Side Dishes
Warm Pumpkin and Feta Salad with Baby Spinach
Paula Schwass, the former owner of Cavalli Beach-House Retreat north of Kerikeri, is an enthusiastic cook and gardener. I stayed there when I was doing the research for a story on the Far North, and she served this unusual salad as part of an alfresco dinner. I thought it would make a great entrée on its own, served with some crusty brown sourdough bread. Paula grows the native New Zealand spinach but city dwellers with no access could use tender baby spinach leaves.
Watercress Salad
Salads should be simple - most people make the mistake of adding too many ingredients. The pleasure from eating something unfussy should not be underestimated.