culinary joy: Kerala vegetable at Sylviander House

Even I had come to India and Kerala first time by land in 1977 and then traveled regularly since then to India and Kerala, I only got to know recently an old traditional vegetable of Kerala. 

The malayalam name for it is very difficult for me to pronounce and remember, but the translation is easy, means: Pluck me every day!

A neighbor brought us a handfull of his harvest in his garden and I was surprised seeing it the first time this small fruit around 6 cm long. I just fried it with olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper – I love it! 

So I took some seeds and started planting it in my Sylviander House garden. 

We had to build a structure for that creeper plant, which needs every day water. 

The flowers are beautiful but only open short time before sunset, next morning they closed again, then you can watch the small fruits growing … 

Meanwhile many plants are growing and every day I can harvest some …

culinary joy: cake time at Sylviander House

Because of the warm climate and some lack of ingredients I have to be creative! 

Something cool we like to eat, refreshing … 

One day I had the idea to make a cake with fruit jelly. 

Papaya we can harvest all the year in our Sylviander House garden which will be the basis for many recipes. 

In the mixer I made a puree of papaya, then cook it with some fine cut pieces of pinapple, passionfruit and Aga-Aga, a jelly powder, apply it on the baken shortpastry and put it in the fridge. 

Oh, what a wonderful afternoon, a last sip of italian Grappa remained for my pleasure with espresso on the verandah … 

Of course, Moojoo our little cat girl is curious for everything and she loves fresh bread or cake, taking the chance whenever my eyes are somewhere else!

If there are no ‘nadan‘ eggs and no butter in the fridge … 

… I make just a jelly which is delicious too …

… and it is so fascinating to see the afternoon light shining through the fruits which look like juwels …