Photos

Here are the beets all canned and will be ready to eat in a few weeks. There are 3 large jars and one medium.
We planted some beetroots that werent a purple colour and have been mixed through all the jars so it will be interesting to see how they tast.
This was from one punnet of seedlings and I even pulled some up while they were growing to cook up and eat. so I am happy with the result. I have got another punnet so I will be planting those as soon as the sun goes from the raised garden patch.
see ya

Beetroots

As I type my beets are in the canner after a busy morning of processing them. Love home canned Beetroots. I will go and get some seedlings from bunnings and try for a second crop. Will pots pics as soon as they are done.
How is your harvest going?
See ya

Apple slice

I got the receipe for this apple slice from http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/
The apples came from my freezer, I had stewed them and had them frozen from the bag I got from my MIL earlier this year.
There was no sugar in the apples and I only put the sugar in the dough, but none on top. So it wasnt very sweet. But I liked it like that as I am watching what I eat without acually dieting.
Hubby likes his sweeter so tonight Ill make him some custard to go with it.
it was easy, quick and fun to make. So Ill be making some more soon.
give it a go!
see ya

A new toy

This is our new smoker, we bought it from aldi today. Hubby is having fun looking at receipes and all the different things he can cook in it.
we have a pork roast in at the moment, with hickory,apple,cherry and mesquite wood chips in. We got the woodchips from bunnings, but I will keep my cuttings from my own apple and cherry trees in the future. So it will be even cheaper!
will let you know how it turns out.
dont forget the total luner eclipse tonight. it starts around 11.30pm and will go for a while. Everyone in australia should be able to see it, and for others Im sure if you google the net you will find the map that tells you were you can see it. I saw it yesterday but I dont remember where. sorry if I find it I will post a link.
have a great weekend everyone.
see ya

Zucchini Galor

 Lots of Zucchinis from the garden so I baked lots today. First zucchini slice for tea tonight.

Zucchini Brownies.

and Savoury Cheese, bacon and zucchini muffins. Still have zucchinis to go so I will cook some up with a cabbage I got gifted and freeze it for use in casseroles.
If anyone has a fav receipe for zucchini please share it with me. all these receipes were from the internet.
see ya

dont you hate it

dont you hate it when you start to slice onions, and end up slicing the end of you pinky off instead.
makes typing very hard.
see ya

Very Very Cold

The weather has turned bitterly cold here. Its wet and windy and and icy wind is coming from the south pole and right into our bones.
So the fire is going strong and I have the slow cooker going so that tonight when hubby gets home he will have a hearty, hot stew to warm him up.
Im off to quilting class this morning and then the plan is to get home and get under one of my quilts watch a DVD and continue my knitting.
I really love Winter!
see ya

Frugal lunch

Today I wanted something a little different for luch, so I decided to use up the left over pumkin and a couple of potatoes. I always have light coconut milk and curry paste  from aldi in the cupboard so I made spicy pumkin soup.
You just cut up your pumkin, and a couple of small potatoes add enough water to cover and boil. when they are nearly soft enough to mash, add some curry paste. Boil until they are ready to mash and water level has reduced till almost ready to burn level. But not quite! Add the can of coconut milk and mash the vegies. Bring back to boil and simmer for about 5 to 10 minutes, till the coconut milk is cooked and the tast isnt too overpowering.
And viola spicy pumking soup, servered with homemade bread its delish, but I didnt make any so some toast is just as nice.
Warms you up on a chilly and rainy day like we are having today. And there is enough for hubby and babygirl to have some for their dinner too.
Hits the spot!
see ya

Preserving the Harvest

Today I spent the morning cutting up the the tomatoes and beans and added onion and capsicum and cooked it all up. These will go into the freezer to be used in the slow cooker with meat from our paddocks. 

I also got a bag of home grown apples from my father in law and one from my mother in law. I added the apples from my tree and I now have 6 containers in the freezer waiting to be made in apple crumble during winter.
So I have 6 main meals and 6 desserts. The only things not from home will be the rice served as a side dish and the flour, sugar, coconut and butter for the crumble.
Not bad I think.
I just hope we dont have anymore freezer problems, when the spare fridge whent it took alot of frozen produce with it.
I hate wasting all that hard work.
see ya

In a jam!

 My wonderful sister in law gave me a heap of plums so I made up some jam. For those in the USA plum jelly.

 I only used up half the plums she gave me and I got 10 jars, and lots still left to eat.

Warning this is what happens when the jam spits at you. Very painful and Im sure I will get a scar as a reminder.
but all in all the jam is worth it as I am onto my last jar from last years crop.
see ya

Donuts

today I have been a busy little beaver and finished my BOM and my homework for Tuesdays class as well.
Then I decided to make some donuts. These are the little ones I made and covered with sugar and cinnamon. I also made some with holes in the middle but these got eaten before I remembered to take photos.
I went outside when it had stopped raining and feed and watered the cows and goats. They can be very vocal when they want attention.
All in all a productive day.
Thank god is Friday, I will enjoy the weekend, I hope you all enjoy yours.
see ya

HAPPY EASTER!

Yesterday I had a big day of baking ready for easter today. this is the traditional greek easter bread. slightly well done but Im sure it still is yummy to eat.

This is greek cheese and egg pie. A favourite in this family.

Zucchini choc brownies, not traditional, but oh so good!

Bags packed ready to go!

Happy Easter everyone!!!!!!!!!!!

Bread and butter cucumbers

cut up your cucumbers into thin slices and salt carefully.
leave overnight.
next morning wash and put aside to dry.
in a pan add
white vinegar
sugar
white pepper corn
and water.
I used 3cups vinegar
1 cup sugar and a handful of the pepper corn.
I then added 1.5 cups water and brought the lot to the boil.
I washed and put jars into hot water while I waited for the vinegar to come to a boil.
Pack the jars with the cucumber and add the vinegar mix.
seal and put in canner.

This time I also added onion to the cucumber to salt but only left them for an hour.
I hope these tast like you remember. Its been a few years since I made the last batch and the family Iove them.
They will be ready to eat in about a week or so.
If you can hold out that long.
see ya

Still cooking

Yummy cookies, with chocolate chips Bread and butter cucumbers

And my fowlers bottling unit. Bought 2nd hand and has been used lots!

Nearly the weekend.

See ya

Sauce!

two of these Turned into 12 of these

Just like magic!

see ya

Pickled Beets and wooly Socks

This is my attempt at knitting socks. So far it looks like it should, I think.

And these are the jars of beetroot that I preserved today. They will be ready to eat in about a week.

All the nectarines are gone. I have a couple of fruit monsters living in the house so no nectarine jam this year unless my MIL gives me some of hers.

see ya

Making jam!

We harvested the second lot of plums and we had lots, so I decided to make some jam. Even though the plums were a purple colour they turned a glorious red as they simmered in the pot.

And these plums are whats still left. Our nectarines are next. I may try a plum and nectarine jam.

It should be interesting. Will let you know the verdict when I make it and it gets tast tested.

see ya