Sticky & Sweet Roasted Beetroot

I love beetroot in all shapes, sizes and tastes.  When I was pregnant with no. 1 son, my grandmother could not pickle beetroot fast enough to cope with my cravings!  Today I tend to prefer my beetroot unpickled and I love it hot.  I found this recipe in River Cottage Everyday and absolutely loved it.  It is soooo easy and yet gloriously decadent tasting, sweet and delicious without the calories!

Preparation and cooking: about 1 hour 15 minutes


Ingredients

about 1kg beetroot
1 large rosemary stem, broken into little sprigs
1 head of garlic, broken into cloves, skin left on, each lightly squashed
3 tbsp rapeseed or olive oil
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method


Peel the beetroot, cut them into thick wedges and place in a roasting dish. Add the springs of rosemary and squashed garlic cloves, trickle on the oil and season generously. Toss everything together, cover the dish with foil and roast in an oven preheated to 190C/gas 5 for 40 minutes [maybe less for our small Camel CSA beets], or until the beetroot is almost tender.
Remove the foil, trickle over the vinegar, give everything a good stir and return to the oven. Cook uncovered, stirring again once, for another 30-40 minutes or until the beetroot is starting to caramelise. Serve straight away or leave to cool.

I have also just bought the new River Cottage Veg Everyday cookbook and it is wonderful.  The couple of recipes that I have tried so far have been great and I will let you in on them soon.  But I do highly recommend it as a good read with mouth watering pictures and lots of easy and accessible recipes.  (And I didn't even get paid for that plug!)

BBQing With Friends

Last Saturday I went to a friend's for a bbq and the weather was gorgeous.  Pete and I had planned to have friends over for a bbq at ours on Sunday.  It is always good to spend time with friends, especially over a glass of wine and good food.  Everyone bought their own meat and booze and we supplied the rest.  That way it doesn't end up costing the earth.  It was also a welcome home party for Billy.  Don't be fooled by the picture above, where everyone is sitting outside.  This is where we actually bbq'ed.............

I knew the wheelhouse would be put to good use soon!  It absolutely chucked it down all afternoon!  Still a good time was had by all and several people (including myself) went to work with very sore heads the next day!

Carpe Diem

I thought I would show you some more of Carpe Diem.  I apologise for the quality of the pictures, but I am not the best photographer in the world.  Above is the headboard in the forepeak (main bedroom for those not familiar with nautical terms!).  Pete found this in the attic of an old hotel that he was doing up.  I think it was probably some type of ceiling moulding, but doesn't it look great as a headboard.  I keep saying the one day I am going to pick the detail out in gold.  Everyone takes the mickey out of me for my 'boudoir' but I think they are just secretly jealous!

  

This is the splashback tile behind the sink in the heads.  Unfortunately you cannot see too well, but the colours are magnificent.  When I first met Pete, he had just started fitting out Carpe Diem and this was my first Christmas present to him.  (See, even in the beginning I was marking out my style!)  Dolphins are a bit of a theme on the yacht and we have had some lovely North Sea crossings accompanied by real dolphins, which is a really special situation to be a part of.

Furnished!

Wheelhouse now floorboarded and furnished!  The floor is temporary and, I hope, so is the office chair.  However, Pete has taken to sitting in this drinking his morning tea and looking out over the creek.  He had better not get too attached, as there's shabby chic and downright tat!  It is such a lovely space that I cannot wait to get moved in. 

Welcome Home Billy

He goes up the East Coast, round Scotland and the islands, through the canal and back down the East Coast.  He endures gales, fog, rain, sun and no wind.  He gallantly drinks for England with the Norwegians, has engine problems, lives on veggies and generally toughs it out.  The flags were out, the fog horns going for his homegoing and then at the very last knockings, where he could almost touch his mooring, he runs aground!  Well that's Tollesbury for you!  Welcome home Billy, glad to have you back xxx

Double Decker

Another picture from Billy on his travels.  I have often joked to Pete that if we put a second storey on top of the wheelhouse, we could rent it out as a penthouse suite!  I won't tell you what his answer was as it wasn't polite, but this picture shows that it can be done!!!  I like this boat,  I think it is reminiscent of a Mississippi paddle steamer, very Huckleberry Finn.  (And I could get a lot of plants on those decks!)  Have a great weekend xxx 

Veg Boat

Our friend and neighbour Billy, who I have introduced before, has been sailing around the top of Britain and is now on his way back.  He has just sent this picture of this wonderful boat with a message saying 'thinking of you'.  I have the mickey taken out of me as I already have pots on the fore deck of the barge and plans for window boxes full of lettuce, tomatoes and herbs!  If you click on the picture and enlarge it, you will see the bags with potatoes growing and other veg in various pots etc.  Just one thought though, I wonder if they are fixed to the deck or they just slide around when the owner goes sailing!!!