Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Brussels Sprouts are in season and this is a quick tasty way to cook them is a  great accompaniment to roasted meat. Prosciutto oven crisped, garlic and balsamic vinegar add flavour and texture to this dish. Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts Ingredients: 500 g Brussels sprouts 150 g Prosciutto di Parma or Pancetta, chopped 3-4 cloves of garlic sliced, minced or whole as you wish Salt … Continue reading Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Growing Brussels Sprouts

Growth habits and planting needs The site chosen for planting should be protected from winds but get at least 6 hours of sunlight. Prepare the bed at least two weeks before planting. To successfully grow Brussels sprouts make sure the soil is rich, friable and well drained with a pH of 6.5 to 7.5. Brussels sprouts need lots of nitrogen to grow strong stems and … Continue reading Growing Brussels Sprouts

Ann’s Bottle Gourd with Coconut

Bottle Gourd, long marrow, calabash, the many names for this interesting vegetable. It  contains many vitamins and minerals, such as, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, Vitamin A, C and folate. So why not buy it when you see it at your green grocer or better still try growing some yourself. Our neighbours Peter and Amy grew this large vegetable and our friend Ann kindly shared her recipe for … Continue reading Ann’s Bottle Gourd with Coconut

Fresh Guava with Lime and Sugar

The Guava trees are laden with fruit and the fragrance permeating the house from the harvested pink guavas is amazing. This is a simple way to enjoy the flavour and freshness of guavas and reap the benefit of their high vitamin C content. In fact, the vitamin C of one guava is equivalent to that of 5 oranges. Fresh Guava with Lime and Sugar Ingredients: … Continue reading Fresh Guava with Lime and Sugar

Pecan, Oat and Maple Syrup Biscuits

The pecan trees in the garden are full of nuts that are giving the cockatoos a great feast. We have collected the fallen pecans and are storing them to dry in the shell.  The climate in Western Sydney seems favourable to the growth of pecans and the heat this summer has provided  perfect weather for them. What better time to bake some wonderful biscuits using … Continue reading Pecan, Oat and Maple Syrup Biscuits

Egyptian Koshari and Home Made Baharat

Koshari is the national dish of Egypt that mixes lentil, rice, small macaroni noodles, a spicy tomato sauce, topped with fried onions and chick peas.  This is another dish for the International Year of Pulses. The tomato sauce is made with a spice blend called Baharat and this gives the dish its amazing flavour. Egyptian Koshari Ingredients: Rice: 1 cup of medium grain rice 1tblsp … Continue reading Egyptian Koshari and Home Made Baharat

What to plant in April

The following is a list of things you can plant in April in Sydney, a temperate zone: Amaranth Beans – broad beans, fava beans Beetroot Broccoli  Brussels sprouts Cabbage Carrot Cauliflower Daikon Endive Garlic Kale Kohlrabi Leeks seedlings Lettuce Mizuna Mustard greens Parsley Peas Radish Rocket Shallots Silverbeet  Snowpeas Spinach Turnip Flower of the Month – the beautiful flower of the Bottle Gourd   Continue reading What to plant in April

Minestrone with Borlotti Beans and Kale

The last of Summer’s fresh borlotti beans are still available and this recipe for a hearty minestrone of beans, vegetables and kale is perfect for dinner. If you are in another seasonal zone you can use tinned or dry borlotti beans that have been soaked overnight. This delicious and nutritious soup is a meal on its own. Minestrone with Borlotti Beans and Kale Ingredients: 1 … Continue reading Minestrone with Borlotti Beans and Kale