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
Growing Kale
Growth habits and planting needs Kale is a hardy and especially nutritious vegetable that is easy to grow in sunny spot in the home garden. It is rich in antioxidants, iron, vitamins A,C, K and Folate and rich in calcium. Prepare the soil by digging it over well and enriching it by working in aged manure and well rotted compost. The soil should be rich … Continue reading Growing Kale
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
Classic Garden Salad
This is a classic layered salad that is prepared ahead 24 hours and is so fresh and crisp. It is layered with cool iceberg lettuce, frozen peas, cheese, mushrooms and is topped with a layer of tasty mayonnaise and ripe tomato. It is a great prepare ahead salad that keeps crisp and is so delicious. Classic Garden Salad Ingredients: The layers of vegetables should … Continue reading Classic Garden Salad
Greek Red Easter Eggs
Happy Easter to all our gardeners and followers! The Greek people have a wonderful Easter game called tsougrisma (τσουγκρισμα) which means ‘clinking together’ or ‘clashing’ and uses Red Eggs, or eggs that are hard boiled and then coloured using red food dye. The colour of the egg represents Christ’s suffering and death on the cross. The cracking symbolizes Christ’s resurrection from the tomb or new beginnings. … Continue reading Greek Red Easter Eggs
Rosemary Chicken and Potatoes
We have just harvested our potatoes and so this recipe for pan roasted chicken and potatoes cooked in white wine with fresh rosemary is a satisfying and delicious way to cook them. The potatoes are tender and flavourful and the chicken is moist. Rosemary Chicken and Potatoes Ingredients: 6 skinless chicken thigh chops (with the bone in) or thigh fillets 4 medium potatoes, peeled, cut … Continue reading Rosemary Chicken and Potatoes
The Grantham Gardener 