Garden Theory

Saturday, April 30, 2011

End of season bruschetta

I'm out here in the dark, tidying up my autumn garden. The tomatoes are finally succumbing to the mites and the cold, and after our two weeks away I managed to drag in 300g I could put into a bruschetta as Edan's birthday meal. There was enough basil around and I bought a Spanish onion to make it work.

But for me, this time of year is about managing decline is as positive a way as possible. The soils will warm up again, the trees will come into leaf again. Yes I'll get some sneaky winter lettuce and broccoli but autumn is about managing the wind down, winter about building for the future and spring is about moving quickly.

And I'll try to grow some tomatoes under plastic to buck the trend.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Citrus is Tropical

OK, I've learnt something up here in Cairns.

Citrus is a tropical plant. At the back there is a two year old mandarin that was ten foot tall until dad just cut it back to four. At the front is a lemon that languished in a small old pot and burst forward once repotted.

So one just needs to try a little harder down in Adelaide, keep the soil a little drier when it gets cold.

Monday, April 25, 2011

ANZAC dawn amongst the palms

5.20am today. Lots of people at the service. It was good.

Self Seeded Bird's Nest Ferns

In a place where warmth and moisture (together) are the order of the day, these ferns spring up everywhere.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Australian grown vanilla

It takes 18 months to cure and I got five pods. Their vanilla essence is the only one in the world - he says - that is not chemically extracted, and with no added sugar. I believe him.

Leek and Potato Soup (Vichyssoise I suppose)

Good for hot weather. Or cold. Quick and easy, serve hot or cold.

Slice four leeks, white bits, into 5cm slices
Chop five garlic cloves roughly
Heat. 4 tablespoons oil and one of butter
Fry leeks and garlic until transparent but not browned
Get some salt in there (about 2 teaspoons) and pepper as much as you can
Add 2 kg of peeled sliced potatoes and fry a little more, but still don't brown anything
Tip in a litre of chicken stock
Bring back to boil and then turn down the heat to simmer slowly until potato is soft, about 40 minutes - covered.
Take off the heat, blend with a stick mixer
Add some boiling water until it's the right soup consistency for you
Pour in some cream and top with huge amounts of fresh chives
Served hot or cold

Leeks $6, potatoes $4.

Still under $15, and this will do two meals for a family of five. Easy

Pomelo - my curiosity is sated

They look like way oversized grapefruit and taste of nothing too much.

Because their pith is so fibrous it's a fair old job cleaning them, almost as tricky as a pomegranate. So in all, not too impressed with pomelo.