Life goes on

Considering my rather lengthy absence and lack of posts, one would think Life at Number 10 had stopped.

It hasn't.

But it has been a rather awful few months for us around here.

My (younger) brother passed away suddenly in April. It was a terrible shock and we're still trying to come to terms with it.

Then my elderly Aunt died. She would've been 102 next month. She was an amazing woman!

Even at her age she was sharp as a tack, lived independently in her own home, was an avid reader, shopped and sewed and until recently, mowed her lawn and pottered in the garden.

She was my Mum's only sister and she was my only Aunt.

I also learned just a couple of weeks ago that a very close friend passed away as well.

So, as you can imagine, we've been a bit down in the dumps around here.

But, life goes on here at Number 10. Fortunately, MONT and I are OK...just a bit sad

Zucchini and Walnut chutney

Back in the 1980's a friend and I would get together and spend entire weekends cooking....and some of the things we often made was relish, jam and chutney

We both had this little gem from Margaret Fulton - Published in 1981

It's only small but it contains just about every concoction you could ask for, from pickled mushrooms to  curry relish and this one - Zucchini Chutney.

I got thinking about this recipe after reading Kitchen  Hand's Countdown: the top ten vegetables of all time over at What I Cooked Last Night, so I hunted out my little book and started cooking

It's an easy recipe:

You salt the sliced zucchini to remove the moisture

Peel the tomatoes by pouring boiling water on them 

Put all of the ingredients (except the walnuts) in a pot and let them simmer and meld together
Put the walnuts in and stir for a minute and you're done.

Sterilize your jars...I put mine through the dishwasher then put them in a moderate oven for about 20 minutes...and spoon or pour the hot mixture in and seal.

Cast:

750 gr zucchini-sliced
1 table spoon salt
250 gr ripe tomatoes, skinned and chopped
125 gr onions, chopped
3/4 cup sultanas
1 tablespoon grated orange rind
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups spiced vinegar (I used half brown and half apple cider)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
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Action;

Put the zucchini in a colander and sprinkle with salt. leave for two hours then rinse and pat dry
Put in a pot with all other ingredients, except the walnuts,  and simmer and stir until the sugar's dissolved.
Keep simmering until the mix thickens slightly and is all melded together...then put in the walnuts and mix. Spoon or pour the mixture into your sterilized jars and enjoy
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If you like chutney's and relishes, then I think you'll love this.

Thanks KH...next up, asparagus

Malcolm Fraser

Australia lost another of it's Prime Ministers this past week. It's 22nd to be exact

Malcolm Fraser was 84 when he passed away after a short illness...and it came just a few months after his great foe, Gough Whitlam passed away

They may have been great rivals in their past political lives, but both men grew to like each other and when Gough died Malcolm became very emotional about losing his friend

Vale Malcolm Fraser

Holidaying

Mont and I are at the beach for a couple of weeks and while the weather's been a bit cool...the sunrises are magnificent!

Not that I see many of them mind you....this one was rather nice though

A long time coming

Welcome to my new kitchen...a peek of it anyway

To be honest, it was finished in November, but this is the first opportunity I've really had to put some photos together and show you what it now looks like

It's just a peek as most of the photos are on the home computer...

MONT and I are on our annual break at the beach and I have to say it's a VERY welcome holiday. Part of the reason...no, the main reason my blogging has been so slack this past year is because all I seem to have done is work....and this is the first break I've had since last January.

Yes, I'm exhausted.

This year - 2015 - is time for a reassessment of the work-life balance I think.

I'm always drawn to Ness Lockyer's wise words that...You only live once...live beautifully!

My life has definitely not been beautiful this past year so it's time for a change

I want to spend more time cooking - yes that was neglected BIG TIME in 2014.

I want to spend more time doing things I really enjoy...and while I do enjoy the work I do, I don't want to do it every darn day!

Righto...well it's cold and windy and there's been some rain, but I don't really care because I'm on holidays!