Tuesday, July 15, 2025

Pea and Ham Soup (Slow Cooker or Stove)


I am beyond amazed that after over 13 years of food blogging I didn't have my recipe for Pea and Ham Soup on the HRK website. That's now corrected. A lot of the soups I make are based on lentils as the grain, but this recent cold snap had me longing for good old-fashioned Pea and Ham Soup on a cold Winter's evening. I bought a packet of dried split peas and a ham hock, and this Pea and Ham soup was born.

Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Air Fryer or Oven Roasted Italian Vegetables with Whipped Tofu Ricotta

Roasted Italian vegetables garnished with Basil Pesto and sitting on a layer of delicious whipped tofu ricotta sauce, is an amazing combination of flavours and textures. It will compliment any Italian main meal perfectly, or will also be delicious served with toasted crostini or sourdough for a fun and healthy appetiser. The vegetables cook perfectly in the air fryer, or the conventional oven.

Sunday, July 6, 2025

Whole Baked Pumpkin with Chorizo and Pearl Barley Stuffing

A baked and stuffed whole Kent or Jap pumpkin is a real crowd pleaser, and goes a long way as a vegetable side dish. It is a delicious and very economical way to serve pumpkin with an interesting filling which is also versatile, be it vegetarian or non-vegetarian. Using a smaller pumpkin, weighing about 1200 grams, ensures that it should bake within an hour. 

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

In My Kitchen, July 2025

I'm enjoying just being at home during our tropical Winter, with minimum temperatures of 8 deg. C, and a maximum of around 23 deg. C, what's not to love. As they say, we are living in paradise. It has to be the perfect time for cooking in my kitchen. Southerners visiting from the colder states in Australia, such as New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT, and even Tasmania, probably don't even need to wear jackets, unlike us, who aren't used to the colder weather. We are rugged up and loving it.

Sunday, June 29, 2025

Cumquat Marmalade, Ginger and Oat slice

This slice incorporates the nostalgic flavours of ANZAC biscuits, Grandma's Cumquat marmalade, and the warmth of ginger spice, into one delicious layer of biscuit. This is  a great one for the weekend. Think breakfast, morning tea, or afternoon tea or take it into work to win a few extra brownie points.

Tuesday, June 24, 2025

Italian Lamb Ragu with Home Made Pasta

 

Italian Lamb Ragu is an extremely rich and comforting dish, and full of nostalgia. Long slow cooking is the key to tender lamb which shreds beautifully to combine with a sauce full of delicious flavours. 

Monday, June 16, 2025

Curried red lentil, tomato and coconut soup

 

Winter has brought soup back to our dining table, and what a Winter Warmer this bowl of creamy lentil deliciousness is. Perfectly balanced herbs and spices with a hint of heat, are a specialty of Yotam Ottolenghi's recipe repertoire, and as a bonus this soup is also nourishing, hearty and gluten-free. It is also vegetarian.