Boy, these holidays have been busy. I had grand plans to spend some serious time decluttering the spare room, and cleaning out the kitchen cupboards (I did do a light cull of the tupperware and cookware), but alas, I ran out of time. We’ve had friends and family to visit, a trip to town to do a big shop, and a beach break as well, so I’m hardly in a place to complain, but we have only had q three days all holidays with nothing on. We need a break from our holidays!
Our garden has all but finished it’s summer harvest. We dug out the potatoes over the long weekend, and Hannah collected the worms. We have several boxes of potatoes sitting on our outdoor shelf ready to eat over the coming months! I think potatoes are my favourite vegetable.
Speaking of our beach break, it was lovely! We stayed in Narooma and got upgraded from the standard cabin, to the 3 bedroom deluxe spa model. We lived it up with the kids enjoying a deep spa every night (no tank water to worry about). One of the downsides of farm life is that there isn’t much down time, so a few nights away is always welcome.
We went for a drive down to Tilba one day so that the kids could fan girl about River Cottage Australia. I bought some cheese and we enjoyed a cheese platter for dinner that night. On the scenic route home, I saw this super cute roadside store. I really wish we had a little more through traffic here so that we could set up something similar.
Our good friends down the road have a lot of ducks that need eating, and we have a few pigs that need eating, so we are planning a sausage making day once the weather gets colder. Pork and duck sausages. I’m thinking up flavour combinations to go with them such as ginger and five spice for a slight asian twist, or sour cherry for a more european vibe. Last time we made sausages we bought a pre mix seasoning, though it turned out too salty for our liking. This time I’m thinking we will go completely from scratch. So many fun ideas!
It has rained! I probably should have written that first, because it is such a relief. The land has gone from dry and dusty and brown, to green and muddy. What a transformation! Our water tanks are getting fuller too!
We have been talking about building a wood fired pizza oven and a fire pit behind our house. We’ve walked around the yard trying to find the best spot to put it, and are debating the set up. Next up, I need to research the best way to make the pizza oven. It should be a fun project to get going.
We are heading into a few busy weeks again, but I’m looking forward to cosy evenings in front of the fire. I’ve finished reading Harry Potter number 4 to the girls. Hannah has taken on number 5 herself. I will have to find another book to read to them. It’s such a good thing to do together.
What have you been up to lately? Got any sausage making advice? Made a pizza oven? What should we read to the girls next?
Great suggestions 🙂 bugs i dont do well with bugs and i like to have people and noise …. i like to visit the country lol Thanks for sharing with us for The Sunday Brunch Magazine , Bel & Eliza xx
Pumpkin Soup, is the go to meal here.
burritos with black beens and sweet potatoes!
Autumn is the beginning of soup weather for me! It's been ages since I made a lovely chicken noodle soup but even longer since I made a pot of pea and ham, so I think I'll have to put that on my list of things to do soon.
I love the idea of a seasonal recipe book. Thanks to supermarkets and their refrigerated storage, most of us have only the vaguest idea of when we should be eating particular foods. Not that it matters when it comes to buying from supermarkets, because who knows when the produce was originally harvested?
P.S. I found your blog recently and enjoyed reading it right from the start. In fact, it inspired me to write about my own childhood in the country on my blog.
Homemade pumpkin soup from homegrown pumpkins
It's a simple Almond Meal/Arrowroot/Egg Loaf with Ham, Zucchini, Green Olives, Parmesan and Pepitas on the top, it's delicious out of the oven, cold or dipped in some egg and milk to become savoury french toast.
oooo how I would love a pizza oven. I will ne keen to see how you guys go and you may just inspire me to inspire the hubby lol xx
Banana bread with vanilla bean icing & a splash of popping candy.
I love Lamb and veges in the slow cooker. Autumn means the beginning of slow cooked meals, which gives me more time to spend with the family at dinnertime. They love the meals and I love the no fuss!! lol
As we live seasonal out of our vegie garden (no shops here); as with all seasons I make the most of what we harvest. Autumn here is tomatoes, the last of the beans, onions, spinach (always), pumpkin, corn and the last of the zucchini. Lots of herbs. Lots of eggs. So our favourite currently is vegie lasagne using the eggs for pasta and variety of vegies and herbs.Soo yummy! Cooked in our very old wood stove. Thanks Jo for the opportunity to win this wonderful book x
Baked apples with brown sugar and butter. Or pretty well any flavour of soup.
Jo, don't count me as an entrant. I have so many books.
Autumn mornings start to get a bit fresh, so that's how I like my breakfast too. Warming porridge with stewed apple warms the cockles.
Too many ducks seems like a nice problem to have really! I will be hitting YouTube with a vengeance to get all the info.
Got any advice??
I love a good sweet corn chicken soup. Delicious served with salad and rice!
Cant go past a good old pumpkin soup!
Pear and hazelnut cake – This moist cake is a delicious way to blend many different flavours and textures. It brings together pears, hazelnuts and chocolate. The hazelnuts can be swapped for almonds, and pears for apples, if you prefer.
I've heard the pompeii style oven is very good
Sounds like a busy but amazing lot of holidays, I am looking forward to hearing more about the sausages when you make them!
Blackberry and apple crumble – as a child I used to pick the blackberries from the hedges – now sadly they are from the shops but this recipe brings back so many happy memories.
What a beautiful holiday break you had. I know what you mean though, we need a rest after holidays to recover from all of the 'doing'. On another note, we are planning a pizza oven too!
We love a hearty beef vegetable onepot with all vegetables in season in it. You can mix and match something different every time.
Chicken, leek and mushroom pies You know Winter's on the way when we start making these.
Chicken soup just like Gran used to make. Keeps the sniffles away as the cold creeps in.
Oh this looks & sounds just delicious. I have never made pear paste, but I certainly want to now. I also love a good kitchen gadget & have longed for an apple slinky for a long time. Now I have another reason to want one! Hmmm … Mother's Day is just around the corner, perhaps I can drop some not so subtle hints!
Beautiful recipe & such gorgeous pics! 🙂
I have always been intrigued by those apple slinkies and this recipe might be a good excuse to tell the hubby. And curly fries – fun!!
With lots of mushrooms around at the moment, I would have to say a creamy mushroom pasta. Yum!
Another one for a soup recipe – Hearty Vegie Soup with Dumplings. Smells divine and very morish!
Hi have just discovered your blog, it's lovely. There are some very helpful videos on YouTube for making a pizza oven. I'll be interested to see how you sausage making goes. And I do wish our neighbours had too many ducks! I wish I had two many ducks:)
We haven't read any of that series – will ask the girls if they have seen it!
Might just have to hunt that one down!!
What to read – How about the Penderwicks series, family of three girls and one little brother. Lots of fantastic family interaction, the 4th book has just come out.
There are great instructions for a pizza oven in the River Cottage Bread Handbook. (Which isn't actually written by Hugh – but still fantastic)