A week on Norfolk Island

I am home from a wonderfully interesting and restful week on 'Norfolk'. I travelled with friend C. We are well seasoned travel/holiday companions. Because of our circumstances 'budget travel' is important but with lots of great food and experiences.
Norfolk was a success. Our apartment came with an overabundance of avocado's and paw paws. The garden also yielded oranges, carrots and parsley. We fed the chickens daily with our vegetable scraps and were rewarded with fresh eggs.
Most of our vegetables came from farm gate stalls with honesty boxes or the produce at markets and small amounts sold by individual shop keepers from their gardens.

We bought the best beef and blue cheese sausages from 'Dan the man' butcher and supplemented this with tomatoes, lettuce and a choko from his garden.
We had an orientation tour on the first morning that ended with a Devonshire tea in a beautiful garden. We were also able to explore some of the rooms in the house.

Old homestead and garden

St Barnabas

This church was left behind by the Melanesian Mission last century. The islanders had such a strong connection to England and in particular to Queen Victoria that the church has 'William and Morris' designed stained glass windows and a Willis organ. Quite expensive decorations for such a small community.

Mother of pearl decorations on the end of the pew

The whole coastline is one one photo opportunity after the other. Ever rise you come over has a view.

Private beaches

Public beaches - Emily Bay

View from inside the jail walls

View from our apartment

Green, green and more green

Being able to go to the beach and look at the horizon, then be surrounded by lovely green countryside and tropical gardens is bliss for the soul.

Great public art

1 days foraging - the orange was hiding

Lunch with a view

Everything on this sandwich was sourced on the island - all organic. The Chef Heidi is so creative. On one visit we had banana and green paw paw cake that was delicious. They often have to improvise with ingredients as everything is seasonal.

Military barracks

This ruin was on private property so there was no indication of what it was. We did had to do some detective work to find out. Lots of farms have ruins of some sort. They make lovely walled gardens.

There are cows cows and more cows. They wander the island at will in family groups with their calves. All driveways have a cattle grid to keep them out of the gardens. Also wild chickens and roosters. They are decedents from the English chicken introduced in the late 1700's.  The roosters are magnificent mostly red with the most colourful tails.

Cows have right of way

Cemetery Bay

Roasted Tomato and Fennel Jam

When I see big red ripe tomatoes on the sale table at my fruit and vegetable shop I can't resist. Those red tomatoes can be turned into so many delicious things. They are usually about $1.99 kg.

This week I decided to try a recipe I found on a blog early this year. A tomato jam made in the oven!

The sugar and spices getting friendly

This sits for 15 minutes or so. The juice from the lemon and the tomatoes starts to melt the sugar.

Now for a warm bath at 180deg

Sticky sweet and spicy 

YUM

I toasted turkish bread, spread with cream cheese, topped with ham and the Tomato Jam. This is going to the top of the list. Wonderful.

Food - markets and more food

The best part about living in Spring Hill is the close proximity to the city centre and to the Valley and China Town. I even walked to James Street on Thursday to see a movie - only took me 30 minutes. Easier than trying to find a car park!

The Wednesday markets in the city are very colourful and busy.

French cheese

There are some new stall holders which of course makes the shopping experience even more interesting

Fabulous custard apples

The daffodils were every where

The days have been warmer but the nights are still cold. I made a big pot of Ribollita a vegetable soup with kale and pork and fennel meatballs

So comforting on a cold night

I went through some of my old cook books and looked at recipes that I had tagged but haven't got around to making yet. The first was this little treat.

Sweet potato fritters

Needless to say these are moving close to the top of the favourite list - and so easy to make

Broccoli, chilli, anchovies - yum

The broccoli was on special so you make pasta with it of course.

A new version

I have been making this dish for years. I can't think of broccili without mentally pairing it with chilli and anchovies - don't forget the pasta. I found a slightly better version in this month's 'Delicious' magazine. I also made a fabulous potato and zucchini bake that didn't last long enough to be photographed. Next time - yes there will be a next time - it was delicious

Lovely Spring Hill houses

 I have been walking every day taking new routes around the suburb. There is so much to see and enjoy. My goal is do do 10,000 steps per day. At the moment my average is about 8,000. I am getting there.
As we have no flower gardens here I have to make do with what I 'find' on my walks. No I don't steal out of gardens - just snip off those that are poking out over the footpath.

This weeks find

Time for my walk.

Winter has arrived

There is lots to love about winter in Queensland, sunny days and impossibly clear blue skies. However when the westerly winds blow we are not so in love.

To be fair it is only for a few days a year but when you are used to lots of still sun shiny days it can seem for ever. Especially as older houses have been built for the tropics with plenty of natural air flow. I actually had to leave my heater on for 2 days running and didn't open the windows. A definite rarity for me. I love fresh air and light.
Friend C gave me some tea that was selling out in a small supermarket for $1 a box.

My new winter friend

This is a wonderful drink after my daily walk. I make it adding fresh orange peel and cloves. Perfect for this time of the year. I did walk down Leichhardt Street on Thursday, a particularly chilly day, and was rewarded with having the Roma Street gardens practically to myself. Just the gardeners and the Ibis.

Decorative cabbages

They have introduced honey bees into the garden.

Such great idea

I walked home down Wickham Terrace past one of our oldest buildings

The old windmill

In the cooking department I made beef bourguignon when the favourite gay boyfriends came to dinner. We all love our food so these are always happy funny occasions. Fried D has recently returned from South America and then a trip on 'The Ghan'. Lots of stories and I forgot to photograph the finished meal.

beef before the bottle of merlot was added

Yesterday I made Karythopita (Greek walnut syrup cake) for a girls dinner tonight at C's place. She decided on a greek theme - needless to say more foodies.

Wonderful ingredients

delicious with yoghurt

Being winter I also made some poached dried fruit. This new recipe used half a bottle of white wine you just know that this will be good

With french toast and yoghurt

I made some other dishes like paprika chicken that we ate before I remembered to photograph. It was so good I will be making this again very soon.

Exploring the 'hood' - a good week

I have been walking every afternoon getting to know my new area. So much to see. Lovely old workers cottages some have been restored, others not. I love peeking into the back yards of old houses in Spring Hill. It is like looking back in time. Lovely old fashioned plants, hills hoists, and old tank, and tropical trees.
Yesterday I walked to the Old Museum. They were having a vintage fair called 'Finder's Keepers'. The whole place was packed with people buying hand made craft and fashion and picnicking in the garden.

Lovely spot for lunch

Museum garden

Friend Paul C came for morning tea. He has been on 2 sea cruises since I saw him last. Always good for an adventure tale.

Veggie muffins

I made a batch of my good old stand by muffins. These are great served warm with sour cream and tomato relish - I still have some left from my December batch.

Pumpkin and feta pie

Made this other old recipe to have for lunches. Nothing beats roasted pumpkin and feta.

Bacon, egg and leek pie

This is my first bacon and egg pie. I have always wanted to make one after I tasted one in Auckland years ago. I wanted something for a picnic plus the Griffins were going to Lamb Island for the day. A perfect portable lunch.
Friend C and her dog Val and I drove to Bribe Island for a picnic and walk on the beach in the winter sunshine.

Val had the best time

Gourmet picnic

C made individual lemon sago puddings for us to eat with greek yoghurt. After dessert we drove to Bongaree and bought coffee to have with her chocolate slice. It is a good thing that we did a very long beach walk.

Cyclamen to add colour for winter

Morning winter light

For a few minutes when the sun is in the right spot it shines through the red glass over the front door and bathes this area of the lounge room in this lovely light.

5 months in Spring Hill

I haven't done many posts this year so far but have been busy settling in the new apartment.

I have cooked some meals and also had a short holiday with some favourite people.

Rainbow beach

I am much more organised in the kitchen and have cooked some of my good old favourites.

Easter pie

Chicken and feta rissoles with cabbage and broccalini

Friend C wanted to escape her home one morning as the builders next door were making such a noise. I already had a chicken in the oven so invited her over for lunch. I was very please with what I pulled together within an hour.

Impromptu lunch

Sister J painted the entry so now it looks even better so fresh in the sunlight and very pretty in candlelight

Garden at the entry

Great Grand Daughter A visited while her father serviced my car. She was fascinated that there was a family behind every door in the upstairs apartments. She lives in an old Queenslander style home and has been know to tell the odd person that she lives in a 'castle'!!!

I didn't even try to explain that this impliment was for cutting the foil on a bottle of wine. Bit obsolite now anyhow, but I always loved it.

I raided the garden at Carramar Street in fact have been bring back herbs regularly. We now have the start of a good herb garden here now so will soon be picking our own.

The lavender needed trimming

Afternoon tea for a lovely Indian couple before their return to India

Found this lovely cushion

I have started walking the suburb and intend to venture further before winter is finished. I did trek into the valley a couple of weeks ago to check out one of the new laneways. I found the best chocolate brownie in a fabulous little shop.

A real treat

Over 5 months on and I am enjoying my new new home more every day.