SLOW ROASTED LAMB SHANKS

SLOW ROASTED LAMB SHANKS

According to the old proverb: ‘the nearer the bone, the sweeter the meat.’ Leaving metaphorical meanings aside, when we’re talking about the long, slow cooking of meat on the bone, the culinary experts couldn’t agree with the ancients more. There’s not only the buttery bone marrow, they say, but the collagen in the bones themselves that melts to create gelatin. Both end up adding texture and body to carry and enrich the more complex meaty flavours …

LIME SYRUP COCONUT CAKE

LIME SYRUP COCONUT CAKE

I can’t resist the flavour of coconut. For many westerners it reminds us of the exoticism of Asia. And whether it be in soups, curries, cakes or desserts; as a cream, a milk, desiccated, toasted, shredded or shaved it rewards us with a gorgeous tropical flavour. And what could be more tropically tantalising than the sweet scent of a coconut cake baking in the oven? Well … the combination of lime and coconut is pretty hard to beat ….

DUCK SANG CHOY BAU

DUCK SANG CHOY BAU

Sang Choy Bau, meaning ‘lettuce’ and ‘wrap’ is a tasty, spicy mix of minced meat - commonly pork but believed to be originally pigeon – that is designed to be spooned into lettuce cups then ‘wrapped’ into small parcels that disappear in a couple of bites ….

GLUTEN-FREE BARBADOS BISCUITS

GLUTEN-FREE BARBADOS BISCUITS

I love to cook when I have leisurely time to enjoy it – a quiet Sunday afternoon for instance, when it’s nothing but pleasure to potter in the kitchen, particularly if I’m making small, sweet things. Indulgences. I also love the way that pleasure is amplified when I go to the cupboard some time later and find…Yay! Bikkies in the Tin ….

GLUTEN-FREE FRUIT LOAF

GLUTEN-FREE FRUIT LOAF

As we all know, making good bread without gluten isn’t easy. Even the best of the commercial baker’s efforts, while we’re grateful these days that they’re so much better than they used to be, aren’t, I imagine, like real bread. I look at the amazing sourdough and artisan breads that are around these days, and yes, drool. But enough of that. How about giving this Gluten-Free Fruit Loaf a go? ….