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Sourdough Bread

IMG_6372One of my summer projects was to make sourdough bread.  I made my own starter and tried out a few different recipes/techniques.  What initially seemed like a massive faff to make bread, quickly developed into a bit of an obsession and I’m now making sourdough whenever I’m home at the weekends.  It’s time consuming in that the dough needs to be mixed and stretched and risen over 24 hours, and you do need to plan ahead.  But once you know the routine, there’s something quite relaxing about tending to the dough periodically throughout a day.

I follow the instructions from The Kitchn almost to the letter.  I use slightly less water and my rising period in these cool climes can be longer.  Instructions here.

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Cumin Roasted Carrots

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Got these beautiful carrots from our local Food Assembly a few weeks ago.  They were so very pretty, I wanted to show them off.  So I sent photos of them to everyone (receiving a variety of responses in return) and then planned dinner around them: cumin roasted carrots with grilled lamb leg steaks, hummus, tzatziki, salad and pita chips.

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Cumin Roasted Carrots

Allow 2 medium carrots per person (they reduce considerably in size as they cook)

¼ tspn cumin seeds per portion

½ tspn olive oil per portion

Pinch of salt and pepper

  • Heat the oven to 190oC
  • Peel the carrots, half length ways then width ways to make batons. Toss with the oil, cumin and seasoning and place on a baking tray (Don’t crowd).
  • Roast for 30 – 40 mins, turning occasionally, until soft and caramelised.
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Handa Island

Handa Island is a nature reserve off the west coast of Scotland.  I’d never heard of it until this summer when I decided I wanted to see a puffin.  These beautiful wee birds tend to leave Scotland late July so at the beginning of August I knew there was a chance I’d be disappointed.  Half way round the island I’d accepted that puffin spotting would have to wait until next year – and then there he was.

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We’ve been out and about in the Highlands this last month and it’s been rather spectacular.   First up was a walk up Meall a Bhuachaille (pronounced meal-a-bookle), a popular Corbett near Aviemore.

Click on the photos to see larger versions.  (Regular visitors – do you like this way of showing photos or prefer the standard one after another?)