Watercress - Alresford, Hampshire

Watercress has always grown wild in the chalk streams and ditches in and around Alresford, Hampshire; today Alresford is regarded as the main producer of watercress in the country. To celebrate its watercress, Alresford stages an annual festival (click here).

If you would like to visit Alresford or New Alresford, I can highly recommend a stay at The Lodge, Arle Cottage owned by the delightful Clare Ashman (for further information please click here). I enjoyed a stay here during September 2014 when I attended the Alresford Agricultural Show (click here).

Watercress is actually part of the cruciferous (also know as brassica) family of vegetables along with kale, arugula and Brussels sprouts. Packed with vitamins and minerals, this peppery little leaf is one of our natural superfoods and tastes delicious too! A simple puree of peas, mint, watercress, lemon juice and creme fraiche makes a delicious accompaniment to salmon or river/sea trout.

Here we go!

Watercress - a little superfood!

A delicious and nutritious pea and watercress puree.

Denbies Wine Estate - Dorking, Surrey

Denbies Wine Estate, in the glorious Surrey hills, is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year! The 265 acre vineyard was planted in 1986 and is now a major English wine producer; it's owned by Adrian White a water scientist, entrepreneur and inventor. His son, Christopher is currently in charge of Denbies and its wine. Click here

Adrian White bought the Denbies estate in 1980 when the hilly land was being used to farm cattle and pigs. A neighbour, Professor Richard Selling who was a Professor of Geology at Imperial College, London suggested a radical change; he realised that the bowl shape of the land was the same as the Champagne country of France. Assured that the soil and weather on the south-facing slopes could sustain the production of wine Adrian decided to have a go - the rest is history!

To fully appreciate the scale and beauty of the estate I would recommend you take the Vineyard Outdoor Train Tour followed by the Indoor Tour which includes a 20 minute Cinema Experience, a walk through the Working Winery and finally a visit to the Cellar for a Wine Tasting Session!

All aboard! Just about to start the tour.

'The Brokes' - Reichensteiner planted in 1988.

'Hill Side' - Chardonnay planted in 1991.

Quinta do Lago beach - Treasure from the sea!

I love foraging and these were just a few little treasures I found on a beautiful stretch of beach at Quinta do Lago (click here). The shells include Scallops, Mussels, Clams and remnants of an earthenware pot called an Alcatruz.

An Alcatruz is a vessel used to capture octupus; the pots (as many as 72) are attached to a main line (linha madre) and anchored to the bottom of the sea, parallel to the shoreline. The pots may be baited with cockles or mussels.

Ria Formosa - Cactos Figo (Opuntia ficus-indica)

The Cactos Figo plant known as the prickly pear, scientific name Opuntia ficus-indica belongs to the Cactaceae family. The plant is rich in sugar and has a considerable amount of potassium, magnesium, calcium and vitamins A, B1, B2 and C. The little pear can be presented in various colours: green, purple, red, white or yellow. Red is often used as a natural dye. The fruit is ready to harvest during the month of August and can be enjoyed in a simple salad or made into a delicious preserve!

Cactos Figo photographed by me during a walk in the Ria Formosa.

Ria Formosa Nature Reserve - Fish Tank/ Faro Fish Market

I photographed this tank (although so natural it doesn't look anything like a tank) created, in a marshy area, to permit the development of certain fish species. These include Gilt Head, Bass, Sole, Sea Bream and Eel. Among other functions, salt marshes have the capacity to remove some pollutants from water and act, to a certain extent, as a water purifier! If you look very closely you'll see the outline of several fish swimming close to the water's edge.

Staying on the fish theme, I just wanted to share with you a photograph I took of a fish counter in Apolonia, a shop located in Almancil, Portugal. The fish were sourced from a market in Faro and include, Sea Bass, Striped fish, Sea Bream, Hake, Blake John Dory, Zebra Sea Bream, Eel, Sole and Horse Mackerel. The fruits of the sea!

Ria Formosa Nature Reserve, Algarve, Portugal

What a real treat to experience the beautiful flora and fauna of the Ria Formosa during my trip to Quinta do Lago, Portugal. It is a protected area carrying the status of 'Natural Park' and was established by Decree Law in 1987. Click here

Quinta do Lago is located in the heart of the Ria Formosa Nature Reserve; it's a lagoon separated from the sea by a coastal dune system, which is broken up by various natural and artificial inlets. It includes a narrow strip of land and a series of coastal dunes running almost parallel to the mainland, formed by peninsulas and sandy barrier-islands which serve to protect the salt marshes, channel and islets.

Please enjoy these photographs taken during my trip!

Surrey Hills Cookery School, Tyrrells Wood, Surrey

Today I attended a cookery class called 'Fab Food for Friends' at the Surrey Hills Cookery School in Tyrrells Wood, Surrey run by Susie and Sara.

Sara is a Home Economist and Susie a Cordon Bleu cook and together in their warm and friendly kitchen you will learn that cooking is all about confidence.

Why not treat yourself or a loved one to a wonderful day full of food and laughter! Click here