SERIOUSLY WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?

Seriously.  Is something wrong with me?

#1

I get so excited at the mere thought of going to a market or supermarket and just a walk around the fresh produce section is happiness to me. 

#2

If I am at the supermarket, I find myself heading towards the fresh produce section automatically even if I have a list of toiletries on my shopping list.

#3

When family or friends go abroad and asked if there's anything I like them to bring back, they get a little shock when I said "nothing really but I do love some seeds."  No particular seeds just simply seeds that I could sow and grow even if I know they will never reach maturity or even fruit in my lifetime. 

#4

I've taken to experimenting with prickling vegetables and fruits, preserving eggs, making my own juices and things that keep me in the kitchen.

I'm no Domestic Goddess and will never be that's for sure but something about eating stuff that come from your garden and kitchen is pure comfort.

THE GARDEN RULES!

The garden sits on top of my list of favourite places which is no surprise.  Coming in close is the kitchen which is a BIG surprise.  It relegates the bedroom to third position.

I am no Domestic Goddess but something about the kitchen just excites me these days for a simple reason that food yes food comes from there. 

Collecting seeds

I have enough seeds to start a farm and be a farmer but I am still collecting and saving seeds.  I feel guilty throwing away seeds even if they're from an orange which I know is unlikely to grow here.  However just saving the seeds and throwing them in the ground even if they don't germinate makes me happy.  I should say it's becoming a hobby or habit (depending on how you see it!) saving seeds and nothing makes me happier than sending someone seeds from my "seeds bank."  I feel like a million bucks if I learn that the seeds I sent germinated and grew successfully.  However don't pressurize yourself if they don't.  Didn't I say I have enough seeds to start a farm?  Seeds anyone?... just give me a buzz :)) 

Pickling & freezing garden produce 

As we're in a temperate region with no such luck of having seasonal changes in weather (spring, summer, fall, winter) apart from rainy season, we're just able to grow the same crops that suit our climate throughout the year.  You won't hear of such thing as picking summer produce to save for fall / winter.  However when you end up with many of a certain produce and can't eat them at one go, pickling & even freezing them are such wonderful ideas.  Seriously I'm more interested in seeing pretty bottles of floating pickles lining the kitchen countertop than eating them but they sure make wonderful gifts.  

Flowers for tea 

If you are a flower, beware.  There's a flower monster lurking something out there.  I take my flowers seriously; feeling, caressing and smelling them.  While I never imagine myself chomping on a bunch of flowers there's nothing I love more than sipping tea from flowers gathered in the garden.   

Concocting (new) recipes 

I never imagine myself making tempura from squash flowers but I did.  Have you tried omelette with squash flowers and cheese or even blue pea flowers tempura?  Enough said.  I am hungry.  Time I head to the kitchen.

Gardening is therapeutic  

Not too long ago, someone commented that my palms felt like sandpaper.  I never deny that.  Neither was I offended.  This just cemented the fact that I've been spending a lot of time in the garden. There's something nice about feeling the warm earth.  What? Gloves? 

From garden to kitchen it's all in a day's work.  Ok now time I seek comfort of the bedroom for some well deserved shut eye.

AVOCADO, THE WONDER FRUIT

Kick start your day with something healthy and hearty!

Recipes need not be the length of a ruler and it should not hold you ransom in the kitchen unless you're a Kitchen Goddess for which I am not. 

Here’s one “quick to assemble” recipe that you can add to your breakfast and eat without guilt.

I don’t want to dwell on the many benefits of this fruit both for health and in skincare.  Avocado itself is rather bland and boring but once you get past to eating this rich tasting fruit, it’s actually rather delicious.   

What you need

2 slices of any type of bread or toast

1 ripe avocado

Trickle of condensed milk / honey

What you do

Halve the avocado and slice into bite size pieces.  Slight mash of the avocado is also doable.

Spread or place the avocado generously on the bread.

Lightly dribble a trickle of condensed milk or honey over the avocado spread.

Have it for breakfast or in between when you feel like some healthy snacking.  I enjoyed that very much!

HELLO ROSELLE

It starts off with a flower...

... to fruits

Anything to do with beauty and anti-ageing earn my marks especially with a pretty sweet name like Roselle.  I don't think anyone would mind being called Roselle.

Roselle leaf and fruits

So if you haven’t heard, Roselle is a wonderful medicinal plant that bears fruits chock full of vitamins and antioxidants. 

Fleshy calyxes

 

Seed pods

Do bear in mind that although this plant carries some health and beauty benefits, it is not suitable for those with low blood pressure and like any other things / products, it should be taken in moderation.   

Having said that, if you’re a fan of sugar laden drinks /colas and you pity your waistline, Roselle tea is the perfect perk me up alternative!  It’s fabulous as a thirst quencher.

Making that cup of tea is so simple.  Tear of the calyxes, wash, put them in a cup and pour boiling water over them.  When I first started making Roselle tea, I added water and boiled the calyxes for a few minutes.  The water turned a fiery red and tasted a bit tart so I added in some honey.  However having now acquired the taste, I prefer to pour boiling water onto the calyxes, let it seep for a few minutes and drink it as it is.  On days that I crave for a sweet drink, I’ll add a dollop of honey to it.  Whichever way you choose, it’s delicious on its own.  Enjoy it hot, chill or add ice to your Roselle tea.

Sow some seeds in a pot or scatter some in your backyard.  Imagine the convenience of plucking this spike like fruits as and when you feel like having a cuppa!  When I plant and harvest enough Roselle fruits, I'll be on my way to making jams too. 

Oh and to share a little piece of news from the grapevine...  Heard that because Roselle tea is high in Vitamin C content, it is supposedly better than red wine in warding off free radicals in the skin.  So cheers to smooth skin and bye to winkles!  

Okay, bye bye to fewer winkles.