Quinoa is one of those wonder foods.  Not only it is very high in protein (12 -18%), it is also lauded for containing a balanced set of amino acids, making it a uniquely complete protein source.  Originating in the Andean region of South America, quinoa is a very versatile grain and can be found in [...]

The peach and mint infused vinegar I posted earlier in the week makes a great base for a sweet and tangy vinaigrette to dress this summer fruit salad. Strawberries in particular love a good smack of vinegar, and the fresh flavours of mint and basil really make this salad pop.

I have come to the conclusion of late that spring is really one big tease. One day it is beautiful and I find myself enjoying a cup of tea in the sun, my winter-white skin exposed in short sleeves; the next the sky has closed in and I’m searching for my favourite scarf and woolly [...]

The first time I ate this was actually in Spring about a year ago. One of the product evaluators for Dishdrawer threw a pot luck dinner and Craig, an electronics engineer, brought this gem along. The coriander jazzes the greens up, the cucumber provides a satisfying crunch, while the beef provides protein and deliciousness. A [...]

n NZ, we are lucky to have a vast selection of fresh foods on our doorstep; seafood, dairy, beef, lamb, pork, poultry, farmed and wild meats, tomatoes, kiwifruit, avocados and berries are just a selection of our local faire.

As this month’s theme is spring and local produce I thought I would make the most of what I have in my garden, and that of my neighbours too.  We have a very long drive way over which hang the branches of a pretty apple tree, and next to that just out of reach, a [...]

I have to confess that I am only a recent convert to the virtues of asparagus. Too many bad experiences with limp, over-cooked soggy stems had left me thinking it was one thing I was never going to get involved with. But my vegetarian friend makes this incredible salad, only very lightly steaming the asparagus [...]

This post deserves a special introduction. It is our first guest blog post. Its author, Sarah Woollett, played an important role in the realisation of this project, contributing advice, tasty recipes and unwavering encouragement. Sarah is an incredibly competent and knowledgable cook and here in the studio we were lucky