Showing posts with label vegetable. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vegetable. Show all posts

Friday, June 28, 2013

In the Garden

The glaring heat of the sun to be challenged by erratic bursts of thunderstorms hasn't helped 
my leafy greens and tomatoes but at least these little gems are doing well. 
Here's to hoping that I don't have to transfer my romaine and spinach, yet again...

Cucumbers... 

Lemon 
We just harvested about 4 kilos of calamansi from the trees, yay!

Lavender

Monday, July 2, 2012

Chicken Burger

Oh, my...
Just looking at this makes me wanna run back to the kitchen and start making one. 
Doesn't matter that I already had to "taste test" this three times.

Thick, juicy chicken patty on soft homemade brioche sesame bun, crisp bacon, sweet grilled onion, stringy cheddar and mozzarella cheese, 
tangy gherkins, tomatoes and fresh lettuce...
 Ahhh!!!


*Chicken or beef burger now included on the menu;)

Wedding Cake

Carrot and Walnut Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

I made this 3-tiered cake for one of my best friends since high school. It was such a lovely and tear-jerking occasion. 
*Sigh*


Thursday, May 31, 2012

Garden Boom!

Remember this tiny plot from last year? I had sweet corn, bell peppers, eggplant, tarragon, cherry tomatoes and a few spindly marigold plants. 
I was happy with my plot. 


Well, it's been growing ever since...and now I'm deliriously happy with my garden!

I get to go out early in the morning, still in my pj's, with a steaming cup of coffee. Look at what's growing, watch the bees fly from one flower to another, brush against the fragrant herb bushes and pick off a few flowers to brighten up my kitchen as I go through a busy day of baking.

I have bushes of bright cosmos, marigolds, zinnias and hydrangeas intermingled with cherry tomatoes and spinach. We converted an old slide into a large herb bed, now housing flat leaf parsley, curly parsley, Thai basil, purple basil, sweet basil, lemon basil, thyme, cilantro, rosemary and oregano. The old tiny plot has been overrun with tarragon and large fennel bulbs. Old wine bottles are used as a partition between more cherry tomatoes, sunflowers and bunching onions. Chocolate mint, peppermint and spearmint crawl out of half a dozen pots on the stairs while a very determined squash plant is trying to invade the cosmos and hibiscus. Five hard working calamansi trees line the edge of the garden but my lone lemon tree is still shy about producing more fruit. 
Yes, I am ecstatic about my simple garden:) Now, if only I could keep those pesky snails away from my lettuce!

Turkey Pastrami Sandwich

Toasted whole wheat baguette slathered with freshly made pesto and sharp Dijon mustard, stringy mozzarella, peppery turkey pastrami, crunchy vegetables and a topping of organic mixed greens. Washed down with a passion fruit and dalandan smoothie.
Yummy! Lunch is served;) 

I just had to take a shot of my view (Taal Lake with Taal volcano right there on the upper left corner) while lazily picking on my sandwich:)
Happy days...

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Pies, pies, pies!

Pies now available at The Blue Cottage Bakeshop
  • Chicken and Mushroom Pie
  • Spicy Beef Pie
  • Beef and Beer Pie
  • Peach and Cinnamon Pie
  • Apple Streusel Pie

Chicken and Mushroom Pie

Spicy Beef Pie

Beef and Beer Pie

Peach and Cinnamon Pie

Apple Streusel Pie

Also Available

Calamansi Muffins
Banana Streusel Muffins
Passion Fruit Muffins 
Cheesecake Brownies
Bittersweet Chocolate Biscotti
Cashew Biscotti
Coconut Bicotti
Chocolate Chunk Oatmeal Cookies
Vanilla Butter Cookies
Sugar Cookies
Coming Soon...

Braised Lamb Pie
BBQ Pulled Pork Pie
 Chorizo and Egg Pie
Tuna and Mozzarella Pie
Cherry Pie
Chocolate Banana Cream Pie
Macapuno Pie
Tarts, Quiches, and more...

Friday, April 27, 2012

Busy in the Garden

The sunflowers are finally blooming, scattered patches of yellow and orange cosmos are in abundance and every day I'm harvesting baskets of organic cherry tomatoes, fragrant herbs and crisp leafy greens! 
Happy days...

 Isn't this amazing?! Such a happy looking sunflower;)
 After much waiting...they're here!!!

 
Sunflower bud taken 4 days ago...

 2 days ago, nearly there...

 
 In full bloom, gorgeous!

 
marigold patch and a stray pechay
 
 
pechay, ready to be harvested for lunch!

green tomatoes


liliput zinnias

A mixed plot! 
Yellow and orange cosmos towering over pink santans and hydrangea...
Lots of ripe red cherry tomatoes on the right side, peeking though the greens...

Monday, February 20, 2012

Baby Back Ribs, Grilled Fish, Twice Baked Potatoes, Apple Streusel Pie and more...



Grilled Vegetables


Twice Baked Potatoes


Baby Back Ribs

fresh dill flower for garnish


Grilled Fish Fillet
with fennel, dill and lemon sauce


Apple Streusel Pie

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Market Find

Found this "frisee" looking lettuce (forgot what it's called) , plump round aubergines and a golden-orange chesa...

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Greek Pizza

I don't know if you can really call it that but this pizza was made with ingredients inspired by Greek cuisine...and a little more ;)
homemade olive oil pizza dough, slices of plump tomatoes, black olives, purple sweet peppers, crumbly feta, mozzarella cheese and more olive oil

stringy cheese...yum!