Tasty Bits of 2010

For a year that started with so much promise I find it sad to admit that it wasn't a particularly good year. Through the course of the year it seemed I was perpetually ill but thankfully, things are looking up. I learnt that the peripherals don't really matter as long as you feel healthy.

When it comes to cooking, these are the dishes, in no particular order, that made me happiest in 2010.

Hidden Orange Christmas Pudding

When I first read about Heston's Hidden Orange Christmas Pudding, three things immediately struck me - one, it was a brilliant idea, two, since I'm not in England I'd never have a chance to taste it and three, If I wanted to experience it I'd have to make it myself.

This post is the story of how I made my own Hidden Orange Christmas Pudding.

Mistletoe Tea

Mistletoe is synonymous with Christmas but there is a way of utlising it all year round in the form of Mistletoe tea.

Cheese: Limited Release Double Brie

New Years is just around the corner - why not celebrate with a luscious limited release Double Brie from King Island?

Read More

Baked Camembert

Usually my cheese posts are concerned with the cheese as its own entity but this post is a little bit different. I'm going to take a rather commercial cheese, in this case the South Cape Mini Camembert



and turn it into a molten case of cheesy goodness!

Weekend Herb Blogging #264 - Recap

It's hard to believe that we've almost come to the end of 2010 but we can see it off with the last Weekend Herb Blogging for the year.

Naturally there's a festive feel to this week's recap and I'm sure you'll find something to suit your tastes - be it sweet, savoury or something to sip.

As usual I've presented the entries in order of their main ingredient. 

Hibiscus Tea Poached Pears

I'm hosting the last Weekend Herb Blogging for the year - it will be taking a short break before resuming on January 3rd. This week for WHB I have Packham Pears.

Whisky Ginger Cake

The last ginger cake I made left me with an unintended consequence - it left with a taste for ginger cakes that had me searching high and low for other ginger cake recipes to try. I finally settled on a recipe by Dan Lepard that uses glacé ginger and whisky.

Cheese: Udder Delights Triple Cream Brie

We all know and love Jindi Triple Cream but how does this South Australian stack up?

Read More...

Weekend Herb Blogging #264 Hosting

It's the last edition of Weekend Herb Blogging for the year and this week I will be hosting.

The rules are simple - you have the week to post about any herb, fruit, vegetable, flower, seed, nut, grain or plant. The 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.

Your entry should be submitted by the following time:

• 3pm Sunday - Utah Time
• 10pm Sunday - London Time
• 11pm Sunday - Rome Time
• 9am Monday - Melbourne (Aus) DS Time (as this is busy time of the year I'll be accepting entries until midday melbourne time)

Send your posts to whb AT cookalmostanything DOT com
with WHB#264 in the subject line and the following details:

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

You can also head over to Brii's blog and check out the Italian version of Weekend Herb Blogging.

Black Lentil and Speck Crostini

Huan from Eat.Read.Live is back to host this edition of Weekend Herb Blogging and this week I've found Black Lentils.

Cheese: Hindmarsh Valley Chevrotin

South Australia gains another cheese maker....Read More.

Weekend Herb Blogging #263 Hosting

This week Huan from Eat.Read.Live returns to be our host.

To participate:

Post about any herb, plant, fruit, nut, seed, spice, 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#263 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
• 10pm Sunday - London Time
• 11pm Sunday - Rome Time
• 9am Monday - Melbourne (Aus)Time

Don't forget you can also take part or catch up on the offerings found on the Italian version of WHB organised by Brii. This week the host is Kristina from Tutto a Occhio.

Stem Ginger Cake

Rachel from The Crispy Cook is hosting this edition of Weekend Herb Blogging and this week I'm getting into the holiday spirit with Stem Ginger in Syrup.

Linguine with Spring Vegetables

Presto Pasta Creator, Ruth from Once Upon a Feast is hosting this weeks celebration of all things pasta and while it has been a little time since I last joined in, I knew I just had to do something with these gorgeously fine examples of artisan Linguine.