contents:
Preserves
videos
hobbies
organic produce
From my garden
What do I do with an excellent crop of lemons ? They are so aromatic with smooth skin that I can’t bear to waste. So I preserve them.
There are two methods I use to preserve lemons. In the first method, I bottle the lemons whole in a home made saline solution using pink Himalayan salt, leaving them in room temperature on my kitchen shelf for four/five days and then store in the refrigerator for winter use especially to flavour meat and fish dishes.
In the second method, I make two incisions in the ripe golden lemons, stopping at a quarter of an inch from the bottom, making sure the four wedges are held together and stuff each of them with a teaspoon of Himalayan salt. I put them in a sterilised glass jar and fill the jar with freshly squeezed lemon juice. After allowing them to cure for a few days in room temperature, I store the jar in the fridge.
Videos
1.Plum tree
2.Spring songs
New Hobbies:
Natural Prints
Living with nature
More with Less.
I love my old cotton cloths. Age softens them, making them more comfortable. But whites do stain and tend to look worn out.
I found dyeing my old cotton nightshirts, pyjamas and t-shirts with haldi, that is, turmeric powder, revived them to a sunny tone. The trick is to dry the haldi dyed material in shade. Sunshine robs them of their colour. As haldi is a natural dye, I have noticed that I need to dye the same piece of clothing every six months. But, for me, the comfort is worth the effort.
Whether it is sweet or sour limes growing in your garden, pluck some fresh in the morning, wash them thoroughly, slice them fine and layer them with honey in a glass jar. You can also add ginger or crushed black pepper, if you wish. Keep the jar in the fridge and add a spoonful or two to a glass of warm water. Refreshing drink to keep hydrated in the winters.
Natural dyeing.
Home Garden
Teasle Gourd
Many of you have been asking me about this porcupine-like vegetable It is teasle gourd or spiny gourd. It’s easy to grow and can be fried, stuffed and cooked in a gravy or simply boiled and mashed.It’s a nutrient dense vegetable.
Guava
Pomegranate
The lockdown days have given us ample time to indulge in our love for gardening.Most of the trees in my garden are from the seeds of the fruits I have eaten.These include the papaya ,pomegranate and guava trees. To grow tomatoes I use ripe tomatoes.I have discovered that a herb garden is useful not only for an endless supply of flavourings but many herb infusions make refreshing beverages.
Fresh tomatoes from my kitchen garden.It is a good idea to ripen tomatoes in batches for use.
Seasonal veggies
Fruits
A banana flower can make a tasty stir fry dish.The banana flower hangs at the tip of the bunch of bananas.
Spices and Herbs
Hibiscus Tea
A warm cup of Hibiscus Tea with cinnamon and honey, happiness recipe for winter mornings.
NATURE NEVER DID BETRAY
THE HEART THAT LOVED HER;
TINTERN ABBEY
WILLIAM WORDSWORTH.
A few days ago, a storm broke a heavy branch from my neem tree and I was left with a basketful of neem leaves.I washed and dried the mature leaves and made pouches with gauze and pink ribbons and placed them around the house, the cupboards, book shelfs, kitchen etc. as an insect repellent.
Neem is a blood purifier.I used the tender copper and fresh green leaves to make fritters with a light batter, a tasty way to eat these bitter leaves .
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Olena ….turmeric flower
Lovely Ljubljana
Coming up next
Nilakshi Borgohain 