Roast Pumpkin Soup

1 medium pumpkin
1 medium onion
2 cups of stock
1 cup milk or cream
butter or oil
optional seasonings: nutmeg, sage, salt/pepper, garlic.

1. Cut up the pumpkin and roast at 200 C for about 45mins (or until cooked).
2. Dice the onion and saute in butter in a medium sized saucepan.
3. Add the stock, garlic and the cooked pumpkin, removing the skins. Bring to boil then simmer.
4. Stir in the nutmeg, sage, salt/pepper and the milk. Puree or blend.

Serve with chives and a dollop of sour cream.

Leek, Potato & Parsnip Soup

1 onion
3 medium potatoes
1 parsnip
1 leek
2 cups of stock (chicken or vegetable)
2 cloves garlic
1 cup milk or cream (optional)
butter or oil
salt/pepper
chives

1. In a medium sized saucepan, saute the chopped onion and leek in the butter or oil.
2. Add the stock, cubed potatoes and parsnip, and garlic. Bring to boil and let simmer until the potato and parsnip are cooked (about 45 mins).
3. Add the milk or cream and the salt and pepper before blending to a smooth consistency.
4. Serve with chives and dollop of sour cream.

Note: to reduce the cooking time and save power, cook the cubed potato and parsnip in the microwave before adding.

Double Delight

One of the most fragrant roses in the world. It is listed in the 'All America Rose Selections' as being one of the top ten fragrant roses in the world. The fragrance is sweet and spicy.

It is a hybrid tea rose with a long season of bloom. The double blossoms have a rich, creamy white to pink centre with deep, ruby edging.

They have a good disease resistance, although less so in wet weather.

Tomato Sauce

It's summertime, and what to do with all those delicious ripe tomatoes? well, here is one idea:

Pizza/Pasta Sauce
This sauce can be used either as a Pizza Sauce, or as a Pasta Sauce. Delicious and very easy to make!

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon Olive Oil
1 Onion, finely chopped
1 tablespoon crushed garlic
400 grams tomatoes, chopped and blended
1/4 cup Tomato Paste
Fresh Basil and Thyme
Salt to taste
1 tablespoon brown sugar
Pepper

Method:

1. Heat oil in a large saucepan. Add the chopped Onion and crushed garlic. Simmer on a low heat until Onion is transparent.
2. Add the Tomatoes, brown sugar, salt, pepper, tomato paste, and herbs. Mix well together, then simmer on a low heat for half an hour.
3. Stir for a few mintues until the mixture thickens to a sauce-like consistency.
4. Your Tomato Sauce is now ready to use! enjoy!