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Experimenting with Bush Food at Peppermint Ridge Farm’s Native Creative Cooking School

November 12, 2014 By Julie Weatherhead Leave a Comment

We are always thinking up new ideas here at Peppermint Ridge for using bush foods to encourage others to put these wonderful plants in their gardens. We know that as soon as we increased the diversity of plants in our gardens the diversity of native animals and insects increased too. We now have an exciting array of native birds and animals that visit every day.
The dishes that can be prepared from these plants seem to have no end and we have put together some new ideas for the cooking school here on Saturday November 15. I hope that these ideas will encourage you to have a go yourself.
As we have many people visiting who cannot have gluten we have been experimenting with that issue and found that bush foods accommodate very easily into gluten free dishes.
The dishes we plan to teach people on Saturday are:

  • Morning tea of Strawberry Gum and fresh apple muffins
  • Warrigal Greens Pesto – great as a dip or in a wide range of dishes (GF)
  • Lunch of Chicken San Choy Bao with Lemon Myrtle, Mt Pepper and pickled carrot & garden vegetables (GF)
  • Native Herb Spice rub and marinade – very versatile (GF)
  • Garden salad with Lemon Myrtle Dressing (GF)
  • Desserts will be Native Finger Lime Curd tart and our very popular Anise Myrtle Ice Cream (GF) with rhubarb and strawberries poached in Anise Myrtle leaves and pomegranate juice (GF).
flowers of the native Finger Limes, soon to turn into fruit

flowers of the native Finger Limes, soon to turn into fruit

What we really enjoy is growing most of the ingredients for these dishes in our gardens and we will pick them at the start of the class- you can’t get any fresher food! The Finger Limes have finished flowering and the tiny fruits are starting to swell. see the pic attached of them in flower. They are a unique Australian Microcitrus and very delicious.

 

Salted Caramel and Macadamia Tarts

Salted Caramel and Macadamia Tarts

 

We mustn’t forget that one of the tastiest nuts is the Australian Macadamia – the trees will fruit in Victoria even though it is a tropical zone tree.

Another wonderful sweet treat is the crunchy Macadamia, salted caramel and chocolate tarts that we have been making for visitors.
Happy cooking everyone!

Filed Under: Cooking School, Native Plants and Spices, Peppermint Ridge Farm Activities Tagged With: finger lime, Mountain Pepper

About Julie Weatherhead

Julie Weatherhead runs the Living Classroom at Peppermint Ridge Farm, the Cornucopia Living Heritage Centre and the Cornucopia Consulting Group with husband Anthony Hooper. She is an Environmental Scientist and Ecologist who has researched and developed the use of ecosystems to enhance organic vegetable gardening. Julie and Anthony have led workshops at Peppermint Ridge since 1996, teaching others about bush food, organic vegetable gardening and sustainable land management. They have developed unique methods of gardening to save time, water and money.

« Great new bushfood mushroom sauce
Finger Limes and Mountain Pepper growing well at Peppermint Ridge »

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HIGHLIGHTING

  • Native Pantry Cooking School Saturday July 23 2022 $170.00 (incl. GST)
  • Tour and Taste Event Sunday July 10 2022 $110.00 (incl. GST)
  • Tour and Taste Event Saturday September 24 2022 $110.00 (incl. GST)

NEWS FROM THE FARM

  • We have been working with a number of schools and kindergartens to develop native bushfood gardens. We can assist with garden design and supply of bushfood plants suitable for educational settings. http://peppermintridgefarm.com.au/education
  • We have limited quantities of freshly picked finger limes available-200g and 500g. PURCHASE HERE!
  • The nursery now stocks a wide range of advanced native food plants including sexed mountain peppers, strawberry gum, lemon myrtle, finger lime and anise myrtle!
  • Peppermint Ridge Farm is proud to support the Kat Muscat Fellowship. The fellowship provides funding  support to a young writer or editor. https://expressmedia.org.au/programs/the-kat-muscat-fellowship/
  • Check out this article from Broadsheet https://www.broadsheet.com.au/melbourne/travel/article/bookmark-eight-lesser-known-wonders-gippsland

 

GIFT VOUCHERS

Our gift vouchers are a popular choice if you are looking for a different experience for a friend or loved one. The vouchers can be used for our regular tour and taste lunches, Native Pantry cooking classes, to purchase native food plants from the nursery, native food spices and teas or our book, Australian Native Food Harvest.

Contact us to arrange gift vouchers.

Australian Native Food Harvest by Julie Weatherhead
Australian Native Food Harvest: a guide for the passionate cook and gardener. Purchase online now!

PRESENTATIONS ON NATIVE BUSHFOODS

Our presentations to libraries and community groups provide an opportunity to learn more about Australia’s wonderful native food plants:

  • history of native food plants
  • plants that grow best in your garden
  • growing and propagating native food plants
  • culinary uses

We also attend a number of field days, garden expos and festivals across Victoria.

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Peppermint Ridge Farm acknowledges the Kulin Nation of peoples as the first inhabitants and the traditional custodians of this land where we live, learn and work.

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