Remember how I said I was going to work my way through drafts and archives? This is one of those, written in the beginning of December 2013 then filed away (but certainly not forgotten) in favour of far too many Christmas dessert recipes, it happens. In any case, instead of changing it to suit late summer I'm leaving it as is, because I can. Stay tuned for all the sides too. ------ Yesterday (well yesterday when I wrote this on 2 December) was the first day of summer in Sydney. For some … [Read more...]
Mushroom & Quinoa Vegan Meatballs with a Rustic Pasta Sauce
There aren't many things better than a big pot of meatballs and sauce to feed a crowd. Prepared in advance and called on as needed they are at once terribly simply and extraordinarily versatile. Growing up, meatballs and stuffed shells were our standard Thanksgiving Eve meal. A simmering pot was ready and waiting for family who rolled into Philly at all hours of the day and evening, and anything remaining came out to sit alongside the Thanksgiving leftovers for Friday lunch. My mother … [Read more...]
Raw Ginger Chocolate Truffles
What to say, what to say, on this the last day of a very long yet very short, and slightly tumultuous, year... There will be no 2014 trend predictions or big wrap up posts today. No tomes or photo montages dedicated to the most popular recipes this year (Raw Banana Cream Pie, Gluten Free Almond Pie Crust and French Butter Pastry battled it out with Mushroom & Lentil Burgers, Roasted Tomatillo Salsa Verde and that good old Spicy Carrot, Tomato and Lentil Soup standby if you really want to … [Read more...]
Grape & Rosemary Focaccia – Schiacciata Con l’Uva
The air is heady and sweet, greeting us as we turn into the driveway, painting our thoughts purple. It is the scent of bubblegum and ice blocks and lollies, the scent associated with most grape-flavoured childhood treats, yet not usually with real grapes. We stand in the middle of the wide green yard, taking in the vineyard's proud perfume for a moment before we wave absentmindedly back at the farmhouse and head for the leafy rows. Dodging dogs, skipping over patches of poison ivy … [Read more...]
Cape Cod Kale Salad
Salad is a simple act. A few fresh vegetables washed in cool water. A sharp knife slicing effortlessly through crisp leaves. A tangy dressing thrown together with what's on hand. The first bite is refreshing after days of excess. The second is calming and reassuring. A return to clean simplicity, shared with family over the sound of old stories, squealing children and end of summer breezes. I probably should have made another batch for the second half of our trip … [Read more...]
Concord Grape Curd & Vegan Meringue Pie Parfaits
Well now isn't that a mouthful in more ways than one. I mentioned that we are off on another adventure, however as the first two weeks of our trip involved hanging out in Cape Cod with my extended family, followed by a week at Mom's farm in upstate NY, it was nearly impossible to keep me out of the kitchen. I found myself whipping up salads and cakes and more salads along the way so figured I may as well pull out a slightly unusual twist for this month's Sweet Adventures Blog … [Read more...]
Carmen! An evening at the Opera on Sydney Harbour
Love, war, obsession, seduction, death. It pretty much covers the various events experienced in any opera, but throw in a bull fight, fireworks and a stage built in the middle of a harbour and all of a sudden a classic opera becomes an event not to be missed. Last Tuesday evening RJ and I had an opportunity to attend the Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour production of Carmen. Despite my living in Sydney for almost a decade and RJ growing up here, neither of us had ever been to an opera … [Read more...]
