Prawns curried with ginger, garlic and Vietnamese mint

This is a quick and easy everyday prawn curry which also makes a lovely entrée for a special lunch or dinner with friends.  I hav eincluded the Green Curry Paste recipe at the end of this. Serves 4 400g broccoli, cut into tiny, mouth-sized florets 1k large, raw Queensland prawns 60g butter 4 tbsp extra [...]

By |2020-05-03T16:57:29+10:00May 3rd, 2020|Condiments, Condiments, Cook Real Food, Cook Real Food, Curries, Curries, Food, Food - spices, Green curry paste, Green curry paste, Healthy Family Meals, Low Carb, Prawn curry, Prawn curry, Prawn curry, Prawns, Recipes, Seafood|Comments Off on Prawns curried with ginger, garlic and Vietnamese mint

Duck liver pâté

Duck livers are available from your poultry shop or supermarket; I buy mine from my nearby supplier, Luv-a-Duck; they come fresh in large 2kg bags, so I freeze them in small packages of 200 - 300g pouches. You can substitute chicken livers for the duck, if you wish.  Interestingly, the chicken livers have a darker [...]

 Tapénade – Olive paste with garlic, anchovies and capers

Tapénade is a rich olive paste with a full-flavoured taste that comes with the addition of garlic, anchovies and capers.  Originally tapénade was made with a mortar and pestle; you may choose to hand chop the ingredients, if you like a coarse texture, or alternatively use a food processor or kitchen whiz wand.  You may [...]

By |2020-04-28T14:27:04+10:00April 28th, 2020|Condiments, Condiments, Cook Real Food, Cook Real Food, Cooking classes, Food, French food, Healthy Family Meals, Low Carb, Mediterranean Food, Olive tapenade, Olive tapenade, Olive tapenade, Olive tapenade, Olive tapenade, Olives, Provence, Recipes|Comments Off on  Tapénade – Olive paste with garlic, anchovies and capers

Chicken curry with coconut cream and greens

This was a great chicken curry with good depth of flavour and superb colour.  It was quick and easy to cook in the wok, so just one pan to wash.  Inspired by what my friend Leigh, from Hamilton in country Victoria, cooked the other day I had to make something similar; she makes great curries! [...]

By |2020-04-17T17:18:06+10:00April 17th, 2020|Chicken, Condiments, Cook Real Food, Curries, Food - spices, Healthy Family Meals, Low Carb, Recipes, Uncategorized|Comments Off on Chicken curry with coconut cream and greens

Croatian Ajvar – a delicious capsicum and aubergine dipping sauce or paste

Croatian Ajvar is a popular dipping sauce which is served with meats, and particularly ćevapčići, or chevapi sausages, meatballs, chicken and sausages and Mediterranean vegetables.  Ajvar is a capsicum pepper-based condiment with aubergines, garlic and chilies, which also is lovely as a spread; I loved it. You can see it here nestled into the meat [...]

By |2019-09-15T06:56:42+10:00September 15th, 2019|Ajvar, Condiments, Condiments, Cook Real Food, Cook Real Food, Croatian, Food, Mediterranean, Mediterranean Food, Mediterranean Food, Peppers, Recipes, Red Capsicums, Sauces|Comments Off on Croatian Ajvar – a delicious capsicum and aubergine dipping sauce or paste

Braised fennel with citrus and cider

Braised fennel has a wonderfully subtle flavour, not very strong and more like a braised onion, with just a hint of fennel.  The citrus adds a lift to make this a fabulous side for pork, chicken or beef.  It cuts the richness of the meats as well.  The pairing of fennel and citrus is a [...]

By |2019-06-12T11:12:46+10:00June 12th, 2019|Cook Real Food, Cook Real Food, Cooking classes, Fennel, Fennel, Italian Food, Recipes, Uncategorized, Vegetables, Vegetables in season, Winter braises, Winter braises|Comments Off on Braised fennel with citrus and cider

Fennel season is now in autumn and winter and it is a good Low Carbohydrate vegetable!

Hence, I am making pickled fennel! It looks so pretty in the jars as well as tasting delicious with various cold meats such as salami, seafood, fish, prawns, salmon and with salads.  I am really looking forward to it, the pity is I have to wait 3 weeks or so for it to pickle! Braised [...]

By |2019-05-31T09:38:15+10:00May 28th, 2019|Fennel, Fennel, Food, Pickled fennel, Vegetables in season|Comments Off on Fennel season is now in autumn and winter and it is a good Low Carbohydrate vegetable!

Pickled fennel with mustard seeds, fennel seeds and pimentos

This pickle is a good match with cold meats such as salami and ricotta, tossed through salads or with barbecued fish. When the pickles are finished, keep the jar of brine in the fridge. Whisked with some extra virgin olive oil, it makes a lovely salad dressing. Make 2 x 500ml jars  Ingredients Brine 2 [...]

By |2019-05-28T14:07:58+10:00May 28th, 2019|Condiments, Condiments, Cook Real Food, Fennel, Pickled fennel, Pickled fennel, Recipes, Vegetables in season|Comments Off on Pickled fennel with mustard seeds, fennel seeds and pimentos

Salt adds flavour and enjoyment to our food – revised and updated 17th November 2020

Salt has been used since ancient times to preserve food, such as salmon gravlax, and in the koshering of meat; it is still used so today.  Unfortunately, it is also a most misunderstood food. Like a lot of other foods, such as fat, it went out of favour last century as it was linked to [...]

By |2021-01-20T16:24:25+11:00January 19th, 2019|Condiments, Cook Real Food, Food, Salt, Salt, Uncategorized|Comments Off on Salt adds flavour and enjoyment to our food – revised and updated 17th November 2020

Preserved Lemons – three ways

Preserved lemons have an interesting picante, mellowy, sour and yet sweet flavour.  For some people, they are an acquired taste. There are a few different methods to preserve lemons.  These are two,  I use.  I have also included the Greek method for you to try as well. See which one you prefer. Preserved Lemons  Cut [...]

By |2021-10-20T13:28:14+11:00July 11th, 2017|Condiments, Condiments, Lemons, Mediterranean, Moroccan, Morocco, Recipes, Uncategorized|Comments Off on Preserved Lemons – three ways
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