Food for a hot day


It was already 27 degrees when I got up this morning, not quite as early as usual as we had been out to an Australia day party last night, but still before seven. Yesterday ti went over 43 and I think today will be the same. Very hot indeed. The party yesterday was for tennis and a barbecue, I didnt play tennis but a lot of people did despite the heat. Austrlian country folk have this thing about proving their resillience no matter what. Becasue of the heat we didnt eat until pretty late, maybe nine thirty, so by that time a babecu and salad was acceptable and pleasant way to eat. I made mini pavlovas with passionfruit and cream the same as last year.  I dont think many people remebered and they enjoyed them anyway.
Pavlova recipe  It is an obvious thing to take to an Austrlai day party as we have loads of passionfruit at the moment and unlike this time last year still have plenty of eggs every day. Last year I  used frozen egg whites as we were in the midst of drought still and my poultry had stopped laying.
As I was pottering around in the garden in the early morning heat I was wondering what would be good to eat on such a hot day. Something that required little effort, not much cooking and would be cool and refreshing?
Cucumbers seem the obvious place to start, we don't have the saying "cool as a cucumber for nothing", tomatoes are also refreshing, some mint perhaps, basil and coriander. I think I will make a rice vermicelli salad with cucumber, tomatoes, beans and herbs served with a quick duck egg omelet. This will only require me to pick and prepare some vegetables, soak the vermicelli in boiling water and quickly cook the omelet, it only takes about three minutes. I read a nice recipe in the Australian Gardening magazine from Poh that had lots of mint in an omelet, this is not something I have ever thought to do so I will give that a go.
Then I might put some of the plums and nectarines in to the fridge for a cool snack. I think refrigerating fruit detracts from the flavour but on such a hot day it makes sense. The ginger beer is ready to drink as well and that makes a lovely refreshing drink.
I will have to resort to the air conditioner today but at least can think the solar panels will be making lots of power. 



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

An abundance of eggs

Image
Silkie eggs Duck eggs Turkey eggs Hen eggs With five silkie hens, seven regular hens of mixed breed, four ducks of indeterminate sex and ten turkey hens we generally have an abundance of eggs. Despite the fact that several of the turkeys and hens are not laying, as they are broody the, there seem to be more than ever. Certainly more than two people can eat. Peter generally takes them to work and either sells them or gives them away. The turkey ones have not been that popular though. Today he said someone asked him for more turkey eggs as they had made an omelet with them and it was the best they have ever made. I find they rise up really well in omelets and Frittatas. I plan a big cooking evening sometime this week to turn the eggs into little herb quiches to put in the freezer for over the holidays when we will have a house full.
Read more

On my mind

Image
Puppy proofing my garden so the adorable Elle does not do too much damage! This is the result of my leaving a pot plant at ground level on the back porch. She is having a rest after her gardening!
Read more

A Bumper Citrus Harvest

Image
We have six old citrus trees here, two mandarins, two oranges, two lemons. They have fruited quite well most years since we have been here but this year they have the most extraordinary crop. They are loaded. We probably should have thinned them out but left it a bit too late. We have been eating the mandarins for a few weeks now, they are a bit tart but nice nevertheless. they are getting sweeter every day. We will have to give lots away and find some good mandarin recipes. I might have a go at preserving some segments as well. The oranges are not quite as prolific but will still keep us going for many months. The great thing about the winter fruit is that you can leave it on the tree and just pick it as you need it. We have planted some new citrus trees as well. they are very slow to grow but the ruby grapefruit tree has a decent crop this year. I really like grapefruit for breakfast. I will have to look after the other small citrus a bit more this winter and hopefully th...
Read more