We like rice pilaf with lamb. This is my new test recipe. It’s a small batch only, just enough for two – with some left over. Main Ingredients 1 cup basmati or long-grain rice 250g cremini mushrooms, sliced thin 2 cups hot broth (vegetable or chicken) 1 medium onion, diced 2 garlic cloves, minced 2-3… Read more »
Hearty Instant Pot Pork & Squash Stew with Beans
I made this Autumn inspired stew from butternut squash grown in our garden. A nice change from beef stew. Ingredients: 1 pork tenderloin (about 1 lb), cut into 1-inch cubes 4-5 slices bacon, sliced across about 1/4 inch width 1 medium butternut squash, peeled and cubed (about 3 cups) 1 small can beans (northern, cannellini… Read more »
Cheese and Herb Zucchini Loaf
I’m working towards a savoury zucchini loaf with no sugar that goes well with salmon or quiche. This is my first try. The cheese and herb was there but it was a little dry and maybe a bit bland. Next version, add more oil/melted butter and maybe 1/4 cup sugar, plus more salt. INGREDIENTS 2… Read more »
June Blooms in the Garden
While in the thick of it, my overall impression of June 2024 was that it was wetter and warmer than in 2023. Sure enough, I was right. Not only did we get more rain in 2024 (91.1mm compared to 64.9 mm in 2023), but the daily rainfall was more consistent. We also had more consistently… Read more »
Instant Pot Pulled Pork Carnitas
My son slow cooks his carnitas in fat, I prefer this version submersed in beef broth. It has less fat but is just as flavourful. INGREDIENTS: 1.25 grams cubed pork shoulder, large fat sections removed (measured after cut) 1 tablespoon salt 1 tablespoon dried oregano 2 teaspoons cumin 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon onion… Read more »
Base Pasta Sauce – Butter & Onion with Pasata
This is based off the famous Marcella Hazan’s tomato sauce 5 tablespoons butter 1 medium onion (vidalia or red) – cut in large chunks 1 quart pasata Add all ingredients to sauce pan, bring to simmer for 30 minutes
May 2024 Blooms in the Garden
The gardens have certainly reacted to our strange weather patterns this year. We had a very mild winter followed by a warmer-than-usual spring. The mean temperature for May was 15.4C in our area, well above the 12.9C we saw in 2023. The result is that much of the ornamental garden has bloomed earlier than usual.… Read more »
April Blooms in the Garden
Until the last few years, April in my gardens meant mostly daffodils. Adding some woodland garden plants changed all that. My three go-to perennials for April: Hellebore, Lungwort (Pulmonaria) and Carex. These perennials combine very well in a woodland or shade to part-shade situation and add a lot of spring interest. Here’s what my April… Read more »
New Strawberry Beds. Trying Again in Raised Planters
I can’t believe we’ve lived here for 18 years and I’m finally getting around to planting a dedicated strawberry bed. I did try strawberries in the back when we first moved, but the only mammals that got to enjoy them were the chipmunks. I even tried covering the plants with an elaborate chicken wire cage… Read more »
Redoing the Bird Sanctuary Garden Patio
It never ceases to amaze me how much a garden evolves over time. When we first moved here in 2004, our gardens were pretty bare, with just a few small evergreens and a lot of ground cover. Bit by bit, I started adding different features and creating separate garden spaces. One of my favourites was… Read more »
