Of the things I miss most from America-land, proper Mexican food is pretty close to the top of the list. I crave the staff lunches made by the Mexican woman who was a prep chef in a Denver restaurant where I waited tables. The dark, 20+ ingredient mole poblano, the spicy rice, the salsas, the fresh vegetables, the hot tortillas. It was fresh and clean and filling. My eyes glaze over when I think about the road-side shops in Mexico where a $1.50 fish taco comes out of the kitchen as a … [Read more...]
Gluten Free Crepes with Peach & Blueberry Compote
So first pink was the new black, then orange was the new pink, then macarons were the new cupcakes until canelés became the new macaron - but no one could make canelés properly so that didn't last too long - and before we knew it salted caramel became the new everything and engulfed cupcakes, and macarons and ice cream. Now crepes are the new pancakes. Or are crepes the new cupcake? Or for that matter are crepes the new black? In the interest of logical progression I should lead you … [Read more...]
Basil & Walnut Pesto
She unconsciously hummed along with the music playing in the background, humm de dum de da. It was from Milan she explained, as a smile triggered by an ancient memory flitted across her face. The heavy wooden chopping board belonged to her mother, the cleaver had been borrowed from my mother and the basil was picked just moments before from her own garden. Ro was chopping up herbs for pesto, again, it was the third time in two weeks. My grandmother still makes her pesto the old way. … [Read more...]
Sriracha – Roasted Chili Sauce
I'm a fan of spontaneity and random romance and catching the eye of your crush across a room. I'm not a fan of corny cards and cheap chocolate and ridiculous expectations. In short, while I do love love, I'm not a fan of Valentine's Day. Don't get me wrong, I adore a heart shaped cookie and bright red cake as much as the next person but the pressure and expectations and commercialism of February 14 bothers me. So it is not particularly surprising that on this day I give you spice … [Read more...]
Plum & Ginger Sauce, How to Dry Thyme, and a bit about food waste…
Here's the deal... I'm going to take 30% [or maybe even 50%] of all the food produced and throw it straight in the bin - probably before it even gets to a store. Of the food that makes it to the grocery store I'll get rid of 20% [maybe even 40%] before you can see it. Then once you're home with your purchases and sitting down to enjoy that meal you just made, I'm going to take 20% of what is on your plate - as that's going in the bin too. Ok? What? That's not acceptable? Why not? It's … [Read more...]
Aussie BBQ Sauce
It's funny you know, the differences you find in an activity as simple as cooking food over an open flame. For starters what do you call said activity - barbeque, barbecue, BBQ, grilling or something else - and what do the terms mean? Then there's the question of what to cook, and even what equipment to use. Let me paint the smoky picture in very broad brushstrokes... In America-land, grilling is what happens on a charcoal or gas grill, usually with chicken legs and hamburgers and maybe a … [Read more...]
Rhubarb & Apple Spread. Or it is curd… or perhaps jam. No probably not jam, not really curd either…
One bunch of rhubarb well past its prime languished in my crisper. A few unsightly end of season apples picked up from the organic food store sat forlornly on the bench top. Cooking them down was the only option I could see. I haven't had much luck baking with rhubarb in the past. As a compote it works just fine but baked into anything it just never has any taste to me. Once I used it with with coconut and pear and produced a cake loaf that was so awful even toasting couldn't save … [Read more...]
