Harissa powder and paste

Harissa powder and paste

This humdinger of a hot mixture is pretty much a staple of North African cuisine. Its heat can vary from explosive to mild. You might find it in powdered form, which can be used as a sprinkle or rub, or mixed to a paste with water and/or oil. I love the way it gives mundane meat, vegetable and grain dishes a rev up.

Blueberries
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Blueberries

Add a squirt of lemon to blueberries – it brings them alive!

Oregano – joy of the mountain!

Oregano – joy of the mountain!

Though it seems just like yesterday, it was in fact 40 years ago that I spent a week walking the hills of Crete.
A striking memory is the aromatic scents that rose all around us as we crushed wild thyme and oregano underfoot. The oregano was ‘rigani’, origanum vulgare (hirtum). Bit of a gob-full, I suppose, but the last name (hirtum) is pretty important.

Tomato time!

Tomato time!

Tomatoes are a fruit right? Yep. So, why not team them with fruit? Like blackboy peaches. And white nectarines…
Aunt Ruby’s German Green – shock your auntie with a smattering of jalapeno and white nectarine on a bed of sliced green tomatoes
Big Rainbow – Bring on the blackboy peaches … this salad is looking nice and gay!
Thessanoliki – Greek …

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