19
I’m not quite sure if things have been busy or slow around here. It’s all a bit foggy really, maybe a reflection of what is outside most mornings.
When the fog does finally disappear, some days around midday, we are rewarded with lovely cold crystal clear winter days. There’s a lot to be done outside in the garden but realistically there are only a few hours each day when I can bear to be out there in the cold.
I’m slowly (very slowly) working my way around the beds doing the winter weeding, clearing out and cutting back. A combination of the wet and cold summer and having someone help me weed in late summer/autumn has meant that many of the plants which normally self-seed everywhere have disappeared. Note to self: anyone can weed, not everyone can garden (i.e. recognise a plant from a weed….) and drought tolerant plants don’t like wet feet.
The upside to losing a few plants is that for the first time in over a year, I had an excuse to visit a couple of garden nurseries. So many lovely things, so many ideas. Employing my steely resolve, I didn’t over indulge and came home with trusty and familiar friends to fill some of the holes. In a funny way, the gaps have reinvigorated me. Much of my pleasure in gardening comes from the anticipation, the imagination. There’s something exciting in the unrealised potential of a newly planted plot of land.
And once again, the garden has opened my eye’s to another life lesson. My life will forever be potential filled if I don’t back myself. No one else can make things happen for me, I am the mistress and designer of my own destiny just as I am the mistress and designer of the garden around me. It is quite simply up to me to define the life I live and to enjoy that life to the full!
An example, if I may…the other night I decided to cook a simple dinner. Sausages and veggies. Should have, could have been simple. Instead I managed to use every pot in the house and create something complicated, and in all honesty, not that great. Simple would have been better…
Last night, I decided to cook a simple dinner. And I kept it simple! Laura, this one would be great for the nights you are looking for something to cook Lloyd. Once you have Miso in the fridge, you’ve always got an easy dinner on hand. It tasted way better than this photo does it credit (and credit for the recipe goes to Annabel Langbein and her Free Range in the City cookbook).
Miso Glazed Salmon
- boneless, skinless salmon fillet
- 1 1/2 tbsp miso paste (white)
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 2 tbsp water (i use some mirin)
- 2 tsp soft brown sugar
Mix ingredients together and spread over salmon fillet. Let sit in fridge for as little or as much time as you have. I try for about two hours.
Preheat grill to high and spread some foil over the top (easy cleaning). Sprinkle some sesame seeds on top of the salmon. Grill salmon 10cm from heat source without turning and until just cooked through (about eight minutes).
Serve with easy rice and asian greens - (2 cups short-grain rice, 4 tsp soy sauce, 4 tsp butter, 2 cloves crushed garlic, 3 cups water). Place all ingredients in saucepan, bring to boil, stir and cover. Turn to lowest heat and cook for 10 minutes. Remove from heat (don’t remove the lid) and let sit for 15 minutes.
The fog’s lifted now, so off outside I go. Time to create more potential…
Ooo you’re right I could do that and it looks lovely. We also love Salmon. When you say miso do you mean miso soup? Mix?
And is that your garlic? It’s looking great. I got mine in really late this year but I noticed the other day that some shoots are peeking out. We got some amazing garlic at the Farmers Market when we went to Matakana. We were going to eat it all but I kept one whole bulb ( sneakily!) and divided it up and planted it.
P.s. we’re having Jamie’s 30 minute ( so I’ll take a couple of hours) chicken pie tonight. I’ve done it before and it’s lovely.
Hi Laura, the miso is a paste, I just buy it in the asian aisle of the supermarket but a good asian grocer would have it. Remember you want white miso paste! I thought I’d do a smoked cod pie tonight, using your friend Frugal Kiwi’s recipe! Can’t start til 5 so who knows what time we will eat…Hope Jamie doesn’t create too much work! Alison
That salmon looks simple and delicious. Sometimes we all overthink things, particularly with cooking! I’m glad you’ve had the chance to plant some new things in your garden – exciting times ahead in spring!
Thanks Celia, how embarrasing – so not up to your standard. It tastes great even though my photography skills seem to have escaped me. Alison
Just in from weeding (& giving all the bounty to the chickens & ducks, can’t wait to slip in their foliage poo) then off to the hardware store – contained myself from the plants, they are so glorious. We still had frost here at 10a.m. even with sun on it, oh Canberra, brrrr. Glorious blue skies though, GLORIOUS, always a neat reward for enduring a chilly evening. Love Posie
Hi Posie, Can you believe that I am just inside from doing a mow? Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous is all I can say. Oh that duck poo, I don’t how you manage it in a smaller space…Alison xxx
That looks delicious!
Yes, that is a lesson to learn, alright! Harder to get your head around the knowing it, and the actual doing of it sometimes…
Hi Dixiebelle, I sometimes think I should hit my head against a brick wall…why oh why do I keep making the same mistakes? Good to hear from you, Alison xxx
Alison I love the look of your miso salmon. I haven’t played with miso paste before, I might have to look out for some.
And totally agree about keeping things simple. Some of my absolute disasters are when I’ve overly complicated things.
Oh, that looks good! I miss living near the sea – fresh salmon is not be found here on the prairie
Your winter fog is absolutely stunning… So serene.
My mouth is watering at the sight of that delicious plate of food. Your defined simple looks very gourmet.
How wonderful to have vegies from your own garden. So exciting that Spring is just around the corner.
x
Michelle
http://www.michellesstylefile.com
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Oh that salmon looks incredible!!
Yes, back to school today, i miss them already, the house is so quiet except for the sound of our happy quacking ducks & chickens. Off to walk the puppy too, alone, sob.
You are so sweet, i believe blogs are my sunshine too, they are my ‘colleagues’ to chat to as a housewife at home. Would you believe i ordered the metal signs from Lark which say (in 3 pieces) You are my Sunshine, My only Sunshine, You make me Happy, When skies are Grey, You’ll Never Know dear, How much i Love you. I ordered them a while back, still waiting for delivery (they warned me delivery would be longer, i also ordered a freckle rug – imagine giant felt balls in multicolours made into a circular rug, gorgeous) so being patient.
Have a glorious day, sunshine here, love Posie
I can’t believe you ordered that Posie, how funny! Skies are a bit grey here today, literally! Alison