Chocolate – how to temper it and why it is important to do so

To temper dark chocolate in the microwave Place the dark chocolate, a maximum of 500 grams at a time, into a microwave-safe glass or plastic bowl. Heat in 30-second increments, once or twice, stirring in between. It may take 1.30 seconds depending on your microwave. Once you have 50 % solids and 50 % liquid, [...]

By |2024-08-17T13:39:15+10:00August 17th, 2024|Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate - how to temper, Cook Real Food, Desserts - fruit, Festive, French Odyssey cooking class|Comments Off on Chocolate – how to temper it and why it is important to do so

In search of the perfect Tarte Tatin

Years ago, in 2007, I attended La Varenne Cooking School in Burgundy, and one of the many dishes we cooked there with the chefs was the classic Tarte Tatin.  The class was held in one of the beautiful kitchens of the Chateau du Fëy, the home of La Varenne Cooking School and its founder, Anne [...]

Mandarin and pistachio cake

I do look forward to baking this cake in autumn when mandarins are at their peak; some varieties continue into June and winter, so there is still time for you to get into the kitchen and baking.  The lusciousness of the pistachios and the sweetness of the mandarins, make a perfect and flavoursome match. The [...]

Strawberry, blueberry and cranberry Jelly

Serves 6 500ml cranberry juice 110g caster sugar 12 grams gelatine leaves* 2 punnets strawberries 2 punnets of blueberries Our home made creamy vanilla bean ice cream For the jelly: soak the gelatine leaves in a bowl of cold water for 2 minutes until softened and they look like wet cellophane. Meanwhile, place 250ml of [...]

By |2018-10-03T14:16:58+10:00October 3rd, 2018|Blueberries, Blueberries, Cooking classes, Desserts - chilled, Desserts - chilled, Desserts - fruit, Fruit in season, Recipes, Strawberries|Comments Off on Strawberry, blueberry and cranberry Jelly

Cherry clafoutis – a perfect summer and festive dessert

Serves 4 - 6 Clafoutis is a rustic, country farm house, ‘batter style’, dessert, hailing from the Limousin region of France and is traditionally made with cherries. The original recipe calls for whole cherries with the pits in them, as the pits impart an almondy flavour; however, I always pit mine for more enjoyable eating. [...]

By |2017-12-18T10:12:28+11:00December 18th, 2017|Cherries, Cherry Clafoutis, Cooking classes, Desserts - fruit, Festive Food, French food, Fruit in season, Recipes|Comments Off on Cherry clafoutis – a perfect summer and festive dessert

Pineapple and mango cream pithivier

This dessert has been inspired from a Gordon Ramsay pineapple dessert recipe. It is a refreshing, fruity dessert which may be prepared hours ahead of serving. 200ml of stock syrup 200ml water 30ml light rum, such as Bacardi juice of ½ a lemon 1 vanilla bean, split and seeds removed 1 large ripe pineapple fresh [...]

By |2016-12-07T19:32:34+11:00January 27th, 2015|Desserts - chilled, Desserts - fruit, Food, Fruit, Fruit in season, Recipes|Comments Off on Pineapple and mango cream pithivier

‘The Ridge’ mango soufflé

When Daniel and I made this soufflé our mangoes were delicious and very sweet, so we reduced the quantity of sugar. Taste your mango purée to see whether you need more or less sugar. A desert soufflé is usually based on a crème patissière, which is a pastry cream or custard, made with flour; some fruit [...]

By |2016-12-07T19:32:42+11:00January 24th, 2014|Desserts - fruit, Recipes|Comments Off on ‘The Ridge’ mango soufflé

Soufflé magic with Daniel at On the Ridge

Over January, at On the Ridge, in Queensland, I enjoy working and planning menus for the year’s classes.  I love to cook a variety of  dishes, playing around with ingredients, just for fun. Soufflés are not new on the menu at Cooking on the Bay; there is usually a goat’s cheese soufflé in our French [...]

By |2016-12-07T19:32:42+11:00January 23rd, 2014|Desserts - fruit, French food, Fruit in season, Musings, Recipes|Comments Off on Soufflé magic with Daniel at On the Ridge

A French Odyssey – Journey through France

We enjoyed wonderful French classes last week - a perfect time for French cooking with the exciting Tour de France travelling around the beautiful French countryside and Bastille Day, the French national day on the 14th August. Here are a few photos showing how we enjoyed the days cooking together .

By |2013-07-14T03:46:42+10:00July 14th, 2013|Cooking classes, Desserts - fruit, Food, French food, Musings|Comments Off on A French Odyssey – Journey through France
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