It’s Show Time!

April 10th, 2010 § 4

It wouldn't be the show without a snow cone!

Going to the Easter Show use to be the last thing I ever wanted to do… the crowds, the noise, the long day, the bad food etc etc… Last year  though, I decided to venture out there again and … I had a great time! We set some fairly harsh family rules: no rides, no showbags, no rubbish plastic landfill items and then try to make it all about the produce, the fabulous animals and the crafts. We talk to as many farmers as we can and ask them all sorts of city-folk questions and enjoy soaking up their pride about what ever it is they do, be it apples, alpacas or angus beef cattle. We treat our trip to the show as a trip to the country… as much as it  is possible anyway, given the concrete jungle of Homebush!

very pretty girls...

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Family Dinner #6…. One Tray Baked Chicken Meatballs & Roasted Tomato Sauce

April 7th, 2010 § 0

This recipe is based on one I found in Dish magazine. Of course anything cooked on one-tray or pot always catches my eye for family food. This is not only a great meal for a quick midweek dinner it is a perfect school holiday recipe [especially if the rainy weather has set in where you live] – the kids in our cooking school classes at the store  this week did a fantastic job and all their plates were clean!! » Read the rest of this entry «

pound away

March 30th, 2010 § 4

Mortar and Pestles are such good things…

If you don’t have one – invest soon. Try the Asian supermarkets for good heavy duty ones at great prices. Buy the heaviest you can possible handle. They are superior to food processors because they grind rather than chop. This allows the food to exude all of their essential oils giving a more intense flavour. It seems like more work but it is surprisingly fast,  is far more satisfying and you have better control over the result. If you have never made a hand pounded pesto do so soon – you will be amazed that the flavour difference! It really doesn’t take long at all – consider it an upper body work out or share the load around the kitchen – kids love it!

PS.. I’m often asked which is which: the mortar is the bowl and the pestle is the heavy bat-shaped stick you grind or pound with…

Family Dinner # 5… Sunday Roast with a Twist

March 30th, 2010 § 0

Coriander Lamb with Ginger Wok Tossed Vegetables

I know… it’s another lamb dish but this was a delicious accident that I decided to share.

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the whole bunch and nothing but the bunch

March 30th, 2010 § 0

Not just a pretty face – never throw away the roots of coriander because there is a whole lot of flavour hiding there!

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busy family pantry list

March 22nd, 2010 § 0

The clock is ticking and the hoards are hungry!

Last week began with a worry filled sleepless night – it was one of those weeks ahead that seem to ask the impossible between work, school and home – I felt genuinely afraid! Well it’s over and we are still standing! That awful Elton John song “I’m still Standing” played in my head all week… hmmm thanks for trying Elton, but you didn’t help at all … there seems to be a entire genre of scary ‘survival’ songs …

The last 7 days reminded me why a well stacked pantry, fridge and freezer is essential for every busy family…. » Read the rest of this entry «

almost time to say good bye…

March 15th, 2010 § 0

Lovely peaches

The peaches this season have been so lovely … here is one of our favourite breakfasts – Baked Peach and Raspberry Pancake…. A great way to say good bye till next season…

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Family Dinner #5… Real BBQ Chicken

March 12th, 2010 § 1

Super Moist Real BBQ Chicken

Over summer we have been developing our own fabulous BBQ sauce marinade for the Cooks Larder take home range – something for you to jazz up the usual suspects like chicken, ribs or lamb… after lots of testing I am happy to say – we’ve got it! Here is a deliciously simple way of putting it to use for a great mid-week dinner for the whole family… » Read the rest of this entry «

eating seasonal…

March 3rd, 2010 § 0

Beautiful new season Eggplants home grown by Josie

The first few days of Autumn certainly haven’t come unnoticed… it is discernably cooler and thank heavens given the humidity at the end of summer! We love a change in season because it means a change in produce and we love how this inspires a change in the way we cook and how we eat – it’s a bit like looking forward to wearing your favourite coat again after summer.. or getting out the doona again… » Read the rest of this entry «

Lunch box Loaf – Sweet & Lemony

March 2nd, 2010 § 6

Simple Lemon Loaf

This is a simple, rustic recipe based on Ina Garten’s Lemon Loaf. She glazes it with a sugary lemon syrup and then ices it. I’m leaving it plain because a little restraint with the sugar is probably a good thing given it is for the lunch box.  Don’t be alarmed about the amount of lemons you need for this recipe – it seems a lot but it tastes just right – lucky you if you have your own tree!  Make it on Sunday afternoon with the kids – it’s so easy they can do most of the measuring, egg cracking (always a favourite) and beating all by themselves. Warning: the batter is sooooo delicious you will need to keep an eye on them for excessive taste testing! » Read the rest of this entry «

Family Dinner #4 …Roast Lamb Summer Style

March 1st, 2010 § 3

Sunday roasts are such good family food because the prep is minimal, they require very little attention and of course having the left overs is a great way to start the week. Left over lamb can be tossed in a summer vegetable soup, through spiced cous cous, put into sandwiches and so on. This lamb recipe steps away from the standard vege to include fennel and lots of lemon. It is seared first then slow roasted giving the family plenty of time to head down for a late afternoon swim while it bakes away…. » Read the rest of this entry «

napkins

February 28th, 2010 § 2

Cloth Napkin: My favourite hand stitched one from the Red Cross

In my kitchen I have a big old basin full of napkins: new and old, brights, whites and beiges;  hand stitched, hand printed and perfectly plain. Full sets, special singles and even some I made myself (although I have only sewn 4 of the 20 I cut out months ago). There is definitely something civilised and special about using cloth napkins, even luxurious – not too mention practical. Yet, like the silver, I rarely get them out. So today I decided…

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Family Dinner #3 …not pretty but veally veally nice

February 25th, 2010 § 0

Not every dish can be pretty and this one certainly is a bit of a Plain Jane… something like your Nanna would make and good on her! This will even tempt the most fussy vegie eater to nibble away. Although the sauce appears creamy the whole dish only takes a few tablespoons of cream so nobody has to feel guilty….

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hot weather heaven

February 23rd, 2010 § 2

Salted Caramel Ice Cream.. a bit icy because I rushed it, but still amazing!

When birthdays come around in our house the celebration is, of course, centred around food. The menu is always a surprise and usually something we haven’t either cooked or eaten before. Finding a dessert last week for Dugal’s birthday presented a real challenge, he is after all the dessert chief among us… but I found a winner! I won’t be posting this recipe under family food or easy ideas, it certainly isn’t something you can decide  to make on the spur of the moment. Not that it is particularly difficult, just time consuming and rather long winded…but I promise well worth the effort. I rushed my batch so it is rather icy but that’s a fabulous excuse to make it again soon! If you read the recipe and decide its all too hard – don’t worry it will be featured very soon on the dinner menu at The Cooks Larder…

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Family Dinner #2 …ohhh no-no-no, no not the lamb chop

February 17th, 2010 § 2

Lamb cutlets always seem to end up in my shopping basket because they are easy and quick to cook. Problem is they can be a bit boring after a while. But it only took 5 seconds and a few very basic ingredients to make these particular lamb chops soooo delicious the kids wanted them in their lunch boxes tommorrow….a super simple quick family dinner

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Run home fast… it’s Shrove Tuesday

February 17th, 2010 § 3

At The Cooks Larder yesterday we left pancakes on the menu all day…and in the afternoon I made a big batch of crispy caramelised pancakes to share with my family after school… The reason for all of this pancake indulgence was of course Shrove Tuesday. When I was growing up  I would run home very fast from school on this day knowing that mum would be finishing up a big batch – just the way I like them – thin, crispy edged and loaded with sugar and lemon juice.

When it comes to pancake recipes, Margret Fulton has always been the recipe source in our family. My battered copy of Margeret Fulton’s Encylopedia Of Food and Cookery (bought for me by mum on my 18th birthday) was recently replaced and when I opened up the pancake page looked strange without the splattered sticky pages documenting Shrove Tuesdays gone by. Nevermind, there are plenty more to come. I took it one step further this time and caramelised them by cooking off the whole batch then cooked them again with  a little butter and sugar in the pan before squeezing over lemon juice. It was a rich once-a-year indulgence that the kids loved, I loved, but my husband muttered (very quietly so as not to lose his share) that pancakes should be thick, fluffy and drowned in maple syrup!

Mum & I didn’t quite know the origins of Shrove Tuesday  until I did a little research today. Basically Shrove Tuesday is the  last day before the beginning of lent. But in my house I make pancakes on Shrove Tuesday simply because my mum made pancakes on this day, because her mum made pancakes on this day – and that’s a good enough reason for me! However you like them and for whatever reason, be it religion or family tradition, nothing beats a good pancake! Happy Shrove Tuesday….This is my favourite recipe, a slightly adjusted Margaret Fulton crepe recipe – a cross between her crepe and pancake recipe…and I use two pans to speed the process up!

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Tip #1: The Magic of Lemons

February 11th, 2010 § 2

In my kitchen lemons hold a very special position, right alongside the salt and pepper. Next time you make a dish and have the sense that something is missing (something that salt or pepper won’t fix) try a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. It seems to enhance the flavours and enliven the dish…everything from curries, salads, roasted or baked foods. If your dish has a distinctive Asian bent then try limes….

Family Dinner #1: One Tray Chicken with Herbs, Tomato and Potato

February 11th, 2010 § 2

Family recipes will feature heavily on our blog because coming up with dinner ideas every night can be a tough job – especially when you need them to be quick, healthy and satisfying for the whole family. We love a bit food carry-on at the store but when we get home we need simple. This dish ticks all those boxes and even if there is a baby or toddler  in the family this dish will puree or cut up into finger food beautifully. » Read the rest of this entry «

super speedy!

February 10th, 2010 § 0

Hands On Pastry Class

Obviously we were excited about getting our blog going and we are so pleased that you responded super quickly to our Cooking School Give Away. Congratulations to these 5 speedy bloggers ….. » Read the rest of this entry «

subscribe give-away

February 9th, 2010 § 5

To celebrate that our blog is up and running we would love to spread the love and invite you to subscribe. We’d love to send the send the first 5 people a $50 voucher for our cooking school as a token of our appreciation that you have joined us. To enter the give away, simply subscribe and leave the comment “i love to cook” and we’ll head off to the postoffice asap. This giveaway really only works for people who can visit the store but don’t worry – there will be more offers for people out-of-towners!

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