Author: Allspice & Olive
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Peach Apple Turnovers
Turnovers remind me of childhood, the flaky, sweet, hand-held nature of them. I have been making them early mornings lately while everyone is still asleep – if I’m on the ball the kids will get to eat them with their morning tea. They are great for lunches, picnics and after-school snacks. Blueberry works really well […]
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Israeli Couscous Halloumi Salad
Also called moghrabieh, these grains are made of semolina and feature in many middle eastern stews. I constructed this salad as you would tabbouleh with the same flavour profile but Israeli couscous absorbs more flavours than normal, so I’ve accounted for that in the ingredients list. Serves 8 Ingredients: 2 cups Israeli couscous 1 1/2 […]
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Warm golden beet salad
Using quality, locally grown beets for this temping side dish is the key here – you know the kind with luscious greens still attached. You may get lucky with a supermarket bunch but it’s possible your salad turns out rather bland. You can fix a bland beet salad by adjusting the dressing. But for maximum […]
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Blueberry cobbler
One of my fondest memories of growing up is visiting my grandparents and aunts in upstate New York on weekends and holidays. There was always something sweet on the table. Fruit cobbler was a mainstay – peach cobbler was the one that circulated most frequently. I’ve always found cobbler a happy food – the way […]
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Potato gnocchi in a Rosé sauce
To read Diana Henry speak about handling these little dumplings like you would flowers, it is a perfect analogy. They need a light touch and some delicate manipulation but they are a great way to use up leftover potatoes and are far superior to the chewy, hard little nuggets they call gnocchi at the grocery […]
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Fried calamari
Don’t do what I did and buy the freshest calamari you can buy – going to the trouble of cleaning it, de-boning it and fretting over how thin to cut your tubes. Only to have your final product turn out rubbery. Don’t do that. Just go to the freezer section of your local grocery store […]
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Probiotic Mango Lassi
What would the advent of summer in Australia be without a few mango recipes? This one is perfect for those extra ripe mangos that go on special at the supermarket. I like to supercharge this drink with some kefir, which I then sweeten with maple syrup. It’s a Canadian-Australian match made in Heaven! Ingredients: 2-3 […]
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Creamy chicken hand pies
I did not feel I had the strength of make dinner last night after a busy day helping researchers, schlepping children back and forth to school in the 32 degree heat, as well as enduring some pretty wicked joint pain. Alas, I don’t know how these pretty pies made it to the dinner table, but […]
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Miso roasted whole cauliflower
This isn’t exactly a recipe. It’s about as simple as can be. One whole cauliflower, several large tablespoons of miso paste (any type will do), and a very hot oven (like 400 F). Don’t be shy – use your hands to smother the miso paste into all the nooks and crannies of the florets – […]
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Herbed kofte kebabs
Now that summer has arrived here on Australia‘a east coast, there is nothing better than eating a meal outdoor al fresco. I’ve been reading Samin Nosrat’s Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat and came across these super simple kebabs which do very well on the bbq. I’ve made a few adjustments but there is really no wrong […]
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Orange Granita
I sure wish I had known how to make this economical and refreshing treat before today but alas, better late than never. This will be my go-to summer dessert since I still have not got the nerve up to buy an ice cream machine (or a kitchen mixer, air fryer or waffle maker). Point is, […]
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Stuffed grape leaves (Lebanese style)
No amount of practice will ever see me attain the mathematical precision achieved by one of the best known Lebanese restaurants in my hometown Daou, of these little meat cigars known as “Yebra”. It does not matter anyways, just do your best to wrap them up tightly and add a uniform amount of filling to […]
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Baked cider cinnamon donuts
Well I’ve got a donut pan now so I did not waste time making a batch of these babies. This NYT recipe is absolutely a classic. Even in Australia where you cannot find authentic apple cider to save your life, these turned out fine with sparkling cider. Fluffy, spicy, buttery these donuts lasted about an […]
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Vietnamese noodle salad
Try replacing grains and pasta with rice stick noodles one night. Throw some chopped carrot, lettuce and bean sprouts on top. Add seasoned meat or tofu. Sprinkle a blend of fresh herbs like mint and basil. I admit to not having had this meal in rotation very frequently, until now, but after purchasing some fish […]
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Arancini
Such a fun kid-friendly finger food – not to mention vegetarian – Arancini is a great addition to the repertoire. I have experimented with other recipes, but this is definitely my favourite and the most straight-forward. It requires making a good risotto, allowing it to cool slightly so it’s easier to work with, and then […]
Allspice & Olive 