I’ve already posted the pudding, but here’s the rest of our Christmas feast. We started with some garlic prawns (shrimps) cooked in a generous mixture of olive oil and butter and about as much garlic as we could stand. The garlic was slowly cooked in the oil and butter, the prawns added last and seasoned…… Continue reading Christmas 2011
beetroot, carrot and apple salad
This earthy sweet fresh salad not only looks festive but would complement turkey, ham, smoked salmon or just about anything you might serve on Christmas day. Peel and grate a large raw beetroot, 2-3 carrots and 2 firm apples. Add ¼ of a cup of lemon juice, a ¼ of a red onion (finely diced) and a generous amount…… Continue reading beetroot, carrot and apple salad
chocolate christmas pudding
Torn between a traditional pudding and something chocolate? Here’s a recipe which combines both and is truly scrumptious. It appears here after an early Christmas due to some requests for the recipe. There’s no need to age this pudding so there’s still time. Combine 250g (9 oz) of dried fruit mix (sultanas, raisins, currants, mixed peel and glacé…… Continue reading chocolate christmas pudding
lazy weekend breakfasts
Smoked salmon scrambled eggs with quick-fried tomatoes and spinach Fresh avocado on toast with lemon juice and black pepper Fried chorizo, eggs, tomatoes and mushrooms on toasted sourdough with parsley garnish Huevos Mexicana (scrambled eggs with the colours of the Mexican flag – tomato, onion and green chilli) served with fresh tortillas and avocado, Homemade beans in…… Continue reading lazy weekend breakfasts
banana, cream cheese & walnut muffins
When bananas become over-ripe I peel and freeze them to use in ice cold smoothies. When defrosted, they’re still perfectly suitable for a recipe which requires mashed bananas. Cream 100g softened butter and 100g light cream cheese with ¾ of a cup of brown sugar. Add 2 large eggs (one at a time until just mixed), 3 mashed bananas and 1…… Continue reading banana, cream cheese & walnut muffins
grilled pork + coconut vegetables
These dishes, Vietnamese in style, both feature lemongrass. Marinated in a mixture of fresh lemongrass, fresh kaffir lime leaf and Vietnamese chilli paste these pork chops were cooked quickly under a hot grill and garnished with coriander. The vegetables are a sweet and mild contrast to the spicy pork chops. Fry diced shallots with finely diced…… Continue reading grilled pork + coconut vegetables
eggplant and pepper salad
Eat this Italian style salad as a side dish with pasta or just have it for lunch with some bread and cheese. Cut 2 eggplants (aubergines) into wedges and sprinkle with salt. Allow them to sweat for 30 minutes (to remove any bitterness) and then rinse and pat dry. Heat some olive oil in a…… Continue reading eggplant and pepper salad
flourless almond bread
This low carb bread has a natural sweetness and is good fresh or toasted, with butter or without. Preheat the oven to 180C (350F) and grease a mini loaf pan. Mix 300g (12½ oz) of almond meal with 60g (2½ oz) of melted butter, 100ml (3½ fl oz) of light sour cream, 4 large eggs, 1 teaspoon of baking…… Continue reading flourless almond bread
lentil moussaka
This vegetarian version of a classic is both satisfying and tasty. First slice 2-3 eggplants (aubergines), sprinkle with salt and leave for 1 hour. Heat some olive oil in a pan and add 2 chopped onions, 2 finely diced cloves of garlic, 2 diced carrots, 2 sticks of diced celery, a bay leaf and some thyme…… Continue reading lentil moussaka
Spanish style roast beef
This simple method results in a moist, tender pot roast with a wonderfully tasty sauce. Season the meat with salt and then coat it with a little flour. In a heavy casserole dish, heat some olive oil and brown the meat on all sides. Add 2 onions cut into wedges and cook them a little…… Continue reading Spanish style roast beef
michelle picker cooks 