a french country table

Annabel visits her neighbour’s hazelnut orchard for the autumn harvest, cooking up a Rib-Sticking Pea and Ham Soup and a Spiced Apple Cake for lunch. On the menu that night are artichokes fresh from the garden, Chicken and Leek Gratin, and Individual Pear and Hazelnut Tarts.

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.

artichokes with vinaigrette

Artichokes with Vinaigrette

Provençal Crust

behind-the-scenes photo gallery

Today I'm visiting my neighbours Doug and Maria Wilton to raid their hazelnut trees. Just another perfect day in paradise! Hard to believe that just a few hours earlier it was freezing and foggy. Autumn has arrived with some cracking frosts.

Today I'm visiting my neighbours Doug and Maria Wilton to raid their hazelnut trees. Just another perfect day in paradise! Hard to believe that just a few hours earlier it was freezing and foggy. Autumn has arrived with some cracking frosts.
The leaves and the nuts fall to the ground as the weather starts to get colder and the days shorter. The great thing about hazelnuts is that they will sit happily on the ground for a couple of months so you don't have to get out there the minute they drop. But when you do see them like this all those squirrelling instincts come to the fore... just a few more...

The leaves and the nuts fall to the ground as the weather starts to get colder and the days shorter. The great thing about hazelnuts is that they will sit happily on the ground for a couple of months so you don't have to get out there the minute they drop. But when you do see them like this all those squirrelling instincts come to the fore... just a few more...
Hazelnuts are one of nature's superfoods, containing high levels of protein, vitamin B, vitamin E and magnesium. They also contain the protein tryptophan, which helps you sleep – now there's a good excuse for a hazelnut cookie before bed!

Hazelnuts are one of nature's superfoods, containing high levels of protein, vitamin B, vitamin E and magnesium. They also contain the protein tryptophan, which helps you sleep – now there's a good excuse for a hazelnut cookie before bed!
Heating up lunch on the back of my truck. The day looks warm but there's a nip of fresh snow in the air so it's good to have something hot for our lunch.

Heating up lunch on the back of my truck. The day looks warm but there's a nip of fresh snow in the air so it's good to have something hot for our lunch.
I've brought along a jar of my Rib-Sticking Pea and Ham Soup. It's the perfect picnic lunch on a chilly day – and it takes only three ingredients!

I've brought along a jar of my Rib-Sticking Pea and Ham Soup. It's the perfect picnic lunch on a chilly day – and it takes only three ingredients!
An old tree stump makes a great table for our picnic feast.

An old tree stump makes a great table for our picnic feast.
Shooting TV is more complicated than it looks.

Shooting TV is more complicated than it looks.
I'm taking some of the nuts I've gathered home to make a simple Hazelnut Butter for tonight's dessert – Individual Pear and Hazelnut Tarts. And whatever I've got left over will keep in the shell in a coolish, dry place for at least a year.

I'm taking some of the nuts I've gathered home to make a simple Hazelnut Butter for tonight's dessert – Individual Pear and Hazelnut Tarts. And whatever I've got left over will keep in the shell in a coolish, dry place for at least a year.