Tag Archives: Banana

Washing Machine On A Car, Iguanas and Mystery Beer.

Full.Length.MunchkinThis title sums up up the last three days since we have missed a couple of daily posts.  Firstly, we have been on the road again and as usual played our “Fridge on a Pick-em Up” game in which there is a points system allocated to various white goods, and assorted loads spotted on the back of pick-up trucks.  The fridge gives the highest score of 1000 points hence the given name.  Well, look what we managed to find on our travels!!  Gnome says, “This Changes Everything.”

Washing Machine on a Car!
Washing Machine on a Car!

This is white goods on a car…not a pick-em up!  With the eye of faith, the driver who is on the left-hand side has his arm up to help secure the load…we know that because we overtook him (but, I was in too much of a tizz to get another drive-by shot) and he had no free hands to give the customary cordial wave.

Gnome commented rather blandly,” We are going to have to change the points system.”

Hmmm…yes, indeed we do!

Onto the next thing: It has been pouring down the last 5 days in Toledo.  This sudden, unexpected wet spurt during the dry season is called “The Iguana Rains” because the rain is supposed to soften the earth for the iguanas to lay their eggs.  This happens every year without fail…but we have noticed that every year, people forget about this anomaly and scratch their head wondering why it is wet during the dry season.  And, as if by magic, we had a lovely iguana appear on our water tank today; I am sure he/she knows what the rains are for!

Hello Mr. Iguana!
Hello Mr. Iguana!

He was nice enough to pose for a second picture since I saved him from our Shaneeka-Doggie:

Second Pose.
Second Pose.

And, last but not least: do you remember when Gnome was making a mysterious fermented drink that required my nice lilac sheets?

Mystery Beer!
Mystery Beer!

The mystery beer was unveiled today with a tasting and bottling:

Siphoning Beer.
Siphoning Beer.

Gnome is happy with the clarity:

Mystery Beer.
Mystery Beer.

The Beer is Rice-Banana-Coffee all rolled into one!  Who would have thunk it!!  Still tastes very young with a roasted aroma from the coffee.

Rorscharch Soap Test and Gnome Messing Around.

Munchkin.Feeling.RightousThe Rorschach Test is an Inkblot test created by a Swiss Psychologist called Hermann Rorscharch.  This test involves the psychological analysis of a subject’s perception of inkblot images.

We have transferred this same concept into our soaps since the swirls and blotches can form distinct images.  Have a look at the following picture…I see mirror images of a toucan.  What do you think…have I just got “Belize” in the brain!!

Chocolate Swirl Artisan Soaps.
Chocolate Swirl Artisan Soaps.

What do you see in the next Rorscharch Soap?  How many birds do you see?!

Artisan Soap.
Artisan Soap.

On a different note, I just wanted to tell you that Gnome hasn’t got round to writing anything this week because he has been messing around with well, gnome stuff.

Gnome.EmbarassedHere are some pictures; maybe he will explain them to you at some point.

Fermenting Bananas.
Fermenting Bananas.
Squeezing something into a bucket.
Squeezing something into a bucket.

As I write this, he is still messing around!  And by the way, that was my nice lilac pillow case!

Gnome says this is a Gravity Press.
Gnome says this is a Gravity Press.

Munchkin.ConfusedGnome now refuses to explain what he is doing!!

New Yummies on our Farm.

Munchkin.Eating.Bun.Smile

Today I did not know what to write about so Gnome suggested that I walk around our farm and take pictures of new yummies to harvest.

Big Bunch of Bananas.
Big Bunch of Bananas.

When these bananas are ready for harvest, we will probably do many different things with them since it is a huge bunch.  Deep-fried thinly sliced green bananas are a must!  I will also sun-dry some of the bananas, grind them up and make flour out of it.  We will, of course, enjoy some of the bananas ripe.

Sapodilla Fruit.
Sapodilla Fruit.

Sapodilla fruit have a soft flesh similar to a peach but not as smooth in texture.  There is a strong cinnammon-like flavour and they are very sweet.  Gnome has called first dibs to make sapodilla wine and we will probably eat the rest as fruit.  When they are sun-dried, they make a very good substitute for dates.  Incidentally, sapodilla trees were once cultivated in Belize for its sap which was used for the original chewing gum (or chicle).  Our trees are still too young to be tapped but watch this space in a few years for a post on home-made chewing gum!

Green Peppercorns.
Green Peppercorns.

I am waiting for the green peppercorns to turn red (have been waiting 2 months and still no colour change).  Once they change colour then they can be harvested and then processed into white pepper.  I am getting impatient so I am actually starting to pick some green peppers to add to my meals.  They are really hot at this stage.  The green peppercorns can be harvested at this time and dried into black peppercorns.

I am so pleased with the produce on our farm; it changes from week to week and I love thinking of all the exciting yummy things I can do with all this food.