An abundance of limes on the tree inspired me to make this moist but not overly sweet cake. Start by creaming 200g (7 oz) of butter with ¾ of a cup of caster sugar and the grated rind of one lime. Add 4 egg yolks one at a time and mix thoroughly. Next take 2 cups…… Continue reading lime syrup cake
green beans
Here are two ways to prepare green beans. This is a simple Spanish-style salad. First steam the beans for 6 minutes and then drain and rinse them briefly in cold water to stop them cooking any further. For the dressing combine 4 tablespoons of good olive oil, 2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar, 2 tablespoons…… Continue reading green beans
pide
After a cheese-making day with friends I found myself with a few cheeses and a lot of whey! I set myself the challenge of using both cheese and whey in one meal. First I made Turkish bread or pide. I used an SBS recipe but replaced the warm water and milk with warm whey. While I was…… Continue reading pide
rice paper rolls
Rice paper rolls are delicious prepared ahead but are more fun and much fresher made at the table. Take a single rice paper, soften it very briefly in hot water and place it on your plate. Now put a little of everything on it: rice vermicelli which has been soaked in hot water until just soft enough…… Continue reading rice paper rolls
flourless chocolate poppy seed cake
This is for those of you who love both poppy seeds and chocolate! To make this cake first separate 4 eggs and with an electric mixer beat the yolks with 100g (3½ oz) of softened butter and 50g (1¾ oz) of icing sugar until thick and smooth. Add 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder and 100g of…… Continue reading flourless chocolate poppy seed cake
ginger chicken + vegetable stir-fry
Serve these two simple stir-fries with rice for a quick and delicious meal. This stir-fry was taught to me by a good friend and has only 4 ingredients: fresh ginger, sesame oil, chicken and oyster sauce. Cook shredded ginger briefly in a hot dry wok until fragrant. Next the sesame oil and then the diced chicken. When the chicken is…… Continue reading ginger chicken + vegetable stir-fry
smoked salmon and celeriac pie
I’ve made pies in various pie dishes, but a spring-form cake tin is by far the most successful. For this pie I used Maggie Beer’s wonderful recipe for sour cream pastry although I used light sour cream. You’ll find the recipe here. For the filling, I fried a large sliced onion and 2 diced cloves…… Continue reading smoked salmon and celeriac pie
sour cherry, ricotta, almond and polenta cake
This deliciously moist and buttery cake is neither too sweet nor too heavy to serve as a dessert. You will first need to drain a jar of Morello cherries. Scatter them in a greased and paper-lined spring-form cake tin. In a food processor or mixer combine 1 cup of ricotta cheese, 285 g (10 oz) of almond meal, ¾ of…… Continue reading sour cherry, ricotta, almond and polenta cake
cottage pie
This pie, made with minced beef, might also be described as stockman’s pie. Use lamb and it becomes a shepherd’s pie. Start by cooking the minced beef (600gm) with ½ a teaspoon of salt in a dry hot pan, breaking it up as it cooks and allowing all the moisture to come out. When the liquid…… Continue reading cottage pie
spicy grilled duck breast
This wonderfully aromatic and spicy grilled duck breast, which I served with a tomato rice and grilled asparagus, is based on a recipe from Bobby Flay’s ‘Boy Meets Grill’ . The skin on the duck breast is first lightly scored and then rubbed with a dry spice mix made of the following: 1 tablespoon of Spanish…… Continue reading spicy grilled duck breast
michelle picker cooks 