Date, Apple and Pecan Loaf

A slice of cake with your cup of tea or coffee makes a perfect morning or afternoon tea. Winter brings us an abundance of oranges and apples and we also have recently harvested pecans. This loaf can take advantage of the bounty and freshness of our seasonal fruits. This loaf brings together spices, dates and fruit macerated in brandy, pecan nuts, orange and apple and … Continue reading Date, Apple and Pecan Loaf

Chicken with Mushroom, Wine and Tomato Sauce

Chicken and mushrooms in a light tomato and white wine sauce makes a lovely warming meal in winter and can be enjoyed any time of year. This dish can be served with rice, polenta or mashed potatoes or on its own with a green garden salad. I have included the recipe for making the rice that is served with my chicken. Chicken with Mushroom, Tomato … Continue reading Chicken with Mushroom, Wine and Tomato Sauce

Roasted Vegetable Pasties

These tasty  vegetable pasties combine the mellow flavours of oven roasted, seasonal root vegetables and pumpkin with the kick of kalamata olives and Italian herbs. Baking vegetables enhances their flavour and brings out their sweetness. The depth of flavour will surprise you. This is also a great way to use any left over baked vegetables. The pasties are just right for lunch with your favourite … Continue reading Roasted Vegetable Pasties

Eating Seasonal Vegetables in Winter

The real benefit of growing your own vegetables is being able to eat seasonally. However, it is easy for anyone to choose vegetables that are in season as the basis of their diet. Not only are seasonal vegetables fresh, plentiful and well priced but they can also be sourced more locally and so will have travelled fewer miles to reach us which makes for sustainable … Continue reading Eating Seasonal Vegetables in Winter

Italian Polpette in Tomato Sauce

Polpette are tender small Italian meatballs that are cooked in a rich tomato sauce. In Italy they are eaten as a second course with potatoes or vegetables or even rice or polenta. Around the world polpette are eaten with pasta and this makes a lovely and satisfying complete meal when served with a fresh green garden salad. Polpette are also good for lunch, in a … Continue reading Italian Polpette in Tomato Sauce

Dominique’s Lemon Curd and Raspberry Tartlets

Dominique has shared her wonderful recipe for lemon curd and raspberry tarlets with us. These tasty little morsels combine the sweetness of the pastry, balanced by the tang of the lemon curd and the juicy freshness of the raspberry on top. They are a delight to the senses. Lemons abound at the moment so what better way to use them than to make these delicious … Continue reading Dominique’s Lemon Curd and Raspberry Tartlets

Delicious Australian Grown Apples from Orange

Early this morning at Parklea Markets in outer Sydney we were spoilt for choice for the finest apples and pears brought to us direct from the premier fruit growing region of Orange in NSW. With those magnificent apples, just picked, crisp and delicious, it was hard to decide which varieties to buy this week. Then there were the many different varieties of sweet pears. I … Continue reading Delicious Australian Grown Apples from Orange