Our Food
Recipe: Chocolate Cherry Tarts with Walnut Pastry
Make the most of cherry season with these festive treats.
Ruth Pretty's handy baking tips
Ever wondered why some people seem to have a knack for baking? Ruth Pretty shares some pro-tips.
Recipe: Strawberry and Champagne Jam
The perfect gift – homegrown strawberry jam with a slosh of bubbles.
Recipe: Barbecued Figs with Burrata, Ginger Syrup & Honeyed Almonds
Who says dessert can't be made on the barbie?
Kiwis need to be more adventurous with their campside cooking, say authors
Campside cooking shouldn’t be limited to scroggin and dehydrated meals. So say the authors of a new illustrated cookbook that encourages trampers to try more adventurous fireside recipes such as fondue and sangria.
Full menu: Ruth Pretty's traditional Christmas feast
Eat, drink and be merry with this show-stopping, fuss-free feast designed to delight family and friends.
Q&A: Michael Barker on making elderberry wine at age 11
The man behind Barker's of Geraldine reflects on five decades of being in the sticky business of syrups, preserves and savoury spreads.
Recipe: Constance Barker's Christmas Trifle
This showstopper celebrates the delicious union of sponge, homemade custard and fruit preserve.
Recipe: Fish Cakes with Herbaceous Green Sauce
These delicious fish cakes with herbaceous green sauce are perfect for a lunch or light summer dinner.
8 Christmas favourites that can make your pet sick
The parties and chaos over summer are a lot of fun, but also include tempting danger foods for your pets.
Canapé cooking tips from the Akaroa Cooking School
Ant and Lou Bentley from the Akaroa Cooking School share tips on creating canapés for summer entertaining.
Three crowd-pleasing (and easy) canapés
Ant and Lou Bentley from the Akaroa Cooking School share three easy canapés to serve guests over the holidays.
Recipe: A Pretty Prosecco Cocktail
You'll be the toast of the town with this pretty and pink cocktail.
Recipe: Roast Salmon with Caramelized Balsamic Onions & Citrus Crème Fraiche
Flaky salmon over rich caramelized onions is a guaranteed Christmas show-stopper.
This gin-lovin' couple drink guilt-free with their botanical brews
An entrepreneurial couple has an answer for anyone wanting to cut down on booze — a sugar-free, alcohol-free gin.
Recipe: Mango & Ginger Syllabub with Ginger Cookie Crumble
This mango-flavoured pudding is as festive as it is fresh.
Recipe: Ruth Pretty's Eat-Your-Heart-Out Quinoa Salad
Keep Christmas fresh with this nutrient-packed, flavourful quinoa salad
Is this the super berry of the future?
They’re the colour of a blueberry, have the sweetest name, and some of NZ’s most experienced croppers are hoping they’ll be an exciting new superfood for NZ gardeners and growers.
Q&A: Peta Mathias on love, aphrodisiacs and travel
Kiwi chef Peta Mathias shares her favourite love stories from around the world in her latest book Eat Your Heart Out. NZ Life & Leisure writer Emma Rawson gets the scoop straight from the foodie herself.
Recipe: Broad Bean Falafel
Swap fresh broad beans for chickpeas for a garden-to-table version of this Middle Eastern staple.
Recipe: Cambodian Black Pepper Prawns
Kampot pepper, considered exceptional among chefs worldwide, is the key ingredient in this Cambodian dish.
The lowdown on loquats (hint: they're great in cobbler)
Often unappreciated, loquats are pure gold and make delicious jam.
Recipe: Cheesy Vegan Zucchini & Corn Fritters
These easy vegetable fritters get a savoury kick from the grated dairy-free cheddar.
Recipe: Honey & Whiskey-Glazed Ham on the Bone
Be merry with this show-stopping ham designed to delight (and satiate) family and friends.
Three pesto recipes for summer (no basil necessary)
It's time to get creative with those herbs and garden greens.
Sausage-making 101
Homemade sausages will give you and your cooking credentials the wow-factor, as well as add plenty of savoire fair to your barbecue fare.
Recipe: Greens and Feta Pancakes
This quick and versatile recipe from Catherine Bell and Garden to Table Trust can be made using any garden green such as silverbeet, rocket or spinach.
7 tips to growing gluten-free amaranth flour
It’s your last chance to plant amaranth for seeds, and grow a low-maintenance, protein-rich food.
Recipe: Creamy Asparagus, Spinach, Herb and Goat's Cheese Tart
Pair this savoury meal with a dollop of tomato relish and a glass of pinot gris.
Recipe: Ruth Pretty's Warm Potato & Pea Salad
This fresh spin on potato salad will brighten any meal.