Thursday, December 30, 2010

Tizzy Cucumbers

TIZZY CUCUMBERS AND OTHER FANCY BITS

This is a catchup post of snacks, meals and sweets from 2010 - I've been renovating the kitchen to get ready to run workshops in 2011 so I've been a bit too caught up to post regularly - So here's what I've been hanging on to:

Tizzy Cucumbers - filled with a macadamia/capsicum dip, coriander and black olives for the annual Egg Nog Post Xmas party A.K.A  Noggfest.
The same combo filled zucchini slices as rollups at the houseconcert / pool party the next night (no pic)



I just really like this watercress, banana and mango smoothie going crazy in the vitamix.  Yeah watercress! I'd wondered what to do with it overtaking the exfish pond.
Another garden produce smoothie - pomegranate, apple and banana in front of Gerry's Pomegranate painting in the background.


 Raw Curry - I liked it - I'll work on it until I love it.


Minted Carrot Mountain
 This one's too easy - grated carrot, soaked sultanas (use ginger juice and water, or just water, or vinegar, or lemon juice) and shredded mint with a little salt.  It's easy, delicious and filling and lasts a few days in the fridge.  Raw nuts give it some good crunch too - cashews, almonds or peanuts if you eat them.


 The next two "pastas" are variations on the same theme - it keeps things interesting rather than eating the same thing over and over - give it a new costume.

 Zucchini 'ravioli'  black olive nut cheese filling, marinated mushroom sauce and tomato/basil side.


 The above veges, and thinly sliced pumpkin were layered in a container here, and a red velvet sauce was made in the vitamix from jicama, red caps, sundried toms, a few dates, a carrot and some herbs to make
Lasagne
Weight the container down for a few hours, then slice with a sharp knife, decorate with sliced mushrooms.


These cakes are all variations on Raw Cacao and Berry combinations.





Wishing a wonderful 2011 to everyone,
Martine

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Blogspot Gremlins Ate My Recipes

and I'm not surprised, they were really good!

OK the kitchen renos are nearly complete so I'm sorry no recipes, they got eaten last time and I ended up with a blank post, so here come the pictures anyway...

Here's what happened to my jicama:               Jicama Ravioli with Basil/Walnut Pesto and Red Velvet Sauce.


Jicama Julienned with Pear, Hazelnuts and Avocado Dressing

 Classic hot summer recipe -  Watermelon and Jicama Salad with Chilli and Mint - juicy! 

I also promised to eviscerate and expose the guts of my other tubers, and I did, it's coming - the whole process of peeling, slicing and dehydrating is documented but I was so disappointed!  Purple sweet potato (which is white on the outside, unlike white sweet potato which is purple on the outside) is so incredibly starchy I'd rather extract the juices to starch and iron my collars - that's if I wore collars, or better, a ruff.  But who irons anyway?
Maybe more for the worms
Translation: I haven't yet hatched a plan for these starchy little felons they're in stasis in a bag in the cupboard.

 purple sweet pot = white outside, purple inside.



 white sweet pot = purply outside, white inside... not confusing.

Do I need to come back with a photo of disappointing chips? let's leave it there and I'll be back with something lovely!  Really soon.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

ten dollar tuber

... and worth every cent!

This is a really BIG BABY (OK nowhere near as big as Udo Kier in The Kingdom but I digress already) - it was the last one at the supermarket until 'soon' and it's all mine.
I FOUND JICAMA IN PERTH!
Sweet, crunchy, delicious, juicy, versatile, wonderful jicama.
It masquerades as 'yam bean' in asian food stores, and we have it!

This one I'll probably just slice on the mandoline, mix with bean sprouts, coriander and we'll see what's in the fridge with mango and lime sauce, but you can do so many things with it.  This one will go a long way.


 IT'S HUGE!

I shall endeavour to showcase jicama's talents here soon,  
I'm still buzzing from the shopkeeper telling me that in twenty years she'd never seen it in Perth, and the best bit:  "I've never seen a western person buy this"  Haha!!  Happy me!

I love you so much I'm going to eat you tonight.
mwah!

But before I go, here are a few more reasons I love Asian supermarkets:

fungal dichotomy -

You like green coconut? I like mine psychologically underdeveloped - 

 A trio of little beauties - young coconut, jicama/yam bean and purple sweet potato
I promise to slice them open and show off their insides.


and here's that baby buddha hand citron in focus.