dried fig icecream with fresh figs & pistachios 

It’s no secret that I love a good dinner party. I love the whole process; planning the menu, procuring the ingredients, doing the cooking, cleaning the house and setting the table (actually this bit I’m not that fond of), greeting the guests, enjoying the evening, even cleaning up afterwards and reviewing the night. I love how having guests changes the dynamic of your home, bringing it alive with the glow of friendship and laughter. I love how the casual intimacy allows for a much more relaxed catchup away from the formality and interruptions of a restaurant. But if the truth be told, I’m also a sucker for the praise….I mean I am human.

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supermmoist banana & almond cake 

The whole world of food likes and dislikes is something that I find endlessly fascinating. I love how complex it all is. I mean there’s a whole lot more at play than just the food itself. It goes way beyond appearance, texture and flavour. There’s history, cultural influences, education a whole melting pot of thing really that makes us choose what we like to put in our mouths and what we don’t. Read the rest of this entry »

little passionfruit cheesecakes 

It’s amazing how life can still take you by surprise. One moment it’s Christmas and your mum has found a lump in her breast. The next moment it’s early February and she is coming home from hospital after having a mastectomy. In spite of all the worry and anxiety there are a few positives to this scenario. It certainly makes you reconsider your relationships and what you hold as important, and it makes you treasure your mum all the more. Read the rest of this entry »

shaved beetroot, pear, & marinated feta salad 

The other day I was reading through some recent posts and I was thinking how much they make me sound like a glutton…..I mean all these multi-course meals and long boozy lunches, any sensible reader would have to conclude that I must look something like the side of a house. But thankfully this isn’t the case. I only eat like this when I’m entertaining guests and as a single gal living alone, my mid week dinners tend to be much more waistline-friendly. Read the rest of this entry »