Recipes & More
Zucchisagne
Serves 6 Ingredients for the bolognese; 500g Lean mince beef 2 onions diced 3 stalks of celery 250g mushrooms sliced 1/2 red capsicum diced Can of crushed tomatoes 400g Sachet of salt reduced tomato paste Empty can of boiling water 1tsp of powdered beef stock 1tbl of worchestershire sauce 1tbk of dark soy Teaspoon 1 tsp mixed herbs 1/2 tsp Rosemary 1 tsp oregano 1/2 cup of red wine Rest of ingredients; 8 small zucchini 400g low fat ricotta 1/2 cup of skim milk 250gs…
Slow Cooked Minty Lamb Stew
Slow Cooked Minty Lamb Stew Serves 2 Ingredients; 2 lamb shanks Bunch of fresh mint Tsp of dried rosemary I can of chopped tomatoes Tablespoon on chicken stock powder Sliced mushrooms Two onions quartered Water – fill up empty tomatoes can 1 1/2 Salt and pepper Method; Place everything in the slow cooker and cook according to your cookers settings, mine took a good 4 hours on high. Once the meat is falling off the bone take out the meat and bones and a cup…
Beef Bulgogi
Beef Bulgogi Serves 4 Ingredients; 500 grams beef – either a nice piece of steak that you can slice finely (if you put your steak in the freezer until it starts to nearly freeze you can slice it really easily) or beef strips are fine. 1 pear ½ tsp minced garlic 1 tsp ginger 1 tbsp Soy sauce ½ tbsp. Apple Cider Vinegar 4 x Spring onions finely sliced 1 pinch of chilli flakes Salt and pepper Method; Peel and grate pear into glass bowl…
Recent Blogs
Shujinko Ramen
Ramen – simply put it’s noodles in a soupy broth with meat or vegetables. Not sure whether I have had true ramen before but we went to a truly authentic ramen shop in Russell Street, not sure who came first Shujinko ramen or the Mortal Kombat character but it all feels like we have travelled across the seas to a far more peaceful place. It’s a tiny little place, probably 30 seats tops and everything small but perfectly formed, I felt like a giant with…
Stalactites with Uber Eats
The revolution of food delivery in the last year is astounding as we have gone from hopefully having your local Thai pick up the phone and take an order to lounging around on your sofa with a plethora of apps and food services that will bring you pretty much anything your heart desires. Whether you want to cook it yourself but don’t want to plan or shop or if you want your favourite restaurant dish delivered to your door – anything is possible. I am…
Botherambo
I don’t think I have ever been when Botherambo is quiet – sign of a good place! They are always super lovely staff and though you can’t book they will send you off for a drink and call you or we just took a pew at the bar which worked really well and every time I smiled sweetly someone bought me another wine – even better!!! Too much good stuff on the menu at Botherambo with shared dishes providing more than enough tantalising treats with…
Belles
I feel like chicken tonight, like hot chicken tonight!!! Belle’s has opened on a ‘getting very trendy’ Swan Street and we love it! I remember there used to be barely anywhere to choose from when popping to a gig at The Corner in Richmond and wanting to get some dinner. Now there is the poshest Hunky Dory and the poshest Grill’d and they even cater for the Messina crazy gelato lovers!! And they have Belle’s, hailing from Belle’s Diner in Brunswick they have brought their…
Massive Wieners
I had a Massive Wiener and I liked it!! Well I had a small wiener but it was still very tasty!! Massive Wieners making everyone laugh since…. well a while! It’s a very simple and effective proposition – a slightly bigger than a hole in the wall hot dog diner. The counter is small and you often ring to get the guy to pop out from the kitchen, the walls are covered in faded pictures of Massive Wiener challengers and their hot or not so…
Asian Winter @ The Emerson
What makes a Melbourne destination even more appealing for your Winter gathering? A pop up Winter in Asia rooftop bar will do it! The Emerson has taken their already impressive rooftop with the most amazing views of the Melbourne skyline and have turned it into an Asian Winter wonderland! And to make it EVEN better…. Susie Wong has taken up residency and it delivering a special menu packed full of delicious treats to warm you up and match with specially produced cocktails. For just six…
Brunswick Mess Hall
I had maybe overhyped this one to friends but we had a really nice time the last time we visited Brunswick Mess Hall and it didn’t seem to shine as bright this time. The menu had changed up a bit which is all fine and even though there were a couple of dishes I missed there were some new to try. There were some frequent check ins to make sure we were turning up for our bookings, the usual ring just after you book and…
Salon De Sushi
Sushi delivered – my life is complete! Ok it is a bit of a lazy move to get Salon de Sushi delivered when we could walk there in five minutes but it’s dark, cold and I am in joggy pants! Bring me the sushi!! The menu is crazy good with sushi, miso, bento, nagiri, chirashi, edaname, tataki and so much sushi you can have it all! It comes beautifully packed and on time with a nice guy delivering – tick, tick, tick! You even get…
Mr Burger Chapel Street
Mr Burger, their trucks are welcome in any ‘burb and lucky old Chapel Street has a bricks and mortar home with burgers just waiting to be picked up or you can grab a seat inside. The is super simple, Mr Burger is your cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, mustard, ketchup and mayo. Mr Meat has a little more going on with BBQ sauce and caramelised onions. Mr Hot has onion rings, bacon and chilli mayo. And then you can have chicken, double burgers and…
Tim Ho Wan
Tim Ho Wan has opened up in prime position on Bourke Street and offering the busy CBD crowd a serving of Michelin starred dumplings at a very reasonable price. Finally the queues out of the door have died down and we were able to grab a spot and a couple of beers whilst we refuelled for a little more shopping. One of the specials was the Cheesey prawn croutons, super crunchy fried balls packed with prawn and cheese – I don’t know how they made…
No. 84
No. 84 Bridport Street is home to good coffee and a menu that is far from your average smashed avocado and scrambled eggs on toast. Dishes like Eggs benedict with maple bacon and potato rosti or a quack burger with succulent duck or chai infused porridge with almond praline. You can still have smashed avocado but there are a lot of other dishes to try too! Hubby was thrilled with his open steak sandwich with minute steak, maple glazed bacon, fried egg, asparagus, cheese, tomato…
Cafe Lafayette
Cafe Lafayette on the Port Melbourne seafront is a lovely, light, breezy spot with a cool fit out and really happy staff!! The menu is all about great breakfast and some very special specials. Looking around you can see some very smug customers with crazy good looking concoctions of ‘Signature Freaky Shakes’ with popcorn and donuts and lots more…. I’m not sure where you would start or whether you would eat again for the rest of the day with the Brownie and double chocolate –…
Cookbooks
Michelle Bridges Superfoods
Good old Michelle, she has created an empire from helping over-eaters far and wide, bringing healthy and easy recipes to our kitchens and saving us all a few kgs! This one is a goodie, heaps of lovely ideas for breakie, lunch and dinner – delicious! Recipe 6 – Chicken and Bean Salad Tender chicken thigh with beans galore and a wonderful minty dressing – hubby made a cracker! Recipe 5 – Lamb Chops and Purple Salad Quick, fast and easy, no nice beet roots at…
Rachel Khoo – The Little Paris Kitchen
One of my favourite cooking shows, the cute and quirky Rachel Khoo brings a natural and fun approach to traditional French cooking, adding her own little twist on her cordon bleu training these are super simple recipes that pack a lot of flavour. Recipe 6 – Poulet aux champignons aver une sauce au vin blanc C’est magnifiuque!!! Loved this, super simple and the best creamy sauce ever – without heaps of cream! Mushrooms yum, penne pasta and we are all smiles and yummy noises!! Recipe…
Jamie Oliver – 15 Minute Meals
Recipe 7 – January 2014 – Sticky Kicking Chicken Hubby back in the kitchen and beating a chicken with a little bit too much pleasure!! Love this recipe with asian inspired sticky chicken. We went for some quick brown rice on this one – delish!! Recipe 6 – January 2014 – Chilli Con Carne Meatballs Hubby has taken Jamie into the kitchen and we have been very spoiled! LOVED this recipe and impressed at the bulgar wheat! I never knew it was so easy!! Tasty…