Rae's GINGER FIG and CHOCOLATE LOAF

Rae's Fig and Pistachio Cake

 

120g unsalted pistachio nuts, coarsely chopped

 100g Buderim Naked ginger, coarsely chopped 120g dark chocolate, coarsely chopped

120g dried figs, coarsely chopped 

4 tbs dark rum (or enough to cover dried figs) 2 oranges, finely grated zest then juiced
3 eggs

Date and Walnut Loaf

The sugar and nuts caramelise nicely with this loaf

Pecan nuts grow well in our coastal valleys.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups self-raising flour
1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
1 teaspoon mixed spice
1 cup chopped walnuts (could substitute pecan nuts)
100g butter or margarine
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup water
1 1/2 cups chopped dates
1 egg, lightly beaten

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees centigrade.
2. Place dry ingredients in a bowl.
3. Add walnuts and mix through.
4. Combine butter, sugar, water and dates in a saucepan.
5. Stir over medium hear until sugar has dissolved and butter has melted.
6. Cool slightly and then add dry mixture.
7. Add egg and stir until combined.
8 Spoon into 1 loaf tin
9. Cook for approximately 40 - 45 minutes.

This loaf is great served with butter.

Bellingen Seedsavers visit 'Ohana' at Thora

Rob shows us around his large garden. Click on any pic to enlarge.

Thora is about ten minutes drive west of Bellingen. Kirsten and Rob welcomed us and shared their large vegetable garden and orchard with us. The area has been reclaimed from weedy Lantana which had climbed five metres into the fruit trees. Rob and Kirsten used goats, horses and human power to clear the land and discovered the mature fruit trees. The garden, previously cultvated and now enriched with plenty of animal manure is very productive. You can see more of Rob and Kirsten's garden at www.ohanathora.blogspot.com.

The rich soil has been sculpted into vegetable beds.

Amaranth provides Kirsten and Rob young leaves for a salad

The tomatoes are protected from birds with nets

Rob grows large quantities of parsley.

Yellow Evening Primrose provides flowers for a salad.

Yellow Zucchine

Water melon

Egyptian Spinach seedlings

Seedling Black Walnut

Black Walnut trees provide shade but not fruit. Apparently they are also useful for rootstock.

A large unpruned plum.

A fruiting Persimmon

This mature Nashi Pear is loaded with fruit.

Mature Feijoas

A 1.5m resident goanna checked on our presence.

Jude and Michel Fanton visit Bellingen Seedsavers

Once again we visited David's large garden which he most generously allowed as the venue for a Jude and Michel Fanton Seedsavers Workshop. Jude and Michel founded the international seedsavers movement which is headquartered in Byron Bay, NSW.

One activity involved finding the most perfect pea pod to save for seed.

Under the shade of the trees, on an unusually hot spring day, Jude and Michel explained many of the mysteries of seedsaving.

The workshop finished with the group learning how to clean seeds using various sieves.

We all brought along seeds and plants for a 'show and tell' session. As usual, Nell was a fount of knowledge. Here she is describing the excellent properties of a Fijian Taro that she has grown for many years. We also learned that the shoots from Arrowroot (Canna edulis) can be eaten when prepared like asparagus.

Nell mixes the cooked Taro with coconut milk to make a tasty dip or spread.

Much of the food brought along to share was grown by members of our Bellingen Seedsavers Club. Lemons, peanuts, mandarins, paw paw, grated green paw paw and bean shoots were just some of the home grown edibles used in cakes, salads and dips.

Peter brought along his pickled walnuts and they were indeed exceptional. Here they are served with crackers and cheese. His large tree is around ten metres high.

The chilacayote (Cucurbita ficifolia) the melon-like fruit, was new to many of us. Like a pie melon, this fruit is probably best used as a zucchini when small, according to our experienced members. The flesh was white and slightly sweet. You need never starve with 'killer chayotes' in the trees. Just watch your head if you allow them to grow high into the trees.

Colourful nasturtium flowers decorated this salad.

Nell  made this salad with grated green paw paw and sprouts with a lemon-juice and honey dressing.