Free fruit – foraging ethics
I’ve just come home with a bag of superbly ripe mandarins. And they were free! Foraging isn’t a normal thing in New Zealand. We think of food as something we buy, if we haven’t grown it ourselves.
Black garlic magic
One of my favourite treats is black garlic. The grey, slightly soft garlic heads don’t look appetizing. But inside, the bulbs are dark and soft and deliciously sweet.
The mighty quince
There’s a garden in my neighbourhood with a quince tree on the front lawn. At this time of year it’s festooned with fat golden quinces.
Chestnuts – catch them while you can
We’re in the middle of the brief and glorious chestnut season in the Waikato. In this post I share a couple of my favourite chestnut recipes. Including the most divine chestnut-chocolate pudding.
Plum bounty
At this time of year, plum trees are laden with fruit in the Waikato. But, these are backyard plum trees. It’s hard to buy locally grown plums. There’s only one kind of plum (which definitely isn’t local) at my local fruit shop, and none at the supermarket. The Divine...
Festive fizz
Seven gorgeous alcohol-free summer drinks. This summer, try making some of these delicious and interesting beverages. Most ready-made drinks (healthy and otherwise) are very sweet. When you make them yourself you'll know exactly how much sugar you’re consuming. And...