Tasmanian macadamians

Rose's macadamias from her orchard in Hillwood are the hardest nut to crack and that's a fact. But well worth the effort, roasted, roughly chopped and mixed with Cheryl's leatherwood honey from Pipers River Aviaries into Hil's honey and macadamia nut Anzacs. Here's the recipe if you'd like to try it:

1 cup whole macadamia nuts

1 cup plain flour

1 cup rolled oats

3/4 cup caster sugar

1 cup coconut

2 tbs boiling water

1 tbs leatherwood honey

2 tsp bicarbonate of soda

130g melted butter

Preheat oven to 160°C. Line 2 baking trays with baking paper. Spread macadamia nuts over 1 tray and cook in preheated oven for 6 minutes or until lightly toasted. Cool slightly then chop coarsely. Sift flour into large bowl. Add macadamia nuts, rolled oats, sugar and coconut, stir to combine. Combine boiling water, honey and bicarbonate of soda in small jug, then stir in the butter. Add cooled butter mixture to flour mixture and use wooden spoon to combine. Place 2 heaped teaspoons of mixture onto lined tray and use back of spoon to flatten slightly. Repeat with remaining mixture, leaving about 3cm between each. Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes. Set aside for 5 minutes, transfer to wire racks to cool.

House of hilbarn

We really appreciate it whenever hilbarners return their hilbarn boxes so we can use them again, but we didn't mind at all when we received this photo from Claire who teaches at Mt Stuart Primary. This sustainable house was made by her grade 1 class out of recycled hilbarn boxes. "Sorry again that I didn't return them," Claire told us, "but my class have gained much pleasure from them and they are so proud of it!"

Thank you Mt Stuart Primary Grade 1. We're chuffed too!

First Day of Spring

The swallows are back, the bulbs are out, the sun was brilliant... so after ordering for hilbarn boxes this morning, we headed for Lulworth beach to celebrate the first day of Spring. Nothing to do with produce, or digging, or planting. Just Spring. Now, for the garden back home... Hope you're enjoying yours.