What will a new month & a new season bring? September Newsletter 2020
What will a new month & a new season bring?
September Newsletter
A fun dinner catching up with mates: Back row L to R: Cherie Romaro, Angela Bishop, Kerri-Anne Kennerley and Wendy Day beside me
Welcome What a week it’s been! Quite a lot of appointments to take John to, but lots of fun too. I’ve been developing recipes for the November-December issue of Selector Magazine (September is out now) which I always enjoy but I also had a fun night out with some women I have long been friends with: we laughed, reminisced, didn’t mention COVID once, temporarily forgot all our cares and woes (as the song goes) and realised how important it is to stay in touch with those whose company you enjoy, and you care about. Hard for those locked down, but there is always zoom.
On that note, I did an online Zoom TV cooking segment for American TV. This is for a new channel to be called The Power of the Tribe on the Voice America platform. which takes its name from the founder Maureen Ryan-Blake’s women’s group of the same name. After launch it will feature 30 chefs over 30 days. Fortunately Facebook Live has taught me how to set up my home kitchen with lights and computer so then it was about which recipes to cook. I decided to make a Vietnamese-style salad using barramundi and macadamias as Australian indigenous Australian ingredients prepared in the Asian way so popular in Australia and my apple galette. I matched both, successfully with the Henschke Joseph Hill 2019 Gewürztraminerbecause I am so proud of Australian wines and family companies with longevity. I’ll let you know when the segment is released.
My Sunday night Facebook Live sessions are continuing and having visited Thailand, France, Greece, Spain and this week Japan, with our tastebuds. This coming week I am going to try to host a Q & A session on Instagram Live with my friend Sophie Hansen who writes the Local is Lovely blog. Would you believe Sophie used to work at Australian Table magazine as the co-ordinator where I was the Food and Wine Director in 1999. She has gone on to do great things including being 2016 Australian Woman of the Year. Join us at 6:00 pm on Wednesday night 9 September on Instagram and let’s see how it goes. It will be a first for me!I hope you have a great week ahead. And for my Northern Hemisphere readers who are farewelling summer, here’s a thought: Henry David Thoreau once wrote that one must maintain a little bit of summer even in the middle of winter. So let’s hope you find some joy in this newsletter.
Snapped straight after my Zoom TV cooking segment: Vietnamese Barramundi Salad, Apple Galette and Henschke Joseph Hill Gewurztraminer
Now read on or scroll down, remember there’s something for everyone in this newsletter wherever you are in the world.
Screenshot of the page on Happy Ali where my exclusive interview with Rick Stein appears
I am delighted to be the Food Editor for a new website,Happy-Aliwhich has just launched globally. Happy Ali’s premise is very straightforward….. positive news, happier news than what we may have been used to in 2020, news that is current, global and news which is uplifting and is a lot of fun to read and be involved in.
With editorial teams across the globe, Happy Ali will provide quality independent journalism with a focus on inspiring and life-affirming news and features everyday…. It’s needed at this time in history more than ever. Arthur Koeman who is the creator and CEO of Happy Ali said this:-
“Positive news works as medicine for a healthier mind and body. I was inspired to create Happy Ali for everyone who is distressed by the daily serving of disheartening news…. we need the good news to outweigh the bad.”
Do have a look, it’s all very simple what we’re setting out to do, just adding a bit of positivity here and there (and everywhere!) Thanks for subscribing if you can, it’s only a dollar a month. We’re where you’d expect us to be online also…. please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Smoked Salmon Pate at Connemara Smokehouse, Ireland
A blast from the past this week. I was trawling YouTube and found this old clip of an interview I did with Graham Roberts whose family havecrafted traditionally-smoked wild Atlantic seafood for over 40 years at Connemara Smokehouse in Galway, Ireland. During the time I was co-host of Fresh with The Australian Women’s Weekly on the Nine Network, 2000 – 2008, I went to Wales and Ireland to film some location stories. This was one. Graham is one of Rick Stein’s Food Heroes and he took me through the time-honoured smoking process and I then created two quick recipes. Watch the interview and my recipes on YouTube here.You’ll find thewritten recipe here.You can subscribe to my channel here, where I also have meals in a minute and will be adding more videos over time.
Facebook Live
Prawns and Chickpeas with Garlic
As I mentioned, despite the set up time, I am really enjoying my weekly Facebook Live cooking demos on Sundays from 6:00 – 6:30ish Australian EST or 9:00 am British Standard Time, a time I hope suits both hemispheres. If you miss it, you cancatch up on my Facebook page with everything I do anyway.
This coming Sunday I’m intending to make two Japanese recipes Chicken Yakitori and also, I’ll make my first Okonomiyaki or Japanese pancake. Details and how to join here. If you would like to cook along with me – here is what you will need, a lot of those for the okonomiyaki you will have in your pantry already For the chicken Yakotori – for 4
20 mini skewers or 12 longer bamboo skewers
600g chicken thigh fillets, cut into 3cm bite-size pieces
3 green onions, thinly sliced on the diagonal
White sesame seeds, to serve
100ml soy sauce
1/3 cup (80ml) sake
1/3 cup (80ml) mirin
½ teaspoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 ½ tablespoons finely grated ginger
4 garlic cloves, finely grated
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper For the easy okonomiyaki – for 2
1½ tbsp tomato ketchup
½ tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp runny honey
1 tsp dark soy sauce
3 large free-range eggs
3 tbsp plain flour
½ tsp sea salt
½ tsp dark soy sauce
½ tsp toasted sesame oil
2 large green onions, thinly sliced
275g white cabbage, shredded
oil to cook with Hope to see you there.
Some Things to Amuse Us
Automata’s Roasted Red Cabbage with Bonito Butter Photo: Chris Court
Time Out has capitalised on lockdown restrictions which meant daily iso-walks close to home, encouraged people to get to know more about their own neighbourhoods. They have taken this on as a project and have launched Love Local Guides with information about a grwoing number of suburbs. Read more here.
Special Offer: Lyndey & Blair’s Taste of Greece cookbook
This book is the companion to the successful television series Lyndey & Blair’s Taste of Greece, which follows my late son, Blair and me, as we explore the beautiful cuisine and culture of Greece’s historic and picturesque Peloponnese.
Stunning photography, amusing anecdotes and authentic yet fresh recipes abound as chapter by chapter we travel through Greece’s historic heart. You can learn how to recreate favourites from the TV series including the traditional fisherman’s soup Kakavia, mezedes old and new, crisp-skinned whole loin of pork and the secret to truly tender octopus.
Blair’s cocktails including Blood of Hercules feature as do the traditions and recipes of Greek Easter. The whole spectrum of Greek cuisine is covered in additional recipes like Bandit’s Lamb and Goat with Eggplant, both time-honoured favourites. An array of salads shows there is more than the much-loved traditional Greek salad to enjoy. Seafood abounds with squid in myriad guises and simple, fast fish dishes. There’s something for everyone with country style macaroni pie and recipes where fennel, artichokes, broad beans, pumpkin, zucchini and okra play a starring role. Sweet treats include a more-ish Cheesecake with muscatels and a clever frozen ouzo frappe as well as traditional favourites rozedes, diples and Greek shortbread.
While the RRP is $40, I am making this book available to you, my loyal subscribers for only $20 including postage in Australia. Be quick. Log onto our shop here, I will sign each copy personally if you can advise who you would like it dedicated to where it says Add A note for the seller and put in this voucher code at the checkout GREECEFB
BBQ squid with spinach and feta
Photography: Chris Chen
What’s in Season in September in Australia
Bananas and Chinese Broccoli
Fruit
Apples: Lady Williams
Berries: Strawberries
Grapefruit
Lemons
Mandarins: Honey Murcot
Mangoes
Oranges: Blood
Papaya
Papaw
Pineapples
Pomelo
Tangelos
Veggies
Asian greens
Asparagus
Beans: Broad
Beans: Green
Beetroot
Broccoli
Carrots
Cauliflower
Chillies
Fennel
Garlic, fresh
Globe Artichokes
Kale
Lettuce
Mushrooms
Onions: Spring
Onions: Green (Shallots)
Peas: Green
Potatoes
Silverbeet
Spinach
Avocadoes and Globe Artichokes
Fresh Green Peas
Fresh Green Peas
Bursting with sweetness, just-picked green peas define spring freshness.
Select plump green peas with bright green intact pods. Once picked, green peas rapidly deteriorate and lose sweetness as the sugars convert to starch. The pod protects the delicate peas so remove just before cooking. For optimal flavour, cook peas on the day of purchase.
Easy to Pod
Kids especially love podding fresh green peas so get the whole family involved in this fun and memorable task. Simply use your thumbnails to pry open the pod lengthways and remove the peas.
For the easiest of side dishes, rapidly boil podded green peas in salted water with a pinch of sugar and sprig of mint for 2 to 3 minutes. Drain, return peas to the pan and gently smash. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil or butter, season with salt and pepper then serve.
Recipe of the week
French Toast stuffed with Ham and Fontina cheese
This recipe is pretty special, and just the thing to cook for Dad on Father’s Day this coming Sunday in Australia – or for yourself just because you can. It really ups the ante on the usual French Toast. Instead, enjoy French Toast Stuffed with Ham and Fontina Cheese.
This week just gone on social media, I shared my Mushroom Filo Tarts and my Spiced Orange and Olive Oil Dessert Cake with Botrytis Oranges, along with a throwback to a champagne party I attended back in the days we had parties. Next week I’m not sure where our tastebuds will take us in our virtual travels – any suggestions?
We’ll look forward to World Salami Day and RUOK Day. And, with no international travel, I’ll share one of my top Australian food experiences. So do follow me on social media – all the links below.
Come Travelling with me in 2021
L: 3000+ year old olive tree in Ostuni, Puglia and R: traditional mint tea in Morocco
MY HOSTED TOURS RETURN IN 2021 and/or 2022
So international travel is problematic, but I’m not giving up. It will be even more important to travel with all the safeguards which well-organised group travel offers, so I have merely postponed my tours to Morocco and Puglia until it is safe to go there.
Do keep these in mind when you are able to travel again: Culinary Adventures in Puglia and Basilicata: 10-16 October 2021 Details here. Morocco culinary tour probably October 2021 (dates still to be definitely confirmed) – some information here. Meanwhile read How to enjoy Morocco at home.
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