Whooping cough is caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis, hence it’s medical name pertussis. The typical symptoms of this respiratory infection are inflammation of the mucus membranes with lots of mucus and a distinctive cough which ends in a whooping sound. The disease is more likely to occur in spring and summer. How do you […]
Chickenpox
Chicken pox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It is a highly contagious acute viral disease that expresses itself through skin eruptions and usually mild constitutional symptoms. Chicken pox is one of the common childhood diseases. Symptoms can range from mild to severe but oft-times can be so mild that parents don’t even realise that […]
Blackberry Pie
Like most kiwi’s foraging is in my genes. I can proudly claim Polish and English descent on my dad’s side and Taranaki Maori and Welsh on my mum’s side. My dad’s great grandparents came over to New Zealand as refugees to escape the annexation of their country by Germany. Polish schools were closed and to […]
Deliciously Citrusy Almond and Polenta Cake.
I’ve been wanting to use polenta for years now. I finally have and it’s certainly earned a spot in my cake-baking repertoire. These days I reserve baking for special occasions however, sometimes I would like to have a cake in the tin that I can indulge in now and then with a cuppa, and preferably […]
Luscious Lemon Curd
The lemon trees are loaded and the chooks are laying fit to bust. It never rains but it pours around here. (literally as well at metaphorically) So what to do with the abundance? It is tricky when you live on your own and far from your kids, to know what to do with all the […]
Old-fashioned Grapefruit Marmalade
I love my home-made marmalade. There is nothing quite like it. Lashings of butter and chunky marmalade on freshly made bread and a hot cuppa, or for breakfast; a new laid egg, soft-boiled with toast and marmalade and a cup of best coffee. Last night after I’d cooked up this batch I couldn’t resist having […]
Make your own apple cider vinegar Part two
I figured it was time I got around to straining off my apple cider vinegar. See Make your own cider vinegar Part one. Well over a year has passed since I had put it down and it was a grey and rainy Sunday, just perfect for mucking around in the kitchen. My old flagon bottles […]
RAW ONION versus NIGHT COUGH
This winter as always, I was determined not to succumb to the bot. Sadly it sneaked in the back door when I wasn’t looking. I dosed myself up with all my usual remedies, Vit C, echinacea, cayenne pepper, lemon and honey drinks, kumarahou and kawakawa tonics, and consequently I wasn’t actually ever sick enough to […]
Best Ever Porridge with a touch of Ayurveda
It seems to be true that as you get older your digestion becomes more sensitive and reactive. I used to be able to eat anything and in large quantities and suffer no consequences. Now I need to eat in a conscious way and choose carefully what I put into my body. Don’t get me wrong, […]
Green Smoothie
I’m not sure why I have resisted green smoothies for so long. One reason perhaps is because I don’t have a proper blender, let alone one of those high powered jobs that people who make green smoothies always recommend. I’ve always found my stick blender sufficient for making my favourite yoghurt smoothie. Another thing I […]
Cooked Beetroot Salad
This is my latest craze. Cooked beetroot salad. I’ve been having it nearly every day or a variation of for lunch for the last few weeks. Packed full of goodness, all the ingredients are usually close at hand. I cook enough beetroot and chickpeas to last me the week, and then pick the fresh ingredients […]
Plum sauce
I’ve finally got around to making another batch of plum sauce. The last precious bottle was consumed nearly a year ago and by gosh I’ve missed it. I don’t care for any of the commercially made sauces. I use my plum sauce on burgers, sausages, fried eggs (divine), and pan fried potatoes. I do have […]