• Home
  • Recipes
    • recipes
    • menus
    • tips & tricks
    • pantry
    • conversions
  • Annabel
    • about
    • in the news
    • blog
    • gallery
    • my partners
  • Community
    • community
    • community recipes
    • forum
    • join
  • Garden
    • growing guide
    • know how
    • sustainability
  • Life & Style
    • life & style
    • travel
    • gallery
  • Books & Tv
    • TV season 3: Through the Seasons
    • TV season 2: Simple Pleasures
    • TV season 1: The Free Range Cook
    • books
  • Shop
    • books & dvds
    • home & garden
  • Win
    • competition
A Free Range Life with Annabel Langbein
  • Welcome!
  • login
  • join
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • recipes
    • menus
    • tips & tricks
    • pantry
    • conversions
  • Annabel
    • about
    • in the news
    • blog
    • gallery
    • my partners
  • Community
    • community
    • community recipes
    • forum
    • my profile
    • my recipes
    • add a recipe
  • Garden
    • growing guide
    • know how
    • sustainability
  • Life & Style
    • life & style
    • travel
    • gallery
  • Books & TV
    • TV Season 3:
      Through the Seasons
    • TV Season 2:
      Simple Pleasures
    • TV Season 1:
      The Free Range Cook
    • books
  • Shop
    • books & dvds
    • home & garden
  • Win
    • competitions
  • TV Season 3: Through the Seasons
    • food for a frosty night
    • middle-eastern magic
    • dinner in a flash
    • midwinter feast
    • a celebration of spring
    • salad days
    • fresh from the farm
    • asian inspiration
    • catch of the day
    • tex-mex on the grill
    • a touch of spice
    • at my italian table
    • a harvest feast
  • TV Season 2: Simple Pleasures
  • TV Season 1: The Free Range Cook
  • books

fresh from the farm

Annabel loves to forage, and spring is the perfect time of year to gather tender watercress.

She is in her element visiting a sustainable farm, where she also collects fresh eggs to use in a hearty and healthy meal she whips up on the back of her flat-bed truck for the hungry farm workers.

As well as Chermoula Stuffed Eggs and a peppery watercress salad, Annabel’s menu features Turkish Lentil Kofte, a creamy fish and scallop risotto, and the easiest-ever Strawberry Friands.  

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

bonus videos and recipes

  • Spinach and Feta Dip
  • Cashew Mustard Dressing
Spinach and Feta Dip

Spinach and Feta Dip

Cashew Mustard Dressing

Cashew Mustard Dressing

Spring Watercress Salad

Spring Watercress Salad

behind-the-scenes photo gallery

  • Hawke's Bay is a magic place to visit in spring. The lush, green limestone country all around Te Mata Peak makes for the healthiest of growing conditions.

    Hawke's Bay is a magic place to visit in spring. The lush, green limestone country all around Te Mata Peak makes for the healthiest of growing conditions.

  • Mature trees, green grass and fat, healthy sheep – such a bucolic landscape here in the Bay in spring.

    Mature trees, green grass and fat, healthy sheep – such a bucolic landscape here in the Bay in spring.

  • There's nothing I like more than foraging and the watercress at Tauroa Estate is so plentiful and sweet in the full flush of spring growth. While available year round, it's best from autumn to late spring. In summer it flowers and becomes quite bitter.

    There's nothing I like more than foraging and the watercress at Tauroa Estate is so plentiful and sweet in the full flush of spring growth. While available year round, it's best from autumn to late spring. In summer it flowers and becomes quite bitter.

  • Kowhitiwhiti, or watercress, grows on the edge of freshwater rivers and creeks all around New Zealand. The dark green leaves have a peppery flavour and are fabulous raw in salads, sandwiches and pestos, or cooked in soups and sauces. They can be used instead of spinach in omelettes, quiches and pancake fillings.

    Kowhitiwhiti, or watercress, grows on the edge of freshwater rivers and creeks all around New Zealand. The dark green leaves have a peppery flavour and are fabulous raw in salads, sandwiches and pestos, or cooked in soups and sauces. They can be used instead of spinach in omelettes, quiches and pancake fillings.

  • Farm owner Heather Smith Martin with a big head of aster she has pulled out by the roots. I'm thinking about a vase, but in this part of the world it's a noxious weed!

    Farm owner Heather Smith Martin with a big head of aster she has pulled out by the roots. I'm thinking about a vase, but in this part of the world it's a noxious weed!

  • It's always great to talk with someone who shares a love of the land. Heather holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology and is passionate about sustainable farming practices, and Tauroa Estate is a fully organic and biogro-certified property.

    It's always great to talk with someone who shares a love of the land. Heather holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology and is passionate about sustainable farming practices, and Tauroa Estate is a fully organic and biogro-certified property.

  • It wouldn't be a bad life being a chook here. There's just so much to graze on and, of course, a lovely pastoral view.

    It wouldn't be a bad life being a chook here. There's just so much to graze on and, of course, a lovely pastoral view.

  • Tauroa Estate farm manager Nick (on the bike) watches from the sidelines as we get ready to shoot our egg-gathering scene. Nick is an expert in organic and biodynamic farming and looks after crop production, livestock and all the free-range poultry.

    Tauroa Estate farm manager Nick (on the bike) watches from the sidelines as we get ready to shoot our egg-gathering scene. Nick is an expert in organic and biodynamic farming and looks after crop production, livestock and all the free-range poultry.

  • I just know these eggs are going to taste good! When chooks can browse on wild greens it makes their yolks a deep orange and just so flavoursome. Bring on the toast soldiers!

    I just know these eggs are going to taste good! When chooks can browse on wild greens it makes their yolks a deep orange and just so flavoursome. Bring on the toast soldiers!

  • I'm going to transform the eggs into Chermoula Stuffed Eggs with the flavours of Moroccan spices and coriander. And where better to be cooking than on the back of Big Yellow?

    I'm going to transform the eggs into Chermoula Stuffed Eggs with the flavours of Moroccan spices and coriander. And where better to be cooking than on the back of Big Yellow?

  • It's a crisp spring evening but the fire is roaring and we have plenty of blankets at hand so everyone can rug up when the sun goes down.

    It's a crisp spring evening but the fire is roaring and we have plenty of blankets at hand so everyone can rug up when the sun goes down.

  • Being a WWOOFer (Willing Workers on Organic Farms) is a great way for foreign students to work their way around New Zealand and meet like-minded people. They work a few hours each day in exchange for free board and food. Some of the crew here like it so much they have come back for their second spell.

    Being a WWOOFer (Willing Workers on Organic Farms) is a great way for foreign students to work their way around New Zealand and meet like-minded people. They work a few hours each day in exchange for free board and food. Some of the crew here like it so much they have come back for their second spell.

  • The farm is dog heaven and all the WWOOFers are in love with this little Jack Russell.

    The farm is dog heaven and all the WWOOFers are in love with this little Jack Russell.

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

special thanks to

F L Bone provides ovens for Annabel Langbein - The Free Range Cook       Lake Wanaka Tourism supports Annabel Langbein - The Free Range Cook Black Barn Logo Hawkes Bay Tourism Logo

  • Hastings District Council
  • Heather from Tauroa Estate

Facebook Instagram Youtube Pinterest Twitter Signup
  • help
  • /
  • contact us
  • /
  • privacy policy
  • /
  • terms & conditions

© Annabel Langbein Media 2013 - 2021. All worldwide rights reserved

Discover how to live a Free Range Life – enjoying the simple pleasures of exploring your creativity, connecting with nature and sharing food and laughter through the seasons.

Content by Annabel Langbein

Published by Annabel Langbein Media

 

Hello!

Generic content for all other countries not on the list.

Annabel Langbein The Free Range Cook Simple Pleasures ATP
Annabel Langbein Sign up to my e newsletter

newsletter

Get VIP offers & great foodie content & you could win an iPad Air 2!

See recipes from my TV show View the PBS schedule Buy the book on Amazon

Before you go, tell us where you heard about Annabel's book:

Buy the book

Unfortunately, your browser blocked the popup, please use the following link to Buy the Book

book
Annabel Langbein

Sign up to my e newsletter

newsletter

Get VIP offers and great foodie inspiration!