It’s not the Glut, but the Glut of Gluts that gets my Goat!

[tim]

It’s just the daunting choice of what to prepare each day, for what meal, for 2 old people. Without waste. And beyond freezing etc.

Apart from all the Herbs, which so rapidly go to seed, & Garlic & Potatoes, we have:
Runner & Broad & French Beans
Chard, Kale, Calabrese
Tomatoes, Aubergines, Peppers, Cucumbers
Shallots
Carrots
Lettuce, Leaf Salad
Courgettes
Beet
Peas

I’m not alone??

[tim]

[calamityjayneuk]

I wish I had that problem, I was far too slow this year!

Perhaps we need to get an affiliation with our local soup kitchen to give away our excesses.  :D

[SMP1704]

The only glut I have at the moment is with the cucumbers.  I have been working in Plymouth last week and going back later today.  I had a couple of lottie hours yesterday evening and found 14 - yes - FOURTEEN marketmore cucumbers had popped out since last Monday (my last visit)

My solution?  I sent No 2 son (he has a winning smile ;) ) around to the neighbours, who kindly took one or two each.  Not sure that will work a second time - expecting the same quantity next weekend - anyone have some good receipes for cucumbers???

[Hyacinth]

Perhaps we need to get an affiliation with our local soup kitchen to give away our excesses.  :D

No gluts for me this year (cucumber surplus now sorted 8)) but in previous years I've given mine to St.Mary's Hospice or Acorns, the children's hospice, or a residential home run by nuns I once did some work for - lovely, lovely people. Enough places still around which cook fresh food for their patients, etc. and all my donations v. greatly received. Heck! The nuns even remember me in their prayers - gotta be a good swap for a few marrows ;D

SMP my glut was Marketmore, also. I googled 'cooking with cucumbers' and came up with a basic stuffed cucumber recipe which I adapted. Twas OK! Sure there will be others if you look - Lishka

[grawrc]

I've spent most of today washing, chopping, blanching, drying, plaiting, bagging, freezing the astonishing variety of things that are ready...

Most of the evening yesterday ploughing through my recipe books and online looking for innovative ways of using the excess..

I'm pooped!! ::)

.. and hoping to head for the allotments now the rain has stopped to dig up my second earlies and water the tomatoes. ;)

[Curryandchips]

Like Alishka, I have no gluts this year - so far ...

[tim]

Yes, when we get a real glut, we put them out for sale for the Village Church & Hall.
But it's the planning of 16 or so different items, even half a dozen or so of each, into a modest diet.

[katynewbie]

 :-\

I know, have a whole row of Red and Yellow Chard. Looks lovely, but there's only me who eats it...

Chard en croute, chard soup, chard curry, braised, stir fried etc etc etc!!

???

[tim]

At least it freezes well. Do it in small blocks so that it re-cooks quickly.

[katynewbie]

 ;D

Thanks for the tip, didn't know it was ok to freeze, the stems look a bit celery like to me!

;)

[greenstar]

I'm going to annoy some of you now, but we have got a massive glut of runner beans - have given away bagfuls today.  And courgettes, and far too much lettuce.  Only the stuff that I planted in April has bolted (and about time too!).  There's something to be said for living in the frozen north, or, as Mrs KP would have it, sunny Glasgow.

[artichoke]

What is the position on selling gluts? I thought people with allotments were not supposed to?

I have given surplus away, but would quite like to subsidise the expense of managing allotments by selling...

[Robert_Brenchley]

Do it quietly, and who's going to know, or worry?

[grawrc]

How do you freeze Swiss Chard? Do you cook the recipe then freeze or can you freeze the chopped up plant before cooking?

[Roy Bham UK]

No gluts for me this year (cucumber surplus now sorted 8)) but in previous years I've given mine to St.Mary's Hospice or Acorns, the children's hospice, or a residential home run by nuns
Lishka
[/quote]

;) Thanks for that Lish ;) I didn't realise St Mary's cooked on site. I will be channelling my surplus veg there too ;D

[Hyacinth]

They certainly used to, Roy. I did a  morning spell in the coffee shop there - the cheese scones the cook used to produce were to die for  ::) ;D

[tim]

This is my way, Anne - cooked & ready.

[grawrc]

Thanks Tim!

[Curryandchips]

Artichoke, our allotments permit the selling of surplus crops, providing that it is not carried out as a business. I would presume the same applies to most sites ...

[artichoke]

Thanks, Curry.  Didn't realise that. One older man sells lots of stuff at village market and no-one seems to object. Another, very efficient, grows tons more than he and his wife could conceivably eat, on an apparently commercial scale, but indignantly says he gives it all away, as if selling it would be shameful.