Hello everyone! Welcome back to our casual English corner. Today, I want to share a little bit about my life here and a wonderful hobby I’ve taken up again.

Two and a half years ago, I made a big change and moved to the countryside. Since moving here, I’ve happily taken up cooking again in my own kitchen. I’ve started cooking from scratch for a change, which has led to a much healthier and more organic lifestyle. Not only am I growing my own fruit and vegetables in the garden, but I’m also making things that are better for me—eating more fruit and drinking more water every day.

For example, today I made this beautiful jam you see in the picture

My Quick Countryside Recipe: Fig & Nectarine Jam

Wanting something fresh, simple, and full of summer flavour, I made this easy fig and nectarine jam using just a handful of ingredients.

Ingredients

• 4 ripe figs
• 1 nectarine
• Juice of 1 whole lemon
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 tablespoons water
• 2 teaspoons fresh garden mint, finely chopped

Method

1. Chop the figs and nectarine into small pieces.
2. Place all the ingredients together in a saucepan.
3. Gently simmer on a low heat (around setting 3–4 on an electric hob) for approximately 25–30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the fruit is cooked through and the mixture has thickened to a jam-like consistency.
4. Allow to cool slightly before serving or storing.

Tip

When chopping the fresh mint, add a small spoonful of sugar to the mint on the chopping board. This helps to break down the leaves and makes it easier to chop them very finely.

Notes

This is a wonderfully simple recipe that takes only a few minutes to prepare. The figs provide natural sweetness, the nectarine adds a delicate fruitiness, and the fresh mint brings a light, garden-fresh flavour that makes this jam perfect for toast, scones, yoghurt, or even served with cheese.

"Simple ingredients, a gentle simmer, and fresh mint from the garden — sometimes the best recipes are the simplest."

The result? Absolutely delicious! It works perfectly as a sweet jam for morning toast, but it’s also incredible with cheese and biscuits, acting almost like a savory-sweet cheese chutney.

English Vocabulary Spotlight

When we talk about food and lifestyle in English, we use some great idioms and phrases. Here are three from my story today:

1. To take up (something) again: This phrasal verb means to restart a hobby or activity after a break. (e.g., "I took up cooking again after moving.")
2. From scratch: Cooking "from scratch" means making a meal entirely from raw, basic ingredients rather than buying a pre-made jar or box.
3. To simmer: This is a cooking verb that means to cook liquid gently, just below the boiling point. You will see small, slow bubbles on the surface.

Let's Chat!

Now it's your turn to practice your English in the comments below:

• Have you ever taken up an old hobby again?
• Do you prefer to cook meals from scratch, or do you like quick and easy recipes?
• What is your favourite thing to eat on toast?