I have had two worthwhile crops of chillies this year. I don't normally use chillies in my cooking, simply because Mr H.P. doesn't like spicy food. As you can see in the above picture, I've had to net the one plant I have because the possums treat chillies like delicacies. On a nice hot sunny day I picked all the red finger chillies and using a needle and canvas thread, I strung about 20 onto the thread and allowed them to dry in the hot sun for a few days before bringing them indoors to completely dry.
My first strand was exchanged at Crop and Swap for a yummy piece of blue pumpkin.
My second strand went to a friend I have made via an online garage sale and in exchange I received some kefir milk grains. I gave the kefir grains to my daughter because she has been coveting some for a while now.
Kefir is a fermented milk drink probiotic. I must admit, milk is not one of my favourite foods and the closest I come to consuming milk is homemade natural yogurt which I religiously make about ever ten days and add to my porridge or smoothie at breakfast.
Tonight we used yogurt in our pumpkin soup instead of sour cream.
I think I will wait and see what kefir tastes like before I decide whether I will make it or not.
In the meantime, the weather has become very damp and humid and my chillie plant has been infested with aphids. I'm hoping that a spray of soapy water will bring them under control.
It's not unusual for Sydney to be hot and humid over summer, in fact, it's quite normal. But the past three or four summers have been so dry that I must admit I've forgotten how unpleasant the humidity can feel. Unfortunately, the bugs have revelled in the return to more normal conditions.
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