Limes are not only currently in season but are in abundance where I live on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. As I’m a big fan of seasonal cooking, I couldn’t go past sharing my recipe for Key Lime Pie.  [Read more →]

I made this divine salad at our Easy Asian Dinner Party cooking class last week and it was a winner. My students wondered how such a quick and easy salad could taste so good? The answer is the combination of the classic Thai flavours of the dressing, sweet prawns and fresh Asian herbs. [Read more →]

Indonesian food is a much loved Asian cuisine in Australia. There are strong Indonesian influences in many modern-Australian dishes, especially those served in restaurants in Darwin and North Queensland. [Read more →]

This summer in Sydney has been a scorcher, with temperatures well above average.  This is not the weather to be standing over a hot stove, getting hot and bothered in the kitchen. However, this presents a dilemma, as I love cooking and entertaining. There’s always the barbeque, but even that can be too hot to handle in this heat. So I came up with a challenge for myself:  create a 6 course meal that requires absolutely no heat on my part: no cooking in the preparation and all food to be served cold. Oh, and a meal that will please and satisfy a group of discerning foodie friends!
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Enjoy the last of the summer fruit for the season in this refreshing fruit salad. The lime syrup enhances the taste of the fruit and adds a delicious tang.  You can use any combination of fruits for this healthy no-fuss dessert – my favourites: mango, papaya and berries.  [Read more →]

Summer is almost here, and there’s nothing like a fresh salad to accompany your meal. Rather than dressing your salads with bought salad dressings, why not make your own? Vinaigrette (pronounced vin-eh-GRETTE) is dead simple to make and tastes a million times better than bottled French Dressings found on supermarket shelves. The basic formula is three parts oil to one part vinegar / citrus juice. Add to this any combination of herbs, spices, seasonings or flavours. 

Experiment with different oils, vinegars and flavours. Here are some suggestions to get you started:  [Read more →]

This colourful chilled Spanish soup is perfect for summer entertaining. In my version the vegetables are not pureed but still retain some crunch, giving the soup a lovely texture. For the best flavoured soup, ensure that the ingredients are top quality. Serve it with a chilled sauvignon blanc, preferably from New Zealand.  [Read more →]

New season mangoes have arrived in abundance, so I thought it only fitting to provide my recipe for Mango Salsa. This simple but delicious accompaniment goes wonderfully with chicken, pork, duck, prawns and all seafood. [Read more →]

The weather is warming up and the days are getting longer – it’s the time of year to start thinking about eating outdoors. Here are a number of suggestions to ensure your alfresco experience is an enjoyable one: [Read more →]