This recipe has to come with a warning: Lindt bunnies were harmed in the making of this blog post. Not wanting to waste my gorgeous bunnies from Easter I decided to experiment with making a hazelnut version of a ganache recipe that I had made previously from Fig Jam and Lime Cordial. I added hazelnut […]
Kokoda - a Fijian specialty
The first time I tried Kokoda I didn't actually know what I was eating until I decided I liked it. Had I known that I was eating practically raw fish I probably wouldn't have touched it but once I had a bite I was hooked. Its cold, fresh flavours make it the perfect summer starter […]
We're engaged!
I'm sorry for my brief absence but it has been a wonderfully exciting last few days. After a blissful 6 nights in Fiji with my family, I returned to run from the airport to my friend's Birthday dinner on Saturday night. When we got home (I hadn't yet seen Will alone since I got back […]
Hedwig the owl cookies - Happy Harry Potter day!
Today is an exciting day and a very sad day for today is the release of the last movie in the Harry Potter series. I can't wait to see the movie but I'm also sad that it's the end of such a fantastic series. To mark the tremendous event, of course I had to create […]
Flourless chocolate hazelnut cake
After mud cake, actually I'd say in line with mud cake for my favourite type of cake would have to be flourless chocolate cake. They're just so gooey and scrumptious plus they last quite a few days and freeze really well. My go-to recipe for flourless chocolate cake uses almond meal but this recipe takes […]
Spaghetti with white truffle oil and bacon
Simple but a little bit fancy is how I'd describe last Sunday's dinner. A hint of truffle oil adds the fancy element to what's pretty much a carbonara but it's so simple to make. So simple in fact, I didn't take pics of the process. Ok that and it was Sunday night and I was […]
Chocolate cupcakes
The first time I saw this recipe was on Junior Masterchef last year. The young cooks were challenged to create Donna Hay's chocolate layer cake. The cake looked so fudgey and scrumptious I stashed the recipe away for a rainy day. That day came along a few weeks ago but instead of making the layer […]
Sweet brown rice with apple for breakfast
Last week I ran out of rolled oats. I know, not a big deal to most people but I love my apple and cinnamon oats for breakfast. Not wanting to go to the shops just for oats I went searching in the pantry and found a bag of brown rice. Brown rice and oats seemed […]
Monkey bread - Happy 4th of July
Happy 4th of July to those of you celebrating American Independence Day. Of course we don't really celebrate it down here in Australia but I never miss an opportunity to whip up something in the kitchen. Oprah, well actually Gail made me add this recipe to my 'to make' list. I was watching Oprah last […]
Low calorie chocolate pudding
I know it's a little naughty but I like something sweet after dinner and sometimes fruit just doesn't cut it. I need chocolate. So when I came across this easy recipe for chocolate pudding at I'm hungry too I had to give it a try. The texture was like a cross between yoghurt and jelly […]
Ritzy chicken nuggets with bacon and bean bundles
I know I know, yet another Nigella recipe but this one is combined with a Claire K original but it's more of an idea than a recipe. Last week at the butcher I saw chicken schnitzel, something I hadn't had for ages. I had that week's meals planned out so made a mental note that […]
Chocolate orange loaf cake
I am yet to try a Nigella recipe that I don't like. Somehow, everything of hers that I make (even if I do a bit of doctoring to make it a bit more waist-friendly) turns out delectably delightful and her chocolate orange loaf cake was no different. They were rich and slightly gooey and the […]
Veal stifatho
My cast iron pot has been getting quite the workout in the last month or so. This recipe of my mum's is another perfect winter warmer. Serve it over mashed potato or heated noodles and eat it by the fire for a very happy tummy (eating it by the fire not entirely necessary but I […]
Passionfruit sponge cake and passionfruit curd
Creating a moist passionfruit sponge cake can be tricky, but with these tips, you'll be a baking pro in no time. From ingredient measurements to mixing techniques, we've got you covered. Plus, we'll throw in a bonus recipe for passionfruit curd! 'Well that will be a challenge,' was my response when mum asked me to […]
June garden update and easy eggplant parmigiana
I haven't reported on the status of my vegetable garden in at least a month but it is going very well. Unfortunately the zucchini and squash haven't fared too well but they are the only casualties of the cold. Above are the first of the Roma tomatoes coming through. I can't wait until they're ready […]
Chicken fajitas
If I've said it once I've said it a thousand times, I love Mexican food. In the past, I've used the packet mixes that Old El Paso makes because I thought making something so tasty from scratch must be difficult. As it turns out, creating your own Mexican feasts at home from scratch is actually […]
Muesli toasted and un-toasted
Cinnamon-stewed apples, Greek yoghurt and toasted muesli is my favourite weekend breakfast. It's warming, tasty and the crunchy muesli add so much more than flavour. Toasted muesli is my favourite but unfortunately, store-bought versions usually contain a lot of things we don't need, like oil and fats, to give it that lovely crunch. In my […]
Chicken and chorizo paella
My mum makes a great paella. She learned how to do it the authentic way years ago when she lived in Spain. The other night on Masterchef, Miguel Maestra held a masterclass and showed the contestants how to make a classic paella. I mentioned it to mum a few days later and said I'd love […]
Apple pandowdy
A wonderful winter dessert recipe I just discovered is Nigella's apple pandowdy (adapted from her recipe for pear pandowdy). Whenever I make a Nigella recipe (in this case it was fajitas which I'll share soon) I like to follow it with a Nigella dessert. I just happened to buy a giant box of apples for […]
Amaretti cookies
If you're looking for a quick sweet snack or a little something to go with your coffee then these amaretti cookies are the recipe for you. They're sweet and nutty, gluten free and ready in 20 minutes. Like quite a few of my recipes, this one is from Celia at Fig Jam and Lime […]
Labneh balls and Greek yoghurt cheese
I can't remember where I saw this cheese originally but ever since I've been meaning to try it out. When I learned how to make my own Greek yoghurt I thought it was the perfect time to give this cheese a go. It's very tasty on its own and rolled in flavoured coating to make […]
Meatballs in tomato and pea sauce
There's an Italian restaurant not too far from us that has a fabulous entree. It's so simple but so tasty. It's meatballs in tomato sauce served in a little pot. I have to give Will credit for being the first to recreate this dish at home but this is my first attempt at it and […]
Hot dog rolls
Hot dogs are a regular weekend lunch at our house. I don't know what's so exciting about a barbecued sausage in bread but I love them so of course when I saw this recipe for hot dog buns on Annie's Eats I had to make them. There are a few requirements for the perfect hot […]
How To Make Yoghurt At Home From Milk
Learn How To Make Yoghurt At Home From Milk using the simplest method ever. We've tried a lot over the years & this one is busy-mum approved. Just 2 ingredients and minimal mess. Quick look at Homemade Yoghurt From Milk Why Make This Yoghurt At Home Recipe Ingredients You only need two ingredients to make […]
Outback billy can cake
Last weekend, I had a request for a 'bushie' themed Birthday cake. For those unfamiliar with the term 'bushie,' it's what we use to describe those great Aussies who live in the outback (the bush). My first thought was an akubra hat but my icing modeling skills are severely lacking. An outdoor dunny probably wouldn't […]
Greek almond crescent biscuits
Paniyiri, the annual Greek festival is on again in Brisbane this weekend. The website gives a few stats on the weekend speculating that 100,000 honey puffs will be consumed in the two days. Wow! I'm not sure if I'll make it to the festival so I thought I'd bring a little bit of it […]
Individual lasagnas
Lasagna is yet another of my favourite Italian foods but a single serve of the big slab isn't all that visually appealing. When I saw these individual lasagnas at Can you stay for dinner I knew I had found another weeknight staple. I completely made up the filling for my mini lasagnas but it was […]
100 calorie chocolate croissants
Exactly one year ago today, I was indulging in my first ever pan au chocolat (chocolate croissant) in the home of pastry, Paris. Oh how I miss eating chocolate-filled pastry for breakfast and enjoying dessert after lunch as well. My waist line is probably better off because it's socially unacceptable to eat like that but […]
Low-fat banana muffins
Fresh from the oven, warm inside and crunchy on top, that's how I like my muffins. Low-fat and reasonably low calorie and packed with goodness is also a nice way to enjoy them. These banana muffins are made with wholemeal flour so they're healthier than their refined friends, have no sugar (just a little honey […]
Slow cooked beef casserole
If I've said it once I've said it a thousand times. I love my slow cooker. What is not to love about something that you can throw a whole lot of ingredients into and walk away only to return to a tender, warming, gloriously delicious meal? This recipe is so simple you can throw it […]
Oatmeal chocolate chip cake
Last weekend, a group of us traveled up the hill to Montville (read about our whole trip soon) to celebrate our friends' wedding. Naturally I saw this as an opportunity to bake as I'd have 8 people to consume my goods the day before the wedding. I've had this recipe from Bake or break saved […]
Red velvet fudge
I've never made fudge before but boy have I enjoyed it. A lady I used to work with made the most delicious chocolate fudge I've ever had. Unfortunately her recipe is a well-kept secret so I was left to begin my fudge-perfection quest from square one. Red velvet seems to be quite popular at the […]
Rosewater pound cake
I hope all the mothers out there had a wonderful Mother's day yesterday and were treated and spoilt by all their children. This cake was inspire by my grandma who told me the other day how much she loves anything rosewater flavoured. Naturally I had to give this recipe a go. Lots and lots of […]
Hydrangea carrot cake
When I saw this cake over at I am baker I had to make it. My grandma loves hydrangeas, so with mother's day coming up, I thought this would be the perfect present. For a first attempt I think it turned out beautifully (if I don't say so myself). If you're ever after simple yet […]
Low calorie rainbow minestrone soup
There's a winter chill in the air as soup season descends upon us. I'm not one for sloppy soups but chunky soup is definitely a winter warmer I enjoy. There are so many recipes for minestrone soup out there that I decided to take inspiration from a few different ones and create my own version. […]
Low calorie beef lasagna
Low calorie beef lasagna is just like your rich creamy favourite but with a lot fewer calories than the traditional version. If you have read much of my blog it will be no secret to you that I love Italian food so of course I am a massive fan of lasagne. But sometimes we want […]
Easy pecan pie
I was delegated dessert duty for our Easter feast on Sunday. Some might see being delegated a cooking task as a chore but not me. To me it was an opportunity to make a pecan pie, something I've wanted to try for a while. Now I know that making a pie involves making the pastry […]
Peppermint patties
My dad loves peppermint. I think that must be where I got it from. We can both knock off a packet of mint sticks in record time and a bowl of peppermint chip icecream doesn't stand a chance. It stands to reason that when I saw this post on how to make peppermint patties I […]
Balloon balls - holiday fun
I saw these at the Eagle Farm markets last week and with my new-found sewing skills, thought 'I can make that'. With a bit of googling I came across wonderful instructions at the Mad Quilter. She's super-woman this lady. Seven kids and she still finds time to make fabulous creations and share them with people […]
Giant macaron cake
This week I had a challenge. It was my sister's 22nd Birthday and as the resident family cake-maker I had to outdo my last cake which was for mum's Birthday a few weeks ago. The brief for my sister's cake was; gluten-free, low fat and non-chocolate. It took a bit of brainstorming but I finally […]