Thursday 29 November 2012

Black Sapote

One day a curious young boy stopped to look at a round, green fruit.

The Fruit Shop owner saw this curious young boy staring and reaching out and saying "mmmmmm"

So the fruit shop owner, Bruce, picked up the fruit and the curious young boy and told him all about the round green fruit.
"Curious young boy that is a Black Sapote" said Bruce
"mmmmmm" said the curious young boy
"it's also called a chocolate pudding" 

Together they collected a knife and cut it in half.
Soon the curious young boy saw another colour, brown.
"mmmmmmm" said the curious young boy
Together, Bruce and the curious young boy enjoyed the Black Sapote. Then the curious young boy picked up a pea-pod and...

This week we are hoping to get our hands on some of these amazing fruits!!
They are called Black Sapote or chocolate pudding. They are part of the persimmon family and have 4 times the amount of Vitamin C as an Orange!!
Here you will find more info and also ways to enjoy it! 

Now are there any requests before we head to the market in the morning??
Also how are you enjoying your boxes?
xxx
Abbotsford Wooden Box

Monday 26 November 2012

Summer Fruits!!

Oranges
Plums
Avocados
Apricots
Nectarines 
Tomatoes
Bananas
Celery
Cucumber
Zucchini
Potatoes
Onions
Carrots
Cauliflower
Pumpkin

How delightful was the fruit this week!! 
What would you like to see in your boxes?
Call back over the next few days to hear about a tasty fruit that's from Mexico but is grown in Australia. Spike tried one over the weekend to see if it got a babies thumbs up, and it did!
Xxx
Abbotsford Wooden Box




Friday 16 November 2012

Our friendship started from Sunflowers

A few years ago Katrina & Tim & Shanaka and I would pass each other in the street and say hi. A few times Katrina and Tim would be walking the dogs and Shanaka and I would be coming back from the Convent. Over the many months we would continue to say hi and that was about it.
Over the Summer months we grew sunflowers and once they had flowered the bees touched down on their pollen filled landing pads then flew off around the garden to help cross pollenate our veggies. Once the sunflowers had created their amazing hues of yellow pink and orange they would then continue on there journey to seed.
Grace and I collected these seeds one year and Grace decided to make a Sunflower Stall out the front of our house. Grace made a sign, I helped her to sew up some vintage fabric pouches then we filled them with seeds placed a box out the front with a note saying "pay as you feel".
The next time we crossed paths with Katrina and Tim they thank us for the Sunflower seeds and commented that they were looking forward to planting them next year. And that they did! And the colours were amazing! And our friendship grew from here. 
From a little seed. 

In the box this week:
(Spike Gives it a Thumbs Up!!)
Fennel
Asparagus
Mangoes
Beetroot
Potatoes
Onions
Apples
Apricots
Avocados
Cucumber
Broccoli
Cauliflower 
Grapes

Last night I made a Salad from the baby beetroot that I wanted to pass on since we have beetroot in the boxes this week. I found it in my Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Cookbook. 

Baby beetroot with spinach leaves, crisp ginger and a curry-flavoured dressing

Ingredients

  • Serves 2
    12 baby beetroot, red or golden
    2 handfuls of small spinach leaves other pickings from the garden
    6 thin slices of ginger
    1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • Dressing
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 2 tsp curry powder
  • 2 tsp lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
Method

Preheat oven to 180C.
Wash the salad leaves and beetroot, trimming off the leaves (if there are lovely small ones wash them carefully and add them to the bowl with the other leaves). Put the beetroot in a baking tray with 1cm of water and a splash of olive oil and cover the dish with foil. Bake in the oven for 45 minutes.
Spin dry the green leaves and wrap loosely in a clean towel lined with kitchen paper. Refrigerate until needed.
Cut the peeled ginger slices into thin julienne sticks. Use a teaspoon of the olive oil to fry the ginger until golden and crisp. Drain on kitchen paper.
Mix all ingredients for the dressing.
When beetroot are cooked, peel and immediately spoon over half of the dressing.
Use the rest of the dressing to lightly dress the green leaves. Arrange dressed leaves and beetroot on a shallow plate and scatter with the crisp ginger.
We added some Goats Cheese Feta last night and it made it nice and creamy.

While flicking through Green Lifestyle Magazine I found a great little article on Seed Bombing. And it's for Sunflower seed bombs!
I know we sure will be taking part in this fun project!!

Until the next post, happy eating!
(I just finished eating a mango. Soooo Good!!
xxx
Brooke and Katrina
Abbotsford Wooden Box
p.s Tim and Shanaka, Thank You for your endless support!!

Friday 9 November 2012

9.11.12



In the boxes this week
Asparagus 
Apples
Kiwi
Apricots
Lady finger banana 
Red grapes
Onions
Spring Onions
Baby beets
Lettuce
Potatoes
Corn
Cauliflower
Broccoli
Dutch Carrots
Xxx
Pop back over the weekend for some recipe links
Abbotsford Wooden Box


Tuesday 6 November 2012

2.11.12




How was your Looong weekend if you had one?
We have been spending lots of time at The Patch recently. 
Dennis, one of the residents, has been busy digging more garden beds, while Jack has been helping us to pick the ripe Loquats.
  Over the past weeks we have planted Tomatoes and Sunflowers and have been tending to the weeds and watering. From the produce that we have been eating in our homes we have been collecting seeds which we have now been planted into raising trays. These Include Capsicums, Jap, Queensland Blue and Butternut Pumpkins and Lettuce.   

We have had a large harvest of Broad Beans and Silverbeet which have added to many happy and healthy dinners in our homes. 
We are also in discussion with our friend who studies Permaculture, for a beehive to join The Patch!  

In the Boxes this week:
Red Seedless Grapes
Bok Choy
Kale
Fuji Apples
Oranges
Brown Onions
Baby Beetroots
Dutch Carrots
Mushrooms
Jap Pumpkin
Broccoli
Avocados

Spikes Dad made a great Bok Choy Pesto with the Bok Choy this week. We have had it with Veggie Burgers, then with Eggs and even mixed through pasta. It's a household favourite!!
Would you like me to ask for the recipe? 

What have you been cooking with your Produce?

xxx
Brooke & Katrina
Abbotsford Wooden Box