Wednesday, 26 October 2011
Strawberry bed
The strawberries are looking really good. However, they are still very small and green. The structures are in place - so that we can put netting over the bed when they ripen up. So, grow, strawberries, grow! :) We are ready!
Monday, 24 October 2011
Strawberries...
...and Chocolate Velvet Torte.
The strawberry season has started!
I love farm-gate sales! We were able to get some spray-free strawberries that were picked on the (organic) farm, and when they were at their peak. They tasted just like home-grown strawberries! Ours are still little, green balls, so we'll have to wait a bit longer to eat our own.
The strawberry season has started!I love farm-gate sales! We were able to get some spray-free strawberries that were picked on the (organic) farm, and when they were at their peak. They tasted just like home-grown strawberries! Ours are still little, green balls, so we'll have to wait a bit longer to eat our own.
Friday, 21 October 2011
Chocolate Velvet Torte
Looking for something really decadent? A great treat? But also gluten-free, dairy-free, and without white sugar? Plus plenty of good (70% cocoa) chocolate.
This is the torte before it goes into the oven. Absolutely delicious! After putting it into the oven, don't forget to lick the beaters, the bowls, the spoon, etc. before cleaning up. Do it quietly, so you don't have to share. You won't regret it. It's like chocolate mousse!
Watch it rise in the oven...
...then shrink while it cools.
See the gooey middle? Oh yeah!
Really nice with a dollop of good cream.
Or a really good dollop of cream.
The recipe is from Elana Amsterdam's "Gluten-free almond flour cookbook". Unfortunately, it is not on her blog yet. And I'm too lazy to type it out. Also, I have to go and check now whether the cake is still as nice as when we tried it yesterday. Gotta go.... :)
This is the torte before it goes into the oven. Absolutely delicious! After putting it into the oven, don't forget to lick the beaters, the bowls, the spoon, etc. before cleaning up. Do it quietly, so you don't have to share. You won't regret it. It's like chocolate mousse!
Watch it rise in the oven...
...then shrink while it cools.
See the gooey middle? Oh yeah!
Really nice with a dollop of good cream.
Or a really good dollop of cream.
The recipe is from Elana Amsterdam's "Gluten-free almond flour cookbook". Unfortunately, it is not on her blog yet. And I'm too lazy to type it out. Also, I have to go and check now whether the cake is still as nice as when we tried it yesterday. Gotta go.... :)
Thursday, 20 October 2011
Miner's lettuce flowering
Spring is such a beautiful season!
One of my all-time favourite winter veggies is now flowering. Miner's lettuce.
I let it go to seed every spring, and come autumn after the first rain, it pops up again. No work involved. :) What's not to like about this?!
One of my all-time favourite winter veggies is now flowering. Miner's lettuce.
I let it go to seed every spring, and come autumn after the first rain, it pops up again. No work involved. :) What's not to like about this?!
Monday, 17 October 2011
Asparagus
We are still harvesting the occasional handful of asparagus. What a treat this is!
Our first year of harvesting our purple asparagus. Isn't it just stunning?!
The spears have also become bigger over the years.
Just enough for an asparagus omelette. Life is good! :)
Our first year of harvesting our purple asparagus. Isn't it just stunning?!
The spears have also become bigger over the years.
Just enough for an asparagus omelette. Life is good! :)
Sunday, 16 October 2011
Busy as a bee!
Now I know where that expression comes from. Have you ever watched the entrance to a bee hive? It's amazing to see all the activity. Especially on a sunny day.
Yes, we finally have bees! Yippeaahhh... *happy dance*... etc.
That's the bees' new home. Sunny first thing in the morning, protected from the worst winds, slightly shaded in the afternoon to protect them from the worst of our summer's heat.
They are still in their 'travelling' boxes, called nucleus.
This is a nuc from Kangaroo Island. These bees are guaranteed disease-free, very docile and placid, and have a tested, mated queen. Let's hope all is well in the nuc, as one frame has broken off. They seem to be busy inside the box, cleaning up (2 dead bees already thrown out of the hive). Hopefully, there aren't too many squashed bees, due to the broken off frame.
This is the nuc from Roy, a beekeeper around the corner who catches swarms. He told us he's catching 1-2 swarms a day at the moment. Spring being the time, when bees tend to swarm. His nuc also has an opening at the top for a bottle with sugar syrup, to feed the bees.
Anyway, we'll transfer the KI bees and their frames into the proper hive box in the next few days. Roy's bees are still a few weeks away from transfer. Exciting times! :)
Yes, we finally have bees! Yippeaahhh... *happy dance*... etc.
That's the bees' new home. Sunny first thing in the morning, protected from the worst winds, slightly shaded in the afternoon to protect them from the worst of our summer's heat.
They are still in their 'travelling' boxes, called nucleus.
This is a nuc from Kangaroo Island. These bees are guaranteed disease-free, very docile and placid, and have a tested, mated queen. Let's hope all is well in the nuc, as one frame has broken off. They seem to be busy inside the box, cleaning up (2 dead bees already thrown out of the hive). Hopefully, there aren't too many squashed bees, due to the broken off frame.
This is the nuc from Roy, a beekeeper around the corner who catches swarms. He told us he's catching 1-2 swarms a day at the moment. Spring being the time, when bees tend to swarm. His nuc also has an opening at the top for a bottle with sugar syrup, to feed the bees.
Anyway, we'll transfer the KI bees and their frames into the proper hive box in the next few days. Roy's bees are still a few weeks away from transfer. Exciting times! :)
Thursday, 13 October 2011
Mad protea bunch
This is one (ONE) stalk.
With 9 (NINE) flowers. Excuse the capital letters - but isn't this amazing?!
And incredibly beautiful.
With 9 (NINE) flowers. Excuse the capital letters - but isn't this amazing?!
And incredibly beautiful.
Monday, 10 October 2011
Blossoms
The fruit trees are covered in blossoms and the bees are busy buzzing about.
The whole orchard looks a treat!
Apple blossoms.
Bee busy on apple blossom.
Some pears have already set.
Getting excited about our potential fruit harvest! Fingers crossed. :)
The whole orchard looks a treat!
Apple blossoms.
Bee busy on apple blossom.
Some pears have already set.
Getting excited about our potential fruit harvest! Fingers crossed. :)
Friday, 7 October 2011
Tuesday, 4 October 2011
French toast
I never understood, what was so special about French toast. For me, it was only some (stale) bread dunked in eggs, then fried in a pan.
But then a gardening friend stayed over a few years ago. And she made French toast for us. With TONS and I mean TONS of sliced fruit. Piled on top of the crispy fried bread. And a good drizzle of real Canadian maple syrup. My goodness, that was GOOD!
We didn't drizzle with maple syrup, but topped the big fruit pile with a dollop of cream.
Needless to say, it was delicious! :)
But then a gardening friend stayed over a few years ago. And she made French toast for us. With TONS and I mean TONS of sliced fruit. Piled on top of the crispy fried bread. And a good drizzle of real Canadian maple syrup. My goodness, that was GOOD!
We didn't drizzle with maple syrup, but topped the big fruit pile with a dollop of cream.
Needless to say, it was delicious! :)
Monday, 3 October 2011
Purple Cauliflower...
I know, I know. Purple Cauliflower. Again. Sorry. But I think this should be the last one for a long time. Until next winter, hopefully.
Everyone was curious to know, what colour it would have when cooked. Here it is, sautéed in a little butter.
Served with some home-made, spicy beef sausages and hand-cut chips (from home-grown potatoes).
Gosh, it was good! :)
Everyone was curious to know, what colour it would have when cooked. Here it is, sautéed in a little butter.
Served with some home-made, spicy beef sausages and hand-cut chips (from home-grown potatoes).
Gosh, it was good! :)
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