Friends often ask me, how did I get my kids to eat such a wide variety of foods? I think the answer is part luck, part genetics, and partly because I am a mean mum who makes them try foods that they THINK they despise until one day they actually request it. Continue reading
Trying to find a meal that my whole family eats is a thankless task yet I have struck gold with this simple recipe. Continue reading
The weather is warming up here in Sydney, which means picnics and barbecues are the mainstays of eating. We Sydney-siders love a chance to eat in the great outdoors, whether its on a towel at the beach, on a friend`s verandah or in the park. Summer is when Sydney is at its showy-off best: hot days, blue skies, balmy nights when the sun takes forever to set, festivals, long days at the beach…
Reading this, you wouldn’t actually realize that summer is my least favourite season. The heat and I are enemies. I only have to look out the window on a summer day and I am burnt. My Anglo Celtic skin demands broad-brimmed hats, long sleeves, SPF 50-plus and shade. Give me a shady spot with a tall glass of something cool and spiked and a slightly breeze and I am happy.
The best part about summer is eating fresh, healthy food. As a pescetarian of some 25 years it is the perfect opportunity to indulge in salad with a protein hit.
This salad is the perfect meal or side dish for Christmas Day – it has crunch, luxury items like macadamia nuts, greenery, and some protein. It takes minutes to throw together but looks and tastes amazing.
It would also be a perfect Boxing Day meal, an ideal antidote to the previous day`s eatfest.
I recommend assembling this salad right before serving so it doesn’t wilt – you really want the crunch of the cabbage leaves. This salad serves 4 so feel free to multiply it to serve the number of guests on Christmas Day. I always serve salad dressing on the side rather than pouring it over.
GATHER:
One Chinese cabbage (wombok) shredded finely
Two packets hot smoked salmon, roughly broken up – I prefer the pepper fillets
One bunch flat leaf parsely, leaves removed and stems discarded
300 grams roasted macadamias
freshly ground sea salt and black pepper
dressing:
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
¼ cup lemon juice
2 teaspoons minced garlic
LET`S GET TO IT:
Place all ingredients, except the dressing, in large salad bowl and toss. Serve with dressing on the side.
Dressing: place all ingredients into a glass jar with screw top lid and shake until combined. Place in glass serving jug. If making dressing in advance remove from fridge about 20 minutes before serving.
I do not recall the exact date that roasted cauliflower became my children’s favourite cooked vegetable but suffice to say, it was a case of ‘oh happy day.’ Continue reading
Readers will know of my love of cold weather and all things that accompany winter, especially the food side of things. Soup, for instance, is one of my fav foods and I tend to eat it year round. Summer in Sydney is not soup weather by any stretch but when the soup craving comes you gotta obey your tummy. Luckily for me it is winter here and cold – perfect soup weather. Continue reading
You may have guessed by now that winter and I are BFFs. I know many of my international readers are basking in the sun and eating ice-cream, but here in the antipodes we are freezing our whatsits off. Continue reading
Winter is well and truly here in Australia. I am probably the only person in Sydney cheering for the cooler weather. I am not a fan of the heat and humidity but am absolutely pro-boots, coats, scarves, heaters and all the other trappings of winter. Winter also allows me to indulge in some of my favourite foods: soups and puddings. Continue reading
Growing up, my mum used to make tabouli all the time for picnics and barbecues. The suburb where I grew up was all white bread and vegemite so this salad was an exotic addition. Continue reading
Not tooting my own horn or anything but my vegetarian lasagne rocks. I know this because Misses 8 and 10 demolish bowls and bowls of it every time I cook it. Continue reading
I am that person who is more than happy with dip, cheese, crackers and wine for dinner on a Saturday night when I’m with friends. Last night was such a night – an impromptu invite to a friend’s house seemed like the perfect opportunity to make a dip from scratch. Continue reading
the hungry mum 