Olive’s Salmon Patties – An Easter Treat!

Robin BoyleAustralian, Dinner, Fish & Seafood, Main course, Traditions-Feasts

We weren’t a religious family, but our mother, Olive, would always make salmon patties (sometimes with tuna) for our evening meal on Good Friday. It was her excuse to make them – we loved them so much. While I had good recollection of the ingredients and how they were made, I had to resort to my sister, Jan, to fine …

Shortbread – With Vanilla Bean Sugar!

Robin BoyleAustralian, Cakes & Biscuits, Morning or Afternoon Tea, Snack, Traditions-Feasts

When the term ‘vanilla version’ is used in general, it means the simplest, least complicated version of what we are talking about. Thus, vanilla ice cream is considered to be the simplest flavour of all. However, when it comes to shortbread, the ‘vanilla version’ has no actual vanilla in it. Thus, the key ingredients for the typical shortbread made in …

A January Dinner Party – For a Birthday!

Robin BoyleAustralian, Cakes & Biscuits, Dinner, Dinner Party, Home-Made, Melbourne & Victoria, Middle Eastern, Miscellaneous, Photos: Food, Poultry, Recipe, Traditions-Feasts

Dinner parties are hard work if you try to do all the catering yourself. And they are made more daunting by the need to “perform”, given Australians’ growing knowledge and expectations about what is good food. Apart from working out a “modern” menu and doing the actual cooking, much time is also taken up doing the shopping, setting the table …

Australia Day 2019 – A Glorious Sunset & Recipes!

Robin BoyleAustralian, Barbecue, Miscellaneous, Nibbles & Hors d'oeuvres, Recipe, Thai, Traditions-Feasts

Australia Day, January 26, is a contentious date because it celebrates white settlement in Australia. We raised this issue in an earlier blog post here. We feel it is important to have a national day so until our leaders come up with an alternative we will probably continue to celebrate on the 26th with a gathering of friends. We started …

Festive Season 2018 – Wrap Up!

Robin BoyleMiscellaneous, Recipe, Traditions-Feasts

On the last day of December 2018, with New Year’s Day pending, we thought a summary of some of our Christmas and New Year food experiences might be in order. The Lead Up Our local farmers’ market fell at the right time, mid-December. So we stocked up for pending functions. Our purchase of Swiss chard and baby leeks led us …

Anyone for Tennis – Or Pork Ribs?

Robin BoyleAustralian, Barbecue, Miscellaneous, Recipe, Traditions-Feasts

This time of the year, it is generally hot in Melbourne. After all, the Australian Tennis Open is on! Today, January 26, is Australia Day and tonight the tennis will be interrupted while the fireworks happen. It is a contentious date because it celebrates white settlement in Australia. We will happily celebrate on a new day, when the country decides to …

Salmon Rillettes – For Entree!

Robin BoyleEntree, French, Miscellaneous, Recipe, Traditions-Feasts

We aren’t advocating setting the table just yet, but early December is not too early to start thinking about Christmas. On Christmas Day, our job is to provide the entree. We already have our contribution planned, as explained below – salmon rillettes (rillettes aux deux saumons). Before then, there is still some work to do. Christmas Cake and Christmas Pudding …

Festivale 2017 – Launceston’s Carnival of Food and Wine!

Robin BoyleAustralian, Cheese maker, Launceston, Produce-Supplier, Restaurant-Cafe, Traditions-Feasts, Travel, Wine

“Festivale, one of Tasmania’s premier summer events, is a three day celebration, designed to showcase the very best of Tasmanian food, wine, beer, arts and entertainment. Staged in Launceston’s historic and picturesque City Park the ambiance of the outdoor event is unique.” You can read more on the Festivale website here: Launceston Festivale. The peacefulness of City Park is transformed. …

Traditional Christmas Dinner – Part C

Robin BoyleAustralian, Dessert, From the Archives, Recipe, Traditions-Feasts

(Continued from Traditional Christmas Dinner – Part B) For a traditional Christmas dinner we propose: a seafood cocktail, roast turkey with vegetables followed by plum pudding with brandy sauce. This post continues from an article we wrote for Club Marine magazine in 1993. (Use the Print button at the top of this page for a hardcopy or pdf of the …

Traditional Christmas Dinner – Part B

Robin BoyleAustralian, From the Archives, Poultry, Recipe, Traditions-Feasts

(Continued from Traditional Christmas Dinner – Part A) For a traditional Christmas dinner we propose: a seafood cocktail, roast turkey with vegetables followed by plum pudding with brandy sauce. This post and the next continue from an article we wrote for Club Marine magazine in 1993. (Use the Print button at the top of this page for a hardcopy or …