Pumpkin & Cauliflower in Sweet Tamarind Masala

Pumpkin & Cauliflower in Sweet Tamarind MasalaPumpkin & Cauliflower in Sweet Tamarind Masala is a simple side dish that is full of flavour and tangy sweetness.

With both my mum and sister having ‘big’ birthday’s – 65 and 40 respectively, we all headed up to the family cabins on the Hawkesbury River for a weekend celebration. Six adults, four kids, two dogs and a cat.Pumpkin & Cauliflower in Sweet Tamarind MasalaFriday was beautiful, and we only just made it in time for the sunset… always breathtaking as the colours cross the water, so a great start to the weekend. Dinner that night was mum’s special Moroccan styled Lamb and Pumpkin Soup with delicious sourdough breads and Pepe Saya Cultured Butter. Simple, clean, well developed flavours – you can never get her soup recipe though as she adds leftover ingredients to the soup through the week so it turns into something quite different from where it started, but always amazing.The Hawkesbury River Anyway, that was the last of the beautiful weather, well actually, Seb and hubby got up for some early morning fishing. The weather was peaceful, Seb caught the first fish – a bream – everything was lovely, and then it all changed. The sun came up and brought with it the massive winds. The temperature dropped the winds were blowing a gale, and the skies were grey. There were fleeting moments of blue sky and sun (still windy as all hell) and the cousins would go back on the wharf for some more fishing. Continue reading “Pumpkin & Cauliflower in Sweet Tamarind Masala”

Sweet & Sour Sardines

Sweet & Sour Sardines
Click image for recipe

Sweet & Sour Sardines is a dish I served while we were all away over the Easter break for the Friday Fish BBQ.

Before we head off for the holidays, Bella and I go for a massive shop at the Sydney Fish Markets, truly, so much fun! Prawns, oysters (which I now know I have a severe reaction to, but that’s another story) barramundi, sardines, whiting and morton bay bugs… a true feast.

Sweet & Sour Sardines
Whiting – Fantastic as crumbed fillets for the kids

We all head to a beautiful property near Oberon, which is on the other side of the Blue Mountains. The kids have a ball with the zip line and the animals that are there, while Bella and I enjoy a week of cooking and mushroom foraging. The hubbies enjoy eating and golfing…so everyone is catered for.

Finding Feasts - Easter getaway

This is a dish inspired by Feast magazine April 2014, the Venetian recipe of Sarde in Saor. If I were in my own kitchen I would have had all the ingredients but since not, there were a few alterations to the original recipe. I used bay leaves instead of thyme. I didn’t have raisins or white wine vinegar so used Dill Pickle juice and pickles to get the acidity and sweetness.

This recipe sings on the tongue, with each bite a delicious blend of sweet, sour and fishy saltiness.

Enjoy the bounty… Blondie xx