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...]
Creamy Spiced Apple-Nog (aka Vegan Egg-Nog)
Huh, well it seems that between a Pumpkin Upside-Down Cake last week and a twist on Egg-Nog this week I've unintentionally set the scene for Christmas in July. How terribly festive of me (or more appropriately what a terribly appropriate response to my perpetual complaining about how cold I am...). Maybe I should have convinced RJ to let me leave the tree up for another month. So how did I come to make a concoction named Apple-Nog (or Not-Egg-Nog as I've been affectionately calling it) … [Read more...]
Summer Fruit Platter Smoothie
Ok, ok, so you're probably not going to make a fruit platter for the sole purpose of throwing it all in a blender. BUT if you were to make a fruit platter for a bbq and end up with leftovers once the festivities ended, throwing it all in a blender the next day would be the perfect solution to reclaiming your fridge shelf back. That said, 'Leftover Fruit Platter Smoothie' didn't quite have the same ring to it, so 'Summer' won. On the other hand if you had a crowd for breakfast … [Read more...]
Lime Sherbet and a Gin & Tonic Float
Remember when I made those Key Lime Ombre Popsicles? Well it turns out I had more popsicle liquid than patience to make more popsicles -- and in a flash of genius I figured that the combinations would make pretty good sorbets. What I didn't count on was that when frozen, whipped and swirled the texture and flavour of the resulting frozen concoction was the stuff childhood memories are made of. You see we didn't often have ice cream in the freezer growing up but I have a very … [Read more...]
Strawberry & Blood Orange Frozen Margarita
There I go again, making summery, freezing cold treats in the dead of winter. Ironically this delectable beverage is, well other than the frozen bit, entirely seasonal. You see while strawberries are ripe for the picking (pun entirely intended) in NSW during late spring and early summer, they roll out of tropical Queensland by the tonne all winter long. They are sweeter and juicer and less expensive now, even being shipped a state down, than they are coming from only an hour or two away … [Read more...]
Aperol Spritz and Sunset Sessions at Icebergs – Sydney
If overlooking the beach and air-kissing with the beautiful people of Sydney sounds like the perfect way to ease into another week this one's for you. Thanks to the 2013 Aperol Spritz Sunset Sessions -- at Icebergs during November and Watsons Bay Hotel December through March -- you can chill out each Sunday through the silly season from 4pm until late. The Bondi Sunset Sessions feature beats from some of Sydney's hottest DJ's including Andy Webb, Valerie Yum and Kali, and of … [Read more...]
Strawberry, Cucumber & Coconut Water Slushy
A dose of refreshment on a hot day, a dose of sunshine on a rainy day -- this frosty drink is as appropriate post-yoga as it is post-beach. Another thing I've decided to do as part of my sticking with what works approach is to finally dig out recipes and pics from the past year or so that haven't made it into posts yet. This was shot -- ironically enough almost a year ago to the day -- using stunningly sweet new season berries and coconut water from a young coconut. I froze the fresh … [Read more...]
