The weather is very changeable. One minute the sun is beaming, the next the clouds are covering the sky and the rain comes splashing down. The garden though is loving it. All the plants are thriving with the warmth and moisture.
I dug up a few new potatoes. Still small but really delicious. The skins just rubbed off and they cooked in a few minutes with broad beans and mange-tout peas. I shall use the broad beans as quickly as I can while they’re small and tender but I will allow some of the peas to fill their pods for later. If black fly strike it’s best to nip off the tops of the broad bean plants and dispose of them. That usually solves the problem as the aphids collect on the tips.
The runner beans are climbing their canes. One has had the growing point bitten off by a snail but the others are healthy and strong. The French beans have suffered badly from slugs or snails but I have replacement plants coming along in the polytunnel. Where there’s life there’s hope! I shall allow them to grow a bit bigger before I plant them out. Perhaps sturdier plants will withstand the nibbling.
The roses are opening their lovely blooms. Sadly, some have a problem with a fungal infection called black spot. Fortunately it doesn’t affect the flowers and they are a joy to see.
Campanula persicifolia, the beautiful bell flower, pops up all over the garden, growing wherever the seed falls. I leave them alone to do as they like because they are so lovely to see.
I love to see their satin bells with raindrops. I painted a small picture a couple of years ago to try to capture the beauty.
The new paving seems to have redirected the rain water onto the borders at either side. They have never looked so bushy and abundant. Previously the old crazy paving soaked up the water but now it has to run off at the sides, so the plants have benefitted. An unexpected bonus!
Most of the cabbages have been used now. I made my cheesey potato bake last week to make the most of another one. This is a homely meal which is simple to do and very satisfying to eat.
I boil potatoes in a steamer with the cabbage on top in the perforated section. In a baking dish I soften sliced onions in the microwave. I heat the main oven to 200C. When the potatoes are tender I mash them and add crumbled Lancashire cheese and sometimes a spoonful of creme fraiche or sour cream, if I have them. I put the cabbage on top of the onions and then spread the cheesey mash on top of that. I rough up the surface a bit with a fork, then bake until the cheese turns golden brown. About 25 minutes.
Really good with chutney or tomato ketchup. Tasty, filling and easy to do. I sometimes add tinned organic sweetcorn to the cabbage layer for extra nutrition and flavour.
I have a family visit coming up so I baked a pecan pie, a great favourite of ours. Very rich and calorie-laden but a sensational dessert for special occasions. It freezes well and is good warm with ice-cream or cold on its own or with single cream.
The recipe is on a previous post with the title,”Pecan Pie and Painting” or in my cookbook compiled from my recipes, some of which I posted on my blog. You will find the cookbook with this link, https://geni.us/eANQu
I hope you’re enjoying the Summer and finding pleasure in your own way. With you again next week. Bye for now.
Living a contented creative life. 