From Boreal berries to bush tucker spices: cultivating a forest-inspired kitchen garden. My little Boreal forest "props" in pots • Photography © Bottle and Brush Studio I have always been enchanted by forests, even when they frightened me. As a child and teenager, the woods were a playground. Later, as a young adult, my friends and I were “outdoor freaks,” camping and hiking in the mountains almost every weekend. From Québec to the western provinces, those adventures remain u

This blueberry version of Pouding Chômeur is sure to brighten up a gloomy day! Blueberry pudding cake • Photography © Bottle and Brush Studio 2021 A pudding cake is a simple recipe and only requires staple and affordable ingredients. The traditional Québéc dessert “ Pouding Chômeur ” (unemployed pudding) wears its name for that reason. There are many variants, like my Berry Picker Pudding Cake . This one is a bit lighter (with milk instead of cream) and cheaper (with brown s

From Québec woodlands to the High Country of Australia, these four berries carry familiar flavours and memories. Berry mix composition • Photography © Bottle and Brush Studio 2013 In French, berries are known as "baies," but are sometimes referred to as "petits fruits" (little fruits) or "fruit des bois" (fruits of the woods). Berries grow naturally in the woodlands and include various species, such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries. Wild or cultivat

How a backyard becomes a creative studio, turning food and flowers into endless props . Picking fresh props in the backyard •...

A winter rejoicing citrus recipe with sweet syrup, spices and whisky! Cooking and preserving citrus in winter is fun! Being able to...

Dip seasonal fruits in this creamy melt of chocolate flavoured with hazelnuts. Chocolate fondue Is such a delicious dessert or afternoon...

A healthy and incredibly delicious soup, with an abundance of fresh coriander permitted! When my garden coriander (cilantro) is at its...

When apples and tomatoes meet in my kitchen in early autumn, it’s chutney cooking time! There is a peak in the backyard harvest season...

The story of a Québécoise bringing the “épluchette” tradition to her backyard in Oz. Homegrown bicolour sweet corn • Photography © Bottle and Brush Studio 2022 In my previous article "Corn Épluchette" , I shared about the Québec traditional corn on the cob gatherings and the delicious bicolour variety we bought from farm road stalls at the end of the season . Cornfields are everywhere in Québec, especially where I lived as a teenager on the flat lands of Montréal’s South Sho

A variation of the humble Québec-style shepherd’s pie with freshly harvested vegetables. Garden version of a Québec-style shepherd's pie • Photography © Bottle and Brush Studio 2021 A shepherd's pie is an old and typical dish to people from many countries of Europe, North America and Oceania... but there are recipe variants and ways to name it depending on where you come from. In most English-speaking countries, a shepherd's pie is made with lamb and a cottage pie with beef.

Discover some of the best beans that can grow successfully in a cool climate backyard garden. Beans are very interesting! They have three...

Here is an excellent tuna cake recipe made with pantry staples and garden ingredients. When summer is almost over and you are growing...

This combination of elephant garlic and bushspices with parmesan on bread is so worth trying! When I discovered that the perennial...

This large garlic-leek can be grown for both its edible and ornamental qualities. This is a fascinating plant of the allium family...

A chicken roasted with a bouquet of herbs and garlic, a perfect recipe for a cloudy summer day. I really love a roast chicken from time...

An excellent companion plant offering many benefits and aromas at all stages of its short cycle. I love to sprinkle freshly picked...

In the Snowys, cherries are the favourite festive fruit, in season just before Xmas celebrations. Every early summer (which is in...

A twisted version of a Bloody Mary cocktail with gin, bush spices and festive garden garnishes. A Bloody Mary cocktail is generally made...

A recipe with miniature eggs and buns, inspired by the Québec traditional "guédilles". A Québec-style guédille is a roll with a grilled...

Here are my feathered pals, and what they've taught me since I joined the poultry world. Keeping backyard poultry is a great hobby that...