Berries herald the beginning of summer and combining strawberries with silvanberries produces a rich complex flavoured jam with underlying blackberry tones. Preserve the taste of summer by making this simple but sumptuous conserve. Spread on hot buttery toast:its intense colour and flavour excites the palette, kindles the heart and fires the imagination. Or serve with pancakes or waffles, with scone and cream for a wicked afternoon treat, with vanilla ice-cream, between heavenly sponges, in fairy cakes and jam tarts. The possibilities are endless. Read More . . .
Capture the delicate flavour of a Mediterranean summer by preserving your own artichokes. Artichokes where known in Italy by the 15th century and the Italians perfected growing, harvesting, cooking, eating and preserving them. As a botanical and culinary curiosity, it is the unformed flower head that is eaten: not the leaves or root. Preserving artichokes is especially common in Southern Italy where the spring and summer harvest is preserved in oil and used in pasta, pizza or anti pasta platters during the winter months. Preserve your next abundant artichoke harvest with this Italian inspired recipe and discover the joy of mastering the art of preparing artichoke hearts and sharing your home preserve with friends and family. 
During the peak tomato season when the tomatoes are plentiful and full of flavour, I make litres of fresh tomato sauce and preserve it. As a pantry staple it’s always on hand to add to soups and casseroles, lasagne and as a base sauce for baked, stuffed vegetables such globe artichokes, capsicum, cabbages leaves or zucchini. Best of all though, within minutes, it can be reheated and tossed with freshly cooked pasta, extra fresh basil and served with parmesan cheese for a quick, healthy meal on days when I’ve had a full day in the garden and come in tired and hungry. 
This jelly sparkles and shines like a rare jewel that has captured the heart, soul and fragrance of quince. Preserving quince as a jelly makes autumn last all year.Transform breakfast into a special occasion by spreading on thick slices of sourdough toast or homemade crumpets, or treat yourself by spooning over vanilla bean ice cream.Making jelly requires a little more care and patience that jam making. Long slow cooking will bring out the intense ruby colour and carefully strained juice will produce a jelly with such intensity and clarity it will delight the eye of the beholder. I have won a string of awards at Agricultural Shows with this recipe. For a special culinary gift, simply wrap with some colourful ribbon and love.
The salty sour combination of preserved lemons may sound unusual but it really works! Their versatility is beginning to be recognised beyond their point of origin in North African and Middle Eastern cuisine. Try adding chopped preserved lemon to rice dishes, salad dressings, salads that contain fetta cheese or olives or to the stuffing for roast chicken or fish and you’ll be surprised at the freshness and zing it adds. This is an essential pantry item for any adventurous cook or kitchen gardener. It may take 4 weeks to mature before you can use them, but it’s definitely worth the wait. Over winter preserve some lemons for yourself and friends as they also make a wonderful culinary gift. 
The French and Americans may call them courgettes but most Australians have adopted the Italian name zucchini for these prolific summer miniature squash of the cucurbitaceace family (also known as the Gourd family). Native to North America, cucurbita are well traveled and began to appear in the botanical herbals of Europe some 50 years after Christopher Columbus epic voyage and discovery of the Americas in 1492. Ever since they were introduced into Australia by the Italian’s in the 1950’s, the zucchini has been embraced for its delicate flavour and versatility.
My morning ritual for many years during the water restrictions was to bucket water to our small citrus grove of Navel, Washington and Blood Oranges, Honey Murcott Mandarins, Tahitian and Kaffir Limes and Myer Lemons. At ten litres a time and a minimum of 60 litres per tree, it seemed like a never ending and fruitless task. The summers were fierce and unrelenting, multiple days of 38 - 42 degrees and hot north winds that would take your breath away and burn your nostrils. It was disheartening watching vegetables wither and die within hours. Not because they lacked water.They just couldn't take up the water quickly enough to replace the transpiration of water through their leaves. 
Made over three weeks this authentic hot, sour and salty uncooked Indian pickle tickles and cleanses the palate, stimulates the appetite and adds colour to the table.It provides the fifth dimension to a curry or alternatively if you love hot spicy appetisers serve with pappadams and raita before an Indian meal.It can made with or without the asafoetida powder with equally good results. 
A garlic lovers delight and ever so simple. Transform ordinary garlic into a sweet, aromatic and creamy accompaniment that’s perfect served whole in salads, on antipasto platters or spread directly onto baguettes or bruschetta as a base flavour. Native to the “garlic crescent “ of Central Asia, garlic has been transported and adopted into the folklore, medicine and cuisines of countries around the world. Due to its intense flavour, it is used predominately as a condiment rather than a bulk vegetable.