Spoil Mum!
April 15 2016
Maggie believes family traditions are made by sharing a well loved recipe or favourite ingredient, so she has handpicked a collection of gifts that are perfect to share with your Mum this Mother’s Day. Read the rest...
Maggie’s favourites
A Grand Old Pear Tree!
April 10 2016
The pear tree is integrally linked to my life in the Barossa, and in particular to my sentimental attachment to our cottage. We are lucky enough to have a grand old pear tree, well in excess of 100 years, defining our landscape at home and as I look down from my attic window, its majestic form, towering over the cottage itself, is one of the most beautiful of all those I’ve admired in the Valley in my time here. Read the rest...
Quince blossom!
April 08 2016
Quinces have a very short season beginning in early Autumn and lasting for approximately six to eight weeks. But before that wonderful point of harvest, is the equally evocative stage of quince blossom, as it heralds the arrival of fruit. It is perhaps my favourite of all blossom with the sweetest fragrance that is never overbearing. It comes later than the other season’s blossom, and stays for the shortest time, but is always striking in its beauty. And then come the large yellow fruit, hanging on the branches like furry lanterns, rich with a honeyed perfume that anyone who loves quinces can probably conjure up just reading this! Read the rest...
Cycle of the Vine
April 06 2016
Grapes have been such an influential inspiration for so much of what I do - if not the most influential when I consider verjuice, vinegar, vino cotto, fruit pastes, jellies, and of course our wines. The entire process of growing grapes and finding every which way to use them became a natural part of life from the moment we moved to the Valley all those years ago - as it is for so many Barossans. Our culture is steeped in the wonderful cycle of the vine. And although it is no longer solely based on hand picking, the celebration to mark the end of vintage is a very special time in the Barossa and a visit across the week of our biennial Vintage Festival is something I recommend wholeheartedly to anyone interested in knowing more about just why the grapevine is so dearly appreciated. But for most home gardeners of course, it’s less about winemaking and more about the culinary benefits of having a vine in your backyard. Read the rest...
Smoky Bay
April 05 2016
Even though I was suffering from a lurgy and without a voice, Colin and I had a long arranged weekend with a great old friend and a very special extended family at Smoky Bay on the Eyre Peninsular. Of course, it was all about the food, and the wild caught, starting with oysters (just opened) and razor fish for breakfast, and going on from there. We had the most amazing catches over the days, including squid, Tommy Ruff and Blue Swimmer Crab; all caught by the boys (not from me!). It was just such an amazing weekend; finding deserted beaches, creeks and rolling sand hills that came right down to the sea, wood fires with tea from the billycan and grilling what the boys had just caught over the open fire. It was the most pristine environment and being surrounded by wonderful people topped it all off; it was truly fantastic! Read the rest...
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