Spanish Chicken with Chorizo and Gnocchi (or Potatoes if you wish), a simple traybake

This is originally a Nigella Lawson recipe for Spanish Chicken, which I have adapted for us and for you, and as Nigella does, I enjoy a good tray bake. When cooking, particularly in Winter, I do love to have a large pot of food bubbling away on the stovetop which preferably can be finished off in the oven. However, if I'm a bit frazzled, or even feeling a bit below par, a traybake definitely takes the pressure off, allowing the oven to do the work, and leaving me to just enjoy sitting back, enjoying everyone's company, or just my own, and relaxing until the meal is cooked. Perhaps I would add a Spanish style salad to add to the meal in Summer. So simple.

Ginger Syrup Cake

 

It's Winter here in Tropical North Queensland, and we've just harvested our annual crop of fresh ginger, and whilst we've dehydrated a large percentage of it, and ground it in the spice grinder to make the most fragrant ginger spice imaginable, the pink-tipped young ginger  pieces reminded me that I must make this very gingery cake. I've been working on perfecting this recipe for a long time, and now I'm very happy with the result. I hope you love it too.

In My Edible Tropical Winter Garden, July 2026

"Gardens shouldn't be static, but a place for change and evolution" by Tim Pilgrim - Landscape Designer

 It's winter in the North Queensland Tropics, and it's our favourite time of the year to grow vegetables, in fact it's the only time to grow actual vegetables, except for eggplant(aubergines), some spinach,  chillies, and whatever else we feel brave enough to persevere with in Summer. You might have had other successes, and I'd love to hear about them if you have.

In My Tropical Queensland Kitchen, July 2026

 

It's July already, when I'm embracing the beautiful humidity free Winter weather, and enjoying being in the kitchen and the garden during these cooler months. Winter is when I feel at my most productive. I hope you enjoy reading about what my June kitchen and cooking activities entailed. There are also some stories about our experiences in France and Croatia. The photo above is taken at beautiful Palm Cove near Cairns in the last couple of days.

Korma Chicken Tray Bake

Images of Green and Gold as an Ode to the World Cup

It was the morning of the World Cup playoffs between Australia and Paraguay, and this Korma Chicken Traybake was an easy Dinner option, as the oven does all the work in your baking dish. I was also thinking Green and Gold for Australia. Just load up the tray, stick it in the oven, and in 30 minutes everyone will be licking their lips in anticipation of an amazing meal. The chicken and rice are baked together with a few vegetables in a spice infused creamy yoghurt which results in an incredibly tasty dish. 

A Small-Batch of Cumquat or Kumquat Marmalade

 "Cumquat marmalade is the best of all breakfast preserves, with a scented sharpness and a golden glow all of its own. " Stephanie Alexander, 1996. 

This is a lovely fruity Cumquat marmalade, and I don't know why I don't make it more often. Possibly because my Mum made perfect Cumquat (Kumquat) marmalade and I am never sure that I can  match hers. Never mind, I've made another batch now and I couldn't be happier with it, albeit a small batch though which often works best.

Foods of Croatia and Cruising the Adriatic Sea onboard the M/S Lupus Mare

 

We enjoyed 7 days and nights on board the M/S Lupus Mare, sailing along the beautiful coastline of Croatia on the Adriatic Sea which was the perfect way for us to enjoy our first ever introductory cruise.