A small, round russeted pear which remains quite green. It has a sweet grainy flesh which holds its shape reasonably well when cooked. Good, under-ripe, in game casseroles.
A very old, crisp dual-purpose variety of apple with good flavour, possibly dating from the 1600s. It has creamy yellow skin flushed with red and flecked with russet. It is thought to have been grown at Lyveden New Bield when owned by Sir Thomas Tresham who died in 1605. Slices keep their shape when cooked, making it good for tarts. It is better for eating after storage. This late-season variety is harvested from early October in South-East England and is at is best from October to January.
Winter purslane is an annual plant which provides salad leaves which are mild in flavour and heart-shaped, with small flowering shoots. Winter purslane is a hard annual as opposed to summer purslane which is half hardy. Despite looking almost dainty, this is a really tough plant. Alys Fowler recommends planting at the end of July in light, well-draining soil, perfect for our garden. Allow it to flower and it will self-seed and reappear in autumn or spring. Seedlings make a great addition to winter salads.
A name for Winter Pearmain, a very old, crisp dual-purpose variety of apple with good flavour, possibly dating from the 1600s. It has creamy yellow skin flushed with red and flecked with russet. It is thought to have been grown at Lyveden New Bield when owned by Sir Thomas Tresham who died in 1605. Slices keep their shape when cooked, making it good for tarts. It is better for eating after storage. This late-season variety is harvested from early October in South-East England and is at is best from October to January.
A name for Winter Pearmain, a very old, crisp dual-purpose variety of apple with good flavour, possibly dating from the 1600s. It has creamy yellow skin flushed with red and flecked with russet. It is thought to have been grown at Lyveden New Bield when owned by Sir Thomas Tresham who died in 1605. Slices keep their shape when cooked, making it good for tarts. It is better for eating after storage. This late-season variety is harvested from early October in South-East England and is at is best from October to January.
Mexican marigold or tarragon, tasting similar to French tarragon but slightly stronger and more anise-like, is a semi-woody shrubby plant. The leaves are shiny and green. In summer they bear yellow flowers, hence the common name of Mexican marigold. The plant originated in Guatemala and Oaxaca in the south of Mexico. It is quite easy to grow.
Winter truffle, dark and pungent, are more commonly found than the famous white truffles of Piedmont. In Italy the best are found in Norcia and Umbria, in France in Périgueux. They are also found in Spain and, believe it or not, in certain places in the United Kingdom, where historically they were overlooked.
