Pea Pesto Spaghetti

I was almost going to call this dish Kermit the Frog spaghetti!  Just take a look at the brilliant green colour!  It’s incredible!  I imagine if Kermit the Frog were meant to be a dish, this would have to be it!  However, after a little deliberation I decided to forgo the abovementioned title and opt for the pea pesto choice instead, I realised that the thought of your favourite Muppets star in a dish may not sound all too appetising.  And I did not want to provide you with any reason whatsoever not to cook this fantastic meal, its way too delicious to be passed aside because of a minor naming error.

Fig, Pistachio & Dark Chocolate biscotti

Biscotti.  A relatively new biscuit treat on my food scene.  Before marrying my Italian husband I had only ever heard of biscotti whilst watching my favourite childhood sitcom The Nanny.  To an aussie girl growing up in what sometimes could be referred to as a ‘three veg and meat’ kind of home, biscotti sounded like a very exotic biscuity treat...at that age is was hard to imagine any biscuit being more fancy than the good old Arnott’s Assorted Cream selection!  Through watching episode after episode of my favourite sitcom star with that crazy nasal voice I discovered I understood one very important thing about the nanny named Fran...she loved food so I figured this ‘biscotti’ thing must be pretty good.  Years later, I discovered just that.  Biscotti are indeed quite wonderful.

Chocolate Pots

In life, there truly are problems that can only be resolved one way, with chocolate.  I know this to be very true.  Think way back to when you were a little cherub playing in the yard, some big kid would upset you leaving you in a puddle of salty sullen tears and the only consolation that had any form of acceptability to you came in the form of a chocolate chip cookie.  To you, that chocolate chip cookie represented happiness, joy, goodness and most of all the fact that everything was going to be all right.  We all change and grow up and do ‘grown up’ things, live ‘grown up’ lives and act in very serious ‘grown up’ sorts of ways but I guarantee there is one thing that will never change and that my dear ‘grown up’ friends is the miraculous healing powers of chocolate.

Peach Melba French Toast

Left over from last week’s peach and prosciutto tart are four peaches.  To say these peaches are under ripe is a gross understatement.  They are as hard as rocks.  Each and every morning my hand slides across the bench, picks each peach up and squeezes ever so slightly to see if today is the day these little peachy delights can be added to my homemade muesli and yoghurt for my breakfast.  And every day this week I have been faced with severe disappointment.  The peaches are just not ripening.  It’s unfair.  I have been patient.  This is ludicrous.  Well I have decided my patience is up.  Action must be taken.   I am eating these peaches!  For breakfast, today! 

Asparagus, Bacon & Halloumi Salad with Mint & Hazelnut Vinaigrette

I have to pat myself on the back for this one...not only have I managed to get halloumi and bacon in the same dish but I also have the pleasure of calling this creation a salad (thank you Mr Asparagus), alleviating any guilt that the above mentioned ‘salt laden supper’ may have induced. 

Blueberry Sour Cream Cake

Today is one of those classic beautiful Brisbane days.  The bright blue sky is clear, the sun is shining, the weather is warm and the breeze is cool.  The Jacaranda trees dotted around Brisbane are blooming in their entire lucid purple splendor; slowing shedding their flowers in order to share with those passing by their sweet springtime fragrance.  Today is a shining example of absolute spring time perfection. 

Goat’s cheese & spring onion galette

This morning I discovered the saddest looking bunch of spring onions I think I’ve ever seen.  I felt guilty.  You see, I have a knack for being over excited at the food store which sometimes leads me to purchase goods that once home, I sometimes forget about for a week couple of days: and sadly these spring onions are the latest victim of this trait of mine.  To alleviate my guilt I knew I would have to think quick smart of a recipe that these spring onions could be used in, oh and they MUST be cooked, there is no way in the world these sad little babies can be eaten in the current state, I mean I don’t feel that guilty.