Fragrant Chicken Noodle Soup

(Serves 4-6) Chilli, turmeric and ginger add extra goodness to this fragrant soup. The base freezes well, like a frozen first add kit for menacing lurgies that coincide with the cooler climate. Bring 3 litres of good quality chicken stock to a boil in a large pan then place in a chicken (about 1.5kg) and…

Cherry Clafoutis

(Serves 4-6) The perfect dessert for August, to make the most of the cherries before they disappear for another year. Use apricots, peaches or blueberries if you’d prefer, all work well. Feel free to leave the stones in the cherries, some say this adds to the flavour. Heat oven to 180C, stone 500g cherries and…

Imam Bayildi

(Makes 4 stuffed halves) Legend has it that this dish acquired its name because it caused the Turkish Imam to faint through pure pleasure. Great served warm but some say best enjoyed at room temperature the next day, which makes it a perfect BBQ side dish, easily prepared in advance. Make a meal out of…

Pizza Bianca

(Makes 2 large or 4 small pizzas) This no-knead pizza dough recipe is one of my absolute favourites. It’s a good late summer dish, as the warmth of the sun aids the rise of the dough. Personally, I leave for a minimum of 24 hrs and for anything up to 48, depending on the warmth…

Baked Peaches with Amaretti and Vanilla Mascarpone

If I had my little way, I’d eat peaches every day, but imported peaches do not compare to those picked at their peak and July is the perfect time to indulge in these juicy morsels. The flavours in this dish are so well matched that it’s a wonder how amaretti and vanilla don’t grow on…

A Punchy Little Sandwich for Spring

Even though I am partial to the odd BLT or BELTAC, (Bacon, Egg, Lettuce, Tomato, Avocado and Cheese) I tend to stray away from the DIY version at home…..maybe not giving credit enough to the old two slices which serve as a container for other food.  In Australia it was unusual for me to see…

Spicy Noodle Salad with Tuna Toasties & Tobasco Tomatoes

Living so close to Victoria Street has given me a taste for Vietnamese, lots of mighty flavours and infinite ingredients to experiment with…… if you are nearby, check out ‘Weasels Garden Café’ it’s on Murray St, tucked away, always very quiet, the foods pretty good and the garden is like a slice from a tropical…

Sweet Tomato and Basil Fritters with Tzatziki

A photo inspired this dish, actually an old man holding a plate of these with a beautiful backdrop, in Santorini. These would of course traditionally be made with the finest sun filled tomatoes so unless you live in the med, try and find the best quality you can as it will make such a difference!…

Beet Tartare and Avocado Spread

The only reason I stumbled across this recipe was the fact it mentioned ‘tartare’ which appealed in it’s resemblance to the common steak tartare – which I LOVE. I thought it was time to feature something a bit ‘healthy’ and bright on here and with such a low risk of bacterial infection, how could I…

Haloumi with Honey, Lemon and Thyme

A salty, mild cheese originating from Cyprus with a high melting point, which makes this perfect to fry. It would normally be pronounced (huh-loo-mee) but my Turkish friend Leyla would always tell me off, saying (hell-im), so pronunciation varies. I have seen this become more and more popular in the UK, having felt very new…

Going Nuts!

Eat a handful of almonds a day, walnuts for your heart, peanuts for your brain and pecans and brazils for men’s health! If all the nut advice is driving you nuts, I advise to keep a stash of raw nuts/seeds – and familiarise yourself with a handful of recipes incorporating them. Be creative about when…

Pineapple Infant

I found this little fella today and couldn’t resist his charm….

Encapsulating the Pantry

Welcome to my blog. The name has derived from the fact I think that good ingredients should be ‘well travelled’ meaning they can complement or camouflage into any type of cuisine from anywhere in the world. I am also a collector of most ‘kitcheny’ things and small animal figures (the animal army). Since I have…