The hot days are fading away, it is late summer already, but in cooler days is the time to remember, to relive and to enjoy all the beauty of the season.
In The Garden.
Managing the garden to a good standard based on our capability is achievable. We take our time, we do what we can.
At a glance, it is green, it is fresh, but please do not look at the details, the weeds are flourishing everywhere among the ruined-the spaces that long gone to be neglected. Late summer is cool enough we enjoy being in the garden to look around, appreciate what is in there and also fixing, mending anything that has to be done, and of course, we do it at our own pace. It is wise, don't you think?
The backyard looks so green after the heavy rain, all plants are growing, especially the pencil pine trees, they stand out, they have become so tall. The colourful annual flowers and roses are indeed the beauty spots in the late summer.
The Backyard
The beautiful bright Red Mandevilla is the queen of the backyard garden in the late summer.
Rose Bushes, Potted Roses, and Potted Mixed Flower Plants.
The new roses are surviving well, keeping up of the watering was necessary. They are flowering beautifully right now in late summer.
Fernery Corner. Lush and Green
The Montera Delicioussa plant is beautiful, but I have a larger one which is growing on the other side of the garage. And, indeed it is a monster, you will find out what I meant.
The Montera Delicioussa plant is beautiful, but I have a larger one which is growing on the other side of the garage. And, indeed it is a monster, you will find out what I meant.
Did you ever hear the story of the old-large root of Monstera Delicioussa got through the sidewall of the house where the plant climbs upon and invites the rainwater to get in? If you have not heard of, or if you did not, you do now. It happened in my place just recently during the heavy summer rain. 😒We were shocked to have found lots of water in the garage. We thought the water was from the rooftop, so we needed the help of the roof man, they did the investigation that the roof was in perfect condition, the water was from outside, got through the brick wall. Do you believe that? It is time to do something about it. On a good day, we will get rid of the Monster plant.
Self - sown rockmelon? I have no idea, it is growing in a large tall pot, in any case, it is too late, I don't think it can make to harvest.
Trees and Shrubs
STONE FRUITS
Nectarine Tree and Potted Angel Peach Tree
I have two stone fruit trees, a nectarine tree which I grow from seed and Angel Peach that I purchased of a nursery. The nectarine tree has been growing well since I planted and giving us lots of fruits, but this year is a different story. It looks so healthy, it has healthy leaves, green and not curly. Too many leaves and looking rich but fewer fruits, it does not make sense, but it is what happens to my nectarine tree. At times it gives us an abundance of fruits plenty to share around with, but this year we will be lucky if we could harvest three dozen fruits.
I need advice on what I have to do, asking the question, and at the end, I did research by merely asking Google, and this is the answer.
Stone fruit trees (i.e. peach, cherry, plum and nectarines) can be fertilized at a maximum rate of 1/8 pound of nitrogen per inch of trunk diameter (measured 1 foot above ground level). ... If too much nitrogen is applied, it can lead to excessive leaf and tree growth over fruit production.
The previous year and also last year I must have given too much fertilizer for the size tree that I have. The nitrogen is too much for the need of those trees.
Since Christmas time this potted fig was fruiting, and there are lots of fruits, they don't grow bigger, they take their time, so slow, to stay small forever. Now in the late summer, due to harvest, but still there is no sign of ripening.
Self-sown tomato plants are doing very well, the zucchini is alright, the fruit tends to shrivel before growing to mature. The green cucumber is growing and harvested two fruits so far, it is not very successful planting, for the first try though, next time should be better. The cherry tomato of self-sown are very promising, they have lots of fruits, harvested some. After the rains, foraging edible weed - purslane in the backyard, and transplants them to a high pot for easy picking. The hot chilli that does not taste hot is very annoying, they are growing happily in the veg patch. It was the wrong choice to plant.
Ther rest are perennial herbs that are growing beautifully. Another new plant is a sweet potato, it sprawling everywhere; hopefully, it gives us the fruit.
Cooking with zucchini has been good, for salads, soup, omelette and lately, I did stuffed zucchini, It was so delicious.
Used the best fresh medium-size zucchini for this dish. Cut to half, make hollow by scooping out the middle (Reserve, to add to the filling mixture) Fill with any stuffing as you like, the cheese is the essential element for the filling.
Cooking.
Stuffed zucchini flowers with ricotta cheese, fried in oil, were very successful cooking, very quick to cook and yum.
Creative Idea
Using old Sourdough Bread for pots to plant mini lettuces.
First, cut and get rid off some of the crumbs to make the hole for planting. Dry under the sun for a day, and followed by drying them in a hot oven. Let them cool for overnight. The next day, varnish them to give a shiny look and also protect the bread from staying solid and firm. They are ready for planting. I would place these pots away from the rain but to have good morning sun to help the plant growing well.
The second plantings were mustard seeds and radicchio, the plan is to harvest young seedlings.
Is it going to work? I must keep the pots away from humidity, but they must be exposed by the morning sun. The disaster occurred, the birds come to make a mess, tried to get some food, from the new shooting seeds of the sourdough bread pots.
The experiment did not work at all. That 's alright.
Cut to wedges serve warm or cold, Dust with icing sugar (optional)
Easy Cooking
Summer is hot most of the time, light and straightforward cooking suit me better. Rice, Noodles, Fish, Salads, Pancake Pies and Meat dishes have to be prepared under fifteen minutes. On a more relaxed day baking take place but choose the quick bake recipe with a short duration of cooking.
Home cooking is enjoyable, simply have a plan and do it right.
Here are the procedures to prepare simple rice dinner.
Rice and Garnishes-Sauteed Tofu and spiced crisp
5.00 ------------------------------5.10 cooking rice
5.02------------------------------- 5.6 boils the eggs
5.03-------------------------------5.07 chopping tofu/vegetables
5.08-------------------------------5.11 spiced nut crips prep
5.12-------------------------------515 cooking the tofu
Dinner is served at 5.20 or 5.30
Stirfry Noodles is very straightforward. Loosen up the egg noodles by adding hot water, rest it in for a while, then drain. Get ready to marinade the meat-chicken, beef or pork (if you wish to have). Add the meat with sweet soy, salt and sherry to marinade, keep aside. Chop all vegetables for the stirfry, and at the same time prepare the acar (pickled cucumber, carrots and shallots). All of these could be done in ten minutes. Rady to cook the noodles: First, cook the meat in a hot pan with oil for two minutes, take the meat out and keep aside. Using the same pan, add in some oil to cook the spices, vegetable quickly. Add half cup hot meat stock or hot water, stir together, put all the noodles on top, cover the pan with the lid, cook in high heat for two-three minutes (the steam will cook the noodles), open the lid, stir and mix together, season to taste. Now the noodles are done and ready to serve. How easy is that!
Fish is very healthy, and it does not take lots of time, especially salmon. Only take 3 minutes to cook a small portion of salmon with the skin on. Love to serve it with a salad or sauteed zucchini if it is in season.
This is what I do, cook the garnish first, potato or rice. Keep warm. Put the cooking pan on high heat, rubbed the fish with oil and add a little salt, place on the hot pan skin down, let it cook for two minutes. Turn it over and continue cooking for 22 seconds or (half minutes), also cook on both sides to0 for a few seconds. Take it out and rest on a plate, skin on top. Using the same cooking pan, cook the vegetables-zucchini or asparagus quickly and add some lemon juice to taste and season with salt. Serve the salmon with crispy skin add the garnished on the side.
Steak and Salad
There is a new cut steak in the supermarket now, labelled - aged beef, it cut pretty thin and small size at 175g, so you must watch when you cook it. But these steaks do me just fine, enough to serve for what we need of taking red meat. Cooking the steak: rub the steak with oil and sprinkle with salt. Sear on a hot cooking pan for a minute or longer but less of 2 minutes. Turn it over and cook for a half minute or one minute if you wish to have well-done steak. Remember, the steak is thin! Rest the steak for 3 minutes, meanwhile prepare the garnishes, avocado and peas salad. I use the cooking pan to pan-broiled red tomato. Steak without any sauce is delicious, dress the steak with softened herb butter instead.
Cake and Scone are good baking, quick and easy.
The zucchini plants have been giving us so much joy, the harvest is so good. Baked savoury scone with zucchini and it was a delight.
Nectarine harvest this year is not much at all, but it is good enough to supply the fresh fruit for just the two of us, in fact, it can stretch to baking for a tea cake.
Tuesday Picked
Picked some tomatoes, the first harvest of Brown Turkey Fig. Picked the last of nectarine, so we had more from what we counted for.
The Roast Beef
The first time to cook the porterhouse roast beef, a rather daunting, but I did it, the result just the way I expected, it was not perfect. The roast meat was not dry, but it was not juicy or tender. Roasting lean meat and yet a small piece is not easy. One has to learn, today I learnt a lot. I believe in learning for life.
Welcoming the new year to learn more, but less stress, also realising that lots of improvements have to be accommodating to.
Girlfriends.
Morning tea with friends, often the meeting place is in the Cafe. But this time was at our home. It was enjoyable and relaxed, we all had a lovely time to catch up. We missed Martine today, but we will be seeing her before too long.
The spread was modest but memorable. It was a delight.
The Important Greens
The cut flowers are still happening, and this time the Greens are as good. The green leaves arrangement is beautiful.
Gallipoli Heath is coming to flower. They will stay flowering up to the end of Autumn. Love the purple colour!
At last, the Myrtle tree is flowering too, I almost have given up. I thought it never will this time.
It has been a pleasant summer, started off the season with confidence and the mid-summer continue with activities which are enjoyable also beneficial for us both.
Now, it is late summer, things are only better.
More Post
Susy.
Nectarine Tree and Potted Angel Peach Tree
I have two stone fruit trees, a nectarine tree which I grow from seed and Angel Peach that I purchased of a nursery. The nectarine tree has been growing well since I planted and giving us lots of fruits, but this year is a different story. It looks so healthy, it has healthy leaves, green and not curly. Too many leaves and looking rich but fewer fruits, it does not make sense, but it is what happens to my nectarine tree. At times it gives us an abundance of fruits plenty to share around with, but this year we will be lucky if we could harvest three dozen fruits.
I need advice on what I have to do, asking the question, and at the end, I did research by merely asking Google, and this is the answer.
Stone fruit trees (i.e. peach, cherry, plum and nectarines) can be fertilized at a maximum rate of 1/8 pound of nitrogen per inch of trunk diameter (measured 1 foot above ground level). ... If too much nitrogen is applied, it can lead to excessive leaf and tree growth over fruit production.
The Nectarine Tree and Potted Peach
 |
| Lots of leaves but a few fruits Approx 33 fruits only. |
 |
| It looks healthy, lots of leaves but no fruit at all. Last year, harvested 8 fruits of this new potted Angle Peach. |
 |
| Early harvest, two dozen are left on the tree. |
Potted Figs and Citrus
Since Christmas time this potted fig was fruiting, and there are lots of fruits, they don't grow bigger, they take their time, so slow, to stay small forever. Now in the late summer, due to harvest, but still there is no sign of ripening.
Lemon tree, Native lemon.
 |
| Lemon Verbena |
Lemon Verbena is doing very well, love this fragrant tree with lovely white flowers. So grateful to have it for my freshly brew daily tea.
Vegetable Garden and Wild Weeds
Self-sown tomato plants are doing very well, the zucchini is alright, the fruit tends to shrivel before growing to mature. The green cucumber is growing and harvested two fruits so far, it is not very successful planting, for the first try though, next time should be better. The cherry tomato of self-sown are very promising, they have lots of fruits, harvested some. After the rains, foraging edible weed - purslane in the backyard, and transplants them to a high pot for easy picking. The hot chilli that does not taste hot is very annoying, they are growing happily in the veg patch. It was the wrong choice to plant.    |
Other herbs, sweet basils have been excellent, the curry leaf plant is in flower, lemon thyme and oregano are looking so healthy. The warrigal green in climbing upon the circle frame, which gives a significant impact in the space is very artistic.
The Zucchini
It flowers well, and turn to be fruits of course, but for some reason, they could not grow any bigger; instead, they stopped growing and becomes rot.
Used the best fresh medium-size zucchini for this dish. Cut to half, make hollow by scooping out the middle (Reserve, to add to the filling mixture) Fill with any stuffing as you like, the cheese is the essential element for the filling.
Cooking.
Baked Stuffed Zucchini with Mushrooms and Herbs
Stuffed zucchini flowers with ricotta cheese, fried in oil, were very successful cooking, very quick to cook and yum.
It was the last zucchini cooking of my garden, next year I will do it again, a plant is enough for us two.
Creative Idea
Using old Sourdough Bread for pots to plant mini lettuces.
First, cut and get rid off some of the crumbs to make the hole for planting. Dry under the sun for a day, and followed by drying them in a hot oven. Let them cool for overnight. The next day, varnish them to give a shiny look and also protect the bread from staying solid and firm. They are ready for planting. I would place these pots away from the rain but to have good morning sun to help the plant growing well.
Mixed Succulents on Sourdough Bread Pot
After two weeks also the bread becomes soft because of the rain, and now I transplant to a plastic pot.
Growing Micro Vegetables on Sourdough Bread Pots
Succulent
The new seedlings-mustard, the birds managed to make a mess. What a Mess! Indeed!
No longer sourdough bread pot. I moved and transfer this seedling mix to plastic containers and see how it goes. Hope the seedling are happy enough.
The experiment did not work at all. That 's alright.
Fruits The Gift from a Friend
Freshly picked these fruits of friend's orchard garden; nectarines and pears. We enjoyed them immensely, far too much for just the two of us, the pears would be delicious for baking a cake. So I did, the new pear cake was born. Happily, I am sharing the recipe with you all. It worked well for me.
Lyn's Pear Cake
Freshly picked these fruits of friend's orchard garden; nectarines and pears. We enjoyed them immensely, far too much for just the two of us, the pears would be delicious for baking a cake. So I did, the new pear cake was born. Happily, I am sharing the recipe with you all. It worked well for me.
Lyn's Pear Cake
Courtesy
of Lyn's Orchard
Ingredients
5
medium size semi-ripe pears, peeled, seeded.
Two pears, cut into half and slice thinly
Two pears, cut into half and slice thinly
Three pears, chopped roughly.
1 heaped cup plain flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda.
75g
butter, melted
35
g butter cut to16 pieces, thinly diced.
½
cup sugar
1
egg
1teaspoon
vanilla essence
1 tablespoon sugar mixed with cinnamon powder
You need:
Small and shallow round tin
Baking
paper to line the tin
Method:
Preheated
the oven up to 200 degrees C
Using a large bowl to mix all the ingredients
 |
| The top cake is burnt due to not lowering the oven temperature in time. |
Sift the flour baking powder and bicarbonate of soda.
Add
the sugar, butter egg and the diced pear mix together to have a soft dough mixture.
Transfer the mixture, to the lined baking tin, spread and level the top
Sprinkle the sliced pears with sugar-cinnamon, place each of them on top of the
cake mixture, make a lovely pretty round pattern, add the pieces of butter on top.
Bake
the cake in the preheated oven for 13 minutes, reduce the oven temperature to
175 C and cook to 22 minutes further.
Take
it out from the oven, let it stay on it for five minutes, before transferring
to a cooling tray.
To ServeCut to wedges serve warm or cold, Dust with icing sugar (optional)
 |
| Bits of the burnt cake |
Easy Cooking
Home cooking is enjoyable, simply have a plan and do it right.
Here are the procedures to prepare simple rice dinner.
Rice and Garnishes-Sauteed Tofu and spiced crisp
5.00 ------------------------------5.10 cooking rice
5.02------------------------------- 5.6 boils the eggs
5.03-------------------------------5.07 chopping tofu/vegetables
5.08-------------------------------5.11 spiced nut crips prep
5.12-------------------------------515 cooking the tofu
Dinner is served at 5.20 or 5.30
Stirfry Noodles is very straightforward. Loosen up the egg noodles by adding hot water, rest it in for a while, then drain. Get ready to marinade the meat-chicken, beef or pork (if you wish to have). Add the meat with sweet soy, salt and sherry to marinade, keep aside. Chop all vegetables for the stirfry, and at the same time prepare the acar (pickled cucumber, carrots and shallots). All of these could be done in ten minutes. Rady to cook the noodles: First, cook the meat in a hot pan with oil for two minutes, take the meat out and keep aside. Using the same pan, add in some oil to cook the spices, vegetable quickly. Add half cup hot meat stock or hot water, stir together, put all the noodles on top, cover the pan with the lid, cook in high heat for two-three minutes (the steam will cook the noodles), open the lid, stir and mix together, season to taste. Now the noodles are done and ready to serve. How easy is that!
Fish is very healthy, and it does not take lots of time, especially salmon. Only take 3 minutes to cook a small portion of salmon with the skin on. Love to serve it with a salad or sauteed zucchini if it is in season.
This is what I do, cook the garnish first, potato or rice. Keep warm. Put the cooking pan on high heat, rubbed the fish with oil and add a little salt, place on the hot pan skin down, let it cook for two minutes. Turn it over and continue cooking for 22 seconds or (half minutes), also cook on both sides to0 for a few seconds. Take it out and rest on a plate, skin on top. Using the same cooking pan, cook the vegetables-zucchini or asparagus quickly and add some lemon juice to taste and season with salt. Serve the salmon with crispy skin add the garnished on the side.
Steak and Salad
There is a new cut steak in the supermarket now, labelled - aged beef, it cut pretty thin and small size at 175g, so you must watch when you cook it. But these steaks do me just fine, enough to serve for what we need of taking red meat. Cooking the steak: rub the steak with oil and sprinkle with salt. Sear on a hot cooking pan for a minute or longer but less of 2 minutes. Turn it over and cook for a half minute or one minute if you wish to have well-done steak. Remember, the steak is thin! Rest the steak for 3 minutes, meanwhile prepare the garnishes, avocado and peas salad. I use the cooking pan to pan-broiled red tomato. Steak without any sauce is delicious, dress the steak with softened herb butter instead.
Baking during the summertime can be done, choose the recipe for quick cooking as I mentioned earlier. I did spinach, cheese and egg pancake pie. Make the pancakes, layer pancakes in a baking tin, place the filling in between, drizzle and brush the top with oil or smear with butter, bake for 25 minutes in a medium-hot oven. I use four eggs, a large cup of mix cheese, cooked spinach for the filling, every time I bake the dish.
Fruit Sponge. It is so flexible to serve, hot for a dessert or serves cold with tea or coffee.
I made the best of white peaches bought from the market, they look so fresh, half-ripen. Ashamed though they did not taste that good, we did not like it. Came up with the idea to make the fruit sponge, and here the baking (below)
A standard fruit sponge recipe simply peels the fruit, mixe a little sugar and put in a baking dish. Cook in a hot oven at 175 degrees C until the fruits just soft, meanwhile prepare the cake batter. A cup of self-rising flour, 1/4 cup sugar, vanilla essence, 50 g softened butter one egg and milk to moisten. Mix all these ingredients to make the batter to a drop spoon consistency. Take the fruit dish, from the oven, pour the batter mixture over the hot fruit, add with almond flakes on the top (optional) put them back in the oven to bake for 12-13 minutes.
Relaxed Day-Food Preparation.
Cold dishes-rice salads, potato salads or rolls.
This is the time that the leftover takes part of the dish. Roast meat leftover could save the day, simply add some dressing and use it for filling bread rolls or sandwiches, and for a little bit fancier you could cook croquette with, that way you would have a hot dinner.
Brioche Rolls with Chicken and Ham Filling.
It turned out very good and yummy. Chopped the leftover chicken and the ham, mix with mayonnaise, whole mustard and chopped fresh herbs. Cut the brioche in half fill with the chicken mixture. These brioche rolls keep well refrigerated for overnight. Warm a little before serving, it's delicious. Serve on a plate or simple rest the brioche on a serviette.
Other Late Summer Cooking
Salads, light clear soup, bread and rice dishes are suitable food for summer. Fried vegetables are acceptable, but steamed is better. From my vegetable garden, I cooked steamed stuffed zucchini instead of fried. It is a healthy version.
Cake and Scone are good baking, quick and easy.
The zucchini plants have been giving us so much joy, the harvest is so good. Baked savoury scone with zucchini and it was a delight.
Zucchini Savoury Scones
Nectarine Tea Cake
Tuesday Picked
Picked some tomatoes, the first harvest of Brown Turkey Fig. Picked the last of nectarine, so we had more from what we counted for.
Enjoying the fresh fig.
At last, we had tasted the fig for the first time and it is pretty good I must say.
At last, we had tasted the fig for the first time and it is pretty good I must say.
The Roast Beef
Roast Dinner for Summer Time
A salad is one of the garnishes
Porterhouse Roast Beef with Gravy and Garnishes.
Welcoming the new year to learn more, but less stress, also realising that lots of improvements have to be accommodating to.
Girlfriends.
Morning tea with friends, often the meeting place is in the Cafe. But this time was at our home. It was enjoyable and relaxed, we all had a lovely time to catch up. We missed Martine today, but we will be seeing her before too long.
The spread was modest but memorable. It was a delight.
At last, the Myrtle tree is flowering too, I almost have given up. I thought it never will this time.
It has been a pleasant summer, started off the season with confidence and the mid-summer continue with activities which are enjoyable also beneficial for us both.
Now, it is late summer, things are only better.
More Post
Susy.
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