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In My Own Kitchen

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25.01.2022 | Holy Crepe | I love puns as much as the next person, perhaps a little more but this post is all about making the seemingly hard easy - so youll be saying Holy crepe even I can do this! See what I did there In all seriousness crepes are a wonderfully versatile dish that lends itself to so many fillings and toppings Over the next couple of days I am going to show you easy dishes that can be adult and kid friendly. Sometimes it is about the presentation and sometimes it is about the portions. Stay tuned for how I turn these crepes into a deliciously sweet breakfast for the big and littles in your household

24.01.2022 | Kids Cooking Class | Last Friday saw the return of my group kids cooking class These superstars made chocolate chip cookies and cinnamon scrolls Cooking can be a great ice breaker for a group that have never met - before long these guys were all chatting and laughing together... It is a dream to be able to share my love of cooking with enthusiastic cooks Hopefully as restrictions ease more and more opportunities to cook and share my favourite recipes with others will continue

24.01.2022 | Recipe Memory - Spaetzle | Just in time for the change in weather is the ultimate memory comfort food - chicken broth with spaetzle noodles As a kid all I knew about these noodles was that Mum made them for easy dinners or when we werent feeling well and chicken broth was requested She made her own broth by pressure cooking a whole chook with carrot, onion, celery and garlic. Afterwards she would strip the meat and shred it back into the broth and keep some for sandwiches ...and salad When making her spaetzle Mum would use the broth to poach the noodles in and drop them off a spoon - ladle it out into a bowl when done and there you have a whole lot of comfort food to warm you I never knew what these little noodles were until I became a chef and another chef with German heritage made them for a lunch special. I then realised they were an actual dish not just something Mum made! Being Polish born it made sense Mum had this in her repertoire of delicious family meals If you have eggs, milk and flour these are simple and delicious so check out my stories for the recipe and give them a go - guaranteed youll have a big warm bowl of comfort

23.01.2022 | Mid week meals | With the weather cooling what better appliance to highlight than a slow cooker With an increasingly active bub and a hubby who works nights, I am challenging myself to do a week of slow cooked meals to be ready for 5.30 dinner without fuss or stress This morning I turned a bunch of veggies, mince and a tin of tomatoes into 3 mini meatloaves and some meatballs for bub... By doing mini loaves they cook through without drying and are great to freeze for a later meal I popped in some potato to the slow cooker as well as zucchini and beans that were rattling around the veg drawer After our afternoon walk bub and I were able to sit down to a delicious meal and I have to say it was really nice to do have to think about dinner prep! What are some of your go to slow cooker meals? Hit me with your best inspo!

23.01.2022 | Cooking Classes | Holiday classes are back! With easing restrictions I am able to hold a small numbers class for those lucky to get in quick and book There is a change of premises to my own kitchen these holidays - rest assured there is plenty of space in my kitchen to have the kids able to cook safely and easily I will also be offering an online component for those unable to attend in person... Link in bio for in person bookings - for online please email me at [email protected] Happy Cooking!

22.01.2022 | Weeknight Meals The slowcooker is on! Tonight is a bit of a cheat one as I used a packet curry simmer sauce - the thing about packet sauces is if you do your label research you can find ones that have lower sodium and sugar and are pretty decent! I use ones from Aldi that have a spice mix in the lid - I tossed the chicken and onion in the spice mix to marinate as I wouldnt be sauteeing in the slowcooker... I have a bunch of vegetables cut in the fridge to pop in the meals this week so cauliflower and pumpkin are in - this is also my first week of having prepped veggies from the weekend - it actually makes it easier to just chuck in and go - I am loving it! So heres to having dinner ready with minimal fuss

20.01.2022 | Dessert Cooking Class | Lovely Kirstens family were in for a whole lot of sweet treats after yesterdays class! Kirsten wanted to learn some simple but delicious desserts she could make for guests to celebrate their new kitchen renovation Her hubby gifted Kirsten a two hour class with me and we smashed out an apple pie, rhubarb and pomegranate cobblers and some caramel dumplings ... It was the perfect trio for a rainy afternoon and it was such a delight sharing my knowledge with such an enthusiastic cook! Getting the hang of sharing desserts doesnt need to be overwhelming. Sometimes just using lovely ramekins or a pretty dish can elevate the simple into the elegant Tell me - what is your go to dessert to share? Me? I personally love puddings in winter and icecream in summer

20.01.2022 | Big and Littles Cooking | This cute little plate of goodness is a super simple and delicious banana bread The banana bread was whipped up in a food processor and popped in the mini loaf tin featured yesterday along with a tray of mini muffin pieces The mini loaf is a great size for afternoon tea with friends - it portions well into five or six pieces... I used a silicone mini muffin tray for the bite size pieces - these are great for a lunchbox treat, for introducing a new food item in a size that isnt intimidating and for little bubs getting used to finger foods Cooking for the whole family or for different events doesnt have to mean hours in the kitchen - simply having the right tools to cook the one versatile recipe in different ways eliminates the stress and fuss If you can manage to not eat them all at once these also freeze well

19.01.2022 | Bigs and Smalls Food - Holy Crepe | Feeding the bigs and littles in your house doesnt have to mean two separate meals From the basic crepe recipe I have made two delicious breakfast crepe plates The left features stewed cinnamon apples inside the crepe and they are rolled and topped with maple syrup... The right is a fun and kid targeted skewer of banana and raspberries with the crepe again drizzled with maple syrup Both were super simple to assemble and came from the one main cooked element. The apple filling I had in the fridge from a previous days cooking and is wonderfully versatile Crepes can also be savoury with a multitude of filling elevating them to brunch or even lunch status What are some ways your family changes up a dish for the bigs and littles in your household?

17.01.2022 | Cooking Class | I joined Carole for her third of four cooking classes yesterday The last lesson we made moroccan lamb triangles, fattoush salad and baked pears with earl grey tea anglaise - yum yum! We forgot a photo though This week we learnt the art of risotto - hint: stir, stir, stir and if you are not sure - stir some more! ... Desserts were doubled up this week to make the most of the lesson time and we created simple pineapple tarts and a pavlova shell The pav had to sit and cook for an hour and a half with the tip to leave in the oven overnight after it is switched off - we had a fun time making sure no yolks were in that bowl! Cooking for dinner parties doesnt need to be laborious - everything I have shown Carole so far has an element of pre-preparation for ease on the night We will be rounding off our last lesson with some Asian inspiration so stay tuned!

17.01.2022 | Recipe Memory - Roasted Chestnuts | With the onset of cooler weather comes the change in seasonal ingredients and that means chestnuts have hit the supermarket shelves This recipe memory is one for my Dad. As a kid Dad and I would share freshly roasted chestnuts after dinner, juggling them in our fingertips to peel them open... We used to get our chestnuts from the local Italian deli/fruitshop Farmer Joes - prosciutto and salami was sliced to order, imported pastas lined the shelves and it wasnt uncommon for Dad to come home with a whole salami or tray of peaches! The chestnuts need to be scored to prevent explosions - we would bury them in the remains of the fire from our outdoor bbq and leave them to roast whilst we finished dinner. Once we got on board to using a gas bbq we would roast them over a low heat at the end of the bbq and turn them off leaving the residual heat to finish them If you have never had chestnuts before they are an interesting treat - they are creamy like cashews and macadamias but bbqing them creates a beautiful flavour. Do yourself a favour in this cool weather - roast up a small handful and enjoy @ Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

16.01.2022 | Food Prep | I dont know about you but nothing makes me happier than veggies all prepped and on a tray in their little groups! Roast veg are such a versatile ingredient - they can be served as is for a meat free meal bulked out with cous cous or quinoa - add some spinach or rocket and tuck in! They are a beautiful side to a traditional roast, mix with with some egg and cream for a frittata, puree with broth for a hearty soup or mix with flour and eggs for savoury muffins... Roast veg - the leftover meal prep that just keeps on giving! What is your fav way to fancy up roast veggies?

15.01.2022 I am super proud to introduce the first e-book I have been working on! I am creating a series of how to for busy parents wanting to introduce their kids into the kitchen. This first installment is all about utensils, measuring, mixing, stirring, how to keep your cool when there is a mess and much much more! It is currently a pdf e-book which means it is easy to download once purchased and can be printed off to keep at hand. My next guides will be introduction to baking with ...kids and Italian cooking with kids. If you have any other types of guides you would love to see about cooking in the kitchen with or even without kids let me know! This has certainly been a fun task and I look forward to creating more content soon - happy cooking! Ps I have also had some fun making some downloadable quote posters with my favourite sayings - have a little browse in my etsy shop for more :) https://www.etsy.com//the-busy-parents-how-to-cooking-with

15.01.2022 |Conversation Time| So tell me - what foods do you put together that other people are like ummmm what?? My most terrible food pairing that is something I love from childhood is tinned smoked oysters on jatz So so terrible I know but far out it is my guiltiest pleasure food combo. Dont get me wrong I know that oysters in a tin is so far removed from amazing fresh ones but I blame my mum - she introduced me to it and I havent looked back since

14.01.2022 |Meat free dinner | You would be forgiven foe thinking that is a saucepan of mincey goodness! It is actually textured vegetable protein (tvp) I have a vegan lesson with a new client coming up so wanted to investigate this plant based alternative I have had tvp before and liked it - the real question was would hubby like it? ... The verdict? Just asking me if I had added extra veg or something Even bub had a few spoons! Introducing a few or even a lot of plant based meals into your diet is good not only for you but our environment too - they dont need to be difficult or complicated - often you can swap out lentils for mince or up the protein with soy products like this one. What are your favourite go to vego/vegan meals for meat free days?

13.01.2022 | Kid Friendly Snack | Little Mr Almost 1 (can you believe it!!) is very keen to feed himself most days so I have been batch cooking all sorts of treats These mini pancakes are a great option for snack time - they can be made bigger for the older littles in your family if need be It is an Annabel Karmel recipe with just banana, one egg, yoghurt, some cocoa and sr flour. There is optional maple syrup and cinnamon but I didnt bother... Check out my stories for how I got these little guys round and even in the pan Hubby was intrigued by the delicious smell but not so keen on the healthier aspect Bubs verdict? Smashed them! They are freezer friendly too making for a great on the go snack to pull out. Allergies or vegan? Swap out the egg for extra banana, a dairy free yoghurt will suit and give a flour alternative a go Whats your favourite snack or snack on the go for you or you and the littles in your life?

12.01.2022 | Recipe Memory Baked Apples | As the seasons change it becomes time for the winter fruits like apples to shine. I love what a versatile fruit they are. They can be prepared so many different ways from poaching to stewing to salads and in this instance baked for dessert Apples were always a staple fruit in our house. Mum used to buy our fruit and veg in bulk from the Rocklea markets because we were a family of six plus my grandparents took a share of the haul It was not unc...ommon to have a carton of apples in the laundry and often after making a dinner in the oven, Mum would core and bake granny smith apples for us Sometimes she would create a yummy stuffing of butter, cinnamon and brown sugar and we would have them with custard or if it was really special - ice cream! It is such a simple but delicious dessert to end a meal - you can jazz up the stuffing with almond meal or walnuts, create more of a crumble with oats or coconut, or I have made them savoury to accompany roast pork by making a stuffing with breadcrumbs, butter, herbs and onion So as the weather cools down give the humble apple a go - dessert has never been so easy or simple

12.01.2022 | Recipe Memory - Golden Syrup Dumplings | These dumplings to be are the ultimate treat - sweet, comforting and delicious As a kid these dumplings were only made by mum if we were extra extra good. I dare say it was because of the sweet caramel sauce - after all she used to ration out chocolate pieces to us! ... She had a specific saucepan too they were made in - clearly the one with a heavy base as they need to simmer for 20-30mins and have a lid on. This bowl serves as a double memory treat as it was part of my mums parents special dinner set. Thankfully they have lasted asll these years Pre internet it was hard to find what these dumplings were as I just remembered there being a caramel style sauce - I was so ecstatic when I found the recipe and could make and share this dish again for family and friends Like a hug from your mum they are warm, comforting and sweet. As the weather turns chilly give these a go - you wont be disappointed!

12.01.2022 | Vegan Cooking | Lovely Shelley invited me into her kitchen on the Gold Coast to learn some vegan family friendly meals We made a lentil based shepherds pie, some sausage rolls and a slow cooker ratatouille ... Shelley admittedly usually leaves the cooking to her hubby, but with her little bub onto her solids journey, she wanted to develop her own skills to make some family meals The recipes were great for batch cooking, would freeze well and were packed with vegetables and lentil protein for a healthy kick It was great to be able to chat about all things babies, sleep (or lack of some days!) and family nutrition. Her plant based life is ethics based - I loved hearing about how she managed the transition and has enjoyed it ever since Taking on new recipes or cooking styles doesnt need to be all or nothing. Just giving a new ingredient or substitution a go can help you dip your toe into the water. I could tell Shelley loved that she had prepared three delicious meals for her family and was on the road to becoming a confident cook

11.01.2022 | Recipe Memory - Crostoli | Crostoli by any other name could be referred to as Angel wings or Chiacchiere - it really depends on what part of Italy you are from! Whilst my Mum was Polish born, meeting Dad brought a whole other cuisine to her table. Not only did she embrace the dishes of his region she also learnt the language making her tri-lingual! (English/Polish/Italian) Dont be deceived by these pastries being deep fried - they are light, delicate and hard to stop at on...e! As a kid it was the best thing to see Mum bring out the deep fryer as you knew crostoli must be on the cards She had this giant tupperware container they would be stored in - she would layer them with paper and pop the container on the table in the dining room I am pretty sure they never lasted long with sneaky hands cracking open that container to pinch a few! I remember trying to make these early on in my chef days with limited success as I didnt roll them through a pasta machine - the dough does need to be be quite thin to become beautiful and crispy but if you are a gun with a rolling pin go for it! When you do make them dont blame me when you cant stop at one - I did warn you

08.01.2022 |Cooking Class | Lovely Jessica joined me for a spot of baking yesterday We made some super delicious milo slice working on our scooping, weighing and stirring skills The kitchen smelt devine as it baked - Jessica asked about licking the bowl but I suggested we leave that for the icing as there are no raw eggs but plenty of chocolate! ... Kitchen confidence can take time at all ages but patience and practice can yield delicious results. It doesnt need to complicated when starting out - start simple and straightforward to practice the basic skills and work from there If youre lucky you might just get to lick that bowl in the end

08.01.2022 | School Holidays | With the holidays just around the corner why not book your kids into one of my express classes? These classes are one hour and are designed with a few premade features to keep the class flowing and introduce kids to the fun of cooking. They are $30/child with classes limited to 8 participants. There are three dates with two sessions each - they can learn how to make pizza, fun cut out biscuits or simple sushi rolls.... Just heading to inmyownkitchen.com/upcomingclasses for all the details and links to the tickets for each session Any further questions just shoot me an email Happy Cooking!

08.01.2022 Happy Mothers Day! I hope that you all had a wonderful day being celebrated

06.01.2022 | Portion Control for the Big and Littles | Sometimes mini tins can seem naff and a cupboard cluttering mess - But if you know how to use them they can be a portion control shortcut of ease These guys were used to create individual portions in my upcoming posts. This means your food can be elevated from just being a slice of something to a more intentional portion. They can also help make one recipe work for the big and littles in your household Suitable for dinner parties, work or school lunchboxes these tins are workhorses in disguise - so the next time you are tempted to wander into a homewares or kitchen store, check out the mini tins and feel guilt free for picking up a few - after all you know a chef who has some clever ideas on how to use them

04.01.2022 | New Website | After an updating glitch made my old site go awol I am proud to announce my new one is live! With clearer class options, one click price list and easy to navigate recipes this site is a sparkling new representation of all I have to offer Have a browse, find some inspiration in the gourmet gallery and book a class to learn new skills or update old ones!... inmyownkitchen.com

03.01.2022 Thankfully my cooking classes are a lot less hectic than this

02.01.2022 | Recipe Memory - Braised Green Beans | Now this is a funny one to recall - as a kid there are some distinct memories I have of meals I really didnt like and would kick up a fuss about and these braised beans were one of them. Mum wasnt one to pander to not liking certain foods - so I would resort to sneaking some of my vegetables onto my Dads plate when possible!... I remember sometimes peas would be added to this mix but it was often just the beans as my Dad was a brilliant gardener and often grew beans literally by the bucketload. One of my brothers hated the pea version as well so I dont know if I truly hated this as a kid or just wanted to be like him! So as an adult I decided to give this a go - I had a feeling I would quite like it and lo and behold I love them! I remember these being on a winter menu once as a chef but as it wasnt my section I didnt try them and no doubt didnt ask to It is amazing to revisit foods you didnt like as a kid and see if you like them now. Gnocchi is still not something I would choose, cauliflower is hit and miss, broccoli I enjoy and now these beans are something I would cook again So Mum I am sorry for all those times I whinged and complained about these - they arent so bad after all