In My Tropical Kitchen, August 2025

As I write my monthly IMK post, which is more of a newsletter this time really, I am calmly enjoying the satisfaction of knowing that I have a large pot of my Tomato Marinara Sauce simmering away in the Slow Cooker, and a large saucepan of Scottish Red Lentil Soup bubbling away on the stovetop. It's been a productive morning, and an economical use of my time preparing both dishes at the same time.

Sticky Date Pudding with Hot Butterscotch sauce, to feed a crowd

This delicious Sticky Date Pudding recipe is my go to Winter dessert for feeding a large number of people or for taking to a party for lunch or dinner and makes at least 16 serves. However, the recipe can easily be halved for a smaller dinner party or your family. They will love you for it. 

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.