When a chef, one who runs a holiday property in the country none the less, emails to ask if you want to come down to Tasmania to teach a two-day food photography and styling workshop, the only possible answer is yes. When she mentions that she'll do all the cooking, talks about stringing fairy lights through the trees for dinner and sends you photos of a possible picnic location at the end of a pier you know it's meant to be. And so it was that I found myself, a mere month after that … [Read more...]
Vegan Spelt Anzac Biscuits
Yes, a recipe for Anzac Biscuits, over a week after Anzac Day has come and gone. A recipe that while perfectly edible (and highly enjoyable if I do say so myself) isn't quite right, quite yet -- but I'm posting it anyway because: sometimes not perfect is still ok, and edible but not quite right, quite yet, is an extraordinarily accurate description of the current state of this here site, at this here moment... More about the site shortly, but first the biscuits. You may want to grab … [Read more...]
Exploring Southern Queensland Country: Pie, Wine, Cheese and Bushwalking in the Granite Belt
You'd be forgiven for thinking that Queensland, with its copious expanses of white sand, blue water, and miles upon miles of coastline was little other than a nearly never-ending summer... Not that there's anything wrong with miles of beaches, but the north eastern corner of Australia is a huge and diverse area, and only a few hours inland from Brisbane and the Gold Coast are rolling hills, farms and seasonal weather patterns -- who knew?! In early September I was asked to travel around … [Read more...]
Lamington Fudge Bites – Vegan and Soy-Free
My 3rd blogiversary (in early November) passed before I realised it had arrived. I let Thanksgiving slide by without a mention or a single pumpkin recipe. I managed to outdo myself in December -- with no less than three truffle recipes, two cookies, a pie, an ice cream bombe and some spiced syrup -- but the other day another milestone crept quietly past. I only remembered the day after, while sitting at lunch with a client no less, that I had arrived in Australia 12 years ago intending to … [Read more...]
Triple Ginger, Fig & Macadamia Cookies & a Free Cookie e-book!
The scent of cookies fresh from the oven is simply intoxicating. It stops people in their tracks as their eyes glaze over and their speech trails off. "Oh, are you baking cookies?" is uttered with an air of desperate nonchalance, darting glances search for a serving plate or cooling rack. Cookies don't require formality, although they are equally at home perched daintily on the edge of a china saucer as clasped in a grubby toddler hand. They can be delicate and crisp, soft and oozy, … [Read more...]
Quinoa Fried Rice
A twist on a classic, a fridge surprise, leftover magic... Call it what you will this creation is one of my favourite ways to use quinoa. Truth be told it's one of my favourite ways to use pretty much anything. Clearing out the crisper has been quite a trend round these parts lately and it's bound to continue. The good thing about re-inventing leftovers is that they cease to be tired and simply become an entirely new meal. How terribly convenient. Tell me, what is your top tip to … [Read more...]
Samphire & Kipfler Potato Salad
Traditional America-land potato salad is something I always avoided at picnics growing up. Gloopy, mayo-saturated, oddly sweet, purchased from the grocery store deli counter, sitting in the sun for ages - it never did it for me. Luckily my Mom would use a vinegar-based dressing whenever she made potato or pasta salads - so much better! Now salt and potatoes go hand-in-hand, so when thinking about what to do with the crisp and salty samphire I received in a goodie bag a while back it just made … [Read more...]
