The Wednesday morning tea platter is back. I'm a bit out of practice and left my run a bit late for the baking this morning.   The result is this, what I call "Spot the leftover cup cakes", a guessing game for morning tea bonus (!)   I figured the cakes were likely going to … Continue reading Spot the Leftovers!

I call this end "End of Week Soup". From the crisper drawer - the last of the carrots, sweet potato and pumpkin, all of which were duly oven roasted in a tablespoon of olive oil and a few small dobs of butter. Separately on the stovetop a diced onion and leek were softened gently in … Continue reading “End of Week” Soup

Overnight additions to the farm, twin lambs snoozing with their mum on a sunny bank. The fog didn't clear until half an hour ago and frost remains on the grass so that spot is a good choice.

One of the most beautiful features of the property here is undoubtedly the morning and afternoon mist. It's a fog with many moods - sometimes it lays dense like a blanket around the house, lifting only for an hour or so in the afternoon before re-forming.  I love the chill in the air that accompanies … Continue reading Winter Fog at Molesworth

A pig's tale (and tail) - Cilla's afternoon race back to her enclosure for a lovely warm dinner before bedtime. She's a sight to see - galumphing, dancing and snorting her way up the slope of the paddock. She can move pretty fast for one plump pig. I just managed to catch this photo at … Continue reading The Tale (Tail) of Cilla the Pig

Husband Robert's entourage of admirers, or rather of the bucket of grain in his hand, their afternoon tea of mixed grains. There's more birds over further - the geese behind the orchard fence, unseen here but certainly making their presence felt as they shout for their fair share. There's two little wild ducks (one with … Continue reading Feathered Friends

Yes I know these look rustic, not the prettiest dessert by a long stretch BUT fresh from the wood fired oven are these pistachio filled baked Granny Smith apples. Before baking they were topped with a generous dolloping of Derwent Valley honey and knobs of homemade butter, which resulted in a delicious caramel sauce. Served … Continue reading Baked Apples – the dessert than spans generations

When life (or a kind friend) gives you pistachios, lots of them, there's ample reason to do a couple of hours' winter afternoon baking. Two lemon pistachio drizzle cakes (one for us, one for a friend), chocolate-chunk, pistachio and cherry biscuits, and pistachio shortbread balls, filled with a generous amount of glace ginger.  

Here is the  recipe for Pickled Cabbage, requested by a listener  from the ABC Tasmania Jams and Preserves Talkback this morning. In the photo is a 12 jar batch of Pickled Cabbage I made a few weeks ago. The two jars at the front, standing in the stainless steel bowls, contain sauerkraut at the fermenting … Continue reading Pickled Cabbage – Red or Green

There's not a single thing not to like about picking fully tree ripened apples here in the Derwent Valley. These are the best of the best, my favourite - Granny Smith apples picked in the early sunshine of a crisp, cool, winter morning. So far many have been stewed, baked whole with various fillings, pickled … Continue reading Winter Apples from the Valley of Love