The new Crone at Wit's End
Hoping to see you all on the new site.
Monday, 15 September 2008
Sunday, 14 September 2008
I'm calm, I really am!
You know how you pile up all your garden scraps and kitchen waste waiting to do your proper compost heap? How you diligently save all your newspaper (and your neighbours) for the day when you have all the right ingredients to get the mix just right!
Then you go outside full of joy to start building "The Compost Heap"
Only to find that The Husband has piled it up high with wild cooch and grass seeds!
Then you go outside full of joy to start building "The Compost Heap"
Only to find that The Husband has piled it up high with wild cooch and grass seeds!
Saturday, 13 September 2008
I hate my little ponies!
Firstly they are plastic!
Secondly I trod on the blasted plastic hairbrush and the spikes lodged in the sole of my foot! One of the Tots needed to take the hairbrush to the bathroom apparently. Lot's of rude words.
Which brings me to the point of this post.
It is Tot 2's 4th birthday today and I am so pleased with our choice of present; A wooden doll house. All of the Tots love it and there isn't a scrap of plastic in or around it. We will be making more choices like this in the future.
Now for some pic's from yesterday's harvest;
A few broad beans and some sticks of kale
Some of my potatoes (drying them off before storing them)
Friday, 12 September 2008
Just to let you all know
The Crone at Wit's End will be moving very soon!
A lovely friend who owns Little Hero Hosting and Little Hero Designs is setting up a new site for me! She is working on making it all shiny and spiffy.
I'm very very excited!
A lovely friend who owns Little Hero Hosting and Little Hero Designs is setting up a new site for me! She is working on making it all shiny and spiffy.
I'm very very excited!
Tuesday, 9 September 2008
Nothing earth shattering today
Just a list of my harvest (pic to follow tonight when the Teen is in a good mood)
1kg peas
1/2 kg scotch kale
handful of springonion tops
1kg broad beans
large colander of spinach
about a bunch of celery.
All of this made;
Wasabi potato cakes (last nights wasabi mash with an egg, spring onions and a handful of polenta mixed in)
Spinach and Pumpkin lasagna (used up the last of the roast pumpkin) to be frozen as an emergency meal
Broad beans, spinach and tofu in a silken sauce (The Husband's work at home lunch)
Celery and firm tofu stir fried for The Husband's dinner (he's cooking this one)
Peas shelled into a bowl which were supposed to be frozen for later but the Tots snacked on them LOL
My garden is so productive and we are eating organic, local and feeling wonderful!
1kg peas
1/2 kg scotch kale
handful of springonion tops
1kg broad beans
large colander of spinach
about a bunch of celery.
All of this made;
Wasabi potato cakes (last nights wasabi mash with an egg, spring onions and a handful of polenta mixed in)
Spinach and Pumpkin lasagna (used up the last of the roast pumpkin) to be frozen as an emergency meal
Broad beans, spinach and tofu in a silken sauce (The Husband's work at home lunch)
Celery and firm tofu stir fried for The Husband's dinner (he's cooking this one)
Peas shelled into a bowl which were supposed to be frozen for later but the Tots snacked on them LOL
My garden is so productive and we are eating organic, local and feeling wonderful!
Monday, 8 September 2008
A wonderful start to the week
I've lost 2kg's
Made some black bean dip, turkish carrot dip, tomatoes sliced and in the solar oven to make sundried tomatoes.
Application sent in for the solar hot water system and solar panels!
I wish blogger had dancing happy icons because man, I am positively dancing on air right now!
Made some black bean dip, turkish carrot dip, tomatoes sliced and in the solar oven to make sundried tomatoes.
Application sent in for the solar hot water system and solar panels!
I wish blogger had dancing happy icons because man, I am positively dancing on air right now!
Sunday, 7 September 2008
Sharing :)
I am starting to get the the point where I have always wanted to be, being able to share my surplus.
Today I have put on offer locally my surplus collard greens, kale and onion seedlings.
I have also just picked a kilo of snow peas, and a bag of lettuce. I need to pick a heap of mustard greens but really don't know what to do with them LOL!
Today I have put on offer locally my surplus collard greens, kale and onion seedlings.
I have also just picked a kilo of snow peas, and a bag of lettuce. I need to pick a heap of mustard greens but really don't know what to do with them LOL!
Saturday, 6 September 2008
Define 'Poor' for me please!
I am having a really hard time processing the things I am reading around the traps. I need to know how poor you feel you are. Come on, please share with me just how hard your life is.
Do you have car/plasma/house/things envy? At what point in your life will you start saying
"Wow, we really are blessed and have enough things to last us a lifetime"
Please, go to your fridge/cupboards and wardrobes. Do you have all that you need and the ability to buy more?
Please take a moment to view here and then come back and tell me how much more you need in your life.
Tomorrow is Father's Day in Australia. Instead of spending money on your Father, give him the gift of your time and your love.
It is no longer ok for me to be a part of the middle class simple life wannabees. I need to do some long and hard thinking about what's really important in my life and how I want to raise my kids.
Do you have car/plasma/house/things envy? At what point in your life will you start saying
"Wow, we really are blessed and have enough things to last us a lifetime"
Please, go to your fridge/cupboards and wardrobes. Do you have all that you need and the ability to buy more?
Please take a moment to view here and then come back and tell me how much more you need in your life.
Tomorrow is Father's Day in Australia. Instead of spending money on your Father, give him the gift of your time and your love.
It is no longer ok for me to be a part of the middle class simple life wannabees. I need to do some long and hard thinking about what's really important in my life and how I want to raise my kids.
Friday, 5 September 2008
Foraging and a burst of spring flavours
Last night's dinner was a classic case of foraging. Wandering around the backgarden I found the following;
Rocket
Garlic bulbs and green tips
the last of my winter tomatoes (can you believe that I grew tomatoes all through winter in the straw bale beds!
Salad greens
And in the fridge I had
A pumpkin
parmesan
bow pasta
The tomatoes were sliced and placed in my solar oven to become 'sun dried tomatoes', the pumpkin was drizzled with olive oil and roasted in the kitchen oven. The rocket, garlic and parmesan were blended with some cashew nuts and olive oil to make a pesto.
Dinner last night was sundried tomatoes, roast pumpkin and rocket pesto pasta! Way too easy and literally a burst of sunshine in the mouth. The leftover vegetables are going into a pita bread spread with pesto for our lunch today :)
I have noticed that I have a heap of asian greens which need to be harvested soon and a ton of silverbeet. Can't decide between Chinese or Greek for dinner.
Rocket
Garlic bulbs and green tips
the last of my winter tomatoes (can you believe that I grew tomatoes all through winter in the straw bale beds!
Salad greens
And in the fridge I had
A pumpkin
parmesan
bow pasta
The tomatoes were sliced and placed in my solar oven to become 'sun dried tomatoes', the pumpkin was drizzled with olive oil and roasted in the kitchen oven. The rocket, garlic and parmesan were blended with some cashew nuts and olive oil to make a pesto.
Dinner last night was sundried tomatoes, roast pumpkin and rocket pesto pasta! Way too easy and literally a burst of sunshine in the mouth. The leftover vegetables are going into a pita bread spread with pesto for our lunch today :)
I have noticed that I have a heap of asian greens which need to be harvested soon and a ton of silverbeet. Can't decide between Chinese or Greek for dinner.
Thursday, 4 September 2008
Three posts in one day, I know, I know!
But, but I had to share this fantastic recipe book with you all! The Cafe Paradiso cookbook has reignited my passion for cooking all over again!
"Roasted pepper, olive and brie tartlets"
"basil, Rocket, Coriander and tomato pesto" recipes
"Radicchio and roasted pumpkin risotto"
I am seriously going to see if I can find myself a copy (I borrowed this one from the library, aren't I good!)
"Roasted pepper, olive and brie tartlets"
"basil, Rocket, Coriander and tomato pesto" recipes
"Radicchio and roasted pumpkin risotto"
I am seriously going to see if I can find myself a copy (I borrowed this one from the library, aren't I good!)
For Jonesy: Straw bale bed step by step
Here you go, as promised! The link from the wonderful Len, all step by step with pictures!
http://www.lensgarden.com.au/straw_bale_garden.htm
The only thing I will be changing with the next batch of straw bale beds, is incorporating the wonderful ideas of Scarecrow to make straw bale wicking beds. I am also going to make the poly pipe shades for these beds a la Scarecrow and Doc.
http://www.lensgarden.com.au/straw_bale_garden.htm
The only thing I will be changing with the next batch of straw bale beds, is incorporating the wonderful ideas of Scarecrow to make straw bale wicking beds. I am also going to make the poly pipe shades for these beds a la Scarecrow and Doc.
Zucchini Balls
For Julie :)
Into a bowl
Grate a medium zucchini
chop a couple of spring onions
add one egg
roughly a cup of flour
1 tea salt or a tea of meditteranean spice
Mix well and add enough water to make a nice thick batter which holds a dome on a tablespoon. Leave for five minutes to release the gluten and get stretchy. If it is too thin add a bit more flour.
Heat up a pan of olive oil to deep fry and when nice and hot carefully drop tablespoons of the batter into the oil. They will float and flip when they are ready to turn :)
Remove from the oil when nice and golden and cooked. Drain well and serve with cucumbers and yoghourt sauce (yoghourt, spring onions, pinch of salt)
Enjoy.
Into a bowl
Grate a medium zucchini
chop a couple of spring onions
add one egg
roughly a cup of flour
1 tea salt or a tea of meditteranean spice
Mix well and add enough water to make a nice thick batter which holds a dome on a tablespoon. Leave for five minutes to release the gluten and get stretchy. If it is too thin add a bit more flour.
Heat up a pan of olive oil to deep fry and when nice and hot carefully drop tablespoons of the batter into the oil. They will float and flip when they are ready to turn :)
Remove from the oil when nice and golden and cooked. Drain well and serve with cucumbers and yoghourt sauce (yoghourt, spring onions, pinch of salt)
Enjoy.
Tuesday, 2 September 2008
Desperation throw together dip
Husband: I'm hungry
Wife: go cook something then
Husband: I'm working from home and on my lunchbreak, I don't have time to cook
Wife: "lots of rude words"
Right, so I opened the fridge and gazed and gazed and gazed into it's depths.
Mexican black bean chili - no good, The Husband hates mexican food
Curried pumpkin soup - Gah, he hates curry more than he hates mexican food.
Cheese sandwiches BWAHAHAHAHAHA! Cheese gives him the....well he's lactose intolerant, say no more!
Big sigh and suddenly inspiration! Into the processor went
1 large onion
2 cups of cooked black beans
about 30 black kalamata olives
juice of 1 large lemon
Black bean and olive dip!
Also rustled up some zuchini balls and a large bowl of coleslaw (cabbage, carrots and spring onions from the garden!)
Life is good :)
Wife: go cook something then
Husband: I'm working from home and on my lunchbreak, I don't have time to cook
Wife: "lots of rude words"
Right, so I opened the fridge and gazed and gazed and gazed into it's depths.
Mexican black bean chili - no good, The Husband hates mexican food
Curried pumpkin soup - Gah, he hates curry more than he hates mexican food.
Cheese sandwiches BWAHAHAHAHAHA! Cheese gives him the....well he's lactose intolerant, say no more!
Big sigh and suddenly inspiration! Into the processor went
1 large onion
2 cups of cooked black beans
about 30 black kalamata olives
juice of 1 large lemon
Black bean and olive dip!
Also rustled up some zuchini balls and a large bowl of coleslaw (cabbage, carrots and spring onions from the garden!)
Life is good :)
Monday, 1 September 2008
Guess what I've bought Perth Cronies?
Lawsonia inermis!!
Highly fragrant, loves drought conditions, sandy soils, easy to propogate :)
Now go google!
If the seeds arrive before our coffee morning next week I will bring your share with me!
How is my new eating/exercise plan going?
Well three days in and I am doing ok. I started full of good intentions on Friday and popped an exercise video on. Thirty minutes of low impact squats, leg lifts and lunges later....
Couldn't move on Friday night and I had to roll out of bed on Saturday morning. I will be doing some more today but perhaps reminding myself that slow and steady wins the race.
I think that I am having a major sugar withdrawal, headaches and a huge craving for chocolate iced doughnuts. I've upped the water and my kidneys must feel like they are about to burst their membranes!
Now Crazy Mumma has suggested a support group for all of us wanting to do this spring clean of our bodies, let's go hassle her to start up an offshoot on her blog, WDYT?
Highly fragrant, loves drought conditions, sandy soils, easy to propogate :)
Now go google!
If the seeds arrive before our coffee morning next week I will bring your share with me!
How is my new eating/exercise plan going?
Well three days in and I am doing ok. I started full of good intentions on Friday and popped an exercise video on. Thirty minutes of low impact squats, leg lifts and lunges later....
Couldn't move on Friday night and I had to roll out of bed on Saturday morning. I will be doing some more today but perhaps reminding myself that slow and steady wins the race.
I think that I am having a major sugar withdrawal, headaches and a huge craving for chocolate iced doughnuts. I've upped the water and my kidneys must feel like they are about to burst their membranes!
Now Crazy Mumma has suggested a support group for all of us wanting to do this spring clean of our bodies, let's go hassle her to start up an offshoot on her blog, WDYT?
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