Eggplants

This has been the first really successful eggplant season I have had. In the past eggplants have taken a long time to establish at the beginning of the season and have subsequently produced small, bitter fruit. But not this year- they are waist height and are producing huge, sweet fruit.
I think that 9 is possibly too many plants when they all grow and produce well.

Following is one of my favourite eggplant dishes, it is a great accompaniment to lamb or just served with rice. I also think it would be fab as a tapas style dish with toasted sourdough.

Spicy Eggplant and Tomato

1tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
2 tbsp ginger finely chopped
1 brown onion, sliced
1/2 teaspoon tumeric and chilli powder
1 tsp ground coriander
500g tomatoes chopped (or 1 tin)
2 eggplants, cut into chunks
1tsp sugar

Heat oil in heavy pan, add cumin seeds and fry for a moment before adding the onion and cooking until soft. Add the ginger, tumeric, chilli and coriander and fry for a minute or so until fragrant. Add the tomatoes, eggplant and sugar. Mix well and simmer for 20 mins or so until soft. Season to taste and serve. Yum!!

Another favourite eggplant dish is ratatouille, a great recipe can be found at Cevenol Kitchen.

First Day of Kindy

Lysbeth was very excited about her first day of kindy. The bus was a bit scary though and she thinks she will wait until she is a bit bigger to go on the bus.
Emmeline really wishes she could go too. Lucky she only has to wait one more year!!

Baby Leo

Leo Tom, born 21-12-2010, 8lbs, 13oz.

Hard to believe he is over four weeks old already!

I thought it was about time I had another crack at a blogging comeback- let's see how it goes this time!

Comeback Time

It has been a while since I posted- think it is time to make a comeback. Here are a couple of farm photos from last weekend to get me started again.


Throwing out the nets to get yabbies. The kids call them 'yabby lobsters' and Lyssie loves eating them.


A lost lamb that needed a lift back to his paddock.

Playing

Things that seemed to entertain the children today.

Lyssie found Emme's quilt and played 'mud' on it, which basically involves jumping in the mud- not exactly sure that is what my sister had in mind when she was designing and making it!

Emme couldn't believe her luck when she discovered a swing for Lambie when she pulled hard on the straps at the back of the high chair- he has had the best afternoon!

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Homemade Presents

Before I get started I just have to share today's great garden disaster! I Finally had an hour to myself in the garden so headed out to pull out some old spinch and give the bed a good dig ready for some more zucchinis. Anyway, I was digging away and then there was something on my fork that wouldn't shake off- a lovely big frog I had managed to dig up and stab right through the middle- it was a little distressing!!

I remember reading or hearing earlier this year from some great chef (but can't remember who unfortunately) about oregano being the only herb it is better to use dry then fresh. That got me thinking how it would make a nice little present for friends- and something I could actually do myself. So here is my first go. They look so pretty when you first hang them up.

Broad Beans

This year I planted two varieties of broad beans. The one on the left is aquadulce and the one on the right is crimson flowered broad beans. The aqualuce was definitely a more prolific grower with a lot more pods that where quite big compared to the crimson flowered, but the crimson flowered far outweighed the aquadulce in flavour and texture and colour. Ian said they were almost edible (he has had a few for dinner lately). I think next year I will only grow the crimson flowered broad beans, although I just looked on the Digger's Club website and they won't be available till July next year.
Our favourite way to eat them
First, peel, boil and then peel beans again.
Fry off some garlic, speck and onion, add the beans with a little chicken stock and simmer till the liquid has gone. Really nice with pork chops.