NO SHOW AND A TALLY CATCH UP

Sorry I have been a no show on here! The last few weeks of pregnancy were an exhausting few, with many chores that needed to be completed before we brought our new little man home. And then when I thought I had at least a week to go, my waters broke 1 week before my due date! I will post our birth story in the coming weeks.

WELCOME TO THE WORLD JIREH SAMUEL BORN 14TH NOVEMBER AT 2:37AM WEIGHING 2980 GRAMS OR 6 POUNDS 9 OUNCES AND MEASURING 49.5CM IN LENGTH

23/9/13 - 1/12/13

64 eggs
347 grams onions
1235 grams leeks
2315 grams silverbeet
344 grams parsley
10506 grams broad beans
113 grams capsicum
11 grams thyme
295 grams loquats
507 grams artichokes
163 grams chili
2082 grams rhubarb
337 grams celery
321 grams carrots
947 grams beetroot
3010 grams garlic

TOTAL 64 EGGS AND 22.533 KILOGRAMS OF FOOD

WEEKLY TALLY - NUMBER 33 & GARDEN SNAPSHOT

I have been slowly cleaning up the winter garden to make room for my spring seedlings which I will start to sow at the end of this month and early next month. It's been a slow process as it's been getting harder to bend down and stay bending down, so something that would usually only take me a couple of hours, need to be spread over a number of days 15 minutes at a time. I am hoping to keep up with the garden this summer, even with a newborn! And those homegrown veggies are going to be even more important as bubba Will starts his first foods!

2/9/13 - 8/9/13

24 eggs
509 grams silverbeet
989 grams beetroot
98 grams capsicum
31 grams carrot
11 grams chili
93 grams peas

TOTAL 24 EGGS AND 1731 GRAMS OF FOOD.

Now for a look at what my garden is doing!

I'm starting to get baby broad beans after months of flowering!

Still so many flowers!

The celery has taken off!

And the silverbeet bushes are getting larger leaves after a trimming! Excuse the massive weed!

The chili somehow continued to fruit throughout winter, even though the chilis are smaller and the leaves sad. 

NOVEMBER HARVEST 2012

I had tallied up all my harvests for November but I misplaced my book. I recently found it so I thought I would share what I gathered from my garden 6 months ago :D

67 eggs
1492 grams celery
1229 grams carrots
5 grams bay leaf
4 sprigs rosemary
117 grams strawberries
462 grams cauliflower
1284 grams loquat
504 grams broccoli
1386 grams leek
567 grams potato
1215 grams silverbeet
199 grams lemon
1026 grams broad beans
handful thyme
2 handfuls coriander
90 grams beetroot
25 grams turnip
64 grams snow peas
47 grams parsley
16 small heads, 18 medium heads, 48 large heads and 1 extra large heads of garlic

TOTAL 9.712 KILOGRAMS OF FOOD IN NOVEMBER NOT INCLUDING THE 67 EGGS, 83 HEADS OF GARLIC AND HERBS!

WEEKLY TALLY - NUMBER 9

This week I had a lovely travelling family stay with us for a couple of nights and they offered to help clean up the last of the summer veggies! There are no more tomatoes left in the ground. The marrows have been pulled up and the beds weeded. I have planted all my garlic, and seedlings of cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, celery and leeks. Seeds of salad varieties have been scattered, as well as pea, snow peas and broad beans been planted behind a trellis.

Over grown garden BEFORE

Over grown garden BEFORE

overgrown garden BEFORE

Ready for winter AFTER

Ready for winter AFTER

With all the wind we had in Melbourne on Wednesday night and all day Thursday My pumpkins came out worse for wear, many of the have been harvested curing for winter storage. I have a few more on the vines waiting it out for another week or two until their section of the vine dies off. I planted a dedicated strawberry patch in hope that they receive more sunlight and thus produce more strawberries. My little man has fallen in love with strawberries these last few months after hating them.

18/3/13 - 24/3/13

Eggs 25
Capsicum 261 grams
Kale 240 grams
Marrow 14321 grams
Chili 42 grams
Tomato 1960 grams
Carrot 23 grams
Pumpkin 22412 grams

TOTAL 25 EGGS AND 39.259 KILOS OF FOOD

WEEKLY TALLY - NUMBER 4

This week was a pretty good week as well. I mainly harvested tomatoes, which I have started preserving in the freezer and this week I may cook up a batch to be bottled for winter. I'm surprised at how many tomatoes I have picked and how many more are still on the vines, which are looking very very sad. Not sure what is causing this but it's happening to my mums vines as well, I was thinking it could be the heat or just the end of the season...

11/2/13-17/2/13

1007 g zucchini
31 g herbs
11 eggs
2040 g trombonico
12950 g tomatoes
1434 g cabbage
44 g capsicum
8 g carrot

TOTAL 11 EGGS AND 16.08 KILOS OF PRODUCE FROM MY GARDEN :D

This is one days harvest 63 grams shy of 6 kilos!

FEBRUARY PLANTING GUIDE

Successive planting for a family of 4...

Week 1
Spinach 4 seeds
Spring Onion 12 seeds

Week 2
Broccoli 6 seeds
Cabbage 3 seeds
Carrot 20 seeds
Lettuce 10 seeds
Peas 10 seeds
Turnips 4 seeds
Kohlrabi 2 seeds

Week 3
N/A

Week 4
Broccoli 6 seeds
Cauliflower 8 seeds
Leek 8 seeds
Lettuce 10 seeds
Spinach 4 seeds
Beetroot 6 seeds

JANUARY PLANTING GUIDE

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Successive planting for a family of 4...

Week 1
Beans 6 seeds
Broccoli 6 seeds
Cabbage 3 seeds
Carrot 20 seeds
Cauliflower 8 seeds
Leeks 8 seeds
Lettuce 10 seeds
Parsnips 12 seeds
Peas 10 seeds
Turnips 4 seeds
Spring onion 12 seeds
Kohlrabi 2 seeds

Week 2
N/A

Week 3
Beans 6 seeds
Broccoli 6 seeds
lettuce 10 seeds
Kohlrabi 2 seeds

Week 4
Cabbage 3 seeds
Carrot 20 seeds
Peas 10 seeds
Turnips 4 seeds

Week 5
Broccoli 6 seeds
Cauliflower 8 seeds
Leeks 8 seeds
Lettuce 10 seeds
Parsnips 12 seeds
Kohlrabi 2 seeds

DECEMBER PLANTING GUIDE

Successive planting for a family of 4...

Week 1
Lettuce 10 seeds
Turnips 4 seeds
Spring Onion 12 seeds

Week 2
Cabbage 3 seeds
Beans 6 seeds
Broccoli 6 seeds
Coriander 2 seeds
Kohlrabi 2 seeds

Week 3
Lettuce 10 seeds
Carrot 20 seeds
Silver Beet 1 seed
Beetroot 6 seeds

Week 4
Turnips 4 seeds
Parsnips 12 seeds
Potato 8 tubers
leek 8 seeds
Beans 6 seeds
Broccoli 6 seeds
Cauliflower 8 seeds
Celery and Celeriac 4 seeds
Coriander 2 seeds
Cucumber 3 seeds

Week 5
Lettuce 10 seeds
Cabbage 3 seeds
Peppers and Chili 2 seeds
Kohlrabi 2 seeds

RISOTTO WITH PRAWNS AND PEAS

This is one of my favorite risottos. I'm not usually a fish fan, especially shell fish, but in this I like prawns and the way they pop in your mouth. I find making my own stock works best for this, I find the store bought stuff way too salty, you could try the low salt version if you are pressed for time, but prefer making my own and find it is so simple to make.

FOR THE STOCK

prawn shells and heads from peeled prawns
2 carrots chopped
2 stalks of celery chopped
2 onions chopped
1 tsp salt
1 tsp whole black pepper
2 L water

Toss the prawn shells in a pot with a little oil until they turn pink add the rest of the ingredients and simmer for at least an hour. Strain the stock and use as required. If you make too much it freezes well.

You can find the pea and prawn risotto recipe here.

ITALIAN HAM AND BEAN SOUP

After 2 day of weather over 30 Degrees celsius in Melbourne's spring, we now have a miserable rainy cold day! I thought I would make a soup, and as we ate at a friends house last night, I blew my diet completely (with a double dessert and drinks!) This soup is low calorie and filling and only has 307 calories per serve! Great for lunch too.

INGREDIENTS:

400g dried pinto beans soaked overnight in cold water.
2 sprigs rosemary
2 bay leaves
500g ham bone (find these in the deli, they are the bone end from the ham off the bone, don't be tempted to use bacon bones they taste like dog bones)
2 tbs extra virgin olive oil
1 onion finely chopped
1 young celery stalk with leaves finely chopped
1 carrot finely chopped
1 can diced tomatoes
750mls chicken stock
750 mls water

Drain soaked beans and give them a wash. Place in a heavy based saucepan with ham bone, rosemary and bay leaves. Add enough cold water to cover bean and about 4 cm extra above. Simmer over low heat for 40 minutes. Drain and when cool enough chop meat from ham bone and reserve.

Place oil in a large frying pan on medium heat, cook onions, until soft, add celery and cook for another 2 minutes then add carrots and cook for another 2 minutes then add chopped meat and cook for another 2 minutes. Season add tomatoes and stock, and drained beans and cook for 20 minutes. If soup is too thin remove 1 cup and puree and if too thick add some more water. Check seasoning and serve with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.

NOVEMBER PLANTING GUIDE

Successive planting for a family of 4...

Week 1
Lettuce 10 seeds
Carrot 20 seeds
Silver beet 1 seed
Beetroot 6 seeds
Spring Onion 12 seeds

Week 2
Turnips 4 seeds
Beans 6 seeds
Broccoli 6 seeds
Coriander 2 seeds
Cucumber 3 seeds

Week 3
Lettuce 10 seeds
Cabbage 3 seeds
tomato 3 seeds
Kohlrabi 2 seeds

Week 4
Parsnips 12 seeds
Potato 8 tubers
Carrot 20 seeds
Leek 8 seeds
Peppers and chili 2 seeds
Silver beet 1 seed
Beans 6 seeds
Broccoli 6 seeds
Cauliflower 8 seeds
Celery and Celeriac 4 seeds
Coriander 2 seeds
Beetroot 6 seeds

OCTOBER TALLY

There will be no recipe today, we are going to a friends house for dinner. Seeing as today is the last day in October, I have added up the weight of everything I have harvested this month.

75 eggs
283g snow peas
2154g broccoli
733g beetroot
543g kohlrabi
2031g shelling peas
401g cauliflower
1603g loquat
1178g turnip
740g parsnip
1477g carrot
553g leek
157g lettuce
3230g celery
207g broad beans
2g bay leaf
235g parsley
1609g rhubarb
339g silverbeet
588g coriander

TOTAL 18.063KG OF FOOD NOT INCLUDING EGGS!

INDIAN CARROT SALAD WITH WHOLEMEAL FLAT BREAD

I made this recipe a couple of years ago, but tonight have added some twists to suit what I had in the house/garden. This is the original recipe.

This is my version.

INGREDIENTS
600g premium mince beef
3 tsp garam masala
1 tsp sea salt
500g carrots
2 tbs sesame seeds
small bunch fresh parsley
DRESSING
1 tsp ground cumin
1 small red onion finely sliced
1 1/2 tsp white balsamic vinegar
3 tbs extra virgin olive oil

Fry mince until crispy and add garam masala and salt.

Grate carrots (you're supposed to shave with a vegetable peeler but i couldn't be bothered - the end result though is texturally fantastic). Add onions and parsley and carrots in a bowl. Mix all dressing ingredients together and pour over salad. Serve with flatbread.

WHOLEMEAL FLAT BREAD INGREDIENTS

2 C wholemeal flour
2 tsp salt
2 tsp sugar
2 tsp dried yeast
1/2 C warm water or more until you get a smooth dough.

Combine all ingredients and mix until you get a smooth dough. Allow to rise for 2 hours. Divide into 6 and roll until very thin. In a dry frying pan and medium to low heat cook for a couple of minutes on each side until you get some colour.

SHEPHERD'S PIE

I'm trying to forever change my menu and try and endeavour to NEVER cook the same thing twice! Yep thats right! No wonder I'm often baffled as to what to cook for dinner! So I was thinking for the next month (and maybe more) I will post the recipe of what I am cooking for dinner!

So tonight it is shepherd's pie (or is it cottage pie I never know the difference?) with homegrown carrots!



INGREDIENTS

500g premium mince beef
4 medium carrots diced or grated
1 onion diced
4 cloves of garlic crushed
750ml homemade stock I used a dark chicken because that's what i had just made but you can definitely used beef! (if you can't make your own buy the liquid stuff *please please read the ingredient list* and please please not the *insert rude word here* cubes/powder with all the artificial flavours colours preservatives and God only knows what else!!!!)
pepper to taste
mash potato (or a combination of potato and sweet potato or any other veggie you like)
grated cheese to top around 50-100g



Sweat off the onion and garlic and carrot until soft and try not to colour too much.



Remove from pan. Fry mince meat breaking it up as much as you can. Season with pepper only (as the stock will reduce and can be quite salty. Taste at the end to see if you need more salt.)



Add the stock and reduce down until you have a nice gravy (should take 30 - 45 mins)





While stock is reducing start boiling the potatoes  to make the mash.

I left the skin on the baby potatoes that I mashed.

 I needed to add a couple of pinches of salt to the reduced stock and mince mix. Place in the bottom of a baking dish.

Top with the mash and grated cheese.

Place under the broiler until golden brown. It should take 5-10 minutes.

SPRING GARDEN SNAPSHOT

My spring garden is doing really well! I thought I would share some pictures with you.

red cabbage

yellow silver beet

potato

growing seedlings

carrots

sprouting broccoli green and purple

garlic going to seed, nearly ready to harvest

celery, has been so productive but i think it's life is nearly over looks like it's going to seed.

strawberries coming into flower and some little ones starting to grow!

peas have been so productive!

parsley

Rhubarb

coriander

Thyme

Tomato's already flowering!

blood orange in bloom

bay leaf

broad beans

savoy cabbage

Happy gardening!