life's a picnic

Annabel and her daughter Rose head off to a local Wanaka orchard to pick apricots. The abundant harvest forms the basis of that evening’s meal, both as a savoury chilli dipping sauce for crunchy spring rolls, and as a delicious dessert.

On this page you'll find recipes, bonus videos and behind-the-scenes photos from this episode. All the rest of the recipes from the series are in the accompanying book, Annabel Langbein The Free Range Cook: Simple Pleasures.

Lemon Syllabub
Apricots with Macaroon Topping

Apricots with Macaroon Topping

Aromatic Poached Chicken

Ginger Mule

behind-the-scenes photo gallery

One of the greatest joys of Wanaka's long, hot summers is picking the stone fruit the region is famous for. Today my daughter Rose and I are visiting my friend Jamie Urquhart's orchard to pick luscious tree-ripened apricots.

One of the greatest joys of Wanaka's long, hot summers is picking the stone fruit the region is famous for. Today my daughter Rose and I are visiting my friend Jamie Urquhart's orchard to pick luscious tree-ripened apricots.
Jamie is an expert orchardist and gardener, so I'm looking forward to picking his brains on how to grow the best apricots.

Jamie is an expert orchardist and gardener, so I'm looking forward to picking his brains on how to grow the best apricots.
It's hard not to be greedy when the trees are laden with such sublime fruit at the peak of seasonal perfection. They smell and taste so wonderfully fragrant when they're still warm from the sun.

It's hard not to be greedy when the trees are laden with such sublime fruit at the peak of seasonal perfection. They smell and taste so wonderfully fragrant when they're still warm from the sun.
Lucky baby growing up knowing the simple pleasure of fruit fresh from the tree.

Lucky baby growing up knowing the simple pleasure of fruit fresh from the tree.
We've filled our buckets so it's time to enjoy a cup of billy tea and a slice of my Sausage, Tomato and Olive Pissaladiere.

We've filled our buckets so it's time to enjoy a cup of billy tea and a slice of my Sausage, Tomato and Olive Pissaladiere.
Jamie and his family are coming back to the cabin for dinner tonight, so I'm taking some apricots home to top with crunchy macaroon in a simple dessert. Apricots also add a lovely tang to savoury dishes, so I'm going to make a big pot of my Really Useful Apricot Chilli Glaze to keep in the fridge and use as a dipping sauce and marinade.

Jamie and his family are coming back to the cabin for dinner tonight, so I'm taking some apricots home to top with crunchy macaroon in a simple dessert. Apricots also add a lovely tang to savoury dishes, so I'm going to make a big pot of my Really Useful Apricot Chilli Glaze to keep in the fridge and use as a dipping sauce and marinade.