Lockdown Tryouts – Eggs!

Robin BoyleAustralian, Brunch, Dessert, European, General Interest, Lunch, Main course, Pastry, Picnic

Covid-19 lockdown has given everyone plenty of opportunities to experiment with their cooking, to go back to old favourites and to try out some of those newspaper cut-out recipes. Not everything we have tried has worked but we are generally very pleased rather than disappointed. In this post we include two savoury and one sweet successes where eggs are a …

Virtual Dinner Party No. 10 – With an Elegant Fish Soup from 1973!

Robin BoyleDessert, Dinner, Dinner Party, European, Fish & Seafood, General Interest, Main course, Poultry, Soup, Vegetables

(Update: For VDP No. 11, click here) Coronavirus Lockdown August in Melbourne 2020 and we were back in lock down for six weeks. We are largely confined to our homes. However, that only applies for the state of Victoria; other states have moved back towards a free lifestyle. We and our two Melbourne friends were keen to have another VDP …

Virtual Dinner Party No. 9 – Cauliflower Soup, Garfish, Ranch Dressing, Latvian Layered Cake

Robin BoyleDessert, Dinner, Dinner Party, European, Fish & Seafood, General Interest, Main course, Soup, Vegetables

(Update: For VDP No. 10, click here) Coronavirus Lockdown Well in Melbourne we were out of lock down for about six weeks, though still with social distancing in place. But then the virus got away from us and so for two weeks we have been largely confined to our homes again. However, that only applies for the state of Victoria; …

Rhubarb and Marzipan Torte & Rhubarb and Strawberry Buckle Cake

Robin BoyleCakes & Biscuits, Dessert, Dinner, European, Morning or Afternoon Tea, North American

There has been lovely quality rhubarb in the markets over the last two months. Being under COVID-19 lock down restrictions much of that time has given us the chance to try new recipes. Here we give two rhubarb recipes that are terrific for morning or afternoon tea or as a dessert. Both last well in the fridge and both reheat …

Icelandic Rhubarb Cake – A Family Farmhouse Recipe!

Robin BoyleCakes & Biscuits, Dessert, Dinner, European, International Travel & Photos, Morning or Afternoon Tea

Iceland is covered in ice! Well that perception needs to be debunked. It’s all rhubarb! Is it not perhaps the most amazing country on Earth! Even the food – like this remarkable cake – is full of surprises. The scenery Yes, there is a lot of snow in Iceland, and the weather is cool, with July summer temperatures only averaging …

Duck Breasts With Red Cabbage

Robin BoyleBarbecue, Dinner Party, European, Melbourne & Victoria, Recipe, Travel, Vegetables

The Grampians National Park – Gariwerd The Grampians are a monolithic-like geological feature in western Victoria: they just emerge out of the surrounding fertile farming land. They have always been popular with campers and bush walkers. While we had completed a number of walks through the ranges over the years, we hadn’t been there for some time. However, just before …

Made At Home – No. 4

Robin BoyleEuropean, Herbs and Spices, Home-Made, Preserves: Savoury, Recipe, Salad, Vegetables

In reading the contents of this post, also check: Food Safety Is Paramount Flavoured oils are simple to make, however, you need to be cognisant of potential problems from contamination. Hence, check the link given above. Shake them or stir them from time to time. Use good quality extra virgin olive oil. Store out of the light. Use them to …

Europe 2016 – Part 2

Robin BoyleCakes & Biscuits, Dessert, European, France, Morning or Afternoon Tea, Picnic

Continued from Europe 2016 – Part 1. A German Style Plum Sheet Cake Our plum sheet cake experiment would happen, but at Chamonix in France, not in Bavaria. The key steps in our method are described below – follow them, or find a recipe for this type of cake in your cookbooks or on the Internet. It is a very …