• Bowls of fragrant potpourri are easy to make, and they are a wonderful way of bringing the gardens perfume into the house all year round. Any scented flowers or leaves can be used to make potpourri, fragrant flowers include jasmine, lavender,violets,broom,pinks,jasmine,honeysuckle and wallflowers. Plants with aromatic foliage include lemon verbena,lemon balm,mint. For extra colour add marigolds, pot marigolds, love in a mist, cornflowers and sweet peas.
• Pick the flowers and leave early in the day when the weathers dry. Choose flowers that are nearly but not quite fully open.
• Spread the flowers on a wire tray to dry with the air circulating  or put them in a very low oven with the door open.
• When the material is dry and crisp to the touch add some chopped Orange peel to fix your fragrance.
• Store in a airtight container for a month, then put in jars around the house.
• Perfect as gifts for family, friends and loved ones, as they really can take a piece of your home with them! Enjoy!

Here at GroBox we are all trying to keep warm and dry and need a wonderful vitamin boost to see us through our long dark nights. One of our favourite recipes is our Roasted Vegetable Soup. All you need is Onions, Courgettes, Tomatoes, Peppers. Simply cut and place on a baking tray, drizzle with Olive Oil, Sea Salt and Black Pepper. Roast in an oven on 220c for 30 Min’s. Once roasted, remove from tray, place in saucepan add water and chives,basil and thyme bring to the boil. Once reduced, liquidise and serve in cups with warm fresh bread. It will warm you from your toes to your heart in a few short moments. Perfect.

Romans believed that cabbages arose from Jupiters sweat as he laboured to explain to contracting oracles.

Cabbage is said to reduce the risk of colonic cancer,stimulate the immune system and kill bacteria.

When planting Cabbages  they thrive in the company of dill,mint,rosemary and thyme,Cabbage is traditionally boiled for 5mins, however it is really tasty just fried with olive oil and sea salt.

One of my favourite reciepes is from when I lived in Ireland is  Colcannon. Probably the most famous Irish dish, Use 500g Potatoes,1 Leek cleaned and sliced and cooked in milk or cream,500g Cabbage sliced and cooked, 4 Tablespoons of butter,Salt and Pepper.

Mash the potatoes and season them before stirring in the slices of leek and juices in which they were cooked. Then add the cabbage and mix thoroughly over a low heat. Arrange on a warmed serving dish and make a hole in the centre. Keep warm, partly melt the butter,season and pour into the cavity. Serve immediately,piping hot.

Enjoy