Last year I posted my Hot Cross Bun recipe, and developed a vegan version I’m happy with. It’s that time of year again so here they are again. Make buns, not war.

How to make strawberry jam that tastes fresh and sweet? Cook it quickly. Here’s how.

It goes against my grain to adapt recipes for vegans / coeliacs / food intolerances in general. Not cause I dislike my friends who eat in special ways, but because I find most substitutes are either highly manufactured alternatives (i.e. Nuttalex, Melrose Spread, non-eggwhite etc) or something that alters the texture or taste.  There are […]

It goes against my grain to adapt recipes for vegans / coeliacs / food intolerances in general. Not cause I dislike my friends who eat is special ways. Vegan Hot Cross Bun recipe and a traditional one. Tried and trusted and delicious

So, today I took up smoking. I’ve wanted to for at least a year now; I’ve been researching the hows and whys and wherefores, and finally today I took the plunge. Hot Smoking at Home. Smoked tomatoes and smoked mozzarella.

The first time I can remember coming across Clafoutis was in the early 1990’s and I had a housemate who knew a lot about food, and who tried lots of new dishes and loved to bake.  One afternoon we decided to try a cherry clafoutis recipe, which I think was from her Maggie Beer book. […]

Ultimately, I cook for others because I want to be liked.  If you bring the cake, someone will always be your friend.  So I like to have a few standby, easy to make, crowd pleasing recipes on hand. Tonight we had a gathering to celebrate my neighbours 86th birthday.  No small occasion I’m sure you’ll […]

Winter well-and-truly struck Melbourne last week.  It’s been quite a while since we’ve had a “proper” winter, cold and drizzly, requiring stew and stodge to keep the inner fires burning. Last Sunday I wanted a cup of tea and a pikelet or  two.  Warm liquid, and delicious stodge! While I was mixing up a batch, […]

A couple of weeks ago I went to the markets with friend Mellie, half of Tummyrumbles. We spied “tamed nettles” lovingly picked off their stems and bagged for us by one of the stall holder’s sons as his “pin money” job.  I quietly suggested that nettle gnocchi may have to be in order to Mellie. […]

Now that I have found a ready supply of free range chicken frames I find myself making chicken stock regularly.   It is so easy and lends itself to a quiet Sunday afternoon at home, then to be turned into soup or risotto for an easy Sunday meal.  You can also use up any not […]