Happy Christmas to Me!

A little Christmas treat for myself which I found while finishing my Christmas shopping!

Just flicking through this tome makes my mouth water!

Simple Pleasures

There are many delicious flavour combinations in the world, some are complex with numerous ingredients, a curry paste for instance but sometimes the most satisfying combination is of two or three quality ingredients, fresh warm bread with butter for instance.

Or new season Jersey Benne potatoes with... butter!

Every year I wait with excitement for the all the seasonal produce that summer brings, asparagus, corn, stonefruit, berries but one of my favourites has to be 'New Potatoes'.  We had our first New Potatoes of the season this week and I teamed them with a simple garlic and parsley butter.  Soooo good - I just about this whole bowl myself!

Garlic and Parsley Butter

100g butter, softened
1 bunch flat leaf parsley
3 garlic cloves
sea salt

Whip the softened butter until smooth and creamy, then set aside.

Crush the garlic cloves on a chopping board with the back of a knife.  Sprinkle with sea salt and then lay the  parsley on top and chop into the garlic and salt until mixed and finely chopped.  Mix this into the butter and then turn out onto plastic wrap and mould into a log shape, refrigerate until set.  Cut off chunks and use as required.

Bacon and Mushroom Penne with Garlic Crumbs

I love pasta.  After a long day at work I crave the comforting, deliciousness of carbohydrates!  I will never be a follower of the Atkins Diet, as I really can't live without my daily dose of carbs in one form or another.

Once mastered, a basic tomato sauce can be varied in any number of ways, limited only to your imagination and paired with any shape of pasta.  I like a thick, chunky sauce with short pasta or a light, fresh, flash-in-the-pan sauce with spagghetti.

Tortilla Pizza

When time is short I love to throw whatever I can find in the fridge on top of a tortilla for a fast, delicious pizza.  I use a wholemeal tortilla and kid myself that this is a healthy meal - no matter how much cheese is on top!

Summery Salad!

Summer has finally arrived to Wellington!  It is very uplifting to finally have some warmth and sunshine after months (and months) of rain and cold wind.

The herbs in my garden have grown exponentially in the last week and after a particularly warm day yesterday (actually it was only around 20 degrees Celsius but that's enough to break out the jandels around here) I had a craving for a refreshing, herby, chicken salad... with a refreshing glass of Sauv to go with it of course!

Stan's Gingernuts

I am not, in any way, a baker!  I have been trying to bake, in an attempt to be a 'good' wife, however about three quarters of everything I make is either burnt or undercooked or dry or weird looking in some way. 

Except for these cookies!

The Definition of Stupid

Is living in your house for four months before you realise that the starter on the gas hobs isn't actually broken (we have been using matches to light the hobs), it just needs to be switched on at the wall...