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| cavolo nero |
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| blueberry bush |
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| purple sprouting broccoli and garlic |
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| nicotiana - lime green |
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| onions shenshyu |
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| pears Beurre Hardy |
As the temperature drops the garden has slowed itself down. There are still salad leaves to be had, but their growth is nowhere near as speedy as it was a few weeks ago. The beurre hardy pears are clinging to the tree, but I've started picking them a few at a time to ripen on the sunny south-facing kitchen windowsill. They're utterly delicious, it's been a fantastic year for pears. I wonder if there will be any next year though, they seem to like a year off.
The onions and garlic that I planted three or four weeks ago is sprouting nicely. I'm not going to grow any at the allotment this year as there's been a big problem with rust. Hopefully I will avoid it at home.
The cavolo nero kale is doing nicely and will no doubt stand through the winter and grow away more quickly in spring. I've planted some early purple sprouting broccoli as well. The carrots did quite well and should last for a few weeks, although we do seem to get through mountains of them.
In the kitchen I took advantage of the plentiful pears and made a pear flan from a Linda McCartney recipe. Basic shortcrust pastry filled with a mixture of breadcrumbs, ground almonds, cinnamon and sugar then topped with pears and dotted with butter. It's pretty good, especially with cream.
The biggest boy has been baking like mad over the past couple of days. Brandy snaps, tea cakes for toasting and pizza. I helped the littlest boy make easy chocolate macarons. I fear for our waistlines, but I can't complain, it's good that they want to learn. The biggest boy even did some washing up! Wonder if he's after something...
The pear flan sounds really delicious. I love pears but I think I'm the only one here who does so I rarely buy any. I remember when we were planning our wedding reception (buffet luncheon), they initially suggested a pear tart as a light dessert in between the meal and the wedding cake. Two desserts! I was sold. But we were getting married in late May and pears were not in season, so the option would have added a lot of extra money to our bill. We decided cake was plenty. :) Your photos are really pretty. I especially love that blueberry bush, what stunning color.
ReplyDeleteI am hoping the weeds will slow down to, they seem to have taken hold on one of my raised beds, I need to get out there. The pear pie looks delicious, I need to have a go at that one. Brilliant that the boys want to bake, long may that last.
ReplyDeleteThis is just to say your last post brought a tear to my eyes .
ReplyDeleteOne of those young men on the war memorial was my great great uncle.
He had emigrated to Australia in 1904 and joined up with the Australian Pioneers and was shipped to Europe.
He was killed in France on the 14th of November 1916 they sent his personal effects to his mother ,2 brushes ,razor, belt and a letter.When I first read this I cried ,as a mum I can't imagine the pain.
It wsa nice to see my home village and church as I live a long way from them .Liz
A lovely post and good pictures. I admit to having a touch of carrot envy as they're something that never do well for me. Those pears look and sound delicious. I like that back view of a cosmos picture. Flighty xx
ReplyDeleteInteresting to hear your pears have cropped well - I'm up river from you and all our pear trees (eating and perry) have suffered from pear rust this year so we haven't had a single pear!
ReplyDeleteWe have planted the same variety of onion and I think Stuttgarrter and tht seem to be at the same stage as yours. Last year''s autumn planted onions did really well so I am hoping for a repeat performance.
ReplyDeleteWe've had deer in the plots so I'm afraid my uncovered cavolo nero and chard has been munched. I will throw some netting over and hope for the best. Fantastic to hear your boys are cooking, a great half term activity when interspersed with cycling I used to find. As I made yet another apple and quince cake yesterday and a crumble on Sunday I will be whittling my waist by cycling to the allotment to cut back and weed my asparagus on this sunny autumn day.
ReplyDeleteIt always surprises me that blueberry bushes colour up as much as they do. They're one of the brightest things in the garden.
ReplyDeleteDear Claire, the vegetables and fruits look great, especially the pears. Your pear flan is impressive, I'm sure it is delicious. Glad your boys are interested in cooking, it's a good skill for them to have. I like Linda McCartney's vegetarian cheese, leek and potato pastry plaits which I buy frozen from the supermarket, they are delicious. A good quick meal, I should make them myself, I must find the time.
ReplyDeleteHappy gardening
Hugs Dianne
xoxoxo ♡
As someone who bakes almost every day, I think it is great that your boys are interested in baking! Your pear tart looks yummy; we don't have a local source of pears around here and I won't buy them in the grocery store.
ReplyDeleteThose onions sound like a sneeze :o) Great to hear the boys are cooking and that pear tart looks and sounds wonderful. Do you think it would work with plums? I have some spare. xx
ReplyDeleteOoh, the pear tart looks and sounds delicious. Yum. Great that your boys are baking AND washing up! S x
ReplyDeleteA spare 5 mins, so thought I'd pop by bogland. That pear flan looks gorgeous! :) x
ReplyDeleteoh, that pear flan sounds all sorts of delish!! and brilliant that your childlings are taking an interest in baking things. girl-child showed a flash of interest one afternoon, and then it was over. i may have got over-excited about it all and put her off.;)
ReplyDeletei'm envious of your still-producing garden. we're in the downward spiral here and i'm having a hard time forcing myself to go out and do that last bits of tending and putting-to-bed. *shiver* xo
Gorgeous pictures and the pear tart looks delicious. Thanks for the idea as we have a lot of pears too.
ReplyDeleteMmmm cavolo nero, love it. Your pears look delicious, much nicer than my own. I think someone took the three we had of our tree, hope they are stone hard. Baking is a great way to learn cooking I think, my Annie does it all the time. Must suggest brandy snaps to her, good time of year. Have a lovely rest of the week. x
ReplyDeletewonderful that they do the washing up as well as the baking :-) the flan looks lovely, but I especially adore the white cosmos - they are one of my favourite flowers because of their purity and simplicity. my seeds have not even sprouted yet!
ReplyDeleteThose pears and your pear tart look so good. I do love a baker boy (especially one who cleans up after himself). There's one here (quite a bit bigger than yours) with an ever increasing range of tins, ingredients and recipe books. We may need an extension.
ReplyDeleteIt all looks gorgeous! I wish I could taste the pears from here...and the pie! I love the last line, ha!
ReplyDeleteI am coming over for tea and that yummy flan, hope you saved some for me.
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful photos! Full of mist and mellow light. The pear flan looks delicious. I'm attempting a pumpkin pie today. Pastry isn't my forte so we'll see how that goes... Bella has been very keen to bake lately too - I put it down to GBBO. Xx
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