When mum asked if I'd like the apples off her tree, of course I said yes - if nothing else, apple wine has got to be worth a go.I didn't realise quite what I was letting myself in for, but humped all the bags in the car, said thank you, & went off to do some sums as to how many lots of 6lbs-of-apples-per-gallon-of-wine I have.
Quite a lot, as it happens, so I got the first batch underway tonight by chopping & simmered apples in a gallon of water in the maslin pan as per instructions, but then hit a snag in that the next step is to strain onto a couple of pounds of sugar & lemon rind - I have the sugar, but no lemon, so the whole chopped simmered apple caboodle is still in the pan waiting for the shops to open tomorrow.
Meanwhile I made a trip to the Hill in order to pick some FRENCH BEANS (triomphe de farcy & emperor of russia) & the first of the RUNNER BEANS (essex bb) & then to wield the secateurs rather more rigourously on the front of the plot.I achieved a huge bucketful of cuttings (which I have no room for on the compost heap), loads of grumpy bees who said 'oi! I was using those flowers!' & the overall effect of a very bad haircut but at least now I could get to the bolting swiss chard to cut & bin some of that, & to gain access to the courgettes - a couple of which are rather more marrow like in appearance.
I guess that it's courgette wine, next stop?
Lucky you, having all those apples - perhaps you should have a go at making a cider press!
ReplyDeleteI was drinking Marrow and ginger wine last night and it was pretty good. Perhaps that's a way forward for your overgrown courgettes.
Just a word of warning - apple wine is the worst in the world for a headache next day! Tastes marvellous though.
ReplyDeleteChuckling - is there ~anything~ you won't try to make wine from?
ReplyDeleteHaving had some delicious courgette chutney from the Show on Sunday with tea tonight, I might give that a go before marrow & ginger wine, Clare - although it does sound rather good, I must say!
ReplyDeleteI'd better be careful with the apple wine, then, Flum - although you'll not be surprised that I have a fairly cast-iron head!
I think the question is not 'what would you not make wine from', but 'what would you not make wine from again', Bilbo. Pea pod & Jerusalem Artichoke fall into the latter category, wines I think...