time for an update

7:56 PM 2013, cheese making, cooking No Comments

Bloosoms

the winter so far has been fairly warm and the fist of the buds are out for the Peaches

Peach blossoms

Nectarines and Apples

Apple Blossoms

The Apples have never been particularly successful, I am told our "monsoon" weather pattern is the main reason, that is, wet summers and drier winters.  We'll see how they go this year as we've had a wetter than normal, albeit mild winter.

Weeds

For those interested in edible and useful "weeds" we came across this a few months ago

We've found a couple of the weeds mentioned and plan to use some in various salads etc

Dock, found growing in the Orchard

You can get a copy here if you're interested.  Interesting book.  We just wish we could find something on Fungi, as we have so many varieties on our property with no real idea as to which ones are edible.  Anyone know of a foragers guide to Fungi in Australia ?

Cheese...

is going great,

Freshly made Feta

Feta and Ricotta only at the moment. Neufchâtel is the next cheese to try.  You can read more about the great cheese factory here.  It sells well when Toni takes it to the Farmers Market and overall the feedback has been positive.  After watching her idol Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall on River Cottage the other night, now she wants her own Cow... mmmm

Baking

Cinnamon Scrolls

Just before going in the oven

 were recently added to the home baked menu, love 'em !

Breads and Scrolls proving near the fire

Stored in the freezer, they are easily reheated over the fire in a small metal pan.  No Gas or electricity (even though we're 100% renewable) needed !

In fact, I am off to heat one now !  Ooo 'roo !

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cuisine and cookin'

8:56 PM cheese making, cooking, jam, marmalade No Comments

Well, Toni has been cooking up a storm.

Cheese

She recently (for her birthday) was gifted a beginners cheese-making set to which she has taken too with enthusiasm, making her own Feta and Ricotta, very tasty to I must say.

Making the Feta

Decanting to a cheesecloth

Draining for a few hours, to separate the Whey

The Whey is then used to make Whey based Ricotta

Finished Feta

Finished Ricotta

Jams, Marmalade and Cordial

The citrus trees are heavy with fruit, and the marmalade had recently run out, so time to make some more !  Once again the Sally Wise book "Year in a Bottle" is used:

Passion fruit Cordial

and away we go, adding some of the frozen passion fruit collected earlier.

Passionfruit Cordial

Marmalade on the wood heater at night, no gas used !

Marmalade simmering away

and we had some left over blackberries in the refrigerator, so why not some more Blackberry Jam !  Why not indeed

Blackberry Jam

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