Category Archives: Seen and Done

Slow Food Italia

 

2013-01-01 - Tomatoes Grilled

I support the The Slow Food movement. Experiencing the original traditional cooking of any nationality has always been a privilege for me, be it Italy, Africa, China or anywhere in between.

Slow Food Italia

“Was founded to counter the rise of fast food and fast life, the disappearance of local food traditions and peoples dwindling interest in the food they eat, where it comes from, how it tastes and how our food choices affect the rest of the world.”

“Since it was founded more than 20 years ago, Slow Food has defended small-scale traditional food producers and raised awareness among consumers at the grassroots level. Its aim is to create a more responsible food system, based on the pleasure and sharing of good, clean and fair food.”

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“Terra Madre network was launched by the Slow Food grass roots organization, and the intent is to provide small-scale farmers, breeders, fishers and food artisans whose approach to food production protects the environment and communities”

http://www.terramadre.info/

 

Hypothermic Biga

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The bread dough required some extra attention this morning to become soft, pliable and warm, as the Biga suffered from hypothermia being out of the fridge all night during May in Dunedin at minus 5 degrees this morning at 9.am.  😉

 

Dragon Food

2014-05-16 - Dragon Food 1

The garden is still producing, irrespective of what the Dunedin Weatherman throws at it and the severe bashing at the end of April. I harvested Zucchini, Radish, Chicoria, Tomatoes, Broccolini and one lonely Carciofo – enough for the family for another day. Please note the Dragon that, according to it’s 20 month old Master, is “Going to eat Nonno”.  If that happens, I do not know who willl  attend to the animals and garden.

Christmas on the 8 th of May

 

2014-05-08 - Bottles

They say Christmas comes but once a year, mine came on the 8 th of May this year and I am all happy about it. Two of my many weaknesses are 1. The love of glass bottles and 2. Enjoyment of a good auction.  I think these traits are hereditary as my Grandfather once waved at a friend across the auction floor, which resulted in him buying 500 pairs of shoes. (Needless to say we were the only kids in school that sported a new pair of shoes every day – it was irrelevant whether these were from an era before Granddad was born or that it did not always fit that well). Today on my way back from Bunnings, my eye caught a sign that said “AUCTION” and since I still needed a couple of hinges and latches for the new chicken extension, I though it good to have a look. Registering as purchaser No  342, I was sure with that many buyers, bargains would be few and far between. I wondered through the isles, but did not see any worthwhile building materials I needed. What I did see was some very nice 2 Liter chemical bottles, used in a past life for concentrated sulphuric acid. The quality of the German made bottles and closures was excellent and all complete with bottles and seals made in a way that only Germany could make to keep sulphuric acid. Arguing with myself that the wine store down the road sells inferior quality 4.5 Liter wine jars with doubtful lids for $17, and I need containers for my wine, beer and vinegar productions, I am going to hang around and maybe I would get lucky and purchase the 50 bottles at $4 – $5 per bottle – a great bargain.  The auction progressed well and fast with the lot before the bottles being garden equipment and included at least three very good and long power cords, lots of bolts and screws, two secateurs (German made) branch cutters, an esky, an almost new garden blower / vacuum machine and many more garden stuff – it even had a few latches and hinges. As I did not need most of the stuff, I did not place a bid, nor waved at any friends. The auctioneer at this stage was becoming agitated as nobody wanted to place a bid. Frustrated he moved onto the next lot – the bottles – and announced that the previous lot for which he received no bid would be thrown into the bottle lot. I was disappointing as this move complicated matters gravely. He started at $300 with nobody even looking at him, came down in $10 increments until he reached $100, and still every body was more interested in the cup of coffee they were drinking. I was tempted to jump in at $100 (only $2 per bottle plus all the extras) but resisted. The auctioneer came down all the time asking for a bid, and at $20 shouted that if anybody wants it to please speak up or we shall move on. I put my hand up and said $10 for the lot, he sighed, shook his head, waited for a minute in frustration and started the auction – still nobody moved and he then SOLD it to me for $10 the lot.  Christmas comes but once a year – Glass bottles on auction at a give away price.

Beeswax Furniture Polish and Mum’s Table

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About 30 years ago my mother made me a coffee table. It turned out to be magnificent and was to be one of several made by her. It had later traveled to Australia (I packed it personally), it moved about to several rental properties before we bought a house, and then it survived another voyage to New Zealand. It is rather fragile and it is a miracle that it survived all the moves. It has also been used as a play surface by the grand kids, one who learnt to walk by holding on and going round and round. The baby also produces copious amounts of drool since he is teething and manages to drool under the glass top (another miracle), staining the wooden rim. It was looking a bit neglected. I wanted op restore it to its former natural glow but I hate varnish and oils would change the colour so left it alone for years and years. Last week I made some beeswax polish and tested it on a small part of the table – I was delighted with the result. I applied the polish with a dishcloth and buffed it up as I went along and the table looks wonderful. The pictures show the table without the glass top. Another good thing was that the table smelled good and I did not have to have to clean the wax from my hands since it is the same as the cream I put on my face.

My mother was /is an artist and in her nineties now. She went from painting to sculpting, in wood eventually, ending up making bedsteads, doors , tables and huge full length mirrors in wood. The designs were her own and as a child I remember admiring her  doodles which covered every bit of paper, the phone book, napkins, every thing that was at hand. This table reminds me of those doodles, always full of curves and swirls and flowers and as I polished, I enjoyed tracing the forms with my cloth and fingers, a three dimensional doodle, almost, a wonderful gift from  my mother.

PS – As you can see by the writing style, this was written by Mrs Back Yard Farmer