organic vegetable gardening courses, growing tips and homegrown recipes.
I used to detest the taste of cardamon - particularly when I crunched a whole one in a curry. Just as I've acquired the taste for coriander, cardamon has grown on me too. My friend from Baghdad adds the seeds from a couple of cardamon pods to a pot of tea which then release their beautiful aroma into the brew. It seemed to be the perfect Persian … [Read more...]
I'm always trying to start things early and get ahead of myself in the garden. Nature however does little to cooperate. The reassuring thing is that if you get behind, you may well have success. I sowed a couple of extra zucchini seeds and some dwarf beans in early January. I'm now picking from those plants, while all the others have succumbed to … [Read more...]
This chutney is an easy way to preserve not so perfect summer crops in pretty much any combination available. Just keep the same proportions of fruit, vinegar and sugar so it keeps well. Fill some attractive jars, stick on an attractive label and you've got the perfect gift. Keep at least a fortnight, ideally a couple of months before eating. … [Read more...]
Hmm, why would you need a recipe for that? Well I was stuck for something to do with a few yellow French beans. One minute they're growing faster than you can pick them, next thing you're scratching around for enough for an evening meal. I looked up my River Cafe Pocket Books: Salads and Vegetables my sister gave me a few years ago and got … [Read more...]
If you are interested in keeping honey bees the Wellington Beekeepers' Association has a special session for beginners this Tuesday 13 April 2010 at 7pm at the Johnsonville Community Centre, Wellington. You might also like to include some trees for bees in your garden. They'll help the native birds too. I use the aptly named 100 Best Native … [Read more...]
I've sold my two charming black pullets, hatched end of January 2010. They have the right heritage to be both excellent broody hens and egg layers. Their mother, Mabel, is a small, black hen of unknown parentage who lays large, brown eggs. Their father, Rodriguez, is a very fine Rhode Island red rooster. If you want to hear about when I have … [Read more...]
I relented with my third batch of Easter buns and added the traditional crosses piped in flour, sugar and water paste*. The final batch came out better than the first two and the crosses were an attractive feature. As with most activities, practice makes perfect. And of course I can never leave the recipe alone entirely. I tried a number of … [Read more...]
