I have had a busy weekend with four photo shoots today alone. My feet are sore from being on them all day and from our visit to the Food and Wine show yesterday. That was a great experience with food samples and tiny glasses of wine flowing in all directions. From a wide variety of cheeses to thick, rich yoghurts, spicy sausages, crackers and chutneys of all kind. The tummy expanded and the eyes swam as we moved deeper and deeper into the show. We maneuvered through the first pavilion with methodical precision born of a clear head but by halfway through the second, we could have been in the back streets of Italy for all we knew. We had no idea where we were. The limoncello was irresistible, the feijoa wine needed to be tasted in all its varieties from the sparkling to the special reserve, the cold beer called from afar. The tiny cup of Thai curry, the tasty slurp of clam chowder and the toothpick full of vegan sausage didn't manage to absorb the liquid offerings so we bumbled (actually … [Read more...] about Caramel, Chocolate Granola Cups
The Very Inspiring Blogger Award
I would like to thank the Cook Bake Share blog for nominating me for the “Very Inspiring Blogger” award. Here are the rules to participate, once you are nominated: 1. Link back to the person who nominated you. 2. Post the award image to your page (the initial image on the post). 3. Share 7 facts about yourself. 4. Nominate 15 other bloggers and let them know they’ve been nominated. 5. Post the rules in your blog post. Seven Facts About Myself: 1. I have been bitten by a dog, a horse and a monkey. 2. I have travelled to well over 40 countries. 3. I homeschooled my son and he has just graduated with a degree in architecture. 4.I lived in Italy for 9 years and met my husband there. 5. I used to have a ballet school. 6. I am a published author. 7. We have bought, renovated and/or landscaped and sold ten properties. My Fifteen Nominees: (actually there are 17 - I sneaked two more in because I couldn't cut any of my favourites out) That Skinny Chick can … [Read more...] about The Very Inspiring Blogger Award
Coconut Banana Pie
I had to develop a recipe this evening for a firm who has recruited me so I can't blog about our dinner. But I had coconut cream left over from the last Jamie Oliver meal and I wanted to use it. I had an email from a fellow blogger and went to look at her blog and lo and behold there was a coconut pie. I looked no further. I found this on the Dish-away blog. It took quite a bit longer to cook than in the recipe and it's important to cool it completely or it's too soft to handle. The coconut banana flavours were very tasty though. This is not a low Fodmap recipe. Coconut Banana Pie Print Author: Suzanne Perazzini Ingredients 100 grams butter 4 eggs ½ cup flour 1 cup sugar 1 cup shredded coconut 4 teaspoons vanilla 1 cup milk 1 cup coconut cream 2 mashed bananas Method Microwave the butter for 30 seconds, or melt it in a pan on the oven top. Mash the bananas with a fork. Beat the eggs well, then add the melted butter and beat until fully incorporated. Add … [Read more...] about Coconut Banana Pie
Green Curry, Crispy Chicken, Kimchee Slaw & Rice Noodles – Jamie’s 30-minute meal
This one of Jamie's 30-Minute Meals took 45 minutes but I made all of it. I don't know if I have done that before. I usually cut something out. Both my main food processor and my mini one came in handy. They do cut down on the work. Jamie used an unusual method for cooking the chicken. He fries it in a big pan for a bit and then put greaseproof paper on top and then a smaller frying pan. On top of that he put a mortar and pestle for weight. I guess the idea is that it presses the chicken into the pan to cook it evenly. It did come out pretty crispy. This meal was super delicious with heaps of flavours and we ate every bit. I loved the idea of piling everything onto our plates and then pouring the liquid curry juice all over the meal. Yum. The list of ingredients and instructions look long but it isn't as bad as it seems. The procedures are fairly straight forward. But you do need those processors. This is not a low Fodmap recipe. Green Curry, Crispy Chicken, Kimchee … [Read more...] about Green Curry, Crispy Chicken, Kimchee Slaw & Rice Noodles – Jamie’s 30-minute meal
Oozy Mushroom Risotto – a Jamie Oliver 30-Minute Meal
Another one of Jamie's 30-Minute Meals - a fairly simple one because I have been making risottos for years without blinking. He adds a lot more herbs than the usual Italian risotto but otherwise it's pretty accurate. I also made the accompanying spinach salad which I didn't photograph because it wasn't particularly photogenic. It was spinach, pine nuts, mint and sundried tomatoes - a good foil to the risotto. This meal also included a quick cheesecake in a glass but, as usual, I didn't make the dessert. The risotto and salad took about 40 minutes altogether. I was able to prepare the salad while adding water to the rice so it was time efficient. This recipe is not low Fodmap. Oozy Mushroom Risotto – a Jamie Oliver 30-Minute Meal Print Author: Suzanne Perazzini Serves: 4 Ingredients 1 stick of celery 1 large onion 15g dried porcini mushrooms 2 sprigs fresh rosemary 1 chicken or vegie stock cube 300g of arborio rice ½ glass of white wine 500g of mixed fresh … [Read more...] about Oozy Mushroom Risotto – a Jamie Oliver 30-Minute Meal
Granola Balls – no bake, gluten-free
Today is a sad, grey Sunday here in Auckland with cloud cover and constant drizzle. One of those days when it's good to curl up in front of the fire and read. But I am so bad at doing nothing as much as the idea appeals. But I am looking forward to my glass of wine and a few nibbles at 7pm when Adriano brings it into my study just before he starts cooking dinner. He cooks Friday to Sunday to give me a break and that's when I do the baking for the week. And no, you can't have him. He's mine. Not all granola bars have to be cooked but it can be difficult for them to stay together as a unit if they are not baked. So I figured I would make them into small balls and roll them in coconut and it worked. I used peanut butter as the binding ingredient because it does stick things together well and then added the usual rolled oats for the starch. The rest is flexible so I added raisins, almonds and chocolate chips but I can see this tasting good with cranberries and walnuts or pecans as well. … [Read more...] about Granola Balls – no bake, gluten-free
