It’s that time of the year – Christmas is around the corner and there are so many opportunities to catch up with friends and family. There is nothing better than sharing a little something with a drink or two, enjoying the pre-festive cheer while we all wonder where the year has gone! I really don’t…
Appetisers
Spicy Roasted Chickpeas
Next time you feel like reaching for a bag of crisps for that crunchy, spicy snack, make these instead. Chickpeas roasted with chilli, paprika, fennel, then tossed with rosemary and lemon are little flavour bombs perfect for snacking on without the guilt. Inspired by the traditional dried chickpeas I watched the men at family gatherings…
Crumbed Oysters with Italian Style Tartare
There’s nothing like a tasty crumbing to entice someone to try something new. As a past non-oyster eater, after eating them prepared this way, I realized what all the fuss was about and have been happily eating oysters any way, including raw, ever since. But I still love them like this, crispy crumb on the…
Fried Olives with Feta and Chilli Pesto
These fried olives are a perfect little appetiser to share. Stuffed with feta, and coated in a crunchy parmesan breadcrumb coating, they are perfect just as they are, but I love to serve alongside chilli pesto mixed with a little sour cream for a creamy, but spicy kick. I’m not going to lie, as easy…
Chilli-Poppers with Mascarpone
The idea of eating a whole Jalapeño chili may not be for everyone but hear me out. If you make sure you remove all the seeds and the membranes from the inside of the Jalapeños before you fill them, they’ll be perfectly tame. Roasting chilies actually develops their sweetness, like a capsicum (bell pepper), and…
Cauliflower “Fritti” – Fried Cauliflower
If you don’t think you like cauliflower, think again. Growing up, I wasn’t much of a vegetable eater, but Mum could always put these on the table and I would devour them. Utterly addictive, when my neighbour recently tried these on her kids, they said they wanted more ‘chicken nuggets’. The secret is the Parmesan-laced…
Polenta Chips
Polenta is an Italian staple. When soft (or wet), it’s perfect with a comforting bowl of ragu or slow cooked meat. But once it cools and hardens, you can make these moreish ‘chips’ that make a great appetiser. The only trick with making polenta is ensuring you pour it in steadily as you whisk whisk…
Italian-Style Sausage Rolls
Buying a sausage roll at the ‘servo’ is something most of us have done at some stage. It’s one of those iconic Aussie delicacies, up there with a meat pie, vegemite sandwich and a Bunnings BBQ. As good as a shop-bought sausage roll is, and I have eaten some epic versions over years while travelling,…
Salami Bites with Antipasto
I love bite-size food because it’s a great way to try a little bit of this and a little bit of that without overindulging. These little salami bites are a cute way to serve something gutsy with Italian flavour, in an elegant presentation. They taste like little pizzas minus the dough. There are loads of…
Crostini
Crostini, loosely translated in Italian mean “little toasts” and are the perfect blank canvas for any kind of topping. They are perfect to serve up before a meal, especially if you’re entertaining, as the crostini can be made in advance and stored in a container, ready to top with whatever takes your fancy (they keep…
