Summer's Over

 Where did summer go this year?

(Last pickings from the garden - summer cherry tomatoes)

 It will certainly be a memorable season - but for all the wrong reasons. However, despite all the devastation caused by rain and wind and cyclone, there is still delicious fruit and vegetables on the greengrocers' shelves. There's also that appetising prospect of hearty stews and comfort puddings to look forward to as we move into autumn - "Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness"  (OK, John Keats was describing an English Autumn when he wrote that but we get pretty close here in Toowoomba!).

So, even for those of us who love the sunshine and heat, the cool seasons shouldn't loom too large because we can all warm up from within. I'm already dusting off the slow-cooker, the tagine and the casserole dishes in readiness for the chilly days ahead. If I can get my act together, I might also do something about the veggie patch over the Easter holidays - it's rampant with convolvolus after all the rain. What a pity it's not edible.

Anyway, for anyone who wants to make to make the most of the current fig crop, try this simple and delicious tart from Taste.com.au - ( http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/5362/fig+goats+cheese+tranche+vegetarian  or check out last week's Toowoomba Chronicle for recipe)  . I'm hoping to get some figs from a colleague who's currently picking from her property in Grantham. I suspect I'll savour them even more knowing that they survived the deluge down there.

New Year. Start Afresh.

What a start to 2011! It is certain that it will be etched on the minds and hearts of Queenslanders for a long time to come. Still, strength comes from adversity and, already, the community spirit is coming to the fore.

It's been interesting to see how well we all coped with the short term food shortages too. My New Year's resolution was to try to 'eat from the pantry' - not buy anything until I'd used up the stores in cupboard, fridge and freezer. Who'd have guessed how quickly I was forced into doing just that! It has been interesting and I have to say that I've been eating really well. I suspect that I usually tend to shop on auto-pilot without really checking what's already in the house. I went through every can, container and unidentified freezer bag and reorganised as I went. I ventured down the garden through the quagmire and found leeks, beetroot and onions that had survived the deluge - small but delicious. If nothing else, the floods have made me re-think what I take for granted in the kitchen.

Maybe one of the challenges for 'Come Meet and Eat with Me' might be a ration book challenge - 3 courses for 5 people for $15. Can it be done well? We'll see. Advertising begins start of Feruary. Keep a look out and spread the word.