It was already last year that I started planning a simple solar power system for the greenhouse, since the next power outlet is a tad bit away. After much back and forth, I finally dug up enough time and nerves to complete it by the end of may.
Salmon Trout with Tarragon-Sherry-Sauce
Yesterday’s lunch. I love tarragon – it has a very special very distinctive and delicious taste and it fits perfectly to fish and other rather delicate dishes. My local fishmonger five minutes down the road had some beautiful fresh salmon trout available, so we gave it a hit.
Merry Month of May
My beautiful Lady of the House is enjoying the warm sun 🙂
Spring Pasta Recipe
This is a recipe my old friend Steve (who is half italian) taught me well over 20 years ago. It’s a light and fresh pasta dish for a warm spring day’s lunch, foolproof to make with just a few ingredients and very delicious. Steve used “Farfalle” noodles which I didn’t have at hand but it tasted great anyway.
How to: Grow Basil at Home
I sincerely love Basil. Best used fresh, this herb an enrichment for for a lot of dishes from pesto to all kinds of pasta, also poultry and countless sauces and even soups. Always a great addition.
Unfortunately, Basil a is a little diva-ish to have around and grow. I f***ed up numberless times when I tried to grow or even just maintain my basil plants, but finally, meanwhile I seem to have developed at least a little knack for it. I have actually managed to germinate as well as propagate, grow, perpetuate and correctly prune several basil plants on my southern windowsill! Here’s what I can share:
New Chickens!
We’ve got new chickens! Three more beautiful girls to reinforce our flock of trusty pretty ladies! It’s “Annabelle“, “Emma” and “Nera” (italian for “the black one”). There’s a lot of clucking, chattering and bustle going on in the den right now, and I suppose it’ll take two or three days until everyone has got accustomed to each other and until a new pecking order is established.
That’s animals – they’ll settle this in their own way as they always do, no human interaction required. Main point is, they seem to not fight seriously and they all slowly get used to the new situation. Meanwhile, the newcomers are busy exploring their new surroundings.
Miso Mushroom Pasta
This is a simple and easy, yet very delicious recipe for pasta with a rich and creamy miso and mushroom sauce. Perfectly suited for one of those busy weekday evenings when you can’t be arsed into elaborate cooking, ’cause it’s done in almost no time.
The text below makes it seem like a lot of work, while in reality it’s a done in an instant. I suppose it’s some sort of “fusion cuisine” 🙂 and it’s very aromatic. Try it yourself!
More Viking Chairs
Several people liked the viking-style chair (→ click here for images and measurements) that I made for a friend of mine, so I had to make some more 🙂 I’m happy about that!
It’s an easy, yet rewarding project. Click the link above to see how to make your own! Also, here’s a link on how to make a matching viking-style table.
Mushroom Cultivation Logs
I tried inoculating some logs from the garden with mushroom spores. I had some month-old beechwood logs here from the last annual spring tree cleanup which were fresh, solid and wet enough for the task. Furthermore, I stumbled upon some reduced Oyster Mushroom (pleurotus ostreatus) mycelium dowels from the garden center. I don’t know if they’re still capable of reproduction since they’re a little over their expiration date but they seemed lively and fresh enough, so I tried them out.
Slow Braised Beef Brisket from the Oven
I craved this so much lately that I just couldn’t help it anymore and made it again yesterday. So without much talking around here’s the recipe – it takes time, but it is easy, beginner friendly and entirely rewarding. (The above image was taken just before the final roast.)
