Lately the mornings have been freezing, foggy and very beautiful. I'm up before the birds every day without fail since Bambi came home, so I get to enjoy watching the world wake up with a cup of tea in hand. We've just weaned the calf off Missy too, so now we're milking in the morning as well as evening. Missy likes to be milked early and it's the best way to start the day, I think.
Lately there has been a milk flood in the kitchen. We've made cheese and as a result there has also been a whey flood. We've been feeding the whey to the pigs, chickens and have been using a small amount in baking. I also used some the other day in my first attempt at lacto-fermented pickles.
Over the weekend we made two batches of Halloumi, another Pepato, and a batch of Fetta in which two blocks were left plain and the other two flavoured with cumin seeds. A few days before we'd made a big pot of whole milk Ricotta.
We're receiving 8-10 litres of milk a day at the moment. We've used 40 litres across 4 days purely in cheese making, and we've been drinking hot milk cocoas almost daily. The fridge is still stuffed with milk. I see another cheese making day coming up tomorrow.
I wanted to write a dairy filled In My Kitchen post this month but alas time escaped me and the cut off date has been and gone.
Lately I have struggled to keep things organised. I feel like the house is on the edge of chaos and everything is being held together by a tiny thin thread. I'm trying to find ways to keep things organised throughout this busy time of year.
Lately I've been spending lots of time in the veggie patch. The Zucchinis are blooming well, and all of the winter veg is beginning to take off. The potatoes and beetroots are looking particularly happy.
With this cool weather change I've stopped planting tomatoes and capsicums and started planting things like kale, cauliflowers, carrots and broad beans. I've never grow broad beans before but was intrigued to try them after seeing several people on Instagram growing them over summer. In our climate they are a strictly winter vegetable.
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What have you been up to lately? Do share in the comments below.
Here's to a new week, I hope it is a good one for you!
Sarah x
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Pretty light and plenty of good things at your place Sarah! Please let me know if you find the secret to keeping life organised! Your cheese making adventures and milk related things sound so good x
ReplyDeleteThank-you Jane. I'll definitely let you know ;-)
DeleteBeautiful pictures! Your garden is looking lovely too. I've finished up all our summer crops here (amazing you still have zucchinis!) I think we might get some frosts soon. Happy growing :)
ReplyDeleteThank-you! We get zucchinis through Autumn and Spring here (sometimes winter too!) It doesn't get cold enough here for frosts, although we do come close to it some winters! x
DeleteOur spring weather has warmed up considerably now. The gardens are needing cleaning up, and new plants can officially be put in the ground this weekend now that danger from frost has finished. I love hearing about your cheese making adventures, and was that just the tiniest groan about seeing another 10 litres of milk coming in the back door each day?! My family goes through a lot of milk, and the thought of a never-ending milk supply sounds perfect. Your life may seem chaotic, but it also sounds like you're living your dream ... am I right?
ReplyDeleteWendy
Yes I suppose I am...and whilst I may complain about the milk I am so grateful for it and am not looking forward to having to dry up our cow in a month or twos time!
DeleteJust discovered your blog - such beautiful images! I'm also starting the day in the garden, cup of tea in hand, most mornings at the minute, usually wishing I had more time to be planting before leaving for work. I've been meaning to try making my own cheese for a long time, so this is a timely reminder of this goal - thank you!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like the best way to start the day! Cheesemaking is so much fun x
DeleteYour lately sounds full and rewarding but I can also see why you feel everything is in danger of running away from you. That's the trouble with self sustainability isn't it, all the gluts and harvest happen all at once.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful images as always Sarah :)
Fo some reason, I just can't seem to grow beetroot... I love especially raw or pickles or roasted or really any way.... and I am envious of your cheese making... it is on my list for this year... so I should start soon as its nearly over! Liz xx
ReplyDelete