In the kitchen.........chilli garlic sauce and marrow chutney

 

 

"A great way to use up marrows or courgettes when they have grown too big for their boots"

 

 

Out of the kitchen this week.....chilli garlic sauce and marrow chutney.

The jalapeno chilli's are from the garden and the garlic from a friends crop - blitzed in the food processor with salt and pepper added.  Bottled and topped with vinegar and ready to use.

And for the chutney - I was pleased to be able to make use of our very first marrow. 

Marrow chutney

You will need:

1.35kg marrow
salt
2 apples, peeled, cored and chopped
3 shallots, chopped
225g sultanas
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
450g dark brown soft sugar
375ml vinegar
1 ½ Tbsp grated ginger
1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
¼ Tsp crushed chillies (less if desired)
 

Method:

 

Place the peeled, seeded and cubed marrow into a non-reactive bowl and sprinkle generously with salt. Cover and let sit overnight.
Drain marrow, rinse thoroughly and place into a large pot. Add remaining ingredients and slowly bring to the boil.
Lower the heat and gently simmer for 1 ½ to 2 hours or until thick, stirring occasionally.
Pour into hot sterilised jars and seal immediately.

 

What's cooking in your kitchen?

In the kitchen..........easy lemonade scones

 

 

 

 

 

 

The easiest scone recipe ever!

 

Lemonade Scones

 

4 cups of self raising flour

300ml of thickened cream

300ml of lemonade

 

Combine the ingredients and mix until a dough is formed.

 

Flour your surface and roll out.  I used a cookie cutter to make into rounds

 

Bake until golden on 180 degrees.

 

They pull easily apart and are light and fluffy.  My previous scones are usually rock hard on the outside, so this recipe will be a firm favourite.

 

Top with  jam and cream and enjoy!

 

 

 

 

The giant marrow

 

 

Tom and I were out in the garden late this afternoon, harvesting the last of the summer vegetables.  The winter plantings will be put in this week.

 

We found this giant marrow in our overgrown vegetable garden!

 

Also harvested were lots of jalapeno chilli's, a few green peppers and one lonely courgette.

 

The celery is still going strong.

 

So lovely readers, do you have any great recipes using the humble marrow?  I don't want it to go to waste.

 

I'm thinking of using the jalapeno chilli's for a hot hot sauce or maybe a chutney.

 

Any ideas or great recipes for using up our marrow and jalapeno chilli's would be greatly appreciated.  Am off to see what Uncle Google has to say.

 

Hope your weekend has been a good one xo

 

 

 

 

Sunday brunch......Zucchini Fritters

I was up early this morning with the boys, not too early, about 7am which is really good for us.  Usually they are up are ready to go before 6am - so this morning I felt like I had a bit of a sleep in.

I put a couple of loads of washing on then made a pot of coffee, followed by bacon and egg muffins.

After breakfast Mr H took the boys out for a run around at the park.  I got to finish the weeding and tidying up in the garden, did a quick tidy inside the house and then I put some music on and went to work or grating zucchinis and potatoes for a late brunch.

The zucchinis are growing great guns in my vegetable garden at the moment.  I have also had them for dinner during the week, baked with cottage cheese, tomatoes, herbs and more cheese.  Delicious!

To make the fritters I grated a couple of zucchini, a few potatoes and then chopped up onion, garlic, threw in some salt and pepper, olive oil, chilli powder, mixed herbs, a couple of eggs, cup of flour, tea spoon of baking powder, splash of milk and a handful of grated cheese.  Mixed well and then fried until golden brown.

I served them on sliced ciabatta bread and topped with roughly chopped Roma tomatoes - both of which Mr H bought at the market yesterday.  A salad would have been a great alternative to serve them with.

Sunday tends to be all about leftovers or anything that needs to be used quickly - its amazing what you can throw together to make a meal.  It is a really good way of using the last bits of things that would normally go to waste.

  I hope your weekend has been a good one?  Have a great week!

Today.....just a bit of this and that

 

 

 

 

 

Roses from Mr H - two bunches - pink and cream - the others are in a jar on the dining room table.

 

Devouring books - two this month, one I had started sometime last year but never finished.

 

I love reading cook books in bed at night.

 

And channelling my inner crochet goddess....I know she is in there!

 

Lunch box treats - making prune and coconut balls - 500g of prunes in the food processor, roll in coconut, set and store in the fridge.  George loves these.

 

I tried Kimberley's Chocolate Weetbix Slice - with sprinkles.  Delicious.  The kids enjoyed this for afternoon tea - the rest has been hidden away in the baking tins, sliced and ready to go into lunch boxes tomorrow.

 

Pottering about in the garden today - the fairy garden is looks sweet with the "Lorax Trufulla Trees" sprouting.

 

Lots of washing folded....and put away - my least favourite task.

 

Harvesting in the vegetable garden.  I'm Googling Zucchini Fritters.  Any suggestions?

 

A walk round the waterfront this morning and a swim followed by homemade fish tacos for lunch.  Early night for me tonight.  Feeling zonked!

 

Have a great week! xo

 

 

 

 

And off we go........this week

 

 

 

 

 

Our Summer Holidays have come to an end this week, that blissful bubble has burst!  George has been at kindy for a couple of weeks now, but Bell and Tom started back at school during the week.  Both were excited to be heading back.  It has really been only me that has been dragging my feet.

 

My nieces stayed with us at the beginning of the week - we loved having them here.  There has been uniform buying for Bell (they grow so much over the summer break) and school stationery purchases - always a favourite back to school task. 

 

The rain has decided to come back by the bucket load.  It has been a really dry summer.  Our water tank and gardens are thankful as are the farmers and grape growers round here I'm sure.  It always amazes me how the rain times itself for the school run!

 

I've been baking for school lunches and roasted a chicken the night before school and stripped it down for wraps and sandwiches.  I will continue to do this as one chicken makes the kids and adult lunches over a couple of days, the carcass is put in the freezer for future stock making.

 

I had a meeting at my new job, yes a new job!  I applied and accepted the position in December.  My previous job just wasn't working out, the hours were all over the place.  They wanted to extend my hours/days and I was working school holidays which was not meant to happen.  My new role is in a school (Visual Resources) and it is Term Time Only - the holy grail in my opinion.  That is why I have had a seven week Summer Holiday.  To have a part time job that allows me to have the school holidays off to spend with the kids works so much better for us as a family.

 

After Tom's first day back at school he had a Birthday Party to go to - at the Pools - the weather held together but consequently he is so tired today.  As I type I can hear him snoring as George bounces around in bed...........some things never change.

 

Mr H and I managed a Date night this week too - woohoo.  Just a quiet dinner at a local restaurant.  Good food and wine - I want to go back with my camera as they have the most incredible kitchen garden on site.

 

I think our weekend will be a fairly quiet one.  Planning a girls morning in town with Bell tomorrow before she heads off for a sleepover.  I have vegetables in my garden that need harvesting.  And some more baking for the tins and school lunches will need to be done.

 

So that's been my week - Term 1 is all go.  I find the School Term routine always works well for the kids, although it was a shock to the system to be up, organised and out of the house in time.  I know I will be hanging out for the first round of school holidays.

 

Have a great weekend - what are you up too?

 

How has January treated you?

 

What do your children like in their school lunches?