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Beef cheeks in red wine

15 Jul, 2023

We are currently right in the middle of winter and certainly in Auckland, the rain keeps falling, so it’s definitely the time to cook and enjoy those slow cook meals. Beef cheeks are a real favourite of ours, easy to cook and well worth waiting for the cheeks to slowly cook and then enjoy the flavour and melting-like texture of correctly cooked cheeks. Acknowledge that cheeks are one of the hardest-working muscles in the...

Asparagus pasta – three simple ways

16 Oct, 2022

It’s spring and the height of asparagus season, so for many of us we really indulge eating and enjoying asparagus until, maybe, we’ve overdone eating asparagus until next spring! If you’re looking for quick, easy and seasonally yummy meals ready in well under 15 minutes and you love asparagus, check these out and look at how few ingredients are required…...

Warm Chicken, Haloumi and Avocado Salad

01 Oct, 2022

This is a perfect spring, summer or autumn dish – yes a few quick cooks but all in the same pan and the dish is quick and easy to make. The salty, squeaky haloumi works really well with the capsicum, avocado and asparagus together with the dressing which has that tangy balsamic sharpness The pancetta or bacon is an optional ingredient – I use it, but you may feel that the haloumi, being salty, is sufficient to provide that...

Baked eggplant with chickpeas and yoghurt

25 Sep, 2022

The base recipe was in the DISH magazine, and I have very slightly tweaked it. Yummy, tasty dish, especially if you love eggplants, chickpeas and smoked paprika which combine so well. Very quick and easy to make While the eggplants do take time in the oven, once they’re in, it only takes a few minutes to add the final touches for a flavour-packed meal. Ingredients 2 medium eggplants or 5-6 long...

Blue Cheese Pasta with Spinach and Walnuts

20 Aug, 2022

Ready in just 15 minutes, this blue cheese pasta with spinach and walnuts is perfect for those busy days when all you want is a treat. The blue cheese sauce is made lighter with creme fraiche, and the toasted walnuts give this pasta just the right amount of crunchiness. How good is that – prep time 5 mins, cook time 10 mins, ready to eat in 15 minutes. A lovely taste sensation as long as you like blue cheese, super yum and an ideal...

Spaghetti alla Carbonara

25 Jul, 2022

Spaghetti alla Carbonara. Luscious and wonderfully indulgent, pasta carbonara takes as long to make as it does to cook the pasta. The ingredients are simple—just spaghetti (or another long pasta), and the carbonara is made with pancetta or bacon, eggs, parmesan, a little olive oil, salt and pepper. The silky carbonara sauce is created when the beaten eggs are tossed with the hot pasta and a little fat from the pancetta or bacon....

Chicken and mushroom risotto

16 Jul, 2022

I love a good, tasty risotto and they are so easy to cook. In fact I am happy to make a risotto any time of the year, but my good wife only likes them at this time of the year, so here we go – one of my favourites. Serve with a simple rocket and shaved parmesan salad This is not a complicated risotto recipe requiring stock to be added as the risotto cooks – all the stock goes in at once, too easy! This recipe makes...

Chicche Di Patate with Beef Ragù

03 Jul, 2022

A Beef Ragù/ Bolognese with small Chicche Di Patate (potato gnocchi) makes an easy, rustic and tasty winter’s meal. This particular recipe, whilst very tasty, has a slight “vegetable” taste to it with the inclusion of grated courgette in addition to the standard staples of onion, garlic, carrot and celery, so a good way to get some tasty veg into everyone’s tummies in the family and the small gnocchi add fun,...

Red wine braised beef with mashed potatoes and peas

21 Aug, 2021

There is just something about braising beef that makes it so amazing. This braise is great with secondary cuts of beef such as chuck, shin or cheek. With so much time spent slowly cooking and absorbing the great flavours of the vegetables and wine, this meat comes out very tender and flavoursome. Perfect to be eaten with mashed potatoes and the sprinkling of peas – the peas on the top gives the dish a real splash of vibrant...

Duck breast with white beans, baby spinach and sage

31 Jul, 2021

Okay, you’ve never cooked duck but you like the taste and flavour and you may have seen it being cooked on cooking programmes such as MasterChef. Well this dish is very easy to cook and is such an amazingly yummy dish. Ideal for a special or romantic dinner for two (simply halve the ingredients) or for a dinner party, obviously adjusting the ingredients as applicable. Try it - you won't be disappointed! ...

Balinese Chicken Curry

15 Apr, 2021

This is one of the tastiest and lightest curries that I’ve eaten and cooked – it is based on a Nadia Lim recipe. I’ve served it a few times for our friends and it always get huge raps! It is very fresh tasting with lemon grass, kaffir lime leaves and tamarind paste in the recipe as well as other traditional Indonesian spices and herbs. Has chilli but mainly as a garnish so is not a hot curry This Balinese chicken curry is...

Fresh Fig, Pancetta and Baby Rocket Salad with Goat Cheese

28 Feb, 2021

I’m guessing that there won’t be much interest in this recipe as not many Kiwis have tried or eaten fresh figs and that’s fine…but if you haven’t, do give this recipe a go as the end “product” is so yummy. “Tis the season” right now (Mar/Apr) and it’s a short season, so enjoy them over the coming weeks. Fresh sweet figs with crisp pancetta and soft goat cheese over baby rocket...

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