After thoroughly indulging this past holiday season, I find myself already day dreaming about the goodies to come next year!
My partner's mum always makes the most delicious food, especially for the holidays. Over the past couple of years, I have had the honour of rolling up my sleeves and helping her out in the kitchen. It's been great learning new recipes and sharing one or two of my own with her.
She makes and bakes her heart out including some amazing shortbread cookies (simple yet delicious), pan forte, many different types of cakes, slices, and these amazing cookies that are a combination of a fancy gingerbread like dough that also have jam thumbprints in them and even have dark chocolate on one side (cannot remember the name at the moment).
Then for the savoury side of things, her turkeys (yes plural, she has a family of 19 to feed when everyone is home for the holidays) are perfection, gravy and bread sauce divine, orange, ginger sweet potato dish to die for, honey steamed carrots, green salad, and my personal favourite, her homemade stuffing.
I got to make the stuffing with her this year, and I am so grateful! My favourite part is that it is full of herbs that we were able to pick right out of our garden. It has huge handfuls of thyme, marjoram and parsley, mixed with shredded carrots, shredded parsnips, diced onion, eggs and of course some bread. She learned this recipe from her mother, who learnt it from her mother, and it's really lovely that she is passing on the tradition to me.
So I am wondering, what are some of your favourite holiday foods? They can be homemade, or store bought, but I want to know what really makes you think of the holidays and brings a smile to your heart and belly 😋
My green manure really took off with all the rain! We finally got some organic compost yesterday so we could prep the beds for planting.
I pushed over the green manure
covered it with hay
added the compost
and then topped with more hay to protect it!
Once the rain passes in a couple of days I can plant my seeds and seedlings! Excited to see what this new garden will offer!
Grateful for his bundle of healing goodness that my garden has gifted me! There is something so satisfying about gently digging out a clump of turmeric with such care that only a piece or two breaks off in the process. When I was cleaning the dirt out from around the rhizomes I found at least six big fat worms nestled in there! A sure sign of happy and healthy soil.
My favourite way to use this fresh turmeric is to make a delicious hot drink with ginger, lemon, black pepper and honey! Here is the recipe:
-1 tablespoon freshly grated turmeric
-1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
-the juice of 1 whole lemon
-pinch of cracked black pepper
-honey to taste (optional)
-3 cups of water
Put all the above ingredients into a small saucepan on medium-high heat. Stirring occasionally, bring to a simmer. As soon as it is simmering, turn off the heat and strain to remove pulp and large pieces of black pepper. Enjoy! Extra can be kept in the fridge for 2-3 days.
Andrew: Yes, there is more!
I am currently letting my radishes, lettuce, peas and broccoli go to seed so I can collect them and save them! 🌱