hot smoked salmon & leek pies with aioli

Another (rainy?) Saturday, another All Black rugby test – and another pie! But today’s is completely different to last week’s meaty extravaganza while still being totally addictive and indulgent. These ones involve sweet soft leeks, flaked firm white fish, rich hot smoked salmon, aniseedy dill and sharp lemon zest all tucked up together in flaky […]

beef, bacon and mushroom pies with mozzarella and caramelised onions

Morning all – as you see I have a particularly decadent wee pie here for you, just in time for the weekend. As you want with any good pie the base is crisp and holds together, while the top has a good bit of flaky action. The filling is lush – layers of melty mozzarella, […]

loaded lamb meatballs with eggplant hummus, yoghurt, pine nuts, coriander & mint

Check out these lamb meatballs, not bad hey!? I just put the recipe together for Dish, and they’re a real winner. As it’s only me at home I delivered the whole lot, with all the extra bits, to my sister’s house last night, and they got a resounding thumbs up from the whole fam 🙂 […]

the ultimate lamb burger & rosewater rhubarb eton mess

Greetings from magnificent Waiheke! God I love being out here – it is worth every moment of frazzled, rushed preparation to make the last car ferry out with one vomitous and one fretful dog to arrive to a spectacularly clear, still evening, crackling fire, fresh fish and chips and a cheeky l’il glass of wine. […]

Easter slow roast lamb with rosemary, garlic, & vine tomatoes

 I feel a bit sheepish (l’il lamb joke) to be re-posting this again, but it is such a good Easter recipe it seems silly not to…hope everyone is enjoying a happy Easter 🙂 1 large whole leg of lamb, bone in, at least 2 kilos 8 sprigs rosemary 8 big garlic cloves, peeled juice of […]

super-green pizzas with zucchini, mozzarella, broccoli, watercress, rocket & avocado

I am sitting here in a wee satisfied glow having just finished a shoot for the Wine Friend company (such a good idea, they deliver wine that suits your taste so that you get introduced to new wines via their recommendations, without buying duds), and not only do I love the shots (hurrah!), but I […]

welcome home soup

Yesterday Nick arrived back from Shanghai, tired and a little rumpled as usual – it’s a tough gig sometimes, zooming back and forwards between countries. Usually we have a ritual of softly scrambled eggs for dinner on his first night back (along with a catch up of whatever series we happen to be watching at […]

the ultimate fish burger

Monday again already – I can’t believe it – where on earth did the weekend go? And not just Monday – it’s almost Easter!!! Before you know it we’ll be getting stuck into big slow-cooked stews and hearty soups, but before that happens, and while there is still just enough warmth to eat dinner outside, […]

Chinese New Year pork & cabbage dumplings

Happy Saturday to you – not this time from bed (whaaat?!), but actually from my desk at home! As you willl know if you stop by regularly, Nick and I have just returned from an epic 14 day trip to Shanghai/Berlin/Amsterdam/Berlin/Shanghai and back home to Auckland. Phew! One of the absolute highlights of my stay […]

Indian spiced barbecue chicken with spinach, mango & avocado salad

To be completely consistent I am again posting this while lying in bed (I must be seeming like the most lazy person in the universe…), but this time it’s from Shanghai! It is -1Ëš outside, windy and a bleak, cold morning, so I’m not feeling any great inclination to leap out of bed. This is […]