harvesting my marjoram: an update

It's time to pack my marjoram away as it's dry!  It only took a bit over a week and it turns out the results of my googling are correct, it smells even stronger dry.  I've bottled it up in an old herb container and I can't wait to cook with it!  

in the garden: the greenhouse effect

It didn't take long!  It was only last saturday that we got back into the garden and planted out a range of new vegies to celebrate the onset of april and the colder, more autumny weather when good things grow.  

Many have already started to sprout and some are growing with great vigour. I think it's the greenhouse effect ... or my version of the greenhouse effect.  We got a little creative, building custom-made shelters to provide the seedlings with protection from the elements and extra warmth and moisture to help them grow.

Indoors, we sowed cauliflower and broccoli, covered the pots with glad-wrap and watered them daily.  As soon as the seeds sprouted, we removed the glad-wrap and moved them outside to get the sunlight they need to grow nice and strong.


Outdoors, my partner constructed what can only be described as the most creative use of newspaper wrap which she stuck together to form a greenhouse enclosure for our carrot, onion and garlic seedlings.  Carrots in particular like to be kept damp before they will sprout.

And now look!  We've got an overabundance of cauliflower and broccoli seedlings which we've moved outside to allow to grow even more before we transplant them into the garden.

and the garlic is already starting to shoot strongly. 

In the other beds, the first broad bean and snow pea shoots are beginning to show and the brussel sprouts are growing strongly, protected from the bugs that plagued us last year by soft drink containers. 

broad bean or snow pea shoots - not sure which at this stage!

brussel sprouts

the taste test: limeade

Finally got the chance to taste test the limeade on Saturday!  And it was good!  There were some complaints from some members of the testing audience that it needed a bit more sugar but I was happy (I like mine a bit bitter).  However, I'll consider some more sugar next time.

the taste test: jiaozi (Chinese dumplings)

Finally, the taste test!  We ate some of our dumplings last night and they were delicious.  They got a bit mangled in the pot as they stuck together a bit (think I needed to put more flour between the layers) but they were yum.  However, I think next time I'm going to go with less Chinese cabbage and more ginger, for extra flavour! 

food & drink: limeade and lemonade

Late last year I planted a lime tree in a pot.  The plant is doing very well, with lots of new shoots.  

However, I expect it will be at least another season before I get some fruit.  I've decided it would be helpful to practice for a possible fruit glut and settled on limeade as my first tester.

On Wednesday I came home from work tired, cranky and with a headache.  After reading an article in the paper this morning about distraction being the best form of pain management, I decided to experiment with a non-chemical form of relief and make some limeade.  it didn't totally eradicate the headache but certainly helped!

Here's my limeade concentrate recipe.  The recipe can also be used with lemons. 

Ingredients
equal parts lime juice, boiling water and sugar


Method

1. peel the outside of the limes and slice the peel thinly
2. juice the limes
3. combine lime juice, lime peel, sugar and boiling water
4. stir until sugar dissolves
5. leave to cool 
6. strain into bottles (I use glass soft-drink bottles which I wash in the dishwasher immediately before using)
7. to serve, mix limeade concentrate with water or soda water - I used around 1 part limeade to 3 parts water or soda water for a strong lime flavour or around 1 part limeade to 7 parts water or soda water for a milder flavour) 

ideas and inspirations: an easter bounty

Isn't this such a great idea? 

My soon to be sister-in-law made our easter gifts this year. Unfortunately we ate quite a few before this photo was taken so you don't get to see the full fruits of her labour: chocolate easter bunnies with pieces of rocky road and cherry ripe; truffles and chocolate biscuits.  I'm in heaven!  Not only did they taste better than the store bought variety but they felt extra special too, knowing she'd made them herself. I know what I'd like to give everyone next easter! 

harvesting my marjoram: dried marjoram

Today I ventured back out into the garden, this time in search of marjoram. I planted my marjoram plant about a year ago and it has grown strongly since; so strongly it's threatening to take over the herb bed.  I've decided the time has come to do something about it.

my marjoram plant

After some serious googling, I've decided that the best idea is to dry some for later use.  Apparently marjoram, unlike other herbs, improves in flavour as it's dried. It can be used in most recipes where oregano is used, including my favourite - pasta sauce. 

To prepare my marjoram for drying, I chopped some large sprigs, washed and dried them, removed any bugs (I found a few caterpillars ... I'll have to go and explore the rest of the plant for signs of more!) and hung my marjoram in a nice, cool, dry place, near my back door.  A double bonus: a wall decoration and something edible! 

drying marjoram - also doubles as a wall decoration!

Here's hoping it turns out. If it does I'll make some more. I'm thinking about giving it away as gifts.  A visit to the herb aisle at the supermarket today revealed a lot of the marjoram on sale is imported from overseas!