2015 Christmas Greetings from FeedYourInnerCook

Christmas is a time to reflect, think of others, show family and friends how grateful we are to have them in our lives, support those in need in our community and remember those no longer with us. It is not the money, it is time and true generosity of spirit. We celebrate the opportunity to gather together, share special moments and make special memories. Whether your loved ones can be at your table or within your heart - raise your glass and may we all wish for a more peaceful 2016 for everyone's loved ones.

Window display Hamley's ToyStore. London

This year the FeedYourInnerCooks really "seized the moment" and were very fortunate to travel far and wide - it feels like a dream -but we wore out our shoes exploring amazing places, tasting fresh incredible food and meeting wonderful people in places such as  Umbria, Oxford, Cambridge, Sweden, Croatia and the  magical Swedish island town of Visby - Hej Hej!!  

To all the kind, welcoming people who made our trips so special and memorable -                           we say "Thank you and Tack!"

                A truly Happy, safe Christmas and serene 2016 to all our wonderful readers. 

Beautiful Visby. Sweden

Window display. Stockholm

Exeter College Oxford

Carnaby Street London

View from Balcony. Umbria.

Cheers!  Colleen and Mama Marmalade

Panettone, Limoncello and Blueberry Trifle - It's Too DUANE Good!!!

Now, this is a SUPER BOWL - filled to the brim with luscious Limoncello soaked Panettone and berry trifle .. my thanks to Wilbur for fighting off the hordes of barefoot partygoers and taking this photo ... despite Duane reaching in with "his" spoon!!  The flavours are lemony light and summery and the panettone adds great texture and a perfect change from the usual sponge - yes it is laden with yummy calories but .... mmmmmm - and apparently it is even better the next morning .. for breakfast!

PS This is for you Duane - Cheers!

Time:  First prepare the jelly.
            Allow at least one hour to prepare all ingredients and layer into bowl. 

Best made the day before serving 

Ingredients - this is a general guide and will depend upon your dish size.  I made a BIG bowl.

Essentially you are creating layers of custard, cake, fruit with jelly then nuts and cream and repeating until bowl is full.  Extras can make a spare dessert for another day as it will keep refrigerated for a few days.  Good luck hiding it in the fridge.

Panettone - a large boxed cake is usually 800gram - 1 kg.  Lightly remove crust (can leave on if you forget, but remove the burnt bottom) and slice approx 2cm thick

Limoncello - avoid brands that have a rough aftertaste.  (I have used various including Villa Massa and Lemon Z.)  A little goes a long way

Custard - either make it yourself or fine to buy a good quality brand (approx 1 kg) 

Cream - the thick dollop type   - approx 600 ml

Peaches - 800/850 gram tin of quality Australian tinned peaches well drained

Nuts - I used a couple of handfuls of chopped macadamias.  Or use flaked almonds

Jelly - I made up 2 x 85gram packets of natural Lemon jelly with a little less water than suggested.  Or you could make your own from scratch to enhance the flavour.  Allow to set in fridge prior to using. 

Lemon Zest - I used very fine zest of 2 lemons

Blueberries - I used 2 x 125 gram punnets

Raspberries  - 1 x 125 gram punnet

Mint leaves -  a very small handful to decorate top just prior to serving.  This really adds a 'fresh zing'

Silver Cachous and Icing Sugar to decorate top just prior to serving

Method

Make the jelly and chill preferably for 4 hours minimum to set. When set cut into small chunks for easy layering

Drain the peaches, chop the nuts and clean the berries.

Have large glass bowl (you'll want to show off those layers!!) and ingredients to hand.

SO

Spoon a small amount of custard in base of bowl.

Remove crust from panettone and slice horizontally.  Place 1 slice on a large dinner plate and drizzle a small amount of Limoncello using a spoon.  You want it to be a little moist but not soaking. Do one slice at a time.

Place panettone slice over the custard.

Cover with a little more custard, then the peach slices, some of the jelly, blueberries, a scattering of nuts and zest and small dollops of cream.

Repeat the layers until bowl is almost full.

For the topping,  cover with cream. Dot with a few spoonfuls of custard.
Refrigerate overnight.
Just prior to serving
Decorate with raspberries, the remaining blueberries, a few nuts, lemon zest, small mint leaves and if desired, a few silver cachous and a final dusting of icing sugar.

Serve with bowls of the remaining custard and cream.

Serve ... then ....    Stand back !!!

I have also served this using strawberries and took a raspberry blueberry version to Diner en Blanc in small individual jars for easy transporting and serving - All are delicious!!

                                       









  Enjoy!  Colleen !  

Mango and chocolate tart

 

Curtis Stone was the creator of this stunning tart, what a winning combination chocolate pastry, mango jelly and chocolate mousse filling.

It looks impressive but don't tell the guests how easy it is to make.

Ingredients

Tart 
200g plain flour
55g icing sugar
35g Dutch cocoa
100g chilled butter, roughly chopped
3 egg yolks

Chocolate Filling
300ml thickened cream
400g milk chocolate (good quality) roughly chopped

Mango Jelly
3 x 5g leaves titanium strength gelatine
2 large ripe mangoes, flesh roughly chopped
60ml orange juice

Method

Use a 26cm loose bottom tart tin.

Process flour, sugar, cocoa, butter and a pinch of salt in a food processor until mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Add egg yolks and process until mixture just comes together. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and using the heel of your hand, bring pastry together. Shape into a round disc, wrap in a plastic wrap then refrigerate for an hour.

Roll out pastry between 2 sheets of baking paper until 4mm thick. Use pastry to line tart pan. Trim edge and using a folk to prick base. Rest the pastry in freezer for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, to make chocolate filling, place cream in a saucepan over medium-high heat and bring almost to the boil. Remove from the heat add chocolate then stir until melted and smooth. Set aside to cool slightly.

Preheat oven to 180C. Line tart shell with baking paper, filled with weights (dried beans /rice) then bake for 10 minutes. Remove the weight and bake for further 10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes.

Pour chocolate filling into tart shell then refrigerate for 30 minutes or until filling is just set.

To make jelly, place gelatine in a bowl of cold water for 3 minutes to soften, then squeeze out excess water. Meanwhile blend mango in a blender to a puree. Using the back of a spoon, push through a fine sieve into a bowl. (you need 300ml). Place orange juice in a saucepan over low medium heat and bring to a simmer. Add gelatine and whisk to combine.

Pour jelly over chocolate in tart shell. Spread evenly. Refrigerate for 1.5 hours or until set.

Remove tart from pan. Dip a large sharp knife in hot water, dry the blade, then cut tart into slices to serve.


Stunning!
Mamma Marmalade

marinated pork ribs with Asian flavours

This is the second recipe in our Family Favourites Series - marinated pork ribs with Asian flavours.  Just by using staples from the pantry you can make this quick go to family dinner packed with flavour.

Ingredients

600g free range pork spare ribs
1 dessertspoon Soy Sauce
2 Tablespoon Peanut or Olive Oil
1 teaspoon Sesame Oil
2 cloves crushed garlic
1 dessertspoon honey
1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
1 teaspoon freshly grated turmeric or 1/2 teaspoon dried turmeric
2 small chillies finely chopped
Sesame seeds and garlic flowers/chopped coriander for garnish

Method

Combine all the above ingredients in a glass/ceramic non reactive dish.
Add spare ribs in a single layer, using a fork, prick each rib and then turn over and repeat.
Marinate in the fridge for 3 hours if you have the time, turning every so often.  Even 30 minutes will do.

Preheat griddle pan and once hot place spare ribs in a single layer.
Cook for 5 minutes on one side, turn and cook for a further 5- 8 minutes or until cooked through.
(If you want to crunch up the skin just use tongs to hold the skin side directly on the pan)

Sprinkle with sesame seeds and garlic flowers or chopped coriander as garnish.

Serve with nutty brown rice for a delicious family favourite.

Hint: I store my sesame seeds in a small glass bottle in the freezer, no waste and always on hand.

Hope this becomes one of your family favourites.

Mamma Marmalade

Roasted Vegetables and CousCous Salad

Sometimes a recipe is so good it deserves an encore.  We had so much interest in this salad recipe (thank you!!)  and we have made it many times since - it is a real winner and the perfect solution for so many summer events.  Great served on it's own, an side at a barbeque lunch or with some shredded chicken or lamb tossed through - versatile and easy - Encore! 

At this time of year when you get invited over for lunch and you offer to bring "a salad" you need to look for something a little different, that transports well and will also be a hit on the tastebuds.  This roasted vegetable and couscous salad inspired by Annabel Langbein, that I took to my friend Lesley's house ticked all the boxes.

Ingredients

2 red onions, peeled
3 medium beetroots, washed
200g pumpkin, peeled
3 medium carrots, peeled
2 sweet potato, peeled
3 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoon maple syrup or golden syrup
Salt and pepper
2 cups couscous
lemon zest
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups boiling water
1/2 cup of mint leaves torn
1/4 cup of lemon juice
1/2 cup of shelled unsalted pistachios nuts, chopped

Method

Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius
Halve the onion lengthwise and cut into 2 cm pieces. 
Cut beetroot, pumpkin, carrots and sweet potato into 2 cm pieces.

Toss into a large roasting dish in a single layer (you may need two trays). 
Drizzle with olive oil and maple syrup and season with salt and pepper.

Cook for approximately 45 minutes or until the vegetables are soft and start to caramelise.

In a large serving bowl, mix the couscous, lemon zest, salt and boiling water.
Allow to stand for 10 minutes then fluff with a fork.

Add the roasted vegetables, mint and lemon juice to the couscous and gently toss to combine.

Top with chopped pistachios.

Healthy and delicious!

Mamma Marmalade

Snickers & Salted Peanut slice

Looking for ideas for easy Christmas gifts or sweet treats for the party season? This couldn't really be called cooking, more like melting, stirring and combining.  But the results are delicious and at only 175cals (733kj) why not have two pieces.

Ingredients

3 x 50g Snickers bars, chopped roughly
2 x 53g Mars bars, chopped roughly
50g butter, chopped
1 tablespoon golden syrup
3 cups (105g ) rice bubbles
1/2 cup (70g) salted roasted peanuts, coarsely chopped
100g dark chocolate, coarsely chopped
100g white chocolate, coarsely chopped

Method

Line a 19cm x 29cm slice pan with baking paper allowing the sides to overhang.
In a medium saucepan combine the Snickers and Mars bars, butter and golden syrup over medium to low heat.  Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until the bars melt and the mixture is smooth.
Combine in a large bowl, rice bubbles and peanuts, pour over the melted Snickers mixture and stir until just combined.
Spoon mixture into lined slice pan and press down lightly to smooth the surface.
Set aside for 1 hour to set and cool.
Place dark chocolate and white chocolate in separate bowls over saucepan of simmering water.  Stir for 3 minutes or until the chocolate melts.
Pour chocolate alternately over the slice and using a palette or butter knife gently spread to create a marble effect.
Chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
Cut into desired size.

No need to resist.
Mamma Marmalade

Beef Empanadas

 
 
 

Great tasting snacks that are portable to take to parties and on picnics are always a winner.  This empanada filling from Donna Hay is encased in a buttery pastry.  Showcasing my family heirloom - a surviving plate from Watson's café Home Hill, Far North Queensland circa 1930's. 

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 chopped small brown onion
3 cloves garlic, crushed
400g beef mince premium
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon sweet paprika
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1/2 cup beef stock
Salt and pepper
25g unsalted butter
1/4 cup currants
1/2 cup parsley chopped
1 green onion thinly sliced
4 sheets store-bought shortcuts pastry
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon milk
Store bought tomato relish or chutney to serve

Method

Fry onion and garlic on a medium heat, stirring frequently for 2-3 minutes.
Add the beef mince, cumin, sweet and smoked paprika and oregano.
Cook breaking up any lumps with a wooden spoon, for 6-8 minutes until golden.
Add the stock, salt and pepper and cook for a further 2-3 minutes until the liquid is reduced.
Remove from the heat and stir through the butter, currants, parsley and green onion.
Allow to completely cool.

Preheat oven to 200 degrees Celsius.
Using an 11cm cookie cutter, cut 4 rounds from each shortcrust pastry sheet.
Whisk egg and milk together in a small bowl.
Place 2 tablespoons of the beef mixture in the centre of each pastry circle, brush the edges with egg wash, fold over to enclose and press edge to seal. 
Fold and pinch the edge to create a ruffled edge. 
Repeat with remaining ingredients.

Line a backing tray with non-stick baking paper, place empanadas on tray and brush with remaining egg wash.

Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden.

Tasty
Mamma Marmalade

Vietnamese summer salad

 

These stylish prawn salads use rice paper rolls in a new way, just a quick fry and they bubble and crisp up to be the perfect edible plate.  Easiest to serve one per person for entrée.

Ingredients

8 Rice paper rolls (22cm)
1/3 cup vegetable oil
100g rice vermicelli noodles
32 cooked king prawns, peeled and deceived
1 cup snow pea sprouts
2 carrots, peeled cut into matchsticks
2 medium Lebanese cucumbers, halved, seeds revived, cut into matchsticks
4 small radishes, washed and cut into matchsticks
1/4 cup finely chopped peanuts
1/2 bunch mint leaves, extra for garnish
1/2 bunch coriander leaves, extra for garnish

Dressing
2 tablespoons Sweet Chilli Sauce
1/2 tablespoon Rice Wine Vinegar
2 teaspoon fish sauce
2 teaspoon lime juice

Method

To make dressing, combine all ingredients in a screw top jar and she.

Place noodles in a small heat proof bowl and cover with boiling water. Set aside for 5 minutes to soften. Drain

Reserve 12 prawns for garnish, roughly chop remaining prawns. Combine vermicelli, chopped prawns, snow pea sprouts, carrot, cucumber, radish, peanuts and shredded mint and coriander in a bowl.

Heat oil in a frying pan over medium heat.  Add rice paper sheets one at a time, cook until puffed and white. Drain on absorbent paper.

Add dressing to salad, toss gently. Place rice paper sheets on a plate, fill with salad, top with reserved prawns, garnish with extra mint and coriander leaves.

Flavour Crunch

Mamma Marmalade

Creamed Rice with a Golden crust - simply yum comfort dessert

Sometimes simple, classic flavours and a few ingredients produce a perfect dessert result - creamy, home-style comfort food.  Wilbur will testify that my Creamed Rice recipe is delicious - piping hot from the stove or baked with a golden crust - or cold with stewed fruit - simply good!  And yes, I had to move fast to snap this photo!!

Preparation                  5 minutes
Cooking               20 - 30 minutes - needs regular stirring whilst on stovetop.  
Baking (optional)        15 minutes   OR     pop under a hot grill until golden

Ingredients      I have included measures for small and large sizes.

                                   Small                                   Double
Rice                           5 tablespoons (1/2 cup)       1 cup
Boiling water               1/2 cup                               1 cup
Milk                            3 cups                                6 cups
Sugar                         3 tablespoons                      6 tablespoons
Vanilla extract             1/2 teaspoon                       1 teaspoon
Cinnamon or nutmeg   pinch                                  1/2 teaspoon

Optional for baking
                    Additional sugar and cinnamon or nutmeg to sprinkle over prior to grilling

Method

Place rice in a large saucepan.
Cover with the boiling water and simmer rapidly until water almost evaporates.  
Stir constantly and watch it carefully. Do not boil dry. 
Slowly add the milk and stir well.
Bring to a slow boil.  Stir constantly and keep an eye on it as likely to boil over.
Reduce to a simmer.  Stir regularly.  Remove any 'skin' that forms.
Add the sugar, vanilla and cinnamon or nutmeg.
Stir and slowly simmer until thick and rice is cooked.  Taste to check rice is soft.

OPTION
If you are going to bake the rice, leave it a little sloppy. 
If planning to use unbaked, simmer until desired consistency, spoonable, but not runny.

IF BAKING or GRILLING
pour into a greased baking pan.  Sprinkle additional sugar and cinnamon or nutmeg on top.
Bake under a grill until golden.  OR  bake in moderate oven for approx 15 minutes.

Enjoy!  Colleen

                        

Asian Bean Sprout and Mango Salad

With summer entertaining fast approaching, having a varied repertoire of interesting salads is a must. This salad from Jamie Oliver is a welcome change to the boring lettuce, cucumber and tomato combo. Light and refreshing with the mango, crunch from the bean sprouts and cashew nuts and soy sauce, sesame oil and coriander round out the Asian flavours.

Ingredients

Bunch of fresh coriander

400g packet of bean sprouts

Olive oil

100g cashew nuts

Honey for drizzling

1/2 fresh red chilli

1 small ripe mango

Soy sauce

Sesame oil

1 lime or lemon

Method

Set aside a few sprigs of coriander for decoration, pick the leaves off the rest of the bunch and place in a large serving bowl.

Finely slice the coriander stalks, add to the bowl, and add bean spouts.

Wrap cashews in a clean tea towel and bash with a rolling pin, place in a frypan and on a low heat add some olive oil and toasts and turning occasionally until golden.

Remove from the heat and add a good drizzle of honey.

Finely slice the chilli and mango and add to the salad bowl.

Tip the honey toasted cashews over the top.

Dress with lugs of soy sauce, sesame oil, and extra virgin olive oil and the juice of the lemon/lime.

Toss to combine with your hands.

Decorate with saved coriander sprigs.

Crunchy fresh and delicious.

Mamma Marmalade.



White Bean (Cannellini) Spread with Rosemary Garlic Oil

Diner en Blanc is in almost here!!!!  Our preparations are almost complete - and here is a sneak peek at the dip we will be serving for our 'nibbles' whilst we set up our magical white picnic! The magic of this dip/spread is the mild but satisfying flavours that don’t compete with whatever cuisine you might eat later on and it does not ‘overload’ the tastebuds with overpowering flavours. 

I almost insist on serving this dip with celery.  In fact, Wilbur enjoyed it so much he forgot he was even eating celery – never his first choice of green vegetables – and he agreed that the celery was the magic accompaniment – high praise indeed. The fresh, crunchy but subtly juicy bite lifts the white beans and … it’s just perfect together! (ok ... I love celery … is it obvious?).  This is my take on Heidi Swanson’s from “Super Natural Everyday”. 

Enjoy!    and ... "Happy Diner en Blanc" 

Makes approx. 400 -500 gram

Serve with celery – washed, dried, de-stringed and cut into approx. 2 inch narrow batons.

Cover and store in fridge.  I really like the dip to be almost room-temperature and the celery to be cold and crisp to get that crunchy contrast.

Preparation                  10 minutes

Cooking /assembly      20 minutes, including toasting almonds and infusing the Olive Oil

Ingredients

80 ml Australian Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 small garlic clove – sliced

1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary leaves –  the leaves from an approx. 12cm stalk

100 gram flaked almonds – lightly toasted.  Allow to cool.  NB  Retain 1/3^rd for garnish

1 x 425 gram (approx.) tin White Beans  (Cannellini) – rinsed and well drained

Sea Salt – ground

1 – 4 tablespoons Lemon Juice  (need to add a little at a time – depends on ‘lemony-ness’)

1 Stalk of Italian Parsley – leaves only – finely chopped – reserve a few specks for garnish

60 – 125 ml HOT water  (usually approx 60 ml but sometimes a dash more – rarely 125ml)

White pepper – to taste

Zest of ½ lemon – NB a little for the dip and a little for garnish

Method

In a small pan warm the Olive Oil with the garlic and rosemary until it just starts to barely sizzle. Remove from heat and allow to infuse for 10 minutes or so.

Strain the oil through a sieve into a jug and discard the used garlic and rosemary.

In a food processor – Pulse  2/3rds  of almonds so they are just starting to look crushed.

Then Pulse again to just combine the added white beans, ½ teaspoon Salt, a little white pepper, parsley, with 1 tablespoon  lemon juice and  2/3rds  of the rosemary Oil.

Add 60ml of the Hot Water and Pulse again – you want a thick, ‘dip’ consistency.

Stir in a teaspoon of the lemon zest.

Taste.  You will probably need to add more pepper, lemon juice and maybe a little more salt.  Taste again until you are happy with the flavour – (seasonal lemons vary in intensity).

If necessary, add a little more water – a tablespoon at a time – to get the desired consistency.

Spoon into your serving dish and make a few very small indentations on top.

Cover and cool in the fridge.

To serve

I think it is best removing dip from fridge about 15-30 minutes prior to serving if possible.

Sprinkle with the remaining almond flakes, lemon zest and parsley specks.

Drizzle with the remaining Rosemary Oil and it will pool in the little hollows.

                                 Enjoy!  Colleen

Coffee and brown sugar tray cake

This cake may not be a winner in the looks department but it sure is a winner in the light, fluffy and tasty department.  One bowl cooking at it's best. Thank you Donna Hay.

Ingredients

1 cup (175g) brown sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 1/2 cups (375g) self raising flour, sifted
1 1/2 cups (330g) caster sugar
4 eggs
11/2 cups (275g) milk
250g melted unsalted butter
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 tablespoon instant coffee granules
60 melted unsalted butter extra

Method

Preheat oven to 160 degrees Celsius

In a small bowl combine brown sugar and cinnamon.
In a large bowl combine flour, sugar, eggs, milk, melted butter (cooled) and vanilla, whisk until smooth.
Pour half the batter into a greased and lined with baking paper, metal slice tin (20cm x 30cm).
Sprinkle over the coffee granules and half of the brown sugar and cinnamon mixture.
Pour the remaining batter on top and spread evenly.
Sprinkle remaining brown sugar and cinnamon over and spoon extra melted butter over the top.
Cook for 50-55 minutes until skewer inserted comes out clean.

Delicious on it's own or made into a dessert by topping with good quality ice cream.

Mamma Marmalade

Chicken with sichuan peppercorns, soy and orange

Another delightful mouth watering dish from Donna Hay.  Why not make this tray bake one of your favourites, minimal effort and maximum flavour.

Ingredients

2 teaspoons Sichuan peppercorns
4 star anise
3 cinnamon sticks
45g fresh ginger, sliced
4 cloves garlic
1/4 cup (60ml) orange juice
1/4 cup (60ml) kecap manis (available from the Asian grocery section of the supermarket)
1/2 cup (125ml) soy sauce
Salt and pepper
10 chicken thighs, bone in and skin on
1 orange thinly sliced
1/4 cup (90g) honey

Method

Preheat oven to 220 degrees Celsius.
In a large bowl combine, Sichuan peppercorns, star anise, cinnamon, ginger, garlic, orange juice, kecap manis, soy sauce and salt and pepper, add chicken and toss to coat.
Let marinate for minimum 10 minutes.
In a roasting tray place the chicken skin side down in a single layer, pour over the marinade.
Cook for 15 minutes, turn chicken and add orange slices on top and pour over honey.
Cook for another 15 minutes until chicken is cooked, and is golden and sticky.

Serve with steamed rice and stir fried Asian greens.

Mamma Marmalade

Carrot and Walnut Muffins with Cream Cheese frosting

I am always surprised how easy it is to make muffins, simply mix all ingredients together in a bowl.  These muffins were discovered when the urge for something sweet hit and I had no butter in the fridge.

Ingredients

1 3/4 cup grated carrot
3/4 cup milk
1 egg lightly beaten
2 1/2 cups of Self Raising Flour
1/2 cup Oil
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 tablespoon caster sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon mixed spice

Frosting

100g softened cream cheese (or use spreadable version)
75g softened butter
2 teaspoons finely grated lemon rind
11/4 cup icing mixture

Method

Preheat oven to 190 degrees Celsius.
Place paper muffin cases in a 12 hole muffin tray.
In a bowl combine flour, caster sugar, mixed spice, brown sugar, carrot and walnuts, make a well in the centre.
Add milk, egg and oil and mix until well combined.
Spoon mixture into prepared cases.
Bake for 20-22 minutes until golden and just firm to touch.
Cool completely before icing.

Cream cheese frosting: Beat using electric beaters, cream cheese, butter and lemon rind until light and fluffy, gradually add in icing mixture until well combined. Spread frosting over the muffins.

Mamma Marmalade

Osso Bucco Slow Cooked in Red Wine and Herbs

After a weekend drive through the magnificent Mt Warning NSW countryside, I was pondering what to cook for dinner. There was still just a touch of chill in the crisp evening air. I reached for my worn copy of Belinda Jeffery’s “The Country Cookbook” that showcases life, simplicity and the beautiful produce of the lush Northern NSW area we had just visited.  This is my version of Belinda Jeffery’s divine Osso Bucco recipe.  The irresistible aromas wafting from your kitchen will guarantee no-one dillydallying to your dinner table.

Preparation     15 minutes

Cooking           3 hours  including  2 ½ hours in the oven.  Allow 15 minutes to rest and serve.

Serves     4     (with left-overs hopefully)

Ingredients

8 pieces of Osso Bucco -  good- sized, cut  approx. 1 inch thick

¼ cup Olive Oil approx.

3 large brown onions – diced

3 garlic cloves – chopped

4 carrots – sliced

2 Tablespoons Sun-dried Tomato Pesto

1/3 cup plain flour – for dusting the meat

400 gram tin diced Tomatoes

1 ½ cups – 2 cups Shiraz Red Wine

¼ cup water

2 Teaspoons Sea Salt flakes

Freshly ground black pepper

1 tablespoon thyme leaves

1 tablespoon finely chopped rosemary leaves

4 Bay Leaves – fresh if possible.  Crushed a little bit in your palm to release aroma

Chopped Parsley and lemon zest to garnish

Method

I use a wide deep round enamel cast iron pan with a close fitting lid

Preheat oven to 165 °C

Add flour to a plastic bag and shake to dust the meat. Shake off excess. Set aside.

Warm a little of the olive oil in the pan.

Place the meat in pan, browning well on both sides. Remove the meat from pan, cover and keep warm.

Add the onion, garlic and carrot to the pan stirring gently until softened slightly. Add a little more oil if needed.

Stir in the tomato pesto and cook down. Stir well so does not catch on base.

Pour in the red wine, water, diced tomatoes, salt, pepper thyme, rosemary and bay leaves. Stir well.

Increase heat and bring to a boil. Then reduce to a simmer.

Return the meat to the pan and ensure it is covered with the sauce.

Place a piece of Baking Paper over the meat and push to cover. (ie a cartouche)

Cover with lid.

Place in oven and check approx. every hours.  Needs 2 – 2 ½ hours in total cooking in oven.

Add a little water if liquid reducing too quickly in the pan.

Remove from oven when cooked. Leave lid on and allow to rest for 10 minutes.

Check if excess oil on top of meat and use paper towels to blot up if needed.

Taste and season with additional salt or pepper if you feel it needs a little more.

Remove the bay leaves and discard.

Turn the meat over in the sauce and sprinkle with the parsley and lemon zest.

Serve with fresh steamed green vegetables or a green salad and your choice of mashed potatoes, risoni pasta or even chunks of fresh bread.

Enjoy!  Colleen

Prawns with Spiced Cauliflower and Chorizo

Cauliflowers have been so delicious lately that I have included them in almost every family dinner. I think Wilbur is almost expecting Cauliflower ice-cream to turn up in the freezer.  Love a good Cauli. Searching in my cooking treasure trove for a seafood and cauliflower recipe unearthed this gem. The original recipe by Philip Johnson uses scallops and fewer vegetables so feel free to replace the prawns with scallops.  Alternatively, if you are not a seafood fan, this would be delicious with cooked chicken breast shards.  Enjoy!

Preparation    15 - 20 minutes  (bit longer depending on your prawn peeling speed!)

Cooking           10 minutes

Serves              4

Ingredients

Mix together and prepare

1 teaspoon Ground Coriander

1 teaspoon Ground Cumin

1 teaspoon Ground Fennel

½ teaspoon Smoked Paprika

¼ teaspoon Ground Turmeric

for the spice mixture 

also use

Splash Australian Olive Oil

2 tablespoons butter

1 kg King Prawns – then peel and de-vein

1 – 1 ½  good quality Chorizo – thinly sliced or diced if preferred

2 small Red Onions – finely sliced

¼  pumpkin cut into small cubes    part - cooked prior to use

½ cauliflower – cut into small florets (not too tiny) and   part - cooked prior to use

½ capsicum – finely sliced

1 cup of frozen peas – allow to thaw a little

Good handful baby spinach leaves

3 tablespoons Raisins   These are pre-soaked in the Sherry

Dash of good sherry (dry or .. I used Olo Rosso)

1 tablespoon flaked almonds – toasted

Fresh fennel fronds – finely chopped or use dill or even a little chopped parsley

Salt and Pepper to taste

Method

Sear the prawns. Remove from heat and keep warm. 

Heat a little olive oil and the butter in a wide frypan over medium heat.

Add the onions then add the part-cooked cauliflower and capsicum tossing to cook.

Sprinkle over the spices then mix through the pumpkin and chorizo. 

Add the peas and soaked raisins.

Toss the prawns in to warm through.

When the pumpkin is cooked and cauliflower still has a little bite  -  remove from heat.

Stir the spinach leaves through to wilt slightly.

Taste and add salt and pepper to your taste.

Arrange on serving plate and scatter over some of the fresh fennel and the toasted almonds

TIPS AND HINTS if you forget to pre-cook the cauliflower and pumpkin, just sauté them first prior to adding remaining ingredients.

Enjoy!   Colleen

Buttery Pears in Rich Bay leaf scented Syrup

Six seemingly lovely but rock hard pears sat forlornly in the fruit bowl.  How could they be transformed into an easy to prepare, delicious dessert? 

Look no further than the incomparable Stephanie Alexander’s “The Cook’s Companion”.  However I accidentally misread the ingredients and somehow used white wine instead of red.  Oops. I wonder how that happened??

Yet the flavours in the finished dish were so satisfying and the caramelised pears were tender and golden in a thick luscious syrup heady with the rich aroma of bay leaves and wintery pear juices. 

This is one mistake I am happy to repeat when the results are so delicious.

Preparation  5 minutes

Cooking         20 – 30 minutes depending on the texture of the pears

Serves           2 Wilbur sized dessert appetites  or   4 small servings

Ingredients

6 small – medium pears – peeled, quartered and core removed. TIP If pears are not too hard then just peel, halve and core.

30 grams unsalted butter

¼ cup castor sugar 

3 fresh bay leaves - just gently crush them slightly in your palm to release aroma

½  - 1 cup White Wine – I used Pinot Grigio. 

Method

Use a heavy based frypan with a lid. Pears need to fit in the pan in a single layer.

Gently melt the butter and allow it to foam a little.

When the foaming subsides, add the pear pieces and allow to brown a little.

Turn over in the butter and continue browning

Add the bay leaves and scatter with the sugar, turning the pears as well.

Pour ¼ cup wine over the pears to start.  Allow to bubble slightly and move gently so pears do not catch on base of pan.

Cover pan but leave lid just slightly ajar to allow steam to escape.

Reduce heat to low and simmer pears turning as needed

Add another ¼ cup of wine and shake the pan just slightly to mix.  Pears should be softening but you want tender pieces of pear not puree.

You may need to add a little more wine to increase the simmering time if pears are still tough.

Continue to simmer until pears are golden, tender and juices are thick and syrupy

Remove from heat and discard the bay leaves.

Serve warm with cream or ice-cream.

                                  Enjoy!   Colleen

Chicken and Thai Basil Spring Rolls

It was birthday and anniversary week in our household. Luckily the birthday celebration for middle son was on a Saturday giving plenty of time for a Thai inspired dinner theme.

These spring rolls are pretty easy to prepare so don't be put off thinking they are too fiddly. Even quicker if you can entice a husband to sit at the table and do the filling and rolling.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon oil
Half a red onion, finely chopped
2 crushed garlic cloves
3 teaspoons of finely grated fresh ginger
500g chicken mince *
2 tablespoons sweet chilli sauce
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons chopped fresh Thai basil
2 birds eye or other chillies finely chopped
100g rice or bean vermicelli noodles
1 small carrot, grated
1 x 300g packet (20x20cm square sheets spring roll pastry)

Grape seed oil for deep frying.

*Note: If you have a heavy duty food processor why not make the chicken mince yourself, that way you know exactly what goes into it.  Simply whiz boneless chicken thighs until the consistency you require.

Method

Heat oil in a large frying pan, add onion, garlic and ginger, cook for 3 minutes until softened, stirring now and again.
Add chicken mince and break up with a wooden spoon, cook until chicken is fully cooked.
Stir in chilli and soy sauce and bring to the boil.
Remove from the heat and mix in the basil and chilli.
Set aside to cool.
Place noodles in a heat proof bowl and then cover with boiling water to soften. When soft drain and using kitchen scissors cut noodles into 2cm lengths.
Combine chicken mixture, noodles and carrot.

Place a pastry sheet on a clean surface, spoon 2 tablespoons of mixture horizontally across the centre of the pastry sheet, leaving a 4cm border at each end. Brush the corners and sides with water.  Fold in the ends and roll up firmly.
Repeat until all pastry sheets have been filled.

Deep fry in grape seed oil 2 or 3 rolls at a time, drain on absorbent paper.  Keep warm in the oven whilst frying the remainder.

Yum
Mamma Marmalade

Gingerbread Ginger Cake Slice

The first bite of this slice will remind you of old school gingerbread – darkly syrupy and gingery dense. This makes a generous sized slice and is very versatile as it is also delicious served warm with ice-cream as a rich gingerbread dessert treat.  Preparation is super-fast as all the ingredients are whizzed together in a Food Processor – Easy!

My version is inspired by Alison Alexander’s recipe, originally printed in the ABC Brisbane Radio Floods Fundraiser cookbook “A Generous Helping”, which championed sharing and celebrating food memories.

   

Preparation  5 minutes

Baking          35 – 45 minutes. 

Ingredients

½ cup or 125 gram butter – melted  (do this first)

2 ¾ cups Self-Raising Flour

1 teaspoon Bicarbonate of Soda

4 teaspoons Ground Ginger

3 cubes glace ginger – finely sliced (Optional – for a deeper ginger flavour)

½ cup Dark Brown Sugar  (Dark Brown has a stronger flavour than regular Brown Sugar)

¾ cup Golden Syrup

1 egg – lightly whisked prior to adding

1 cup warm water

Method

Melt butter

Preheat oven to 160 ˚C and prepare medium depth rectangular tray approx. 24 x 30 cm and line with baking paper.

Place all ingredients in Food Processor. Pulse until combined but do not over-process or the flour will become tough.

Pour batter into prepared tin

Bake approx. 35 – 45 minutes.  Check at 35 minutes. May need to turn tray.

Cake will be cooked when a wooden skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean.

Remove from oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes in the tray before cooling completely on a cake rack.

Optional

Top with icing when cake is cool (I used a Cream cheese icing)   

 or   

lightly dust with icing sugar or maple sugar and a dash of nutmeg.

                                   Enjoy!  Colleen

Minty Mint Pea and Ham Soup - Souper!

Pea and Ham Soup is a favourite hearty winter tradition.  Usually it is thick with a dried pea base and simmered for hours with chunky ham bones.  This soup is fast, easy and most surprisingly coming from me (who adds pulses to everything!)  - no lentils!

A fresh, light but satisfying soup inspired by a Jamie Oliver recipe.  I was surprised that the key ingredient is frozen baby green peas! Easy and Instant!  And of course the Mint! - the intense aroma  when you start blitzing it up is amazing. The soup is such a gorgeous green - and it tastes so fresh.  Just be careful not to overcook it and only add the mint at the end to preserve it's fabulous flavour and colour!

Serves 6.  Leftovers are easy to freeze and reheat within a month

5 min prep.  approx 15 minutes to cook

Ingredients

2 onions, chopped

1 potato, peeled and grated (this stops the soup being watery)

Olive Oil

3 rashers of bacon - rind and fat removed. Chopped

Optional - 1 small smoked bacon or ham bone

1 1/2 - 2 litres salt reduced chicken stock (start with 1 1/2 and add more if needed)

1 kg frozen Baby Peas (NB baby peas are smaller and sweeter) - remove from freezer and allow to de-chill a little

Good handful fresh mint – leaves only  (save some for final steps)

Salt and pepper to taste

Some hot water may be needed

Optional toppings

the remaining mint leaves, shredded

Pancetta  (1 slice  per 4 bowls of soup – more if you like)  I only use this in Winter

and 

multigrain crunchy croutons or toast fingers

or

teaspoons light sour cream or Greek Yoghurt 

                         Vegetarian OPTION
                         Omit the bacon and ham bones.
                         Substitute vegetable stock instead of chicken stock

Method

In large deep saucepan (mix needs to blended later) soften onions and potato in olive oil

Add and Fry the bacon then add the chicken stock and bring to boil.

If using, add the bacon bone and simmer for 5 minutes

Add the peas and cook for a few minutes until cooked.  

Remove from heat 

Remove the ham bone.

Add some fresh mint leaves.

Use a stick Blender to blitz until smooth

If it is too thick, add a little hot water from the jug and blend again 

Season with salt and pepper - to taste

Spoon into warmed bowls.  

Sprinkle with shredded mint, diced pancetta or a small dollop of sour cream or yoghurt.

Serve with crunchy coutons or toast fingers.

Optional Pancetta Croutons

remove crusts from day-old bread and place into roasting tray

drizzle with olive oil, mint and pancetta.    Bake 180 oC  for  10 min to crisp up

Crumble over the soup

                                           Enjoy!   Colleen