From my mother’s kitchen

My mother Marion’s childhood home was in Constantia, Cape Town. Her birth place is pivotal to understanding her as a person and as a cook.

In this pastoral setting, she often recalled walking barefoot in the fields and orchards, gorging herself on fruit. Raised mostly as an only child her two adored elder half brothers were both sent away to school. She missed them desperately and took solace in the outdoors and her dogs. Later, in her home in Kent, this came full circle, not only did she want a large family but she also planted a beautiful garden with an orchard, fruit cages, a working vegetable garden and a polytunnel, all heaving in produce. The minor issue of inclement weather was not enough to deter. Her garden is alive with oranges, lemons, grapefruits, persimmons, kiwis, berries, vines and figs. Thus, many miles away from her birthplace, my mother recreated her memories of Constantia in a Kentish garden which she truly loved and which we cherish and care for today.

In turn, her garden provided much inspiration for her cooking. Her Mulberry Jellies made from the ancient mulberry tree on the front lawn, or her Green House Roasted Tomato Sauce, which tackled the glut of tomatoes produced in her hyper-efficient polytunnel. She was never happier than when she was walking around the garden in her ankle-length navy Barbour, secateurs in hand, a terrier or two at her feet, harvesting food to then cook for us all. When working through her recipes, this image of her, her garden and the seasons became central to how the recipes should be organised, read and enjoyed. I have included photographs that I have taken at weekends, when my children return with me to spend time there. Photographs of the many things that we grow and eat. If she is anywhere I believe she is here with us in the garden she loved.