If you are a serious chocoholic, read on! Yes, this Spiced Hot Chocolate with Rum is a drink for hard core chocolate lovers! You have to love chocolate like there’s no tomorrow.  Or, at least (if not a chocoholic), be willing to venture over to the dark side once and a while. And, that’s what I … Read more

I thought I was being very un-chic all these years when I made Broccoli Soup with just broccoli and water. Turns out, I’m very much in vogue. Gordon Ramsay, no less, makes his broccoli soup much the same as I do, with very few ingredients, allowing the broccoli to take centre stage. Believe me, broccoli … Read more

The July Daring Cooks’ Challenge took us to Korea, where Renata of Testado, Provado & Aprovado taught us to make bibimbap. This colorful rice dish can be customized to meet any taste, and is as much fun to eat as it is to say! Bibimbap (Bibim = mixed; Bap = rice) is traditionally served in a bowl (individual … Read more

When my aunt and uncle from up north suddenly arrived on the doorstep, I had just enough time to whip up a batch of friands – a great standby treat. This recipe for Lime & Raspberry Friands from Taste.com.au was just the ticket, given I had some spare limes hanging around (can’t say that happens very often) … Read more

I bought a tray of cherries on a whim the other day and drove home wondering what I was going to do with them. I know most people go mad over cherries, but to be honest I haven’t ever really been one of them. Perhaps it’s because the season is so short, and they’re usually … Read more

I don’t use my slow cooker nearly enough, but when I do I always love the results. It’s a no-brainer really… wonderful tasting food that can be prepared earlier in the day so you can relax in the evening. I had heard of the word ‘tagine’ before but assumed it referred specifically to the Moroccan style … Read more

One of my favourite foods in the world is cheese – soft cheeses, like brie or camembert, in particular. I can down one of these babies all on my own in one sitting. So, you can imagine that there was a very short photography session in this case with no-one else getting a look-in so … Read more

It’s exactly a month ago that I made this celebration cake for my brother’s birthday. Yes, it’s taken that long for me to get around to posting it – what with all the Christmas baking and cooking over the last month, I just haven’t had a chance till now. So, without further ado, let me … Read more

Just occasionally, you make a dessert that, while it may seem simple enough, everyone raves about it being the “best ever”. This was such a dessert. Ironically, the idea for the dessert came in fits and starts – beginning with the need to use up some spare mascarpone I had in the fridge. I got … Read more

I love a good old English posset – they’re the most ridiculously easy dessert to make, yet they are surprisingly sophisticated in both taste and texture. A posset is a delicate balance of three basic ingredients – cream, sugar and acid. It’s made by boiling the cream and sugar, and then adding the acidic component … Read more