Weekend social 05/12/2014

25 comments on “Weekend social 05/12/2014 ”

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1. r0b 1

   5 December 2014 at 2:30 pm

   Yay Dunedin! http://www.cityofliterature.co.nz/about/
2. ianmac 2

   5 December 2014 at 2:47 pm

   In my tiny garden I have gooseberry bushes and blackcurrants. Good plant growth but only one gooseberry (one!) and less than a cup full of blackcurrants. What is happening to us? Healthy plants but little fruit.
   • tc 2.1

     5 December 2014 at 2:56 pm

     Perhaps the season as where we are spring was a shocker, cold/wet and the tomatoes as one example seem unmoved for a month now.

     Only watered twice in a month and one local said it’s the first time in memory they’ve had the fire going right through november.
     • Rosie 2.1.1

       5 December 2014 at 3:01 pm

       Ker – razy but we’ve had the fire on at times in November and even now in December. It would normally be all over and done with in September – October, with the fireplace cleaned out and the fire tools put back in the garage, but no, we’ve had to buy in some top up firewood.

       Then there was that bizarre warm winter. 2014 said to be the hottest on record…..
   • Rosie 2.2

     5 December 2014 at 2:56 pm

     Have they fruited well in previous years? Could it be a soil deficiency?
     • ianmac 2.2.1

       5 December 2014 at 3:32 pm

       Good fruit previous years Rosie.. Plants blooming healthy looking. We did have mild winter in spite of those many late tiny frosts even as late as last week. (Blenheim.) Maybe black currants and gooseberries need a long cold winter like apricots. Next year maybe.
       • Rosie 2.2.1.1

         5 December 2014 at 3:56 pm

         Odd.

         My green thumbed friend in Canterbury grows everything, including blackcurrants (and elderberries, yum) and said none her crops have done so well this spring as it’s been so dry down there. Theres already algae growing out on the dried out parts of the river bed. (Imagine the state of it when the Canterbury Plains water scheme is fully up and running, there will be no water left)

         Good luck for next year!
   • lprent 2.3

     5 December 2014 at 3:29 pm

     Ummm I should ask my parents how their verdant berry patch (draped with anti winged filcher netting) has been going this year.
     • phillip ure 2.3.1

       5 December 2014 at 7:22 pm

       ‘verdant’ is one of those words that is not used anywhere near often enough…by enough people..

       ..it’s one of those words that make you glad you speak/understand english..
       • mac1 2.3.1.1

         6 December 2014 at 9:36 am

         Then, phillip rue, you would love the song “Believe Me if All Those Endearing Young Charms” written by Thomas Moore.

         A line goes “And around thy dear ruin each beat of my heart, Entwines itself verdantly still.”

         Written to his beloved who had contracted small pox, the reference to the ‘dear ruin’ is to her face which makes a great song even more poignant.
   • mac1 2.4

     6 December 2014 at 9:49 am

     I went out, ianmac, as a fellow Blenheimite and checked my gooseberry bush. One berry as well and the black currants slightly better. The grapes are good though and so is the boysenberry, and the tomatoes and runner beans are flowering well. The September asparagus was early and prolific, though now the hops are slow. Those higher than average winds didn’t help as my kumera struggled to survive wind damage and desiccation. The farmer across the Omaka is struggling to get his hay dry for baling and the river itself is dropping which is somewhat contradictory.
     • ianmac 2.4.1

       6 December 2014 at 6:19 pm

       Strange Mac1. There may only be a climate effect on blackcurrants and gooseberries? Rest is normal. Next year perhaps.
3. Belladonna 3

   5 December 2014 at 3:03 pm

   These baked olives, a glass of wine and Marian Montgomery singing Close your Eyes on tube – my idea of bliss.
   Baked Olives.
   2c Kalamata olives 2 tablesp. fresh majoram or 1 tsp dried oregano
   1/2c dry red or white wine
   3T olive oil 1 tablesp. chpd parsley
   3 garlic cloves, 1 sliced, 2 coarsely chpd freshly milled pepper
   1 bay leaf small pinch of chilli flakes
   Oven 375F Rinse olives and put in baking dish in single layer. Add wine, half of the oil, the sliced garlic and bay leaf. Cover and bake until they’re fragrant and swollen, about 45 mins.
   Meanwhile pound chopped garlic in mortar with marjoram, parsley and a few grinds of pepper. When olives come out of the oven, poke each one with a fork or tip of a knife then stir in the garlic-herb paste, the remaining oil and the chilli flakes.
   Best if left several hours to allow flavours to develop.
   • adam 3.1

     5 December 2014 at 3:56 pm

     Yum , that sounds so good
4. Rosie 4

   5 December 2014 at 3:07 pm

   Phillip Ure or Belladonna – do you have any decent lentil based burger pattie recipes? I’m after one that that can handle BBQing and doesn’t fall apart. I’m asking you both because I need an egg free recipe, and that’s up your alley 🙂
   • phillip ure 4.1

     5 December 2014 at 4:09 pm

     @ rosie..

     ..how about black beans instead of lentils..or substitute..?

     ..Black Bean “Burgers” Recipe..”

     ..These aren’t so much burger substitutes as delicious lightly Southwest-feeling black bean sandwiches.

     The patties get nicely crisped on the outside –

     – but remain finger-licking soft on the inside..”

     (cont..)

     http://whoar.co.nz/2013/black-bean-burgers-recipe/
     • Rosie 4.1.1

       5 December 2014 at 4:48 pm

       Duelling pattie recipes!

       I do like the sound of that one phillip, it’s super easy and I do like a black bean. I use black beans in a refried version, on top of polenta which I bake in the oven and serve with guacamole. Corn and black bean with plenty of smokey spice is grand.
5. Belladonna 5

   5 December 2014 at 3:25 pm

   I havent made these Rosie, not really a burger fan but trust the author of the cookbook these come from so sure they will be good.
   Lentil Patties for Burgers.
   2c cooked brown lentils, mashed well
   1c cooked brown rice
   2 onions, finely chpd
   1 large grated carrot
   2c wholemeal bread crumbs
   1/2c flour
   2T soy sauce
   2t curry pdr
   1t veggie salt
   1/4t gr pepper
   Mix all ingred together very well and roll firmly into balls. Press flat into patties on baking paper covered trays. Bake 150c for 30 mins. Freeze well.
   These should hold together well from ingreds. used I think. You could use mixed herbs, tom paste etc in place of curry powder if you wish. The fact they freeze well would be a bonus IMO for summer barbecues.
   • Rosie 5.1

     5 December 2014 at 3:48 pm

     Must be on a food theme, as I posted my request and then your olive recipe popped up!

     Thanks for the above recipe, thats kind of you to write it all out. Yes, I would substitute herbs in place of the curry powder. I have plenty of herbs growing that would be suitable for this recipe. I might make fresh breadcrumbs too.
     Cheers 🙂
6. Belladonna 6

   5 December 2014 at 3:53 pm

   Think she would have meant fresh breadcrumbs Rosie. Sage and thyme would be good herbs to use I think. You could maybe do a trial batch just in case we get a long summer, can always hope!
7. vto 7

   5 December 2014 at 4:21 pm

   sharifa asma
   blue moon
   albertine
   madame alfrede carriere

   mmmmmmm…………………….

   lush in the quiet peace and dappled sunlight of a deep green hidden garden
8. Ant 8

   5 December 2014 at 5:24 pm

   If there’s one place I find hard to handle,
   Its the dreary wee town of Dunsandel.
   In turn I admire
   Nearby Rakaia
   To whom Dunsandel can’t hold a candle.
9. Belladonna 9

   5 December 2014 at 6:53 pm

   Funny little ditty. All I can remember of Dunsandel is I think there was a second hand shop there and not a lot else but Rakaia isnt a lot better, all salmon fishing I think.
   Oamaru and Geraldine are more interesting. Fleur Sullivan’s restaurant at Moeraki is great but the last few times I went there I was vegetarian, am vegan now so dont know if she would cater for my food choices. Wonderful location though.
   • vto 9.1

     6 December 2014 at 10:11 am

     whizzing through little small town
     by means of fast car filled with clown

     its impossible to know what settlements are
     by peering out through window of car

     but spend time meandering in old back street
     learning of past and current mean feat

     and breathing old garden beside new abode
     if you open them eyes and see the code

     you will find a wee town, with nary a peek,
     as urbane or as rural as any may seek

     ..
     (needs some tidying around the edges sorry)
10. the Pink Postman 10

    7 December 2014 at 12:58 pm

    Sunday afternoon tea in Hamilton to say fairwell to old friend and fellow Labour Party member Jim Holdom . Who is moving to a resthome in Auckland . He will be missed I just hope those LP people in Auckland keep him company.

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