Rum balls are a traditional favourite over the Christmas season. This recipe is a variation on a classic theme using Kahlúa’s rich, coffee flavour to enhance the dark chocolate and coconut. They are a delicious treat for the New Year’s Eve party. New Year’s Eve Kahlúa Liqueur Balls Ingredients: 250g sweet biscuits 395 g Condensed milk 3 Tblsp Dutch Cocoa powder 1/4 cup dessicated coconut … Continue reading New Year’s Eve Kahlúa Liqueur Balls
These tasty little pastry treats are a wonderful nibbly to have as an appetizer over the Christmas season. They are so easy to make and can even be prepared ahead and frozen for baking when you need them. Rosemary and Olive Palmiers Ingredients: 2 sheets frozen puff pastry 50g kalamata olives, pitted and chopped 25g parmesan cheese, grated 1 Tbsp rosemary, chopped 4 slices salami, … Continue reading Rosemary and Olive Palmiers
Its another sunny, Sydney Christmas day on this side of the world. Summer’s bounty of fruit and vegetables from the garden graces our Christmas table, as family gathers for a feast of traditional food that originates in the colder climates of far away lands, as well as the freshest seafood of our own country. What a blessing! To all who read this: gardeners, followers and … Continue reading Merry Christmas from the Grantham Gardeners
Portulacaria Afra, commonly known as the dwarf jade plant, elephant bush or spekboom, in Afrkaans, is a succulent plant originating in the east of South Africa and popular around the world as a houseplant and also used for bonsai. Perhaps you have some growing at home. I wanted to share with you its beauty and its potential for carbon sequestration. This amazing, yet widely grown … Continue reading Portulacaria Afra and its role in Carbon Capture
Cantaloupe, or rock melon, as it is called in Sydney, is a trailing vine that loves a long warm growing season. It is a member of the cucurbitaceae family and originates from the area from Iran to India. Sow seeds in pots from September, October and then plant them out in November and December in Sydney, which has a temperate climate. Alternately, the seeds can … Continue reading Growing Cantaloupes
Support our farmers Here in Parklea we are lucky enough to to have the only farmers selling direct to the public at Parklea Markets in Western Sydney. Rod Ostini and his son Boris bring their fresh produce from Orange, New South Wales to Parklea Markets in Western Sydney every weekend. The fruit is grown in the Orange district of NSW, a major cherry and apple … Continue reading Australian Apples and Pears Grown in Orange
Today is the first day of summer and this is the first planting guide of the season. The following is a list of things you can plant in December in Sydney, a temperate zone: Basil Beans (dwarf and climbing) Beetroot Cape Gooseberry Capsicum seedlings Carrot Celery seedlings Chilli Choko Cucumber Eggplant seedlings Kohlrabi Leeks seedlings Lettuce Luffa seedlings Marrow Mustard greens Okra seedlings Pumpkin Radish … Continue reading What to plant in December
Chokos also known as chayotes, are members of the Cucurbitaceae family and related to cucumbers, pumpkins, squash and melons. December is the time to plant chokos in Sydney’s temperate climate. They are easy to grow and in Sydney’s hot conditions the prolific vines can produce heavy crops of this versatile fruit. Choko is high in vitamin C and folate and other trace elements. Growth habits … Continue reading Growing Chokos or Chayotes
This cake is so simple to make and is really delicious. You can use any kind of berries but my favourite berry is the raspberry and this is what I have chosen for this cake. The sharp flavour fo the fresh raspberry contrasts well with the sweetness of the coconut and almond. This is a perfect gluten free cake to make for afternoon tea or … Continue reading Raspberry, Coconut and Almond Cake
This is a recipe especially for those vistors to this site from the northern hemisphere where persimmons are in season. In Sydney persimmonscan be replaced with fresh mango that is now in season. There are many recipes using this delicious autumn fruit in baked goods but I thought it was a waste of the truly luscious sweetness of this fruit. This trifle recipe keeps the … Continue reading Persimmon and Orange Custard Trifles
The Grantham Gardener 