Lemon Cordial Tutorial

It's been quite a while since we last bought cordial from the supermarket - at least 2 years I'd say.  Once we found this recipe for homemade lemon cordial, there was no going back!  Aside from the fact that this tastes so much better than the bought stuff, you know exactly what's going into it - no artificial colours, flavours or weird numbered additives.
Over time, I've adjusted the amount of sugar in this recipe - there is quite a strong sugar syrup as the basis for this cordial - but you use so little and dilute it with water, so it's not so bad really!  It contains far less sugar when compared to the supermarket stuff.
This is a staple in our house.  Phil isn't a huge fan of drinking water without some kind of flavouring!  You can adapt this to include any kind of citrus fruit, but we like lemons the best.  
You will need:

  - 1400 grams of sugar
  - grated rind and juice of 8 lemons
  - 1100 mls boiling water
  - 1 tablespoon citric acid

Finely grate the rind of the lemons.

Then juice all 8 lemons.

Measure out the sugar into a large heatproof bowl.

Add the citric acid to the sugar.

Pour the boiling water over the sugar and citric acid mix.

Add the finely grated lemon rind.

Stir thoroughly until the sugar is completely dissolved.

Then pour in the lemon juice and stir again.

Cover the bowl and leave to stand overnight or for several hours.  The longer you leave it, the stronger the lemony tang!

The next morning, strain the mixture and pour into sterilised glass bottles.  Keep in a cool dark place. Once opened, keep it in the fridge.


Enjoy!

Over the Weekend

We had a great weekend with the lead up being a frenzy of preserving the garden's harvest. Phil was away at a fly fishing clinic on Saturday and Sunday, whilst Ava and I caught up with family and friends in Melbourne - including a trip to the (very busy) Museum on Sunday.

 Phil learnt some serious fly fishing skills to help him land this 6 pound Brown Trout which was catch and release in a sustainable fishery.  He looks so happy!

 Ava was very busy mothering her 'babies' and dressing them in new outfits!

 Ava and I picked these flowers from the garden - spring is here.

 We also made Granola from these ingredients................. 

 and it turned into this.

 We picked more berries from the garden - we are at risk of being completely over run by the berries in the garden!

and we made more of this lemon cordial

from these ingredients.  I'll post a tutorial on how to make this cordial later in the week.

Hope you had a great weekend too!

This Moment

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savour and remember.  Inspired by soulemama at www.soulemama.com

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

I hope you have a great weekend!

These Days

These Days - also the name of one of my very favourite songs by a fantastic Australian band called Powderfinger.  I digress; these days at home we are...............

 Making soup for dinner from this book

 in the process of setting up our newly completed outdoor area 

 constructing another raised veggie bed complete with weed matting this time

 so we can plant out these that we raised from seed

 Ned relaxes on his bed in the sunshine

 Sourcing inspiration from the local library

Making progress with this knitting project!


I hope your day is a good one too.

Over the Weekend

It was another stormy weekend with lots of rain - again. 

But on the upside, our water tanks are full now! 

So after our traditional Sunday pancake breakfast.... 

We found some indoor activities to do, mostly preserving our berries.  The canes are dripping with so much fruit it's a little out of control!  We picked strawberries, loganberries and silvan berries.

Ava taste tested them all - some were a little sour! 

Then we made jam together.....

Strawberry with Rose Geranium as well as a mixture of Silvan berry and Loganberry.  

Ava is 'Mummy's Little Helper' in the kitchen!

They look delicious!  

Once we finished in the kitchen, the rain stopped for long enough to give Phil time to knock up a chook ladder for our little Plymouth Rock Chickens so they can reach the perch in their new home.

I hope you had a good weekend too!

This Moment

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savour and remember.  Inspired by soulemama at www.soulemama.com

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

 Hope you have a great weekend!

Rainy Day

I had planned to write yesterday afternoon, but a brief stint in hospital put and end to that! Anyway, I thought I'd share the rainy morning activities from yesterday, as it started out with such promise and up until lunchtime it was a great day.

The barometer said rain - again!

 This book arrived in the mail to cheer up the day!  I love these books

 Lots of lovely projects to inspire me.

 Pickled Onions are Phil's favourite.  He made them from a recipe in this book.

 Ava was very content to play inside - carefully setting up her toys....

 for a train ride - All Aboard Ava's Express!!

 I started a new knitting project, inspired by this blog.  I'm learning how to use circular needles.  We will see how it goes!

 My favourite flowers on the table, filling the house with their gorgeous perfume.  A reminder that Spring really is here, despite all the rain!

 Our flock happily grazing in the paddock, completely oblivious to the downpour.

Over the Weekend

It was a warm and balmy weekend here; stormy and overcast, with just enough sunny weather to dry the washing! We spent lots of time in the garden and picked a bumper crop of berries (strawberries, loganberries and silvan berries) which we have been enjoying for dessert with homemade ice-cream.

 Phil mowed the lawn for what seems like the hundredth time this month! (photo by Ava)

 A jug of Spring Colour on the dining table!

We also planted out some Snapdragon seedlings and some others we have raised from cuttings into pots for colour around the house.

Hope you had a good weekend too and I will post again soon - hopefully our internet won't cause any more disruption!