Learn with recipes

I did warn you that rhubarb was going to feature quite frequently on the blog as tis the season! These jellies were inspired by the fabulous natural cordials and presses produced by Belvoir Fruit Farms a family run company based in Lincolnshire.

Most of us have had a little glimpse of summer, at the weekend, when I took this photograph, although there was a cool breeze blowing, the sky was blue and it wasnt raining!  I know that further south it has been much warmer and summer drinks are definitely on the menu.  Ive tried all four of these drinks and must declare them totally delicious.  They are not too sweet, very fruity and the presse is not too fizzy and very refreshing.  The Cranberry and Raspberry (lurking at the back) was probably my favourite, but they are all very good.

I was inspired by the Elderflower and Rose Presse to make the jellies as I know that elderflower goes well with rhubarb and the pale pink rose colour complements the colour of the young poached rhubarb.

Rhubarb, Elderflower and Rose Jellies (makes 6)

6 stems of young rhubarb cut into even pieces
2 tbsp granulated sugar
500ml Belvoir Fruit Farms Elderflower and Rose Presse
4 sheets Gelatine (Supercook)

1. Heat the oven to 170C
2. Place the rhubarb into an ovenproof dish, add 50ml Elderflower and Rose Presse and 2 tbsp sugar.
3. Cook in the oven for 10-15 minutes until the rhubarb is just tender (check regularly)
4. Soak the sheets of gelatine in cold water as per the packet instructions.
5. Remove the rhubarb from the oven and drain the juices into a measuring jug, squeeze the water from the gelatine sheets and add to the hot liquid, the gelatine should melt into the liquid immediately.
6. Top up the liquid to 500ml with the Elderflower and Rose Presse.
7. Place a few pieces of rhubarb in each of the glasses and fill with the jelly mixture.
8. Chill in the fridge until set, this quantity of gelatine gives a fairly soft set, you can use more if you like a firmer jelly.

Printable Recipe


Belvoir have recently launched a range of five new products all with an English garden theme and I have five gift sets to give away comprising a Sophie Conran gardener’s journal and matching enamel mug plus 4 bottles of Belvoir products.

Gardeners Journal

Sophie Conran

Enamel Mug

To enter the giveaway, follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter Widget below:

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Its Saturday.  Its lunch time, open the fridge...feta, celery, fennel and a couple of sweet cured herring.  So, I can make salad but... OH NO!  There is no bread, a dried up heel of homemade bread and nothing of interest in the freezer.  Not enough time to make fresh for lunch... but what is this?   A bag of scone mix made in June - PERFECT!

Honestly, thats how it often is when I am making lunch.  I seem to be able to plan the main meal of the day, but forage in my fridge and cupboards for lunch!

In the back of my mind, I am always wondering how I can fit my meals with a blog challenge, and Herbs on Saturday  hosted by Karen at Lavender and Lovage,  came to mind, so off to the garden for some chives, thyme and rosemary.  Do you like my new mixing jug?  I got it half price in the sales and I love it, my husband refers to it as my guzzunder or potty he is so coarse, it does look a bit like a potty though - ha ha!


Back to the recipe.  Scone, herbs and what else?  I remember Jac of Tinned Tomatoes blogged some fabulous cheese scones she made with her son, Cooper, when they were in Cyprus.  We always have lots of cheese so including that is no problem.

Basic Scone Mix

225g self-raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
50g soft margarine or butter

Put the flour and baking powder in a bowl, add the magarine or butter and rub it in wiht your fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.

This is your basic mix, you can double or treble it, bag or box it and freeze for up to three months.

For a sweet scone, add 25g caster sugar
For a savoury scone, add a pinch of salt

Heat the oven to 200C and lightly grease a baking sheet.

For a Cheese and Herb Scone add a tablespoon of finely chopped herbs, I used chives, rosemary and thyme, then stir in 100g of cheese, I used a mixture of Gran Padano and Cheddar (whatever you have in the fridge).

Crack the egg into a measure, lightly beat it and then make up to 150ml with milk.  Stir in the egg and milk and mix to a soft dough.  Turn out  and either roll out to 1.25cm thickness and cut out individual scone rounds or slap the whole thing on a baking sheet.

Grate over some more cheese to cover the top.  For individual scones bake for 10 minutes, for a mega-scone bake for 20 minutes until golden brown. Remove from baking sheet and place on a wire rack to cool.



I served the scone with some salad leaves from my garden  sweet pickled herring and Feta cheese, celery, fennel and walnut salad dressed with a French dressing of olive oil and white wine vinegar.


It was just perfect with the salad, I would probably add more herbs next time as they were rather overpowered by the cheese, but overall, it was an ideal quick bread.

And so to the Giveaway.  I mentioned that I foraged in my fridge and cupboards,  I also forage a bit in the hedgerows around my farm, I was watching Three Go Mad at River Cottage (fabulous) and thought I really should make Nettle Soup as we have loads of nettles.  Anyway, you now have the chance to win a foraging classic from The Works,  Food for Free by Richard Mabey. Did you know you could order books from the The Works online?  There are so many to choose from and such great bargains.

Follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter widget to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway