Chas's Rock 'Roll Allotment on growing your own mint patch
WHY NOT make this year the year you grow your own mint patch? If you have never tasted fresh mint sauce you are in for a treat. You’ll never settle for the bottled stuff again. There is simply no comparison.
My favourite roast is roast lamb and all the restaurants I’ve eaten it in over the years have served up the horrible medical-tasting bottled stuff. Either straight out of the bottle if you’re in a little pub or if you are in an expensive restaurant they’ll pour it in a silver dish.
Tastes the same whatever.
Once or twice over the years can I remember being served the real stuff. So stupid because mint is so easy to grow, it grows like a weed.
In fact, don’t plant it in the open ground because it will take over. Grow it in at least a 15ins flower pot or an old tin bath is good. It will contain it.
If you have never tasted fresh mint sauce you are in for a treat. You’ll never settle for the bottled stuff again
If you know a neighbour who has some growing get him to dig you up a clump.
He will be only too pleased to, especially if he has it growing in the open ground.
Get yourself a bag of potting compost and almost fill up the bath or the flowerpot with it. Settle the clump on top and draw the earth around it and firm it down with your fists. Give it a good watering and then sit back.
This time of year it will quickly take hold and in a month or two you can safely pinch out a few of the tops to make your first mint sauce. Always pinch out the tops.
They are nice fresh bits and it will encourage the plant to bush out. If you have to buy a plant or two go for Bowles mint or for the one that makes your mouth water when you pinch and smell a leaf of it.
To make the sauce, get a good handful of washed mint leaves, put ’em on a chopping board with a teaspoon of sugar and a sprinkling of salt.
Chop up fine. Put it in a dish and just cover with boiling water. Then add the same amount again of vinegar. Leave it for about an hour and it’s ready. Can be frozen for the winter too. You’ll never eat the bottled stuff again.
? All About Us, The Chas & Dave Story written by Chas Hodges is published by John Blake.
? Chas and Dave playing at Swansea Grand Theatre on April 2 and Grove Theatre, Dunstable, on April 10.
? An Audience with Chas Hodges on DVD is now available at chashodges.co.uk
