Learn the tips and make awesome Roasted Pumpkin Cannelloni. To access this post, you must be a member. Either log in if you're already a member, or purchase Annual Subscription, Monthly Subscription, Gift a Subscription, Gift a Subscription – One Year, Gift a Subscription – Two Years, Gift a Subscription – Three Years or Gift a Subscription – Annual Recurring ..read more

The colour of the flowers on my hibiscus plants deepens in the autumn weather. Oh-oh. Talk about tone-on-tone. A pink flamingo got in on the act. Check out the video Pink flamingo in the garden ..read more

I’ve planted more tender-stemmed broccoli, plants I had such tremendous success with last year. But I’m not the only one interested in what I have planted. Watch the video The war on critters ..read more

I had too many olives on my three mini trees this year to ignore. I called a friend over to help with the harvest; it was more of an excuse to drink wine and natter. The trees had a mix of green, mauve-tinged, purple and black fruit. The olives were tiny. A friend had pickled a similar tiny variety that was delicious, so I was motivated to turn my olive fruit into something edible. If you have bigger fruit, slitting each olive so the water can penetrate will speed up leaching out the bitterness, but with tiny olives, that’s unnecessary. You’d be at it all day and will have consumed far too muc ..read more

Seriously, there was a message on my fridge that said GET FIT. I don’t know who put it there, but it stood out: a small piece of white paper with black lettering spelling two three-letter words. It was stuck to my huge, shiny silver fridge – you know the type that can hoard enough food for a family of twelve and that when you live solo most of the time, you fill up as if you have a family of twelve anyway – with a red beret of a magnet. The message greeted me in the morning as I entered the kitchen after my shower where I had done six, I kid you not, SIX squats. It was there mid-morning when I ..read more

I don’t know how other people pace themselves through the early part of each week. My step lengthens as I slog my way to Hump Day (Hey! Everyone knows Hump Day is the middle of the week, the hump of the week, that once you’re over it, it’s all freewheelin’ downhill to the weekend.) Other than that, my week spins around Spotlight, the sewing emporium, every homemaker’s Nirvana, and how many emails from them bounce into my Inbox. I get a lot! They always start, ‘Julie …’ and I’m sucked in just like that. They’re talking to me. Get it? To me! There are always deals, usually just for two days ..read more

Curry leaves have a complex aroma reminiscent of curry powder, and a spicy somewhat bitter though not unpleasant flavour. They’re used in many Southeast Asian countries and are a mainstay of southern Indian and Sri Lankan cuisine. The leaves are used whole as a flavouring, then discarded, or softened into long-cooked sauces or gravies. Other uses include grinding the leaves to a paste with coconut and spices to make fresh chutney, and to mix them with spices and use as a marinade. They are also delicious when fried until crisp and are often part of a spicy finish swirled into a curry just befo ..read more

Crumbles 101 The best sort of crumble has tender fruit and a tender crumble crust that’s not too buttery and definitely not oily, but not dry or powdery nor set hard like a cake, but with just the right toothsome soft crunch. The fruit is best with a slight tang or bite to it, to contrast with the sweeter crumble topping. The cooked crumble should be appetisingly golden on top with juices bubbling up around the edge of it, indicating the fruit is cooked. Get all that right, and you will hit crumble Nirvana. Well, this is how I like them! Here are a few tips to help achieve a memorable crumble ..read more

Here are some of our favourite dishes for Easter, or to serve up when having a crowd over at your place. Gratin of Eggplant, Green Pepper & Tomatoes with Crunchy Crumb Topping This is a great vegetarian dish. Hot-smoked Salmon Salad with Beets, Potato & Yoghurt Dill Sauce Friends coming for lunch? Looking for a casual platter to serve? Look no further! Slow-cooked Shoulder of Lamb with Thyme & Mint This is a show-stopper! Go through all the notes before starting the recipe. Chili con Carne with Extras! This is the perfect dish to serve for a crowd. Get it made ahead, then when r ..read more

Summer has delivered long days of hot sunshine, warm seas to swim in and beautiful evenings and sunsets. Phew. The country needed it after last summer’s no-show and ensuing weather devastation. It’s interesting how a wet winter, moderate spring, and hot, dry summer affect not just humans, but plant life. I’ve had a huge success with scarlet runner beans, and the plants are only just reaching their peak, minimal success with regular green beans, phenomenal success with baby eggplants but miserable output from two zucchini plants. Zucchini plants are usually the easiest things to grow. Who knows ..read more