by Krista | Feb 17, 2014 | Summer
The first time I went to Hungary I was smitten. Not just by the stunning buildings and history of Budapest, but by the incredible beauty of the countryside in Spring. I remember stopping our car on a mountain top and getting out to stretch our legs. Our jaws dropped as we turned to see the forest floor carpeted with wildflowers glowing like a fairyland in the morning light.
Needless to say, when I heard about the Hungarian Farm Stay and Budapest Tour being led this May by our good friends, Shirley and Joe Puruczki, I had to tell you all about in case some of you might be able to join them on this fantastic adventure and explore this beautiful country in Spring.
Shirley and Joe were among the first people I met when I arrived in Australia and we hit it off right away, talking for hours about travel and food and good books and, of course, goats. They sold us the start of our beautiful herd and have been an invaluable resource as I’ve morphed from knowing nothing about goats to managing our 40-acre farm.
Between them Joe and Shirley have lived in Hungary, Canada and Australia. They know a lot about international travel and tourism and it shows in the details of this trip. I especially like how they’ve combined the best of Hungarian city and country living to give their guests a real taste of life in Hungary.
The two-week tour leaves from Brisbane, Australia on May 25th (but people are welcome to join the tour in Budapest for a lower rate) and returns on June 8th with an overnight layover in Hong Kong for some last minute exploring, shopping, or catching up on sleep.
The first four days of the tour will be spent exploring Budapest, one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.
Fisherman’s Bastion 03 by michael clarke stuff and snowdrop by Takkk
Guests are free to roam at their leisure, taking in historic architecture, great shopping and the dazzling lights of the city at night. They will also be treated to a Folklore Evening Tour with traditional food and entertainment and a Danube River Tour.
The Széchenyi Chain Bridge by Wilfredor
After experiencing the delights of Hungary’s capital city, guests will head south through old towns and ancient villages to a farm-stay resort in an idyllic country setting. For six days this oasis will be home base, a retreat that specializes in Hungarian food and wine, hospitality and leisure activities such as use of the traditional sauna.
Day trips include the therapeutic mineral hot springs in Kiskunhalas, a market day in nearby Serbia, tours of historic castles, museums, art galleries, wineries and even the Mercedes Benz factory. Every step of the itinerary has been planned to the last detail by travel professionals to create a stress-free and inspiring holiday.
Anyone signing up for this trip who mentions my name or website will receive a basket full of Hungarian specialties when they arrive in Budapest. 🙂
If you are interested in joining this tour to Hungary, please contact Shirley or Joe:
- info@besthungarianholidays.com.au
- http://besthungarianholidays.com.au/
- 07 4661 8672
If you are in Southern Queensland and would like to meet Joe and Shirley and learn more about the trip, they are hosting a coffee information night at the Warwick Public Library Meeting Room this Wednesday (Feb. 19) at 5:30 p.m.
Have you ever been to Hungary? I’d love to hear about your experiences. xo
by Krista | Feb 12, 2014 | Summer
I met a man at the farmer’s market today who bought a piece of land near here that was always lush and green and always seemed to get rain. But then our drought came (70% of Queensland is currently drought declared) and he hasn’t seen a drop of rain since they moved in.
Instead of the understandable sighing I expected, he chuckled and said, “But today we’re one day closer.”
One day closer to rain.
I love that. I love his attitude towards a very difficult and potentially dangerous situation. It came at such a good time for me as my doctors continue to search for ways to ease my pain and heal my chronically ill self.
I do get very discouraged sometimes, and I know that’s OK. Pain hurts and chronic pain hurts all the time. It wears down the body and spirit. But I love when I have encounters like this that make me smile and remind me that today, I’m one day closer.
One day closer to understanding.
One day closer to healing.
One day closer to thriving.
In the meantime, I try to make the hard days special so they become something to look forward to instead of fear.
Whenever I have to go to the doctor, I turn it into a Grand Day Out.
I know ahead of time that it’s going to be emotional and exhausting so I make allowances and plan for moments of quiet, reflection, and spoiling.
I go to my favorite cafe for breakfast, cozying into the comfy gold chairs, surrounding myself with books, journal, and favorite new pen.
I love it here. The staff make me feel so welcome and no matter what restrictive diet my docs are having me experiment with, the staff happily bend over backwards to make me something delicious.
This week they made me fried eggs, grilled tomatoes, hash browns and my go-to-comfort-drink: Butterscotch Latte with lactose-free milk. Delicious.
I had a picnic and reading time at a wonderfully shady table (it’s outrageously hot here right now) and spent happy hours sequestered in the blissfully air-conditioned library, finding all sorts of audio and paper books to fire my imagination and inspire me for various projects.
I also had a special companion with me. A gift from my friend Marie. His name is Sir Domenic Frederick (we figured such a small bear needed a very big name) and his sole job is to accompany me to doctor’s appointments to remind me that I am always loved and never alone.
What things do you do to make your hard days easier? xo
by Krista | Feb 10, 2014 | Summer
It has been a hot but lovely weekend at home. Bear and I went to our favorite junk shop and got all sorts of treasures: a stack of wood for projects, wonderful old books, and a gigantic pasta bowl made in Italy.
We pottered around at various chores, taking breaks for cold drinks and Olympics watching. Bear is making a wooden medieval cart and I’ve been huffing and puffing my way through digging up garden beds for my winter garden. I am delighted to say that as of this morning, it is nearly all planted and I’m excited to (hopefully!) see a bounty of radicchio, Savoy cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, purple carrots, turnips, long beetroot, green beans, black beans, celery, bok choy, lettuces, capsicum, Lebanese cucumbers, and some new herbs in a couple of months.
I also worked hard processing all sorts of fresh fruit and veggies. So far I’ve made marinated dried tomatoes and marinated olives.
These gorgeously ripe pears are in the dehydrator right now, filling the house with delicious fragrance.
My friends Ann and Neil brought me a tray of ripe figs from the tree in their yard. They are marvelous, delicious no matter what you do to them.
I love eating them fresh, savoring the exquisite juice and soft flesh.
For dessert I like to roast them until they’re beautifully caramelized, then top them with Mascarpone Brandy Sauce.
I also like them dried for snacks. Did you know that figs are one of the few foods that gain even more nutrients when they’re dried?
I hope to make a dried fig compote to serve with cheese, simmering dried figs with honey, citrus peel, and whole spices. Mmm, I can almost smell it!
Next up is making marinated roasted bell peppers (capsicum) and then I need to dream up ways to use two whole boxes of luscious peaches Bear brought me.
Do you have a favorite way to use fresh peaches? xo
by Krista | Feb 6, 2014 | Summer
I can’t seem to get over the bliss of a land restored.
To be able to look outside and see green, glorious green, instead of parched brown.
I can’t get enough of it.
I love wandering around the farm, sauntering through the shady spots under the trees, ambling through my gardens. It is so wonderful to see things actually growing again, spreading out and up in glorious life.
Like these gorgeous calendula blossoms – so darn perky and cheery.
I’ve been collecting them almost daily, drying them so I can use their petals in soothing body lotion or lusciously fragrant tea full of flowers.
I’m super excited about my pumpkin vines, growing rampant all over the garden. These ones are extra special because they’re going to produce BLUE pumpkins!! 🙂 In Queensland they have special Queensland Blue Pumpkins, and I cannot wait to see them in my own garden.
I’m also delighted by my asparagus which, after lying dormant since Spring, has suddenly come to life, giving me fresh asparagus spears every day.
They are so delicious, crisp and tender, and I’ve been making variations on this salad every day: asparagus alone or asparagus with sliced snow peas, all tossed in a zesty lime vinaigrette. Simple, refreshing and nourishing.
As you look out on your world today, what beauties do you see? I’d love to hear about it. xo
Asparagus Snow Pea Salad with Lime Vinaigrette
Ingredients:
1 bunch asparagus, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 handful snow peas, topped, tailed and cut into narrow slices
1 Tbsp fresh lime juice
2 Tbsp olive oil
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp fresh ground pepper
1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
Directions:
- If asparagus is tender, proceed with following recipe. If you would like softer asparagus, steam it for 1-2 minutes or simply cover with boiling water and let it sit for 1-2 minutes. Drain and continue with recipe.
- In medium bowl combine lime juice, olive oil, salt, pepper, and mustard. Whisk until emulsified.
- Add vegetables and toss gently to combine.
- Serve at room temperature or chilled.
by Krista | Feb 3, 2014 | Summer
One of my Christmas pressies from Bear was a food dehydrator and I love it! This weekend I made heaps of dried tomatoes, getting them ready for three gorgeous marinades.
I used a mixture of Roma and beefsteak tomatoes to see which ones I liked better. Roma tomatoes have lower moisture content so they dried much faster, but they both taste great.
I like how lacy the beefsteak tomato slices get, so thin and delicate with lots of nooks and crannies for the marinade to soak in.
For the first batch I added a bit of spice with my friend Stacey’s homemade harissa. It is a lovely mixture of chilies, cumin, coriander, and other good things, a marvelous pairing for sweet dried tomatoes.
For the second batch I added a big spoonful of drained capers. They go so beautifully with tomatoes, adding a nice, vinegary kick.
Garlic and peppercorns flavored the third batch. Now I have three jewel-tone jars glistening with savory goodness.
My next dehydrating project is figs, beautiful figs from my friends Ann and Neil. I learned this week that figs are one of the few fruits that gain nutritional value through drying. And they’re going to taste mighty good wrapped in prosciutto and roasted.
What delicious things have you been making recently? xo
Marinated Dried Tomatoes with Harissa
Ingredients:
clean, sterilized jar
dried tomatoes
extra virgin olive oil
1/2-1 tsp harissa
Directions:
- Pack tomatoes into sterilized jar.
- Stir together olive oil and harissa, pour over tomatoes to cover by 1/2 inch.
- Seal and store 1-2 weeks.
Marinated Dried Tomatoes with Garlic and Pepper
Ingredients:
clean, sterilized jar
dried tomatoes
4-6 fresh garlic cloves
1/2 tsp pepper corns
extra virgin olive oil
Directions:
- Pack tomatoes into sterilized jar, layering with garlic and pepper corns.
- Pour olive oil over tomatoes to cover by 1/2 inch.
- Seal and store 1-2 weeks.
Marinated Dried Tomatoes with Capers
Ingredients:
clean, sterilized jar
dried tomatoes
1 Tbsp capers, drained
extra virgin olive oil
Directions:
- Pack tomatoes into sterilized jar, layered with capers.
- Pour olive oil over tomatoes to cover by 1/2 inch.
- Seal and store 1-2 weeks.
by Krista | Jan 31, 2014 | Summer
Some dreams come to pass right away. Some change or end. Others take years and years of work and dreaming and set backs and trying, trying, trying.
This week a dream came true for me that I’ve been cherishing since I was a little girl. I’ve been commissioned to write an Australian history book on a town called Freestone. A real, honest-to-goodness book with pages you can turn and photos you can trace with a helpful finger. I’m so excited.
I started initial research last year and was immediately drawn to the place, the way the stories of its citizens captured the history of the settling of Australia by immigrants from all around the world. I’ve loved learning where these early settlers came from, how they forged a life out of bushland and related to their Aboriginal neighbors, how they preserved food, traveled from place to place, and connected as a community.
I’ve been fascinated by the changes that have taken place over the last nearly two hundred years, changes in transport, communication, and education, how some things have changed completely while others have steadily endured. I’ve especially enjoyed interviewing community members whose family members have lived in this area since the early 1800’s, hearing their stories both heart-breaking and laugh-out-loud hilarious. I can’t wait to put their words and memories to paper and preserve their stories for generations to come.
I will be sure to let you know when it is published in case any of you would like to learn about the history of this part of Australia.
I had another dream come true when I opened my very own store to sell my custom designed, hand-burned artwork. I’d love it if you stop by for a visit and let me know what you think: http://ramblingtart.tictail.com/
To celebrate the opening I’ve added a new item: pint-sized, personalized wooden mixing spoons for children. They make me smile.
My other happy bit of news is that Bear surprised me with a chunk of land just for me to build my very own Secret Garden. Not for veggies or anything practical, simply a place where I can let my imagination run wild and hide away in whenever the fancy takes me.
We’ve plotted out the area, a lovely rambling spot under the huge gum trees in our back yard that overlooks the pond and distant woods.
I’ve been leafing through gardening books and scrolling through Pinterest finding all sorts of lovely things that make my heart skip a beat.
Over cuppas we chat and plan and discuss and I think this might be the best part of all.
I’ve been squirreling away seeds and building stacks of lovely fallen branches in beautiful twisted shapes that will be wonderful for making sculptures or rustic bits of fencing for moon flowers and morning glories to clamber over.
I’ve got heaps of seedlings in my kitchen garden getting nice and sturdy, ready to be transplanted whenever we’re ready for them.
It’s been such an inspiring project and I can’t wait to get started.
Our favorite treats this week are Roasted Ham-wrapped Dates. How we love them! Simply wrap nice plump dates in thin slices of cured Black Forest Ham or Prosciutto, roast for 15-20 minutes until they’re nice and crispy, then devour most happily. It would be lovely with all sorts of different fruits: figs, peaches, etc. Any fruit that will stand up to roasting and give a delicious caramelized balance to the saltiness of the meat.
Have you had any dreams come true lately? I’d love to hear about any you’re working towards. xo
Roasted Ham Wrapped Dates
Ingredients:
10 slices cured Black Forest Ham or Prosciutto
10 plump dates
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 400 F (205 C).
- Lay out strips of ham with one date at one end.
- Starting at date end, roll up until all of ham is used.
- Place each roll loose side down on paper-lined baking sheet.
- Roast for 10-20 minutes until ham is browned and crispy.
- Serve warm or cold.
The two-week tour leaves from Brisbane, Australia on May 25th (but people are welcome to join the tour in Budapest for a lower rate) and returns on June 8th with an overnight layover in Hong Kong for some last minute exploring, shopping, or catching up on sleep.
