This week at the Cygnet Market…..

This week at the Cygnet Market we have a great gift idea for Mothers Day (which is Sunday May 12) plus a heap of other things that your special Mum (or lady) might enjoy.

We have a limited number of Chai Tea Spice Kits.  The recipe was given to Kate by an Indian lady many years ago.

Chai Tea Spice Kit

Other products we have for you (or Mum) at the Market this Sunday, include the following:

Selling nuts at the Cygnet Market

Firstly, we now have plenty of cane bread proofing baskets.  These are just $22 and that’s a very good price!  These are a great gift idea if your Mum makes bread.  If she doesn’t make bread, then she really needs an Organic Sourdough Bread Kit or maybe a voucher to attend one of Kate’s cooking or sourdough workshops.

Of course, we always have a range of Four Leaf products  – including the wonderful 85% Light Flour, ideal for making sourdough bread and pastry and pancakes – just about anything!  We also have Rye Flour (for feeding sourdough starter), Rolled Oats, Spelt Flour, Soup Mix, Chick Pea Flour, Split Peas, Cracked Wheat and Muesli Base from Four Leaf Organic Milling.

Gardening products that we will have at the Cygnet Market this Sunday include:

Gardening books, the best gardening tool ever, the Ho-Mi, Harvest knifes, dibbers handcrafted from local timbers, English spades and watering cans of various sizes from Sheffield, England.

Food and related products that we will have at the Cygnet Market this Sunday include:

Cooking books, Organic (and Gluten Free) pasta from L’Abruzzese, Olive oil and olives from Patlin Gardens, Organic almonds, and local hazelnuts, various Four Leaf products, Organic Quinoa and Lentils that are grown in Australia, Honey (local from Karl and orange blossom from South Australia), a wide range of spices (native and other) and organic dried vine fruits (currants, sultanas, raisins and sun-dried apricots from Australia plus dates from Iran).

Don’t forget we also have a large selection of seeds for sowing now from Southern Harvest Seeds plus local seedlings grown by Zoe from Woodbridge Nursery.

Southern Harvest Seeds available now at the Cygnet Market

The Cygnet Market is the best market south of Hobart!

Warm and inviting inside the Town Hall at Cygnet during winter.

The Cygnet Market -from 10am to 2pm this Sunday 5th May!

See you at the Market!!

Chai Tea Spice Kit

Here’s a great and inexpensive gift idea (and something special) for Mothers Day.

Chai Tea Spice Kit

I met an Indian lady many years ago who gave me this recipe.  The recipe had been handed down through her family for generations.

Chai Tea is a spiced milk tea that has become more and more popular throughout the world. Usually, Chai Tea is made up of:

• black tea
• milk
• various spices
• a sweetener

When analyzing Chai’s health benefits, it is critical to examine each of the ingredients. Even though they act together synergistically to increase each other’s benefits, the individual spices have powerful health benefits on their own.

Black Tea

Of course, we all know that tea is full of antioxidants. However, the antioxidants in tea may provide more far-reaching protection than we suspected. For example, black tea may protect LDL (good) cholesterol, helping prevent cardiovascular disease. In addition, some research has shown black tea has anti-viral and anti-cancer properties.

Cardamom

A popular spice in both the Indian and Chinese preparations, cardamom is said to benefit the lungs, kidneys, and heart. Found in virtually every Tibetan medicine formula, cardamom aids digestion and supports the immune system. In addition, it helps detoxify the body, improve circulation and may also fight respiratory allergies.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is thought to increase circulation and open breathing, increase awareness and vitality, and reduce fatigue. In addition, research has shown that cinnamon has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antioxidant effects. It is also reputed to be an aphrodisiac!

Fennel

A great source of antioxidants, fennel also provides Vitamin C, potassium and fibre. Fennel has also demonstrated some anti-cancer effects.

Cloves

Native to the spice islands of Indonesia, cloves have been used by the Chinese since 300 BC. Cloves have pain-relieving and antiseptic attributes and may help alleviate ulcer pain.

Star anise

The anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties of star anise are useful in the treatment of asthma, bronchitis and dry cough. Star anise cures all kinds of digestive disorders and ensures proper and healthy functioning of the digestive system.

 

Given all of these benefits, it should be no mystery as to why Eastern cultures have been drinking Chai for centuries. According to Ancient Indian philosophy and medicine, the spices in Chai are considered to be “sattvic,” or calming, vitalizing and mentally clarifying – the perfect antidote to the stresses of modern life!

This ancient beverage is treasured by people around the world for its delicious flavour and vital health benefits.

Chai Tea Spice Kits can be obtained from the Cygnet Market or at the Garden Shed and Pantry.

Lentil and Rice Twists with Broccoli

Lentil and Rice Twists with Broccoli (gluten free pasta)

Serves 2-3

• 250g L’Abruzzese lentil and rice twists
• 1/3 cup currants soaked in 1/3 cup verjuice (or white wine) while you prepare the rest
• 1/3 cup sliced almonds
• 1 large head of broccoli, cut into florets
• 1/2 – 1 onion roughly chopped
• 2 cloves garlic
• Grated cheese such as parmesan

Method:

Saute onions + garlic gently in Patlin Gardens Olive Oil until translucent.

Cook broccoli in boiling water 5 minutes or less, until bright green but still a little crunchy then drain.

Meanwhile, cook pasta 7 – 9 minutes. Drain.

Add broccoli to the onion pan; toss & heat through

Stir in currants & toasted almonds with the soaking liquid.

Stir through a chopped, raw tomato or 2.

Pile these ingredients on top of the cooked pasta (as per cooking time on pasta packet). Drizzle with a little more olive oil and serve with shaved or grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.

Lentil and Rice Twists meal

Organic (and Gluten Free) L’Abruzzese Pasta can be obtained from the Cygnet Market or at the Garden Shed and Pantry.

Gluten Free Pasta

The Garden Shed and Pantry has been selling L’Abruzzese Organic Pasta since day one and their popularity just keeps increasing. We regularly stock about a dozen of the most popular organic pastas.

To cater for those customers who have coeliac disease or with some intolerance to gluten, we like to have at least one (and usually two) varieties of L’Abruzzese Organic Gluten Free Pasta so they too can enjoy this fabulous pasta.

Gluten Free Pasta range

Organic GLUTEN-FREE Pasta Shapes Available from L’Abruzzese:

Besan & Buckwheat: Penne, Spirals, Tubes & Twists
Lentil & Rice: Penne, Spirals, Tubes & Twists

Currently, our Organic GLUTEN-FREE pasta products are:

Lentil & Rice Twists

Besan & Buckwheat Penne

Lentil & Rice Twists and Besan & Buckwheat Penne

 Organic L’Abruzzese Pasta can be obtained from the Cygnet Market or at the Garden Shed and Pantry.

The next Sourdough Workshop – May 10/11

The next sourdough workshop is planned for the weekend of May 10/11. Please note that Sunday May 12 is Mothers Day.

The first session commences at 7.30pm on Friday evening and runs for one hour and includes how to make the dough,  the first rising, caring for the starter and tastings.   Session two of the workshop runs at 8.30am on Saturday and  includes preparing for the second rising (no its not religious!) and how to bake it, other breads including hand made and bread machine and more tastings (breakfast and great coffee!).

The cost of the workshop is $45 and includes the kit that I sell at the Cygnet Market.  The basic kit has all of the instructions for making sourdough bread plus the ingredients required for two standard loaves.  The ingredients include the special sourdough starter and the flours are all high quality organic flours from Four Leaf Milling in South Australia.  The workshop kit also contains one dough scraper and more of my favourite recipes. We make the bread together and I answer all your questions so that you go home confident to make easy, wonderful bread on your own.

Sourdough Loaf

For those who do not reside locally, I have a room for rent in my house.  Find out more here.  When you book the room in conjunction with the workshop, your partner or a friend may stay for free.

This workshop is now full but you can still register by using this link. In this case, your name will appear as a reserve (if someone drops out).  If not, I will be in contact soon about the next Sourdough Workshop.  Please feel free to contact me if you would like more information.

Green Lentils

French green lentils, organic and Australian. 

Puy lentils are considered by many to be the best lentil because of their unique peppery flavour and the fact they hold their shape during cooking.

 

Our stocked range of organic, Australian lentils and beans include:

French green lentils, mung beans, chick peas, yellow split peas, and red lentils.

Try the recipe below.

Salmon fishcakes on French green lentils

For the fishcakes
200g cooked potatoes
200g cooked salmon, flaked
1 free-range egg yolk
55g/2oz cooked broccoli, chopped
1 tsp Dijon mustard
2 tbsp chopped fresh dill
1 tbsp chopped fresh chervil
salt and freshly ground black pepper
55g plain flour
1 free-range egg
55g  breadcrumbs
15g butter

For the lentils
150g French green lentils
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
pinch chilli flakes
15g butter
2 tbsp chopped fresh chives, chopped
2 tbsp freshly grated parmesan
½ lemon, juice only

Preparation method

Place the lentils into pot and cover generously with cold water. Simmer until they have just softened – this can take between 15-30 minutes depending on the age of your lentils. Drain and set aside.

For the fishcakes, mash the cooked potato in a bowl, then mix in the salmon, egg yolk, broccoli, mustard and herbs. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Divide the fishcake mixture into three equal portions and, with damp hands, shape each portion into a patty and dust with the flour.

Beat the remaining egg in a bowl, then dip the floured fishcakes into the egg and roll in the breadcrumbs.

Heat the butter in a frying pan until foaming, then fry the fishcakes for 3-4 minutes on each side, or until golden-brown all over. Set aside and keep warm.

Next, place the cooked lentils, vinegar, chilli flakes, butter and chives into a pan and warm through for 3-4 minutes. Stir in the grated parmesan and lemon juice.

To serve, spoon the lentils onto a serving plate and top with the fishcakes.

Organic Green Lentils (in 750 gram bags) can be obtained from the Cygnet Market or at the Garden Shed and Pantry.