Aïoli

by Deb Worgan

Ingredients
¾ cup mild or delicate olive oil
2 or 3 garlic cloves peeled and chopped
A large pinch of salt
1 egg yolk, at room temperature
Juice of half a lemon
½ tsp salt and a pinch of black pepper

Method

Place garlic, a dash of oil and salt in a food processor or a blender. Pulse for 2 seconds.
Add the egg yolk and pulse on … Read more »

Tomato & olive oil starter

by Deb Worgan

Ingredients
½ cup medium or robust olive oil
3 very ripe tomatoes
salt and pepper
bread stick

Method

Grate the tomatoes into a bowl (it tastes better grated rather than blitzed).
Mix in the olive oil, salt and pepper to taste.
Cut the bread stick into diagonal, thin slices and toast very gently.
Spread a generous serving of the
tomatoes on the toast to serve.

Beans – the toot fruit

by Tikka Wilson
Pulses, otherwise known as beans, are a wonderful food. Beans are legumes, meaning the seeds are produced in pods and I’ll focus on dried or tinned beans. For people who eat mostly plants, beans are a great source of protein. For those who treasure their microbiome, the little guys in your gut love beans!
The gas story
Let’s do the gas bit first. Beans contain a starch called raffinose. Humans can only … Read more »

Preserved Lemons

by Georgina Adamson

Preferably use thick skinned lemons. This is another useful pantry item and great to use when cooking Middle Eastern-style food, goes well with chicken, lamb, fish, cous cous and more.

You will need large, sterilised glass jars. Prepare jars by washing and drying well and sterilising in the oven.

Wash the lemons and cut into quarters or eights, depending on size. Toss in a large basin with coarse salt … Read more »

Trick with Peel

by Georgie Adamson

I learnt this idea from a dear, elderly, past resident of Bermagui who, when she had a freshly squeezed juice, would save her rinds and put them in the freezer, there to use when she made marmalade or candied peel.

The freezing seems to tenderise the peel. When required, put the halves in a saucepan, cover with water and simmer till tender. Drain and, when cool enough to handle, scrape out … Read more »

The seductive promise for wonderful winter vegetables

by Angela Marshall

We’re deep in one of the coldest winters that I have experienced in the past twenty-five years in this region. So, to acknowledge this, I want to concentrate on those winter crops that revel in cold temperatures: those whose flavours improve and sweeten when the nights are genuinely cold, not just a bit nippy. Among the best winter sweeties are Brussel sprouts, fennel bulbs, parsnips and all citrus fruit. Some of these won’t … Read more »