About a week after we moved to our new house, I heard a weird noise coming closer and closer. “What sort of neighbourhood have we moved to? What on earth is that horrible noise?” As it got closer, I realised that it was someone selling fruit and veggies off the back of a ute and hawking their wares over a loudspeaker. It brought back a really clear memory of growing up in Kalgoorlie and having a fruit and veggie truck that came around.

I feel like it is important to note that everyone else I know who lives in our suburb have never heard or seen the fruit and veggie ute so maybe it is all a figment of my imagination. The following suggests it isn’t though.

Now, it has taken a year but I was finally prepared with money and so on when I heard him approaching. Well, Esther was prepared – she ran out and bought us strawberries, apples and a bag of blood oranges.

I ate as many blood oranges as I could in the next couple of days but there were still heaps left. Then some of our friends gave us a bag of lemons and Esther made a several litres of Lemon Cordial and it inspired me.

The rest of the blood oranges which were getting a little bit sad and over-ripe would become Blood Orange Cordial.

Blood Orange Cordial

Inspired by this recipe on Allrecipes.com.au

• 4 cups sugar
• 1 litre water
• 1 Tbsp citric acid
• 1 Tbsp tartaric acid
• juice of 8 blood oranges (approximately. I didn’t count.)

Dissolve sugar in water over heat in a large saucepan.

Add citric and tartaric acids.Stir to ensure that all is completely dissolved and cool.

Stir in juice and bottle into clean, dry bottles.

Store in the fridge.

How to sterilise your bottles

Preheat your oven to 110C.

Wash them thoroughly in hot soapy water. Rinse thoroughly.

Boil in a stockpot (or the biggest saucepan you have) for at least 10 minutes.

Carefully (i.e. use some tongs, you numpty) place on a clean oven tray and dry in the oven for 15 minutes.

Blood Orange Cordial (Or: A delicious spring tipple.)