Fun in the Sun

The sun has finally come out to play this week - and what a glorious week we've had!

I thought we'd enjoy a pictorial journey through summer so far...

I finally finished Ellie's handwarmers that I started ages ago.  Love the wool - hoping to make socks out of the rest (if I can remember where I put the ball of wool when I was done!)

Matt, Julia and Lily Sides (such a perfect triangle) came home to visit from Japan; Zahrina came home to visit from India - it was lovely to have some of the girls over for lunch to meet Lily and visit with old friends.

An AWESOME combination - homemade lemon curd (which I made at the beginning of the summer, with lemons from our tree - it was a bit runnier than it should have been, but still yummy) and long overdue sultana scones.  They turned out perfectly... together, such a lovely pairing of my culinary awesomeness.

Mum, Rebecca, Fiona and myself out for a leisurely lunch at Masala in Mission Bay.  Yummy in my tummy! 

Homemade tomato chutney - made on a drizzly day with tomatoes from our garden.  All the recipes I could find were for large amounts, so I made this half portion.  The recipe is on my new food and garden blog, found here.

A stunning sunset out of the upstairs hallway window.  Red sky at night, sailor's delight.

And the following day was indeed stunning, so we legged it to the beach. 

A small (tiny) sampling of the beans from our garden.  I picked two full metal bowls of beans today.  They are now safely blanched, dried and frozen for future consumption.

I really do love summer holidays! Two more weeks of this fabulousness - bring it on!

Amazing Avocado!

Phill's parents have a beautiful orchard upon which they grow avocados.  None of the Coupers are really fussed on the fabulous fruit.  This works out fairly well for me, since I love them... as does Mum! 

Usually, when we leave the orchard after a visit, we (I) stop at the top of the driveway and fill up a plastic bag with avos that have fallen off the trees.  These fruit go to waste, as they fall off the tree when they are ripe, so they won't last through packaging and shipping... so I don't feel bad taking the fruit.  Again, this works out well for me!  The thing is, my eyes are usually (much) bigger than my stomach.  I get so excited that so many lovely avos are ready and waiting to be mine, that I take too many.  I've started making and freezing large batches of guacamole, but I craved a little something sweet today... and voila - avocado whip!! 

I found this fab little recipe online - I tried it and LOVE it! I made two ramekins full, and I've already eaten one.  Is it horrible of me to hope that Mum doesn't want hers so I can have it?  I may have to whip up another batch. 

Avocado Whip

• 1 ripe avocado 
• 1/2 cup milk **
• 1/4 white sugar*
• 1/2-1 tsp vanilla extract (to taste)

Cut avocado and pit avocado.

Put all the ingredients in a food processor and blend up until smooth(ish).

Spoon into dishes.

Chill for at least 20 minutes (I put mine in the freezer).

Enjoy!

**I used light blue milk (which is a step down from homogenized/whole milk but not quite skim... maybe 1-2%?  I think it would be fabulous with cream or whole milk.  Then I'd definitely eat Mum's share!

*The sugar was a bit crunchy - next time, I may try it with caster sugar... but again, it didn't stop me from scarfing it down!