Spelt Spaghetti with Mussels

It has been a while since I last took part in Presto Pasta Night but this week PPN founder Ruth is hosting so it's a prefect time to join in again.

This week I'm using a familiar pasta made with a less familiar grain - Spelt Spaghetti

Weekend Herb Blogging #227 Hosting

Time is certainly flying by - March is coming to a close and Easter is on Sunday but this week I'll hosting Weekend Herb Blogging.

The rules are simple - post about any herb, fruit, vegetable, grain, nut, seed, spice, flower or plant.

Your post can be informative, spotlight a particular ingredient and/or include a recipe where your chosen ingredient is one of the primary ingredients in the recipe.

Entries should be submitted by:

• 3pm Sunday - Utah Time
• 10pm Sunday - London Time
• 11pm Sunday - Rome Time
• 7am Monday - Melbourne

You can find out the corresponding time in your location by following this link - since the deadline falls on Easter Sunday and people do take part in celebrations I will be extending the submission window to take this into consideration.

Send your posts to whb AT cookalmostanything DOT com
with WHB#227 in the subject line and the following details:

• Your Name
• Your Blog Name/URL
• Your Post URL
• Your Location
• Attach a photo: 300px wide

Marinated Lamb

Graziana from Erbe in Cucina is hosting this edition of Weekend Herb Blogging and this week for a change I'll actually be looking at a herb - Coriander.

Kumamoto Oysters

When you talk Oyster in Australia, you'll usually find that there'll be a debate between Sydney Rock or Pacific and which one is best, much like the Holden V Ford rivalry in motor racing.

I can call time on this debate - the best oyster is this one, Kumamoto oyster.

Stuffed Mussels

One of the true labour saving products I'm come to enjoy over the last six months are these vacuum packets of scrubbed, cleaned and de-bearded mussels. While there are several suppliers in the market for this dish I've used Kinkawooka Mussels.

Weekend Herb Blogging #226 Hosting

Weekend Herb Blogging heads off to Italy where Graziana from Erbe in Cucina (Cooking with Herbs) is our host.

The rules are simple - post about any herb, fruit, vegetable, flower or plant. Your post can be informative, spotlight a particular ingredient and/or include a recipe where your chosen ingredient is one of the primary ingredients in the recipe.

Entries must be submitted by:

• 3pm Sunday - Utah Time
• 10pm Sunday - London Time
• 11pm Sunday - Rome Time
• 8am Monday - Melbourne

To find out the appropriate time in your location visit this link

Send your email to scrivi AT erbeincucina DOT it
with WHB#226 in the subject line and the following information:

• Your Name
• Your Blog Name/URL
• Your Post URL
• Your Locatioin
• A photo: 300px wide

Viking Potato Gnocchi with Sage Burnt Butter

Yasmeen from Healthnut is hosting this edition of Weekend Herb Blogging and this week I continue on my potato odyssey by taking a closer look at Viking Potatoes.

Feast Day of Saint Joseph - Sfinci

March 19th is the Feast Day of Saint Joseph (Festa di San Giuseppe) and while the celebrations may have started in Sicilian it's now celebrated through the whole of Italy. As with all feast days, food is a vital part of the occasion and for this festa - these sfinci would be ideal.

Challah and Plum Pudding

I've made quite a few variations of the standard "bread and butter pudding" but there's been one glaring omission to date - I'd never used Challah!

Weekend Herb Blogging #225 Hosting

It's the start of a new week and the start of a new edition of Weekend Herb Blogging - this time we welcome back as host Yasmeen from Healthnut.

The rules are simple - post about any herb, fruit, vegetable, flower or plant.
Your post can be informative, spotlight a particular ingredient and/or include a recipe where your chosen ingredient is one of the primary ingredients in the recipe.

Entries must be submitted by:

• 3pm Sunday - Utah Time
• 9pm Sunday - London Time
• 10pm Sunday - Rome Time
• 8am Monday - Melbourne (Aus) DS Time

You can use this converter to find out the corresponding time in your location.

Send your posts to YasmeenHealthnut AT gmail DOT com
with WHB#225 in the subject line and the following details:

• Your Name
• Your Blog Name/URL
• Your Post URL
• Your Location
• Attach a photo: 350px wide

Herb-crusted King Oyster Mushrooms

Huan from Eat.Read.Live is hosting this edition of Weekend Herb Blogging and this week I'm mingling with royalty, the King Oyster Mushroom

Sometimes

you've got to step back and enjoy the view.

Weekend Herb Blogging #224 Hosting

This week it's a very warm welcome to first time host Huan from Eat.Read.Live

To participate:

Post about any herb, plant, fruit, vegetable or flower - Your post can be informative, spotlight a particular ingredient and/or include a recipe where your chosen ingredient is one of the primary ingredients in the recipe.


Post should include the phrase Weekend Herb Blogging and a link to the rules and to your host.

You can post anytime during the week but remember to email your host by the deadline.


Send your email to toolietallie AT gmail DOT com with WHB#224 in the subject line and the following details:

• Your Name
• Your Blog Name/URL
• Your Post URL
• Your Location
• A photo: 400px wide

Entries must be received by:

• 3pm Sunday - Utah Time
• 9pm Sunday - London Time
• 10pm Sunday - Rome Time
• 8am Monday - Melbourne (Aus) DS Time

You can use this converter to find out the corresponding time in your location.

Tomatillo Salsa Verde

Susan from The Well-Seasoned Cook is the host of this edition of Weekend Herb Blogging and this week I have a classic ingredient of Mexican and Latin American cooking, the tomatillo

All Hail!

We'd be waiting for the cool change to come through and bring an end to the rather humid weather we've been having of late but no-one really expected the ferocity of the storm that eventually hit us.

It began with it suddenly getting very dark, so much so that at just after 2pm the street lights were turning on. Engrossed in work it took a little while to finally register that the loud banging noises outside wasn't building noises but a full scale assault by hailstones.

As the windows started rattling at the multiple impacts, we madly went around the house, drawing blinds to contain the glass in case it would break. It was a no go area outside as the hailstones ranging from large marble to golf ball, pelted down. Watching them ricochet against the neighbours roof they look like they were being fired.



The views outside the windows during the height of the storm was distinctly hazy, not by rain but by hail.



We were lucky though, no flooding, nothing broken, even the car is dent free, the trees and shrubs are a little worse for wear having been shredded from the hail.

There are some amazing pictures of the storm online - here and here

Arancini

I risk the ire of Sicilians by calling the following Arancini but it's a word people can relate to and understand immediately that you are talking about a fried rice ball.

Rather than making balls I've made cylinders since I'm not going to be adding something to their centre. I've used left-over risotto for the base and if you need an excuse as to why you should always make more risotto than you intend to eat, then this is it.

Barossa Valley Blushing Princess

Blushing Princess is a goat camembert with a lightly washed rind.




Read more on the cheese blog.

Weekend Herb Blogging #223 Hosting

This week we welcome back as host Susan from The Well-Seasoned Cook

If you haven't taken part or it's been a while, here's a quick summary of the rules.

You have the week to post about any herb, fruit, vegetable, flower or plant. Your post can be informative, spotlight a particular ingredient and/or include a recipe where your chosen ingredient is one of the primary ingredients in the recipe.

Post should include the phrase Weekend Herb Blogging and a link to the rules and to your host.

You can post anytime during the week but remember to email your host by the deadline.

Entries must be submitted by:

* 3pm Sunday - Utah Time
* 10pm Sunday - London Time
* 11pm Sunday - Rome Time
* 9am Monday - Melbourne (Aus) DS Time


Send your posts to  thewellseasonedcook AT yahoo DOT com
with WHB#223 in the subject line and the following details:

• Your name
• Your Blog/URL
• Your Post URL
• Your Location

Please include a photo sized:400px wide