Biker Jane
It was my birthday recently so we thought we’d share some pics:
Before a day out on the Blaenau Ffestiniog Railway (last years present from Jane)
My Dad outside the Beach House
Jane and a bottle of bubbly – Whistling Sands Beach, Llyn Peninsula
My birthday bash, with Jane and my Mum – Whistling Sands, Llyn Peninsula
Lift off! Being launched from the sea (we saw seals here later!)
Jane and I looking concerned about the lack of champagne
Jane has a sunset splodge
Apricots
Today’s smooth one came out rather nice. The richness of avocado and the zing of kiwi, with the touch of sweetness from the apricot. A well-balanced cup of goodness.
Jane and I had just taken a long walk down to Trigonos Organic Farm in the nearby Nantlle valley. It has been an absolutely stunning day in the hills. We popped down to see Pete and the gang and also managed to pick up some delicious little onions, carrots and potatoes. Pete grows some really interesting, rare varieties.
Down on the farm, Trigonos (taken in April with snow on the hills)
It is all go down there at this time of year, as it is in our own garden and we are picking up many tips from the wise bunch at Trigonos. Today we learnt to always water your seedlings at night, especially when sunny. There seems so many do’s and dont’s when it comes to gardening, I have just been sticking seeds in pots and the earth and hope for a bloom. We shall see…
Nantlle Valley and a black pony
So smoothies. We needed something filling, I was shooting off to work , so this is a nice thick one, reminiscent of a milkshake with its creaminess, but without all that fat. Avocados are excellent for this, creaminess without the cow. I’m sure all vegans will agree!
Happy blending!
The Bits
Makes enough for two cups:
1 avocado (seeded and scooped out), 4 apricots (de-stoned), 2 kiwis (peeled and quartered), 1 cup of soya milk (or milk of your choice)
Do It
In the blender, blitz for a short time until smooth.
Serve
In the nicest glasses available, will also make a delicious smooth topping for a fruit salad or dessert (ie CAKE!), you may need to add a little something sweet to the mix, maybe honey or dates would be nice.
Foodie Fact
Avocados are technically berries and are sometimes called alligator pears. They contain a wide range of vitamins and fat (good fats, they’re full of fibre), which is actually a good thing for raw foodist. We will be needing alot of avocados in a few days (see raw June)! Avocados actually help your nutrition absorption by up to 300-400%.
Apricot, Avocado and Kiwi Smoothie
Rampant Azaleas
This one was made to top the Sunbeam Fruit Salad but is delicious served straight up.
We needed something creamy, so I was dragged away from the juicer for a day. It was time for a smoothie.
The peanut butter adds a lovely creaminess and bags of energy and the kiwi has a nice sharpness to it. Pears are always buttery and bitty.
It is vegan and supercharged to get you buzzing come the morn.
This is enough for 2 glasses (and one left for later). Just peel the kiwi, the rest is best with skins and seeds in we think.
The Bits
2 pears (chopped), 1 large apple (chopped), 1 handful of spinach leaves, 2 kiwi fruits, 1 large tbs of chunky peanut butter (organic, with not too much salt), 2 cups of soya milk (or the milk of something that you prefer).
Do It
Pop all in a blender and blitz up until smooth.
Pear and Peanut Smoothie
Serve
Over a fruit salad or in your finest wine glass.
We Love It!
I love peanuts, so the more the merrier! Spinach adds a great deep green. We have missed the chunks (far too much juicing recently).
Foodie Fact
Pears are actually a member of the rose family and are full of good fibre.
Patterns in the sand near the Beach House
We hit the patch. 4 types of potato in furrows, blue, white, red and knobbly.
April in the B.H.K. garden has seen much activity. Mainly we have chopped wood for next year, but we managed to squeeze some gardening in also.
We are following organic practices , with a little biodyamic thrown in (new moon and all). The veg patch has been turned several times, with piles of local horse manure from the adjacent field and four different types of potato have been planted. Pete at Trigonos Farm, Nantlle, kindly donated the seeding potatoes (some just sprung to life in our veg basket!). We have blue, red, white and knobbly. One day I will learn the names of them.
The front garden is full of herbs and four different types of latin american bean. We hope for great things from the latin bean patch this year.
We also expect lots of flowers, some wild strawberries and the regular marjoram infestation. The slugs are happy, but we plan on trapping them in underground cups with beer in. Slugs like beer! Get them tipsy and they seem to lose interest in plants. Probably opting for a kebab instead.
The newts have returned to the pond and the frog spawn seems to be wriggling even more. Bring on the frogs!
We have a dodgy looking gang of sheep hanging around our back wall, but we have reinforced the defenses and hope to keep them out this year. Apparently they like to walk along the walls and eat all things green. The are also very dim and noisy.
Breaking news – beetroots, green beans and leeks are rumoured to be on the way.
We are keen amateurs at best in the garden, any tips would be greatly appreciated.
Here’s hoping for zero food miles soon!
Happy plantingX
Beach House herb garden circa April '12
Our seed trays (formerly traffic cones)
Jane puts her back into the spuds
The local beige tree frog
Happy cook with the sun on my face.
Everyday, there is cake!
beach house kitchen 