smoky eggplant ragu

You won’t miss the meat in this deliciously smoky and rich Italian sauce with walnuts added for texture. I served mine with ricotta gnocchi but any pasta or gnocchi will work. Use one large eggplant (aubergine). To get that smoky flavour, prick the skin a few times and blacken all over, either on a barbecue…… Continue reading smoky eggplant ragu

spinach, gorgonzola, cranberry and walnut salad

This simple salad is a winner! Add pears for extra sweetness. Place plenty of baby spinach leaves in a large salad bowl. Add chunks of gorgonzola, dried cranberries and whole toasted walnuts – be generous! Season the salad with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Drizzle with a good olive oil and a good balsamic…… Continue reading spinach, gorgonzola, cranberry and walnut salad

marinated mushrooms with tahini yoghurt

If you love mushrooms, this is for you. The recipe is from PLENTY by Yotam Ottolenghi.  The original recipe uses shimeji and chestnut mushrooms but since I didn’t plan ahead, I used button mushrooms. Slice 450g (1 lb) of mushrooms and put them in a large bowl. For the marinade whisk together 75ml (2½ fl…… Continue reading marinated mushrooms with tahini yoghurt

maple ice cream with salted buttered walnuts

In Australia, most maple syrup is A grade. B grade is produced later in the season and is darker, with more minerals, a higher viscosity and a stronger maple flavour. Luc, our local Canadian importer and ambassador of maple syrup, assures me that the closest here is Coles Brand. My can of B grade, however,…… Continue reading maple ice cream with salted buttered walnuts

meringue cake with strawberries

Cindy made this Mostachon (big moustache), a speciality of Monterey in Mexico. The cake has a deliciously chewy walnut meringue base and a rich cream cheese topping which droops around the edges – hence the name? It’s always served with fruit, in this case it was strawberries. Preheat oven to 170°C (340ºF). Grease and line…… Continue reading meringue cake with strawberries