Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts

Tuesday, 27 December 2016

Christmas Holiday Recipes 2016

Being with my family is beyond any other gift I could receive on Christmas.
We celebrated Christmas Day relaxing and enjoying all the food that I prepared.
Here are some quick and easy recipe ideas to celebrate the holidays with family and guests at home. 
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!

Jerk Prawns with Pineapple Salsa, Wagyu Beef for Grilling, Pineapple Basmati Rice Salad,
Fresh Oyster with Japanese Dressing

Pineapple Basmati Rice Salad

Ingredients:
1 cup Basmati rice, washed and cooked
2 cups red cabbage, shredded
1 can pineapple, chopped
250g cherry tomatoes, quartered
1 spring onion, sliced
1/2 cup coriander leaves, chopped
1/4 cup mint leaves, chopped
1/4 cup cashews
4 tbsp lime juice
2 tbsp fish sauce
2 tbsp brown sugar

Method:
- Cook the rice according to packet instructions. Set aside to cool.
- Combine cabbage, pineapple, tomatoes, spring onion, herbs and nuts in a large bowl. 
- Mix lime juice, fish sauce and sugar in a bowl. Adjust according to taste.
- Add the vegetable mixture into the rice and toss to combine. Pour dressing over.


Recipe adapted from Coles Magazine.

Fresh Oysters with Japanese Dressing

Ingredients:
2 tbsp mirin
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp brown vinegar
2 bird's eye chilli, seeded and chopped
1 spring onion, chopped
Shichimi togarashi (Japanese red spice mixture), for sprinkling (optional)

Method:
- Whisk mirin, Worcestershire sauce, sugar and vinegar in a bowl. Divide and pour over fresh oysters.
- Top oysters with chilli and spring onion. Sprinkle with shichimi powder.


Jerk Prawns with Pineapple Salsa

Ingredients:
500g green prawns, peeled (keep tail and head)
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp ground allspice
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp dried chilli flakes
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp dried thyme
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1 garlic clove, chopped
1 tbsp lime juice
1/3 cup olive oil
salt and pepper to season

Pineapple Salsa:
1 can 400g pineapple, chopped
1/2 red onion, chopped
1 bird's eye chilli, seeded and chopped
1 large Lebanese cucumber, seeded and chopped
1/2 cup mint leaves, chopped

Method:
- Whisk together sugar, spices, lime juice and oil in a large bowl. Season well. Add the prawns and toss to combine. Place in the fridge for at least 2 hours.
- For the salsa, combine all ingredients in a bowl.
- Thread prawns onto soaked bamboo skewers. Heat barbecue grill. Cook prawns for 5 mins or until charred. Serve with pineapple salsa.


Recipe adapted from Coles Magazine.




Chocolate Trifle with Apple Crumble Ice Cream Bombe

Ingredients:
400g chocolate sponge roll, cut into 1cm thick slices 
1/4 cup rum
500ml + 1L vanilla ice cream, softened
1 red apple, chopped
2 ginger nut cookie, chopped
1 tsp ground cinnamon  
1 cup sugar
1 1/4 cups thick cream
1/2 tsp salt flakes
100ml strawberry syrup
handful of fresh cherries

Method:
- Grease and line a large (2.5L) bowl with plastic wrap. 
- Arrange the sponge rolls in the bowl and brush with rum. Place in freezer for 15 mins.
- In the meantime, place 500ml vanilla ice cream, apple, cookie and cinnamon in a bowl, stir to combine. Spoon into prepared sponge roll bowl and place in freezer for at least 30 mins or until firm.
- Meanwhile, heat 1 cup sugar in a skillet over medium heat stirring continuously until sugar has melted and turns dark amber. Add cream (careful, it will splatter) continue cooking and stirring until caramel has dissolved. Transfer to a bowl and stir in sea salt. Let it cool to room temperature. 
- Combine caramel to 1L vanilla ice cream. Spoon over the frozen ice cream shell and place in freezer for 30 mins or until firm. 
- Arrange remaining sponge roll over the ice cream. Cover with plastic wrap and place in freezer overnight. 
- Turn trifle onto serving plate and remove the plastic. Drizzle with syrup and top with cherries.





Wednesday, 23 December 2015

Red, Green, Gold Christmas. Basil & Goat's Cheese Lamb Racks, Mexican Corn & Prawn Salad

Christmas is just a few sleeps away, have you done your Christmas food shopping yet? 
I hope these simple and no-stress recipes can help reduce the pressure of your last minute Christmas preparation. Merry Christmas everyone and happy eating!


Black Forrest Pudding
Crocodile Sausages
Mexican Corn and Prawn Salad (Recipe below)
Fresh Oysters
Basil and Goat's Cheese Lamb Racks (Recipe below)
Raspberry Layered Cake
Orange Chocolate Panettone







Basil and Goat's Cheese Lamb Racks



















Ingredients 
1 1/2 cups breadcrumbs 
1/4 cup basil leaves, chopped
2 tbsp olive oil
180g goat’s feta, crumbled 
1/4 cup semi-dried tomatoes, coarsely chopped 
16 cutlets Australian lamb racks
2 zucchini, thickly sliced diagonally 
400g  tomatoes, quartered  
1/2 cup kalamata olives

Method
* Preheat oven to 200°C or 180°C fan. Mix the breadcrumbs, 2 tablespoons of basil and half the oil.
* Combine basil, feta and semi-dried tomatoes in a medium bowl. Spread feta mixture evenly over each rack and top it with another rack. Use kitchen string to tie around both racks to secure. Place in a roasting pan. Press the breadcrumb mixture firmly onto the lamb racks. Arrange zucchini around the lamb racks. Drizzle with remaining oil. Season.
* Roast for 20 minutes. Arrange the tomato and olives over zucchini mixture. Roast for a further 10 minutes or until cooked to your liking. 
* Serve immediately.


recipe adapted from Coles Monthly Magazine 
 
Green and white cucumbers from my neighbour's backyard.


 

Mexican Corn and Prawn Salad

Ingredients 

12 green king prawns, peeled
1 cup corn kernels
1 Lebanese cucumber, chopped
1/2 red onion, chopped
250g tomato, chopped
4 radishes, thinly sliced
1/4 cup coriander leaves
1 avocado, cut into chunks
1/3 cup Thousand Island dressing
coriander leaves, for garnish


Method

* Cook prawns on grill until done to your liking.
* Layer the corn, cucumber, onion, tomatoes, radishes and avocado in individual glass cups or containers. Drizzle with dressing and garnish with coriander. Serve immediately


Recipe adapted from Coles Monthly Magazine
 




Monday, 23 November 2015

The 7th Sydney Food Bloggers Xmas Party 2015

I certainly agree with Julia Child, people who love to eat are always the best people. 
Imagine in a room full of people who appreciate food as much as you do. 
We foodies love bonding with people over food and diet is not in our vocabulary. 

Thank you so much Susan of Chocolatesuze and Helen of  Grab Your Fork
for organising this annual Sydney Food Bloggers Xmas Party.
Funky atmosphere, great food, awesome people = fantastic party!


Thank you Simon for the group photo.

Victorian-style furniture add to the funky atmosphere.
















Cookies sponsored by Brookies.


Cake sponsored by Smash Cakes


The present I "stole".


Simon says I eat therefore I blog.

with Chocolatesuze and Adobo Down Under

Friday, 10 January 2014

A Southern Highland Christmas

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and a fabulous New Year celebration.
This Christmas post is a little over deadline but hey, better late than never. 
It's just that I find these photos too good not to share. So please enjoy.


Roasted Vegetables in Balsamic Sauce


No Christmas meal would be complete without the ham. 


Hark the Herald Angels Sing!


 
 This "farm" fruit cake is too beautiful to eat! (by Sarah C.)




Feeding a week old calf.