Lunch

Braised Lettuce Hearts

Braised Lettuce Hearts

Before explaining how to save a lettuce heart, let me first explain to you why I had so many lettuce hearts just chilling – literally, (unintentionally epic pun) – in my fridge.

Strawberry Gazpacho

Strawberry Gazpacho

As it turns out, for a first-time-maker, hesitant-fan, of gazpacho, I’m rather a fan of this recipe; it beautifully salvages the season’s overripe strawberries, greens included, uses up a handful of day-old bread, keeps refrigerated or frozen, quick AND easy make ahead meal, perfectly refreshing in summer, won first place in last week’s canapés contest and last but not least, is a PROVEN gazpacho converter [myself included, now a huge fan, unbiased I promise]. 

Kitchen-Sink Easter Nests

Kitchen-Sink Easter Nests

I should pre-empt this post by first excusing myself for an abnormally excessive number of photos of these obsessively cute Easter treats.  I honestly couldn't help myself.

Crispy Crushed Chickpeas

Crispy Crushed Chickpeas

My new favourite way to eat chickpeas.  Literally perfect for when you have no meat on hand but are looking for something with a hit of salt, bite, and smokiness to hit the spot.  [That and I just decided on an alliterative name of which I’m quite proud].

Juice Pulp Tagliatelle

Juice Pulp Tagliatelle

If I’m honest with you, I genuinely blew myself away with this one (and trust me when I say I've never said, let alone thought that).  I'm now about to share with you the recipe that was possibly the biggest success of my small-dinner-big-ideas night: Juice Pulp Pasta. 

Whey Braised Celery + Labneh

Whey Braised Celery + Labneh

1. I buy a bunch of celery, use a few stalks, and end up with a semi-forgotten heart in the fridge, often abandoned to the point of serious wilt.  Same boat?  Excellent.  Keep reading.

Mediterranean Pasta Salad

Mediterranean Pasta Salad

This is the best and only pasta salad, you will ever need in your life.  We can shake on it if you’d like?  Here’s why: it literally combines everything you need in a dish, in texture, flavour, colour, nutritional balance and indulgence.  Even Masterchef would be impressed.  So simple, packed with flavour, born from the simple desire to eat all our favourite things.  And whaddya know, perfect leftover-pasta-bestover-recipe (how's that for a tongue-twister): my mum’s Mediterranean Pasta Salad.

Kohlrabi: Okonomiyaki + Slaw

Kohlrabi: Okonomiyaki + Slaw

I have been fortunate to have experienced cultures from across the world, which in turn has led me to crave the discovery of all sorts of global cuisines, generally through my personal consumption, but whenever I can, through local cooking classes.  But in all honesty, Japanese food is never something I properly looked into, other than endless sushi dates and that Sushi making party that one time...Until my mum brought home the strangest looking vegetable I'd seen in a long time, and Food 52 just so happened to feature it on their CSA.  Too perfect of a coincidence NOT to try my hand at it.  Hence, Kohlrabi Okonomiyaki with lightly pickled Kohlrabi Slaw.