Festive foods make the occasion for me, more than any other tradition. Tsoureki is a sweet Greek bread made at easter time, usually studded with dyed red eggs to symbolise new life. For me, this tsoureki always brings back the memory of my family’s Easter tradition; gathering at my Grandmother’s house after midnight mass for a supper […]
Category: Food
Marmalade Pudding Cake*
*Or what to do with a jar of marmalade that has no lid. While I like marmalade and I do love Nigella’s Kitchen, I had never been inspired to make this recipe. There still are others that I’m longing to try ahead of this pudding. Our Jams and Preserves Day was a victim of its own success and I […]
(Guaranteed fluffy) Hot Cross Buns
I know you can buy perfectly good hot cross buns from Woolworths* or any bakery at this time of year. But sometimes you just want the satisfaction of making holiday treats yourself. Especially as chocolate is available (and consumed) all year-round, for me hot cross buns are really the true treat of the season. I […]
Roast Seafood
I love seafood. Seafood, unfortunately, is expensive which means I don’t cook with it as often as I would like. Once again this recipe is from Nigella Kitchen (18 months later this is still my favourite book). I have wanted to make the roast seafood from the chapter titled ‘Kitchen Comfort’ since I first flicked through the book. While […]
Chicken and Chorizo Paella
This is probably the least authentic paella dish ever made, but it’s the only one I know and it’s so tasty it’s on regular rotation for dinner at our house. Using only basic ingredients, the paprikas, sweet and smoky, are the key to the spanish flavour in this dish. Try it once and I guarantee […]
Coffee and Banana Vacherin
Until reading through Mary Berry’s Baking Bible I hadn’t heard of a vacherin but the upon reading this recipe I discovered it was a dessert consisting of crisp meringue discs stacked on top of each other. Having recently enjoyed a coffee flavoured pavlova at a friend’s party, this recipe immediately caught my eye.
Monte Carlos
I will have to admit, I don’t have fond memories of Monte Carlos. In Australia, made by Arnotts, Monte Carlos are quite hard biscuit with an unusual icing in the middle. They are part of many biscuit trays and always are the last left on the tray (along with the poor Kingston). When I saw this recipe […]
Mel’s (Famous) Cheese and Basil Muffins
I collect recipes. I love talking to people about cooking, about techniques and there is nothing I love more than someone sharing their recipe. This trait is a gift from my mother. The title is a little misleading as it’s not my original recipe. My mother Maria, received this recipe from a parent of one of my sisters primary […]
Very English Muffins by Mary Berry
English Muffins are a real treat in our house. We don’t buy them very often but they disappear fast when we do! Leafing through my latest cookbook; Mary Berry’s Baking Bible, I came across a recipe to make them and as I had everything I needed in the pantry, thought I’d give it a shot. […]
(Looks aren’t everything) Vegetable Lasagna
OK, so it’s not the most attractive lasagna ever created but it is darn tasty and I get regular requests to make it from Mr t2kBrisbane, an avid meat-lover. The lentils provide protein, the pumpkin thickens the sauce and the olives give it a fantastic flavour. It is also economical, a great way of using […]
A Tale of Two Kitchens 