I am a total summer-lover but there are a few things I look forward to in our colder seasons: open fires and red wine, pretty woollen jumpers (which can hide a multitude of comforting-carbohydrate-sins) and big woollen socks, slow cooked meats and cold weather thriving fruits like rhubarb, persimmons and tamarillos.
Tamarillos or tree tomatoes are available in New Zealand around June and July and if you know someone with a tree, be really nice to them because at the supermarket they can cost about $15/kg.
We’ve just started a vege garden at home and this is no ordinary patch; large white panels are hinged onto the fence to direct sunlight and a glass dome protects new seelings from the harsh elements and our naughty cat. I’ll admit that it did absolutely nothing to contribute to this garden; it’s my husband that can take full credit for this functional garden sculpture. It’s been over a year since we’ve been able to grow anything hence his overexcitement. I dream of one day growing produce all year round
: tomatoes, strawberries and even stone fruit in the warmer months and rhubarb, carrots of every colour and tamarillos in the cold.Fruit crumbles are an essential winter meal – pull one out of the oven at the end of a dinner party and watch your guests swoon.