organic vegetable gardening courses, growing tips and homegrown recipes.
The transformation of a seed to a plant is a true wonder of nature. The fresh food garden course includes more information about sowing seeds or you could try a Spring seed sowing session. Here are some tips if you want to start some seeds of your own in pots. Sowing in pots enables you to sow earlier in the season than outside. Some plants … [Read more...]
I don't bother layering the filo pastry with melted butter - just paint some olive oil on the top with a pastry brush before baking. If you find your pastry has got too crumbly to make parcels (which can happen when you've defrosted it), you can make these in muffin tins - use the scraps to line the tin and top with a few more pieces of pastry. … [Read more...]
Some rhubarb recipes use a pitifully small quantity of rhubarb. This gingerbread does justice to the fruity stem. A cake that would do well as a dessert served in squares with vanilla icecream, cream or custard. I divide the cake in two and freeze half as it's too moist to keep well. The remaining half stays in squares in the fridge. … [Read more...]
We like to snuggle under a duvet as the nights draw in. So does the soil. Covering it up stops it being washed away by the rain and blown away by the wind. Covering the soil helps keep it aerated and gives a better environment for the microorganisms and worms to live in. … [Read more...]
You'll get more done by doing things at the wrong time, than you get done by not doing things at all. I'm refering to gardening but the same could be applied to saving for retirement or changing jobs. There are lots of rules about when you should do what. Sometimes doing things later or earlier means they turn out better, or at least, not much … [Read more...]
If you like corn fritters, zucchini fritters are a good alternative in high summer when you can't face another zucchini. Vegephobes may not notice the inclusion of a significant quantity of zucchini in their diet.You could cook them on a hot, oiled barbecue plate. They'll keep overnight in the fridge to reheat in the oven but are much better … [Read more...]
A rich and delicious homemade treat that will convert even the staunchest rhubarb-haters. I make both the base and topping in a food processor. A shortbread base with a sweet, rhubarby meringue topping. It freezes well. If you've got lots of rhubarb you might also like to try rhubarb gingerbread or rhubarb crumble. shortcake 125g … [Read more...]
My top seven choices to grow in winter are coriander, pak choi, perennial spinach (silverbeet with green stems), red kale, cos lettuce, spring onions and rocket. … [Read more...]
Even the best jars of mayonnaise have long lists of ingredients on the back of them. This has just four and all of them are easily recognisable. You can make this in a blender or food processor but if you do it by hand you've truly earned a large dollop of mayo. This is a small quantity but if you double the mixture if doesn't take much longer to … [Read more...]
Classic cars have their appeal. They can be reliable, comfortable, quiet, luxurious, fast, spacious and economical. But generally they're not. Or at least, not all at the same time. Heritage potatoes can be prolific, disease resistant and hardy. But often not. I grow pink fir apple and la ratte potatoes and they do taste delicious. Perfect in a … [Read more...]
