'Here in the valley, food is part of our lives ... When I eat a peach I remember the smell of the soil as I planted the tree ...' Jackie French brings vividly to life her wonderful experiences living in the Araluen Valley, an extraordinary part of the NSW Southern tablelands.

Sprinkled in between her stories are natural remedies and tips for the home, and over eighty wonderful recipes Jackie has derived from the valley's four seasons. During spring you can try asparagus omelette, artichokes Araluen, or orange-blossom jam. In summer, there's mulberry crush, peach sorbet and the classic Aussie tomato sandwich.

From autumn comes harvest tart, verjuice veal and a basil aphrodisiac! And in winter you can choose from hearth cakes, duck stuffed with dried peaches and Jackie's favourite carrot soup. though the valley has changed over the years, its remarkable smells and tastes, the unique rhythm of days and nights are still engaging, and captured so deliciously in A Year in the Valley.

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