How the Book is Ordered

All the information in this book is organized into six sections based on different types of plants and uses. I kick off with my favourites – Mushrooms. This is the biggest as I have been collecting and cooking mushrooms for decades; however, it is a section fraught with danger. Next I deal with Salads. Years ago I worked with an inspirational gardener/cook, Joy Larkcom, on her Salad Book, and from this I developed a fascination for using flowers to decorate and titillate my salads. This section includes not only the wild flowers that are great to eat but some of the garden varieties that can turn an ordinary bowl of lettuce into an exciting extravaganza. The third section is Seaweeds. This is another group of plants that I am passionate about. We are an island nation surrounded by sea brimming with seaweeds of all types; why do we not make use of this amazing resource the way the Japanese do? The fourth section deals with Vegetables and Herbs; the fifth reflects the later seasons of the year: it covers Berries, Fruit and Nuts; finally there is a section devoted to preparing drinks, ranging from Teas, to Beers and Wines, and Cordials.