Dinner Time

You will never be stuck for what to cook for dinner ever again!

Whether you crave pork, fish, tofu or lamb – there is something for everyone. I’m a firm believer in lowering my carbon footprint by eating more vegetarian meals, so there are plenty of those, and although I don’t have any food intolerances I have lots of friends who do so I cook my fair share of vegan and gluten free goodies too.

A deli inspired mid-week lunch

Posted on May 29, 2008

[Leg ham open sandwich with fresh corn salsa]

This week one of my local delis were featured in Good Living, so I popped on down there to say congrats and pick up some yummy treats; a few slices of delicious leg ham off the bone and five big cubes of goats milk feta cheese.

On the way home, I spotted a huge pile of juicy fresh corn at the green grocers and I knew exactly what my lunch was destined to be… I love the crunch and sweetness of fresh corn on the cob, it’s a wonderful texture that is sadly lost in the canning process. Fresh corn makes all the difference in this salsa providing a juicy, crunchy contrast to the soft, creamy avocado. (more…)

A salad for you, wherever you are

Posted on April 24, 2008

[Lamb, eggplant and feta cous cous salad]

This is my mini attempt at globalising my blog; a salad that appeals for the weather in both hemispheres.

It’s Spring in the North, flowers are blooming and it’s warming up, so make the most of gorgeous seasonal lamb.

It’s Autumn in the South, but please don’t indulge in stodgy food just yet, choose to eat this warm salad instead.

I’m a firm believer that salads are not just a Summer thing, they’re more than just leaves and dressing, and if you think outside those constraints the possibilities are endless. Warm, cold, hot, room temperature – they’re all good. It’s no coincidence that the salads category in my recipe index has the most entries!

I really love the creativity of composing salads; choosing the protein, carbohydrate and vegetable elements, harmonising the salty, bitter, sweet and sour flavours and balancing the soft, crunchy, hot and cold textures. It’s a real art form and one I never tire of. (more…)

A big fat bowl of rice, nice!

Posted on April 18, 2008

[Spiced creamy tomato chicken]

Rice is a major comfort food for me. Basmati, Jasmine, Brown, Wild, Sushi and Rice Noodles of any thickness are what I crave when I want a big bowl of something hearty and heart-warming to soothe my soul.

I think it boils down (no pun intended) to my childhood. My mum served up something delicious with rice most nights of the week; beef stroganoff, chicken goulash, stuffed capsicums, honey-soy chicken wings… the list goes on. All yummy European dishes that fill you up and send you nicely off to sleep.

These days I’m more likely to go for a Thai Pad See Ew made with thick rice noodles, beef, sweet soy sauce and Chinese greens or a spicy Indian Madras curry with fragrant pilau rice. This recipe is inspired by the latter, but designed to be a quick and easy after work dinner. (more…)

Cook once, eat twice (or thrice)

Posted on April 11, 2008

[Homemade chicken stock with an Asian twist]

Chicken stock isn’t the prettiest thing to photograph is it?

Yesterday I posted about the Love Food, Hate Waste campaign and how to make three meals out of one roast chicken, with stock being one of them. This homemade liquid is an excellent way to make use of the remaining carcass and bones, but I’ve used the wings too because having a few chunks of meat makes the stock much more flavoursome.

If you’ve totally devoured all the flesh, don’t despair you can still make it! On this occasion I decided on an Asian / Oriental twist because of a few ingredients that I wanted to use up from the pantry, but obviously you can vary the vegetables and spices to suit your taste. (more…)

Love Food, Hate Waste? Take action.

Posted on April 9, 2008

[warm chicken and potato salad]

There’s a massive campaign going on in the UK at the moment called Love Food, Hate Waste. This is a concept very close to my heart and one that I am constantly aware of. Although it’s a British campaign, it’s relevant to everyone globally especially when the future of our environment is looking so dire.

It’s about trying to get organised and plan your weekly meals so that you don’t buy too much and have to throw it away. It also focuses on being able to portion your meals correctly so that you don’t have loads of leftovers (that sit in the fridge and then go in the bin). Does anyone find this familiar? Don’t worry, I’m not going to ask for a show of hands!

Buying and cooking the correct amount of food not only saves you money but helps the environment by reducing landfill. I’m compelled to support this campaign because I love lists, I think food should never be wasted and I attack challenges with both hands. Ask anyone who knows me. I’m dedicating a few posts to using up an ingredient which we can all readily buy or easily make; roast chicken. (more…)