For listener Barbara who asked about figs yesterday (and for anyone who would like them), here are the recipes I promised: Fig Jam 1kg fresh figs, chopped 2 tablespoons orange juice 2 tablespoons lemon juice Sugar Bring the figs, orange and lemon juice to the boil over low heat and then simmer until well broken … Continue reading Fig Jam and Fig and Port Paste

Another recipe requested this morning during the talkback session - pickled chillies.  The recipe comes from my book "A Year on the Farm". Pickled Chillies 125g salt 500ml hot water 1 litre cold water 1kg chillies 1.5 litres white or cider vinegar 40g salt (extra) 20g sugar Mix the salt with the hot water and … Continue reading ABC talkback’s recipe request – Pickled Chillies

Here is the recipe for the delicious Green Tomato Cake (recipe and comments within it by Pam Shields). My variations included using a 20cm deep sided round cake tin (greased and base lined with baking paper and greased again.  It took about 45 minutes to bake. Due to the absence of walnuts in my pantry … Continue reading ABC radio talkback this morning – that Green Tomato Cake

Horrid day but that's ok. Pickled carrots and rocoto chillies (with sparkling jostaberry and a batch of elderflower in recycled soda water bottles in the background) alleviates kitchen boredom, if indeed there is such a thing. Play cheese! Something else to do when the weather's icy and there's 6 litres of pasteurised milk left over … Continue reading Cold and wintry day play

I've had lots of requests for these recipes .  In our family, the debate rages on whether crispy or soft and chewy is preferable, so I keep a jar of each version on hand so that everyone is happy. Crispy Anzac Biscuits  Note – in this, the crispy version only, by “scant” I mean just … Continue reading Anzac Biscuits – soft or chewy

In this season of many green tomatoes, I had a lovely couple at EcoFest tell me about a green tomato cake. They were kind enough to send me the recipe and so yesterday I baked it. I cut it this morning to serve with coffee when people arrived for the class. It is one of … Continue reading Green Tomato Cake

As the garden is dying off for the upcoming winter (or being eaten by wildlife), there's still lots to do. Elderflowers remain ready on the trees and I was given these beautiful rocoto chillies by someone at EcoFest. Into the pickle pot for them today. In the cooking school - busy, busy, busy. Elderflower cordial … Continue reading Elderflowers and Rocotos and a slow cooker or two

Wednesday morning platter, making the most of some of those exquisite passionfruit. Vanilla squares, with custard still slightly warm at serving time. (By special request the seeds were sieved from the passionfruit pulp for making the icing).

A gift from a friend yesterday, a lovely basket and more of passionfruit = pure gold.

Before dawn on a cold and frosty Molesworth Saturday morning, lovely to get up to a slow cooker filled with creamy porridge, cooked overnight. Simply stir and serve. It was a day for a slow cooking class, and people who came along loved having the option on arrival of this porridge served with maple syrup … Continue reading Porridge, slow cooked, on a cold and frosty morning