Seasonal Eating - Black Pepper Strawberries

At the moment strawberries are in season here.
I know for most people strawberries are a summer fruit but it is too humid here in summer so ours are at their peak in spring.

At the moment my favourite way to eat them is with balsamic vinegar and freshly cracked black pepper.  Now I know it is not the usual flavour combination but trust me on this.  It is such a quick and easy desert.
The balsamic really enhances the strawberry flavour and the pepper really gives it a warm hum.

Black Pepper Strawberries

500 gm Fresh Strawberries
2 Tbl Icing Sugar
2 Tbl Balsamic Vinegar
1/2 Tsp Freshly Ground Black Pepper

Hull and quarter strawberries.  Add icing sugar and vinegar and mix for 3 minutes so that the strawberries release some juices.  Leave to marinate for between at least 1 hour but not more that 3 hours.
Just before serving grind the pepper very finely and mix into berries.  Serve over vanilla icecream that has also been dusted with black pepper.

NB  I have tried this with a normal balsamic as well as a balsamic reduction and they both work but see what works for you.

A Spring Holiday

I have been a bit absent from here because we are currently enjoying some time with family in NZ.  Most of our time has been spent just spending time with loved ones but we are about to head off to the Hawkes Bay on the east coast for a few days by ourselves.

In the meantime here are some spring photos from NZ.

Did Someone Say Spring?

Well apparently yes they did.

Asparagus is shooting...

And the Mulberry is fruiting.

Well the plants think so and who am I to judge.  I think they are much better equipped to measure the soil temperature than I am.

What this really means is that the brassicas I have got in the ground that have not yet produced may not and it is very much time to get those spring vegetable seeds sown.

Day 2 in the Garden

Day 2 of my time off dawned clear and warm.  So it was back to the shade house for more potting, re potting and propagating.

I am really lucky to have such a great spot for potting and planting where it is a bit cooler and out of the direct sunlight.  The shade cloth is 50% UV/light blocking so I still wear a hat and sunscreen but it is much better than being out in the heat.

Shade house with potting bench on the right

Shade house from the other end.
Potting table in back left corner.

I re potted the Galangal and a few of the natives that I have grown from seed and the rest of them went into some seaweed solution to soak in preparation for planting out.

Number 1 helper and Galangal in the background.
Natives soaking.

All the seeds planted, cuttings potted up and plants re potted.

Once all of the potting had been done it was time to move out into the sun. 
Bed number 2 was cleared and is ready for turning over, composting and summer planting.

Bed 1 in full swing, bed 2 waiting to be turned over.

Then the hibiscus needed a hair cut and once that was done it was time to pack up for the day.  Time to call it a day.

Hibiscus after the haircut.
It was nearly as tall as the tree next to it.

Time for a good nights sleep, more jobs on the list tomorrow.

Day 1 in the Garden

So the first day of my work break has come and gone and it was a productive one.

It was off to town to pick up supplies.  Some Searles 5 in 1 compost, some vermiculite and a few other bits and pieces.  I use the vermiculite mixed with potting mix when planting out seeds and I see on the packet it is made from organic materials, but I really do not know that much about it and if it is actually a good thing to buy/use and what are the environmental impacts.  If anyone knows I would love to know.  Other wise I will be putting it on my list of things to find out.

Then it was off to the mushroom farm to make enquiries about compost and buying mushrooms in bulk.
And I wasn't disappointed.  I met with the owner and she gave me a tour and told me what I was able to purchase.
Basically there was no minimum quantity so if I only wanted a kilo of mushrooms (as if) that was fine and I had the choice of the following:

A1 Buttons $7 kg
A2 Buttons $6 kg (these were basically not pure white on their caps)
Cups $5 kg
Swiss Browns $8 kg
Mushroom compost $1 per bag and still producing stacks of mushrooms

My A2 Mushrooms

 So I got a 4kg box of A2 mushrooms and now I just have to divide them up and work out how many to keep out and how many to freeze.  I am not sure if anyone else freezes mushrooms but I find they freeze well.

After lunch I go on to some of the outdoor jobs on my list, mainly planting seeds for the summer veg I want to have this year. So out to my potting table in the shade house it is.



My potting table  and my basket of seeds, paper pots and extra paper and my number 1 helper



Paper pots from over at sow give grow

All done - well for now

So I have planted out: Sage, Thyme, Rocket, Purple Artichokes, Zuchini (tri colour), 3 types of Tomato's (Amish Paste, Russian Mix and Galapagos), Heirloom Capsicums (7 colour mix) and Heirloom Eggplant's.
Some of these I tried last year but I was too late in starting and the humidity killed them off so this year I hope to have things up and running before the humidity kicks in.

Well out to the garden I go again to see what more I can get done.

Flower Power

After looking at the mess that is my front garden I felt the need to remind myself of the beauty that is just waiting to be on show again not hidden among the weeds.

Yep the weeding will be worth it.

To Wrack and Ruin

I am ashamed to say that the entrance to our home is not as appealing as it once was.  The two garden beds at the entrance to our home have gone to wrack and ruin.  They are overgrown with plants that need to be moved, weeds that grow like they are having seaweed solution pumped directly into their veins, and the general disorder that comes with a lack of care from the owners.  Yup that would be me.

These gardens are supposed to be for roses as there were some nice ones hidden amongst the weeds when we brought the house and they were lovingly brought back to life and flourished for a time.  However of late the weeds and other plants have begun to dominate the landscape and you literally cannot see the roses for the weeds.

Hiding among all of this are 4 different roses
 and currently you would have trouble finding them all



And hiding in here are another 3
These you might be able to make out but look at the weeds Ahrrrr.

Then there is my sad, sad standard fig that you might have noticed in the first photo.
It has suffered at the hands of jack frost and lost all of its leaves (have you ever seen such a sorry looking fig?)and the mondo grass at the base has also taken a beating.


What a sorry sight

So rather than just try and nurse it back to health it was given a root trim and re potted with fresh soil and compost into a larger pot.

From here things should be ok.  There were already new leaves forming and with a few doses of seaweed solution it should be looking it's best in the not too distant future.



Re potted and ready to thrive



As for the rest of the garden that will have to wait till next weekend which marks the start of my 2 weeks away from work but doing work around the house and farm.

Until then I will be on the lookout for other areas that gone to wrack and ruin and wondering if this happens to everyone.

Preparing for Spring

Here in QLD we have a very short winter and as this is only the second full winter we have been on the farm I am still trying to work out the seasons and weather cycles.  So far it seems like we get a 6 month Summer, and 2 months each of Autumn, Winter and Spring but it will take a few more years to really work it out.
Last year I was late in getting my seeds going and before I knew it spring had been and gone and summer was upon us.  Two things have happened in the garden this week to make me think Spring is very much here and I need to get a move on with my seed planting. 

How do I know...

The first Asparagus spear has emerged, and

the Mulberry is producing fruit.

So I have planted out  a few seeds already and I have more to go in.  Better get a move on I think.