Food & Travel
Chocolate & Meringue Cake
We had a couple of celebrations for Guillaume’s birthday this weekend. He actually turned 40 a couple of weeks ago but he was working in Sydney at the time, so it really wasn’t until this weekend that we were able to celebrate it. On Saturday night, we hired a babysitter and I took him out to dinner at Depot, a very cool restaurant here in Auckland and last night we did the birthday cake. With kids you just can’t escape the birthday cake and candles, they’ve been hassling me for it all week – not that I’d want to miss it anyway, I’ll take any excuse for cake…
Mamie Annie’s Mild Lamb Curry
Just a few hours before Mamie Annie left to take her flight back to France, she was in the kitchen, making Guillaume a few more jars of the marmalade that he so enjoys, along with whipping up one last meal for us to share together for lunch – a delicious lamb curry. The flavours subtle and even mild enough for the youngest palettes to enjoy, we all couldn’t help but take second serves.
Leaving on a Jet Plane
As I write this, I’m about to hop on a plane to Sydney. Alone! Yes, just me, with a handbag full of my things. No toys, wipes or snacks. In the six and half years I’ve been a mother, I’ve never gone away alone – sure, I have for weekends away with my husband but not just me and certainly not over the ocean. It feels so good and kind of strange at the same time, I pretty sure I’m going to miss my babies like crazy…
An Unexpected Chocolate Almond & Orange Cake
Last week I was in charge of the dessert for the meal before my parents returned home to Sydney. To fulfil my recent attempt at wheat free living, I decided to make a flourless chocolate and hazelnut cake that I’ve made a couple of times out of an old Gourmet Traveller cookbook dedicated entirely to chocolate. I’ve always loved it; the hazelnut meal with the good quality chocolate makes it so decadent.
Sicilian Green Olive Tapenade with Almonds
I had a load of Sicilian olives left over from a huge amount I bought around Christmas so I thought it to be the perfect opportunity to make some tapenade. Seeing how delicious it is homemade and how simple it is to do, I won’t wait until I have a stockpile of olives next time. There are so many uses for tapenade; bruschetta, on baked fish, smeared over steak to barbeque, mixed with chopped tomatoes, fresh basil and parmesan over spaghetti… but I always enjoy it best simply with some crusty bread.
A Getaway to Tapapakanga Regional Park
I really enjoy these simple getaways that we’ve been doing since we arrived in New Zealand. We hire a basic bach (holiday house or weekender for the non Kiwis), with no TV or mod cons in sight. It’s always situated in a picturesque location and at times with a great view. We pass the days together ever so simply.
5 Food Questions with Sarah Tuck
Let me introduce you to Sarah; a Kiwi who writes a brilliant food blog, From The Kitchen. It’s a fairly recent discovery that I was so happy when I did. You know the ones, every image pin worthy, and loads of delicious and mostly uncomplicated looking recipes. Sarah’s day job is that of a recipe developer, food stylist and photographer so you can imagine what her readers are in for. Coupled with that is a friendly writing voice that you can’t help smile while reading – you’ll get an idea about what I mean with her answers below. Really, if you haven’t yet met the blog, “In The Kitchen”, make sure you pop over to say hi, you won’t be disappointed! It’s without saying that I’m so pleased to have Sarah here today to answer my 5 Food Questions!
Rapadura Butter Cake with Strawberries & Vanilla Bean Cream
My middle child turned four last week and I asked him what cake he wanted for his birthday dinner. He was adamant that he wanted a cake with strawberries and cream. I don’t know where he got that from because I don’t recall making one like that in the years that he’d remember. Anyway, strawberries and cream it was.
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