Category: Julie’s Blog

How salty should the water be to cook pasta?

The Italians say it needs to be as salty as the Mediterranean. How do you know how salty that is if you’ve never swum in it?

Stay Home (and eat chocolate)

Well, you can only do what the government advises … and add your own twist to alleviate boredom.

My new reality

Misty mornings. Mushroom hunting. Bellowing cows.

Tacos, tortillas and a can of beans. Get inventive and feed the troops something tasty over the next few days.With your pantry sorted you only need to shop for fresh items. Mask on, take your own shopping bags into the supermarket (don’t use a trolley; carrying the shopping around the aisles counts as exercise!).In and […]

Lockdown Week 1

25th March 2020 Hi everyone, You will notice a difference to the Shared Kitchen newsletter layout this week. As we all prepare to go into lockdown this evening in New Zealand I am not wasting your time or mine with frippery: it’s straight to the heart, an idea to feed your family with side ideas […]

The hungry caterpillar

Heart in hand, the caterpillar missed this one!

Digging the dirt in Wairarapa

My brother Pat and I ventured out to the supermarket yesterday. I’m down in the Wairarapa staying with him and partner Lynne for a few weeks. Although they have impressive vegetable gardens and orchards, we needed a few extra things. Like milk. And flour. And bread. Masterton supermarket had promised ‘wipes’ for the trolley handles […]

Lifting the lid on frittata

The sins that have been committed under the name frittata. Stop! No more please. Call what you bake in the oven in a cake tin a vegetable bake. Got it? Yaaaah!

Passionfruit

Wrinkly is good!

An interesting combination today, but it is all about flavour.

First up, cute as a button, burrata, little pouches of creamy cheesy ‘umptiousness, with caponata. Now here’s a thing, my late Sicilian mother-in-law might not have given the nod to this quick version of caponata, but that doesn’t take anything away from it. Mine is faster to make, packs a punch, and is quite delicious. […]

Joie de Vivre Experience

Looking for a south of France adventure?

Tomato For One

$7.00 dinner. An extravagance? Maybe? Maybe not.

Song & Poetry Thing

Got a poem in you? Been tinkling a little tune and ready to showcase it to an audience? Song & Poetry Thing FOUND Café Waiheke 30th Jan.

Pickled Nasturtium Buds

Hey bud, you look cute!

Beetroot – multi coloured!

Candy-coloured beetroot will turn heads at your next gathering.

Sizzle & Crunch

Street food, sizzle & sun.
Read all about Sicily’s famed street food, Panelle, how to make them and what to do with them; how to make the crispiest batter for fried fish and much more.