I made eight pots which we then filled with soil, made holes and added the seeds, then labeled with popsicle sticks.
We left them in the bathroom (warm and humid), watering them regularly and now we have some seedlings to add to the garden.
Showing posts with label Food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Food. Show all posts
seedlings
A few weeks ago we started to get our courtyard garden ready for summer. We are big fans of growing our own vegetables so this was our main focus. We brought a few seedlings and planted a few seeds, this will mean we will have vegetables ready at different times. Being slightly lazy I like to just use seeds that you can plant straight in the ground (parsley, greens etc), but this year Mima's Dad wanted to try some chilli and other seeds which need to be raised in pots. So I found a video for making newspaper seedling pots on you tube and got busy.
While she recommends not using tape or staples to secure the origami pot, I found I needed to use a small piece of tape, I will remove this when I plant the seedling, pot and all!
I made eight pots which we then filled with soil, made holes and added the seeds, then labeled with popsicle sticks.
We left them in the bathroom (warm and humid), watering them regularly and now we have some seedlings to add to the garden.
I made eight pots which we then filled with soil, made holes and added the seeds, then labeled with popsicle sticks.
We left them in the bathroom (warm and humid), watering them regularly and now we have some seedlings to add to the garden.
cake stall two
Saturday was the Ponsonby Spring Market Day and our Playcentre, Freemans Bay, held a fabulous cake stall. Below are some pictures of the yummy creations that were sold.
chocolate smoothie
We all enjoy this for breakfast!
The basis of this smoothie is from Dr Libby's Real Food Chef. I would also like to try using Maca powder instead of cocoa which I read abut on the Petite Kitchen blog.
carrots
It is getting towards the end of my current veg growing season in the garden. So I thought I would up date you on what has happened.
It was a long dry summer and we had mixed success.
The positives were the greens and herbs (I can't recommend growing these enough!), tomatoes especially the cherry ones which Mima ate straight off the plant and carrots.
I was so excited to pull up these rainbow carrots the other day.
I have never grown carrots before, but decided to give them ago and grew them from seed. Mima helped water and harvest the carrots, the process gave Miffy's Garden, which is about growing carrots, a new importance, this weeks favourite book.
We used them to make the Petite Kitchen lamb shanks stew totally delicious!
The disasters were courgettes, sadly our plant got powdery mildew and gave it to our corn. Check out the POD gardening page if you are interested in knowing more.
Over winter we will continue to grow herbs and greens. So far I have planted seedlings (kale, spinach, swiss chard, parsley) but will add some seeds in the next week or two.
It was a long dry summer and we had mixed success.
The positives were the greens and herbs (I can't recommend growing these enough!), tomatoes especially the cherry ones which Mima ate straight off the plant and carrots.
I was so excited to pull up these rainbow carrots the other day.
I have never grown carrots before, but decided to give them ago and grew them from seed. Mima helped water and harvest the carrots, the process gave Miffy's Garden, which is about growing carrots, a new importance, this weeks favourite book.
We used them to make the Petite Kitchen lamb shanks stew totally delicious!
The disasters were courgettes, sadly our plant got powdery mildew and gave it to our corn. Check out the POD gardening page if you are interested in knowing more.
Over winter we will continue to grow herbs and greens. So far I have planted seedlings (kale, spinach, swiss chard, parsley) but will add some seeds in the next week or two.
pork and corriander dumplings
Everyone loves dumplings don't they? We sure do, and regularly go to try out local dumpling places our favourites being Grand Habour for Yum Cha, and Barilla Dumpling on Dominion Rd for cheap eats - it's so bustling with energy. Makes my mouth water just thinking about it.
I grew up with my Grandad and Mum making huge batches wontons to deepfry or make soup with, they are still the best I've ever eaten. I've made wontons before but couldn't master the fold. I find dumplings however are really easy to make, and cook in a simple bamboo steamer.
I grew up with my Grandad and Mum making huge batches wontons to deepfry or make soup with, they are still the best I've ever eaten. I've made wontons before but couldn't master the fold. I find dumplings however are really easy to make, and cook in a simple bamboo steamer.
PORK AND CORRIANDER DUMPLINGS
Ingredients:
500g pork mince
2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
4 teaspoons fined grated ginger
4 spring onions finely sliced
fresh corriander - a big handful shredded
30 x dumpling wrappers
Method:
1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl.
2. Take one dumpling wrapper and cup it your hand, fill with 2 teaspoons of pork filling.
3. Brush edges with water and pinch to seal along top edge.
4. Steam in a bamboo steamer over a pot with quarter fill with boiling water for approx 5 mins.
Makes 30 dumplings
I got my steamter at Wah Lee's. I think I need to go get a bigger one though.
Moo loves them!
ice lollies
They are super simple! I make two flavours, apricot/yogurt and berry/yogurt.
First get your ice lolly moulds and fill them with water to work out how much mixture you need to make to fill them, I use 1 cup. The basic idea is half yogurt half fruit mixture.
To make the apricot fruit mixture...
I take a hand full of organic dried apricots, place them in a saucepan covered in water. Bring to the boil and simmer for a few minutes then turn the heat off and leave them in the pan to cool with the lid on. The apricots with become very plumb.
Once cooled blend with the remaining apricoty liquid from the pan. Then mix with the plain greek yogurt and spoon into the ice lolly moulds.
Put them in the freezer.
To make the berry versions...
Take a handful of frozen berries place them in a saucepan with 1 tablespoon of maple syrup and a little water (enough to half cover the berries). Bring to the boil and simmer until the the berries have started to break down. Allow to cool in the pan, then follow the instructions above.
YUM!
a summer feast
Over the holidays we spent a few warm evenings in our courtyard feasting with friends. We have an old door which we found years ago in an inorganic collection for a table top, we bring our dining chairs out, sit amongst the vegetable garden and look out at the giant trees in the park beyond, I love it, it is so idyllic.
I thought I would share with you the highlights of what we feasted on...
Over the past couple of months I have been following and trying recipes from the blog Petite Kitchen. I am a big fan. I have made a lot of the sweet treats or my variation on them with much success. In particular I have used the honey, almond and vanilla cake as a base to made little cupcakes for Mima, I don't do the topping but add berries to the mix, she loves them.
So I wanted to try some more recipes...
To start we had the chill, oregano and orange zest baked ricotta with the flaxseed crackers.
For our main we had the pork belly with salad, an asian slaw was a particularly good match.
Vanilla and lemon cream pie topped with blackcurrants was the desert, although I used fresh blueberries instead, it was delicious, Mima enjoyed it too.
And to drink Wrights organic Champagne with a dash of cherry and pomegranate six barrel soda syrup and selection of craft beers from Brothers Beer.
Good times!
I thought I would share with you the highlights of what we feasted on...
Over the past couple of months I have been following and trying recipes from the blog Petite Kitchen. I am a big fan. I have made a lot of the sweet treats or my variation on them with much success. In particular I have used the honey, almond and vanilla cake as a base to made little cupcakes for Mima, I don't do the topping but add berries to the mix, she loves them.
So I wanted to try some more recipes...
To start we had the chill, oregano and orange zest baked ricotta with the flaxseed crackers.
For our main we had the pork belly with salad, an asian slaw was a particularly good match.
Vanilla and lemon cream pie topped with blackcurrants was the desert, although I used fresh blueberries instead, it was delicious, Mima enjoyed it too.
And to drink Wrights organic Champagne with a dash of cherry and pomegranate six barrel soda syrup and selection of craft beers from Brothers Beer.
Good times!
christmas : six
GLAZED HAM
This is a very important part of Christmas in our house, mostly because of Mima's Dad, he loves it on toast with butter and mustard. I haven't made one for a few years and with the addition of Mima I thought it was time to get back into the tradition.
In the past I have made my glaze with mustard, beer and a lovely fig jam from and small producer Mustard Makers based in Puhoi north or Auckland where we live, but I don't think they make this product any more, so I had to re-think my glaze.
Beer is a lovely starting ingredient as it helps keep the ham vey moist. I know some people who have used other liquids including Coca Cola and rave about, but beer is perfect for us. Mima's Dad is passionate about boutique beer brewing and his choice for the ham was Tuatara London Porter.
I had a little search around and decided this recipe on the Cuisine magazine website would be good to try. It involved grinding a selection of spices (star anise, cloves, fennel seeds, ground cinnamon and ground ginger) then adding a cup of dark brown sugar and enough beer to form a thick paste.
The rest of the beer is poured over the ham, then you cover it in tin foil and cook for 40 minutes. The glaze paste is then added and you continue to cook for 30 minutes until golden brown. Super easy and I was right it was lovely.
Then it is important to put the ham in a ham bag which has been soaked in a vinegar solution or lemonade, before placing it in the fridge.
This is a very important part of Christmas in our house, mostly because of Mima's Dad, he loves it on toast with butter and mustard. I haven't made one for a few years and with the addition of Mima I thought it was time to get back into the tradition.
In the past I have made my glaze with mustard, beer and a lovely fig jam from and small producer Mustard Makers based in Puhoi north or Auckland where we live, but I don't think they make this product any more, so I had to re-think my glaze.
Beer is a lovely starting ingredient as it helps keep the ham vey moist. I know some people who have used other liquids including Coca Cola and rave about, but beer is perfect for us. Mima's Dad is passionate about boutique beer brewing and his choice for the ham was Tuatara London Porter.
I had a little search around and decided this recipe on the Cuisine magazine website would be good to try. It involved grinding a selection of spices (star anise, cloves, fennel seeds, ground cinnamon and ground ginger) then adding a cup of dark brown sugar and enough beer to form a thick paste.
The rest of the beer is poured over the ham, then you cover it in tin foil and cook for 40 minutes. The glaze paste is then added and you continue to cook for 30 minutes until golden brown. Super easy and I was right it was lovely.
Then it is important to put the ham in a ham bag which has been soaked in a vinegar solution or lemonade, before placing it in the fridge.
christmas : two
PUD
Each year it is my job to make the Christmas pudding for our family get together. I'm not a fan of Pavlova so this suits me perfectly. I use Nigel Slater's gorgeous recipe from The Kitchen Diaries. It is so perfect I don't change anything so I won't post the recipe you can get his fabulous book for the measurements and details.
First I cut up all the fruit, there is a lot and a wide variety, its Christmas so why skimp! Then I soak the fruit in brandy over night.
I add the rest of the ingredients, one of these ingredients is suet, instead, I freeze the amount of butter I need then grate it. Then I spoon the mixture into my greased pudding basin. My basin was my grandmothers, so you really don't need a new one, I would just buy one second hand if there aren't any hidden away in a relatives attic. Cover the mixture with a greased and pleated (to allow for the mixture to rise) piece of grease proof paper and pop on the lid. Steam for three and a half hours.
Now we are ready to reheat on Christmas day, YUM!
Each year it is my job to make the Christmas pudding for our family get together. I'm not a fan of Pavlova so this suits me perfectly. I use Nigel Slater's gorgeous recipe from The Kitchen Diaries. It is so perfect I don't change anything so I won't post the recipe you can get his fabulous book for the measurements and details.
First I cut up all the fruit, there is a lot and a wide variety, its Christmas so why skimp! Then I soak the fruit in brandy over night.
I add the rest of the ingredients, one of these ingredients is suet, instead, I freeze the amount of butter I need then grate it. Then I spoon the mixture into my greased pudding basin. My basin was my grandmothers, so you really don't need a new one, I would just buy one second hand if there aren't any hidden away in a relatives attic. Cover the mixture with a greased and pleated (to allow for the mixture to rise) piece of grease proof paper and pop on the lid. Steam for three and a half hours.
Now we are ready to reheat on Christmas day, YUM!
fourth birthday : three
THE FAIRY GARDEN PARTY : part two
THE CAKE
Chocolate cake with marshmallows, strawberries and no jam (as requested by the birthday girl)
I made a double batch of the Special Chocolate Cake recipe from Ladies, a Plate book, pink gradient butter cream icing with mini pink marshmallows in the centre. I made my own paper butterfly cake toppers (I'll show you how in the following weeks).
THE FAIRY
We had Fairy Petals come to visit. She is a woodland fairy that spends her days bouncing with the rabbits, flying with the bees and sitting in the treetops singing with the birds. Face painting, dancing, bubbles, stories, fairy dust and general excitement and amazement that a real fairy turned up to the party! She made the day so magical!
Happy Birthday Moo we love you!
fourth birthday : two
THE FAIRY GARDEN PARTY : part one
DECORATIONS
Well Sunday was the big day. After a big week of prep we were ready for a garden party fit for a few fairies. We decorated the garden with streamers and tissue paper pompoms and fans, I had a few helpers which was a fantastic.
THE FOOD
I decided to stick to fairy colour theme of pink, white and green and food appropriate.
Here are just a few of the fairy treats we nibbled on.
cakepops
rainbow pretzels
pink fairy potion
cupcakes
homemade sausages
fruit skewers
THE GIFTS
Wow Moo was showered with lovely gifts from friends and family. Her favourite though has to be the guitar (ukulele) from her daddy. The birthday girl had a few specific requests and a guitar was on the top of her list.
to be continued....
DECORATIONS
Well Sunday was the big day. After a big week of prep we were ready for a garden party fit for a few fairies. We decorated the garden with streamers and tissue paper pompoms and fans, I had a few helpers which was a fantastic.
THE FOOD
I decided to stick to fairy colour theme of pink, white and green and food appropriate.
Here are just a few of the fairy treats we nibbled on.
cakepops
rainbow pretzels
pink fairy potion
cupcakes
homemade sausages
fruit skewers
Wow Moo was showered with lovely gifts from friends and family. Her favourite though has to be the guitar (ukulele) from her daddy. The birthday girl had a few specific requests and a guitar was on the top of her list.
to be continued....
garden : one
I really love growing my own vegetables.
We moved into our current house about a year ago and with Mima keeping me very busy, I haven't had time to organise our courtyard garden. But I plan to create an epic edible garden that will feed us year round. I have dabbled in growing vegetables in the past, but I am no expert!
We live in an unusual community, Freemans Park, lots of terraced houses and apartments built in the 1960s scattered throughout an established park only 15minutes walk from the city. So beyond our small courtyard (approx 6m x 4m) are the most amazing giant trees. It really is beautiful.
That's right I only have 6m x 4m to create this edible paradise, so just a bit of a challenge. This spring / summer I want to experiment and get back into gardening.
Recently I found an amazing edible gardening website POD Gardening, and spent an evening watching their tutorials, reading articles, looking at the inspirational POD gardens (like Selby in the garden) and checking out their seed catalogue, I can't recommend it enough!
So I made a planting plan for the courtyard, brought seeds from POD and seedlings from Weathersfield Organics.
It is much cheaper to grow from seed and some seeds you can plant straight in the ground. Having said this with a small garden I will only want one or two tomato plants so I brought these as seedlings. Below is a list of what I got:
GROW FROM SEED
Mesclun mix
Tom Thumb Lettuce
Carrot - Rainbow mixed
Parsley
Marigold - petite mix
Calendula
GROW FROM SEEDLING
Tomato - Money Maker
Cherry Tomato
Corn
Courgette
We moved into our current house about a year ago and with Mima keeping me very busy, I haven't had time to organise our courtyard garden. But I plan to create an epic edible garden that will feed us year round. I have dabbled in growing vegetables in the past, but I am no expert!
We live in an unusual community, Freemans Park, lots of terraced houses and apartments built in the 1960s scattered throughout an established park only 15minutes walk from the city. So beyond our small courtyard (approx 6m x 4m) are the most amazing giant trees. It really is beautiful.
That's right I only have 6m x 4m to create this edible paradise, so just a bit of a challenge. This spring / summer I want to experiment and get back into gardening.
Recently I found an amazing edible gardening website POD Gardening, and spent an evening watching their tutorials, reading articles, looking at the inspirational POD gardens (like Selby in the garden) and checking out their seed catalogue, I can't recommend it enough!
So I made a planting plan for the courtyard, brought seeds from POD and seedlings from Weathersfield Organics.
It is much cheaper to grow from seed and some seeds you can plant straight in the ground. Having said this with a small garden I will only want one or two tomato plants so I brought these as seedlings. Below is a list of what I got:
GROW FROM SEED
Mesclun mix
Tom Thumb Lettuce
Carrot - Rainbow mixed
Parsley
Marigold - petite mix
Calendula
GROW FROM SEEDLING
Tomato - Money Maker
Cherry Tomato
Corn
Courgette
loaf : soda bread
I have just started making bread. The idea of making my own bread has developed since Mima was born and a desire to make as much as possible of what she eats, so I know the ingredient and where they came from. I tried using a bread maker with decidedly average results, the loaf didn't rise much, looked horrible and tasted very yeasty. So I thought I would try soda bread. I had a recipe from the River Cottage Baby and Toddler Cookbook so tried that first. We were very happy with the result, it tasted lovely and looked fantastic. Soda bread is so quick and easy to make that it is now part of my weekly routine, I make two small loaves.
I will update you on any better recipes I find in the future, actually if you know any please email them to me! Also if I give it all up and start buying bread at the supermarket!
The recipe in the River Cottage Baby and Toddler Cookbook is for double this amount. I like to make this smaller size.
INGREDIENTS
125g plain white flour
125g wholemeal OR spelt flour
1/2 tsp bicarbonate soda
pinch of salt
150ml plain, full fat yogurt
100ml whole milk
METHOD
Pre heat oven to 200C.
1. Put flour, bicarbonate soda and salt in a bowl and whisk to thoroughly combine.
2. Stir yogurt and milk together, then add to dry ingredients and mix well. This will make a sticky dough, which results in a lovely moist loaf that keeps well.
3. Scrap on to a baking tray lined with baking paper, forming a large mound, I like to leave the surface nice and textured.
4. Bake for 30 minutes, until well risen and golden brown. Leave to cool.
I slice and freeze what we don't eat that day.
I will update you on any better recipes I find in the future, actually if you know any please email them to me! Also if I give it all up and start buying bread at the supermarket!
The recipe in the River Cottage Baby and Toddler Cookbook is for double this amount. I like to make this smaller size.
INGREDIENTS
125g plain white flour
125g wholemeal OR spelt flour
1/2 tsp bicarbonate soda
pinch of salt
150ml plain, full fat yogurt
100ml whole milk
METHOD
Pre heat oven to 200C.
1. Put flour, bicarbonate soda and salt in a bowl and whisk to thoroughly combine.
2. Stir yogurt and milk together, then add to dry ingredients and mix well. This will make a sticky dough, which results in a lovely moist loaf that keeps well.
3. Scrap on to a baking tray lined with baking paper, forming a large mound, I like to leave the surface nice and textured.
4. Bake for 30 minutes, until well risen and golden brown. Leave to cool.
I slice and freeze what we don't eat that day.
cardboard box : sorting box
Since Mima was born we have been getting our fruit and vegetables delivered by a company called Ooooby (Out Of Our Own Back Yard). They provide boxes of seasonal fruit and vegetables straight from the grower to you at a reasonable price. You receive details of where everything was grown, whether it is organic and recipe suggestions. It has been brilliant with a young baby to look after and now feeding.
With all these boxes, I was inspired by Moo's castle and wondered what could I make for a one year old? I thought a sorting/posting box, with cut out shapes to match her toys would be cool and I was right she loves it! I think the fact that she can post her toys which she knows and loves makes this even more appealing.
I started with the rectangular Ooooby box.
Traced the outline of some of her toys and cut the shapes out.
I painted the edges of these cut outs in bright colours to accentuate them and make the box look fun.
With all these boxes, I was inspired by Moo's castle and wondered what could I make for a one year old? I thought a sorting/posting box, with cut out shapes to match her toys would be cool and I was right she loves it! I think the fact that she can post her toys which she knows and loves makes this even more appealing.
I started with the rectangular Ooooby box.
healthy eating for the family
A few months ago I went to the 'Mash up' in store event at Nature Baby. Natural Ange was doing a talk about healthy eating for the family sponsored by All Good Bananas.
I was actually interested in going to ask her about why Mima vomits after eating bananas, but her presentation was fascinating, I believe a must watch for anyone with a small family.
For those of you who are interested and have a spare 20 mins here is the video version of her talk...
There has been a lot written lately about the dirty dozen and clean fifteen so I won't go on about it but below are the lists...
DIRTY DOZEN - buy organic, or even better grow your own
Apples
Celery
Capsicum
Peaches
Strawberries
Nectarines
Grapes
Spinach
Lettuce
Cucumbers
Blueberries
Potatoes
Green Beans
Kale and Greens
CLEAN FIFTEEN - buy conventional
Onions
Sweet Corn
Pineapples
Avocado
Cabbage
Sweet peas
Asparagus
Mangoes
Eggplant
Kiwifruit
Melon
Kumara
Grapefruit
Watermelon
Mushrooms
And for those of you wondering why Mima vomits after eating bananas, she has had enough banana from me! I probably had a banana a day while pregnant and breastfeeding, so she was getting plenty from me. I have stopped eating them while still breastfeeding and Natural Ange suggested trying her on them again when she is two. She said her children had similar sensitivities to fish and apples, foods she ate a lot.
I was actually interested in going to ask her about why Mima vomits after eating bananas, but her presentation was fascinating, I believe a must watch for anyone with a small family.
For those of you who are interested and have a spare 20 mins here is the video version of her talk...
DIRTY DOZEN - buy organic, or even better grow your own
Apples
Celery
Capsicum
Peaches
Strawberries
Nectarines
Grapes
Spinach
Lettuce
Cucumbers
Blueberries
Potatoes
Green Beans
Kale and Greens
CLEAN FIFTEEN - buy conventional
Onions
Sweet Corn
Pineapples
Avocado
Cabbage
Sweet peas
Asparagus
Mangoes
Eggplant
Kiwifruit
Melon
Kumara
Grapefruit
Watermelon
Mushrooms
And for those of you wondering why Mima vomits after eating bananas, she has had enough banana from me! I probably had a banana a day while pregnant and breastfeeding, so she was getting plenty from me. I have stopped eating them while still breastfeeding and Natural Ange suggested trying her on them again when she is two. She said her children had similar sensitivities to fish and apples, foods she ate a lot.
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