There is great news for chocolate lovers… Chocolate is good for your health! Now, we are not talking here about a candy bar but about real chocolate, the kind that contains at least 71% of real cocoa. Something to remember when selecting chocolate is that the darker it is, the less sugar it contains and the better it is for you. (more…)
For the last few weeks the fields around our piece of paradise have been full of field mushrooms and button mushrooms all FREE for the picking. And pick them we have…
Words of WARNING:
ALWAYS CHECK WHAT MUSHROOMS ARE SAFE TO EAT BEFORE EATING THEM FROM THE FIELDS. SOME TYPES CAN KILL
What you will need:
1kg White Button Mushrooms and Portobello/Field Mushrooms
25g Butter
1 cup Pearl Barley
1 cup of Green Lentils
4 Potatoes, cubed
1 Capsicum, diced
Few Cloves of Garlic
Seasoning
Vegetable Stock
What to do:
Brush off any dirt on the mushrooms, if you have picked them fresh like I did, you may have to wash them on both sides to remove any unwanted visitors, this does not impair the flavour of freshly picked mushrooms but it does on shop brought ones.
Dice up the mushrooms, capsicum, garlic and potatoes.
Throw everything in a big pot ( I use a cast iron pot that I can put on top of a wood burner and leave all day, you could use a slow cooker ) and cover with stock, cook gently all day over a low heat. The soup will thicken and the flavours will mingle just in time for you to come home from work, light the fire and throw your shoes off.
All that is left is to enjoy with fresh bread and lashings of butter. Yummy it is too!!
Dried fruit is a great treat, but you might be a little bit shocked by how much it costs. What you may not know is that drying fruit yourself is a great way to get snacks that taste great and are significantly cheaper besides. If you have an interest in drying fruits yourself, one of the best places to start is by drying them in the sun. While sun-drying fruit obviously works best when you live in an area that has high temperatures and low humidity, you’ll find that with enough patience, you can dry fruit just about everywhere. (more…)
Hot Mulled Cider
It’s autumn now in New Zealand, and some days it feels like winter is definitely on it’s way. Curled up in an easy chair in front of the fire, I would love a Hot Mulled Cider right now. Apple cider is on my shopping list for the next time I go into town. (more…)
Know the Difference: Olive Oil
It is the green olive that produces the olive oil that has been making headlines as a healthy addition to cooking. Depending on the type of olive oil you bring home, you will encounter a wide-range of flavors, colors, and consistencies. This is because the climate, location, and specific varieties of olives play an important role in the characteristics of the oil. (more…)
Mediterranean Couscous
Ingredients:
8 ounces of Mediterranean style vegetables, prepared
Olive oil
Salt and pepper
4 ounces of dry couscous
Approximately 2 ounces of feta cheese
Approximately 2 ounces of pitted, sliced black olives (more…)
Chicken And Vegetable Noodle Soup
Ingredients:
1 3 to 4 pound frying chicken, skinned and cut
1 quart water, or enough to fully cover ingredients
2 1/12 cups sliced carrots
2 cups sliced celery
4 tablespoons chicken bouillon granules, add more to suit taste
1 small onion, peeled and chopped
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 cup cooked macaroni
Salt to taste (more…)
Do you have a sweet tooth? Do you crave sweet desserts? Have you ever felt like a sugar addict? Most desserts are packed full of sugar, and yet there is plenty of evidence that sugary desserts are not healthy foods. (more…)
For some people, cooking is a relaxing and enjoyable experience. However, when you are cooking it is important that you pay attention to what you are cooking, distractions can lead to ruined food and can even cause injuries. Some of these tips may seem obvious when you read them, but don’t take them for granted. It’s important that you set up rules for your kitchen and enforce them. Your family’s safety may depend on it. (more…)
