Dancing on My Table

All About Beetroot (Beets)

admin — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:14:42 +0000

The Romans knew a thing or two. They ate only the leaves of beet (beetroot) plants not the beets themselves. Ever tried them? While I wouldn’t be keen to give up beets, I have to admit that they were on to it when it came to the leaves - they’re nutritious, tender and delicious, with [...]

Best-ever 4th of July recipes

admin — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:57:43 +0000

Finger-licking’ Food To Cook Over Flames The sun will be shining, the kids will be playing their rowdiest games and the dog will be running around like a mad thing trying to join in and, any minute, your friends will be dropping by. Get yourself organized – the 4th July is a-coming! With this selection you [...]

Cheap Winter Eats

admin — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 19:34:27 +0000

The cold has settled in and we’re in for a long run of wintery days by the looks of it! One comfort is food - soups and homecooked meals fill the kitchen with gorgeous smells that’ll bring them running. Look for dishes based on seasonal vegetables, or inexpensive vegetables which one tends to pass over [...]

It’s that time of year, at least in cool climes, when radicchio is at its best

admin — Thu, 28 May 2009 19:16:31 +0000

Radicchio appears to be native to Italy, and the three types are named after the towns of their origin: Chioggia, Treviso and Castelfranco, all in the Veneto region. Chioggia is the most common radicchio found here, available pretty well throughout the year. It grows in a tight ball, resembling a small red cabbage and should [...]

Feijoas! I am addicted to them!

admin — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 16:34:47 +0000

The start of autumn (fall) always fills me with great anticipation. I love it as much as summer, maybe more, and as much as spring, and certainly more than winter. Along with crisp morning air, cloudless warm days and cooler night temperatures, it’s the produce which marks a definite seasonal change. Top of the list [...]

I’m so happy! Finally, we’ve dug up some potatoes!!!

admin — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 19:46:28 +0000

I was hopeful that our Jersey Benne potatoes would be ready for the Christmas table, but as the big day drew close it become obvious that there was not much going on in the potato patch and that like many other people we’d be paying a fortune for a box or two of organically grown [...]

Hey Bud

admin — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 17:36:47 +0000

I know heaps of people who love artichokes but who don’t have a handle on preparing them. The thing is, they look scary and difficult to prepare, and there are many ways to prepare and serve them. Which method to choose? How to start? Which bits do you eat? For all their beauty and mystique, once [...]

Queenstown - a great food destination

admin — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 17:40:43 +0000

I’ve just had a gorgeous spring weekend in Queenstown. It used to be the place to go for extended skiing weekends, or, late summer for a wine crawl, but it most definitely now stands alone as a great food destination, too, – it’s HOT! Taste magazine held a reader’s dinner at Lake Hayes’ Amisfield Winery, [...]

Summertime!

admin — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:44:30 +0000

Hey you lucky people in the northern hemisphere… it’s tomato time! While we are squelching around in our gumboots (it’s rained nearly every day for a month in Auckland!) you are coming into the best part of summer when tomatoes have had enough sun to really taste of something – they’ll be sweet, juicy and [...]

Shaping a menu

admin — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:33:50 +0000

One of the hardest things about having friends over for a meal is coming up with a selection of dishes which will form a menu, food that eats well together. Finding a combination of dishes that are appropriate for the occasion, that will please all guests, that won’t cost an arm and a leg, won’t [...]