Chorizo & caramelised onion scrambled egg brekkie wraps

Chorizo & caramelised onion scrambled egg brekkie wraps

I love scrambled eggs on their own but in a wrap they’re even more awesome, like these spicy, flavourful, Mediterranean inspired egg wraps; they’re perfect for a Sunday brunch when you have people over.  And if you’re not keen on chorizo, you can always leave it out and add sliced vegetarian sausage with a few[read more…]

Raspberry crumble loaf cake

Raspberry crumble loaf cake

I suppose this would be called a coffee cake in the US; I love that name actually, coffee cake always brings to mind sunny, friendly mornings with friends.  In this case, it’s a morning tea cake, rustic, plump and soft, perfect to freeze if you prefer, to take to work buttered for morning breaks or to have at home when you[read more…]

Chocolate & caramelised banana baked French toast

Chocolate & caramelised banana baked French toast

Nutella and banana on toast is a no-brainer but in baked French toast is even better.  You’ll need about an hour’s advance planning to make this but it’s so worth it.  Rather than the crispy, pan cooked French toast I’m used to (which is fabulous by the way), this lush, gorgeous dish ends up pleasantly crunchy[read more…]

Spag Bol

Spag Bol

Spag bol is one of those things most of us learn how to make early on, after we’ve left home, gone to uni or sharing with a bunch of mates.  I haven’t made it in ages actually because it seems one of those massively uncool dishes nobody eats anymore.  But it’s so yummy!  Why must[read more…]

Vegan breakfast bars

Vegan breakfast bars

I’ve heard a lot of negative remarks about the humble little muesli bar lately … too much sugar!  Additives!  You may as well drink a can of coke!  etc etc.  Poor muesli bars, being a child of the 80s I’ve always liked them and if you buy a brand which is quite healthy and lower[read more…]

Brown rice bowl with tuna, avocado & fried egg

Brown rice bowl with tuna, avocado & fried egg

Phew, I needed something to reset my body after a couple of days of eating basically empty (yet delicious) carbs.  This very tasty, healthy rice bowl full of protein and good fat was just the thing!  Nutty brown and wild rice, creamy avocado and fried egg, savoury tuna and some salty Tamari to top it off (and a little[read more…]

Easter baking: no bake Caramel Tim Tam cheesecake with toffee

Easter baking: no bake Caramel Tim Tam cheesecake with toffee

Tim Tams.  Are they available in lots of other countries other than Australia?  You’re missing out if they’re not!  Tim Tams have gotten me through many a break-up and Swotvac week in my teens and 20s and I’ll always be fond of them.  There are all sorts of fancy flavours these days but my favourite is the[read more…]

Swedish meatballs

Swedish meatballs

I don’t know how Swedish these actually are so if anybody from Sweden is reading, apologies!  They are, though, creamy and flavourful and pretty easy to make however I will say, you need to use a non-stick pan to sauté meatballs (I always forget and they stick like crazy).  You could use any type of[read more…]

Mash; cheese & garlic and spicy sweet potato

Mash; cheese & garlic and spicy sweet potato

I adore mashed potato and of course, mashed sweet potato is delicious; fluffy, sweet and warm.  When I was teeny tiny, some days, it’s all I’d eat.  I prefer to leave the skins on my white potatoes (it’s healthier and you can’t tell the difference – use organic if you prefer) and after years of using any[read more…]

St Patrick’s Day – the green smoothie

St Patrick’s Day – the green smoothie

I had grand ideas of making a chocolate Guinness cake for St Patrick’s Day but ran out of time.  Instead, I thought I’d go off the beaten track and offer this green smoothie I made recently which is such a lovely green colour, it seemed serendipitous, despite being devoid of butter, cream, potatoes or Guinness I’ve[read more…]

Walnut, parsley & lemon penne

Walnut, parsley & lemon penne

I made this lovely fresh pasta dish on a recent weekend.  It only requires a few ingredients which most people would have on hand and the flavours pack a punch; lemony, fragrant garlic, fresh herbs, crunchy walnuts, salty parmesan and a bit of heat.

Fig, apple and watercress salad for one

Fig, apple and watercress salad for one

I’ve always said I love salads with fruit in them, not actual fruit salads so much, they remind me of school, but salads with slightly bitter greens and luscious, sweet fruit. So it’s fig season here in Australia and as I always do, I ran out and picked up a whole heap of juicy, plump figs. [read more…]

Miso vegetable soup with ginger and chilli

Miso vegetable soup with ginger and chilli

I’ve always loved the salty flavour and lightness of miso soup, in fact, Japanese food in general is a cuisine I really enjoy for the taste and health benefits.  When I was younger, at uni and a bit broke, I’d just have miso soup on it’s own, sort of like a really healthy cup-a-soup, but over[read more…]

Christmas candy white chocolate blondies

Christmas candy white chocolate blondies

Jelly beans aren’t usually an addition to baked goods however I bought some Christmas jelly beans (red, green and white obv) and thought they’d look pretty studded into some white chocolate blondies for the season.  You could, of course, add whichever candy you prefer if jelly beans aren’t your thing (they’re my lollies of choice usually ) but[read more…]

Cheesy mushroom lasagna

Cheesy mushroom lasagna

Now I have to warn you, this post is chock-full of mushrooms so if you’re not into them, you should probably look away (it’s also full of cheese but hey, most people like that).  I understand that mushies are one of those polarising vegetables that you either love or hate and I myself have only[read more…]

Brown butter orange vanilla bean madeleines

Brown butter orange vanilla bean madeleines

Guess who purchased a fancy new madeleine tin?!  I’m a sucker for cake tins and when I spotted this one I decided I had to have it.  I’d never tried madeleines before but their description here of “elegant cakes shaped like scallop shells are the perfect thing with a cup of light, floral French tea” really appealed[read more…]

Peanut butter banana pancakes

Peanut butter banana pancakes

My latest flavour pancake uses a classic combo of peanut butter and banana.  These are quite high, fluffy pancakes with a lovely peanut butter taste and chunks of banana rather than it being mashed. Oh and if you make too many (can you though?  Can you ever make too many pancakes?), they can always be stored[read more…]

Spicy sweet potato cakes with herb and lemon tzatziki

Spicy sweet potato cakes with herb and lemon tzatziki

I always feel kind of old fashioned thrifty when I use up leftover things as I did a while back with this dish, especially when they make up delicious, fried potato cakey things .. and despite the crispy appearance of these spicy little patties served with a garlicky, creamy sauce, they’re super healthy.  My sweet potato mash is also[read more…]

Chicken, walnut and cranberry salad sandwich

Chicken, walnut and cranberry salad sandwich

I loved this hearty sandwich I made using some of this roast chicken I made on a Sunday a couple of weeks back.  A classic chicken salad recipe, it combined the flavoursome, savoury roast chicken with crunchy, sweet, tart, creamy and fresh ingredients, all piled onto some toasted, rustic bread rolls.

Chocolate cupcakes with chocolate fudge icing

Chocolate cupcakes with chocolate fudge icing

It seemed like a chocolate day so I made some chocolate cupcakes for absolutely no reason at all.  Is there anything better than biting into a soft, squidgy cupcake and getting icing all over your face?  I don’t think so!  The batter in this recipe is very thick but it somehow results in a soft crumbed, tender,[read more…]

Spicy sweet potato black bean burgers with chilli lime coleslaw

Spicy sweet potato black bean burgers with chilli lime coleslaw

I see a lot of recipes for sweet potato vegie burgers around so thought I’d give them a go. I roasted/sautéed the sweet potato and onion first as it gives a lovely caramelised flavour however apart from that, these are so easy to put together, they’re well worth it. I loved the sweet and spicy taste[read more…]

Spicy turkey and vegetable sausage rolls with chutney and cheese

Spicy turkey and vegetable sausage rolls with chutney and cheese

I love these tasty little pastries – if you make them for a group of people, as I have, watch them disappear.  There’s just something about sweet and spicy minced meat, melted cheese and flaky pastry which appeals to party people and adding some mango chutney was a perfect combination. The great thing is that you can[read more…]

Spicy beans ‘n chorizo with garlic sweet potato mash

Spicy beans ‘n chorizo with garlic sweet potato mash

I whipped up this Tuscan inspired, tasty little dish on a rainy, cold day and it was lovely.  I don’t use a lot of cured meat in cooking but I do have a thing for occasional chorizo in dishes because it just adds a little spicy something.  It might seem simple but the flavours of[read more…]

Date and nut roll cake with maple butter

Date and nut roll cake with maple butter

I realise a lot, if not most people, wouldn’t have nut roll tins in their cupboards.  I also realise that this traditional Australian recipe is really old fashioned, in fact my grandmother used to make these when I was a kid.  Despite that, I love this cake precisely because of it’s lack of foodie coolness, and[read more…]

Maple chilli roast sweet potato and black bean tacos

Maple chilli roast sweet potato and black bean tacos

I love using maple syrup for savoury things and it goes particularly well with spicy, chilli based dishes.  Instead of using traditional kidney beans for this spicy, Mexican dish, I thought I’d use black beans and some maple chilli roast sweet potato to add another flavour. I love the crispy sweet, caramelised potato with creamy avocado[read more…]

Honey cake with caramelised figs and almonds

Honey cake with caramelised figs and almonds

I love fig season!  It’s so short but they’re such a luxurious treat at a time when most fruit and vegies are available year round.  It’s worth hunting them down and I always use them as an opportunity to whip up some lovely treats.  And while figs are pretty special raw, caramelised down slowly, they become soft[read more…]

Stir fried cauliflower with soy sauce, ginger and chilli

Stir fried cauliflower with soy sauce, ginger and chilli

I realise poor little cauliflower isn’t the most popular vegetable in the bunch (compared to say, the sexy avocado and frilly, trendy kale it must feel quite lonely), but we should all be eating more of it according to doctors and experts in these things.  And less of the fun stuff.  Also cauliflower allegedly has negative calories!  Can this[read more…]