Never mind that winter is coming; it’s well and truly here in Melbourne right now. Getting up for the gym is a genuine battle: to peel myself away from the flannelette cocoon of winter sheets and pyjamas and dive into icy gym gear while it’s still dark outside. This time of year, I’m usually about…
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Beetroot, Persian Feta, Walnut and Rocket Salad
Growing up in Australia, my childhood is dotted with fond food memories of beetroot. Specifically, tinned beetroot – the quintessential addition to any Australian dinner table or BBQ. I remember my blood red fingers stained from dipping into the tin to pull out the sweet, tangy disks floating in their crimson liquor. The haphazard…
Roast Cauliflower with Olive Tapenade & Garlic White Bean Mash
The Melbourne weather is so unpredictable at the moment don’t you think? One minute we’re in the tropics, basking in the heat up on rooftop bars and the next, there’s an icy blast of epic proportions that has me reaching for my winter coat. It’s been a long winter here too between blog posts on…
Spiced Gingersnap & Balsamic Rhubarb Cheesecake Jars
It’s rhubarb season in my corner of world right now. After passing over its crimson stalks at a many a farmer’s market, I finally decided to cook with rhubarb for the first time and do some recipe testing at the same time for an upcoming edition of my food and wine column over at Latte…
Roast Pumpkin with Pomegranate Syrup and Spiced Yoghurt
Happy New Year! I hope you had all had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed the holidays. For me, I managed to lose track of the days for a little while which is always a sign of a great holiday. Long summer afternoons were spent with family in NSW and included a very special and rare…
Spicy Cauliflower Rice with Roasted Pistachios
Do you remember the pungent smell of boiled cauliflower being plonked down in front of you at the dinner table as a kid? I do. It was right up there with tinned asparagus, brussels sprouts and the smoked oysters my parents used to break out during dinner parties at our house in the 80’s. The…
Middle Eastern Green Beans with Persian Feta & Roasted Nuts
I love middle eastern food. The balance of spices – cinnamon, cumin, cardamon and fresh ginger, the sweet stickiness of apricots, currants and soft buttered onion, the crunch of pine nuts, roasted almonds, pistachios and coriander, the tang of tangine and the smooth tahini yoghurt and persian goats feta. Many years ago I visited Turkey…
Basil, Lime & Mint Mojito Icy Poles
Well wouldn’t you know it, the calendar would suggest that today is in fact the last official day of Summer here in the southern hemisphere– surely not?!! In Melbourne, the heat shows no sign of abating, roof top cocktails, dusk till dawn art festivals and movies under the stars still beckon. I for one, am…
Roasted Asparagus, Balsamic & Gruyere Tart
The beginning of Spring can only mean one thing – speared mountains of crisp green asaparagus freshly pulled from the ground all lined up like little soldiers at the farmers market. They practically beg you to take them home and make something amazing out of them. I seriously can not walk past a good looking…
Hola! Celebrate Day of the Dead with Elote (BBQ Sweet Corn with Cheese)
Hola! Happy Day of the Dead or Dia de los Muertos! This Mexican holiday begins today being traditionally held on the first 2 days of November. The 1st is dedicated to infants and small children who have died and 2nd is dedicated to adults. Its a joyous occasion with families gathering at home and in…
Dance Like Nobody Is Watching ; A Recipe For Vegetarian Paella
This post is inspired by the effervescent and ever dancing ‘young’ elderly lady who set down her shopping trolley today and gave herself over to the music in the middle of the lunchtime masses. You made my day – I thank you! At lunchtime I had wandered into the Bourke St Shopping Mall (Melbourne) enroute…
