midwinter feast

On the hunt for a special ingredient for a festive roast dinner, Annabel meets a couple who have managed to grow the French delicacy truffles on their South Island farm. As a specially trained sniffer dog hunts out these gourmet treats, Annabel cooks classic Croque Monsieur toasted sandwiches for a picnic lunch – adding her own secret ingredient.

That evening she invites her truffling neighbours to her lakeside cabin for a traditional Roast Turkey with Apricot Stuffing and all the trimmings. For dessert, what else but Annabel’s take on a Kiwi favourite – Brown Sugar Pavolvas?

On this page you'll find recipes and bonus videos from this episode. All the rest of the recipes from the series are in the accompanying book, Annabel Langbein: The Free Range Cook - Through the Seasons, Sorry – this book is out of print

behind-the-scenes photo gallery

My trusty yellow truck takes me to the best places – including the Four Peaks truffle farm at Lake Hawea.

My trusty yellow truck takes me to the best places – including the Four Peaks truffle farm at Lake Hawea.
Lights, camera, action! Director Ross and cameraman Hamish waiting for me to arrive in my big yellow truck.

Lights, camera, action! Director Ross and cameraman Hamish waiting for me to arrive in my big yellow truck.
Truffle fungi grow symbiotically among the roots of hazel and oak trees. Without a dog or pig to sniff out their pungent aroma we'd never find them. Ace was a neglected dog until he was rescued by Susan Morton and trained as a truffle hunter.

Truffle fungi grow symbiotically among the roots of hazel and oak trees. Without a dog or pig to sniff out their pungent aroma we'd never find them. Ace was a neglected dog until he was rescued by Susan Morton and trained as a truffle hunter.
Ace signals that he's smelt a truffle by scratching the soil. The spot is marked with a small flag then truffle farmers David and Hallie gently dig up their buried treasure.

Ace signals that he's smelt a truffle by scratching the soil. The spot is marked with a small flag then truffle farmers David and Hallie gently dig up their buried treasure.
David and Hallie grow bianchetto white truffles (Tuber borchii) on a hectare of land they've fortified with tonnes of lime to create the perfect alkaline environment.

David and Hallie grow bianchetto white truffles (Tuber borchii) on a hectare of land they've fortified with tonnes of lime to create the perfect alkaline environment.
I can cook just about anything on the two-gas burner on the back of my truck. A luxury cheese toastie will hit the spot perfectly.

I can cook just about anything on the two-gas burner on the back of my truck. A luxury cheese toastie will hit the spot perfectly.
My twist on the French classic Croque Monsieur – with gruyere cheese, ham, mustard and a crisp, sweet slice of fresh pear. Now that's a toasted sandwich!

My twist on the French classic Croque Monsieur – with gruyere cheese, ham, mustard and a crisp, sweet slice of fresh pear. Now that's a toasted sandwich!

find out more

Want to find out more about this episode? Check out my blog inspired by my experiences while filming the show.
Find out more about Season One of The Free Range Cook
Find out more about Season Two of The Free Range Cook: Simple Pleasures