My mum makes by far the best shortbread I’ve ever tasted. True to her Scottish heritage, it’s ever so short and buttery. The recipe was a bit sketchy when relayed though – she works on approximates and instincts as all good cooks do! READ MORE
The tomato plants are teeming with the first fruit, the cherries, at the moment. I was super excited because it gave me the opportunity to take my new flash bottle of sherry vinegar for a spin and try out our new Strathbogie Ranges extra virgin olive oil – I know, what a food snob – anyway.. We had the most gorgeous, simple salads tonight with a beautiful scotch fillet.READ MORE
What a tasty little grain this is. Freekeh is young, green wheat which has been toasted and cracked. One of the so called ‘ancient grains’ which have made a resurgence in recent years, it is packed full of goodness and tastes great too. I can’t get it at my supermarket, but I think some fancy supermarkets stock it and most delis and health food shops. READ MORE
We recently had a little holiday at the beach and had a night off to go out for dinner, just Pete and me. We went to a local Italian, very simple but lovely homemade fare. I had cannelloni, which was absolutely delish. Interestingly, instead of pasta, they used crepes, which I’d never seen before. Anyhoo, it gave me the cannelloni bug and I whipped this up for dinner the other day.READ MORE
You’ll be feeling quite virtuous with a little of this on the side. I’m calling this a salad, but really it’s just some quickly peeled and marinated zucchini. Super healthy made with raw zucchini (which is delicious) it will go well with any meat or fish or even an omelette. READ MORE
I think Brussels sprouts were my least favourite veg growing up. Me and my brothers used to smother them in tomato sauce to mask the flavour and almost swallow them whole to get it over with. But, roasted, these babies are absolutely full of flavour, particularly if you add bacon, soy and lemon. Oh yes. READ MORE
This is a great way to serve pork, my favourite meat. If you’d asked me whether the combination of pork and cinnamon would work, I don’t think I would have jumped at the idea, but the flavours seem to be a match made in heaven. Of course, you just can’t go wrong with plenty of pepper and garlic. READ MORE
I never used to eat breakfast – the thought of food first thing in the morning just didn’t do it for me. I had to get to work, have my coffee and then think about something to eat. Things change though. Once I was pregnant with the boy I was ravenous and needed something in the morning to keep the morning sickness at bay. The habit of breakfast has since carried on. READ MORE
We were lucky enough to inherit the most gorgeous old Kalamata olive tree when we bought our place. Once, my mother in law was out front and an old Italian man walked past and got chatting. He asked whether there was still an olive tree in our back yard and said that he had planted it. How amazing is that!? It must be at least 50 years old. READ MORE
I was short on time today and decided to bust out the tins of cannellini beans once again. Instead of making my usual Easy Bean Salad with Goats Cheese, I tried this version from my new Date Night In book by Ashley Rodriguez. She serves it as part of an antipasto platter, but it was great with lamb cutlets (the rosemary really matched up well) and some Fennel and Radish Salad on the side. READ MORE