articles, recipes, ideas and tips for entertaining at home

With summer drawing to a close, mangoes are starting to become more expensive and less plentiful. I say make the most of them while they’re still around, and this recipe is a great way to enjoy the last of the season’s mangoes.

The divine Thai flavours of garlic, chilli, ginger, lime and coconut marry beautifully with the prawns and mango. The curry sauce can be made in advance – you only need to add the prawns and mango just before serving time. Perfect for entertaining and a piece of cake to make, you’ll make this recipe time and time again. [Read more →]

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Grapes arrived in Australia with the First Fleet in 1788 and now Australia is one of the most successful grape growing countries in the world for both eating and winemaking.  There are over 50 varieties of grapes, the more popular eating types being Thompson Seedless and Menindee Seedless (green varieties) and Red Globe and Red Flame (red varieties).

[Read more →]

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

It’s Australia Day tomorrow, a day when Australians celebrate everything that’s great about this fantastic country. It is also a day when Australians enjoy some of their favourite national dishes – pavlova, barbequed lamb and lamingtons come to mind. I like to bake a batch of Anzac biscuits for Australia Day – everyone loves these tasty treats and they are a cinch to make.

[Read more →]

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

I served these Smoked Salmon and Basil Mini-Frittatas at my recent Christmas Cocktail Party.  They were a winner, and disappeared from the platters quicker than I could refill them!  [Read more →]

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Happy New Year! As it’s the 1st of January today, I felt it appropriate to make a traditional Dutch New Year’s treat – Oliebollen. It’s a ritual I have been doing for many New Year’s Days, as my husband is Dutch, and I lived in the Netherlands for 3 years (where I learnt how to cook them). [Read more →]

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Christmas in Australia means sunshine, beaches, tropical fruit and outdoor dining. This time of the year I love to entertain and show my appreciation and gratitude to friends and people that have been an important part of my life in the past 12 months. Because this includes around 40 people, the best way to do this is to throw a party!

[Read more →]

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

If the thought of co-ordinating the Christmas meal fills you with dread, don’t despair – you are certainly not alone. Even competent cooks can find Christmas Day a culinary challenge. What to eat, how much to serve, how to organise and manage the different dishes so everything is ready on time – these are just some of the challenges that confront the Christmas Day host.

[Read more →]

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

The Achacha is a tropical fruit originating in the Amazon Basin of Bolivia and is newly available in Australia. Grown in Burdekin in North Queensland, this season’s harvest has just hit the shelves, and will be available in selected stores including Harris Farm and Thomas Dux Grocers until February.

[Read more →]

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Primavera in Italian means “spring style” and this salad showcases the best of spring produce. This is lovely as an accompaniment to fish or chicken, and makes a delicious entree served with smoked salmon. [Read more →]

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

The arrival of cherries in Australia marks the onset of the festive season. Highly sought after, the cherry is a favourite with everyone.

[Read more →]

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!