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.
I harvested celery, leeks, fennel and potatoes this week. As usual the question is how to put my harvest to good use without using the same recipe twice. I have a picky household that does not tolerate the same dish twice in one week so here are my efforts so far:
Crunchy Celery, Fennel and Apple Salad
1 bunch of celery chopped in to bite sized pieces. Keep the leaves for stock making.
1 apple cut in small pieces
1 fennel bulb shaved thinly
1 orange – 1/2 juiced and 1/2 cut in bite sized pieces
salt and pepper to taste
Mix everything in together. You can change the quantities to suit your taste as it is hard to get this one wrong. You will have a pale looking salad so liven it up by sprinkling the dark green fennel fronds, cut decoratively, over. The trick is to prepare and assemble this salad just before serving, any delay causes the apple to discolor a bit.
Celery, Leek and Potato
8 tablespoons of olive oil
500 g peeled potatoes cut in pieces
1 head of celery, stems only, keep the leaves for stock making
1/2 lemon juiced
salt
Use a heavy pot with a lid. Put the olive oil and celery in and add water until the celery is covered. Cover the pot and boil until the celery is softened about 10 to 15 minutes. Add the potatoes and cover the mix with water again. Add salt and lemon juice. Cover the pot and boil until everything is tender and no liquid barring the oil is left (this is important). Serve hot or at room temperature. I used it as a side with the week end barbecue but the dish is robust enough to eat as a main with some bread.
I wish I had taken a “before ” photograph to prove that my (still green) tomatoes were looking great, and my zucchini were producing bountifully and ……We had massive winds and heavy rain this week and unfortunately our lovely sunny aspect also means that there is very little wind protection for my garden. Dunedin weather strikes the uninitiated gardener again! I have uprooted all the broken and drowned plants and will start anew next week. The things that did survive were the artichokes and the cardoons, even though the cardoon in the picture looks very sorry for itself, along with some lettuce, rhubarb and cavalo nero.
No damage to the chicken houses fortunately.
I will be cooking for the kids today. Fortunately the garden has delivered all the favorites – broccolini, small zucchini, one teeny artichoke ( next year will be bigger and better) and pumpkin flowers. Two flowers will be stuffed with ricotta for the grownups and the rest crispy fried in flour and water batter. Broccoli probably just steamed and Zucchini in a little butter and sage. Add leftover lamb and I should have a winner. Should, because one never knows with small kids, what they loved yesterday could horrify them today!
Back Yard Farmer 