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Baked Brie with Honey & Walnuts

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Incredibly easy and perfect for any special occasion.

Prep Time: 2 Minutes  |  Cook Time: 12 Minutes

Ingredients

1 wheel Brie Cheese
4tbs honey
1 cup walnuts, halved
Fresh Rosemary Sprig
Bread for Serving

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 180ºC and spray a small baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
  2. Place the wheel of brie in the center of the baking dish and top with the walnut halves.
  3. Add the rosemary sprigs and drizzle with honey.
  4. Bake for 12 minutes or until the cheese is soft.
  5. Serve with extra rosemary, honey, and crusty French bread.

Creamy Tomato Chicken Dinner

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Tender chicken breasts cook a garlicky, creamy tomato bath, and the addition of kale rounds the creamy chicken skillet meal into a true one-pan dinner. Plus, it’s ready in just about 20 minutes.

Prep Time: 3 Minutes  |  Cook Time: 30 Minutes

Ingredients

2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
4 medium chicken breast, boneless, skinless
1 tsp kosher salt, divided
½ tsp freshly cracked black pepper
2 Tbsp tomato paste
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp fennel seeds
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes, optional
1 can crushed tomatoes
1 cup heavy cream
½ cup parmesan cheese, divided
4 cups kale, ribs removed, torn into small pieces, packed
1/4 cup basil leaves, thinly sliced

Method

  1. In a large skillet set over over medium-high, heat the olive oil until glistening.
  2. Season the chicken breasts with 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper.
  3. Add chicken to skillet and cook until golden on the bottom, about 5 minutes. Turn and cook until golden on the other side, about 5 minutes longer. Remove chicken from the pan and set aside.
  4. In the same skillet, add tomato paste, garlic, fennel seeds and red pepper flakes and cook until just fragrant, about 1 minutes.
  5. Add crushed tomatoes and bring to a simmer, allow to cook for 3 minutes.
  6. Stir in the heavy cream, ¼ cup parmesan cheese and kale, stirring until kale is just wilted, about 3 minutes.
  7. Season with remaining ½ teaspoon salt and add chicken back into the skillet. Allow to cook for 5 more minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken breasts reaches 75°C with an instant read thermometer.
  8. Serve topped with fresh basil and remaining cheese.

Cajun Honey Pork Tenderloin

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Sweet and spicy Cajun Honey Pork Tenderloin. This flavorful pork is oh so tender, quick and easy to put together, and will produce delicious results every time. Ready in just over 30 minutes! Perfect for a weeknight dinner, holiday worthy and makes great leftovers!

Prep Time: 3 Minutes  |  Cook Time: 30 Minutes

Ingredients

2 pork tenderloin (about 500g each)
2 tablespoons Herbies Cajun seasoning
2 tablespoons olive oil
¼ cup butter (unsalted (4 tablespoons))
¼ cup honey
½ cup chicken broth (low sodium)

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 190°C.
  2. Sprinkle the cajun seasoning all over the pork tenderloins and rub it all over.
  3. Heat the olive oil in a large oven proof skillet over high heat. Add the tenderloins and sear on all sides until golden brown. Transfer the pork to a plate.
  4. Add the butter, honey and chicken broth to the skillet and cook until it comes to a boil. Add the tenderloins back to the skillet and transfer the skillet to the preheated oven. Roast for 18-20 minutes or until the internal temperature is 68°C.
  5. Remove the skillet from the oven and transfer the pork to a plate. Place the skillet back on the stove over medium-high heat and simmer the sauce until it reduces and thickens, about 2 to 3 minutes. Taste the sauce for seasoning and adjust with salt or additional cajun spice.
  6. Place the pork tenderloins back in the skillet and flip it around in the sauce to coat evenly all around.
  7. Cut into slices and serve with sauce.

Beer, Brown Sugar and Mustard Glazed Ham

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A fabulous combination of flavours will give your ham a beautiful golden glaze

Cook Time:  1 Hour 15 Minutes. |  Makes: 18

Ingredients

1 x 8-10 kg ham leg, rind removed
Cloves, for studding (about 50)

For the Beer, brown sugar & mustard glaze
375 mL bottle dark ale
½ cup brown sugar
2 tbsp Dijon mustard
1 tbsp golden syrup

Method

  1. Preheat oven to 200C.
  2. Meanwhile, using a sharp knife, score the ham fat (not the flesh) in a honeycomb pattern at 2 centimetre intervals. Insert a clove into the centre of each square of fat. Wrap the hock in foil (this prevents it from burning).
  3. Place ham on a greased rack in a large baking pan lined with foil.
  4. To make the glaze, combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan. Bring to the boil, stirring, over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes or until reduced by a half.
  5. Brush the ham fat a few times to evenly coat with the glaze. Roast, brushing with remaining glaze occasionally, for 1 hour or until ham is golden and caramelised. Set aside to cool for 30 minutes.

Crumble Top Mince Pies

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Just like mince pies, only better! A rich crumble tops off these festive favourites. For a smaller quantity the recipe can simply be halved.

Prep Time:  45 Minutes. |  Makes: 24

Ingredients
175 g plain flour, plus extra to dust
65 g icing sugar
100 g unsalted butter, chilled and cubed
1 egg yolk
Zest of 1 orange, finely grated
1 tbsp orange juice
840 g fruit mince

For the Crumble
75 g plain flour
60 g unsalted butter, cubed
50 g demerara sugar
¼ tsp ground cinnamon
Pinch of salt

Method

  1. Grease a 24-hole small muffin tin, ¼ cup capacity.
  2. Blitz flour, icing sugar and butter in a food processor until it resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add egg yolk, orange zest and juice and pulse again to bring the pastry together. Turn out onto a floured surface and lightly knead. Shape into a disc, wrap in clingflim and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  3. Make the crumble top by pulsing flour, butter, sugar and cinnamon in a food processor until it comes together in clumps. Refrigerate until needed.
  4. Preheat oven to 190C.
  5. Cut pastry in half and work with one piece at a time while the other piece stays in the fridge. Roll pastry out on a lightly floured surface until it is about 3mm thick. Using a 7.5-centimetre cutter, cut out rounds and line the tins with pastry. Fill cases with fruit mince and then top each with the crumble mixture. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden. Leave to cool in tin before gently taking out.

Roasted vegetables with hummus

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Bring some colour and flavour to the table with this assortment of veggies that are roasted to perfection and served with a homemade hummus

Prep Time:  1 Hour 30 Minutes. |  Serves: 6

Ingredients

3 parsnips, peeled and cut in half lengthways
3 carrots, peeled and cut in half lengthways
3 beetroot, peeled and halved
1 large sweet potato, peeled and cut into wedges
12 mushrooms, halved
12 garlic cloves, peeled
¼ cup olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tbsp red wine vinegar
2 tbsp brown sugar
Fresh thyme to garnish

For the Hummus
1/3 cup tahini
2-4 tbsp cold water
2 tbsp olive oil
½ tsp ground cumin
¾ tsp fine sea salt
2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
Juice of 1 lemon
1 x 400g can chickpeas, rinsed and drained

Method

  1. Preheat oven to 200C.

  2. Combine all vegetables, garlic, olive oil and salt and pepper in a large bowl. Toss to combine and coat the vegetables.

  3. Put vegetables in a large roasting pan, distributing them out evenly. Roast in oven for 45 minutes.

  4. Combine red wine vinegar and sugar in a bowl and stir until the sugar dissolves. Remove vegetables from the oven and pour the vinegar mixture over the top. Use a large metal spoon to toss well to coat all vegetables.

  5. Return to the oven and roast for a further 15 minutes or until tender.

To make the Hummus

  1. Add tahini, water, olive oil, cumin, salt, garlic and lemon juice to a food processor. Puree until smooth. Add chickpeas and puree until smooth. If it is too thick, add more water. Taste and season.
  2. To serve
    Put hummus in a bowl and place in the centre of a serving platter. Arrange vegetables around the hummus and garnish with thyme.

Easy black forest trifle

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Short on time? This stunning dessert has the wow factor but is super-easy to make.

Prep Time:  30 Minutes. |  Serves: 14

Ingredients

1 litre ready-made vanilla custard
200 g dark chocolate, broken into pieces
3 packets chocolate flavoured biscuits such as Arnotts Choc Ripple
500 g cherries, halved with pits and stems removed
75 mL kirsch (optional)
200 g cherries, whole with stems
600 g double cream
400 mL crème fraîche
50g icing sugar
Grated chocolate to decorate

Method

  1. Place custard and chocolate pieces in a saucepan over a low heat. Heat, stirring constantly until the chocolate has melted. Cover with gladwrap and refrigerate to cool.
  2. Meanwhile lightly whip the cream with the crème fraîche and icing sugar until soft peaks form.
  3. In the bottom of a trifle bowl spoon some of the cream mixture and then arrange a layer of biscuits on top. Sprinkle biscuits with some of the kirsch and add a layer of cherries and a layer of chocolate custard.
  4. Repeat these steps to create layers, finishing with a layer of cream. Top with whole cherries and grated chocolate.
  5. Keep refrigerated until serving.

Pork Shoulder Al’Diavolo

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Rosemary-crusted beef fillet with horseradish cream is perfect for effortless entertaining and will make a fantastic main dish recipe at any dinner party.

Serves: 8

Ingredients

1 skinless, boneless pork shoulder (Boston butt; about 6 pounds)
Kosher salt
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
1 tablespoon coriander seeds
1 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon yellow mustard seeds
1/2 cup olive oil
6 garlic cloves, peeled, crushed
1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest
2 teaspoons smoked paprika

Method

1. Using the tip of a knife, lightly score fatty side of pork; season all over with salt.

2. Coarsely grind peppercorns, coriander, red pepper flakes, oregano, and mustard seeds in spice mill or with mortar and pestle; set spice mixture aside.

3. Heat oil in a small saucepan over low heat; add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant and barely golden, about 5 minutes. Stir in lemon zest, paprika, and reserved spice mixture. Let marinade cool.

4. Rub marinade all over pork, working some marinade into interior of roast. Tie pork at 1″ intervals with kitchen twine. Wrap tightly in plastic and chill at least 8 hours.

5. Let pork sit at room temperature 1 hour.

6. Preheat oven to 375°F. Unwrap pork, place on a rack set inside a roasting pan, and roast until golden brown and fat has just started to render, 40–50 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 300°F and continue to roast until meat is very tender, 1 1/2–2 hours longer.

7. Transfer pork to a cutting board and let rest 30 minutes before slicing.

8. DO AHEAD: Marinade can be made 1 week ahead; cover and chill. Pork can be seasoned 3 days ahead; keep chilled.

Recipe by Epicurious

Rosemary-crusted beef fillet with horseradish cream

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Rosemary-crusted beef fillet with horseradish cream is perfect for effortless entertaining and will make a fantastic main dish recipe at any dinner party.

Prep Time: 10 Mins | Cook Time: 20 Minutes | Rest Time: 10 Minutes |  Serves: 8

Ingredients

2kg whole beef fillet/beef tenderloin sinew removed
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp rosemary finely chopped
2 tbsp sea salt flakes
2 tsp black pepper freshly cracked
1/2 lemon

For the horseradish cream

1 cup sour cream
1-2 tbsp horseradish, grated (alternatively, use jarred horseradish and add to taste)
1/2 lemon juiced
salt and pepper to taste

Method

  1. Pre-heat the oven to 220ºc
  2. Heat a large cast iron skillet over high heat. Place the whole fillet of beef on a large chopping board. Drizzle over the olive oil and rub all over the fillet.
  3. Sprinkle the chopped rosemary, salt and pepper on to the chopping board then roll the beef fillet into the seasoning, making sure you cover the entire surface of the fillet.
  4. Sear the beef fillet on all sides until golden brown then place in the oven and allow to roast for 20 minutes until a meat thermometer inserted reads 55ºC/130ºF for rare-medium rare meat.
  5. Remove from the oven then cover with foil and allow to rest for 10 minutes.
  6. In that time, mix together all the ingredients for the horseradish cream and season to taste with lemon, salt and pepper.
  7. Slice the beef fillet and serve with the horseradish cream.

    Recipe by Alida Ryder

Christmas Ham with Cranberry & Redcurrant Glaze

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This celestial ham will be the winning centre-piece of your Christmas table. Sweetly spiced by the whole cloves. The deliciously sticky glaze contrasts beautifully with the salty meat.

Cook Time: 1 hour 25 Minutes |  Serves: 12

Ingredients

8 kilogram smoked leg of ham

1 cup (320g) redcurrant jelly

3/4 cup (240g) cranberry sauce

2 tablespoon lemon juice

1/3 cup (80ml) brandy

whole cloves, to decorate

Method

  1. Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F.
  2. Cut through the rind of the ham about 10cm (4 inches) from the shank end of the leg. To remove the rind, run your thumb around the edge of the rind, just under the skin. Start pulling the rind from the widest edge of the ham; continue to pull the rind carefully away from the fat up to the cut at the shank end. Remove rind completely. Using a sharp knife, score fat lightly at about 2.5cm (1-inch) intervals, cutting just through the surface of the fat. Score in the opposite direction to form a diamond pattern.
  3. To make cranberry and redcurrant glaze, stir jelly, cranberry sauce, lemon juice and brandy in a small saucepan over low heat until combined.
  4. Line large baking dish with baking paper; place ham on wire rack in dish. Brush ham all over with glaze; cover shank end with foil.
  5. Bake ham 40 minutes; remove from oven, decorate with cloves. Return to oven; bake a further 40 minutes or until browned all over, brushing occasionally with glaze.
  6. Cover ham; stand 15 minutes before slicing. Serve warm or cold.