Passionfruit under attack!!

THE CULPRIT

 Grrr....My mouth has been watering awaiting the ripening of the passionfruits and then this! They're nearly all gone! My Passionfruit vine actually climbs over the chook coop, the Cockatoos are still able to take the ones growing on the outside of the coop but I don't think they have realise that when they bite the fruit off the stems, ready to devour them, most of them being on the inside of the coop, drop down and out of their reach. HA! 

 The problem I do have though is most of the ones they do bite off are not quite ripe . . . I have put them aside and waited  for them to ripen up but they tend to go rotten before they ripen and sweeten ready to eat, so I've just had to come up with some ways of eating them on them still a little on the SOUR side.

I have two vines, a Yellow Panama Passionfruit and a Purple Panama Passionfruit.

I have managed to save about 3 cups of passionfruit pulp, I have frozen this and will use it up in my Baking as it is needed.

If it lasts that long....They may be a little sour but it doesn't seem to mater when they're ICE BLOCKS!

I made up a nice batch of Fresh Yogurt 

Stirred through a couple of Passionfruit and a good drizzle of Honey, You would never have known they were not sun ripened fruit.

I made Passionfruit and Dried Apricot Jam, 

The Sweetest Jam you'll ever taste!

 And mixed with Condensed milk it makes for a wonderful Passionfruit Slice

I still have plenty of ideas up my sleeve, next raid I plan on making Pavlova and Melting Moments with passionfruit Icing.  

Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated, as would some advice on keeping Cockatoo's out of the Garden!  

But now, I'm off to enjoy some more fresh Passionfruit Yogurt!

Chicken of the Week Part V

It's been a while since I've taken you down the coop,  I think a few of the girls are upset they don't have names yet! 

So lets get back to the game!  

A brief update for those of you that are new to the chicken game.

 This is not a giveaway, there is no prize money,  I just need help naming my chooks, if you have nothing better to do and want to play, it could be loads of fun!  All you have to do is 

"Name that Chook"

 You might recognise this old lady from a recent post, she's a tad worried she might be headed to the boiling pot!  She was one of my first ever layers, she's seen a few girls come and go over the years, survived a couple of fox intrusions and has welcomed many a new bird into her coop, she's smart and she still holds a good spot on the roost. I don't know how productive she is in the egg department these days but she's certainly makes me laugh when she puts on her angry face!!

Then there is Cranky pants here who is just nasty! but she does make a really great mum. There is no chance of checking how many eggs she's sitting on when she goes broody, she's got a peck that would take off half your arm!! 

Last time round it turned out to be just one, My guess is she wouldn't let any of the others lay with her!

 Look at that face! What do you think she is thinking? Maybe you had an old School Mistress that stared down at you like this?

So whats your best OLD MAID names?  

A new lease of LIFE

It's been a rather miserable week here for the Gooseberries, even my computer caught a nasty virus! But with lots of rest, honey, lemon, Vicks and our soothing chicken soup I am happy to report we are all on  the mend and ready to tackle the week ahead. 

On top of being sick we have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of our baby lambs, I feel like an expectant parent  myself,  pacing the floor waiting, waiting, waiting...

Then finally, look what we found this morning, our first little Lamb.

Healthy and Well and looking very Cute... 

 

 

 

 

 

Looks like someones been playing in the Molasses bucket!

 

 

 

Anxious Mums in waiting...Who's NEXT!

Angry Chickens

Chicken soup for breakfast, lunch and dinner at our place this week, we're all in bed with the flu!

Apparently chicken soup does more than just soothe the soul. 

Some researchers are now agreeing with your old gran and saying that chicken soup does actually help fight of those sniffles. When mixed with a good dose of veggies it helps reduce the inflammation and mucus production caused by the common cold and flu. You can read more about this here. 

I'm off to the coop to find me a nice big boiler!

(No, I'm not really, My head hurts too much!!)

I'M OFF TO REST UP FOR A FEW DAYS, BE BACK ON TRACK AGAIN SOON

More Nuts Please

Our fresh bag of Peanuts seems to be never ending, I have made up two lots of boiled peanuts so far and our little dish of fresh nuts that sits on the kitchen bench is topped up nearly everyday. 

This week I got  a little adventurous with my nuts, turning them from a healthy little snack into a surprise sweet treat for all.

Fresh is Best!

but Sugar Coated is better!!  

First you need to get yourself a few helping hands to shell your big bag of nuts . . .

We are very lucky to have fresh peanuts to shell and cook but any standard store bought raw peanuts can be used, just make sure you get the ones with the red skin still on them as the sugar coating will not stick to any nuts without the skins.

Sugar Coated Peanuts

1 cup of sugar

3 cups raw peanuts

1/2 cup water

1/2 tablespoon of cochineal or pink food colouring

Toss all ingredients into a large fry pan or saucepan, stir through and bring to the boil.

Stir continuously for approx 5 minutes until all the water evaporates and the sugar crystalises on the peanuts. 

Remove the coated peanuts from the pan and place on a baking tray to dry and cool down. 

Share with your family and friends 

Lamb Check

 It's been a while since I've done a post about The Sheep,  they tend to get a little forgotten here in this busy household.  I have become quite used to seeing them grazing out in the paddock when I look out of my bedroom window first thing in the morning,  and it's nice to hear them bleating in the distance. Apart from a daily head count and check on the water troughs they pretty much just look after themselves. They keep the grass down and our dreams alive.

YES! That is a Sheep eating my Fruit Trees . . .

and they say foxes are cunning.

Fruit trees have now been fenced off!  Off Limits to all Sheep!!

Hubby, who is luckily a born and bred farmer had been busy building some holding yards so we can get them in for a closer look and any sheep maintenance they may need!!  They are still a bit wild at the moment but hopefully in time, with a few short stints in the yard they will become a little more people friendly.  The children have been enjoying rounding them up into the yards, they have had a bit of practice as it is usually something they enjoy when we holiday with Gran & Pop. 

 

  
The lambs seems to be healthy & well.

On closer inspection, it appears that Cappuccino is actually a Wether! (Castrated Male) so no lambs from her him in the future. He would be perfect for the table right about now, but somehow I do not think the children will allow it! 

He will just have to make sure he earns his keep in 
Yard Maintenance!!

And as for Sunday Roast, well, no chance of getting him to the table too soon . . .

My behind is fatter than this one!

Hey dad, lets catch that big FAT one over there...

Nearly got her...

FAT SHEEP = Heavy in LAMB

Hubby checked all the ewes and it appears they are all very heavily pregnant and due any day now...I will definitely keep you POSTED.  Very Very Exciting!

Ahh mama's milk on it's way....Now I know that people keep goats for milk, cheese, soap etc... Should I be looking at the possibilities of milking these sheep?  

 I think I'll just keep my order in for a Milking Cow!  

I am however, very keen for shearing day, which must only be a few months away. Now that I am a novice crochet artist, imagine what I could create with Home Spun Wool. How Exciting!!!

One day. . .Remember, one step at a time.

Lets just get these lambs out first.