SPICY CORN AND TOMATO SOUP WITH CHORIZO

This is a meal in itself, and a favourite of mine to prepare, share and consume. Ingredients.....1 tbs of canola / rice bran oil, 1 medium onion, chopped, 2 tbs of minced garlic, 1 stick of celery , chopped, grated zest and juice of 1 orange, 1 tsp of sirarcha ( chilli ) sauce, 1 kg of cherry tomatoes, chopped, 250 gm of chorizo sausage, sliced, 1 x 400 gm can of creamed corn, 125 gm of corn chips to serve, 60 gm of tasty grated cheese to serve. Heat the oil in a large saucepan. add the onion and cook until softened. Stir in the garlic and celery and cook until the celery is tender. Add the orange juice and zest, chilli sauce, tomatoes and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes. while the soup is simmering, cook the sausage slices in a dry frying pan until lightly browned, drain and set aside. Blend or process the tomato mixture until finely chopped. Stir through the corn, return the mixture to the heat and heat through. This next part is optional...To complete this dish, I place the corn chips on a baking paper covered oven tray. I sprinkle the corn chips with the grated cheese and place under the griller until the cheese is just melted. Place the cheese coated corn chips a serving dish. Serve the soup topped with the chorizo slices and the cheesey corn chips for dipping. It is your dish serve it when and how you like.

VANILLA CURRANT TWIST

Ingredients.....1 cup of self raising flour, 1/2 cup of plain flour, 30 gm butter / marg, chopped, 1/4 cup of castor sugar, 1/4 cup of currants, 1 egg, lightly beaten, 2 tbs of milk, 1 dsp of vanilla extract, extra milk for glazing and icing sugar for dusting. Preheat your oven to 180 deg C. Grease a 26 cm x 8 cm x 4.5 cm log pan and line two sides with baking paper. Mix the flours in a large bowl and add the chopped butter/ marg and sugar. Using byour fingertips, rub the butter / marg into the flour, until the mixture is crumbly. Stir in the currants. Add the combined egg, milk and vanilla extract and stir to form a soft, sticky dough. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface, knead quickly for 1 minute or until smooth. Form the dough into a 50 cm long log. Fold the log in half and twist. Place the twist in the prepared pan, brush the twist surface with extra milk. Bake for 40 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean after being inserted in the centre. Turn the twist out onto a wire rack to cool. Dust the twist with sifted icing sugar before serving.

PAPPARDELLE WITH CHICKEN LIVERS

Ingredients....250 gm of chicken livers, 1 tbs of rice bran / canola oil, 1 onion, finely chopped, 2 tbs of minced garlic, 300 gm of bacon pieces, 1 tbs of tomato paste, 1/2 cup of white wine, 500 gm of pappardelle, 300 ml of thickened cream, 1/3 rd of a cup of finely chopped fresh parsley. Soak the chicken livers in a bowl of cold water for 15 minutes. Drain and pat dry with paper towelling. Remove any sinews and slice the livers in half. Heat the oil in a large frying pan, add the onion, garlic and bacon pieces, cook over a low heat until the onion softens. Add the liver pieces and cook over a medium heat, stirring until the liver changes colour. Add the tomato paste and wine, continue to cook until the wine evaporates a little. Now cook the pasta in a large saucepan of boiling water until el dente. Drain and keep warm. Stir the cream into the sauce and season to taste with cracked black pepper. simmer for 2 minutes over a low heat then pour the sauce over the pasta and toss through. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

CINNAMON SLICE

Ingredients....1 cup of soft brown sugar, 1 cup of self raising flour, 70 gm of butter / marg, 1 tsp of cinnamon, 1 tsp of mixed spice, 1/2 tsp of baking powder, 1 egg, lightly beaten, 1/3 rd of a cup of milk , 1/2 tsp of vinegar, 1/2 cup of granulated nuts. Preheat your oven to 180 deg C. Grease and line a 28 cm x 18 cm pan. Place the flour, sugar and butter/ marg in a processor and process the mixtiure is fine and crumbly. ( if you do not have a processor you can use your fingertips). Place the crumb mixture in a large bowl. Spread 1 cup of the mixture over the base of the prepared pan. Add the spices and baking powder into the remaining mixture and mix well. In a separate bowl combine the lightly beaten egg, milk and vinegar. Using a wooden spoon combine the two mixtures until just combined, do not over mix. Pour the batter into the pan on top of the crumb base and smooth surface. Sprinkle with the granulated nuts. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes or until a skewer inserted comes out clean. Cool in the pan, then lift out and cut into squares or fingers.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW?

Answers to August challenge..... 1. Spinach. 4. Peppercorn, star anise, cloves, cinnamon, fennel. 2. Waldorf 5. Berry family. 3. Grain (goosefoot family) 6. Potato Here is my SEPTEMBER challenge for you........ 1. Two slices of bread enclosing a filling? 2. A mild curry dish, usually lamb or mutton braised in masala paste, liquid and flavoured with saffron, cashew nuts and yoghurt? 3. Refers to a cut of meat for roasting, also refers to cut up meat or chicken into larger pieces? 4. A creamy dip, made from pureed chickpeas, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and sesame seed paste? 5.Also known as Chinese parsley and cilantro? 6. Foods produced, prepared and served according to Jewish religious dietary laws?

HERBED OLIVE OIL.

There is no real recipe for this dip served alongside torn chunks of sourdough bread or served as a drizzle over pasta or steamed vegetables. Regardless how you choose to serve it, please try it. It is easily made with olive oil and fresh herbs. Ingredients......extra virgin olive oil, freshly chopped herbs, I used basil, dill, parsley and oregano, cracked black pepper to taste, lemon juice, a small loaf of soardough bread. pour a generous amount of olive oil into a bowl. Stir through a large handful of the freshly chopped herbbs and season to taste with the pepper and lemon juice. Serve in a bowl as finger food, along side torn pieces of sourdough bread. Keep a spoon alongside the bowl, to stir the oil before each dip to keep the herbs from sinking to the bottom. This dipping mixture keeps well in the refrigerator, just bring to room temperature to serve. It is also delicious served over pasta or steamed vegetables.

HONEY RICE BUBBLES CAKE.

Ingredients....80 gm of butter / marg, 3 eggs, 2/3 rds of a cup of castor sugar, 1 tsp of vanilla extract, 2 tbs of thickened cream, 1 cup of plain flour, 1/2 tsp baking powder. Honey rice bubbles topping......30 gm of copha, 1/3 rd of a cup of castor sugar, 1/4 cup of homey, 2 tbs of thickened cream 1/2 tsp of ground cinnamon, finely grated rind of 1/2 an orange, 2 cups of rice bubbles. Preheat your oven to 180 deg C. Grease and line a 23 cm round cake pan. Melt the butter/ marg in a small saucepan over a low heat and then allow to cool. Beat the eggs until frothy and light adding the sugar and vanilla extract. Continue beating until the mixture is thick and creamy, then stir in the butter/ marg and cream mixture. Mix together the flour and baking powder and fold into the cake mixture using a metal spoon. Spoon the mixyure into the prepared pan and bake in the preheated oven for 15 - 20 minutes. Make the honey rice bubbles topping by melting the copha in a small saucepan over a low heat. Stir in the sugar, honey cream, cinnamon and orange rind and bring to the boil. Remove from the heat and stir in the rice bubbles. Remove the cake from the oven and reduce the heat of the oven to 150 deg C. Pour the rice bubble topping over the surface of the cake and bake for a further 15 minutes or until the cake is cooked and the topping is firm. Remove the cake from the oven and cool in the pan. Serve sliced with whipped cream.

OREGANO TOMATOES

Ingredients....4 large tomatoes,50 gm of butter/ marg, 1 dsp of dried oregano / 1 tbs of chopped, fresh oregano, 1 dsp of minced garlic, cracked black pepper, 2 tbs of grated Parmesan cheese. Cut the tomatoes in half horizontally and place in a shallow slice pan. Beat the butter/ marg in a small bowl with the oregano, garlic, pepper and Parmesan. Spread the cheese mixture over the cut side of each tomato. Cook the tomatoes under a medium grill for about 5 minutes or until the topping turns golden.

CARAWAY AND APPLE COMPOTE./ STEWED APPLE WITH CARAWAY.

Ingredients...1 kg of your favourite flavoued apple, peeled, cored and chopped thickly, 60 gm of butter / marg, 100gm of castor sugar, 1 dsp of caraway seeds, 100 ml of dry white wine, 300 ml of water. Melt the butter / marg in alarge saucepan and add the chopped apples, cook over a medium high heat. Stir through the sugar, and continue to stir until the sugar has dissolved. Add the caraway seeds and white wine. Reduce the heat until the wine has almost evaporated. Add the water and stir through. Cover the saucepan and cook at a very slow simmer for 15 minutes. Once the apples have turned mushy, stir through making sure the remaining liquid evaporates. Refrigerate and serve cold, mix through with Greek yoghurt to serve.

CHINA TEA BLENDS.

Teas made of aromatic leaves, flowers or roots steeped in boiling water are the most ancient and the most commonly consumed liquid after pure water. Most herb teas are infused: the leaves or flowers are put into a warm teapot, boiling water poured over and the tea is brewed for 3 - 5 minutes. If you are wondering what is China tea , it is any tea made from the leaves of camelia senesis, green/ red/ black/ oolong. CHINA TEA BLENDS ... Infuse the herbs for 5 minutes in 450 ml of of boiling water and strain before drinking. Herbal Earl Grey... 1 tsp of China tea, 3 tsp of fresh bergamot leaves. Spicy Geranium..... 1 tsp of China tea, 3 cloves, 3 rose geranium leaves. Raspberry and mint yoghurt drink.... 225 ml of natural yoghurt, 100 ml of water, 75 gm of raspberries, 1 tsp of mint syrup. Puree all ingredients together in a blender. Pour the drink into 2 glasses and garnish with a sprig of mint.

COCONUT BLUEBERRY AND CHIA SEED PUDDING.

Ingredients.....250 ml of coconut milk, 3 tbs of chia seeds, 2 tbs of honey, 1 tsp of vanilla extract, 150 gm of fresh blueberries, black sesame seeds to garnish. Use a mixing bowl to combine the coconut milk, chia seeds, honey and vanilla extract. Chill in the refrigerator for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, remove from the refrigerator and stir through the ingredients once again and refrigerate for a further 2 hours. Remove the bowl from the refrigerator and divide the mixture between serving dishes. Serve topped with fresh blueberries and a sprinkle of black sesame seeds. ( The sesame seeds are optional.)

LENTIL FRITTERS.

Ingredients......125 gm of self raising flour, 1/2 cup of milk, 2 eggs, lightly beaten, 1 x 400gm can of brown or green lentils, drained and rinsed, 1 x 410 gm can of corn kernals, drained and rinsed, 1/2 red capsicum, diced, 2 spring onions, finely sliced, oil for frying. Place the flour in a large bowl. In a separate bowl whisk together the milk and eggs. Slowly add the milk mixture to the flour and stir well to combine. Now add the lentils, corn kernals, capsicum and spring onions to the batter. Heat the oil in the frying pan over a medium heat. Place tablesppons of the batter in the pan. Flatten each fritter with a spatula and cook for 3 minutes until golden brown. Flip and cook the other side for a further 3 minutes.

GRANDMA’S EASY APPLE CAKE RECIPE.

Ingredients.... 1 and 2/3rds cup of self raising flour, pinch of salt, 1/4 cup of castor sugar, 60 gm of butter/ marg, 3/4 cup of milk, 2 cooking apples, peeled, cored and sliced, 1 tsp of cinnamon, extra 2 tbs of castor sugar. Preheat your oven 160n deg C. Grease a 23 cm / 9" round cake pan and lightly sprinkle with fine dry breadcrumbs. Mix together the flour, salt and castor sugar in a large bowl. Rub in the margarine / butter with your fingertips. Add the milk all at once and mix quickly to a soft batter. Place the batter intio the prepared pan. Press the apple slices around the edge and in the centre of the batter. Mix together the cinnamon and extra sugar and sprinkle all over the top . Bake in the preheated oven for 50 minutes or until cooked, test with a skewer inserted, comes out clean. Turn out onto a wire rack and invert right side up, to cool completely. Can be sliced and spread with butter/ marg, if you like.

EGGPLANT AND WHITE BEAN BALLS. (V).

Ingredients......Oil for frying, rice bran / canola, 1 eggplant diced, 1 tsp of cracked black pepper, 1 onion, finely chopped, pinch of cayenne pepper, 2 tbs of minced garlic, 400 gm can of cannellini beans, drained, 1/4 cup of chopped flat leafed parsley, pinch of chilli flakes, 3/4 of a cup of breadcrumbs, steamed rice and tomato sauce to serve. Preheat your oven to 200n deg C. Line an ovenproof pan with baking paper. Heat 2 tbs of oil in a frying pan and saute the eggplant for 5 minutes over a medium heat. Season with the cracked pepper. Carefully add just enough water to cover the eggplant and cook until tender. Place the cooked eggplant in a processor ... Reheat the same pan and add 1 tbs of oil add the onion, cayenne pepper and minced garlic and saute until heated through and well combined. Pulse the eggplant, cannellini beans, parsley, chilli and onion mixture in the processor until well combined. Turn the processed mixture into a large bowl with the breadcrumbs and mix with your hands until well combined. Form small balls with the mixture and place in the prepared pan. Bake for 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Turn off the oven and let cook in the unopened ovcen for a further 20 minutes, until heated through and golden. Serve on rice or grain of your choice with tomato sauce and some torn parsley.

RHUBARB AND APPLE STREUSEL SLICE.

Streusel is the German name for sprinkle. Streusel is a mixture of flour or breadcrumbs with sugar, butter / marg amd spices used as a crumble topping on baked goods. Ingredients......100gm butter/ marg, at room temp, 110 gm of castor sugar, 1 egg yolk, 100gm of plain flour, 35 gm of self raising flour, 1 tbs of custard powder, 440 gm of chopped rhubarb, 400 gm of Granny Smith apples, peeled and thinly sliced, 2 tbs of honey, 1 dsp of finely grated orange rind. Streusel Ingredients.....75 gm of plain flour, 35 gm of self raising flour, 75 gm of firmly packed brown sugar, 1 tsp of ground cinnamon, 80 gm of butter / marg, chopped. With this recipe , you have to make the streusel first.... Streusel ... Blend or process the flours, sugar and cinnamon intil combined. Add the butter / marg, and process until all ingredients just come together. Now wrap the mixture in cling wrap and freeze the streusel for an hour or until firm. Preheat your oven to 160 deg C. Line a lamington pan 20cm x 30cm with baking paper, extending the paper 3cm over the sides of the pan. Beat the butter, egg yolk and sugar with an electric beater until light and fluffy. Stir in the combined flours and custard powder. Use your hand to press the mixture into the prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove the slice from the oven and cool for 15 minutes. Increase the oven temp to 180 deg C. Cook the rhubarb, apple, honey and rind in a medium saucepan, stirring over a medium high heat, until apples are just tender. Remove from heat and cool for 15 minutes. Now spread the fruit mixture over the slice base, coarsely grate the streusel over the fruit. Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 15 minutes or until golden. Cool in the pan before slicing.

STRAWBERRIES WITH BALSAMIC VINEGAR

This recipe is really simple combining sweetness, spice and acidity. Be sure to to use only ripe strawberries. strawberries contain a lot of vitamin C and are a good source of fibre and maganese. Ingredients.....2 tbs of castor sugar, 1 tbs of balsamic vinegar, 400gm of fresh, ripe strawberries, hulled and halved, cracked black pepper to serve. Place the vinegar and sugar in a non metallic bowl and stir. Add the strawberries and stir well, set aside and let stand for 60 minutes. Stir again, add extra sugar or vinegar, to your taste. Sprinkle over a little cracked pepper to serve, the pepper really brings out the flavour of the strawberries.

ROSEMARY PUMPKIN LOAF.

This loaf incorporates polenta as one of the ingredients. Polenta is a flour like cereal made from ground maize / dried corn and is readily available in your supermarket. Ingredients....500 gm of pumpkin, peeled and cut into 1 cm pieces, 1 tbs of canola / rice bran oil, 1 tbs of dried rosemary, 260 gm of self raising flour, 125 gm of polenta, 40 gm of finely grated Parmesan cheese,2 eggs, lightly beaten, 300gm of sour cream, 55 gm of pepitas. Preheat your oven to 200 deg C. Grease and line a loaf pan with baking paper ( 14 cm x 21 cm ). Place the combined pumpkin, oil and half the rosemary in a large ovenproof dish in a single layer and bake in the preheated oven, for 20 minutes or until the pumpkin is tender. Cool for 10 minutes and then mash in a large bowl. Reduce oven temperature 160 deg C. Mix together the flour, polenta and the remaining rosemary and then add to the mashed pumkin mixture Whisk eggs and sour cream together and then pour onto the mixture, stirring until just combined. Spread the mixture into the prepared pan and sprinkle over the pepitas, pressing gently into the surface. Cover loosely with a piece of foil. Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour. Remove the foil and continue to bake for a further 20 minutes. Leave the loaf to stand in the pan for 5 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

MIXED BERRY BAKED CHEESECAKE

There are so many different ways to prepare cheesecake along with an assortment of ingredients. The mixed berry cheesecake is very easy to prepare and none the the less delicious. This one is for you Robyn, 'happy birthday'. Ingredients....250 gm of plain chocolate biscuits, 125 gm of butter/ marg , melted, 2 x 250gm tubs of cream cheese, softened, 110 gm of castor sugar, 1 tbs of lemon juice, 2 eggs, lightly beaten, 80 gm of sour cream, 1 tbs of plain flour, 225 gm of frozen mixed berries, thawed. Preheat your oven to 160 deg C. Grease and line a 20 cm x 30 cm lamington pan. Process the biscuits until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add the butter/ marg and process until just combined. Use your hand to press the biscuit mixture into the base of the prepared pan. Refrigerate intil firm. beat the cream cheese and juice in a large bowl with your electric mixer until smooth. Add the flour, sour cream and beaten eggs, beat until combined. Spread the cream cheese mixture over the biscuit base, sprinkle with the thawed berries. bake the cheesecake in the preheated oven for 35 minutes. Cool to room temperature, refrigerate until firm.

BRIOCHE .

Brioche is a rich, light yeast bread of French origin. It is made with a good amount of egg yolks and butter, usually baked in fluted oven proof moulds, though a traditional muffin pan is quite acceptable. There is no rule as to what shape you bake your brioche. Ingredients......375 gm of plain flour, 5 gm of dried yeast, 1/4 tsp of salt, 55 gm of castor sugar, 180 ml of warm milk, 5 egg yolks, lightly mixed, 125 gm of butter / marg, 1 extra egg yolk, lightly beaten, 1 dsp of castor sugar. Combine flour, yeast and salt in a large bowl. In a separate bowl mix together the sugar and milk, until the sugar dissolves. Add the milk mixture to the flour mixture, then stir in the egg yolks. Using a wooden spoon, stir until the mixture stiffens. Now your hands to mix until a firm dough forms. Divide the butter into 10 portions. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and work each piece of bvutter/ marg into the dough, kneading well after each addition and the dough becomes smooth and glossy. Place the dough in lightly oiled large bowl, cover and stand in a warm place for about 2 hours or until the dough doubles in size. Grease 12 fluted ovenproof moulds or 12 hole muffin pan. Preheat your oven to 180 deg C. Divide the dough into 12 portions, remove about a 1/4 of each portion. Roll both the large and small portions into balls. Place the large portions in the prepared pan / moulds, make a small indent in the top of each portion with your fingertip. Place a small round on each indentation. Brush each brioche with the extra egg yolk and sprinkle with a little castor sugar. Stand uncovered, in a warm place for 1 hour or until the dough doubles in size. Bake the brioche in the preheated oven, uncovered for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

MY BREAD AND VEGETABLE LASAGNE.

Ingredients.....1 x 400gm can of condensed tomato soup, 2 x medium zucchini, 6 medium tomatoes, 2 cups of frozen mixed vegies, 1 cup of chopped onions, 8 slices of bread, 300 ml of Apera/ medium sweet sherry, 2 tbs of minced garlic, 1 dsp of minced ginger, cracked black pepper to taste, Italian herb mix, fennel seeds and chopped fresh / dried basil, grated cheese to scatter over top. Preheat your oven to 180 deg C. Lightly grease an ovenproof dish. Tear the bread slices into chunks. Use half of the torn bread to line the base of your dish. Slice 3 of the tomatoes and place over the bread chunks and then top with slices of one of the zucchinis. Sprinkle a scatter of fennel seeds and Italian herbs over. Top with a mix of the frozen mixed vegies, chopped onions and a layer of zucchini slices. Place the remainder of the bread slices over top. Finish off with slices of the remaining 3 tomatoes and a sprinkle of fresh / dried basil. In a separate bowl mix together the condensed soup, Apera sherry , the minced ginger and garlic. Pour the tomato soup mixture over the bread lasagne. Scatter over a layer of grated cheese and cracked black pepper to taste. Bake in the preheated oven for 50 minutes and enjoy the warm, welcoming aromas fill your house.

PESTO AND OLIVE SODA BREAD

Ingredients...350 gm of plain flour, 250 gm of wholemeal flour, 1 tsp of bi carb of soda, 1/2 tsp of salt, 3 tbs of pesto ( I used basil pesto, pecorino and cashews), 300 ml of buttermilk, 85 gm of sliced black olives, extra milk for glazing. Preheat your oven to 200 deg c. line a baking sheet with baking paper. Mix together the flours , salt and bi carb of soda in a large bowl. Combine the pesto and buttermilk, stir this into the flour mix with the olives and mix to a soft dough, add a little more liquid if needed. Shape the dough into a 20 cm / 8" round. Place on the prepared baking sheet. flatten slightly and cut a deep cross in the top with a sharp knife. Brush with a little extra milk. bake in the preheated oven for 35 minutes or until golden brown. the loaf should sound hollow when tapped on the base. Best served on the day it is baked with soup or cheese and or a salad.

REFRIGERATOR COOKIES.

Make this dough and keep it rolled in a log shape and tightly sealed in a plastic wrap. The dough will keep 3 for days in your refrigerator or 3 months in your freezer. Defrost the frozen dough in your refrigerator before slicing and baking. Ingredients......250 gm of room temp butter/ marg, 160 gm of icing sugar, 375 gm of plain flour. To prepare the cookie dough...beat the butter/ marg and icing sugar in a small bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Transfer to a large bowl. Stir the flour in two batches, into the butter/ marg mixture. Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface until smooth. Divide the dough in half. Roll each half into a 25 cm log. Wrap each log in cling film, refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm. Flavour variations..... Vanilla.. Beat 1 tsp of vanilla extractinto the butter/ marg and sugar mixture. Lemon....beat 1 tsp finely grated lemon rind into the butter/ marg and sugar mixture. Orange... beat 1 tsp of grated orange rindinto the butter / marg and sugar mixture. Chocolate.... Beat in 2 tbs of cocoa into the butter/ marg and sugar mixture along with 1/4 cup of chocolate chips. When you are ready to bake, preheat your oven to 180 deg C. Line 2 or 3 baking trays with baking paper. Cut the refrigerated / thawed logs into 1 cm slices and place on oven trays 2 cm apart. Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 12 minutes or until lightly browned. Place cooked cookies on a wire rack to cool.

CHAI TEA ….Chaa-ye.

Chai is Indian tea, it is a spiced milk tea and sweet. Recipes of Chai vary, it comes from an ancient Ayurvedic beverage. Avurveda is a form of healing....a way of life too because it contains many disiplines relating to diet, hebal medicines, physical exercise, various therapies, and spiced tea was one of them. Chai tea is made from a good black tea with the addition of clove, cardamon, ginger, cinnamon, milk and of course sugar.

NUTTY FLAPJACK / SLICE

Ingredients....200gm opf rolled oats, 115 gm of granulated nuts, 55gm of plain flour, 115 gm of butter/ marg, 2 tbs of golden syrup, 85 gm of light muscovado sugar. Preheat your oven to 180 deg C. Grease and line a 23 cm / 9" square cake pan. Place the rolled oats, granulated nuts and flour in a large mixing bowl and stir together. Place the butter, golden syrup and sugar in a saucepan over a low heat and stir until melted. Pour the butter mixture onto the dry ingredients and mix well. Turn the mixture into the prepared pan and smooth with the back of a spoon. Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes or until golden and firm to touch. Mark into 16 pieces and leave to cool in the pan. when completely cold, cut with a sharp knife and remove from the pan.

GINGERNUTS

Ingredients......350 gm of self raising flour, pinch of salt, 200gm of castor sugar, 1 tbs of ground ginger, 1 tsp of bi carb of soda, 125 gm of butter/ marg, 75 gm of golden syruop, 1 egg, lightly beaten, 1 tsp of grated orange rind. Preheat your oven to 160 deg C. Line 2 oven trays with baking paper. Mix together the salt, flour, bi carb of soda, ginger and sugar in a large bowl. Heat the butter / marg and golden syrup in a small saucepan over a low heat until the butter/ marg has melted. Remove from the heat to carefully shape and allow to cool a little, then pour onto the dry ingredients. Add the beaten egg and orange rind. Use your hands to shape the dough into 30 even sized balls. Place the balls well apart on the prepared oven trays and then slightly flatten them with your fingers. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes or until lightly golden, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

TOMATO TART.

Ingredients....1 sheet of thawed puff pastry, 2 tbs of butter/ marg, 1 tbs of castor sugar, 500 gm of cherry tomatoes, halved, 2 tbs of minced garlic, 1 dsp of white wine vinegar, fresh oregano or a sprinkle of Italian herbs to serve. Preheat your oven to 200 deg C. Grease a 20 cm round ovenproof dish. Melt the butter/ marg in a medium saucepan. Add the sugar and stir over a medium heat until just golden brown. Remove from the heat and quickly add the tomatoes, garlic and vinegar, stirring to coat evenly. Season with the cracked black pepper. Now tip the tomato mixture into the greased dish, spreading evenly. Place the pastry sheet over the top of the tomatoes, tucking in the edges. Pierce with a fork to release the steam. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Leave rest for for 3 minutes. Now run a knife around the edge and turn out onto a warmed plate. Garnish with Italian herbs or scatter with fresh oregano to serve. N.B. The first time I made this dish I used whole tomatoes, (chopped) the herbs and garlic. I placed these in the greased dish, topped with grated cheese and poured over 2 beaten eggs. Placing the pastry sheet on top. Followe with the same baking time.

BREAD AND TOMATO SOUP.

My gift to you...a simple and delicious supper. Ingredients....300 gm of sourdough bread, 125 ml of chicken stock, 4 tbs of canola/ rice bran oil, 4 tbs of fresh sage leaves, chopped, 3 tbs of minced garlic, 800 gm of canned diced tomatoes, 1 tsp of sugar, 225 ml of hot water, cracked black pepper to taste, 60 gm of grated Parmesan cheese to garnish. Chop the sourdough into rough chunks about 1" square / 2.5 cm. Place the stock in a large saucepan along with the oil and simmer over a medium heat until reduced by half. Add the bread chunks and garlic and fry over a high heat until the bread becomes crispy and the liquid has been soaked up. Add the tomatoes and sugar, stir and simmer for 15 minutes. Add the hot water to thin the soup to your preferred consistency / thickness. Simmer for a further 5 minutes, taste and adjust the seasoning. Ladle into warmed bowls and sprinkle with the grated Parmesan cheese on top to serve.

BROCCOLINI, PANCETTA AND CHEESE GALETTE.

Ingredients.....1 sheet of thawed, ready rolled puff pastry, 225 gm of broccolini florets, halved if necessary, 100gm of pancetta, diced, 1 red onion, sliced, 100gm of tasty cheese, I used a blue veined cheese, chopped, pine kernels to top. Preheat your oven to 200 deg C. Line a baking sheet with baking paper. Place the pastry sheet on the lined baking sheet and lightly score a line all around 1/2 " of the edge. Steam or boil the broccolini until just tender and drain. Fry the pancetta with the onion, stirring until the onion is tender, stir in the broccolini, season with cracked black pepper. Spread the broccolini mixture over the pastry, leaving the border clear. Scatter the cheese you have chosen to use over the the top along with a scatter of pine nuts. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes or until the pastry is golden and risen. Serve warm with a green leaf and tomato salad.

STIRRING CHANGE

Change is inevitable...but it is tradition that gives us our identity and strength. The old ways of doing things are often the old ways because they are the best ways and never more so than in the kitchen....Think of the wooden spoon, a thousand years of progress has not improved on that most simple of designs and a must have in every kitchen.

APPLE SNOWBALLS.

Ingredients......4 red skinned apples, 2 tbs of brown sugar, 4 whole cloves, 1 banana, mashed, 1 tsp of lemon juice, 2 egg whites, 1/3 rd cup of castor sugar, 1 cup of shredded coconut, 30 gm of flaked almonds. Preheat your oven to 180 deg C. Lightly grease and line an oven tray. Peel and core the apples. Place 1 dsp of brown sugar and 1 clove in each core cavity, this will flavour the apples while cooking. Stand the apples in a large saucepan with water, 1 cm / 1/2" deep, cover the pot and cook the apples until just tender. Remove the apples from the saucepan and allow to cool. Mix together the mashed banana with the lemon juice. When the apples are cool fill the apples with the banana mix. Beat the egg whites until soft peaks form, add the sugar gradually and continue to beat to a stiff meringue consistency. Cover the apples with the meringue, sprinkle over the shredded coconut and finally top with the flaked almonds. Carefully slide onto the prepared oven tray and bake in the preheated oven until the meringue is lightly browned.

ZUCCHINI / COURGETTE CURRY.

Ingredients......6 tbs of canola / rice bran oil, 1 medium onion, finely sliced, 3 fresh green chillies, finely chopped, 1 dsp minced ginger, 1 tbs of minced garlic, 1 tsp of chilli flakes,500 gm of zucchini, thinly sliced, 3 tomatoes, sliced, 1 dsp of fenugreek seeds, flat bread to serve. Heat the oil in a large pan. Add the onion, green chillies, ginger, garlic and chilli flakes to the pan, stir well to combine. Add the sliced zucchini and tomatoes to the pan and stir fry over a medium heat for 7 minutes. Add the fenugreek seeds to the zucchini mix and continue to stir fry until fragrant and the vegetables are tender. Reove the pan from the heat and transfer the curry mix to serving dishes. Serve hot with flat bread.

RASPBERRY RIPPLE CAKE.

You will need to assemble this simple cake a whole day before it is served. Ingredients......600 ml of thickened crea, 250 gm of creme fraiche, 1 tsp of vanilla bean paste, 40 gm of icing sugar, 250 gm of raspberries, finely grated grated zest of 1 lemon, 250 gm of Biutternut Snap biscuits or any plain sweet biscuit of your choice, extra fresh berries, to serve. Combine the cream, creme fraiche,vanilla and 3 tbs of the icing sugar in a large bowl and beat to stiff peaks. Place the raspberries in a bowl with the lemon zestand the remaining 1 tbs of icing sugar and crush together with the back of a fork. Line a 23 cm loaf pan with plastic wrap, with plenty overhang all round. Spread a thin layer of the whipped cream mixture over the base then top with a layer of biscuits. you can bread some of the biscuits to make them fit. Top with another layer of cream, then half of the raspberry mixture. Repeat the layers with remaining ingredients, finishing with cream.. (reserve / set aside 1/2 a cup of the cream mixture for finishing the cake.) Enclose the cake with the overhanging plastic wrap and place in your freezer overnight. The next day transfer the cake to your refrigerator and leave for another 12 hours. When ready to serve, unwrap the overhanging plastic wrap. Place your serving plate over the tin and invert the whole cake, lift off the tin and remove all the plastic wrap. Use the remaining cream to cover the sides and top of the cake, then decorate with the extra raspberries / berries to serve. Serve and enjoy.

BAKED EGGPLANT AND QUINOA.

Ingredients.....2 eggplants,1 tbs of canol / rice bran oil, 2 tbs of minced garlic, 150 gm of quinoa, 375 ml of vegetable stock, 1/2 tsp of salt , 1 tsp of cracked black pepper, 60 gm of pine nuts, fresh parsley to garnish. Preheat your oven to 220 deg C. Line an oven tray with baking paper. Place the egg plants on the baking tray and place in the heated oven. bake for 15 minutes or until soft. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly. Cut each eggplant in half lengthwise and scoop out the flesh, leaving a border so they hold their shape. Finely chop the eggplant flesh. Heat the oil in a large pan over a medium / high heat. Add the garlic and cook stirring until fragrant. Add the quinoa, stock, salt and pepper, stirring through. Reduce the heat to low, cover and cook for 15 minutes until quinoa is tender. Add pine nuts and eggplant flesh and stir to combine. Divide the quinoa mixture equally among the four eggplant skins. Garnish with parsley and serve.

RASPBERRY CHIA PUDDING.

Ingredients.......125 gm of fresh raspberries, extras to serve, 1 orange, peeled and pith removed, roughly chopped, 375 ml of almond milk, 40 gm of white chia seeds, 1 tsp of vanilla extract, 2 kiwi fruit, peeled and diced, 2 tbs of maple syrup, fresh mint. Use a food processor on high to process the raspberries, orange and half the almond milk until smooth. Place the mixture in a serving dish,then pour the remaining almond milk, chia seeds and vanilla extract in. Cover and transfer to your refrigerator for 1 hour. Now stir through to combine and then return to the refrigerator overnight. To serve, pile the kiwi fruit and extra fresh raspberries on top, drizzle over the maple syrup and garnish with fresh mint.

SULTANA CAKE

Ingredients....250 gm of butter/ marg, 1 cup of castor sugar, 2 and 1/2 cups of plain flour, 1/4 cup of self raising flour, 5 eggs, lightly beaten, 750 gm of sultanas, 125 gm of granulated nuts, 1/4 cup of Apera ( cream sherry ), pinch of salt, 1 tsp of vanilla extract. Cover the sultanas with warm water, soak for 2 hours. Drain and let dry for at least 24 hours. Preheat your oven to 180 deg C. Grease and line a 20 cm square cake pan / 23 cm round cake pan. Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add a little of the beaten eggs along with a tbs of the plain flour, to prevent curdling, beating well after each addition. Mix the flours together with the salt and mix into the egg mixture. Then mix in the sultanas and the nuts with a wooden spoon. Fold in the Apera and vanilla. Spoon the mixture in the prepared pan and bake in the preheated oven for 90 minutes or until tested with a skewer and it comes out clean.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ?

Answers to JULY challenge........ 1.Junket. 4. Ganache 2. Blanch. 5. Zucchini. 3. Scold 6. Sweat. Here is my AUGUST challenge for you? 1. Which ingredient is included if a dish is cooked Florentine? 2. Which common salad is named after a famous New York city hotel? 3. What is quinoa a type of? 4. which spices make up Chinese five spice powder? 5. What family does the pineapple belong to? 6. Which vegetable can be cooked parimentier style?

CHOCOLATE CAKE.

A recipe for all dietary requirements..... Ingredients....185 gm of a plain flour that is compatable with your dietary requirements, 220 gm of castor sugar, 30 gm of cocoa, 1 tsp of baking soda, 1/2 tsp of salt, 80 ml of canola / rice bran oil, 1 tsp of vanilla extract, 1 tsp of white vinegar, 250 ml of water, mixed berries to serve. Preheat your oven to 180 deg C. Lightly grease and line a 23 cm x 13 cm ( 9" x 5" ) cake pan. Mix together the flour, cocoa, sugar, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Mix together the water, oil, vanilla and vinegar and then add to the flour mixture, mix together till smooth. Pour into the prepared pan and bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes or until a skewer inserted comes out clean. Remove from the oven and allow to cool. Serve with mixed berries.

CHIVE AND ONION TWISTS.

Ingredients.....15 gm butter/ marg, 1 medium onion, finely chopped, 1/2 cup of chopped fresh chives, 2 sheets of ready rolled puff pastry, 1 tbs of milk, 1/2 cup of tasty grated cheese. An oldie but a goodie. Preheat your oven to 200 deg C. Line an oven tray with baking paper. Melt the butter/ marg in a small saucepan, add the onion and cook until softena. Drain on absorbent paper and set aside to cool. Then mix the onion and chives in a medium bowl. Spread the onion mixture over one sheet of puff pastry. Place the remaining sheet of pastry on top. Brush withn milk and sprinkle with cheese. Slice the pastry sheet into 2 cm wide strips. Twist the strips, place on the prepared tray and brush lightly with the milk. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes or until the twists are golden brown. Cool on wire racks.

BAKED OMELETTE WITH WHEAT GERM TOPPING.

Ingredients......30 gm of butter/ marg, 2 medium zucchini, thinly sliced, 2 spring onions, chopped, 150 gm of sliced mushrooms, 1 dsp of fresh thyme / 1 tsp of dried thyme, 6 eggs, lightly beaten, 2 tbs of minced garlic, 180 ml of cream. Wheat Germ Topping..... 60 gm of wheat germ, 4 tbs of finely grated parmesan cheese, 6 cherry tomatoes, quartered, 1 firm tomato, sliced to serve. Preheat your oven to 180 deg C. Lightly grease an ovenproof dish, about 4 cup capacity. Wheat germ topping, combine all ingredients in a bowl, mix well. Baked omelette....heat the butter/ marg in a medium pan, add zucchini, spring onions and mushrooms, cook, stirring until the vegetables are tender. Add the thyme. In a separate bowl mix together the eggs, garlic and cream until combined. Spread the vegetable mixture over the base of the prepared dish. Pour over the egg mixture and top with the wheat germ topping. Place the dish in a roasting pan with enough boiling water to come half way up the side of the dish. Bake uncovered, in the preheated oven for 45 minutes or until set. Top with tomato slices to serve.

GARLIC.

Garlic is one of the most famous and popular herbs. Garlic,( Allumium sativum) was most likely used in china, India and Egypt before recorded history. Bulbs of garlic were found in the tomb of Tutankhamon, dating from 1300 BC. Raw garlic was used as a field dressing in World War 1 because of its antiseptic qualities. The peeled, chopped and minced bulbs complement nearly all savoury foods to some degree, especially the cuisines of Asia and the Mediterranean.

CHILLI APPLE CHUTNEY

Ingredients......2 fresh chillies, 2 kg about 8 Granny Smith apples, peeled and chopped, 1 tbs of minced garlic, 375 gm of raisins, chopped, 125 gm of glace ginger, chopped, 1 kg of soft brown sugar, firmly packed, 1 litre of apple cider vinegar, 1 tbs of coarse cooking salt, 1 tbs of mixed spice, 1 dsp of five spice powder, 1 tbs of turmeric. Seed and chop the chillies. Combine all the ingredients in a large saucepan. Stir constantly over a medium heat without boiling, until the sugar is dissolved. Bring to the boil then reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for 2 hours or until the chutney is thick. Remove from the heat and pour into hot sterilised jars, seal when cold.

COCONUT APRICOT BARS.

Something a little different, a real show stopper on a plate and delicious. There are 3 steps to the preparation. Ingredients....Filling... 250 gm of dried apricots, 1 cup of cold black tea, 2 tbs of honey, 1/2 cup of soft brown sugar, 1 and 1/2 tbvs of butter/ marg, 1 egg, lightly beaten. Base....250 gm of softened marg/ butter,1 cup of castor sugar, 4 eggs, lightly beaten, 150 ml of milk, 1 tsp of vanilla extract, 3 cups of self raing flour, 2 tbs of cocoa, 1 tbs of milk, 2 tbs of desiccated coconut. Topping......1 and 1/2 cups of rice bubbles, 1/2 cup of desiccated coconut, 30 gm of copha, 2 tbs of honey. Preheat your oven to 180 deg C. Grease and line a 30cm x 20cm lamington pan First prepare the filling by soaking the apricots in the cold tea for 1 hour, then gently simmer for about 15 minutes or until softened. Stir in the honey, sugar and marg / butter. When sugar has dissolved, simmer uncovered for 10 minutes. Puree until smooth, cool then stir in the egg. Now for the base...cream the marg / butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, adding the remaining base ingredients, stirring well after each addition. Transfer the batter to the prepared lamington pan and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. To prepare the topping, combine the rice bubbles, desiccated coconut, warmed copha and honey. Spread the cake with the apricot puree and cover with the combined topping ingredients. Return the tray to the oven and cook a further 15 minutes. Cool in the pan then slice into bars to serve.

HONEY GARLIC BEEF STIR FRY.

Ingredients.....1 kg beef strips, 2 tbs of minced garlic, 1 tsp of five star powder, 1 tbs of minced ginger, 1 tbs of Apera (sweet sherry), 60 ml of honey, 1 tbs of ketjap manis ( sweet soy sauce), 2 tbs of peanut oil, 1 red capsicum, thunly sliced, 1 green capsicum, thinly sliced, 1 yellow capsicum, thinly sliced. Combine beef strips, garlic, five spice, ginger, sherry, honey and soy sauce in a medium bowl, cover and refrigerate overnight. Drain the beef over a medium bowl, reserving the marinade. Heat 1 tbs of the oil in a large pan, stir fry the marinated beef in batches, until browned and just cooked, then remove from the pan. Heat the remaining oil in the same pan add the reserved marinade and capsicums, stir fry until the capsicums are tender. Finally add the beef, stir fry until heated through.

KRACHEL / SWEET MOROCCAN ROLLS.

Ingredients.....1 and 1/2 tbs of dried yeast, 60 ml of warm water, 110 gm of castor sugar, 300 gm of plain flour, 2 tbs of sesame seeds, 3 tsp of anise seeds, 60 ml of milk, 60 gm of melted butter/ marg, 1 egg, lightly beaten, 1 tbs of orange blossom water, 1 1 egg yolk, 1 dsp of sesame seeds, extra. I always increase the temperature in my kitchen area when preparing any type of dough. Oil an oven tray and line with baking paper. Combine the yeast, water and 1 dsp of sugarin a small heatproof bowl, cover and stand in a warm spot until mixture is frothy, usually about 10 minutes. Sift the flour and combine with remaining sugar and seeds in a large bowl. Stir in the yeast mixture, butter/ marg, egg and organge blossom water. Knead dough on a floured surface until smooth and elastic. Place the dough in an oiled medium bowl, cover and let stand in a warm place for about 60 minutes or until the dough has doubled in size. Now preheat your oven to 180 deg C. Divide the dough into 12 pieces, roll each piece into a ball. Place the balls on the prepared tray, cover loosely with oiled plastic wrap. Stand in a warm spot for 20 minutes. Remove the plastic wrap. Brush the balls with the beaten egg yolk and sprinkle lightly with the extra sesame seeds. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes or until golden and risen. Serve warm or cold with butter/ marg, perfect for morning or afternoon tea.

CHOCOLATE SPIDERS.

Ingredients.....100 gm/ 1 packet of fried noodles, 2 tbs of crunchy peanut butter, 200 gm of 70% cocoa chocolate, desiccated coconut to finish off. Brake the chocolate into pieces into a small saucepan along with the peanut butter and stir over a low heat until until melted and silky smooth. Add the noodles and stir lightly to coat them well. Spoon heaped tsp of the mixture into small patty pans. Finally lightly sprinkle with desiccated coconut, this optional. Place in the refrigerator till set. Keep in a sealed container in the refrigerator.

BANANAS

Bananas for eating as a fresh fruit, are best when fully ripe. Suit the colour of the banana skin to the use. If the banana you buy in the supermarket is tipped with green, the banana is partially ripe. The pulp will be firm, starchy and slightly tart. They can be used to bake or fry, cooking will bring out a different, delicious flavour and a must sliced into a curry. An all yellow banana is ready to eat and can be used as an ingredient in baking. A banana flecked with brown is fully ripe, and at its best for eating, infant feeding and a cooking ingredient. The flavour is sweet, mellow and thoroughly digestible and delicious in fruit cups, salads, milk shakes and desserts.

CHICKEN AND SWEET POTATO/ KUMARA RISOTTO.

Ingredients.....1 medium ( 400 gm) sweet potato/ kumara, peeled and cubed, 2 tbs of canola oil/ rice bran oil, 1 medium leek, sliced, 500 gm chicken thigh fillets, sliced, 2 tbs of minced garlic, 1/2 tsp of chilli powder, 1 tsp of ground turmeric, 300gm of short grain rice / risotto rice, 425 gm can of diced tomatoes, 125 ml of dry white wine, 625 ml of chicken stock, 40 gm of tasty grated cheese, 2 tbs of chopped fresh basil. Place the cubes of kumara in a pot of boiling water and cook until tender. heat the oil in a large pan with the leek, chicken, garlic and spices , cook stirring for 5 minutes. Stir in the rice, mix well. Stir in the undrained can of diced tomatoes and wine, simmer uncovered, stirring constantly for 10 minutes. Stir in the stock, simmer, covered for 15 minutes, stirring halfway through the cooking time. Then remove from the heat, stand, covered dor 10 minutes. Finally stir in cheese, basil and the cooked kumara. Stir over a low heat until hot. Top the risotto with extra grated cheese to serve.

RHUBARB AND APPLE SPONGE PUDDING.

Ingredients.....425 gm of chopped rhubarb, 2 medium apples, peeled and thinly sliced, 1 tsp of grasted lemon rind, 1/4 cup of water, 2 eggs, 1/3 rd of a cup of castor sugar, extra, 2 tbs of cornflour, 2 tbs of plain flour, 2 tbs of self raising flour. Preheat your oven to 180 deg C. Grease a 6 cup capacity ovenproof dish. Combine the rhubarb, apples, sugar, and water in a saucepan, bring to the boil, reduce the heat and simmer covered for about 15 minutes or until tender. Pour the hot rhubarb mixture into the prepared ovenproof dish. Beat the eggs in a small bowl with your electric mixer until thick and creamy, gradually add the extra sugar, beat until dissolved between each addition. Mix the flours together and sift over the the egg mixture. Fold through gently. Spread the mixture evenly over the hot rhubarb mixture. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 mintes or until golden and slightly risen. Remove from oven and sprinkle with icing sugar to serve.

RHUBARB..

Rhubarb is native to Siberia, the Himalayas and East asia. there are recordsof some types of rhubarb as far back as 2000BC, it was used mostly for medicinal purposes. To prepare rhubarb, cut the thick ends from the stalks before cooking and discard the leaves, which are poisonous. The rhubarb stalks can be sliced as required as per the recipe you are using.

VEGETABLE COCONUT CURRY.

Ingredients......1 tbs of canola / rice bran oil, 1 onion, finely chopped, 3 tbs of minced garlic, 1 tsp of ground turmeric, 2 tbs of red curry paste, 3 potatoes, quartered, 2 carrots, diced, 120 gm of sliced beans, 400 ml can of coconut milk, 170 gm of frozen peas, 1 - 2 tbs of fish sauce, lime juice to taste. Heat the oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat. Add the onion and cook until it softens. Stir in the garlic, add the turmeric and curry paste and cook until fragrant. Add the potatoes, carrots and green beans to the pot, stirring to coat in the paste. Pour in the coconut milk and stir through. Bring to the boil and then reduce the heat to medium and simmer, stirring occasionally for 20 minutes or until the vegetables are tender. Finally add the peas and simmer for another 10 minutes. Finish by stirring through the fish sauce and lime juice to taste. I served this dish with steamed mixed grains.