Spring means crisp leafy greens and fragrant soft herbs

The latest from NZ House & Garden magazine If this email is not displayed correctly, [click here]( to view an online version. [NZ House & Garden]( Hi {NAME}, I don’t know about you, but it’s felt like an extra long winter for me. The cold, wet days have possibly been filled with more hearty stews, potato dishes, comforting sticky puddings and lockdown home-baking sprees than any of us might care to admit. But thankfully spring has finally sprung. I find the brighter days make such a difference, bringing with them much needed warmth and optimism. Plus, the added bonus for us cooks is that we get a bounty of new-season produce to help reinvigorate our cooking. This is the time for crisp leafy greens, asparagus, peas, beans, baby vegetables, young ginger and getting back to eating salads and light pasta or noodle dishes for weeknight dinners. Fragrant soft herbs like chives, mint, coriander and dill come to life when the weather gets a bit warmer. Use them to make a gorgeous green pesto or vibrant salad dressing or simply throw handfuls into an omelette, frittata or tart, like the one below. Sunnier days are ahead of us now, so join me and let’s spring into making lovely lighter meals with the fresh batch of recipes in our latest issue. Julie Le Clerc Food Editor From the files Super Greens & Seeds Tart This tart is the epitome of new spring flavours, with its tender young greens and little spring leaves bursting with vitality. It's lighter than a quiche yet just as filling. [Get the recipe]( Baby Vegetables with Turmeric & Cumin HummusTender baby veges, roasted and sweet, pair beautifully with the earthy depth of this golden hummus as part of an alfresco dinner or picnic lunch. [Get the recipe]( [ Sponsored content A delicious journeyNew documentary Julia brings to life the legendary cookbook author and television superstar who changed the way Americans think about food, television, and even about women. Using never-before-seen archival footage, the film traces Julia Child who found her purpose – and fame – at the age of 50. In cinemas 21 October. [Watch the trailer]( I'm loving Celebrate New Zealand Cheese MonthNew Zealand Cheese Month is celebrated in October because the early days of spring are when milking resumes and there’s plenty of fresh cheese available for cheese lovers to enjoy. There are so many fantastic cheeses made in Aotearoa, from interpretations of classic European styles to others that showcase our heritage and local ingredients. Plus, by buying delicious, locally made cheese we will ensure it will be produced for generations to come. Cow, goat, buffalo and sheep milk cheeses are all popular now, so why not try something new? The New Zealand Specialist Cheesemakers Association has developed a resource to make it easy for us all to find great local cheese. For a directory of cheesemakers, top cheese retailers and farmers’ markets near you, visit [cheeseloversnz.co.nz](. Istria: Recipes and stories from the hidden heart of Italy, Slovenia and CroatiaBy Paola Bacchia, Smith Street Books, distributed by HarperCollins, $65 Istria is the heart-shaped promontory in the northern Adriatic Sea where Italy, Slovenia and Croatia lie and their cuisines converge. Istrian dishes record a history of changing borders – an evocative blend of the countries that have shared the land’s coasts, hills and valleys. This beautifully written and photographed book tells the story of Paola’s family and their culinary connections to Istria. She shares recipes and traditions from her childhood, the region’s past, plus the food cooked by family and friends who still live beside the Adriatic coast today. Here Venetian seafood stews and polenta sit beside Balkan flame-grilled skewered meats, followed by desserts you might find in a Viennese cafe. Sponsored content The secret to happinessLaithwaite’s Wine brings special moments to life by delivering a world of flavour to your door. For a limited time, it's offering 12 sensational reds for just $131.88 (just $10.99 per bottle) so you can sample top drops from Australia and Europe. Included is a pair of Dartington Crystal stemless glasses – so you can sip in style. To order, click below or call 0800 004 612 quoting the code 8889034. *T&Cs apply. [Order now]( [( Missed an issue? Buy 2020 back copies of your favourite magazine onlineDid you miss a copy of NZ House & Garden last year? You can now buy 2020 back copies at [mags4gifts]( for $5.15, which is 50 percent off the retail price. Visit [mags4gifts.co.nz]( to shop now. [Shop now]( [( Sponsored content Lauren lighting in TakapunaRalph Lauren’s Katie Chandelier from Generation Lighting has real hand-stitched leather accents and white linen fabric shades in Time Worn Brass and Polished Nickel finishes. Also available in pendants and wall sconces in stock in Auckland. See Katie and other Lauren designs at [Bardsleys Lighting]( Takapuna. [Read more]( [Unsubscribe]( | [Advertise]( | [Contact](mailto:editor@nzhouseandgarden.co.nz) © Copyright 2021 NZ House & Garden, a division of Stuff Limited (Magazines). Cider Building, 4 Williamson Avenue, Grey Lynn, Auckland, New Zealand