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For those of us who can eat gluten, seitan offers a chewy, high-protein ingredient that can be used in the same way that meat products are. I’ve been using seitan to make Bolognese sauce, moussaka, doner and sausages. Gluten flour, a little gram flour and water; knead like mad; chop into pieces, boil in stock for 45 minutes. Spices (2 tsp ground cumin, 2 tsp smoked paprika, and 1 tsp ground coriander for a chorizo-style flavour; 1 tbsp fennel, 1 tbsp oregano, a handful of chopped olives for a Mediterranean twist) 1 tsp stock powder (or a cube of mushroom stock for extra umami) 1 tbsp oil (something flavoured works well: sesame, or olive) Whisk the wet ingredients together in a measuring jug.

Last week I wrote of my fabulous gin garden tour at the Secret Herb Garden and it seems the fun has only just begun as the Edinburgh-based The Old Curiosity Distillery has now launched a ‘Gin Club’, where gin lovers will have the opportunity to sample a brand new and exclusive gin-flavour every month. As I discovered, all of the herbs and botanicals within the gins are grown, hand-picked, dried and infused by the team at the Secret Herb Garden – the home of The Old Curiosity Distillery. Hamish Martin, founder of The Old Curiosity, comments: “Nowhere else in the world has a gin garden and distillery on site as we do here, so we’re taking full advantage of nature and the seasons in action, by continuously experimenting with our botanicals to create new, distinctive flavours and wonderful colour changes. The Old Curiosity Distillery can be found at the Secret Herb Garden on the Old Pentland Road, Edinburgh.

The humble lemon (part of the citrus fruit family) is a classy, essential (and compact) natural cook’s choice in the kitchen. With potassium to prevent heart problems, natural citric acid to improve digestion and antioxidants to boost the immune system (helping to ward off coughs and colds) Otherwise bland food (such as chicken, fish, salads and vegetables) are given a rich and tasty flavour by the tangy lemon juices – and zest. Flake the hot smoked salmon, then add the salmon, sweet red pepper, crème fraiche and seasoning to a medium bowl and gently combine ingredients.

Discover specialist herbs, explore the wild seven-and-a-half acre gardens, relax with a cup of coffee in the cafe, take in the stunning views and admire the plants and now, you can even take in a tour of the gardens and learn more about the process of what goes into making The Secret Garden gins with its Garden Tours. Gin enthusiasts can experience the tranquillity of the garden; see, smell and touch the growing botanicals; visit the drying room; witness the still in action (although it was out of action on the day I visited as they were re-plastering the floor) and finally, enjoy a glass of the good stuff from the comfort of their cosy new Gin Lounge, which can also be rented out as an event space. So, it was fascinating to be given the tour by The Old Curiosity founder and renowned Scottish herbologist, Hamish Martin, who shared his passion and knowledge and explained what goes into making his range of Secret Garden Gins and the other Old Curiosity Gins, which miraculously and naturally change colour with the addition of tonic, thanks to the power of nature. Tickets are available from The Old Curiosity website and cost £15 per person, which includes a full tour of the garden and distillery, and a tasting of the Secret Garden Range in the Gin Lounge.