Garden Blogs

I've been traveling this week and so to help with the gardening withdrawal symptoms, I have been reading mags on how to do it! A great article on blueberries has convinced me that next year I would like to grow some. Pots are good apparently, especially because blueberries like acidic soil and so ericaceous compost is the best medium. There was a great recipe with the article for Blueberry Soup! Thought others might like it so here it is: Ingredients: 550g blueberries, 115g caster sugar, four pared strips unwaxed lemon rind, two star anise, 600ml freshly pressed apple juice, juice of one lemon, 4 tbsp Rachels Organic Greek Yoghurt, lemon wedges to serve. Recipe: You can serve this refreshing, deep purple berry soup as a light dessert, or as an alternative starter. 1. Wash the blueberries and pat dry. Reserving a handful for decoration, put the rest in a saucepan. 2. Add the sugar, strips of lemon zest, star anise and apple juice. Bring to the boil, cover and simmer for 10 minutes until very soft. Allow to cool then push through a nylon sieve to make a smooth puree. Stir in the lemon juice, cover and chill for at least 2 hours or until ready to serve. 3. To serve, spoon into dessert bowls and serve with a spoonful of yoghurt and a wedge of lemon. Sprinkle with the reserved berries. And for the hot, hot weather we are promised, why not make a blueberry ice lolly? Take 250g blueberries and whiz them up in a food processor until smooth. Add 400g Rachel's Organic yoghurt and a dash of fruit juice, and stir - then pour into lolly moulds and freeze! So, I think growing blueberries will bring many rewards. Now, where's the garden.........