Newsletter out

The new Snapdragon's News newsletter is out - e-mail me snapdragonjane@googlemail.com if you want a copy.
There's a special offer on my new notebooks and a recipe for nettle & mint soup.
J
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Comments

[Alice C]

Nettle and Mint soup! That is well timed because it is National Nettle Week...

[snapdragon]

Well that explains how as I typed this up there was a bit on Woman's hour about nettles! They had potatoes in their soup which I find muddies the flavour which is why I use a recipe adapted from an excellent parsley soup I found in Gardens Illustrated back in 2002.
J
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[Country Gate]

Thanks for the soup recipe. Have you tried nettle beer? My granny used to make it. I inherited her recipe notebook and gave it a try last year, much to the delight of my boys. Any recipe which starts with 'First shake the bugs of the leaves' is a definite winner as far as they are concerned.
Cally x

[snapdragon]

Nettle beer sounds interesting . . .do you have a recipe?
J
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[Country Gate]

Here is the recipe...
2lb nettle tops (you need young ones)
8 pints Water
1lb demerara Sugar
2 Lemons and an orange
1 oz Cream of Tartar
1/2oz brewer's yeast
small ginger root, chopped

Shake the bugs off the nettles. Wash and drain.
Finely peel the lemons (you only need the outer waxy layer) and squeeze out the juice. Juice the orange.
Place nettles and water into a large saucepan and bring to the boil. Let it boil for 15 minutes.
Strain the liquid into a large container with the lemon rind, juices and cream of tartar. Give it a really good stir.
Allow to cool to about 21°C (70°F). Remove a little of the liquid and mix with the yeast, then stir this into the liquid.
Cover the container with muslin but make sure the cloth cannot come into contact with the liquid. Secure with string.
Leave in a warm place 21°C (70°F) for 3 days.
Strain the liquid into glass bottles and cork.
Secure the corks with wire, but leave room for possible expansion.
Store in a cool dark place to condition for about a week.
If the corks begin to rise, release the wire slightly and re-secure.
Drink cold.
Enjoy.
Cally x