Monday Harvest – April 9th 2012

About 2 years ago I planted a lemon tree amongst the Australian natives in the front garden.  Since then I have been diligently taking off all the fruit to let the tree concentrate on growing.  All the fruit except one that is:

I have to admit it’s harvest was slightly accidental – I was gently admiring it when it came off in my hand.  I haven’t used it yet – I’m trying to think of an appropriate dish to use it in.

Another of my new harvest items was also harvested accidentally – I was moving a few pots around and in the process of shifting the horseradish I realised it had colonised part of my path.  These roots had come out of the pot and were growing down the path – presumably looking for a point to access my beds.  I’m glad it didn’t make it – I think I’ll make a sauce for some beetroot with this.

I made Chicken Savoyarde this week and the recipe called for leeks, lots of tarragon, carrots, and celery.  The beans I served with it and the chillies and cucumber I picked because they were ready.  Incidentally the carrots are from a colour mix packet of seeds – I have to say I just can’t get excited about coloured carrots (other than orange that is) I do think the orange varieties tend to have the best flavour.

Otherwise this weeks harvests have been more of the same.  Chillies (of course), a few tomatoes, eggplant and celery – the two later ingredients went into the caponata I wrote about last week.

The figs are nearing the end but I harvested about 10 this week – this particular lot came in with the washing.

We went to the Royal Melbourne Show last September and while there Miss 5 dug some potatoes from one of the exhibits and as a reward she was given some to take home.  These are the first ones I bandicooted from the resulting plants.  I’m not sure how many more I’ll find when I dig them up properly but I’m pleased that they are producing at all as I planted them quite late, they don’t get much sun at all and they have been swamped by sweet potato vine, so all in all something of a result!

It wouldn’t be the same without harvesting some Rainbow Chard each week – this week I made chard and ricotta gnocchi which was a great success – Mr 2 was especially keen.

And finally a passionfruit which not only concludes this post but is probably also the last that my old vine will produce.  However all is not lost as in the sort of beautiful symmetry that nature sometimes provides, my new vine flowered for the first time this week.  I hope its ready to be as productive as the last one – it has a lot to live up to.

For other harvests from around the globe the place to be is Daphne’s.  Head on over now.