Simply Delicious

Wine-poached pears with Vanilla ‘mousse – Woolworths/Masterchef SA series

Ally_R — Wed, 30 May 2012 06:44:54 +0000

I'm not usually the biggest fan of the humble pear. I think they are beautiful to look at and every photographer's dream, but I have never loved their texture or flavour. I find them to be either rock hard or so soft and furry, eating them reminds you of chewing on a mohair blanket. Not exactly appetising! However, when pears are poached, they take on a whole different persona and it's one I quite like. Their flavour becomes more pronounced as they absorb the poaching liquid ever so gently...

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Meatball subs (Sandwiches) with spicy tomato relish

Ally_R — Tue, 29 May 2012 07:11:13 +0000

The first time I ever heard about a "Meatball Sub" was when I was about 14/15. I was watching one of my all-time favourite tv programs, FRIENDS and Joey bought a Meatball sub to eat in the back of a car. He was so infatuated with this meatball sub and didn't even want Chandler to smell it as he was "stealing taste particles". Any sandwich that makes a man complain about people stealing taste particles is a sandwich I want...now! So over the weekend I had no idea what to serve for lunch and...

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Risotto with Peas & Bacon (Risi e Bisi)

Ally_R — Mon, 28 May 2012 07:41:47 +0000

I have to be honest, one of the main reasons I like to make Risotto with Peas & Bacon is so that I can tell everyone eating it that it's actually called "Risi e Bisi" (the Italian name). Doesn't that sound too adorable for words. Risi e Bisi.. I just love saying it. But that's not the only reason I love making it. I have quite a fascination with how well peas and any form of pork (especially smoked) works together. And adding that combination to creamy risotto, well that's just genius!...

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Weekly Round-Up #1

Ally_R — Thu, 24 May 2012 07:37:47 +0000

Since I started this blog (in 2009) I've been immensely inspired by other bloggers, both local and International. Their photos, recipes and amazing ideas have left me feeling creative and very motivated to get my own blog to their standards. I think I have a long way to go still but I've decided it's time to give back a bit. I wanted to start a weekly feature where I can showcase my favourite recipes and food photography that I've found in that particular week. I spend an enormous amount of...

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The ultimate Creamy Mushrooms

Ally_R — Wed, 23 May 2012 06:55:59 +0000

Last night after a day filled with admin and e-mails, I was not in the mood to spend a lot of time in the kitchen. I wanted something quick and filling but needed comfort as we are experiencing icy weather at the moment. The only problem is that comfort food doesn't always equate to quick and easy food. I had mushrooms (and a lot of them) in the fridge and immediately thought of how delicious they would be when fried with garlic, doused in cream and finished off with fresh parsley and lemon...

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Roasted Butternut soup with Pears

Ally_R — Mon, 21 May 2012 06:36:04 +0000

As I write this post, my teeth are chattering and my knees are shaking. It's officially Winter! It's been chilly for the last couple of weeks but this morning, my hot tea doesn't seem to have the same power as it did a few weeks ago. But don't think I'm complaining, not for a second! I'm a good and proper Winter baby. Born in the middle of Winter must surely have an effect on how you feel about the season and I just absolutely love it. By August I start yearning for the freshness and...

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3-meat & Ricotta Meatballs in Tomato sauce on Spaghetti

Ally_R — Tue, 15 May 2012 06:25:17 +0000

I've made no secret over the last few years that I just love meatballs. I make them often and I am always trying to improve on my recipes. So last week when I made my first batch of home-made Ricotta, I wanted to use it in a way I had never done before. I thought of serving the ricotta on top of the pasta, which I did at the end as well, but also decided to mix some of the ricotta into the meatball mixture. I know how deliciously light the ricotta made my Ricotta blueberry pancakes and thought...

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Tiramisu Cake

Ally_R — Mon, 14 May 2012 06:28:46 +0000

Tiramisu is one of my absolute favourite desserts. I love the creamy mascarpone and I love the mellow coffee flavour but what I love most is that it was one of my moms favourite desserts, and one she made incredibly well! My dad always jokes that my mom put so much alcohol in her tiramisu, after 3 bites you were drunk as a skunk! I remember one year at Christmas she made a huge dish of tiramisu but I never even tasted it...none of the kids were allowed in fact. She confessed that instead of...

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Home-made Ricotta cheese

Ally_R — Thu, 10 May 2012 08:51:18 +0000

I have really fallen in love with Ricotta cheese over the last year or two, trying to work the delicate, curdled cheese into everything from Flapjacks with Blueberries, Sandwich toppings and rich fillings for aubergine involtini. At first, shop-bought Ricotta was just fine but in December I was browsing the Donna Hay iPad app and I saw her very easy recipe for home-made, fresh Ricotta. I promised to make my own and have just not gotten around to doing it until yesterday. I was a bit nervous...

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Beef burgers with Bacon Jam & Gorgonzola

Ally_R — Tue, 08 May 2012 07:08:37 +0000

After watching one of my newest cooking show addictions, Meat & Potatoes (Food Network) this weekend, I was left inspired and motivated. I've said before how much I like Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives with Guy Fieri and Meat & Potatoes follows that same guideline, but amps it up a bit by visiting fine-dining establishments as well as the hole-in-the-wall kind of places. And then of course, the focus is on all types of meat & potatoes. This weekend's episode showed the awesome...

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