Back in the Lucky Country after a lovely long weekend in the Land of the Long White Cloud. Four days in my home town of Auckland and, for the most part, the weather was kind to us.
One of the highlights of the trip was a Sunday lunch with old friends – lots of great food and wine, and even better company (complete with happy kids running around and the inevitable stubbed toe).
Hanging on the wall in the dining room was a most fabulous Russell Jackson painting of the Orakei Boat-sheds – a little Auckland landmark, so very familiar to me from my childhood.
Arguably, one of New Zealand’s most important naturalist painters, Jackson says, “My landscapes are affirmative and pleasurable, rather than revolutionary. I speak directly to my audience, confirming the fact of place and living things in the World.” Russell Jackson, you spoke to me on Sunday… I love this piece.
I also love this piece, but then I have a soft spot for this part of New Zealand, too – as seen in a earlier post, here.
(Available from NKB Gallery in Auckland)
Our hostess is known for her culinary cleverness, and she definitely delivered, this time including a couple of wonderful salads from Angela Redfern’s the ‘Ripe Recipes‘ cookbook. I just happen to have this fabulous cookbook on my shelf and thought you may like to know a little more…
In the nine (or ten?) years since Ripe first opened its doors, it has established a reputation amongst Auckland food lovers for creating fresh, home-made style, seasonal food. There is a focus on free range products and using seasonal ingredients (so you guys up in the Northern Hemisphere would have to swap the months around to match your seasons!) The book showcases more than 130 recipes regular Ripe Deli customers have come to love.
This is one cookbook from down under that you guys up in the Northern Hemisphere should definitely consider. I particularly love the salads that are crammed full of herbs and some wonderful dressings.
The following recipe is one of the salads we had on Sunday. I’m giving you the recipe straight from the Ripe Recipes cookbook (Page 191). In ours, the buckwheat was substituted for Israeli Cous Cous, and the green cabbage for red. It was superb!
Buckwheat & Broad Bean Salad
(Serves 6 – 8)
Ingredients
1/2 cup (100g) Buckwheat
500g Broad Beans, fresh or frozen
1/4 green cabbage, finely sliced
2 large raw courgettes (zucchini), freshly sliced
1 cup fresh mint leaves
5 artichoke hearts, drained and sliced
250g cottage cheese
Dressing
Juice of 2 – 3 lemons, & zest of 1
1/2 cup (125ml) olive oil
1/2 cup (125ml) white wine vinegar
2 tbsp honey
Salt and freshly ground pepper
Cook the buckwheat
To prepare the dressing: place all the dressing ingredients in a jar with a tight fitting lid and shake well
To prepare the salad: blanch broad beans for 2 – 3 minutes in a large saucepan of boiling water. Drain and refresh in cold water. Drain. Remove and discard the skins.
In a large bowl combine the cabbage, broad beans, courgette, mint, artichoke and buckwheat.
Add the cottage cheese and the dressing and toss to serve. Taste and season with salt and pepper if needed.
Enjoy!
The Ripe Recipes book ain’t that easy to come by. I found some copies available here if you’re interested.
Welcome back to Sydders, thank you for sharing a little piece of Auckland and the recipes look devine…. I may have to invest although if i buy one more cook book I think my husband will scream!!! –
My cookbook collection is rather impressive, too BCD. I would say this is one I cook from, tho’. Perhaps we should look at a Cookbook club in Sydney? Hmmm… Whadda’ ya’ reckon’? 🙂
definitely another point for the agenda when we eventually get together for a glass of vino me thinks!!
Hi,
Sounds like you had a fantastic time in NZ. It is always great to catch up with old friends, but it is also sad to go again as well.
The recipe sounds interesting, a nice salad.
Hey Mags – had a lovely time, but it is also nice to be back home in Sydney. Some serious exercise is on the cards after all this indulging in good food! Hope you’re all good in Q’land. 🙂
Hey J! What a gorgeous and hearty looking salad! I am keen on that book for sure, might just click on that link after this 🙂 Love all of those things…especially the buckwheat and cottage cheese – two beautifully nutritious and satisfying foods! Welcome back, aren’t pilgrimages home wonderful? I’m about due…
xo
We had a super time seeing old mates and eating (and drinking) far too much. How’s Toronto? That’s a fair hike, Shira.
I think you would like the cookbook – I’d love to see how you could Shira-ise things, too! 🙂
I love that last Jackson picture. Very dreamy!
…and it could be yours for around NZ$6,000 (plus p&p to San Antonio!) 🙂
I love that you were inspired on your trip home, especially by the painting by Russell Jackson. The things you take for granted at home are almost always missed when you’re away from them.
Oooh. I must get to NZ. Why we didn’t go when we were in Australia, I will never know.
And yummy looking recipe. Buckwheat is underused – tasty AND good for you…
J – if and when you decide to make the trek to NZ, let me know. I can give you MANY insider tid-bits! It is quite different to Australia.
Wonderful paintings, I love the different style of art available in NZ by local artists, to me the Kiwis always seemed more supportive of their art and craft industries.
I think Kiwis are very supportive of local artists and designers. Isn’t that a great thing? Check out tomorrow’s post, 2BD. Even more NZ art! 🙂