Saturday morning was spent gardening with the dog, urged on by an unconvincing burst of sunshine - I, planting neat rows of sorrel and rocket and broccoli rabe and she, stalking birds. I love the birds, but alas, Poppy does not. Magpies, dressed in black and white, were thankfully undeterred. A family of three looked down contemptuously from the plum, rightly unmoved by a blur of barking schmoo. Eventually, she gave up and lay smack bang in the centre of the lawn, spotted belly up as the sun came out.
Curly kale was pricked out of a box set by the garden tap and relocated to the back, scattered among more mature greens. They seemingly require deeper ground in which to send out roots. Parsley most certainly does – roots pulled from one errant group yielded long, ratty taps, firmly attached to their patch of earth. Only an almighty heave-ho, one ending with my bum planted squarely in the other bed, would set them free. Small, they are pure white beneath hairy, wrinkled skins, somewhat like an anorexic parsnip, and tasting sweeter, more herbal. In the course of tidying, I think I’ve found three fledgling stinging nettles. Not willing to disturb such valuable weeds, I mulched around them in case - fingers crossed – they are.
The produce of winter is exciting, both to grow and to cook. Familiar things make their way back to the kitchen. Winter in these parts is bare-branched, pale grey but lushly green. A mere three months of double-layering, triple if you’re up early or out late, but mild with the odd day of sparkling blue. I've been testing and photographing recipes for a very exciting, soon-to-be-revealed project with Kathryn of Limes and Lycopene for the last month or so, and looking after Oscar nearly full-time on my own, so cooking has been a busy, all-consuming affair. It's hard to get bored when the produce looks so damn fine.
A bag of cumquats sat forlornly by the fruit bowl for a week but were used, finally, in a sauce. I wanted the flavour of cumquat, not sugar, to prevail, so Stephanie Alexander’s recipe was adjusted accordingly. Destined for a steamed pudding this long weekend. A swede and leek soup with crisp, buttery croutons tossed in smoked paprika was excellent on a cold Thursday night, just Oscar and I, and, on Friday morning, I began the biblically-timed 40 day (and night) soaking required to cure a first batch of fat black olives.
Stay tuned.
Am looking forward to the unveiling of the project very much. And Poppy makes me giggle. Am sure she and Marco would have a ball stalking blackbirds and such together.
I never grow very much in winter. Ought to change that. Kale and sprouts and cabbage are fine here all year round. Yes, decision made. Winter veg shall be grown this year.
Posted by: Wendy | June 07, 2009 at 04:05 PM
Aaah I know Kathryn is writing, so I look forward to the revealing! A beautiful post and wonderful pics, as usual.
Posted by: Ganga | June 07, 2009 at 06:56 PM
Fantastic pictures :) Gotta admit I spent ALL of Saturday inside. Winter brrrrr.
Posted by: another outspoken female | June 07, 2009 at 08:17 PM
wow, what a tease you are.
Posted by: maybelles mom | June 07, 2009 at 10:14 PM
My curiousity is piqued about your project - will look forward to hearing more!
Am glad your magpies look down contemptuously rather than swoop!
Posted by: Johanna | June 07, 2009 at 11:46 PM
I continue to stay tuned for nourishment.
Thanks for the link to Limes and Lycopene!
Posted by: Cathy. | June 08, 2009 at 12:19 AM
so very inviting both in words and image ~i am happy having stopped in your kitchen
Posted by: ELK | June 08, 2009 at 02:49 AM
Beautiful as always!
Posted by: Meghan (Making Love In The Kitchen) | June 08, 2009 at 09:56 AM
filled to the brim with delicious anticipation...
Posted by: chelsea | June 08, 2009 at 11:55 PM
Tagged you for a meme, toots!
No pressure at all, of course. :)
Posted by: Wendy | June 09, 2009 at 04:56 AM
Sounds intriguing!
And those photos. Sublime.
Posted by: docwitch | June 09, 2009 at 02:40 PM
Woo hoo! Something new in the works with my 2 favourite blogs :)
Posted by: Keltie | June 09, 2009 at 02:57 PM
Gorgeous pictures throughout your blog. I wish mine turned out half as well as yours.
And thanks for the link to limes & lycopene, very resourceful!
Posted by: Sarah | June 10, 2009 at 06:04 AM
My oh my. I was entering a tranquil state after the first two paragraphs when I jumped in my chair with excitement when I reached the third. A project with Kathryn -- sounds mysteriously wonderful. Two complementary talents combining their voices, knowledge and skills. Lovely.
I look forward to more descriptions of winter gardening. I live in the upper hemisphere where we're heading into summer. I'm going to miss growing the cool season greens but I'm hopeful my tomatoes will produce more than one flower (that's all so far). And when it gets too hot on my balcony in July & August, I'm going to come back here and look at these cool, refreshing photos.
Posted by: Elaine | June 10, 2009 at 08:43 AM
I cannot wait to see your project with Kathryn. It looks like I come back to blogging just the right time :)
Posted by: Anh | June 10, 2009 at 11:11 PM
Wow! what an amazing pictures...lovely posting.
Posted by: Dave Jones | June 12, 2009 at 03:02 AM
It must be an all day affair simply seeding those luscious cumquats. But they are so beautiful as a result! I eat them whole before a thought of turning them into sauce but will keep this in mind for next year. I love how we trade the seasons, the winters and springs. I'm not only celebrating our spring but the spring you just had and the one you will have next too. This sharing makes the seasons not new but second hand in the best possible way. Thank you.
Posted by: Katrina | June 14, 2009 at 02:55 AM
Awesome picture.. Nice post as always..
Posted by: Katie | June 17, 2009 at 08:06 PM