Late summer in my off-grid kitchen and garden - Frugal family cooking

Summer in Central Portugal is for relaxing and eating good food, so this week I'm sharing more of what I'm making in my off-grid kitchen and garden. We also start taking out parts of the summer garden and prepare seeds for the new growing season.
Zucchini bread: www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes...
Pizza dough:
2.5 cups of flour
2 tsp dried yeast
1 tsp sugar
1 tbsp olive oil
pinch of salt
1 cup of water (depending on temperature, flour, elevation. Experiment with how much you need in your kitchen.)
I don't have a perfected recipe for the golden gooseberry pie yet, still working on that :)
Flat bread:
Same as pizza dough, but add 3/4 cup greek yogurt and adjust water accordingly.
Tsatsiki:
Grated cucumber
Salt, pepper
Fresh garlic
Greek yogurt
Olive oil
Fresh mint
Couscous salad:
Couscous
Arugula
Aubergine and courgette, sauteed
Tomatoes, onion, parsley
Feta
Dress with olive oil and balsamic vinegar
Vegetable lasagna:
Zucchini/courgette, mushrooms, aubergine/eggplant, peppers
Tin of chopped tomatoes
2 tbsp Tomato paste
Pinch of sugar
Garlic powder
2 tsp dried oregano
Lasagna sheets
Top layer:
Bechamel sauce (flour, butter, milk, salt, pepper, nutmeg)
Ricotta mixed with an egg, fresh basil, salt, pepper and grated cheese
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Lea van der Eems
Apartado 001144
EC Zona Industrial Castelo Branco
6001 - 901 Castelo Branco
Portugal
Music: Epidemic Sound
New here? My name is Lea and I live with my partner Maarten, our daughter Puck and toddler Bo on our land in Central Portugal. We left the rat race in the Netherlands in 2018 and moved south in our old campervan. Two years ago we bought land in Portugal that had been abandoned for several decades. After lots of hard work we now live in a beautiful yurt and keep ourselves busy growing our own vegetables as well as producing olive oil, wine and honey on a small scale. This channel documents all the different jobs we have to do, and sometimes some nice footage of this beautiful country we now call home.
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
0:47 Zucchini bread
4:35 Fresh garden pizza
11:30 Cucumber troubles
13:24 Golden gooseberry pie
16:38 The best flat breads
22:00 Planting seeds for fall
24:20 Couscous salad
30:24 Vegetable lasagna
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[@mlegion8558]

Over the last 3 years or so, I've watched a number of channels featuring people who have moved to Portugal. I used to watch about 10 regularly and I now only watch 4, including yours. The reason is that you/your videos are 'real' and a joy to watch. Your channel stands out from the increasing number of over produced and contrived 'story lines' that so many channels have adopted. PLEASE carry on being you! PS. Your children are a delight!

[@ourportuguesehomestead]

Thanks! I understand what you mean. I try to produce at a higher quality, but still keep it grounded in reality :)

[@NoneOfyourbusiness-ob2yz]

I agree 😊

[@manolisgledsodakis873]

@@ourportuguesehomestead Your recipes look delicious. Unfortunately, coming from a family that is prone to diabetes, I dare not risk eating refined carbohydrates - especially - flour or sugar. :( Don't you worry about the amount of these that you eat?

[@ourportuguesehomestead]

@@manolisgledsodakis873 I understand, different things work for different people. For us, we eat everything and try to focus on variety. We definitely don't eat cake every day, even though it might look like that from the video :)

[@AlongThePathsOfNature]

@mlegion8558, you're absolutely right about the "number of overproduced and contrived 'storylines' that so many channels have adopted." However, many of those channels have significantly higher subscribers/views due to that and the use of terrible clickbait titles and provocative video covers. I also have a small channel with only 88 subscribers at the moment. Are my videos really that bad? Or do people simply lack the patience to see them or even activate subtitles? I admit my videos might not be the most exciting... But I don't really mind (though it would be nice to have more followers/subscribers, I confess!). I create them because I genuinely enjoy it. I make them because, for me, it's all about sharing - not just insights into the farm, but a piece of myself as well. Sadly, most people don't seem to value that. They're more drawn to the allure of "overproduced and contrived storylines." Best regards.

[@matthewgordon-clark2392]

Lucky kids, learning to make good fresh food with Mum - such a special time

[@ralphsullender2474]

Your kids will have so many good memories of the garden and helping in the kitchen. They are a joy to watch.

[@annetjievz]

Its so gratifying to see Puck and Bo helping. These are lifeskills that a lot of adults do not have.

[@empret7704]

I like how you leave your kids to be part of everything, perfect learning time for them. Not all kiddo's are so lucky. 🙂🙃

[@eleanorchapple8772]

Nothing better than a little hug when mama’s baking. Lovely vlog drenched in summer sunshine and happiness.

[@AZJH8374]

Crack your eggs on the counter, less chance of shells in whatever you're cooking. & scrape anything with the back of your knife. Prevents dulling the blade. Love you guys. ✝️

[@faithrada]

The "Garden" analogy... of learning to let go of misdirected energy... That's a keeper. 🙏

[@candynewton4945]

You are taking time to let your children learn how to prepare food and letting them participate. That's what attentive parents are to do. Puck and Bo will be prepared for life outside home. Great work Leah. Thank you for sharing your home with us. 🇺🇲

[@vyvienvp3413]

Leia, don't know how you do it, you are an inspiration and seeing your family grow, and thrive in Pt is such a joy. Also, when 'stuff' gets unbearable here in the UK, which is often; I dream of my escape, as you did not so long ago - watching you guys is all I can do to keep me this side from going nuts! Hearing your kiddies 'tweetering' away in Dutch is just lovely, reminds me of my own childhood in NL in the late '70's. Although I am not Dutch, half Anglo -Portuguese, just love the memories. Tot ziens X:)

[@ourportuguesehomestead]

I take a nap most days, but also hard work :)

The kids are getting more helpful. Cute watching them help you cook... it reminded me of my own childhood. ❤

[@johnsonr9]

It's awesome to see the results all the years of hard work and sacrifice! Anyone thinking about starting a homestead off grid should watch your videos from the beginning of your journey

[@Joaquim_Conde]

Thanks for sharing your life with us. Seeing your children play takes me back to the village where I grew up, and the life my grandparents lived.

[@AlongThePathsOfNature]

You have a great established garden and lots of veggies! You are a great example of living off-grid! Keep up the beautiful work you're doing. Glad to have you here in Portugal! Ah, and don't forget to take a peek in my videos too! :P

[@isnoo1]

I LOVE watching you working with the kids - teaching them every day activities. They are learning real life skillls!!

[@isnoo1]

That couscous meal looked absolutely beautiful - I am drooling here....

[@doloresburmeister7184]

The children have grown since I last watched, it is always such a pleasure to watch how you allow them to interact. Delicious recipe, thanks. Tray soaking your apron in 5 litres water, 1 cup white vinegar overnight; this should get rid of the stains.

[@ericmehl1356]

Great to see the kids enjoying to eat and help preparing the food, too!

[@joconnor3567]

One of my mother’s evaluations for each of her prepared meals was color. She would you an A+ . Your meals are mouth watering.

[@EllEss331]

Sending hugs of gratitude and joy to you and your family! Thanks so much for taking time to share your wonderful recipes, family and life. As you learn and appreciate, we also grow our learning and appreciation of the simple, yet important things of life. ❤

[@paisleyjane9606]

I'm so happy to see Puck in her own spron. She's been a part of the process for quite a while, but this makes it more "official".

[@viviennebradshaw5465]

Good morning from Australia. We, my husband and I, have been watching your KZbin channel these past few weeks. We've watched almost all from the beginning, your early 'living in the van's days! We are fans, for sure. The Joy's and the struggles! Authentic and compelling. The vegitable garden. The Yurt!!! The soil improvement. Ponds!!! Diggers!!! The children and chickens! Dogs! Water/NO Water!!! Portugal...heat!!! Kitchen/cooking! New shed.. Admirable. Resilience. Cheering you on to the future A House! Best of wishes from us.

[@ourportuguesehomestead]

Happy to hear that Vivienne, we’ll be back with a new video soon :)

[@JudySnyder-dv5ld]

Kid approved is super important!

[@scottstephens4587]

Keep em coming. Looking forward to Olive harvesting.

[@suepittel426]

Yummy. The videos wouldn't be as good without the kids. I love it that Bo sometimes wears a dish towel for an apron while helping to cook.

[@michaelgardner2581]

Lovely to watch you working with your daughter passing on your skills and love thankyou

[@marywalker2896]

I loved watching you and your children. Your daughter loves to help u and so does your little son.

[@HH-ys1vy]

Everyone is so chill and relaxed...just as you have described the season...Love It!

[@santiagonavesgomez8332]

Your childrens are especial and very broderly to each other it’s a joy to see then😊

[@sammie44]

You have two beautiful sunflowers growing on your homestead! 😊 Summer is glorious! The abundance of nutrients in your super healthy and tasty fruits and veggies is “richness”! Simple, hard working, wonderful, happy, fruitful life! Love love love what you commented at the end of the video! Simply the truth! 🌷Sam

[@athena7042]

I saw a video where they cooked & ate the part the seeds attach to?

[@athena7042]

On another channel

[@sherry2836]

What great looking meals you prepared from garden produce. Your final words at video end are so true. Thank you for sharing a bit of your life with us.

[@AnneHeyns]

Great to see you and your lovely family again! Thanks for all the tips too :)

[@nessuno1948]

Lucky children......

[@daffs0]

Wonderful video Your cooking reminds me of my foster mother fresh tasty beautiful vegetables, it’s one of the things I miss Was the herb parsley 😁 Watching you and your children makes me smile so helpful and caring Bo and and puck are the same age as my youngest grandchildren Thank you for sharing your family 😁

[@ericcuthbert5974]

A lot of work for a meal. Take care of you All - and don't work too hard.

[@mompuff]

Beautiful adorable kids enjoying every second making this cake with their mom!! Great job mom!! 🙌🏻🦋🇺🇸You shop cilantro 🌿

[@solortega4225]

I love your videos ..the beautiful land all the progress of your construction ❤and gardening and delicious recipes and watching your kids growing up its the best of your videos.

[@Bellavita60]

Life is too short to not eat cake! That’s my girl 😂

[@egoyiboclementinaonwuegbut7331]

It's always delight to watch your family. Thank you for sharing 😊

[@MarieAnderson-ly7lf]

I enjoy watching you cook with the kids

[@JudySnyder-dv5ld]

I like seeing your family enjoy your lives.

[@mariapelleya7410]

Everything you make looks so good. The kids are growing so strong and healthy, signs of great parenting. They will learn all their life skills at your side (and Maarten of course!).

[@lieuwina]

Leah you have made some delicious food there and all from the garden, you are a wonder. The children a re growing up so quickly and Bo giving you a hug while cooking was a delight and Puk her hair is so beautiful and she is a very willing helper in the kitchen and I love the cheese tax. It is so funny (I do not mean anything by this) when I lived in the Netherlands when I first moved there I had to have the radio on a English channel for me to settle (though my parents were Dutch) we were never taught the language. I hear you with the radio on an Dutch programme in the background, so lovely to hear the language. I speak Dutch fluently now, I lived in the Netherlands for 22 years after South Africa. Love you channel and keep doing what you and Martin are doing. Tot Ziens een en fijne dag verder.

[@carolynrose3623]

My son just told me to look up Stanley Tucci Spagetti with zucchini. He used a potato masher and cheddar cheese since that is what he had on hand. I'll give it try. I enjoyed the video, thanks.

[@ChristineKelly1000]

It’s so cute watching Bo spontaneously hug you. Make the most of those hugs now and hold them in your heart.❤❤❤

[@adbc8213]

Thank you for all the videos... they are awesome!

[@elisabethraastad2070]

Love your videostyle. So calm. So real. With big heart. Thank You for many recepies🫶🏻

[@janenewley1014]

Lovely to see you, the children your cooking and growing again….any progress on the house building plans?

[@ourportuguesehomestead]

It's too hot to start building now and we're still waiting for the digger engine to be fixed

[@nadinehedican5677]

Yummmm, and now I'm hungry, everything looked so scrumptious. Thanks for the recipes and advice. Bless you and yours.

[@glenyscallaghan1195]

Lovely gentle vlog , family life is good.

[@skaraborgcraft]

Thats a whole lotta yum, can I come live with you? Great to have the variety, stuck with the basics this year up North, enough spuds to see me through the winter, no drive to bottle cucumbers and tomatoes again. Good garden/life philosophy! Cut out the rot before it takes hold.

[@juanitakauffman6336]

Zucchini bread or cakes are delicious. I have a zucchini muffin recipe which uses honey instead of sugar. Makes me think they are a little healthier. Love seeing Puck an Bo helping and enjoying the baking. Pizza looked good. I haven’t seen gooseberries since I was very young.

[@lanaeslindadias6440]

Good healthy recipes Lea. Wonderful helpers you are lucky lots of kids just want to play outdoors or video games even watch TV. May God shower his blessings on you and your family.

[@fertiledirt7708]

I ordered a few thousand lady bug or whatever would be a predatory insect that loves spider mites by the dozens. Then build a habitat to accommodate them through winter. Beetle of many choices. Or neem oil with a light dish soap detergent. Sparingly lightly every 2 weeks.

[@dannyray1950]

Puck's apron! Too cool.

[@ourportuguesehomestead]

She had cooking lessons in school and that’s where she got it :)

[@estellaknox9285]

You are a great cook !

[@elliottmanning]

Love your Kids and your home cooking!!!

[@joyguthrie964]

Delicious veggie pizza! Eat those tiny cucumbers! Love that both kids are involved with cooking and other chores. Bo looks all boy with his summer haircut. 😍

[@christinerobertson]

you could make a lovely jam with those gooseberries too

[@anjoma9746]

Lea, you're doing an amazing job. Love from South Africa. Ek geniet jou vlog.❤

[@assuncaomeireles198]

Adoro ver as crianças ajudar a mamã sao adoraveis. Tambem gosto muito das suas ementas sao muito boas. Muito obrigada e bem haja 👍👍🐅🐅🌷🌷🌷🌷

[@michelaguerra8472]

Brava, bella la riflessione finale sul giardino come lezione di vita! 😘

[@DeannaLee]

BTW I would like to tell you that it is delightful to see your children enjoying learning how to garden and cook. They will be very capable adults. Congratulations!

[@janp7943]

Everything looks delicious! Thanks for sharing! See you next time.

[@DeannaLee]

I love zucchini bread but I make it as a quick bread with baking soda and baking powder. Good stuff.

[@normamurray4450]

What a lovely informative video! Your cooking skills are so natural and healthy. You are a joy to watch! Love your videos!

[@blankslate6393]

Lekker, lekker, lekker! Great to see that now you've got two enthusiast assistants. Also noticed that the girl is becoming the comfirmed copy of yourself, only with red hairs :)

[@phillipbateman2284]

Lovely family, lovely food. Thank you mum.

[@monalingan9523]

I so enjoyed this video. It was wonderful to see the kids cooking with you.

[@bjornwennas7407]

Such a great episode! Love the summer salad with couscous 😋

[@cathythomas2692]

Your basket of mixed vegetables is so beautiful!

[@TheReisetante]

Love your cooking, special the couscous salade looked so yummy😋

[@AZJH8374]

Dish soap & water will rid you of ALL pests. & safe for you. BTW

[@JudySnyder-dv5ld]

Everything you are cooking looks delicious!

[@BreakingBarriers2DIY]

Oh my! That your kids can participate so much in the things you do…this is treasure you are building. They will be such incredible humans because you were…patient and well…doing what you do.

[@Loesters]

Wij komen net terug uit de Ardennen: simpel huisje in het bos, op een berg, met moestuin en vuurplaats. Kostte geen drol en we mochten overal gebruik van maken. En niemand in de buurt Wat we hadden: de tijd van ons leven!! Het was fantastisch. Nu zit ik weer met grote tegenzin in de betonnen stad, te verlangen naar de Ardennen. En naar jouw video te kijken. Dat helpt enigszins. Dankjewel Leah. Boks.

[@caro_es]

Such tasty healthy recipes! 🙏

[@user-wl4pv3kd2n]

I just love your whole life style, recipes and your children’s antics remind me of mine who used to sit on the worktop, helping and tasting.

[@ranakhuman1063]

Simple , down to earth cooking. Great. Will try when i land in portugal soon,happy family cooking .

[@donnatrimble7439]

I love watching ur videos good family life gardening cooking. All the right components in lufe😊

[@carlinkay1151]

G’day from Western Australia 🦘🦘🦘A really lovely video, you do such a great job and I love your recipes.

[@teedub1990]

The food was beautiful, so colorful. That's what summer means to me. Your patience with your children while they explore their world is wonderful to see.

[@siobhanvanderlinde5401]

Enjoying the chill cooking videos!! Love from SA!

[@celiapereira5223]

Loved the recipes, they all looked super yummy 😋🤤 nice to see you little ones helping.

[@Annazelfvoorzienendleven]

Dank je wel voor weer een mooie video, zo gezellig altijd met die kleine snoepertjes erbij, wat heb je weer heerlijke dingen gekookt, brengt mij weer op nieuwe ideeën, mooi, gewoon koken met wat voorhanden is geen fancy ingrediënten. Ik ben geitenboerin in het klein en maak van de geitenmelk allerlei zuivel, dus mijn geiten kwark en kaas past goed bij deze recepten.

[@lorrainewoodcock520]

I love that the children help make the cake you are a lovely family 😊

[@irili100]

Try to spray every day for 4-5 days the mites in the greenhouse with a solution of 2 water and 1 apple/citrus vinegar. Spray on and under the leaves. Good luck.

[@ourportuguesehomestead]

As you saw they’re already gone ;)

[@irili100]

@@ourportuguesehomestead Of course I know. The next time you grow plants that suffer from mites, it will help and in addition, you can already spray the greenhouse itself, plastic walls, support posts and everything in it. They do not like an acidic environment.

[@luisaleonardi666]

It's a pleasure to Watch you in all the differenti moments you share with Puck,Bo in the kitchen and outsider. Nice athmosfere within you all. Peaceful way of living which will pay off for the kids' future life❤❤

[@punjabseth260]

Nice😊

[@kimmyspreadborough2967]

My cucmbers just preferred outdoors, I'm in UK. Never thrived inside.🤔

[@ourportuguesehomestead]

I had some growing outside as well, but they turn bitter because of the heat. In the greenhouse they are shaded and the few that we did have were nice

[@oliveoil4487]

Hi Lia - It is so nice to see you and your family. The children are growing up so fast. Love the from garden to kitchen recipes, they look amazing. Puck is always the helper/explorer. Glad to the whole family again.

[@raimbowraimbow]

Great video and wise words at the end. Thank you for sharing :)

[@sgrvtl7183]

impressive harvest of veggies for wonderful meals! 💛💚 Love to see Puk helping Mama in the kitchen, they are so eager to help~truly wonderful!💗

[@jackelinereyes7610]

Loved all the recipes they look delicious. Your videos always feel so calming. Also I couldn't stop laughing when I say the Toddler Cheese Tax. My husband and I get cheese taxed by our dogs and we always tell each other, You gotta pay the cheese tax because they know when we open a bag of cheese haha.

[@mikeolson2543]

All that food looks really good 👍

[@dorothestolwijk5418]

Alle respect voor jou , lea x

[@cazicature]

Love love love! Your videos.

[@keluargaganfais1027]

Begitu bahagia sekeluarga merasakan hasil kebon sendiri👍👍👍

[@francescatappi3241]

Lea, I love your videos! It is so relaxing to watch you cook with your children. I have also made some of the recipes you have shared and we love the clafoutis. I made it with raspberries and I could have eaten the whole on my own 😂 Have a wonderful week!

[@ourportuguesehomestead]

Nice, that sounds delicious!!!

[@skyekennett243]

Hi Lea! I love your videos. Thank you :) Your kids have such a fantastic childhood. It reminds me of being a kid and living on land where my brothers and I could roam all weekend (before going to school during the week!). So fun. My son has cerebral palsy. He is 9 years old and struggles to walk without tripping over or falling. Just watching your children walk around so easily....I'm in awe! Does Puck speak Portugese? Are you planning to send her to school or would you like to homeschool? We have just started homeschooling - albeit in the suburbs, in South Australia. So far, it is great! Please keep up the videos :).

[@ourportuguesehomestead]

Glad you like the videos :) That sounds hard! Our kids haven't had any trouble so far. Puck has been in school for two years, so her Portuguese is getting very good. Homeschooling isn't for us, but I hope it works well for you

[@LindaSchreiber]

Excellent! Thank you!