What is produced in the kitchen is influenced greatly by the Garden. When the garden was going well this would make meals so much easier and also determine the type of food cooked.
I have found that you can quite easily make full meals from things you grow in your garden such as the Eggplant Parmigiana pictured is very filling and takes no time at all to prepare. I will post the recipe onto the Recipe page. In Far North Queensland it does become too hot to have a garden all year round but up here on the naturally cool Atherton Tablelands some plants such as Tomatoes, Celery, lettuce and Eggplants as well as a lot of herbs, will grow all year round.
I have a covered garden so that when it rains a lot I can regulate the water that it gets, this stops a lot of the problems associated with fungus and mould that usually becomes a problem during the wet season in North Queensland. It also helps to keep the ground warmer during the colder months this is very important for healthy plants. I like to grow whatever I can at home because working at a Non-profit Organisation things never go to waste there is always someone that needs fresh vegetables.
Even Christmas presents for friends can depend on what is being produced in the garden last year they all got tomato relish as the crop of tomatoes was amazing and a homemade gift, I think is nicer than a bought one.
Saldary's Cuisine 