Monday, 16 February 2015
Julia's Wines - Elderflower 1993, 7th February 2015
Not one of Julia's best. This wine was drinkable but was thin and not very interesting. The elderflower taste was hardly there. I apologised to Julia (in absentia) as I reached for the Prosecco instead. The evening as a whole was fantastic, though. Claire cooked many curries and we feasted with Ros, Emma, Christian and Kate. There was much laughter, plenty to drink and we ended the night playing Ex Libris. Which I won convincingly (he said, smugly). Claire and I did not get to bed until well past midnight, and that never happens. We already setting dates for the next get together.
Saturday, 14 February 2015
Prune & Parsnip 2015 - The Making Of ...
If it's February, it must be Prune & Parsnip.
We (and I use 'we' in the broadest sense here; Claire is not particularly keen) are looking for a new house, and on Saturday 7th February I made the psychological leap and went to look at one. It was okay, but no more than, and therefore not the one for us. Immediately afterwards I went to buy parsnips in Harehills - which was far more within my comfort zone.
The rest of Saturday was taken up with getting the house ready for a Feast. Cleaning and Tidying were the priority, so my four pounds of parsnips waited patiently in the coal shed before being turned into wine today, Sunday 8th February. First of all, though, I had to recover from a hangover following the Feast, and go on a six mile walk round Rawdon and Yeadon with Claire, Rachel and Duncan. It was a cold walk with some fabulous views of the open countryside to the north west of Leeds, and the perfect antidote to the previous evening's indulgence.
Back at home, after bottling my rose-petal wine, I chopped the parsnips into small pieces and boiled these in two lots, each covered in 8 pints of water (so 16 pints in total). The first lot got twenty minutes of boiling and the second got half an hour. I poured the water into my bucket, using a collander to catch the parsnips, and threw these out. The bucket already contained 1 lb (actually 500 grams) of prunes, each cut in half, and 5-and-a-half pounds of sugar. Next morning I added the yeast, a teaspoon and a half of nutrient and a teaspoon of pectolase.
I was going to put this into its demijohns on Friday evening, but was desperately tired. I ended up going to bed at half past eight, and I think I was asleep by nine. Instead, I transferred the liquid on Saturday morning, 14th February - and I only got nascent prune and parsnip wine down my shirt front and all over the kitchen the once. It is worth remembering that my sieve doesn't quite balance when forming the diameter of my bucket.
The wine is paler than in past years, which means it is an attactive orange colour rather than a dingy brown.
If you want to see how this wine turned out, click here
We (and I use 'we' in the broadest sense here; Claire is not particularly keen) are looking for a new house, and on Saturday 7th February I made the psychological leap and went to look at one. It was okay, but no more than, and therefore not the one for us. Immediately afterwards I went to buy parsnips in Harehills - which was far more within my comfort zone.
The rest of Saturday was taken up with getting the house ready for a Feast. Cleaning and Tidying were the priority, so my four pounds of parsnips waited patiently in the coal shed before being turned into wine today, Sunday 8th February. First of all, though, I had to recover from a hangover following the Feast, and go on a six mile walk round Rawdon and Yeadon with Claire, Rachel and Duncan. It was a cold walk with some fabulous views of the open countryside to the north west of Leeds, and the perfect antidote to the previous evening's indulgence.
Back at home, after bottling my rose-petal wine, I chopped the parsnips into small pieces and boiled these in two lots, each covered in 8 pints of water (so 16 pints in total). The first lot got twenty minutes of boiling and the second got half an hour. I poured the water into my bucket, using a collander to catch the parsnips, and threw these out. The bucket already contained 1 lb (actually 500 grams) of prunes, each cut in half, and 5-and-a-half pounds of sugar. Next morning I added the yeast, a teaspoon and a half of nutrient and a teaspoon of pectolase.
I was going to put this into its demijohns on Friday evening, but was desperately tired. I ended up going to bed at half past eight, and I think I was asleep by nine. Instead, I transferred the liquid on Saturday morning, 14th February - and I only got nascent prune and parsnip wine down my shirt front and all over the kitchen the once. It is worth remembering that my sieve doesn't quite balance when forming the diameter of my bucket.
 |
| The ingredients fermenting |
Friday, 13 February 2015
Crab Apple & Strawberry Wine - Second Bottle (4), 7th February 2015
I have just counted up. We got through seven bottles last night. Between six of us. No wonder my head is pounding. This Crab Apple & Strawberry was one of the early ones and the only one of mine. The occasion was a Feast for Julia - or at least for six of those who miss her. As well as us two, there was Ros, Emma, Christian and Katie.
We drank this bottle to the starters, which were puris filled with spicy potatoes and tamarind sauce, and a savoury cake made with yoghurt and gram flour, topped with chillies, coriander and mustard seeds. This was a tantalising hint for the food to come.
The crab apple & strawberry was a good bottle - dry and interesting, and I was gratified to see the guests having a second glass.
We drank this bottle to the starters, which were puris filled with spicy potatoes and tamarind sauce, and a savoury cake made with yoghurt and gram flour, topped with chillies, coriander and mustard seeds. This was a tantalising hint for the food to come.
The crab apple & strawberry was a good bottle - dry and interesting, and I was gratified to see the guests having a second glass.
Wednesday, 11 February 2015
Rhubarb Wine - Eighth Bottle (A1), 5th-7th February 2015
I had three days without alcohol and then ruined everything on Thursday by drinking nearly half a bottle of rhubarb wine. I mistimed the haggis, and as poor excuses go that is one of the worst. But it meant that I had a glass during the additional cooking time (haggises require one hour, not half as I had thought) as well as with the meal. Then half a glass settling down to watch Broadchurch.
We finished this bottle on Saturday, just before Katie and Christian were due to arrive for a Feast. There were still Things To Do and only 15 minutes in which to do them. A swift glass of rhubarb could only help.
We finished this bottle on Saturday, just before Katie and Christian were due to arrive for a Feast. There were still Things To Do and only 15 minutes in which to do them. A swift glass of rhubarb could only help.
Tuesday, 10 February 2015
Blackcurrant Wine - Fourth Bottle (1), 1st February 2015
I enjoyed this bottle of wine. The blackcurrant flavour was sharp and unsubtle, but sometimes that is what I want. We drank it to a delicious pork casserole retrieved from the freezer.
Much of the day had been spent playing music in Wakefield with two youth orchestras. The idea was that WYSO would show the under-18s that adults played music for fun too. And it was fun - we played Mars, part of the Firebird and In the Hall of the Mountain King. The bassoonist next to me was ten and pretty much held her own. She has a bright future ahead.
Much of the day had been spent playing music in Wakefield with two youth orchestras. The idea was that WYSO would show the under-18s that adults played music for fun too. And it was fun - we played Mars, part of the Firebird and In the Hall of the Mountain King. The bassoonist next to me was ten and pretty much held her own. She has a bright future ahead.
Saturday, 7 February 2015
Strawberry Wine - Fourth Bottle (3), 31st January 2015
Strawberry wine is Richard's favourite. Therefore this was the obvious choice to take for an evening at Richard & Linda's. I had my one glass with the starter: slices of tomato, basil and home-made mozarella with olive oil and pesto. Our main course was baked salmon with a parmesan crust, a green salad and a dish of mushrooms and noodles with a mashed green chilli garnish. All of it was delightful. Just in case we had not eaten enough, Richard presented an orange and honey sponge, some home-made vanilla and pecan icecream and a toffee sauce. It was an excellent evening.
Tuesday, 3 February 2015
Crab Apple Wine - Ninth Bottle (C6), 27th-30th January 2015
I was out in Ilkley playing wind quintets when this bottle was opened, and out in Leeds drinking too much beer when it was finished. Between times I had one glass by mistake. Claire asked me on Wednesday night "Would you like ...?" and I said "Yes Please," before hearing the question. I had anticipated "... me to leave the computer on?" but instead received a glass of crab apple wine. Which was a result.
On Friday night while Claire was drinking the rest, I was catching up with old Brooke North colleagues. It was a lovely evening - particularly seeing Robert, who I worked closely with for 8 years and have probably not seen eight times since 2005. But I did have too much beer.
On Friday night while Claire was drinking the rest, I was catching up with old Brooke North colleagues. It was a lovely evening - particularly seeing Robert, who I worked closely with for 8 years and have probably not seen eight times since 2005. But I did have too much beer.
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