This is a regular vegetable side in our family, especially when aubergines are at their peak, which is mid-summer to mid-autumn. For dishes such as this with a single star ingredient, make sure you select one of the freshest and best quality. There are many varieties and shapes which are good for specific purposes. I [...]
These stuffed mushrooms make a lovely appetiser, if you use small, button mushrooms, or make a perfect entrée when using the open flat, large, ‘meaty’ mushrooms. These large mushrooms are the ones I use when having the mushrooms as a vegetable side dish to accompany my steak, chicken or fish. Serves 2 Ingredients 1 [...]
This roasted cauliflower is lovely as an appetiser with tahini, or as a side dish with a main course. To achieve perfectly tender and sweet caramelised cauliflower, roast it on 190 - 200℃ for 15 – 20 minutes. You want the cauliflower to remain moist enough to withstand the heat and will not dry out, [...]
Dukkah is an old Egyptian specialty. It is a loose blend of nuts and spices in a dry, crushed but not to a powdered form. The name “Dukkah” is derived from the Arabic word “to pound” referring to how all the spices are pounded together to prepare the dish. It is a very personal and [...]
Serves 4 24cm tart dish One mozzarella and almond pastry case; pre-cooked. Recipe below. You can easily omit the pastry base and make this as a frittata for a change. Tomato tart 10 tomatoes or as many large ripe tomatoes as needed for your tart dish. 4 generous tbsp pesto 100g each grated cheddar [...]
This is a delicious, rich and spicy curry. If you prefer to simplify it and use fewer spices, substitute my curry paste for the following: 2 tbsp garam masala, 2 tbsp mild curry powder and 1 tbsp hot curry powder, 1 ½ tsp turmeric powder and 1 – 1 ½ long red chilli. Serves 4 [...]
A Crème Anglaise is a versatile dessert sauce as well as the classic base for an ice-cream. Crème Anglaise is an egg yolk custard and can be a little difficult to make for a novice cook, so take care. When cooking the custard and the custard thickens, as soon as it has reached 83℃, it [...]
Classic Beef Winter Stew This beef stew is the perfect comfort food for these cold, wintry days. The making of it warms up the kitchen and the cook! Any left-overs, freeze well, so make more than you need. This stew tastes even better if you eat it the next day as the flavours will be [...]
This vegetable dish combines the colours and the ingredients of Southern France. The word Ratatouille, meaning tossed or tumbled together, has gone into the French language to mean to get oneself into a mess. Quelle ratatouille...what a mess! Serves 4 Ingredients 2 tbsp olive oil 1 onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, chopped 2 small eggplant, [...]
Makes approx 300ml. The classic Italian pesto is traditionally made with basil, pine nuts, garlic and Parmigiano Regianno. Pesto is a classic condiment in the modern Australian kitchen and is now made with endless combinations, such as parsley and basil, coriander, rocket, sorrel, Warragul greens, Australian native vegetables, capsicum and macadamias or pistachios. The version [...]
