White Chocolate and Macadamia Blondies

Categories | Cakes,Recipes

These are very sweet and very wicked – I guarantee your Dad will love ‘em! Preheat oven to 180degC (160degC fan forced). Line the base and sides of a 20cm x 30cm slab tin with baking paper. Place the chocolate squares and butter in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water – don’t [...]

Dad Takes The Cake

Categories | Journal
Father

What Dad doesn’t dote on cake? And what Dad doesn’t dote on cake made specially for him by one of his children, even if it is a little lumpy? Some dads, needless to say, can get too much of a good thing.  When we were young, my three sisters and I spent many Sundays baking [...]

A love-hate affair

Categories | Journal
Garlic

There’s a curious Jekyll and Hyde personality about garlic. Old friends of this member of the allum family will not be surprised by this, but newcomers may be caught off guard. Crush a clove or two and add it to a salad – its pungency is unmistakeable. But cook the cloves slowly with a casseroled [...]

Cumquat Marmalade

Categories | Fruit,Recipes

A dollop of this tangy marmalade on your morning toast will get your tastebuds going for the day. When I’m at the farm, I usually sit out under the mango tree in the sun and prepare the fruit as it takes some time to cut all the fruit.  Sadly this year, the old mango tree [...]

Uninvited Farmyard Guests

Categories | Journal
Citrus fruits and fresh farm eggs, Bend of the River

Whenever I visit the family farm in Tally Valley, south-east Queensland, I head straight for the orchard and chook pen. At this time of the year, the citrus trees (oranges and lemons, grapefruit, cumquats and mandarins) are laden with fruit, and the kitembillas (Sri Lankan gooseberries ) almost ready to be picked.  I even found [...]

Mavis’s Spinach and Fetta Slice

Made with fresh greens  Mavis’ organic kitchen garden, and Tweed Valley cheeses from a nearby farm, this tasty pie is just the thing for lunch on the verandah, watched over by Mt Warning. Preheat oven to moderate (180degC/160deg fan-forced). Lightly butter tray. Layer with 6 – 8 sheets of filo, brushing lightly with butter (chef [...]

Mavis’s Marvellous Kitchen

Categories | Journal
Mavis

It’s lunchtime when I arrive at Mavis’ Kitchen, Uki, a glorious 25 acre property at the foot of Mt Warning in northern NSW. I’d hoped to arrive a little earlier, but had made a mistake and driven  straight into the quaint old town of Uki. A local hippy pointed the way and I retraced my [...]

Wild about Schnapps

Categories | Journal
Wild Brumby Distillery and Cafe

It’s 2pm on an overcast Thursday and the Wild Brumby is packed. Rain and wind on the alpine peaks mean poor ski conditions and many skiers  have fled the slopes to stay inside. What better way to warm up than in this cosy, funky Schnapps distillery which doubles as a cafe/restaurant? Set up a few [...]

Wiener Schnitzel

This delicious schnitzel is featured on the Austrian-influenced menu at Wild Brumby, Alpine Way, NSW. Pat schnitzels dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper. Dust schnitzels lightly with the flour. Dip each one into the beaten eggs allow excess egg to drip off. Dip into the breadcrumbs, firming them on with your [...]