Food security - and the absence of it - has been Lolo Houbein's lifelong preoccupation. She regarded every garden where she messed around with plants as a farm to feed her household. Lolo Houbein's great-great-grandfather was a market gardener in North-West Frisia, passing a gardening gene down the generations. Lasting influences were her Uncle Wim's small farm and the famine of 1944-1945 in Western Holland, which she barely survived. She came to Australia in 1958 to escape the Cold War. Lolo had her formal education at the universities of Adelaide and Papua New Guinea and Adelaide Teachers College, in the literatures of Australia, Papua New Guinea, the Pacific and Africa, classical studies, world religions and anthropology. Her novel Walk A Barefoot Road was awarded the Bicentennial/ABC Fiction Award and her autobiography Wrong Face in the Mirror the Dirk Hartog Literary Award.One Magic Square has been an enduring bestseller.
Tori Arbon grew up eating mainly packaged and tinned 'convenience food' but became passionate about exploring flavours, growing food, cooking and cultures began when she discovered Adelaide's Asian food scene. Inspired by Lolo Houbein and her book One Magic Square, she created Magic Harvest, an organisation that connects neighbours as they grow their own food, share gardening and cooking workshops, swap produce and skills.
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'At last, a cookbook written by gardeners, for gardeners! This book celebrates what is delicious, seasonal and extraordinary about homegrown produce, and it encourages the reader to grow more and cook more, with practical handy tips for the garden and kitchen throughout. Well done, Lolo and Tori!' - Sophie Thomson, Gardening Australia
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'A practical and accessible garden-to-table cookbook bursting with useful information. Each ingredient, whether fruit, vegetable, herb or spice, is profiled with growing notes, how and when to harvest, plus Tori's cooking tips. We love the suggestions for lowering waste (try curry slurry, yum), the preserving know-how, and advice for making butter and bread and cooking the perfect tofu. This may just be the new Grass Roots kitchen bible!' - Grass Roots
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'This magic little book is one that will get used often throughout the year for ideas on what to do with in season fruit and vegetables. Why not look for a farmers market where you are this weekend!' - Caravan Correspondent
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'A celebration of everything that is delicious, seasonal and extraordinary about homegrown produce.' - PS News
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'Both a cookbook for gardeners and a gardening book for cooks.' - Jenny Dillon, Better Homes and Gardens
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'One Magic Square encouraged us all to get dirty in the garden and have a pop at growing our own, no matter how small our garden. Outside the Magic Square flagged the responsibility we all share in ensuring good food remains available for all, forever. Now Lolo completes the trilogy with inspired ways of bringing an A to Z of homegrown produce from your garden to your plate with her recipes, ideas and tips. Lolo your work is done! Thank you for sharing, and inspiring us all over the years.' - Simon Bryant, chef
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'Magic Little Meals is all about growing your own food for the table, and it is written with a keen sensitivity to the way the world is now. It's the only book I've ever come across that has practical tips for protecting the vegies during those extreme heat waves.' - Lisa Hill, ANZ Litlovers Litblog