The best thing you can do for someone who has just welcomed a new baby in to the family is cook something for them. I remember the way I’ve felt over the years when friends have dropped some home cooking off to my door in times of need (or just in times of lack of […]
Category: main meals
cajun chicken burger
Now be warned, this recipe has Iceberg in it (Cork Daddy’s favourite). The old Iceberg gets a bit of a bad wrap of late. Its the daggy older sister who has been around forever; before the days of the younger and more fashionable kale, rocket and cos. The shredded fresh lettuce with the fieriness of […]
perfect mashed potato
A veggie dish so good, the Wiggles made a song about it. I made mashed potato this afternoon ready for dinner and Miss Charlotte pipes up; “Thanks for making mashed potato Mummy!” with the same excitement as if I had just offered her a rainbow ice-cream covered in sprinkles with a chocolate egg on top! “Can […]
traditional meatloaf
Every time I hear the word ‘meatloaf’ I think of Will Ferrell in Wedding Crashers; “Mom! The Meatloaf!” Will and I have something in common. Both our mums make a wicked meatloaf. Meatloaf sandwiches are THE best food on the planet; (I fear I say this a lot!) Mum used to make them with toasted […]
pumpkin, silverbeet + ricotta lasagna
Lasagna on the menu tonight but there’s no mince in the trolley. Three words. Meat free Monday. So it’s pumpkin, silverbeet and ricotta instead. A match made in heaven. Please do not underestimate this lasagna due to the absence of meat. This dish has more flavour in one bite than a whole plate of my […]
cheat’s pizza | prawn + hummus + spinach & bacon + tomato + capsicum
We all need some quick and easy ‘go to’ meals for busy weeknights. One of mine is making Lebanese bread pizza’s. I buy the wholemeal kind (there are always some on standby in my freezer) and I scatter loads of green, leafy baby spinach or rocket on top (to make it feel a little healthier […]
tuna sushi | nori rolls
We are so spoilt for choice when it comes to food. Obviously there are a huge number of restaurants in Sydney, Melbourne and other capital cities, but with Wagga being NSW’s biggest regional inland city (if you haven’t heard me tell you that before) you are able to choose from a large range of restaurants […]
orange chicken | cooked in the slow cooker
This is a spin on the good old Apricot chicken of my childhood. Similarly, the chicken is cooked in fruit juice; this time – an orange as opposed to an apricot. There are subtle Asian flavours present; with the garlic, ginger and soy sauce and you can make it as hot as you want. Just […]
fried rice is life
A typical Saturday in our house. In to town for ballet and coffee in the morning, home for a chicken roll for lunch and then out to watch Cork Daddy play rugby in the arvo. “Chicken on a bread roll” as the girls have coined it, is one of THE best meals you can eat. […]
leftover bbq chook?| chicken pasta bake
Sunday night at home. A pasta bake bubbling away in the oven; girls in their jarmies; glass of rose in hand; my first ever sourdough loaf proofing and the new season of Homeland out on Netflix! Life is good. This humble recipe stems from The Australian Women’s Weekly cookbook and makes a regular appearance in […]
creamy bacon pasta | busy weeknights
We’re all in the same boat… Trying to stay afloat amidst the busy weekdays filled with work, school, swimming lessons, rugby training, ballet classes, ….. INSERT TEXT HERE …. … So often, there are those nights where you just need to get something quick, easy and comforting for dinner for the family (or just for […]
gyoza dumplings | another way with mince ~ pork mince
The weekend is so close, I can taste it. As a young uni student, living in Neutral Bay, I remember inviting friends around for drinks, setting up rugs and cushions in the backyard and having a “roll your own nori roll” party. I had everything ready to go in Tupperware containers and my friends all enjoyed […]
thai chicken balls | another way with mince
Mum’s speciality. Rarely is there a party at Tomalong without a platter (or two) of these. The recipe can easily be doubled or tripled when cooking for a party and talk about an affordable way to feed a crowd! Ali and Case (my twin sisters) made hundreds of these balls for Elles’ engagement party (my […]
gem fish with mushrooms, potatoes & salsa verde | friends for dinner
If you’re looking for a main meal that is SO easy to cook, tastes delicious, can be adjusted to feed either 2 or 12 people and goes perfectly with a glass of chilled white wine – then this is the dish for you. Based on a recipe that Jamie makes on The Naked Chef, we […]
linguine with tomato, garlic & chilli bacon sprinkle
I don’t even begin to pretend that I know anything about taking photos of food. I do know however, that the best food shots are taken with natural light during the day. How may I ask do you suppose I photograph dinner then?? Anywho, shadows aside – this pasta dish that I threw together with […]
pork pancakes & slaw
If you like duck pancakes, I am sure you will like this meal. There isn’t a duck in sight, instead, a pig. Sticky, moreish, Char Sui style barbecue pork belly ribs, spring onion pancakes and an asian slaw with a delish peanut butter dressing. Yum! I have always loved going out for Chinese; “fried china” as […]
salmon in a bag
I love salmon; I love Asian food; I love rice. So of course, I love this meal. Fresh and healthy, it’s so quick to throw together and makes for a fabulous weeknight dinner. The easiest recipe imaginable, it’s been adapted from a Donna Hay recipe I cooked donkey’s years ago. You can use any type […]
moreish moussaka
Everytime I hear the word moussaka, it makes me think of Toila’s classmate in “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” – “moo – ssaka?” It brings back good memories of our trip to Santorini for a family friends wedding a couple of years ago. This rich, luscious dish tastes OH so good with a glass of […]
tomato + feta tart | simple + fresh
The key to a tomato tart – good tomatoes! These came from my sister in laws garden (thanks Lou) and instantly I started rummaging through the pantry and fridge to see what I could do with them. Although, tomatoes this good need nothing more than a bit of butter on a Sao biscuit, this recipe […]
thai green curry
Thai GREEN curry is my absolute favourite and Cork Daddy and I eat it nearly once a week. My love affair with this dish started whilst at uni and living with my good mate, Ames. It was one of her staples (along with udon noodle soup and Vegemite toast). Many good times were spent chowing […]
