Orange & Fennel Seed Cupcakes
27 August 2010

Preparation time: 40 minutes

Ingredients

Cake Mix

  • 1 cup plain flour
  • 1/2 cup almond meal (can replace with another 1/2 cup plain flour)
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 cup sugar
  • Grated zest of 1 orange
  • 1/2 cup plain yogurt
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup flavorless oil, such canola or safflower (I used about 2 tbsp less of this)

Icing

  • 1 tsp fennel seeds
  • 125g unsalted butter, softened slightly
  • 2 1/2 cups icing sugar
  • 1 tbsp orange juice
  • 1 tsp orange zest
  • 1 tbsp sugar-coated (or regular) fennel seeds to sprinkle on top (available at Indian grocery stores)

 

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C. Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.

Put the sugar and zest in a medium bowl and rub the zest into the sugar with your fingertips until the sugar is moist and aromatic.

Add the yogurt, eggs and vanilla and whisking vigorously until the mixture is very well blended. Still whisking, add the dry ingredients, then switch to a large rubber spatula and fold in the oil.
 
You'll have a thick, smooth batter with a slight sheen. Spoon batter into a lined cupcake tray, filling it about 3/4 full.

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until cooked through and golden brown. Transfer to a rack and cool completely.

Icing
Beat butter at high speed with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Sift icing sugar into bowl, then beat in orange juice.

Pipe or spoon on to top of cakes and then sprinkle a pinch of candied fennel seeds on top. Can be stored for several days in an airtight container.

 

Almond & Lemon Crusted Dory
06 August 2010

Serves: 4

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 350g potatoes, washed, thinly sliced
  • 1 leek, pale section only, washed, thinly sliced
  • Salt & freshly ground black pepper
  • 100ml olive oil
  • 2 tbs grated parmesan
  • 100g almond meal
  • 2 eggs, lightly whisked
  • 4 (about 500g)  fillets dory), cut in half lengthways
  • 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley
  • Zest of one lemon

Instructions

Preheat oven to 220°C.

Arrange potato over a medium sized baking tray. Place the leeks in the oil to ensure a full coating and spread out over the potatoes. Brush with enough oil so all surfaces are coated well and sprinkle with parmesan and season well.

Bake on the top shelf of preheated oven for 20 minutes or until the potato is tender and golden.

Meanwhile, place seasoned almond meal with zest and egg in separate bowls. Dip 1 piece of fish in the egg, then the almond meal mix, pressing firmly to coat. Repeat with remaining pieces of fish.

Heat remaining oil in a non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat. Cook fish for 2 minutes each side or until cooked through.

Divide almond-crusted fish and potato and leek among serving plates. Sprinkle with parsley and serve immediately.

Finish with remaining lemon juice

 

Pork Belly with Blood Orange & Star Anise
06 August 2010

Serves: 4 or 2 very indulgent individuals....

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time: 4 hrs

Ingredients

  • Pork belly on the bone 4-5 ribs still in if you can. Free range please.
  • 2 star anise
  • 2 cloves garlic crushed
  • 1 tbsp honey or brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 3/4 litre chicken stock (you may need more depending on your dish.
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • Juice of 1 blood orange (you can use oranges or tangelo's etc)
  • Zest of 1/2 the Blood orange.
  • Sea salt & cracked black pepper to taste

Instructions


Preheat the oven to 160.

Dissolve the tomato paste into the stock and add all other ingredients to the pan except the pork. stir well to combine.

Score the pork belly in diagonals to allow for easy division of crackling later.

Rub the pork with oil and salt and place into the dish. You want the liquid to just cover the flesh but not the top layer of fat. You will always get a higher part if you are 'on the bone' so just cover up to it's lowest point. Top up with more stock if you need to.

Cover with foil but be careful not to let the foil stick to the top of the meat, this will transfer too much heat and spoil any parts of crackling it touches.

Place in the oven. Check after 3 hrs, you are looking for the flesh to start to fall away very easily and the liquid to be reduced to a jus.

Remove when cooked and turn the oven up to 220.

When the oven is a temperature remove the foil and place the pork back in until the crackling has formed.

Serve with rice and Asian vegetables.

 

Roasted Brussel Sprouts
16 July 2010

Serves: 2
Preparation time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 300g brussels sprouts, ends trimmed
  • 30ml olive oil
  • 3g kosher salt
  •  black pepper
  • 3 Cloves garlic, crushed

Instructions

Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Place brussels sprouts, olive oil, kosher salt, garlic and pepper in a large resealable plastic bag. Seal tightly, and shake to coat. Pour onto a baking sheet, and place on center oven rack. The garlic is just to impart flavour, you can remove it at this stage.

Roast in the preheated oven for 30 to 45 minutes, shaking pan every 5 to 7 minutes for even browning. Reduce heat when necessary to prevent burning. Brussels sprouts should be darkest brown, almost black, when done. Adjust seasoning with kosher salt, if necessary. Serve immediately.
 

Seared Scallops with Sweet Corn Salsa
16 July 2010

Serves: 4
Preparation time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 4  large scallops
  • 1/2 tsp curry powder
  • Pinch sea salt
  • olive oil
  • 300g sweet corn
  • 150g tomatoes
  • 1 thinly sliced red or green chilli
  • 1  small red onion
  • 1 tbsp sesame oil
  •  light soy sauce
  •  black pepper
  • fresh parsley

Instructions

Finely chop the onion and chilli, and cut the tomatoes into wedges. Mix this with the corn in a small saucepan, and add sesame oil, a splash of soy sauce, salt and pepper. Hold back the parsley for now.

Slice the scallops into halves, across the middle. Dust them with sea salt and curry, and fry in olive oil for one minute on each side. You should have the heat fairly high, to get a nice crispy surface. Meanwhile, heat the salsa - it will just take a minute - and add the parsley. Divide on four plates, and top with the scallops.