The laughing garden

Stir fried beef recipe

2011-02-15T07:14:00.000+11:00

For those who've asked for the recipe

Stir fried Beef

Marinade day:

Slice scotch fillet to desired thickness
Add to plastic bag enough to cover

Soy sauce
Honey / palm sugar
Garlic minced about 2 teaspoons
Ginger minced about 2 teaspoons

Sherry - about quarter of a cup

Chili if you like it

I vacuum seal my plastic bag so then I marinade for a day or 2.

Cooking day :

Strain steak from marinade. Reserve marinade .

Slice onions, garlic & ginger fry up in grape seed oil.

Add red & green capsicums, mushrooms. Push to one side in pan.

Brown steak in batches.

Add any vegetables that take more than 1 minute to cook eg cauliflower broccoli.

Add 2 dessertspoons cornflour to reserved marinade & add water to make up to 2 cups - enough to cover steak. Cook till thickened.

Adjust seasoning.

Set aside till ready to serve.

Add wombok cabbage, baby corn cuts, water chestnuts, snow peas & warm through.

Serve immediately to keep that veggie crunch.

Hope that gives you some idea.

Blue lotus flowers opening in cafe at Kalang River Motel

2011-02-13T04:44:00.000+11:00

Blued lotus flowers opening

http://youtu.be/7XCOxOn5AMA

Chilli Crunch

2011-02-01T05:11:00.000+11:00

Hot discovery in my kitchen tonight.
Wanted a hot side dish for a mild curry and these ingredients jumped together
Yummy

Toss together

Fresh lentil sprouts
Deep fried onions
Fresh chilli finely chopped to taste
Ground sea salt

Sunrise stroll around the garden

2011-01-30T16:46:00.004+11:00

Wandered round the garden as the sun was coming up amazed by how many plants were flowering. My first attempt at loading a video . Can you spot the water dragon?

Come for a swim in our new pool

2010-12-08T04:10:00.003+11:00

Can't believe we finally got council final inspection for our new pool. Voila. Heated to 29 degrees celsius. Magnesium & potassium for your skin. Wow.

2010-11-25T05:03:00.002+11:00

I love it when guests send us emails and cards. Our german guests sent us their photo

I was so impressed with how they were able to jump back in the photo.

Starting to feel like home

2010-11-21T16:47:00.003+11:00

My secret garden : one year on and my no dig organic veggie garden is starting to look and feel like home. Worm juice, newspaper a year's worth of lawn cuttings topped off with a bale of lucerne has the soil, the worms and the veggies thriving.

Potato bread

2010-10-28T05:54:00.002+11:00

Anothe recipe from Chris on the south coast who visited our cafe.

Mix together
2.5cups wholemeal flour
1t salt
1t bicarb
Rub in 30g butter
Add 1/4 cup powdered milk
1T caraway seed
1cup cold mashed potatoes
Make well in centre
Crack in 1 egg % 1C starter
Whisk in egg with a fork & mix the ;lot to a soft dough( add more milk if necessary)
Bake 20 mins at 200
Reduce heat to 170 & bake 30mins till bottom of loaf is hollow when tapped

Can't wait to try these recipes - I'll let you know how they turn out.

Sourdough scones recipe

2010-10-28T05:49:00.002+11:00

From Chris on the south coast who had some of my sourdough in the cafe.

Ingredients
1.5cups plain flour
2t baking powder
3/4t bicarb
.5t salt
1cup starter
knead & roll out 1cm thick
Roll in 1/4 cup melted butter or use sprasy when cut
Place on greased tray & cover with a damp cloth for an hour to rise
Bake at 200 for 20 minutes

2010-10-17T07:34:00.001+11:00

Wwelcome to Ray our wwonderful wwooffer from Korea.

Feather glider - the world's smallest possum

2010-10-15T04:49:00.002+11:00

Another animal rescued from road works. This little feather glider is so tiny - it's hard to imagine it can fly. So good to see that he had put on weight in 2 days after being milk fed.

Baby Koala

2010-10-10T19:16:00.004+11:00

Isn't this the cutest thing. It brought a tear to my eye when I had the privilege of meeting this baby koala a friend has been raising for Wires

The mudbath

2010-10-09T08:19:00.004+11:00

So here's the beginning of our mineral therapy pool. I didn't think it was really going to be a mud therapy pool.

Wisteria Magic

2010-09-21T07:08:00.003+10:00

Not a bad spot to enjoy a cup of coffee, if I do say so myself.

Coffe Art

2010-09-14T05:03:00.002+10:00

This cup of coffee was so pretty, I had to show it off. Best part is - it tastes as good as it looks.

Amazing native flowers from a Guest

2010-08-26T10:03:00.003+10:00

What a wonderful surprise when a guest who had stayed with us for a week arrived with these thank you flowers. Makes it all worthwhile

Sourdough Starter

2010-05-27T17:14:00.003+10:00

My very first attempt at sourdough, Started according to Sourdough companion site recipe http://sourdough.com/ with 35g unbleached demeter white & 15g demeter rye. Realise I should have got the shop to weigh them , so I don't have to mix them every time. Plus 50ml filtered water. No temp mentioned for the water. Left on shelf to right of stove. Treating it like yoghurt in warm place out of drafts?

My pet spider died

2010-05-27T16:55:00.001+10:00

My pet St Andrews cross spider has just died. Had the most amazing web for all the 6 months we've been here. And lots of baby spiders. Guess theyll have to take over

The Cycad turning triffid at front entrance of Kalang River Moel

2009-12-11T10:12:00.002+11:00

New growth on the cycad is amazing though you have to stand sideways to see this

The new challenge is gardening wih flowers

2009-12-06T14:01:00.002+11:00

I have inherited a garden that has been loved. That has to be a bonus. Now is the time for me to learn to love gardening with flowers. And a bit about the micro climate here in Urunga.

2009-11-14T07:00:00.002+11:00

Give Jackson Hollow's sourdough a name

2009-10-18T11:59:00.008+11:00

Courtesy of @JacksonHollow super spy & chicken deliverer extraordinaire of Twitter She is also an organic farmer in her spare time.

1/2 tsp dry yeast, 1/2 c lukewarm water, 1 c bread flour. Feed weekly with 1/2 c water and 3/4 c flour

sourdough: should be the consistency of thick pancake batter/ muffin batter, not bread dough. consistency more important than measurements

sourdough: starter needs to "work" at least 3-5 days before use to attain real sourdough flavor, caused by the alcohol the starter produces

I love the idea of the live sourdough living on my counter :-) i may name it.

Sourdough starter can live indefinitely if fed, producing better flavor all the time.

You can say hello to Jacksonhollow at twitter @Jacksonhollow or her website which has the most beautiful photographs.

http://www.airstreamcomm.net/~brianandlaura/

Bush turkey 2 Wallaby 1 Chooks Zero

2009-10-17T19:02:00.002+11:00

Moments like these I wish I was a better photographer. Here in the failing light the chooks were hassling me for food. Why because the bush turkey was eating theirs from their hopper in the chook tractor and the wallaby was eating the fruit I had left at their door.

It's all there but you've got to have go go gadget eyes to see .

Chooks tucked in for the night

2009-10-09T18:41:00.002+11:00

The chooks are having their last little feed before roosting for the night. They are going to join my daughter's chooks while the removal is happening. The logistics of moving the chook tractor will be a story all of its own

My worm farm revisited

2009-10-03T09:24:00.003+10:00

After many incarnations I find that the swag is the style of home worm farm that suits my 57 year old body. You don't need to lift to get either worm juice or castings. You just need to feed the worms at one side for a mass migration to occur. The worms are in for their favourite treat today as it poured overnight & some of the chook food got wet in their hopper. They just love laying pellets and seem to double in size overnight.

Nectar to the regent Bowerbird

2009-10-02T07:24:00.004+10:00

Whenever these spine covered berries reach this size the regent bowerbird appears. He is stunning with his yellow and black striped plumage - but so shy I can never get a photograph

Native Bees in the Broccoli

2009-10-01T12:01:00.002+10:00

I'll miss the native bees when my garden is no longer in the middle of the bush. I had heard of someone trying to do research promoting native bees - after all they don't sting. Wonder what happened to that.

The land mullet under the bridge.

2009-09-16T05:34:00.002+10:00

This pair of fat and shiny black lizards have lived under my bridge for 7 years I know about. When I've tried to identify them I have come up with the name " land mullet" I'd love to know if that's what they really are. I've had many lizards in my gardens over the years - but never one like this before. Maybe somebody out there knows.

A magic spot

2009-09-15T06:01:00.001+10:00

One of my favourite spots to unwind - the cafe at our local nursery .

Building Certificate Needed

2009-09-09T05:41:00.001+10:00

I can't believe this house needs a building certificate from council before my sale can go through.

What do you think?

Egg hunt - first find the chicken

2009-09-07T07:18:00.004+10:00

You can see how chickens started off in the jungle when you see how well camouflaged this chook is when sitting on her self appointed nest.

Spring is really here as the chicken's nest was raided by some wildlife yesterday. My own fault for not collecting the eggs straight away.

Wallaby

2009-08-31T05:14:00.003+10:00

I took some cuttings of plants I wanted to take & put the polystyrene boxes out. The wallaby is checking them out & having the odd munch here & there.

Spot the kookaburra

2009-08-16T19:14:00.003+10:00

The kookaburra is waiting to pounce in this early morning shot - I'm always amazed when they make a single swoop & dig something out from under the ground. How do they do that?

These pictures came in the opposite order to what I expected.

I have to find out how to publish reader's posts on my blog.

Amazing how kind people are. You have to look hard to find the kookaburra in this piccie.

Winter garden

2009-08-13T08:03:00.003+10:00

Enjoy my winter veggie garden. I'm not really growing milk containers - They make great protection for baby plants till they find their feet. From left cauliflower, capsicum in milk container, self seeded tomatoes, staked with self seeded lettuce, silverbeet, blue kale, miniature capsicums another baby capsicum and baby artichoke.

Asparagus declares it is spring

2009-08-11T08:17:00.002+10:00

This asparagus spear has snuck up on me - I've finally had it long enough that I can start to pick the asparagus and we've put the house on the market - I must have asparagused the whole of NSW. I'll need to pick this one today or it will turn into a fern. I can keep picking all the spears that emerge for a couple of months before I let any grow into ferns. Lady with an asparagus farm told me to cut new shoots under the ground. Now I've had this plant in for five years I can cut about as much as I want to.

So asparagus, silverbeet, broccoli, cauliflower, nasturtium, rocket and lettuce, capsicums and chillis, various herbs and a few varieties of lettuce.

Bon appetit

Baby Cauliflower

2009-08-10T08:04:00.003+10:00

Minature cauliflower - guess it's time to pick it as the floweret is starting to open up. It's just so pretty - but soon it will be cream of cauliflower soup.

View from my computer

2009-08-08T10:39:00.001+10:00

Love this tropical outlook - spoiled rotten really

Garden by Gaia - weeding by me

2009-08-07T21:19:00.002+10:00

One of the reasons I love my garden is that the whole structure has been designed by mother nature - my only role has been to remove the rubbish and plant some ground covers.

Home sweet home

2009-08-06T16:21:00.003+10:00

Tell your friends - my home is waiting to be adopted by a loving family
Looking pretty good - hope someone falls in love with my place

Family cleaning recipes

2009-08-05T18:14:00.003+10:00

Start with a plastic spray bottle from the supermarket - fill with water and add one ingredient to each bottle :

Lavender oil; half teaspoonful - general cleaner - great for inside the car, inside cupboards

Clove oil; about ten drops - kills mould - inside wooden cupboards seem to like it too.

Tea-tree oil; about half teaspoonful - antifungal as well as antiseptic - spray round toilet - foot and wound spray

Vinegar; 2 tablespoonsful - great for glass -

I've been having fun with these recipes and just realized the plastic spray bottles were taking over my cupboards - they've been sneaking up on me one at a time.

Bicarb soda - buy it in bulk from the produce store or the health food store.

Cooking salt - coarser - antiseptic abrasive.

Long and winding road

2009-08-04T07:15:00.003+10:00

I can't believe the way you feel a million miles from care walking up my driveway
And who knows what you will see - native ginger, cordylines. Got to start letting go - hope to find someone who will love this place.

A time for every purpose under heaven

2009-07-30T07:27:00.005+10:00

Poor little neglected bloglet. Changes - changes everywhere. My parents wedding in June 1950 some things change - some things stay the same .Trying to come to grips with putting my slice of paradise up for sale. Letting go - my garden watered with my tears.

Rainbow's end

2009-07-10T08:05:00.004+10:00

I really do live at the end of the rainbow.

Lemon Grass in Seed

2009-07-10T06:32:00.004+10:00

This lemongrass plant was only put in about 6 months ago and has seeds - never had that happen to me before. The seed heads are a kind of reddish colour. I guess I'll try to germinate the seeds to see if they are viable. I did learn a new use for lemon grass last night - the stalks did an excellent job of tying the roasting chicken's legs together. Lemon grass as the new thread.

Freeranging with Grandma

2009-07-07T08:36:00.005+10:00

Early morning chickens

2009-07-06T08:26:00.002+10:00

The chickens waiting to be let out of their chook tractor.

I was too late this morning so I ended up with a dirty egg. Sigh. But I did move the chook pen, so pastures new for them tonight.

Mutant oak leaf lettuce

2009-07-05T10:32:00.002+10:00

These lettuces planted themselves and some came up in a pot plant, and one beween the pavers.

Love self seeded plants - one less job - plus you know it was worth getting non-hybrid seeds to start with.

My pet worms

2009-07-05T08:19:00.003+10:00

My worms just about all have names. I bought them for $10 back in 1983 and have populated half of Australia with their offspring. I've taken with me through change of house and have never had to replace them. In return for this they've disposed of my garbage, provided me with fertilizer and conditioned my soil. A perfect pet.

My back door

2009-07-04T16:51:00.002+10:00

Wonder if this is suitable territory for a goat.

Broccoli Bug

2009-07-04T09:19:00.002+10:00

This broccoli looks perfect doesn't it. And I've told you all about the turmeric leaves & coffee grounds ( now cunningly hidden) under its winter coat of newspaper & straw.

But when I wore my glasses in the garden I saw these horrid bugs in the middle of my first baby broccoli floweret.

I seem to remember same thing last year, but what did I do to fix it? Hence the blog. Any and all eco friendly suggestions gratefully accepted.

Will a goat help me here?

2009-07-04T06:12:00.005+10:00

I've been clearing a path to the septic tank and wondering whether a goat wuld help me out here. I'll send this link to a few people and see wat they say. I don't want to spoil the native rainforest vegetation, the wild gingers, the cordylines, the baby palms and the tree ferns.

Is it cheating to get rid of the vines that create the dense canopy and give me deep shade?

WordPress or Blogger That is the question

2009-07-04T06:05:00.002+10:00

Driveway to rainbow's end

2009-06-30T19:12:00.003+10:00

Family Recipe : Egg & Bacon Slice

2009-06-23T11:29:00.007+10:00

Ingredients:

Stale bread : enough to cover base of dish

Grated cheese 3/4 cup

Bacon Rashers about 3

Eggs 6 to 8

Milk about 3 cups

Mayonnaise 2 Tablespoons

Worcestershire Sauce 1 Teaspoon

Mustard 2 teaspoons dried

Mixed herbs to taste or whatever's fresh

Shallots to taste

Capsicum green Capsicum red half of each

Variations on a theme are endless with this dish if you have stale bread and chooks are laying. Use whatever is growing or substitute, fetta, spinach, siverbeet, mushrooms, grated zuccini.

I always feel so virtuous when I make this dish as it costs so little to make. It's better when left till next day so it's a great dish for making you feel organised.

Cook the bacon & drain it. Then layer all dry ingredients in casserole dish starting with bread obviously. Start wet ingredients wiith the mayo, mustard and worcestershire blend well and add eggs one at a time so you don't get any glumpy bits, then add milk and herbs and pour over the bread mixture. Cover, refrigerate overnight. Preheat moderate oven and bake uncovered for 50 minutes to one hour until it puffs up.

Wet Chickens in Midwinter

2009-06-21T19:08:00.000+10:00

Poor wet chooks. Winter solstice isn't supposed to be like this. But the chooks are shut in for this longest night.

Mud pies

2009-06-21T17:35:00.000+10:00

Leeches 3 humans nil. Transplanted a wheelbarrow load of moses in the cradle but couldn't see any difference .Almost as bad as Microsoft upgrading me so I couldn't finish editing the blog . Cookies all gone = no Adsense.

Unwanted blog followers

2009-06-21T14:19:00.000+10:00

Can't believe it - while I'm learning how to do this and merrily typing away some unpalatable person signs in to follow me, offering favours I had never imagined existed.

So now I have removed the followers gadget while I sort it out.
Plus Google says I am limited to 100 followere. Well that might sound inordinately ambitious from this viewpoint but I hate to think of all going through all this angst to be ultimately limited to 100 followers.

Back to Pip my blogging Guru you'll find him and his 1o gazillion followers at
http://wilsonsalmanac.blogspot.com

Frustration 101 . Ooohhmmm

Starting again

2009-06-21T13:32:00.000+10:00

Blogging is driving me crazy

2009-01-13T03:31:00.000+11:00

Oh dear - it said this was going to be simple! The template is driving me bananas, the gadgets don't do what I imagine they are going to do. And I haven't learnt to organise things the way I want them to look.

It's like that in the garden too - but there I know I am trying to fool mother nature into letting me fiddle around the edges of her great plan for turning my small plot back into a rampant sub tropical jungle. All I want is a small area free of leeches and ticks - enough to grow a few veggies and fruit trees without benefit of chemicals. With a body that doesn't always cooperate. I know that's going to be a big ask. So I'm happy to plod away.

On the plus side today I managed to rescue the eggs from the shed and shut it before a goanna could arrive. I shut the chook pen before the bush turkey could eat the chook food. I planted some seeds for perpetual spinach/silverbeet. My newly made free range worm farm in the gully had survived its first day and my normal worm farm seems happy.

Maybe soon I'll be able to organise my blog so that I can have lovely headings and lists.

Oh well I guess it's only day 2.

2009-01-12T10:52:00.000+11:00

To blog or not to blog? A new garden diary

2009-01-12T08:56:00.000+11:00

I've often had garden diaries but never on the net before. So here goes . I'm not sure if I'll be able to organise it how I want it. Today seemed as good a day to start as any. I couldn't have started it yesterday as a goanna raided the chook's eggs and that would have shown how totally inept I am in terms of animal husbandry. I did however start my freerange worm fam in the hope that it will clear the mountains of bark and leaves that have fallen from the trees.