December 01 2016
Fresh cherries are in season for such a short time that I relish eating them with no adornment. The sweet, dark, very juicy varieties are my favourites for eating in this way, and they seem to get better and better each year. If you live in a cool climate I couldn’t encourage you more to find space for a cherry tree in your garden. I mention the requirement for a cooler climate because the sweeter varieties of cherry trees are notoriously picky about their environment. My love of sour cherries solved that problem, which is why, if like me you don’t live in a cool climate, I’d suggest buying a morello tree because they are far more forgiving to grow and begin fruiting almost immediately. Might I add while I'm on the topic of cherries, if you're looking for a new dessert to add to the menu on Christmas Day, this Sparkling Ruby Cabernet Jelly with Cherries is always a hit with my family! -MB Read the rest...
November 24 2016
As we age our ability to absorb and utilise nutrients can change. Because of this, along with many others, I have been particularly interested in how we go about accessing the most nutritionally dense foods for those in aged care. As their name would suggest, superfoods carry higher concentrations of available nutrients and as the body ages and our ability to uptake nutrients is affected, the idea of nutrient dense foods becomes even more important. There are many foods that fall under this banner, but one that I’ve been particularly interested in is the blueberry. Blueberries are rich in antioxidants which help guard our bodies from damage by free radicals that contribute to ageing and diseases such as cancer, heart disease and other neurological diseases. They're also a great course of Vitamin C and fibre. -MB Read the rest...
November 20 2016
Tune into Channel 9 tonight at 7pm to watch Christmas with The Australian Women's Weekly. Maggie will share two of her favourite Christmas dishes; Roasted Berkshire Pork Loin with Cherry & Ginger Jam and Aunty Reta's Christmas Pudding with Brandy Custard. The show, hosted by Lisa Wilkinson, will also feature special guest appearances from Julie Goodwin, Luke Mangan, Xanthe Roberts, Sam McClymont & Ben and Andy from The Block. Read the rest...
November 17 2016
Any farming is of course beholden to the weather, and particularly for any of us in South Australia, that is highlighted by our dependence on rainfall. Always reliant on the rhythm of the seasons, for any small producer or grower, there is also the issue of diversity and how to stand out in the world of ‘big business’, but I do think that it is more a matter of lateral thinking to see that being small-scale equates to being more exclusive and that is always a bonus. Everyone loves discovering a hidden gem, and that especially applies to food and wine. Getting your name out there on the back of true substance is the key, not always easy to achieve, but the Barossa has a wonderful reputation for its ethos in supporting local producers, so it has always felt like a head start just being here to me! -MB Read the rest...
October 25 2016
Have you ever used Maggie's fruit pastes beyond the cheese platter? From chewy Fig & Fennel Biscuits to deliciously sticky Quince Glazed Ham and Spiced Pear Salad Dressing, Maggie's fruit pastes are as versatile as ever. We hope these recipes get your creative juices flowing, so to speak! Read the rest...
