Apricots are just amazing when they are gently poached; so much better than eating them fresh. They are sweet and juicy and tangy and speak to me of summer. I poached these apricots in a simple sugar syrup with vanilla, a strip of lemon rind and a star anise, flavours that go really well with…
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Cranberry and wild rice salad
This is a delicious salad and a staple at our place at Christmas time. It’s very colourful and full of contrasting textures and flavours. The nutty wild rice and the perfumed basmati rice are complemented perfectly by the crunch of almonds, the sweet chewiness of cranberries and the sharp, bright flavours of orange, ginger and…
Read MorePikelets and memories
The first recipe I ever cooked was pikelets*. I was about ten and eager to help out in the kitchen, sensing even then that the kitchen was where all the action was. My mother was a good, plain cook; hospitable and always concerned that there might not be enough food to feed her guests. Her…
Read MoreTomato and bocconcini salad with beautiful basil dressing
Summer is the absolute best time to eat tomatoes and basil and I think I have a little bit of a food crush on them. This salad uses both; fresh tomatoes and a basil dressing which is both sweet and sharp. The addition of little soft and squishy bocconcini takes it to another…
Read MoreLemony baked chicken with thyme
I love the flavour of lemon because it gives the most amazing sharpness to both sweet and savoury foods, bringing out the best in the ingredients it is paired with. In this recipe a juicy lemon is sliced into wedges and then roasted with chicken, tomatoes, baby peppers and thyme until the chicken…
Read MoreBrownies to die for
I won’t say that these brownies are the best ever. I would never say that anyone’s brownies are the best ever. I think that the world has room enough for a truckload of spectacular brownies, and I’m writing as one who has tried a comprehensive range; nutty, chewy, studded with white chocolate, or milk chocolate,…
Read MoreWarm bean salad with proscuitto and herbs
The flavours in this warm salad – garlic, basil, onion, proscuitto and a kiss of chilli are absolute winners with the creamy cannelini beans. With some simply grilled meat, a fresh green salad and jacket potatoes, you have a complete meal that’s delicious, healthy, and has a wonderful mix of contrasting textures and flavours. Serves…
Read MoreButter beans with pine nuts and lemon
I was inspired to create this recipe to bring out the gorgeous flavours of butter beans by the bumper crop from my vegetable patch this year. Butter beans are similar to green beans and not to be confused with the equally delicious but quite different broad beans. They have a slightly sweeter flavour and I…
Read MoreOrange blossom cupcakes
When I was growing up cupcakes were called patty cakes and strictly for children’s birthday parties. Now it seems as if the formerly humble patty cake is everywhere, and dressed up in all manner of adornments. No matter if they have a new name and fancy schmancy decoration, they are still a universal…
Read MorePoached egg on toast
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication – Leonardo da Vinci I doubt Leonardo da Vinci was referring to a poached egg on toast when he made that statement. However, a softly poached egg – organic or from a generous friend’s backyard chooks – with a chewy piece of toasted rye bread, topped with sea salt…
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Simple food 