Ingredient Herbs

Iced Chai Tea

With similar colour properties to cola-cola you could be forgiven for turning your nose up at the attractiveness of this drink, however what it lacks in aesthetic value it most certainly makes up for in flavour and refreshment.

Pad Thai

I’ve been wanting to post pad Thai for a while but have been a little hesitant as it’s one of those foods that has history, tradition and with it a whole line of followers. It’s a bit of an institution…

Tacos two ways

The taco has to be the ultimate in street food.  A little flavour bomb that conveniently fits in the palm of one hand – fresh, hot, spicy, satisfying – and still leaves a hand free for a cold beer, or…

Lamb koftas with golden beetroot slaw

The latest craze in our kitchen is Middle Eastern food.  If it doesn’t contain pinenuts or pistachios, coriander or cumin, tahini or tamarind then we’re not interested!  What I find most appealing about this style of cuisine is its generous…

Blue cheese & apple toasties

Come lunchtime, I find that more often than not (if the spoils of last nights meal do not await) I pull a few slices of bread out of the freezer, toast them and then mere minutes later generously spread them…

Stir-fried beef with tropical fruit

Amie’s first recipe contribution was her Dad’s steamed pork and now she brings another delicious Chinese recipe. This recipe is a beautiful example of the compatibility of salty, succulent beef with sweet delicate fruit

Venison hot dogs

My husband has become a deer hunter and I’m not completely sure how I feel about it. Call me a hypocrite as although I don’t like the thought of a target over poor Bambi’s head, I love to eat its…

Easy fish, tomato and coconut stew

 I remember a version of this as a staff meal and at the time I thought it was so gourmet.  Looking at this recipe today, it may have lost its gourmet shine but it is however just as delicious and worthy…

Lasagne

If you can make a good Bolognese sauce then you can make a good lasagne, and if you can make a good lasagne then strangely you’ll always find you have plenty of friends gathered round your dining table! 

Spaghetti bolognese

For as long as I have been contributing to this blog I have toyed with the idea of posting a recipe for spaghetti Bolognese.  Long has it been a staple meal in our family and I am pretty sure that…

Prawn and chilli pasta

If by nature you are indecisive, shopping for pasta can be tricky. There are so many varieties on offer: wholemeal spaghetti (my favourite), squid ink tagliatelle, rainbow bow ties, alphabet letters and farm yard animals, even gluten free varieties made…

Monkfish Kebabs

These monkfish kebabs are actually my favourite thing to make at the moment. They are divine. We have eaten them several times in the last few weeks as they are just so easy to put together – the monkfish is meaty…

Slow roasted leg of lamb with salsa verde

This is a superb version of the good old kiwi roast.  The flavours are modern yet true to the traditional genius of lamb paired with beautiful, fresh mint. I can’t actually take credit for this one, as it was the…