Garden Of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng review
Have a great week!
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| the biggest lizard we've yet seen living round our static caravan about 8 inches long I think |
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| we loved the river views of Saumur, but were underwhelmed with the town itself |
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| this creepily beautiful sculpture is in the out-of-the-way village of Chateau Larcher. There wasn't any sign to identify the artist |
Wow, I love those photos!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteI'm particularly pleased with how the Saumur one came out
I'm not a fashion victim but I don't know if I could whittle down my wardrobe to that few items for days. Lol!
ReplyDeleteI've got to say I do like that sculpture, thanks for posting a picture.
I've already got a feeling that lots of my clothes will actually be unworn at the end of the time. I'm already noticing how I repeatedly reach for favourites
DeleteChutney is something I have never tried cooking and I have never eaten. It looks like something that is full of flavor. I should try some soon.
ReplyDeleteWhat an intriguing way to cull your wardrobe. I eliminated two sacks of clothes at the beginning of spring. I have lots of clothes people have given me after people have passed away. My sister-in-law told me long ago to always take what is offered, that it makes the grieving feel better, so I always have. But I have too many things that don't quite fit. I need to do a culling again soon.
It's difficult to turn away freebies, especially when they could do you a turn, but culling the ill-fitting items is a good idea. Someone else could get the use of them
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ReplyDeleteI don't think I've ever had chutney I'l have to bookmark this for my wife. :) Myself, I only have about three outfits each week anyway, sometimes including underwar. ;) But really, I do have too many clothes that I don't wear and need to give to Goodwill.
Ha! Too much info on the underwear!
DeleteCongrats on the chutney! And I've never thought about my wardrobe like that, but now I'm curious *goes to count clothes in my closet* :) I do like discarding at times and trying not to hold on to stuff. Too much!
ReplyDeleteLove that river view pic!
I'm learning the difference between hanging onto something that is needed occasionally - my winter coat for example - and keeping stuff that doesn't fit or suit me because 'one day it might'
DeleteWhat an interesting statue in that last picture. I've never made chutney but have heard about it on the cookies shows.
ReplyDeleteI wish I knew who the artist was. It's so unusual
DeleteI had to Google to find Courgette that it was like Zucchini. And the Indian Chutneys are very different from your recipe. So this is a new thing for me. I loved this idea to track the outfits!
ReplyDeleteGayathri @ Elgee Writes
Courgette and zucchini are the same thing - one's the French name for it and the other I think is the Italian word!
DeleteThat is an interesting statue! I've never tried chutney but I'm glad the recipe worked out for you! I've been going through my closet and getting rid a lot of my clothes that I don't wear.
ReplyDeleteTina @ As Told By Tina
I want to try making different chutneys now to complement various foods, but I need to increase my jamjar collection first!
DeleteThe chutney looks great. I have done some canning and it is so nice to have homemade goodies stocked up. I thought that I didn't have a lot of clothes but you just showed me how wrong I really am about that. Love the photos! Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteI thought the canning process would be more complex, but actually it was ok. I only did three jars though
DeleteThat chutney sounds delicious!
ReplyDeleteIt is! And the second jar is even nicer than the first. I guess the flavours have matured
DeleteWhat is Courgette? I've not heard of that food before. I've never made chutney either but I do make freezer jam every year when the berries are ripe. My Sunday Salon
ReplyDeleteIf you're American, courgette is the same as your zucchini!
DeleteLovely pictures and I have never had chutney! =)
ReplyDeleteMary
It's an acquired taste for me. I didn't like it as a child, but appreciate the flavours now I am older
DeleteThe sterilising palaver is why I haven’t made things like sauces, chutneys and jams though I’ve always been tempted to.
ReplyDeleteI’m about to bring out some of my cold weather clothes, tracksuit pants and jumpers, but I actually don’t have a lot of clothes, in summer I just live in yoga pants and T-shirt’s.
Have a great reading week
I thought the sterilising would be more complex than it was, but I only did three jars. A big batch would probably be more exasperating
DeleteWow, beautiful photos! I want to try canning at some point. Glad to hear it was a success. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Rachel!
DeleteI'm trying to decide what to try canning next :-)
I think Lindsay has some great techniques but if you live somewhere which is 90F/30C for months in the summer and then 0F/ -18C for months in the winter, you would throw out all your winter clothes at the end of summer or all the summer clothes at the end of winter. I do tend to wear a lot of the same things and mostly jeans year round.
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy your photos.
Anne - Books of My Heart Here is my Sunday Post
Well, I'd probably store clothes in that environment. Buying whole new sets every six months would be expensive!
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