Nutella and banana on toast is a no-brainer but in baked French toast is even better. You’ll need about an hour’s advance planning to make this but it’s so worth it. Rather than the crispy, pan cooked French toast I’m used to (which is fabulous by the way), this lush, gorgeous dish ends up pleasantly crunchy[read more…]
Spag bol is one of those things most of us learn how to make early on, after we’ve left home, gone to uni or sharing with a bunch of mates. I haven’t made it in ages actually because it seems one of those massively uncool dishes nobody eats anymore. But it’s so yummy! Why must[read more…]
I’ve heard a lot of negative remarks about the humble little muesli bar lately … too much sugar! Additives! You may as well drink a can of coke! etc etc. Poor muesli bars, being a child of the 80s I’ve always liked them and if you buy a brand which is quite healthy and lower[read more…]
Phew, I needed something to reset my body after a couple of days of eating basically empty (yet delicious) carbs. This very tasty, healthy rice bowl full of protein and good fat was just the thing! Nutty brown and wild rice, creamy avocado and fried egg, savoury tuna and some salty Tamari to top it off (and a little[read more…]
Tim Tams. Are they available in lots of other countries other than Australia? You’re missing out if they’re not! Tim Tams have gotten me through many a break-up and Swotvac week in my teens and 20s and I’ll always be fond of them. There are all sorts of fancy flavours these days but my favourite is the[read more…]
I don’t know how Swedish these actually are so if anybody from Sweden is reading, apologies! They are, though, creamy and flavourful and pretty easy to make however I will say, you need to use a non-stick pan to sauté meatballs (I always forget and they stick like crazy). You could use any type of[read more…]
I adore mashed potato and of course, mashed sweet potato is delicious; fluffy, sweet and warm. When I was teeny tiny, some days, it’s all I’d eat. I prefer to leave the skins on my white potatoes (it’s healthier and you can’t tell the difference – use organic if you prefer) and after years of using any[read more…]
I had grand ideas of making a chocolate Guinness cake for St Patrick’s Day but ran out of time. Instead, I thought I’d go off the beaten track and offer this green smoothie I made recently which is such a lovely green colour, it seemed serendipitous, despite being devoid of butter, cream, potatoes or Guinness I’ve[read more…]
I made this lovely fresh pasta dish on a recent weekend. It only requires a few ingredients which most people would have on hand and the flavours pack a punch; lemony, fragrant garlic, fresh herbs, crunchy walnuts, salty parmesan and a bit of heat.
I’ve always said I love salads with fruit in them, not actual fruit salads so much, they remind me of school, but salads with slightly bitter greens and luscious, sweet fruit. So it’s fig season here in Australia and as I always do, I ran out and picked up a whole heap of juicy, plump figs. [read more…]
So I knocked together some toasted muesli (or granola if you prefer), with lovely spices and chewy dried cherries.
I’ve always loved the salty flavour and lightness of miso soup, in fact, Japanese food in general is a cuisine I really enjoy for the taste and health benefits. When I was younger, at uni and a bit broke, I’d just have miso soup on it’s own, sort of like a really healthy cup-a-soup, but over[read more…]
Jelly beans aren’t usually an addition to baked goods however I bought some Christmas jelly beans (red, green and white obv) and thought they’d look pretty studded into some white chocolate blondies for the season. You could, of course, add whichever candy you prefer if jelly beans aren’t your thing (they’re my lollies of choice usually ) but[read more…]
Now I have to warn you, this post is chock-full of mushrooms so if you’re not into them, you should probably look away (it’s also full of cheese but hey, most people like that). I understand that mushies are one of those polarising vegetables that you either love or hate and I myself have only[read more…]
Guess who purchased a fancy new madeleine tin?! I’m a sucker for cake tins and when I spotted this one I decided I had to have it. I’d never tried madeleines before but their description here of “elegant cakes shaped like scallop shells are the perfect thing with a cup of light, floral French tea” really appealed[read more…]
My latest flavour pancake uses a classic combo of peanut butter and banana. These are quite high, fluffy pancakes with a lovely peanut butter taste and chunks of banana rather than it being mashed. Oh and if you make too many (can you though? Can you ever make too many pancakes?), they can always be stored[read more…]
I always feel kind of old fashioned thrifty when I use up leftover things as I did a while back with this dish, especially when they make up delicious, fried potato cakey things .. and despite the crispy appearance of these spicy little patties served with a garlicky, creamy sauce, they’re super healthy. My sweet potato mash is also[read more…]
I loved this hearty sandwich I made using some of this roast chicken I made on a Sunday a couple of weeks back. A classic chicken salad recipe, it combined the flavoursome, savoury roast chicken with crunchy, sweet, tart, creamy and fresh ingredients, all piled onto some toasted, rustic bread rolls.
It seemed like a chocolate day so I made some chocolate cupcakes for absolutely no reason at all. Is there anything better than biting into a soft, squidgy cupcake and getting icing all over your face? I don’t think so! The batter in this recipe is very thick but it somehow results in a soft crumbed, tender,[read more…]
I see a lot of recipes for sweet potato vegie burgers around so thought I’d give them a go. I roasted/sautéed the sweet potato and onion first as it gives a lovely caramelised flavour however apart from that, these are so easy to put together, they’re well worth it. I loved the sweet and spicy taste[read more…]
I love these tasty little pastries – if you make them for a group of people, as I have, watch them disappear. There’s just something about sweet and spicy minced meat, melted cheese and flaky pastry which appeals to party people and adding some mango chutney was a perfect combination. The great thing is that you can[read more…]
I whipped up this Tuscan inspired, tasty little dish on a rainy, cold day and it was lovely. I don’t use a lot of cured meat in cooking but I do have a thing for occasional chorizo in dishes because it just adds a little spicy something. It might seem simple but the flavours of[read more…]
I realise a lot, if not most people, wouldn’t have nut roll tins in their cupboards. I also realise that this traditional Australian recipe is really old fashioned, in fact my grandmother used to make these when I was a kid. Despite that, I love this cake precisely because of it’s lack of foodie coolness, and[read more…]
I love using maple syrup for savoury things and it goes particularly well with spicy, chilli based dishes. Instead of using traditional kidney beans for this spicy, Mexican dish, I thought I’d use black beans and some maple chilli roast sweet potato to add another flavour. I love the crispy sweet, caramelised potato with creamy avocado[read more…]
I’m on a bit of a Bill Granger kick at the moment. So I spotted Bill’s rather tropical sounding cake online a while back and was keen to try it, as most of the dry ingredients are from ground macadamia nuts and there’s no dairy, including butter. The fat comes from beaten egg yolks and you[read more…]
To celebrate this year’s St Paddy’s Day, I thought I’d make a hearty beef stew with Guinness. It doesn’t get more Irish than that hey?! I’ve never made one with a soda bread crust before (although I’ve made soda bread and am mad for it) and thought it looked really interesting. It was super easy[read more…]
I love fig season! It’s so short but they’re such a luxurious treat at a time when most fruit and vegies are available year round. It’s worth hunting them down and I always use them as an opportunity to whip up some lovely treats. And while figs are pretty special raw, caramelised down slowly, they become soft[read more…]
I realise poor little cauliflower isn’t the most popular vegetable in the bunch (compared to say, the sexy avocado and frilly, trendy kale it must feel quite lonely), but we should all be eating more of it according to doctors and experts in these things. And less of the fun stuff. Also cauliflower allegedly has negative calories! Can this[read more…]
I love this combination of cookie – little tart yet sweet dried cranberries and a burst of candy sweetness from white chocolate. I prefer these cookies chewy with chunks of white chocolate because there’s just something really messily decadent about those uneven chocolate pieces. No neat little cookies for me, I’m a giant cookie girl. Not that[read more…]
Rustic, spicy and pear studded describes this winter inspired loaf perfectly although it’s far from perfect looking. I’m not the neatest cook ever! Despite this, I love the soft, fragrant crumb and crunchy crust combined with fresh pieces of pear and toasted pecans. It’s delicious with butter and is best on the day it’s baked however is also lovely toasted[read more…]
