Our Annual fresh Ginger and Turmeric Harvest is on now, with Ginger and Turmeric Recipes included

We  have just harvested our tropical and edible crop of aromatic Ginger and Turmeric. It's an annual event, generally occurring between the heat of Summer and the early chill of Winter, when the rhizomes or roots are mature. Ginger and turmeric grow almost like a weed here in Mackay in the tropics. Since then we've been chopping, slicing, cooking, freezing and dehydrating the ginger. Now I have enough dehydrated Spice Ginger and tropical Stem Ginger in Syrup, and frozen ginger and turmeric to last me for the next 12 months.

In My Kitchen, May 2025, and looking back on April

Welcome lovers of food, to my kitchen, and to what's been happening this month in my world. April is always a busy month in our calendar. As the weather starts to cool down here in Northern Queensland, it's time to bake, make soups and stews, and plant some Spring seeds and seedlings in the garden. I've planted Baby Spinach and Pak Choy seeds already. 

Moussaka (Greek Lamb and Eggplant Lasagna)

Moussaka is serious Greek comfort food, but with less calories than lasagna. The Italian families all have their own version of Bolognese sauce when making a lasagna, and the Greek families often have their own recipe for Moussaka. I've never been to Greece unfortunately, but I felt a connection when I ate this dish.

Coffee and Walnut Streusel Cake with French Coffee Buttercream

This Coffee Sponge Cake has two delicious toppings, a crunchy walnut streusel and a coffee buttercream. The toppings join the two sponge layers and ice the top cake as well, so really that is four layers of toppings, bliss. Toppings like this should be mandatory for all coffee cakes. This was our very special Easter cake.

Pumpkin and Ginger Slab Cake

This delicious cake is full of rich golden pumpkin and aromatic spices and is a cake that will be perfect for your Easter table, to offset all of the other Easter treats coming your way. It is also a large mixture, which will last you throughout the entirety of the Easter holidays if kept refrigerated in a covered container.

How to make Portuguese Custard Tarts in the Pie Maker

Who would have thought that Portuguese Custard Tarts would be so simple to make in a standard Pie Maker? Please believe me they are.  However if you don't own a Pie Maker, don't despair, this recipe can easily be adapted to a normal oven. We bought our Pie Maker originally from K Mart, (no advertising intended), it wasn't expensive, but it does the trick.

In My Kitchen, April 2025, and looking back on March

Dear Friends,  Hooray it's Autumn and April, at last. Consequently, there's a transition happening In My Kitchen. As the Autumnal humidity lowers and the temperatures cool down, the Southern Hemisphere is pressing the fast-forward button toward Autumn and Winter, and I am loving it. The Autumn showers are also disappearing and the sun is shining, enticing us toward Easter.