Salad days
It’s been 46.2 degrees Celsius here in Sydney today – that’s over 112 degrees for you Farenheit fans – at the end of my first week back in the office for a loooong time. Luckily this room is air conditioned unlike the rest of the house, but I’m wondering what on earth to cook for dinner. Last time it got nearly this hot I made this, but I think I have a batch of Karen Martini’s amazing Syrian chicken in the freezer, so I think we’ll have that (actually it’s ours, not Karen’s – but the recipe is hers…)
January has been perfect salad weather so far. So in lieu of a very, very overdue posting – and just before I go and find a cooling bevvy in the fridge – I’ve decided instead of writing here I will merely present a pictorial history of my favourite bits of holiday cooking and eating. Salads, salads, salads and more salads, with the odd bit of protein thrown in. Have been inspired again by the wonderful Ottolenghi lads, as I was given this fantastic book for Christmas, but also have revived lots of old favourites. Hope to be back here soon with some recipes … if you’re in Australia, stay cool folks!
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- Roasted capsicum, fresh zucchini & capers
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- Roasted carrots with mint & balsamic vinegar
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- Standby we love – peas braised with garlic, anchovies & chilli
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- Dinner!
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- These recipes from The Monday Morning Cooking Club cookbook – it’s great and proceeds are for charity.
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- A huge new favourite, replicated from a dish we ate at Hellenic Republic in Melbourne. Delicious – lentils, nuts, seeds, freekeh, capers and pomegranate
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- The Art Van Go Christmas brownies – a tradition for Senor’s clients, from the excellent Karen Martini recipe in Where the Heart Is.
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- Easy-peasy curing with just salt, sugar & dill. So good,
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- Americano – the summer drink
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- Feather & Bone Christmas ham – divine
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- My sister in law Jacqui made this and we ate it at Swansea on the Tassie coast just after Christmas. Even better when not assembled in my view.
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- I learned how easy it is to open a walnut, and how good they are fresh. These were from the local farm at Swansea.
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- Brekky from the Evandale market en route to the Launceston airport after Christmas,
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- Passata! Reading Barbara Kingsolver inspired me to try more preserving.
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- Roasting capsicums for bottling
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- Result!
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- Some Ottolenghi gorgeousness
Oh look, the cool change is here! Aaaaahhhh….
How to shuck an oyster 