Oh Mine.. I hate new phones, or anything that is new for me in technical terms.. and when new blogger came.. it is just so confusing that it took me weeks to find my blog.. as it really came out with different email adress.. etc. what a thing. Anyway..
lot has happened to me since my last posting, and I try to catch up with all of you, and start arranging christmas , that will be unforgetable.. as we have no idea, if we are going to live in this beautiful house when next summer comes.. and this truly is one big Christmas dream for me.
Love
Serafiina
Sunday, 21 October 2012
Monday, 16 April 2012
Serafiina´s Italian inspired Shortcrust pie!
I am big fan of Pie´s, as you can vary with them so much. One most important thing is to make great base where you can add almost anything, sweet or sauer.
So how to do a crust.. You can by it.. or just make it at home it is not difficult.
I used just old recipe I have had forever, ( can´t remember where have I got it)
Here it is for your your comfort!
All you need is:
125g plain flour
Pinch of Salt
55g Butter, cubed
30-45ml/ 2-3tbsp cold water. (you may use more if pastry is "flaking and crumbling" But be careful not to add too much.. One spoonful is much in this pastry!
Put the flour and salt in to a large bowl and add cubes of butter
use your fingertips to rub the butter into flour until you have mixture that resembles coarse breadcrums with no large lumps of butter remaining.
Try to work quickly so that it does not become greasy.
I placed whole crumble to my pie dish, and flattened it there with my fingers.. Mary Berry would have cried if she would have seen me.. but I wanted to have rustic edgy feeling to my pie, it suppose to be country pie and nothing fancy.
When I have lined my tin, I used knife to clear the edges so that it looks nice in the end.
Be careful not to leave the pastry too thick, it is not what you want and it is surprisingly strong and holds a whole pie together. Ideal is about 3-4mm crumble.. or thinner if you have good eye.. That is why most of the people roll the pastry.. (I am not like most though).
When I am done with pastry comes my favorite part.. Filling!
I am going to have onions, chicken, basil, with cheese sause.. it will be delicious!
For the filling you need:
1 Large handfull of basil (see the picture)
6 Small size onions (again see the picture)
500g Chicken in small peaces.
For the cheese filling I used 3 old peaces of cheese, and 5 dairylea cheese trianles (in Finland we would use Koskenlaskija Cheese) , you can really use what ever you have in your cupboards, this is great way of using left overs.
Grate all the cheeses, and add them to little pan where you add 5dl milk and let all the cheeses melt in there to create even nice creamy sause. Let the sause cool down as you must mix whole thing with eggs and if cheese sause is too hot eggs will boil and you ruin your cheese filling..
Then take a 4 fresh eggs and whisk them so that they become nice and foamy.
Mixx eggs and cheese sause together.
Pour this Cheese & Egg filing on top of the fillings you already have in your tin.
I used tomatos on top just asa decoration and finished it with tiny bit of grated cheese to create nice color and crusty top to my pie.
Bake whole thing in oven in 180c for a 40min.
(if top is starting to get too deep golden brown, you may lower the temperature, it depend quite a lot about your owen.)
Take a look at pictures they may give you some explanations to your questions!
Chicken must be in small peaces so that when you cut your pie later on they are easy to cut within.
This mount of basil may feel much but aroma soften in owen so feel free to use as much as you like!
My pie might have been in the oven little too long, but I still like it.
I rather have something little over cooked than raw..
Hope you enjoy your pie!
So how to do a crust.. You can by it.. or just make it at home it is not difficult.
 |
| this is how nice and soft your pastry should look like |
Here it is for your your comfort!
All you need is:
125g plain flour
Pinch of Salt
55g Butter, cubed
30-45ml/ 2-3tbsp cold water. (you may use more if pastry is "flaking and crumbling" But be careful not to add too much.. One spoonful is much in this pastry!
Put the flour and salt in to a large bowl and add cubes of butter
use your fingertips to rub the butter into flour until you have mixture that resembles coarse breadcrums with no large lumps of butter remaining.
Try to work quickly so that it does not become greasy.
I placed whole crumble to my pie dish, and flattened it there with my fingers.. Mary Berry would have cried if she would have seen me.. but I wanted to have rustic edgy feeling to my pie, it suppose to be country pie and nothing fancy.
When I have lined my tin, I used knife to clear the edges so that it looks nice in the end.
Be careful not to leave the pastry too thick, it is not what you want and it is surprisingly strong and holds a whole pie together. Ideal is about 3-4mm crumble.. or thinner if you have good eye.. That is why most of the people roll the pastry.. (I am not like most though).
When I am done with pastry comes my favorite part.. Filling!
I am going to have onions, chicken, basil, with cheese sause.. it will be delicious!
 |
| I often collect things I need in to one place before I start |
1 Large handfull of basil (see the picture)
6 Small size onions (again see the picture)
500g Chicken in small peaces.
For the cheese filling I used 3 old peaces of cheese, and 5 dairylea cheese trianles (in Finland we would use Koskenlaskija Cheese) , you can really use what ever you have in your cupboards, this is great way of using left overs.
Grate all the cheeses, and add them to little pan where you add 5dl milk and let all the cheeses melt in there to create even nice creamy sause. Let the sause cool down as you must mix whole thing with eggs and if cheese sause is too hot eggs will boil and you ruin your cheese filling..
Then take a 4 fresh eggs and whisk them so that they become nice and foamy.
Mixx eggs and cheese sause together.
Pour this Cheese & Egg filing on top of the fillings you already have in your tin.
I used tomatos on top just asa decoration and finished it with tiny bit of grated cheese to create nice color and crusty top to my pie.
Bake whole thing in oven in 180c for a 40min.
(if top is starting to get too deep golden brown, you may lower the temperature, it depend quite a lot about your owen.)
Take a look at pictures they may give you some explanations to your questions!
 |
| Onions already in a tin, and cook (ea.Me) got a glass Rose wine! |
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| Chicken was cooked before adding it to pie! |
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| Onions, Chicken, and Basil already in tin! |
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| I whisk the eggs and cheese sause before pouring them in to tin |
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| I used tomato just for the decoration |
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| ...and in last minute added some grated cheese on top of everything! |
My pie might have been in the oven little too long, but I still like it.
I rather have something little over cooked than raw..
 |
| Crust came out nice and rustic as well |
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| You may serve you pie with, what else than: More basil! |
Sunday, 15 April 2012
Working on terass, and enjoying from Sun!
My little garden id growing, it is pathetic that I have to plant everything to planters as we are waiting to find a new house to live. Yes.. we must give up fromt his fabulous old house.
There is just too much wrong with this beauty and it would be just impossible to live here while doing renevation so we simply try to find a new house.. not an easy task to do after we have been so lucky to live in such a place. I have become really picky.
Never mind that.. Here is some photos from our Gardening day with Siiri my poodle.
There is just too much wrong with this beauty and it would be just impossible to live here while doing renevation so we simply try to find a new house.. not an easy task to do after we have been so lucky to live in such a place. I have become really picky.
Never mind that.. Here is some photos from our Gardening day with Siiri my poodle.
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| Siiri and empty boxes waiting tubers and seeds, and lovely black compost! |
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| Hydrangea and Atzalea already growing! |
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| I must organize these boxes better.. |
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| Left our Vine and right tiny Lemon tree! Cute? |
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| Common Mint is waiting to get growing.. other hers are already there! |
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| Look our Vine already have a grapes! |
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| I love these aluminium signs! |
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| I planted this marigold year a go winter and not it´s blooming!?! |
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| Lemon tree is beautiful |
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| Herb Jungle |
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| Me, "the" proud gardener |
Saturday, 14 April 2012
Flowers in My garden
I am still planting. planting and planting.. and I think I have never enough space and plants...
Here are most of the flowers that are already growing in my tiny garden.. I can not wait to see all them flowering.. These pictures are not from my garden.. I wanted to create this more like a memory board to my self to see how my garden will be and for you to see what a crazy thing I have going on here!! I just can not get enough of my flowers..
These tiny Yellow floers are cute.. they are related to garlic!
I am BIG fan of lilies.. you see..
I think I will plant this with that tiny yellow Allium bush..
And.. then comes my lovely lilies.. they all should flower a tiny bit of different time so there should be lilies in my Garden whole summer through.
This first one is Gist from dear friend.
This beauty below I just bought from Royal Horticulture Societys Great Plant Fair from Mr.Meyers recommendation.
This was from RHS Great Plant fair too
Who can resist pure white ones.. I can´t, and specially the name is appealing to me!
These three below I found from Ideal Home show.. they are already growing!
Then.. In every garden.. there just must be few trees growing.. or something to bring hight.. Mine are still small but still I have:
Cant wait to see mine growing big!
Can´t decite if Ithink these as small tree or flower..
I am surprised to see how much I have color in my tiny garden.. that these days are mainly palnted to old wooden wine boxes so that I can take them with me when we move to new house in near future.
I do have also herbs.. and they all grow like wild already!
And, my three loved Hydrangeas in Pink, and Blue, they are from last summer, survived from winter and now growing, it is interesting to see how they become.
Here are most of the flowers that are already growing in my tiny garden.. I can not wait to see all them flowering.. These pictures are not from my garden.. I wanted to create this more like a memory board to my self to see how my garden will be and for you to see what a crazy thing I have going on here!! I just can not get enough of my flowers..
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| Anemone de Caen |
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| Gladioli Mix |
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| Allium Moly |
I am BIG fan of lilies.. you see..
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| Acidantera Sword Lilies |
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| Freesia Mix |
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| Astrantia Major |
And.. then comes my lovely lilies.. they all should flower a tiny bit of different time so there should be lilies in my Garden whole summer through.
This first one is Gist from dear friend.
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| Fire King Lily |
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| Salmon Star |
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| Playtime |
Who can resist pure white ones.. I can´t, and specially the name is appealing to me!
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| Casa Blanca |
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| Dizzy Lily |
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| Sorbonne Lily |
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| Lollypop Lily |
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| Star Gazer Lily |
Then.. In every garden.. there just must be few trees growing.. or something to bring hight.. Mine are still small but still I have:
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| Vine |
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| Lemon |
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| Bay Tree |
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| Azalea Japonica "Pink" |
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| Azalea Japonika "Bengal Fire" |
I am surprised to see how much I have color in my tiny garden.. that these days are mainly palnted to old wooden wine boxes so that I can take them with me when we move to new house in near future.
I do have also herbs.. and they all grow like wild already!
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| Salvia Candelabrum |
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| Chives |
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| Basil Lime |
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| "normal" Basil |
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| Thyme |
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| Rosemary |
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| Parsley |
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| Coriander |
And, my three loved Hydrangeas in Pink, and Blue, they are from last summer, survived from winter and now growing, it is interesting to see how they become.
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| Hydrangea Hortencia |
Wednesday, 11 April 2012
RHS Great London Plant Fair
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It had such a magical flowers that I just wanted to share them with you all. It was also fun opportunity to "interview" some of the eldest Plant Fair guest´s to know how it was on earlier days.
I met wonderful elderly gentleman Mr.Peter Myers whom with I had interesting chat.
He told me that he have been participating in each plant show, every year after second world war.. so I guess we could call him a one serious enthusiast. He told me than in the "old days" Gardeners where more specialist to certain flowers and results of breeding where more interesting, as these days everyone grows a little everything. I suppose he is right.. I was lucky enough to find my self something interesting, almost forgotten lilies and bought two different type of lily tubers, I will show you how they are when they grow. Mr. Myers posed for photo with me and was exited to appear in such a modern thing as Blog, a I told him I am writing one and would like to have a photo of us if he think it is appropriate. He was very sweet.
All and all I think I was one of the youngest participants.. if you look closely photo of general view... people do not wear light grey hats, it is their silver grey hair that shines in afternoon sun. I was welcomed to this "secret" group of gardeners as there where not many young people around there. I loved it, I just realized how much I miss ones again my Grand mother "Mamma" as it would have been so lovely to get to work with her in her lovely big garden that she cared with such a tender and loving hand.
I wish I had kind of place one day. I hope you enjoy the photos.. there are lot´s of them as they where all so lovely that I simply could not choose what to leave out.
I left home from there with Vine ( not going to start making Wine.. ) Lemon tree, lily bulps that I mentioned before and with great mood after seen so much beauty and polite friendly and welcoming people.. all I need to HUGE garden now!!!
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| Mr. Myers and Me |
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| These little daffodils smelled amazing! |
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| My Garand Mother´s favorite flowers |
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| Very Stylish Gentleman! |
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| I remember we having these in our garden when I was child |
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| No, these are not chilies, they are flowers!! |
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| Flower competition |
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| I really liked the way things where displayed |
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| Daffodil competition |
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| They are picture perfect! |
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| Dear My, my friend |
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| This is not painting, they are real flowers! |
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| Professional Gardener |
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| One of earliest known Tulips, and oh what a beauty |
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| Name of this early tulip |
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| I am so fond of tulips that I might join Tulip Society! |
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| All these books from flowers where also beautiful |
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| One of my favorite flowers, look what a color! |
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| This is her with her whole glory |
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| My in action with her camera |
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| Reminds me of Water Lily |
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| But grows in a pot |
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| These lovely Gentlemans where also exited to get photographed |
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| Me and Chinese "garden decoration" She was marketing some show there |
Thank you My, for taking me there, and one more time: Happy Birthday for you it was fun day ones again, and our mutual Birthday lunch was delicious! Oh, almost forgot, thank you for my Birthday gift, I got fabulous Lemon tree from My!
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