Here’s an interesting, substantial and very delicious salad. Cut half a head of cauilflower into florets and season with salt and pepper. Toss in a little olive oil and either fry or roast in a hot oven until browning. Finely slice the other half of the cauliflower as well as a large fennel bulb (a mandoline…… Continue reading roasted and raw cauliflower, fennel and white bean salad
steak
Enhanced with a delicious Korean-style marinade this steak recipe should satisfy any meat lover. For 3-4 steaks you will need ⅓ of a cup of soy sauce, 4 finely sliced spring onions (more for garnish), 2 tablespoons each of olive oil, sesame oil, brown sugar and red wine vinegar, 2 cloves of minced garlic and freshly ground…… Continue reading steak
rhubarb, apple and pear crumble
This crumble has the most delicious balance of fruit and spicy topping. Cut a bunch of fresh rhubarb into slices and place in a large bowl. Add 5 sweet apples (I used golden delicious) and 4 pears all peeled, cored and cut into chunks. Add 2 tablespoons of sugar and the grated zest of ½ a…… Continue reading rhubarb, apple and pear crumble
three piggy and pistachio terrine
My first terrine but definitely worth repeating. Over gentle heat fry 1 large finely diced onion, 2 minced cloves of garlic, 1 tablespoon of fresh thyme leaves and 2 finely crumbled bay leaves in 1 tablespoon of butter until translucent. Turn up the heat and add ¼ of a cup of white wine. Cook until the wine…… Continue reading three piggy and pistachio terrine
chicken and cabbage salad
Vietnamese food is so simple, clean and fresh and this chicken and cabbage salad (ga xe phai) is no exception. Poach 2 chicken breasts (or 3 thighs) by placing in just enough cold water to cover. Season with a little salt and slowly bring to boil over low heat. Allow to simmer until the chicken…… Continue reading chicken and cabbage salad
chunky apple cake
Here’s a lovely cake chock full of apples. Peel 5 large apples (I used 3 granny smith and 2 red delicious) and cut into small chunks. Sift together 3 cups of plain flour, 1 generous tablespoon of ground cinnamon and 1 teaspoon each of salt and bicarbonate of soda. In another bowl or electric mixer beat…… Continue reading chunky apple cake
roasted vegetable and couscous platter
Serve this as a stand-alone vegetarian meal, an accompaniment to meat or a colourful addition to a buffet. The vegetables in this dish are chopped and roasted together. The choice of vegetables can be a little flexible depending on what you have to hand but must include fennel, tomatoes and black olives. I would normally…… Continue reading roasted vegetable and couscous platter
christmas 2012
Only a small gathering this year but we still managed a memorable feast. The first course was exotic mushrooms cooked with sage leaves in butter and served with grilled polenta with pepper and pecorino cheese. The second course featured a rolled roast pork barbecued on a spit served with home-made apple sauce, oven-baked cranberry and macadamia…… Continue reading christmas 2012
french toast casserole
For breakfast entertaining this casserole is a crowd pleaser and easy to prepare in advance. My sister plans to serve this on Christmas morning. Slice 2 baguettes into 20 slices, 1-inch each. Arrange the slices in a generously buttered 9 by 13-inch flat baking dish in 2 rows. In a large bowl, combine 8 large…… Continue reading french toast casserole
herb frittata
This simple frittata makes a perfect lunch. Gently fry a diced onion in some olive oil until soft and translucent. Sprinkle ½ a cup of dry breadcrumbs evenly over the onions then follow with ¼ of a cup of finely grated pecorino cheese. Lightly whisk 6-8 eggs with ¼ of a cup of full cream milk. Add 1 cup…… Continue reading herb frittata
michelle picker cooks 