Dominique’s Stewed Pears in Spiced Wine Syrup
Pears are in season and these days, there are varieties that are available over most of the year, so it is always the time to stew these luscious fruits. They can be served equally well hot or cold so choose a variety that is available and see how easy to cook and how delicious they are when combined with sweet white wine, vanilla bean, cinnamon … Continue reading Dominique’s Stewed Pears in Spiced Wine Syrup
Roasted Leek and Potato Soup
Roasting vegetables brings out their flavours so I have chosen to use this method to make the classic Leek and Potato soup, a satisfying soup with the delicate flavour of leeks. Roasted Leek and Potato Soup Ingredients: 6 medim or 3 large potatoes 2 leeks, cleaned well and sliced 3 French shallots, chopped 2 Tblsp olive oil freshly ground pepper and salt 1/4 cup of … Continue reading Roasted Leek and Potato Soup
Seed Saving
Gardening is a wonderful activity. First the plants give you fresh organic food and once the season is over they give you the next years seeds at no cost if you harvest them and store them well. Just ten little bean seeds, judiciously planted and cared for, can feed a family all through the long summer. The Benefits of Seed Saving: The home gardener selects … Continue reading Seed Saving
Rigatoni with Eggplant and Tomato Sauce
The weather is still so balmy in Sydney and we continue harvesting eggplants so I thought a nice pasta dish with a rich tomato sauce with the eggplants would make a delicious lunch. Rigatoni with Eggplant and Tomato Sauce Ingredients: 1 can of chopped tomatoes 1 Tblsp of tomato paste 1 small onion, finely chopped 1 clove of garlic, finely chopped 1 tblsp olive oil … Continue reading Rigatoni with Eggplant and Tomato Sauce
Growing Leeks
Leeks have been cultivated in Egypt for over 3000 years. They are known scientifically as Allium porrum, are related to garlic, onions, shallots and have a more delicate, mild and sweeter flavour than onions. Growth habits and planting needs Leeks prefer to be grown in full sun but will tolerate some shade. The soil should be well drained and enriched with well rotted compost and … Continue reading Growing Leeks
Slow Baked Lamb Shanks with Polenta
The weather is cooling a little in Sydney and slow baked lamb shanks and polenta is the perfect comfort food for a dinner or lunch. Cooking the lamb slowly will make it tender and falling off the bone and the rich sauce will be perfect with the polenta. Accompanied by a salad of mixed leaves and radicchio to cleanse the palate, this is a flavourful … Continue reading Slow Baked Lamb Shanks with Polenta
What to plant in May
The following is a list of things you can plant in May in Sydney, a temperate zone: Beans – broad beans Brussels sprouts seedlings Cabbage seedlings Carrot Cauliflower seedlings Garlic Kale seedlings Kohlrabi Leeks seedlings Lettuce Mizuna Mustard greens Onion Pak Choy Parsley Peas Radish Rocket Shallots Silverbeet Snow Peas Spinach Strawberry Turnip Flower of the month – Dragon fruit flower (hylocereus) Continue reading What to plant in May
Growing Garlic
Garlic (Allium sativum) is a close relative of onions, leeks and chives a popular ingredient in cooking due to its delicious taste though from ancient times, the main use of garlic was for its health giving and medicinal properties. Garlic is very rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin B6 and Manganese. Growth habits and planting needs Select a site that gets full sun. When choosing what garlic … Continue reading Growing Garlic
Growing Kohlrabi
Kohlrabi is an interesting vegetable that has a tender flesh with a mild flavour like that of cabbage or turnips. It is an easy vegetable to grow and a good source of vitamin C and potassium. Like other members of the brassica family, it also has cancer fighting properties. Growth habits and planting needs Select a site that will receive full sun to grow your … Continue reading Growing Kohlrabi
Anzac Biscuits
Australia pauses today to remember the sacrifice of those who have died in war. We remember that day, 25 April,1915, when the soldiers of Australia and New Zealand landed on that beach at Gallipoli and with courage made the supreme sacrifice. Over 8,000 Australian soldiers were killed. With a population of 4.5 million at that time Australia, as a fledgling nation, suffered 61,921 military deaths … Continue reading Anzac Biscuits
The Grantham Gardener 