Turmeric Courgette Blueberry Cake

Last weekend was dreadful weather wise and I think it is the same this weekend, weather forecasters have predicted rightly that there is more rain to come and it is falling from the skies as I type.  I have noted that its getting dark in the evenings a lot more quicker and its dark in the morning when I get up 6am in the morning - we seem to have skipped a season.  

I am so pleased that I don't have to get up and go anywhere tomorrow, so can snuggle up at home and watch some films. Well that is what I wish for my weekend, but we have lots of chores and housey things to do, so its not going to be relaxing as I wish, but still better than getting up and going into work. 

Well I made this cake last week, it was around the same time as the Turmeric Yellow Courgette Quiche, so yes I was inspired to stir in a teaspoon of turmeric to this Yellow Courgette Blueberry Cake as well.  

I adapted it from a Courgette cake I have made in the past.  D loved the dense rich buttery-ness.  You cannot taste the courgette as it lends moistness, rather than flavour, but you could definitely taste the turmeric which was pleasant and not overwhelming. 

Follow this link if you want to check out other Turmeric Recipes 

Yellow Courgette Turmeric Quiche

With the weather being so poor over the weekend, I found myself in the kitchen making the most of homegrown vegetable.  

I have made a Courgette Blueberry Cake made with the blueberries I picked last week and another Yellow Courgette Quiche. 

This Yellow Courgette Quiche must be the winner as the most yellowist quiche that I have ever made.  It was enhanced further with a teaspoon of turmeric. Pretty loud. 

We have had  the quiche over three days, served either with new potatoes and homegrown beans or just homegrown salad. 

Happy Sunflowers

The weather over the weekend has been dreadful.  Forecasters have predicted that there is more of it to come.

Part of our plum tree was damaged in the high gust winds, taking a load of branches laden with unripe plums with it.  

Well at least the sunflowers are still standing which makes me happy. 

From the garden we have tomatoes...not as big as previous years, but sweet nonetheless.

The beans have been coming in drips and drabs. I picked up some plums that had not been got by the wasps on the ground. 

Along with the variety of beans, we are still getting some blueberries. 

Just enough to enjoy with some Greek yogurt. 

I also have harvested some more yellow courgettes, but have not showcased them this week as they were used pretty promptly over the weekend.  With the weather being so poor, I found myself in the kitchen making the most of the homegrown vegetable.  I have made another Courgette Quiche and a Courgette Blueberry Cake made with the blueberries I picked last week.  I am hoping to share them in the next few days. 

I am sharing my homegrown vegetables and fruit with Dave who blogs at Happy Acres for Harvest Monday. 

Little Sunflowers

A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned the Russian Giant Sunflowers growing in my garden, well here are images of some of them.  

The Russian Giant Sunflowers have been a disappointment this year, not living up to their giant name - these should be called Five Footers, some are not even four foot.

Still its nice to see in the garden.  There is something cheerful about sunflowers regardless of their size. 

So here is my most recently harvest.  

Starting from the top: a round courgette, yellow courgettes, some tomatoes, green beans, purple beans, peas and runner beans

My plum tree brings all the butterflies to the yard,We have had a load of courgettes.  Some of which were turned into another Quiche.

This Quiche also has spring onions, garnished with nasturtium flowers. 

Yellow Courgette, Spring Onions and Twarog Cheese Quiche
For the pastry
120g butter
1/2 teaspoon salt 
1 teaspoon dried parsley
200g plain flour
For the filling
2 tablespoons grainy mustard
2 eggs plus 2 egg yolks
285ml milk
Salt and pepper to taste
2 courgettes
180g soft cheese such as Twarog or Cottage cheese
Method
Place flour and butter in a large bowl and rub with your fingertips until the mixture looks like breadcrumbs.
Add enough water to combine into a dough.
Turn dough onto floured surface and roll out to fit a deep greased 8 - 9 inch round or square tin.
Carefully place the pastry into the tin, pressing gently down and trim the edges.
Prick the base with a fork.
Chill for 30 minutes, then remove from fridge and cover with non-stick paper and weigh down the pastry with dried beans.
Bake in a preheated oven at gas mark 6 for 20 minutes.
Then remove paper and beans and bake for another 10 minutes till crisp.
Leave to cool.When it is cool, scatter over the chopped courgettes and spring onions.
Evenly distribute the cheese. 
In a bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, mustard  and season to taste. 
Pour over the creamy egg mustard mixture.
Bake gas mark 4/180oc for 40 - 45 minutes or until golden. 
Allow to cool, before serving. 

Oh I should mention that the eggs used in this quiche came from this rescued chicken that belongs to the neighbour next door.  There are four of them, but this one always comes up and close to us when we are harvesting, in the hope it will get something to eat from us.  Have you heard of the pecking order...I understand it now, completely. 

The tomatoes are coming along nicely, but again, not quite right - even though they are super sweet and tasty, they seem to be growing the size of cherries, that you'd think we had planted cherry variety, but that is not the case.  Again, not sure what it is - perhaps the weather, perhaps the soil, perhaps we are not feeding them enough...

We have artichokes in the garden.  I am growing these mostly for ornamental purposes. 

The pear tree this year is laden.  Last year was the best year for pears for us, but i think this year may be the best so far.  I cannot say the same for the plum tree, this year is not its best, but we will still get some.

My plum tree brings all We also have blueberries.  I have been picking them every day.  Its not enough for a big cake, but maybe muffins. 

I am sharing this small harvest with Dave who blogs at Happy Acres for Harvest Monday.