Goan Fish Curry....this will be a favorite

Mr B loves fishing and we are always trying to find something tasty to do with fish. 
Last night I created a Goan Fish Curry.   http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2012/mar/29/how-to-cook-perfect-goan-fish-curry

Flathead Fillets Cut into bite size pieces.

The masala paste is made by toasting cloves, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, dried red chillies and star anise. This was ground and then turmeric, palm sugar, salt, garlic, ginger and white vinegar was added.

Chopped onion is fried in oil, the masala paste is added, the smell is amazing.

I added 4 (expertly chopped by Cooper) small tomatoes.

Coconut milk and green chillies are added and simmered for 10 mins , then the fish is added. A tadka is made by frying black mustard seeds and fresh curry leaves in some very hot oil.  This caused a minor explosion in the kitchen!! The tadka is added at the last

 

The Goan Fish Curry was served with steamed rice, garnished with coriander and a wedge of lime.  It is a delicious fish curry.

 

A glass of Riesling was the perfect wine to enjoy with the curry.

 

As a special treat for the family I made a Pavlova with banana and passionfruit.  I think Harry is looking forward to eating his piece!!

The Christmas cake was made too.  After having the fruit soaking in rum for over a week, it was time to add the remaining ingredients and bake the cake.  The first of my Christmas cooking.  Still to make... plum pudding, fruit mince tarts and if Dayne  has his way, my special rockyroad, made with Turkish delight, pistachio nuts, macadamia nuts, marshmallow and cherries.

Chooks and Fruits Trees part 2

A couple of months ago we had about 200ml of rain, the fruit trees have grown like never before.
Hopefully the fruit holds and the bugs don't bite!!

Our lemon tree was here when we bought the property, it isn't the prettiest looking tree, but it produces an unbelievable amount of fruit, continuously.  We have had some strong wind and quite large branches of been broken off..... probably because it was laden with too much fruit.  I have taken bags of fruit to our local fish and chip shop, bags to patchwork and aqua, and still there is more fuit.

Strawberries are a favourite of mine, but unfortunately some little people love  them too..... you have to be quick to get a ripe one.

 

A perfect apply blossom.

 

Baby apples.

 

We have a variety of peach trees, not sure of their names.  Our favourite is a very big juicy yellow peach. Mr B grafted this peach from one we tasted on a trip to Wagga Wagga years ago.

 

Looking forward to eating and preserving lots of produce from the fruit trees.

Chooks and Fruit Trees part 1

11 chooks reside at Leighton Farm, they have an enclosure where they roost at night.   I feed them grain and  they lay their eggs in here too. From their little house they have a large run and next to the run is the orchard.  They have a little gate in the fence between the run and orchard so they can roam where ever they choose.

This is a view of the orchard,

The chooks love being in here, hopefully they will eat lots of grubs and insects, hence keeping them out of the fruit. In the orchard there is plum, nectarine, peach, pear, apple, cherry, fig and apricot and mulberry trees.

 

This is some very young mulberries, I love how they look when at this young stage of their development.

Baby pears just starting to develop, will have to wait until late summer to enjoy eating these.

 

This apricot tree is very special as it comes from the original family farm near Narooma.  The tree is about 40 years old and produces the best flavoured apricots ever.  This year the tree has hundreds of fruit on it and we should start eating them around Christmas.... that's if we get lots more warm weather. Hopefully lots of apricot jam and stewed apricots this season.

 

In another area at Leighton farm we have a selection of citrus. This is my cumquat tree.  It has been planted for 3 years and this is the first time it has had fruit.  It is not really the correct time of the year for cumquats to be on the tree, but I am happy to finally get some fruit.  Mmmmm cumquat marmalade..another favourite.

Some Visitors come to say "hello"

Over the past weeks we have had lots of turtles (eastern freshwater turtles) on the move. Driving along our driveway I have to be on the lookout for turtles.  They always travel at this time of the year looking for a mate and to lay their eggs.

Harry having a closer look

Having a sneak peek

Coops is getting a turtle eye view

Harry and Coops loved having a closer look and soon found out that they wee and are smelly. This made them all the more interesting.

 

I wonder if I will see any baby turtles?

Another productive morning at Leighton

Out and about before breakfast this morning, watering my new garden

Wandered down towards the lake and there was our new little bull calf playing in the morning sun

You can just see in the circle.

Yesterday one of my patchwork friends gave me some rhubarb and a delicious recipe for rhubarb and ginger jam. It also has in it apple, orange rind and lemon juice.... and of course sugar.

Chopped it all up, let it stand overnight and then boiled if for 1/2 hour and got 5 pots of jam. Chris recommended eating it with hot scones and Tilba cream.

 

Going to pop a wicked chocolate cake into the oven.... its our anniversary today. Then off to spend the afternoon with the grandkids....... another lovely day at Leighton Farm.

Glorious Morning

Its sunny, calm....a perfect morning,

Winter has returned

What has happened to our warm weather.... cold and windy....brrrr.

Good day For cooking... making a tarte tatin

 

Apples simmered and now golden. Pastry and toffee ready to go. Hope it turns out ok. Not a tradional recipe, the proof will be in the eating.... yummy I hope.

Chicken, Fennel and Roasted Capsicum Casserole. A family favourite.

With the added bonus of it being easy to prepare!!

Happy Day on the Farm

Best day, stitching... my woollen embroidered owl,

 delicious dinner with good friends, now sprinkling with rain and time to go to bed.