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“Sicilian” Anchovy, Tomato and Feta Tart

29 Aug, 2020

I asked my good wife, Sally, to make a tart for a Sunday lunch using some amazing anchovies that we had in our fridge – it happened to be at the time our daughter Anna and her partner Haydo were in Sicily and the anchovies “happened” to be from Sicily. They are easily the best anchovies we have bought in New Zealand – we bought them at a market in Waiheke. The owner is a lovely guy, Danilo, who is passionate...

Sicilian Sausage Soup

29 Aug, 2020

I googled Sicilian soups when our daughter Anna and her partner Haydo were in Sicily and here is the result and what I cooked. It doesn’t sound amazing and is not a “to die for” dish but very easy and quick to cook, healthy, hearty and tasty, improving with age each day. Worth a cook for lunches or easily substantial enough for dinner as, in addition to the vegetables, it also has pasta Basically onions, carrots, celery,...

Warm Lamb, Beetroot and Chickpea Salad

16 Aug, 2020

I saw this recipe in the Herald a few weeks ago and decided to try it. Tweaked it a tad and had it for dinner It was so easy to cook and had real flavour, so much so that we cooked it again for lunch that weekend but without the lamb. It is the combo of beetroot and chickpeas roasted with spices, feta and salad that make the dish…along of course with the lamb as an extra, but not essential ingredient if you get the drift!...

The Power of Friendship

28 Jul, 2020

Good friends do us a power of good. We know they are important so why do we struggle to make time for friends in our busy lives? Friendships develop from the individual connections we weave over a lifetime. Friends make us healthier especially when they encourage good habits, like going for regular walks or bike rides together. The best friendships make us feel valued and are reciprocated. These are the...

Pasta e Fagioli (Italian pasta and beans)

17 Jul, 2020

I saw this dish on MasterChef, liked the sound of it, so looked up a recipe, tweaked it a tad, cooked it, loved it and here it is! It is a simple, quick, inexpensive and tasty pasta stew which makes such a lovely dinner or lunch during the winter months. If you like the sound of it, follow the recipe and you will have 6-8 meals. If you want to include some meat in addition to the vegetables, beans and pasta, fry off some pancetta or bacon...

Job Search Tips When You’re Over 50

08 Jul, 2020

I have received several recent reader questions about job search tips when you’re over 50: When you are an older unemployed professional in your late 50's how do you survive and what strategies should you use to navigate through these difficult times we are currently in? – Thea What are the best career pivot options and tactics for workers over 60? — Ken Is there a point in pursuing/reigniting a career at my...

Roasted Cauliflower and Blue Cheese Soup

23 Jun, 2020

Roasted cauliflower and blue cheese are the perfect partners in this elegant soup. With it being early winter and cauliflowers both plentiful and “cheap”, if you like the sound of this combo, you’ll love the soup – the roasting of the cauliflower with onions and garlic adds good flavour with the onions slightly caramelising the cauliflower. The chilli kick is great but you can leave it out if you don’t...

“The case for employing mature aged workers” – day 1, level 1 June 9 2020

16 Jun, 2020

As we work our way through these challenging times, one segment of New Zealanders that needs support now more than ever is our pool of mature aged job seekers. What we don’t want to forget is the fact that there are thousands of job seekers in their mid-50’s and over who are looking for work, including many who have or will lose their jobs. These are mainly good people who have made a great contribution to society,...

Ten Job Hunting Tips When Times Are Tough

04 Jun, 2020

It's a tough time to be looking for work as lives and livelihoods have come under incredible pressure during the Covid-19 pandemic. Job hunters, recruiters and employers are struggling with personal and professional challenges. Organisations are facing difficult decisions and an uncertain future with border closures, supply disruptions and changing customer trends. Some businesses and industries are...

Beef cheek and mushroom Ragù (with pappardelle)

19 May, 2020

This is a very easy dish even if it takes quite a bit of cooking time. The end result is a dish that is so tasty and tender….. and you will know all the ingredients, so nothing weird at all! Beef Cheeks are the cheek muscle of cows and they are a very tough cut of meat that needs to be cooked long and slow to make it tender. It absorbs the flavours of braising liquid well and when you cut into it, it is stringy,...

Anglo Indian cottage pie

11 May, 2020

This is a real favourite - eat for dinner and then eat the leftovers cold or warm! The flavours, which are really varied, come together beautifully as the dish is cooked. I haven't met anyone who hasn't really enjoyed this - it is a very old recipe originally given to me by my grandmother which I have slightly tweaked over time. If you have a favourite mango or any fruit chutney, it would likely go well with this dish. This...

Hungarian Goulash

02 May, 2020

A traditional Hungarian Goulash is a soup or stew that is usually filled with tender beef and onions spiced with paprika. Traditional Hungarian goulash is a prime example of how a few simple ingredients, cooked properly, can yield an incredible flavour. Though many variations of Hungarian goulash exist, and every cook makes it just a bit differently, this is my easy version of a very traditional dish from the heart of Hungary. This recipe is...

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