Sweet Pistachio Dukkah

August 13, 2012

I absolutely adore dukkah. Over hommus, tossed through a salad, on pizzas. It has a smokey, nutty texture and I love it for it. It got me thinking though, could I transfer my love over to a sweet version? Something I could have on a piping hot scone with butter? Or sprinkled over some coconut gelato?

I made it using pistachios because they seem to be the best for colour and flavour in a sweet dukkah. Hazelnuts would work just as well, but you wouldn’t have that beautiful mint green colour. It looks so beautiful in contrast with the dried rose buds that I have been meaning to use for so long. I have so many beautiful foods in my pantry that I have collected along my travels to various markets and shopping centres. I just need to have a little bit more inspiration to use them! Continue reading →

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Gluten Free Brownies with Raspberries

August 9, 2012

I love getting recipe requests. I have had a few in the last 12 months, from family and friends and am always happy to jot down what I develop. I’m not very good at the whole, writing down my recipes thing though. I really should be though, it is my job afterall, and I write a blog. . . so what is my problem? I dunno. I always think I will remember and then I don’t. Gold fish, they call me. You know, swim around the fish bowl once and forget what I just did?

You can substitute the raspberries for hazelnuts or macadamia nuts if you like, but the cooking time will need to be cut by approximately 10 minutes due to the liquid in the raspberries! And just as a warning, 1 cup of nuts is a lot! Cut the quantity back to 1/2 cup if you are going to do it this way. Honestly though, I really don’t think you will be disappointed with the raspberries, they are much nicer than nuts in brownies. I have a strict no nuts rule when I bake brownies. Continue reading →

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Rosewater and Pomegranate Parfait

August 7, 2012

Oh so pretty, yes? Almost too pretty to eat. . . until I smelt the sweet fragrance of the rosewater and pomegranate dancing together on the meringue. Food fantasies are real people. I managed to have some passionfruit and lemon butter stored in the fridge so dolloped some right in the centre and it really set it off. Zesty and bitey in all of the crunchy sweet. Hehe, it’s funny what words spring to mind when I think of certain foods.

If you are making a dessert for a vegetarian, please be mindful of the fact that thickened cream, is thickened with gelatine. We can’t eat that! I often don’t have dessert at a restaurant just for the fact that chefs don’t usually care if you eat gelatine or not, they will just tell you what you want to hear. Like meat stock in vegetable soups. WHY?! But, I suppose, no dessert is much better for these coloured skinny jeans that I am so into right now. . . :) Continue reading →

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Marshmallow Cones

August 5, 2012

When I used to walk home from school, I would always make a stop off at the local Vietnamese bakery and buy at least one marshmallow cone. They used to cost me $1.00 and I would crave them all day. After becoming a vegetarian and learning what marshmallows were made of, I swifty curved my love of the marshmallow cone. Good news! I made some myself. With no gelatine! Do you have marshmallow cones at your local bakery?

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I know I have become a little bit obsessed with marshmallows lately, but can you blame me? I have been marshmallow-less for nearly 10 years. Like anything though, it is a novelty and I cannot be bothered to make them anymore. I have added essences, colours and various ingredients into my marshmallows to get my fix and am now satisfied that I have made up for the past 10 years! I think after all that though, I still love the vanilla bean marshmallow the best :)

Continue reading →

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Flatpac Fridays: Cold Winter

August 4, 2012

It’s a particularly cold Winter in Sydney at the moment and Flatpac is feeling it. As soon as we get home at night, we put the heater on and Flatpac runs to inspect and absorb the heat. Depending on how cold it is, determines her distance from the heater. Tonight, she is positioned directly in front, on the rug. With a current temperature of 5 degrees, we are all fighting for heater space!

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I know it isn’t Friday, but unfortunately I am having technical issues again! Be back to normal soon :)

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Vanilla Bean Custard Puffs

July 31, 2012

So quick and so easy. I mean it. I am always looking for quick things to make – because on Thursday nights I bring dessert to family dinner. This one is a particuarly good one that I will be making again! Maybe with some different berries to mix it up. It has a few different steps but you can be doing it all at the same time.

I’m not much of a custard fan, you see, I do not like ‘sloppy’ foods. Custard falls under this category, as does porrige and yoghurt. Although, I love greek yoghurt on curries and in dips. Go figure? I know that it isn’t the flavour, it’s the texture that gets me. Anyway, Tyler absolutely adores custard. He eats it on fruit, cereal and ice cream. He really doesn’t have boundaries with it. And if he doesn’t eat it, I’ll just churn it into ice cream :) When you make the custard, do not add too much corn flour too quickly. It thickens like you wouldn’t believe and once it gets there it can become like a horrible yum cha jelly. If you don’t know about yum cha jelly, it is a jelly that they serve at chinese yum cha that is made on very potent gelatine and is like rubber! Continue reading →

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Stuffed Field Mushrooms and Mushy Peas

July 29, 2012

I can’t believe I haven’t written this recipe sooner. It is such a standard recipe at our place, because I am a vegetarian and Tyler is not. Mushrooms are said to be vegetarian meat, and I treat them this way! I will eat mushrooms anyway that they come, but I am particuarly fond of baking them, stuffed with a bunch of other yummy ingredients and grilled cheese on top. What’s not to love?

Mushy peas are a comfort food for the cold Winter nights, and so I don’t end up putting on any ‘Winter weight’ I always try and cut back on the fats. Tyler however, loves to add cream and butter to our mushy peas. He has been revoked from his mashing duties until I get back to my happy weight! A splash of cream and a knob of butter does make all the difference though. Everything in moderation! Continue reading →

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And The Winner Is. . .

July 28, 2012

YAY!! Congratulations to Genie and “Thank You” to everyone who entered and commented on foodmyfriend over the past 12 months. You guys are the best!

Technical difficulties with the video. Sorry if you can’t open it! Will be fixed by Monday x

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Flatpac Fridays: Flatpacs Friend

July 27, 2012

Flatpac has a friend. A little bit unusual, and most people don’t believe me when I say it, but here it is. This is Jesse, my step Mums dog. I don’t really know where to start with their strange little friendship. I am never sure if they know what each other are. They always seem a little confused, but the friendship goes on. I take Flatpac to family dinner at Dads house every Thursday and Jesse always runs to the car to find her friend. Last week, Flatpac was cosy at home with Tyler, because he was sick, so I didn’t bring her out in the cold. This followed with me receiving the cold shoulder from Jesse, but not until after she cried.

Maybe it’s because Flatpac is a big bunny, or because she has the attitude of a dog, but these guys get along so well, that I can’t argue with it either way. So there it is. Maybe I should get them onto that show about the strange animal friends?

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Caramel Slice Cake (gluten free!)

July 25, 2012

Yeah – that’s right.

Thought I should give you a chance to absorb what I just threw your way. Standard story - Birthday, needed to make a cake. He likes caramel slice but I wanted to make a cake = Caramel Slice Cake. We had gluten intolerant family members at the dinner too, hence the gluten free. I used hazelnuts and it kept it lovely and (moist) I hate that word. And then of course, extra hazelnuts for a crunch! Continue reading →

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