This has quickly become a favourite in our house. The leeks are so rich and tasty with the contrast of fresh basil to give them a fresh lift. While I have used chicken you can also serve alongside beef or lamb.
This salad is great as a free standing salad bowl or as a salad alongside your favourite protein. As a entire dish it is completely satisfying.
Roasting grapes takes the flavour to a whole new depth of flavour.
If you feel like adding some fresh herbs then thyme or oregano would be great.
Sweet and tangy, who doesn’t love a good lemon tart.
I recommend using a tart lemon such as YenBen or Lisbon. Meyer lemons are popular but won’t give the same tang.
Either make your pastry or buy sheets of sweet short pastry. To bake blind, cover the pastry with baking paper and then add weights to stop the pastry rising, bake at 180 C for about 10 minutest before removing the paper and then cooking for a further 3-5 minutes until lightly coloured.
This loaf was made for Father’s Day in thinking of my dad and the years we spent blackberry picking each autumn. Scratched arms and legs were all part of it.
Nana used to make blackberry and apple pies with flaky pastry whereas mum made lovely buttery shortcakes. I try to have a container of West Coast blackberries in the freezer for shortcakes, crumbles and now this loaf.
An absolute favourite in our house, this is one of the most requested takeaway style dinner at home. I make no pretence about it’s health benefits but it sure does taste great.
I always have a jar of teriyaki sauce in the fridge, made with equal quantities of soy sauce and mirin, a bit less of white sugar, but you still need enough to get flavour and then some grated fresh ginger and a splash of rice wine. Simmer over a moderate heat until it has reduced a little and sugar dissolved. It will live in the fridge for ages.
For a vegetarian option try Karaage Cauliflower which is also fab.
The ingredient list is long and they may seem fiddly but once you get into a rhythm then these rolls are put together quite quickly.
Get the family involved ini making them with you!
Brunch, lunch or an easy dinner. This tray bake is full of flavour and texture, it is also good for you. :)
The vegetables can suit you preference an also what you have on hand, eggplant, courgette, potatoes, cauliflower etc… would all be good.
If no harissa then try adding some pesto, or some spices. A Moroccan spice blend would be great as too would sumac or smoked paprika.
Here we are back in lockdown again and let us hope that it isn’t for too long.
My garden is now getting some much needed attention, the tuis are squabbling in the prunus blossom and our highly fragrant almond blossoms are a sign that spring is on its way.
As well as looking forward to our Hawkes Bay cycle trips in late September I am alway planning meals that come from the house. Minestrone Soup using just whatever I have on hand is nutritious and delicious especially with a slab of Parmesan, Rosemary and Garlic Beer Bread or a hot Cheese Scone.
For those on their own then do come and chat on our forums, there is plenty of good company there.
Happy Cooking!
These fries with green tahini are not only visually gorgeous but they also taste fantastic too.
Serve them as finger food or as part of a shared meal.
Aleppo chilli flakes (from Syria/Turkey) have a wonderful earthy fruity flavour with some heat but nothing like your regular chilli flakes. Buy a bag and share amongst a few friends!
Make sure you cater generously with the broccoli, my family of 5 would happily devour 2 heads of this broccoli in a sitting.
Extra tahini butter can be stored in the fridge, dollop onto grilled meats and other vegetables.
This is so simple to make and easy to free style. The only thing that is essential is using cold rice that has been cooked some hours before. Ideally cook the rice the night or morning prior and then cool and refrigerate until you are ready to go.
These make an interesting variation to the typical onion bhaji
They are also great for those that have difficulty digesting quantities of onion.
Frittatas are super easy and so convenient. I often make one on a Sunday, have some for a simple dinner that night and the rest is lunch for the next couple of days.
