At my local Asian supermarket I spied a packet of instant black sesame dessert which had no preservatives or additives. So I decided to experiment and use this as flavour and thickening for an ice cream. I combined 3 cups of milk with 1⅓ cups of cream and after bringing to a boil allowed it to simmer…… Continue reading black sesame ice cream
celery and tomatoes
Celery was a vegetable I used to avoid but it’s becoming a favourite, especially with tomatoes. An Asian stir-fry of celery, asparagus, onion and tomatoes. Finely dice 2-3 cloves of garlic and a similar amount of fresh ginger. Slice a few sticks of celery into diagonal slices, trim and slice a bunch of asparagus into shorter lengths and cut…… Continue reading celery and tomatoes
grilled turkey meatballs
In Vietnam these grilled meatballs are made of minced pork but less traditional turkey ones are delicious too. In a food processor combine 225g (½ lb) of turkey mince with 4 finely diced shallots, 8 minced garlic cloves, 2 tablespoons of Vietnamese fish sauce, 2 teaspoons of sugar and plenty of freshly ground black pepper. Process to a sticky paste…… Continue reading grilled turkey meatballs
flourless poppy seed cake
A shared love of poppy seeds and a shared birthday made this the perfect celebration cake. Beat 100g (3½ oz) of butter and ⅔ of a cup of sugar. Add 4 egg yolks, one at a time. Add ½ cup of light sour cream. Beat 4 egg whites until stiff. Fold a little into the butter mixture. Partly fold…… Continue reading flourless poppy seed cake
cauliflower ricotta frittata
Here’s a different version of cauliflower and cheese. Heat your oven to 180ºC (350ºF). Divide a small cauliflower into florets and slice 1 onion. In an ovenproof dish, toss them in some olive oil and season with salt, freshly ground black pepper and some grated fresh nutmeg. Add a bay leaf and roast in the oven until brown…… Continue reading cauliflower ricotta frittata
squid stuffed with prawns
Seeing fresh squid tubes on a recent shopping trip inspired this meal. For 4 squid tubes, you will need 300g (10½ oz) raw prawn meat. Place half of this in a food processor and process to a fine sticky paste. Add the rest of the prawn meat, 1 finely diced clove of garlic, a few sprigs of…… Continue reading squid stuffed with prawns
backyard mint ice cream with a chocolate shell
Here’s another wonderful ice cream flavour from Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams at Home by Jeni Britton Bauer. Creamy, delicate and refreshing all at the same time. The chocolate shell is so simple and so much better than anything you can buy. Measure 2 cups of milk. Take out 2 tablespoons of the milk and make a slurry…… Continue reading backyard mint ice cream with a chocolate shell
chrismukkah 2014
This year, in keeping with Chrismukkah, we celebrated Christmas day with a Jewish feast. The first course was chopped liver. This fantastic recipe comes from Yotam Ottolenghi’s Jerusalem. We ate it on rye bread while sipping champagne. Melt 70g (2½ oz) of duck or goose fat in a fry pan and fry 2 large sliced onions until dark brown.…… Continue reading chrismukkah 2014
chicken cooked in milk
Having tried pork cooked in milk I decided to try this recipe by Jamie Oliver. The flavour is delicate and delicious. Preheat the oven to 180ºC (350ºF) and choose a pot which just fits your chicken. Season the chicken with salt and freshly ground black pepper and fry in a little olive oil until golden brown on all sides. Discard the olive…… Continue reading chicken cooked in milk
banana hazelnut loaf
Another delicious variation on a classic, this loaf is not too sweet and can be toasted for a great breakfast. Whip 125g (4½ oz) of butter and 100g (3½ oz) of honey then add 3 large or 4 small eggs one at a time. Add 4 ripe mashed bananas, 100g (3½ oz) of hazelnut meal and…… Continue reading banana hazelnut loaf
michelle picker cooks 