Shared Kitchen

Real food from scratch

Archives for 2019

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101 Filo pastry preparation

Traditional filo is tissue-thin and can be temperamental to work with. Speed is required to get it buttered or oiled, rolled and shaped before it becomes brittle and shatters into flakes. In the last decade or so I have noticed that the brand of filo I use is a tad thicker than previously, which does […]

Totara Ladies Lunch for Hospice

Some years ago my darling brother Clive got very ill with a brain tumour. In his final days he was assisted by the wonderful staff of Totara Hospice. I’ve been a supporter since then. I was delighted when they asked me to be the guest host of their 2019 fundraising lunch in May. Well known […]

Polenta

Polenta may have humble origins, being served as a type of gruel back in the day, but just look at it now!

Waiheke Live!

Waiheke Happenings Festivals, Markets, Creative Arts, Song & Poetry … Easter weekend is the busiest weekend on Waiheke, partly due to the jazz festival which is held over the weekend at various venues. The festival is now called the Waiheke, Jazz, Art & Music Festival to reflect the wider range of events on offer, though […]

Broccoli & Cannellini Smash

Well, who would have thought that a head of broccoli and a can of beans could produce such an amazing bowl of comfort food. Add a fried egg, sizzled sage leaves and a shower of parmesan and you’ll just about wet your pants with excitement. HaHa. Truly. Well maybe not … Damned delicious anyway. So, plan an all vege meal any night soon.

Feijoas

Feijoas are right show-offs. Stick one in a fruit bowl to ripen and it’ll soon fill the room with its heady, tropical scents of banana, sweet strawberry, ripe pineapple and guava. The creamy-coloured flesh, apart from the jellied seeds, is granular like a pear in some varieties, smoother in others. Feijoas ripen from the inside […]

Broken Broccoli

Broccoli, garlic and olive oil is pretty good together, but throw in some parmesan and BAM! An absolute knockout.

Scaloppine Colosseo

Little squares of golden buttery meat with loads of garlic and a smidgin of chilli brings a smile on a cold day. Try it.

Autumn garden

Autumn – or fall in the northern hemisphere – is definitely with us here in New Zealand. Sun, showers, more sun, a good drenching, then sun-showers, fast-paced clouds and swirling mist, and on it goes. I’ve still got tomatoes growing, and chillies and capsicums, though everything is looking tired and ready to give up. Lettuces, […]