Yes, as the post title suggests. I have got myself into a bit of a pickle.
Well, perhaps I should say I’ve worked myself into a bit of a pickling frenzy.
Recently, I have found myself with more veggies than I can utilise and unwilling to waste them, I have been looking for alternative uses.
Watching MasterChef I had often wondered about the pickles that contestants rustle up in such a short space of time.
Pickled Carrots w/Garlic
After a bit of Googling, I have determined that what they are actually preparing are “quick or fridge pickles.” They are quick to prepare but are intended to be used fairly quickly.
Pickled Cavolo Nero
These “quick” pickles can be eaten almost immediately but benefit from a period of marination. This can be a few hours or several days.
After marination, once opened, they will typically be good to eat for a couple of weeks, provided they are kept refrigerated.
Pickled Beetroot
To preserve fruit and veg for extended time periods one has to resort to “canning”. Currently I am not exploring that option.
Pickled Radish
My first attempt at quick pickling was with radishes. I made two jars just a fortnight ago, and the first jar has already gone.
They are yummy and very moreish, in my opinion.
Like Dill Pickles, of which I am a big fan, they are great to add to salads, sandwiches, burgers, or as a side on a plate of cold cuts. Giving a crunchy, zingy bonus to a meal.
Now, the Pickled Chilli’s are something of an unknown quantity.
Spicy – Pickled Chilli’s
With carrots, beetroot, and the cavolo Nero I have a point of reference. I know what they taste like so I can extrapolate the likely effect of the pickling.
These Chilli’s will present me with the veggie equivalent of Russian Roulette.
There are three varieties mixed together in these jars. Two are red peppers (Mirasol or Cayenne ???), which are from plants given to me. The third, round, and plum coloured (Chocolate Habanero ???) were donated by a friend. So I have no idea of the heat.
This will be an exciting experiment.
To be honest the whole pickling process is an experiment and the veggies keep presenting themselves for testing. I already have Cucumbers, Courgettes and Onions lined up, also Cauliflower and roasted bell peppers.
Further out on the horizon I am considering Sauerkraut and Kimchi but the process is a bit more involved. Also, I am the only person in my sphere of friends and family that actually like either so it does seem to be somewhat indulgent to make this just for me.
A few years ago this site was the home of Marconi Underwater Systems. The site was closed, and the Marconi buildings and surrounds became derelict. The site has remained an eyesore for many years.
Around 2012 I, as a member of the Waterlooville Residents Forum, attended a presentation on behalf of a potential developer. At that time, per the presentation, the plans were to build a 60 bed hotel and restaurant. They also planned a car showroom and a drive thru restaurant. The developer went to great pains. He assured us that the drive thru was not going to be another McDonald’s.
Outline Application APP/12/00652 was submitted 4th October 2012. The recommendation was that permission be granted for this application. Since that time, the Marconi (BAE) buildings were demolished but the site remained undeveloped.
Until that is, along came Lidl and, yep, McDonald’s. But the remainder of the site remained untouched.
And now the council appear to have given the go ahead for a new KFC, Aldi, and Costa.
It’s not as if our little town doesn’t lack for coffee shops and cafe’s. As for fast food drive thru’s, we are surrounded. Nor are we short of Aldi stores, we actually have seven within a ten mile radius. Costa Coffee is even more pervasive with ten in a four mile radius.
There is a significant amount of residential construction in and around Waterlooville. With all the new residents I would agree that there is a need for eateries. But I would argue that there is a greater need for entertainment centres. Waterlooville residents frequently call for a cinema complex / bowling alley. Sadly nobody hears the call
And so, the construction of these three businesses leaves me disappointed. I feel that we, the residents of Waterlooville, have been let down again.
WrAnTz 