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Photo: danielmoyle / Flickr

These rose petal biscuits are perfect for tea on Valentines Day.  Ingredients call for 12 fresh rose petals, rose essence, butter, icing sugar, self raising flour, caster sugar and salt. A teaspoon of ground cardamom is added for spiciness. The mixture can be made in advance and baked as required. It will keep for a week in an airtight container in the fridge. Alternatively, it can be stored in the freezer for up to a month. (more…)

Photo: yaili / Flickr

Rabanadas tipsy cinnamon bread slices are similar in appearance to egg-bread. While they’re normally served at Christmas time in Portugal, in in her book Piri Piri Starfish Tessa Kiros suggests that they’re ‘also nice to make on a morning when you wake up early and can’t get back to sleep.’ Rabanados or tipsy slices should be made with tightly crumbed Portuguese bread, baguette or ciabatta bread. (more…)

Photo: kalavinka / Flickr

Step foot in Argentina or Bolivia and you may find yourself asking “what are these people drinking?” it’s not unusual to see people holding a bowl filled with hot water that is lined with leaves that is sipped, unusually, through a straw. It’s called Yerba Maté and it’s to some South Americans what tea is to the English. It’s made from a small shrub, while the hollow gourds that this drink is served in are found in marketplaces throughout the continent and makes for a popular trinket for tourists. (more…)

Photo: mrsdohpaz / Flickr

Vegetarians are able to enjoy healthy sushi as much as meat eaters with these fish-free sushi rolls. Vegetarian sushi rolls allow you to get creative with colour in the kitchen, while omitting fish, a characteristic of sushi rolls. They can be made from a combination of grated baby marrow with wasabi and sesame seeds, grated carrot and alfalfa sprouts, cream cheese and mixed peppers, cucumber with avocado pear and mayonnaise, tofu and rocket, omelette and water cress or whatever other filling you wish to experiment with. This recipe will serve six. (more…)

Photo: dr.coop / Flickr

This butternut bake recipe does not require any pastry skills as the crust is made with breadcrumbs making it great for cooks who want to get a simple – if indirect – introduction into what goes into making pastries The breadcrumbs are blended with chopped tomato, sesame seeds, grated cheddar cheese and olive oil. The crust doesn’t require any rolling as it is simply sprinkled over the filling and baked until golden brown. Ingredients for the filling include butternut, onion, garlic, feta cheese, hyme, olive oil, mixed spice and seasoning. Replace the butternut with spinach for a spinach and feta cheese dish. Serve with couscous. (more…)

Photo: [puamelia] / Flickr

This potato and lentil shepherd’s pie dish can be enjoyed by meat eaters as well as vegetarians, and the lentils can be substituted with kidney beans, if your prefer. Being a hearty dish, it is well suited to cold weather. Serve it with caramelised onions and whatever vegetables are in season for a well-rounded meal. (more…)

Photo: Lachlan / Flickr

This eggplant lasagne recipe is great for vegetarians and can be prepared ahead of time. Ingredients include lasagne sheets, onion, tomatoes, eggplant (or brinjal), mozzarella cheese, olive oil, marjoram and olive oil. The white sauce requires butter, flour, milk and nutmeg. Any cooked seasonal vegetables can be used instead of eggplant for the filling. Oven roasted butternut or pumpkin slices or well drained cooked spinach make for a delicious alternative dish. Allow for one cup of filling for each layer. (more…)

Photo: fritish / Flickr

Waffles can be served in the traditional way with ice-cream and syrup or they can be served as a more sophisticated dessert with strawberries and Creme Chantilly. To make 12 single waffles or six double waffles, you will need regular flour, sugar, butter, eggs and milk. A waffle iron is essential, as is a bowl and an electric mixer. Preparation and resting time shouldn’t take much longer than half an hour. Allow for a few minutes extra for cooking time. (more…)

Photo: dmc_fz7_az / Flickr

Macarons are shiny, delicate treats with moist centres. Also known as macaroons, they are made with icing sugar, ground almonds, egg whites and sugar. They can be flavoured with vanilla, raspberry or cocoa powder — although the options are seemingly endless. This recipe makes about 35 petits fours. You will require an electric mixer, a piping bag, a plain 1cm nozzle, four baking sheets, greaseproof paper and a wire rack. Preparation time is 15 minutes and cooking time is 10 minutes. (more…)

Photo: FotoosVanRobin / Flickr

There’s nothing like making your own Thai curry with your own curry paste. It may take longer but using fresh ingredients will enhance the flavour. Besides, you can adjust the ingredients to suit your taste. Start with fewer chillies and add more while you’re cooking if you want more fire. This vegetable curry uses six green chillies and serves six. Ingredients include green curry paste, onion, potatoes, green pepper, red pepper, baby sweetcorn, peas, broccoli and coconut cream. Substitute vegetables as required. (more…)