"Kale" Flavour of the Season

In almost every recipe one sees this time of year Kale is being used as an ingredient, so many claims of benefits to health.

I have a few varieties of it growing here in the vegie patch, we have been having it steamed and in green smoothies.

This is a very attractive purple stemmed variety.

 

The leaves of this variety are so dark and shout out healthy!

Another very attractive curly leafed variety.

They grow very easily and haven't been bothered by any pests.

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I just love the deeply crinkled leaves of the Savoy Cabbage, a little longer to go before they are ready to harvest.

This year we have chosen to grow purple podded peas, the pods have been a little slow to develop and aren't quite as big as the green varieties.  They say everything purple is the in colour to be eating for healthy superfoods, the flowers are very colourful in the vegie patch to.

What have you got growing in your vegie patch at the moment.

Enjoy your weekend.

Shirley :)

Beautiful Photo

I came across this today on the net, just love it.

Now to get out into the garden and take control of the weeds!

Don't you just love it :)

Enjoy your day.

Shirley

In My Kitchen

Another month has flown by and here we are again sharing glimpses of favourite things in our kitchens. Also check out Celia's blog Fig Jam and Lime Cordial, a delightful blog by a very creative and talented lady.  http://figjamandlimecordial.com/

I have found the Jamie Oliver Flavour Shaker great, hardly a day goes by without I find it in my hand being used for chopping herbs, making marinades etc.

 
My EMile Henry Tajine has been a godsend, great one pot cooking and the meat is melt in your mouth after the slow cooking, I can see this being used lots over the winter months.

 
I am a great believer in using varied oils for cooking, extra virgin olive oil, rice bran oil, grapeseed oil.  I have recently add Niugini Organic Raw 100% Virgin Cold Pressed Coconut Oil for its proven health benefits.  This is very mild tasting so really doesn't overpower the flavours of other ingredients when used.

Manuka Honey that we picked up while holidaying in Tasmania, the bees gather the nectar and pollen from the Tea Trees on Bruny Island, it is a rich tasting honey well known for its medicinal qualities.

Microfibre cloths have been around for ages.  A friend introduced me to Norwex antibacterial microfibre cloths recently, they are embedded with silver inside the microfibres which is said to inhibit the growth of germs and bacteria.  I bought this set of kitchen cloths.

Lastly, a piece of highly polished granite that I am using for kneading my sourdough on.  Just lovely to work on.

I'm looking forward to seeing what others have been doing, making or finding useful in their kitchens.

Shirley :)

Wet Day At Byron Bay

It has been raining all week here in Brisbane, this morning the sun was out, my daughter is on holidays so we decided to have a day out to see if we could spot any whales as they pass by beautiful Byron Bay.

As we were getting closer towards Byron Bay the weather was closing in and it was very wet, windy, the rain blowing in from the sea and we could see very little, not a good day for whale spotting.

Nevertheless, it was a great day out, a great change of scene which does us all good from time to time.

It was quite rough, the waves were pounding in,  though beautiful to watch.

Hope you have a great weekend.

Shirley :)
 

Winter Vegie Garden Photos

A few photos of what's happening in our vegie garden now it is winter.

A supply of pumpkins for soups, curries, pies and what ever I can think of!

       Johnny Jump Ups, Cos Lettuce, Broccoli and Cabbage leaves in the                                         background.

                               Yellow stems of the rainbow chard.

                      Sugarloaf cabbage, just about ready for harvest.

                         Shallots growing amongst the Herb Robert.

A crop of tomatoes, so much easier to grow in the winter when there is no fruit fly around.

Have a great day.

Shirley :) 

Just Love Candles

                       I love the relaxing mood that candles can give.

Have a lovely evening :)
 

Our oranges are ripening, so time for some healthy juices to keep the cold's and flu's at bay.

Freshly picked oranges and the last of the dragon fruit, tastes great and the colour is fantastic.

                      Today, fresh oranges, pawpaw and banana.

Lovely sitting in the garden enjoying the fruits freshly picked from the trees   blended into healthy drinks within minutes.

Enjoy your day.

Shirley :)