Courgette flowers are so beautiful, we often forget to eat them.
courgette-flowers
This Vegetable Soup is quick and easy to make. Use the Courgette Flowers
as soon as they are picked.
*Serves 4-6
*30-40 courgette flowers
1 onion, peeled and chopped
1 tbsp oil
2 large tomatoes (about 300g), peeled and chopped
salt and pepper
1.5 – 2 litres chicken stock
sour cream to serve
*Method
*Put 6 flowers aside for garnish
Split the courgette flowers lengthways in half and pick out the stamens.
Remove the spiky bits from around the outside of the flower base and
separate the flowers from the stalks
Chop the flowers roughly
Strip the stalks as if peeling celery and chop roughly
Soften the stalks with the onion in the oil then add the tomatoes and
cook, stirring, till thick
Add the chopped flowers, and salt and pepper to taste
Pour in the stock and simmer for about 15 minutes
Blend the soup till smooth
Serve with a dot of sour cream & a courgette flower on top
3courgetteflowers
hedgesparrow-chicks
The hedge sparrow that built a nest in the sprouting broccoli has hatched some chicks. In spite of picking the sprouting broccoli every day, the hedge sparrow sat tight and in a couple of weeks five chicks hatched out.
The parents are getting busier and busier feeding the chicks as they grow, and their appetites increase.
nest-of-hedgesparrow
The broccoli was ready to harvest in February. It was a welcome change from brussel sprouts which had been providing greens throughout the winter.
The nest is now a problem as it is delaying the soil preparation for the courgettes!
chicks-in-broccoli
Bird Table News has information on nesting birds.
The GreatBigVegetableChallenge has 4 great broccoli recipes.
The TopVeg hedge sparrow, which hatched chicks in broccoli, is quite special.
The website www.peas.org has delicious recipes and supper ideas with peas.
Click this link to order the Yes Peas! FREE Recipe Booklet. Six new recipes were developed last
year.
The First True Leaves are growing on the Asparagus Peas
true-leaves-developing
The two large cotyledon leaves are still bright green, but the first
true leaves are now developing – 29 days after planting the asparagus
pea seeds
