LS 2 3 Wednesday

Having slept all day yesterday, I wasn't particularly tired when it came time to sleep. So I left the PC on, playing the series I'm currently watching ... 

At four in the morning, it woke me up with its beeping - load shedding. I got up when the power came back, and brewed a pot of coffee.

Headache is back - with a vengeance.

Half an hour later, headache seems to have dissipated ... no clue why, not asking, I'm just grateful. It's still there at the back, if I move my head wrong ... so I'm not moving my head much.

I've washed the dishes, next, I suppose I should clean the litter boxes ... load shedding again from 12:00 - 14:30 ... 

Aaaand we're up to Stage 3 load shedding! Tomorrow morning, starting at 02:00 - 04:30, 10:00 - 12:30 and 18:00 - 20:30.

Well, while the power was off, I transplanted the Spekboom that had grown in Rose's little pot into a bigger pot ... the thing is incredibly tall! Incredible, because it's in such a tiny little pot ... growing up, up, and further up! I'm going to leave it on the veranda, though. Hopefully it'll live. And then I pampered my tomato plants. Again! They're almost as bad as my cats, when it comes to attention! 

And what shall I do with all those cherry tomatoes? I think I'm going to try to make tomato paste with them. Roast, blend, then freeze ... I think ice cube trays would be useful here? The problem with those, though, is: with all this load shedding, you can't transfer the cubes into a bag ... you'll end up with one big lump. At least, that's my guess.

Here's the recipe from Urban Farm and Kitchen:

INGREDIENTS

• 3-4 lbs Fresh homegrown (or local) tomatoes - can be any variety, shape or color but paste/plum tomatoes perform best
• 5 Garlic cloves
• 2 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Fresh Thyme Sprigs - As many or as little as you like/have on hand
• Salt and pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

 

• Preheat your oven to 350F/175c.
• Line baking sheets or roasting pans with parchment paper.
• Arrange tomatoes in an even layer. Cherry tomatoes do not need to be sliced. Larger tomatoes can be cut up into rounds or chunks.
• Add peeled garlic cloves to roasting pans. No need to chop them up.
• Place sprigs of thyme over the tomatoes evenly. No need to strip the thyme leaves.
• Drizzle with Extra Virgin Olive Oil and season with salt and pepper.
• Roast in preheated oven for 45 minutes.
• Remove from oven and let cool. Discard thyme sprigs. They did their job.
• Transfer tomatoes, garlic and all the juices to a blender and blend on Med-high until smooth.
• Optional - Sieve the mixture to remove seeds and skins
• Optional – If your sauce is too thin, transfer to a pot and cook down to desired consistency.
• Adjust seasoning and transfer to storage containers.

NOTES

This sauce can be stored in the fridge for up to a week or frozen for up to a year. It makes an excellent base for pasta sauces, soups and can even be eaten as is slathered on sourdough.

Sounds simple enough, doesn't it? Even I should be able to get that right!

Right now, I'm watering the garden. Headache seems to be gone completely, now. Very glad about that! When I woke up with it still in full force, I just couldn't believe it ... I've already spent one day at half speed, one day in bed ... loosing a third day of my precious leave would have just been too sad ...

Everything is watered and I now have 2 toads living on my veranda. One in my potting soil, one in a flower pot. Never dull at my home!

Apparently we'll have more rain tomorrow. Fine by me! I can garden on the veranda - I've been meaning to do that, anyway. Though I would have to get some soil from the garden, I can't afford to use only bought potting soil anymore ...

Well, I cleaned the melon bed as well. Only one pea and one bean were making an effort there, so I plonked in three more peas and two more beans.

Well, it's almost seven. I want to shower, then cut my hair, shower again to get all the bits off me ... fry my rump steak for dinner ... 

Done. Steak is frying ... I expect I'll have to share with mippies, ha ha!

I haven't seen the kittens today. Usually they come out at dusk to play ... not tonight, though. I hope they're okay! I worry ... 

Mippies are not too keen on rump steak. They prefer sirloin. Sorry, out of my league, now, ha ha!

I must say that I love my hair being so much shorter! I think I got a bit carried away, but no regrets! I can still tie it up ... only just, but that's enough.

Load shedding in the middle of the night again ... I'm thinking of copying my current audiobook to my phone, but I'm quite low on space on the phone ...

Ah! Still had enough space ... Fellowship of the Ring it is tonight! Nice!