Category: Special occasions

Bruschetta with Grilled Zucchini & Buffalo Mozzarella

That whiff of barbecue smoke brings them running … though these succulent treats can be prepared indoors in a grill pan any time of year.

Spicy Pepitas

Zizz up your next drinks gathering with a bowl of these spicy little beauties.

Crispy Chicken Wings

Puts the finger-licking into, um, er, finger-licking!

Chorizo & Baby Potato Tapas

Scrumptious little morsels to add to a tapas feast.

Pineapple Sage

Sweet pineapple sage – it truly does taste of pineapple!

Mini Lamb Koftas

Oh joy! Spicy little balls – and lots of them!

Coopers Creek Vineyard – still family owned after 38 years

And still producing award-winning wines.

Kumara Crisps

Golden and crisp, hard to resist! Just the ticket to go with drinks (and, YES, you can make them ahead).

Cashew Nut Curry

Cashew nuts bathed in a rich coconutty sauce is utterly delicious!

Seedlip’s come to town …

Full of the scent of sun-warmed carnations, a scrape of orange peel and a sprinkle of spice … Seedlip’s come to town.

Pork Belly with Cider

Oh yes, once or twice a winter, a little crispy nugget of pork belly pleases my soul.

All you need to know about roast pork and perfect crackling

Crackling. CRUNCHY crackling. Gorgeously golden, so fingerlickin’ salty, and so perfectly crackled you hear it shatter in your ears, and all lined with a layer of sweet creamy fat that melts on your tongue. OMG! Died and gone to heaven with this one.

Bahn Mi

Pickles and pork and pâté … an a pint. What’s not to like?

Gingered Fish with Lentils

Sensational – ginger underpins all the flavours with its hot little nip.

Coconut Chicken Curry

A picture is worth a thousand words …

Ricotta-stuffed Chicken Breasts with Verjuice

One of my fave chicken dishes – guaranteed succulence every time.

Fours aux Amandes – almond petits fours

Here’s the biscuit for you when you want to add a touch of elegance to your next tea party. Serve with your best china teacups and teapot and make a proper pot of tea as an accompaniment.

Pumpkin Dip with Spicy Oil Drizzle

Easy dip to serve to friends? Roast off some pumpkin, mash with yoghurt and drizzle with a spicy oil. Done.

Rocky Bay Lamb Shanks

Do you know where your lamb comes from? Leelands export-quality lamb can be traced right back to Bill and Sue’s lush Southland pastures.

Fried Cauliflower with Olives & Herbs

Oh Lordy, fried cauliflower. One of life’s delicious moments.

Brown Sugar Meringue with Chocolate Cream

Oh-la-la Impressive!

Chocolate Almond Cake from Capri

Capri is where I discovered this almond cake, sweet, nutty, chocolatey with a fresh note of lemon, an ingredient which the island is famous for. I’ve been making it a lot lately and it just gets better and better.