Category Archives: my foodlosophy

Christmas Cookie Assortment

The calendar has flipped over to December and suddenly all things ‘Christmasy’ has come to the forefront.

Should I be panicking that I haven’t fully completed the Christmas shopping list, planned the big festive meal OR even sent out the Christmas cards to overseas relatives and friends?

The answer should be a resounding YES however what would the spirit of Christmas be without the exhilarating chaos and the unmistakable mayhem that goes along with the pre-Christmas madness?

The one thing that I do rely on year after year is my own tradition of baking Christmas Cookies. Knowing that I have this part under control gives me an assuring sense of ease that at least something is in order.

Cookies have had a long association with all things Christmas. As a child, you might have put out a plate of milk and cookies for Santa in excited anticipation of his arrival Christmas Eve. Some families might have baked colourful and decorative cookies to hang on the Christmas tree. Some might have received beautifully crafted biscuits in intricately patterned tins that were reminiscent of old times gone. And some of you may even be the cookie creators yourselves, baking and passing on this long surviving symbolic Christmas tradition.

In my Christmas Cookie feature here, I have used a basic cookie dough recipe, incorporating traditional Christmas shapes with a couple of classic tastes and a couple of new twists. Here you will find Chocolate Swirl Cookies, Coconut Reindeers, White Chocolate Tipped Bells, Green Tea Iced Christmas Trees and Lime Iced Snowflakes. The idea is to mix and match these so that old age tradition can meet something new….

Cookie preferences are as varied as there are the number of cookie types out there but if you have a preference for a crisp and buttery cookie …………Try out my Christmas Cookie Assortment and Happy Baking!

Chocolate Swirl Cookies recipe – Dark chocolate swirl on a buttery crisp Cookie

Coconut Reindeer Cookies recipe – Coconut flavoured Cookie finished off with a nice dusting of icing sugar

White Chocolate Tipped Bell Cookies recipe – Bells are festive and a nice white chocolate touch to ring in some all round sweetness

Green Tea Iced Christmas Tree Cookies recipe – Green Tea Flavoured cookies give a nice break from tradition and instill an Asian touch

Lime Iced Snowflake Cookies recipe – A zesty cookie with a sweet and sour zing!

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Creamy Pasta with an Asian touch

With over three hundred and fifty different types, Pasta is as common as it can be mysterious.

Imagine a feast of different shapes, colours and textures; types that we have seen and shared on our plates day in day out and some of those that we have yet to discover and taste.

Pasta has a long romantic history and has evolved over time and tastes to fashion itself as iconically Italian and yet universal to all…

The word ‘Pasta’ literally translates to the word ‘dough’ in the Italian language and in its most basic form can be made from a combination of flour, water, eggs and semolina. From this very base, numerous variations were crafted to suit not only to a multitude of tastes but also to accompany certain sauces. If you have ever wondered why certain pastas are best matched with certain sauces, the ingenuity is in the ‘design’ of the Pasta. A pretty clever concept!

‘Pasta Craft’ does not stop at the Pasta itself but what we choose to marry it with….Here in this Pasta dish, some Thai Basil replaces traditional Italian Basil together with some Edamame beans to infuse an Asian touch. Add some Pan fried chicken, some Snow Pea Sprouts, a swirl of creamy sauce with some Penne Pasta to bring the dish together in one harmonic plate. Two worlds in one!

Try my Creamy Pasta with an Asian Touch recipe.

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Five Spice Pork with Peach Chilli Dressing

The warm and aromatic tones of Five Spice truly epitomise the flavours of Chinese cooking.

The traditional blend of Star Anise, Cinnamon, Cloves, Sichuan Pepper and Fennel Seeds sharpens any dish with a fragrant touch and the beauty is that only a little of it is required to bring out its intense flavour.

The origins of Five Spice is not that well documented and there are varying ideas of what Five Spice is actually based on – is it based on the five spices that it is ground from, is it based on the elemental tastes of sweet and salty, sour and bitterness, or is it symbolic of the five elements earth, fire, wood, water and metal?

Whichever the case, if you have ever used this spice blend , you will know its quite ‘pungent’ and yet sweet scented aroma. You will know its dark brown earthy colour and fine powdery consistency and its ability to enhance any dish with just the slightest touch.

Peaches are in season here right now and these golden gems are great with pork as part of a side dressing. Dressed up with a bit of chilli and coriander, it can be a nice sweet and refreshing accompaniment.

Serve together with some Steamed Rice or a Salad of Greens.

Try my Five Spice Pork with Peach Chilli Dressing recipe.

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Salmon with Greens and Avocado Wasabi Mayo

The beauty with Salmon is not just with its much known mega health benefits but also in its pinkish- orange hue that gracefully sets any dish that it adorns.

There are many ways to eat Salmon and its versatility makes it a very favourable fish to have on hand when its time to bump up the omega and boost up those other vitamin levels.

In a supercharged and busy world, I am all in favour of the one dish meal – the all in one plate thats brimming with taste, texture and nutritional goodness.

In this Salmon with Greens recipe, its all about grabbing a bunch of greens together with some perfectly grilled salmon and combining it together to create a wonderfully balanced and mega healthy ONE DISH meal. For a bit of kick, dress with Avocado and Japanese Mayo with a hint of Wasabi to give it that extra nip.

There is no limit to the amount of imagination that can go with selecting and mixing up greens for any dish. Seasonal Asparagus feature here together with the everyday greens such as Broccoli and Spinach mixed with vibrant slithers of Purple Cabbage. As an added touch, Edamame beans offer a pearly green sheen to the overall plate as well as an interesting crunchy goodness!

Try my Salmon and Greens with Avocado Wasabi Mayo recipe.

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Coconut Mango and Sago Panna Cotta

It’s almost Summer time here and I love how the markets are awash with the fruits and the colours of the season.

The scents of such fruits as Mangoes, Peaches and Nectarines are filling the air with promising sweetness and I feel inspired to create something to savour these sugary flavours.

The bright golden colours of Mangoes lure me in and I can’t resist the sweet and tangy satisfaction that these fruits deliver.

There are many ways to incorporate Mangoes into desserts but my favourite pairing is with Panna Cotta.

To add an Asian twist to Panna Cotta however, I have swapped Full Cream for Coconut Milk and added Sago Pearls for some textural interest. Sago Pearls are these lovely little translucent jelly-like balls that gives a pearly and bubbly affect. If Sago Pearls are not available then substitute it with Seed Tapioca.

This creamy, fruity marriage is really a pure yummy indulgence. Imagine a smooth creamy coconut texture interspersed with moments with sweetish tangs…. is this heavenly?

Try my Coconut Mango and Sago Panna Cotta recipe.

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