When I was growing up back in Denmark Stinging Nettle was a very important herb in my life. The nettle I am referring to is the Urtica dioica which is an herbaceous perennial flowering plant, native to Europe, Asia, northern Africa, and North America. I was very close to my Grandmother and she would teach me about herbs and so called weeds about animals and insects and about the time when she was a young girl working as a sheep herder on a small island. She knew a lot about survival. She recycled everything she could ever think of. Nothing was ever wasted. She told me how to use the stinging nettle to ward off or lessen the pain of arthritis by applying the herb directly on the skin. I thought that was a bit cruel. The darling boys in the neighbourhood sometimes flogged me with the … [Read more...] about Me and my Stinging Nettle
Archives for January 2016
Wild Food Festival New Zealand
A few years ago we went to the Wild Food Festival in New Zealand. It is held every year on the South Island on the West Coast in the township of Hokitika. The west coast is absolutely wild and wonderful. It is a rugged place with black sand beaches. Hokitika is full of friendly locals and it is known for the pounamu (greenstone) from the Arahura River. The festival was first started in 1990 and is still going strong. The festival is an icon in itself and one of the premier special happenings in New Zealand. We just had to be a part of the happening Once on the festival grounds the fun is never ending. Everybody is here to celebrate wild food washed down with drinks of all sorts. There is live entertainment, cooking demonstrations, prizes to win for the best dressed festival goers. … [Read more...] about Wild Food Festival New Zealand
Kaleidoscopic Photos of Garden
Oyster- Pumpkin soup
60mm of Oysters 500 g of Pumpkin 1 Onion 1 Carrot 1 litre of stock form the Hunters Pot Salt, Pepper and Thyme 100mm of pure sour cream, containing a dash of Worcestershire sauce and a pinch of mustard powder Peel and chop the pumpkin boil and mash. Add thyme, salt, pepper and stock. Chop onions and carrots add to the soup let boil until carrots are crisp, add oysters let boil for 2 minutes Serve with the sour cream which you let boil until half reduced. Steve’s comments: (Steve was our great oyster dish taster) “I don’t like oysters still. I don’t like pumpkin soup. I don’t like soup. Full stop! But I don’t know what to say but this is pretty good. It is the whole dish that I don’t like. People who like pumpkin and soup would … [Read more...] about Oyster- Pumpkin soup
Peder’s Green Jack Fruit Curry Dish
Curry sauce: Coconut Cream, Onions and Carrots Fresh Basil, Oregano, Tarragon, Turmeric, Ginger and Lemongrass Bird Eye Chilli, Salt, Pepper, Coriander Seeds, Fennel Seeds, Anise Seeds, Cloves, Mustard Seeds, Old Spice and Caraway Seeds Chop and roast onions, carrots and all fresh herb/ ingredients in coconuts oil. Ground all dry ingredients in mortar. Put all above ingredients in coconut cream and simmer for 20 minutes. Add some old stock from the Hunters Pot Peel Jack Fruit and cut into pieces. Add to curry sauce and simmer till tender. Serve with rice or whatever you fancy … [Read more...] about Peder’s Green Jack Fruit Curry Dish
Peder’s Famous Black Sapote Bread
4 tablespoon stone ground wheat meal 2 tablespoon oat bran 2 tablespoon rolled oats 2 tablespoon millet flakes Salt 1 big ripe black Sapote 2 tsp dry yeast 1 egg Plain flour add enough to have the right consistency. Bake in oven at 200° C for 25-30 minutes or until the bread has a hollow sound when tapping it … [Read more...] about Peder’s Famous Black Sapote Bread