Waste-Not Chicken & Potato Croquettes
I’m always on the lookout for recipe ideas that help reduce waste, use up leftovers, and still feel like something ... Read More
A Winter Twist: Beetroot Caprese Salad
When it’s time to beet the cold, this cozy Caprese Salad is fit for all seasons. It’s always time to ... Read More
This cottage cheese recipe is incredibly simple and rewarding to make from scratch. If you’ve ever been curious about making ... Read More
If you’ve only ever steamed your broccoli, prepare to see this humble veg in a whole new light. Chargrilled! Chargrilling ... Read More
Preserving pears in juice makes for a handy breakfast or baking companion, long after the pear season has ended. You ... Read More
The Humble Slow-Cooked Soup There’s something deeply satisfying about rediscovering the simple joy of a slow-cooked bowl of soup. It’s ... Read More
If you’re looking for a simple summer dessert that feels fancy without the fuss, this Stone Fruit Pudding is a ... Read More
How to cook polenta the easy way
Polenta, like so many interesting grains lately, has made a kitchen comeback. It’s affordable, versatile, and when cooked well, absolutely ... Read More
Shortcake just seems to taste even better when you use foraged, gifted or seasonal fruit from your own backyard. Update ... Read More
A wonderful way to use preserved lemon and the wins from your veggie patch! If you’ve never cooked with preserved ... Read More
10 Ways to use Preserved Lemons
Preserved Lemons: the pantry staple you didn’t know you needed Bright, tangy, complex, and deeply aromatic, preserved lemons are a ... Read More
Once you’ve made a batch of Homemade Flavoured Salt you’ll not want to use ‘standard salt’ again! The beauty of ... Read More
Having an abundant plum season? Maybe it’s time for a batch of Spiced Plum Chutney. I have learnt to be ... Read More
With my first real success in making sauerkraut, I am converted. I first fell in love with sauerkraut several years ... Read More
Ready yourself for beetroot chaos in the kitchen! This Onion and Beetroot Relish is worth the effort. Like many recipes, ... Read More
Sweet Chilli Sauce with Extras
Sweet Chilli Sauce goes with just about everything and, after a bumper chilli season, just as well! I always like ... Read More
For those of you with an ample supply of pumpkin after the autumn harvest, and feel like something a little ... Read More
Be sure to use that glut of green tomatoes at the end of the summer season for good use! You ... Read More
A delicious all-purpose relish, Pear & Tomato Relish is a winner when looking to preserve the last of the season’s ... Read More
Feijoa season is short and sharp, usually providing an over abundance of fruit. Time to add Feijoa BBQ Sauce to ... Read More
It’s October – that means Loquat Jam is on the menu. My loquat tree has self seeded numerous times and ... Read More
Citrus Sweet & Sour Cooking Sauce
I first discovered this recipe when I was trying to make a citrus jelly. The result was it was too ... Read More
Great for fresh or frozen feijoa pulp, this Feijoa Date & Walnut Loaf is virtually fool proof! If you have ... Read More
If you are a hummus fan, it’s always good to have a go-to recipe so you can make this delicious ... Read More
I love limes. I absolutely adore them. In fact, all citrus gets a big tick from me. Here’s how to ... Read More
With my passion of saving food, my green tomatoes are destined for the preserving pan: Green Tomato & Chilli Chutney ... Read More
As you may have spotted in my 5 Ways to Preserve Fresh Chilli, this simple brine recipe works a treat ... Read More
If you are looking for something extra-yum to add to your next cheese or nibbles platter, I can highly recommend ... Read More
It’s fresh fig season and I’m loving it. Out come the preserving pans once again and it’s Fresh Fig Chutney ... Read More
As the name suggests, this Chilli Fig Jam is sweet however with the beautiful chilli after-kick it isn’t the kind ... Read More
If you’ve already enjoyed it mashed and roasted – check out ten of my favourite other ways to enjoy pumpkin ... Read More
A spare cup of cooked pumpkin can go a long long way, perfect in fact for a homemade Pumpkin Pasta ... Read More
Not a refrigerator pickle nor a fermentation, this Zingy Cabbage Pickle is a preserve recipe that is shelf stable. I ... Read More
Homemade Pasta Sauce for Freezing
It’s tomato season, enjoy! Freezing fresh pasta sauce is so easy. Here’s how I do it. Pasta sauce isn’t just ... Read More
If you need ANY more inspiration to plant untold tomato seedlings next season, this is one of them: my yet-to-be ... Read More
This Blueberry Muffin recipe is my ‘go to’ home baking for my bed & breakfast guests. Sadly fresh blueberries aren’t ... Read More
Almond Crescent Cookies remind me of Christmas – short-bready, nutty, a hint of spice and very moreish! Baking with leftover ... Read More
Save those fresh veggie leftovers and make a delicious refrigerator pickle. Unlike most of my preserves which are intended to ... Read More
A favourite side of mine now turned into a soup, Cauliflower Cheese Soup is simply hearty and delicious. Some days ... Read More
If you’re a peanut butter fan like me you’ll love these Peanut Butter Cookies! A super-easy recipe to follow, it ... Read More
Crunchy Roasted Chickpeas are so very delicious and full of goodness too! Instead of reaching for packet of chips or ... Read More
If you are looking for a summer vegetarian/vegan main or side dish to feed plenty, be sure to add this ... Read More
Yum! So delicious with cold meat or on cheese platter, and a pretty addition to the picnic table, homemade Feijoa ... Read More
With an abundance of late croppers, it’s time to make Feijoa & Ginger Jam. Maybe it’s the Waikato weather, maybe ... Read More
Spaghetti squash is such a delicious crop – now you can enjoy it year round in the form of a ... Read More
What a delicious veggie to have growing in the garden, and baking in the oven – Spaghetti Squash. My love ... Read More
Cauliflower, yum! I love this versatile vege so much I could almost drink it! Cauliflower Pickle has been my latest ... Read More
I’m a keen preserver and look forward to enjoying as much homegrown fruit as possible off season. Homemade compote is ... Read More
How is your beetroot growing? If you planted several seedlings and they are naturally maturing at the same time, you’ll ... Read More
Homemade Yoghurt without buying endless Sachets
Love love love homemade yoghurt…and oh those delicious supermarket bought sachets, creamy and perfect every time. But you only need ... Read More
While enjoying your refreshingly delicious jam cocktail, you may be doing your fridge a great favour! Those mostly empty jars ... Read More
Packed full of almonds, dates, oats and bound with peanut butter and maple syrup, these PBJ Oat Balls have a ... Read More
Belgium Biscuits with Jam Icing
A baking treat adopted by many for Easter, Belgium Biscuits are warmly spiced and jam packed (sandwiched between two biscuits) ... Read More
Looking for a new spin on serving up leeks, Asian veggies and preserved lemons? Check out this tasty side that ... Read More
Good old stout beer. Infused in a gravy stew, it’s hard to beat. My Englishman is adorable. He’s grateful for ... Read More
Anzac-Inspired Lockdown Slice (with DIY oat flour)
I know I’m not the only one: flour is in short supply at the moment. It seems New Zealand has ... Read More
Forgotten Fruits: Crab Apple Jelly
I’ve started a series of recipes dedicated to forgotten backyard fruit. You know the ones: look a bit strange, have ... Read More
I LOVE feijoa – the smell, the taste and the convenience of having a tree absolutely laden and ready at ... Read More
Cranberry Chilli Chicken Casserole
While in lock-down and familiarising myself with the back of the pantry, I was inspired to make Cranberry Chilli Chicken ... Read More
Yorkshire Puddings & Toad in the Hole
Staring at a pack of sausages and looking for another way to cook ’em? Cue ‘Toad in the Hole’, an ... Read More
Forgotten Fruits: Loquat Sauce
If you’ve never tasted loquat, you’re in for a treat. The fruit is sweet and bursting with juice. ‘A flavoursome ... Read More
Pickled Beetroot (from frozen)
Delicious with so many things, Pickled Beetroot may be a little messy to make but worth it many times over ... Read More
Black Bean & Quinoa Stuffed Pumpkin
Winter and pumpkin go together like a blissful duet. Stuffed pumpkin is not only a centre piece but the main ... Read More
Cauliflower-lovers, vegetarians and vegans, rejoice. This Buffalo Cauliflower Bites recipe ZINGS and is oh-so-tasty, you’ll want to serve it up ... Read More
Whether folded through a summer slaw, used as a dipping mustard for fresh vegetable tapas or dolloped on BBQ skewers, ... Read More
Homemade Lemon Curd is a classic. Love it thick and creamy, or with zesty strips of peel, it’s delicious on ... Read More
Here’s a hearty flavoursome meal or side to celebrate leftovers and homemade relish: Stuffed Baked Potatoes I literally lived off ... Read More
8 Easy Dressings and Vinaigrette Recipes
Get dressed for summer dining. Homemade dressings and vinaigrettes are easy to make and transform a salad in just minutes ... Read More
Perhaps there was a sneaky underlying message in a recent present, I need to bake more! Win-win I say – ... Read More
Yum! With a few staple pantry ingredients, you’ll have whipped up a batch of Caramelised Onion in no time. Unlike ... Read More
Once you make your own dumplings, you’ll never visit the freezer aisle again. Homemade dumplings are so easy and a ... Read More
This Vegetarian Enchilada recipe is an easy go-to weeknight meal and can be filled with just about ANYTHING. Enchiladas: We ... Read More
It’s wonderful that the South Island has such an iconic dish to claim as their own: Southland Cheese Rolls. Now, ... Read More
Why should breakfast take all the waffle glory? They can be just as delicious for a casual savoury meal too ... Read More
What?? Yessss….when Mexican meets Italian, the perfect international blend for open-minded dinner guests who adore delicious food! Introducing Red Bean ... Read More
For a light-style pasta, escaping the trappings of a tomato or creamy sauce base, Citrus Broccolini Pasta is refreshingly simple ... Read More
When someone offers you a pumpkin, accept it with glee. These long-lasting beauties can be cooked in a huge variety ... Read More
Are you a leek freak, or willing to experiment? Leek & Risoni Balls are tasty bite-sized mouthfuls of goodness – ... Read More
Vegetarian Mushroom ‘Meatballs’
This Mushroom ‘Meatball’ recipe is indeed meat-free, super-tasty and filling. You can’t go wrong with a pasta dish for a ... Read More
Summer Soft Shell Tacos are a ‘pretty relaxed’ dinner choice, perfect for social occasions and a DIY dining approach. I ... Read More
Whether you are stepping ‘nibbles’ up a notch, or wanting to serve it as part of your main – a ... Read More
Warning. This is delicious. I have made this Tuna Couscous recipe easy-as and all you need to remember is ‘a ... Read More
Any time is a good time for banana loaf, let’s face it. It’s my birthday and I can bake if ... Read More
A hearty dish for the household, Salmon & Potato Bake combines good carbs and protein plus helps empty the fridge ... Read More
I’m not afraid to say that this was an absolute experiment. I am delighted to report that it was an ... Read More
Pumpkin puree is easy to make. Come pumpkin season you are sure to be looking for a range of recipes ... Read More
I’ve had such a massively successful run with chilli this season. Planted from seed, virtually every jalapeno seedling grew to ... Read More
It is pumpkin season, which I always welcome. Eating with the seasons is just perfect, especially when it’s locally grown ... Read More
Smoky Bacon-esque Coconut Chips
This Smoky Bacon-esque Coconut Chip recipe is vegan, I am not. Why not however, enjoy some simple foods that simply ... Read More
I really don’t have a burning desire to upload endless photos of my evening meal, believe me, but when I ... Read More
5 Ways to Preserve Fresh Chillies
Check out my 5 Ways to preserve fresh chilli so you can make the most of your chilli harvest. If ... Read More
I embrace ‘eating with the seasons’ and have found the joy of drinking with them too! In these autumn months ... Read More
Pondering what to do with loads of small-sized feijoa? Don’t let them go to waste – bake them skin-on in ... Read More
What to do with too many Courgettes? Daylight saving has nearly come to an end so, if you are reaching for ... Read More
Chocolate Courgette & Blueberry Brownie
It’s not often that you read ‘chocolate, courgette and blueberry’ in a sentence, let alone an ingredients list…but here is ... Read More
Perfect for a dessert platter, lunchbox or an afternoon tea pick-me up, these nut free Apricot Raw Balls are packed ... Read More
With an abundance of cherry tomatoes in my veggie patch there is nothing more daunting than the thought of having ... Read More
Cooking with Kamo Kamo aka Kumi Kumi
The Kamo Kamo aka Kumi Kumi, is green, ribbed and delicious. Whilst it may appear to ‘take over’ the veggie ... Read More
Summer and berries go hand in hand. It’s hard to beat picking your own fresh from the garden, the neighbour’s ... Read More
What is a pickling onion? It is literally just a small onion – no particular variety or sneaky growing methods ... Read More
Green Grows the Garlic-o….I’ve had that tune in my head all day – but after some googling it’s ‘green grow ... Read More
Mandarins. Mandarins. Mandarins. How wonderfully understated are mandarins?! Citrus on a whole just amazes me. The season is long, the ... Read More
It may not be summer but with the first signs of spring, having a refreshing glass of homemade lemonade in ... Read More
Bitter Grapefruit & Whisky Marmalade
When life gives you grapefruit…..why should lemons get all the glory?! Bitter marmalade is a personal preference. I find it ... Read More
Lemon Meringue Pie is a classic but what about the humble grapefruit? In the height of citrus season my grapefruit ... Read More
Not only can you bake rustic looking pies, the crust is melt-in-your-mouth flaky. I had previously thought that homemade pastry was ... Read More
SOOS! Save our onion skins! This is a nifty little recipe that embraces my ‘waste not’ philosophy and delivers a ... Read More
“Yum, just like Christmas!” was the response when my Englishman spotted me photographing these candied citrus. I have a mental ... Read More
You’ve heard of Lemon Curd — so why not Mandarin Curd? Nope, no reason at all it seems. So I ... Read More
Tasty with prawns or as a cooking glaze for delicious baby vegetables, my Spiced Orange Sauce certainly has kick! Now ... Read More
I haven’t been much of a scone baker to be honest, but after you find a successful go-to recipe, they ... Read More
It’s citrus season. Orange trees throughout the Waikato are at full capacity. Backyards teeming with amber citrus globes, which hang ... Read More
Roasted Pumpkin Seeds & Pumpkin Skin Crisps
Pumpkins Galore, but don’t waste the skins and seeds. Last season, not a single pumpkin seed was intentionally planted in ... Read More
Dehydrated Persimmon – Slices and Fruit Rollups
Extra ripe persimmon make the perfect dehydrated fruit roll-ups! The persimmon season is a short one. Depending on when picked, ... Read More
To enjoy persimmon year round, make the most of an ample harvest and preserve a batch of persimmon chutney. Like ... Read More
Well, I did warn you! Persimmon is still flavour of the month for me, as long as the short season ... Read More
I am creating persimmon dishes faster than I can share them with you! If you have a persimmon tree in ... Read More
Damn! Wasps certainly know a good thing when they see it. Ripe persimmon and they are intoxicated! Time for a ... Read More
Seriously Moreish Savoury Muffins
I am no trained cook, but I am a foodie and have learnt that we all are capable of taking a ... Read More
Inspired by a tasty salad from Tank, this dish combines all the yummy ingredients of a vegetarian nacho dish but with ... Read More
Saving the last of the fruit bowl stragglers with my Fruit Bowl Chutney! There are times when I look mournfully ... Read More
Several months ago, experiencing an excessive plum harvest, we decided to make plum wine. It took several hours to de-stone ... Read More
Blueberry Vinegar & Vinaigrette
Once you have access to locally grown fruit in copious amounts and at grower’s prices it’s time to experiment with ... Read More
What to do with a fridge full of blueberries and soon-to-expire yoghurt? Our household is smoothie mad and more often ... Read More
Preserving using the Water Bathing Method
I go back to basics and rediscover the water-bath method of preserving, just like grandma used to. While I have ... Read More
I walk barefoot from the deck onto the fruit salad lawn; brush past the crab apple tree, sidle past the ... Read More
After a slow start to summer the Waikato is lapping up the sunshine and I’m enjoying balmy evenings, finally. Plum ... Read More
Gluten Free Pumpkin Pizza Crust
Plant based pizza crusts are seriously delicious and make for primo leftover lunches. Introducing…Pumpkin Pizza Crust. I’ve been electively gluten-free ... Read More
When faced with one quickly ripening banana you can throw it in smoothie; 3-4 can be transformed into a delicious ... Read More
‘Let them Eat Cake’ is a phrase you may have heard. Let them eat Plum Cake I say, or rather ... Read More
Trending in recent years, Kombucha (fermented tea) can be store-bought or made at home. On the road to self sufficiency, ... Read More
Time for home-made baked plum sorbet – a perfect summer refresher. I first published this recipe back around two years ... Read More
You may just have to trust me on this one. All care, no responsibility…but Plum Liqueur, in this case Plum ... Read More
My Spiced Plum Sauce is cracking…if I may say so myself! My plum tree giv-ith, trice. Yep, my amazing plum ... Read More
Fruit syrup is a great way to utilise ripening fruit. I can’t imagine myself supping on a plum juice but ... Read More
Friands are just divine and shout ‘French bakery’ very loudly, although the direct translation is more along the lines of ... Read More
Well you know I am on a mission. I have a zillion fresh plums at the ready and not afraid ... Read More
That’s the concept behind these unusual yet delicious biscuits. If you momentarily let your mind wander to Salty Caramel, you’ll ... Read More
Summer is here and refreshing cocktails are on the drinks menu. I’ve been intrigued with wine-based cocktails and in particular ... Read More
Packed full of vege, once you’ve perfected the cauliflower pizza crust, you may never look back. This has been on ... Read More
Fancy by name and delicious by nature, I rediscover a way to serve up eggs and a smidgen of smoked ... Read More
Crumble Top Lemon Curd Muffins
You’ve heard of ‘jam surprise’ muffins with gooey jam centres. Now imagine a muffin oozing lemon curd instead, topped with ... Read More
After a trip to the Avondale Markets my arms were laden with fresh herbs and watercress. Lunch was to die ... Read More
Ginger Gems: 1935 Edmonds Cook Book
It was ‘sure to rise’ then as it is ‘sure to rise’ now. Edmonds Cook Books have been around for ... Read More
I look back on my recent recipe posts and they are majorly SOUPS. For that I will not apologise! It ... Read More
I adore winter soups and I get goosebumps when I get to make it home-made from home-grown vegetables. My little ... Read More
The rich, yellow glow that penetrates even the dullest winter afternoon reminds me, from my kitchen window, that my backyard ... Read More
I propose that rock cakes go superbly well with a well-earned coffee break after a hefty morning of DIY. Motion ... Read More
Kumara & Caramelised Onion Soup
Delicious enough to be served up in a cafe near you, Kumara & Caramelised Onion Soup (with a hint of ... Read More
Dark Chocolate Dipped Black Garlic
I’m very excited about Black Garlic! As a dessert? Yes, you’ll be surprised! Before I get too distracted with black ... Read More
Making your own vegetable stock makes perfect sense, as it has been for generations. I love old New Zealand cookbooks ... Read More
Known as an Italian style omelette, frittatas are eggy delights with endless ingredient options, transforming scrap to scrumptious. This humble ... Read More
Leek and Potato soup is a winter classic. Whether you like it chunky or pureed smooth, the flavour is hard ... Read More
You say potatoes, I say potatoes
Regardless how to you say it, we can agree that potatoes are one of the most user-friendly vegetables around. So ... Read More
I’ve been coveting stale bread like no tomorrow. NO ONE is to discard a single stale slice of anything in ... Read More
It’s chewy, it’s delicious and perfect lunchbox material….the almighty All Things Nice Muesli Slice. FOOD SAVING IDEA : for stale ... Read More
Salvage Bread: Make your own breadcrumbs
Bread goes stale. Fact. Breadcrumbs bought from a supermarket could set you back $1.80-$6.00 depending how fancy. Fact. You get ... Read More
I’ve spotted whole milk (full cream milk) before and wondered who would buy it given our fat conscious society – ... Read More
You know the drill. It’s marrow season and we need to find creative ways of eating marrow to do justice ... Read More
Did you know, ANZAC biscuits have an intrinsic association with ANZAC Day, but despite popular belief, weren’t eaten at Gallipoli? ... Read More
Like many of our delicious seasonal fruits, we must embrace each harvest with both hands and squeeze every single living ... Read More
Feijoa Pikelets (aka Feijoa Fritters)
If you’ve visited my blog before you’ll know that I have an ulterior motive with most of my cooking ideas: ... Read More
Don’t slam a new flavour combination until you’ve tasted it: Nutella Marrow Muffins…where is your spirit of adventure? Sometimes the ... Read More
My passionfruit vine has been most obliging this year with a great harvest. Needless to say that I am finding ... Read More
Rhubarb Crumble for me conjures up awesomeness on a plate. Just like Marmite, chances are you will either love it ... Read More
Curried Courgette Sandwich Pickle
One moment you are admiring the cute little courgettes sprouting beneath the foliage, next minute bulbous marrows bathe lazily in ... Read More
When your garden serves you up courgettes, make cake – Chocolate Courgette Cake. A common theme at this time of ... Read More
After having great success with a variety of home-made dips all generated from my vegetable patch, I feel ready to ... Read More
Rose petals are deliciously fragrant, carry delicate flavours and have been used in cooking for hundreds of years. Dried and ... Read More
The 5+ A Day team know their stuff and have inspired me with their colourful salad centrepieces designed with festive ... Read More
Pescatarian & Vegetarian Festive Fare
I can see it now: the morning will be celebrated with a toast of bubbles, sporadic bouts of slow-dancing to ... Read More
Once upon a time water was water, right? Flavoured water consisted of a squeeze of lemon juice and we were ... Read More
Is it carrot season? To be honest, there are carrots in my garden bed at most times of the year, ... Read More
It may be the end of the broad bean season but I’m sure enjoying every last mouthful. So are my ... Read More
Really? Did I just say cauliflower rice? Yes. As I rediscovered, another great way to eat this humble garden vege ... Read More
I love to challenge myself to just make things out of what I have in the cupboard. It didn’t take ... Read More
I must say I was somewhat bemused by the look of sheer delight my boys had when describing a certain ... Read More
Heading into Spring with enough homegrown lemon balm to feed a small army (if that were possible), I decided now ... Read More
Dark Chocolate Macadamia Truffles
Macadamia nuts with their buttery crunch have always been a favourite of mine. Picked this season and freshly roasted, I ... Read More
Homemade Potato Gnocchi is easy to make! I was delighted to dig up some potatoes in my vegetable patch quite ... Read More
Yum. I haven’t had risotto for such a long time and, inspired by Kia Ora Magazine’s August issue, decided to ... Read More
Imagine a pile of sweet, roasted tomatoes buried in the centre of your bowl hidden beneath generous spoonfuls of mushroom ... Read More
Looking for a bread-maker Focaccia recipe? You’ve come to the right place. On weekends when my Englishman and I go ... Read More
Healthy winter vege & easy ways to cook them
Indulge in the delights of in-season vegetables straight from your vegetable patch and be rewarded with an immunity boost to ... Read More
Not only is this home-grown pumpkin, it also happens to be the most delicious pumpkin soup I’ve ever tasted so ... Read More
My Englishman loves Jaffa Cakes, the biscuit that enjoys a cult-like following in the UK. It’s mandarin season, so I’m ... Read More
There is nothing more fancy than posh cheese on toast! A Welsh Rarebit, which usually contains mustard and ale in ... Read More
Making homemade Mandarin Cordial
With an over-abundance of mandarins, making homemade mandarin cordial to enjoy for the remainder of the year is an easy ... Read More
You don’t need a bread maker for this, nor yeast. This loaf is easy to make and oh-so moist. Kalette ... Read More
Dabbling in the raw foods arena I was pointed in the direction of these wonderful Banana Pancakes. I couldn’t believe ... Read More
You’re familiar with pesto of course and you’re slowly being introduced to the concept of Kalettes…so may I introduce you ... Read More
Oh my! I think I have really excelled myself this time. The self imposed #5days5ways kalette challenge has just taken ... Read More
Because I am up for a little kitchen mayhem and a great excuse to be bold and learn something new, ... Read More
Almond & Dark Peppermint Raw Balls
I’m getting into the swing of these raw balls. They can be whipped up in just a few minutes and ... Read More
I had a double-take at some of my camera settings as the beetroot hummus was so crimson it almost looked ... Read More
I have really grown to love beetroot. No longer is it limited to a pickle in my homemade burger or ... Read More
I told you just a few weeks ago we had harvested heaps of mandarins. Now for the challenge to ensure ... Read More
Bok Choy grows relatively quickly in the scheme of things, just 12 weeks from garden to plate…and one of the ... Read More
Two typically wintery vegetables makes one very tasty bowl of comforting soup. With crisp mornings and some dreary weather becoming ... Read More