We can't grow the wonderful tropical guava in New Zealand but Cherry Guavas grow well here. They come in both red and yellow varieties. I have planted a few of these, mostly for screening and to fill awkward spaces. The fruit can be a bit inconspicuous, tucked away in the foliage but they come in late autumn when there is not a lot else around. I have tried making guava jelly (which was the only thing I had heard of doing with them) previously but managed to make a rather unappetising … [Read more...]
Mulled Wine
Trying my new spiced apple cider (that was served warm) with friends got us to thinking about mulled wine. So I decided to make some of that and even found a recipe that used my new crockpot. 2 cups orange juice, warmed (I put some apple and pear juice in as well orange) 1 bottle red wine 1/3 cup brandy (optional) 2 cinnamon sticks 6-8 whole cloves 1 tsp cardamom pods, lightly crushed 1 lemon, thinly sliced 1 orange, thinly sliced Turn the crockpot to Low to allow it … [Read more...]
Moroccan Preserved Lemons
Preserved lemons are an essential Moroccan condiment used to enhance many Moroccan dishes both as an ingredient and as a garnish. They can be quite expensive to buy but incredibly easy to make. Slice the lemons as if to quarter them but don’t cut all the way through – leave them connected at the base. Cover the cut inside surfaces liberally with salt and press them tightly into a large jar (or several smaller ones). Add extra lemon juice to cover the lemons - the lemon juice and salt … [Read more...]
‘Whatever I could find in the Garden’ Soup
The title should really be 'whatever I could find in the garden, freezer, fridge or pantry' soup. It equally applies to most of my other cooking these days. Have a bountiful supply of fruit and vegetables has meant that I no longer find a recipe, decide that I want to make it and go off and get the requisite supplies. Now I see what supplies I have and decide what I want to make from there. Often I don't follow any recipe because you can't really go wrong combining good fresh healthy … [Read more...]
Spicy Plum Sauce
2.5 kg Plums (I used frozen) 1.5 litres Vinegar 1 kg Brown Sugar 2 tbsp Salt 2 cups Onion, finely chopped 3 cloves Garlic, crushed 1/2 cup Raisins 2 tbsp Soy Sauce 2 tsp Black Pepper 1 tsp each: Ground Cloves, Cinnamon, Ginger, Allspice, Cayenne Pepper Put frozen plums into a preserving pan and heat gently until plums thaw (remove stones if still in). If you want you can put plums, onion and garlic through a food processor to make a but I find that they soften … [Read more...]
Microwaved lemon honey
When I was searching to find out what the difference was between lemon honey and lemon curd (and discovered there wasn't), I found a very different recipe that alternated microwaving and beating the mix. I decided to try it out, particularly as it has a lot less sugar than the recipe I usually use. 1/4 cup sugar 4 eggs 125g butter 6 lemons, juiced zest of 2 lemons Beat the sugar and eggs together in a large microwaveable bowl using an electric beater until creamy. Cut butter … [Read more...]
Fickle Figs
My fig trees produced their first fruit this year – I was so excited. First of all I was just eating them fresh off the tree, savouring the novelty of fresh figs. I have only had fresh figs once before years ago when I happened to be visiting a property with large fig trees at just the right time. I came home with a bucket load of figs and made them into Fig & Ginger Jam - delicious! I was really keen to make this again but it seemed that the figs were only ripening 2 or 3 at a time and … [Read more...]
Grapefruit Marmalade
Grapefruit Marmalade is my favourite - just the right blend of bitterness combined with a caramelly sweetness. I find many of the store bought varieties just too sweet. My grapefruit tree isn't big enough yet to produce any fruit (well, it might have been this year but it sulked after I went away for a month in spring - which turned out to be a very dry month). Thankfully my friend Debbie has a grapefruit tree that produces well, so I was the grateful recipient of a big bag full. I thought … [Read more...]
Fruit Crumble
Fruit crumbles are one of the most versatile winter desserts and a great way to use fruit - whether it be fresh, frozen, bottled or canned. This is my all-time favourite recipe that is so simple, easy to vary and even got a 'you should be on MasterChef' thumbs up from my nephews. I have made a half-size version and a double-size to feed 12 people. It has got quite a bit of sugar and butter in it, but I never add sugar to any of my fruit so the sweetness and tartness complement each other … [Read more...]
Lemon Curd
One of my favourite lemon recipes is lemon curd – I’ve been waiting (not so) patiently for my lemons to ripen and, as you can see in the photo, I couldn’t wait for all the green to be gone from the fruit before I made my first batch. I’m not sure what the difference is between lemon curd, lemon honey and lemon butter. My recipe is labelled lemon honey, Australians apparently call it lemon butter, but most people that I’ve talked to know it as lemon curd. Whatever you call it, it is delicious … [Read more...]