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Not Quite Nigella - Recipes, Restaurants and Travel - Food
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Mexican Sonoran Hot Dogs
These Mexican or Sonoran Hot Dogs are literally the best hot dogs I've ever eaten! Continental Frankfurters are wrapped in bacon and then served in soft hot dog buns with two types of onion, tomato, pinto beans and a range of sauces. They're also ridiculously easy to make and great to feed a crowd for lunch or dinner! This is a pushy recipe Dear Reader.
Paddy Chan's, Newtown
Paddy Chan is the first Irish Chinese restaurant in Sydney and they've just opened up their second branch in Newtown. While the original shop in Kensington is a strictly takeaway establishment, at Newtown you can sit and eat in. So what is Irish Chinese food like and what is a must order at Paddy Chans' (spoiler: it is HUGE so bring a group!).
Snow Skin Mooncakes
Snow skin mooncakes are a popular modern mooncake and alternative to the very rich traditional mooncakes. These snow skin mooncakes are made with a matcha skin filled with a whole strawberry and cream filling! If you love strawberry matcha lattes you will love these snow skin mooncakes!
Chocolate Hummus
Chocolate...hummus? I'm not sure how to describe this delicious, healthy, vegan friendly chocolate dip to you except to say that if you're looking for a healthy dessert for a party or a night in, then give this chocolate dip a try! It tastes like chocolate cake mixture and is made in 5 minutes in a food processor or Thermomix and is made with cocoa and chickpeas as a base but doesn't taste punishing or overly healthy! If you love something chocolatey delicious but still want it to be nutritious and healthy then this is a pushy recipe Dear Reader!
Istanbul, Turkey
On day 4 of our cruise we have reached Istanbul, Turkey's largest city. Istanbul is an intoxicating city home to some of the world's most beautiful landmarks and delicious food. Come along as we take two shore excursions with Celestyal Cruises to make the most of our time there. The first is a food tour eating some of Instabul's most famous foods and the second is a cruise along the Bosphorus Strait!
Top 5 Pistachio Desserts
chocolatey goodness to a creamy pistachio tiramisu that's perfect for entertaining, these recipes are full of pistachios. Whether it's the layers of a pistachio crumble cake, the crisp, moreish bite of pistachio biscotti or the vibrant colour of a rose, pistachio, and pandan bundt cake, there’s something for every pistachio lover.
Issho Cafe Tokyo Dessert House
Issho Cafe Tokyo Dessert House is a brand new Japanese style cafe by the team at Mango Coco. Like its predecessor, the menu has a range of savoury and sweet with an eye catching window display. Think strawberry and cream domes, kakigori shave ice, French toast and light and fluffy soufflé pancakes as well as savoury ones topped with chicken katsu. So what is it like at Issho Cafe?
Spaghetti Assassina
Spaghetti Assassina is an incredible and unusual pasta dish from Puglia in Italy. The pasta is cooked like risotto in a pan absorbing the tomato broth with chilli and garlic. The pasta also caramelises so that it has an unique crunchy texture so that it is spicy, crunchy and delicious all in one! There is no other spaghetti dish like Spaghetti Assassina! This is a pushy recipe Dear Reader and can be easily made vegan.
Lakemba restaurants
Today we are visiting the Sydney suburb of Lakemba. Lakemba is famous for their Ramadan Night Markets but outside of this time you'll find a range of Afghani, Pakistani and Moroccan food, some of which you may not have tried before along with super friendly service! Come and eat with us as we try some of the absolute best food that Lakemba has to offer! There was not one dud meal in this entire day!
Mango Pancakes
Mango pancakes are a popular Chinese restaurant dim sum or yum cha dessert. Light, thin pancakes envelop a fresh mango and cream filling. It's easy to make these and both the pancake batter can be done in the Thermomix too. They can be made an hour or two ahead of time and kept in the fridge so that you have an easy to serve Chinese dessert as a refreshing finisher to a meal or as part of a Chinese New Year celebration! This is a pushy recipe Dear Reader.
Vietage Train Anantara
The Vietage by Anantara is a stunning railway journey in Vietnam. The luxe train carriage is decked out in a sophisticated Indochine style and seats 6 couples in their own private carriage. Come along as we explore what the train journey is like and why it is a must do when in Vietnam!
Ginger Shots
I am absolutely addicted to these healthy ginger shots. I've tried every brand available and honestly none compared to how potent, balanced and delicious this drink is! It takes less than 5 minutes and is perfect in the Thermomix or high speed blender. It has the goodness of fresh ginger, lemon juice, coconut water, honey, apple cider vinegar and turmeric!
Top 5 Watermelon recipes
Watermelon is the ultimate summer fruit and its versatility shines in these five creative recipes. From a show-stopping watermelon "cake" to a cooling Sicilian-style granita, there's a recipe here for every occasion. Discover how to turn discarded watermelon rind into a luscious Balkan jam, experience the deliciousness of a Thai coconut topping or enjoy the a super quick watermelon gazpacho!
Bali Hai, Newtown
Bali Hai is a Malaysian restaurant on King Street in Newtown. You can get a range of classic Malaysian dishes as well as some of their specialties such shrimp paste chicken wings, volcano tofu and pippies in Kam Heong sauce. And their mud crab from the tank and a perfect size for 2 people!
Smoked Salmon Salad
This smoked salmon salad is a life changer. It is inspired by the filling in smoked salmon bagels but doesn't contain bagels or bread and is made in a total of 5 minutes! Serve this as part of a breakfast spread, for lunch or just for a quick and tasty summer dinner. It's light, crunchy, full of flavour - we have had this a dozen times this summer already. This is a pushy recipe Dear Reader.
Homm Dessert, Haymarket
Homm Dessert is a brand new Thai dessert bar in Sydney's Haymarket Chinatown area. The chain originally hails from Melbourne and their signature dish is a Thai milk tea "Avalanche" bingsu where you lift the collar and the bingsu toppings spill out the side. Find out what else is on the menu and what you have to order when you go there. Also it is open 7 days a week even on public holidays!
Pistachio Tiramisu
This Pistachio tiramisu is one of the most delicious pistachio dessert recipes that you can make or eat. Best of all it's simple and needs to be made a day ahead so it's great for entertaining leaving you mostly free on the day. This is one of the most delicious Italian desserts and is a pushy recipe Dear Reader!
Hwachae recipe
Hawchae is a Korean style of dessert and drink perfect for hot summer weather. Fresh fruit is steeped in a mixture of strawberry milk and lemonade to create a healthy fruit salad punch that is a refreshing sweet dessert that will cool you down perfectly! It will take you 5 minutes from beginning to end. This is a pushy recipe Dear Reader!
MMC Slice Shoppe, Marrickville
MMC Slice Shoppe is a spin off of My Mother's Cousin Pizzeria but with all pizzas available to order by the (huge) slice. Located in an industrial residential area of Marrickville, the pizza restaurant has an 80's 90's vibe and a range of traditional and square pizzas. So what is it like?
2024 year in review
A Happy, Happy New Year my lovelies! I hope you've had a restful and fun break. Are we ready for 2025? Before we go into the new year we like to look upon the previous year. I love to see what stories you liked and what recipes you made, which restaurant reviews you liked or what travel stories you enjoyed so read on and I'll show you!
Quy Nhon, Vietnam
Quy Nhơn is a coastal city in central Vietnam located in the Bình Định province, around 2 hours by plane from Hanoi, popular for its beaches and laid back atmosphere. While relatively quiet and less commercialised than other Vietnam locations Quy Nhơn is a bit of a hidden gem. Come along as we stay in Quy Nhon for 2 nights at the Anantara Quy Nhon Villas, learn how to cook some classic Vietnamese dishes and eat some of the most delicious, unforgettable food like"jumping shrimp pancakes" that Quy Nhon is known for!
Espresso Martini
An espresso martini is the perfect New Year's cocktail drink (or cocktail for any time really). It's a great pick me up for when you need to stay up and it also has a lucky motif attached to it. But not all espresso martinis are created equal! I think that this is the best espresso martini recipe and it is made with just 4 ingredients!
NYE Grazing Platter Food
This New Years cheese and charcuterie cocktail party food spread is one of the easiest and guest (and host) friendly ways to entertain. A lot of the food prep can be done ahead of time and all you have to do is create a display of the food for people to serve themselves! I talk you through timings and presentation ideas. Make your NYE celebration stress free and spectacular!
Kavala, Greece
It's Day 2 of our Mediterranean cruise and the Celestyal Journey cruise ship arrives at Kavala in Northern Greece. Kavala is famous for Philippi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a major archaeological site with ruins of temples, forum and a theatre. We also stop off at a winery and eat some of Kavala's most famous exports: kourabiedes or Greek almond biscuits and partake of the cruise ship's fine dining restaurant! So what is the food like and is Kavala worth a stop?
Top 5 New Years Eve NYE Cocktails
It's time to celebrate and ring in a new year! Raise a glass to these top 5 New Year's Eve cocktails. Celebrate with the creamy decadence of the Ferrero Rocher Martini, or cool off with the refreshing Aperol Spritz Granita, a frozen twist on a classic favourite. If you love citrusy cocktails, the Paloma combines pink grapefruit and tequila for a perfectly balanced drink, while the Lychee Mint Slushie delivers a quick, tropical treat packed with fresh flavours. Finally, the Mango and Passion Fruit White Sangria brings a fruity, make-ahead option perfect for any festive gathering!
Leftover Turkey Recipes Rolls
Make the most of Christmas leftovers with these Leftover Turkey Rolls are SO moreish and delicious! Layers of turkey meat, cranberry sauce, sage mayonnaise, melted cheese and crisp chips fill a 6 pack of rolls. Plus they take about 5 minutes to put together. The gravy dip is optional!
Sugar Cookie Martini
We've almost made it to Christmas and that calls for a cocktail! This Sugar Cookie Martini is SO delicious and a wonderful drink to serve at Christmas. If you love drinks like Baileys, coquito or dessert cocktails you will absolutely love this cocktail that tastes just like a sugar cookie. Plus using one clever trick makes this a spectacular looking cocktail that transforms in front of your very own eyes to create stripes along the glass! This is a pushy recipe Dear Reader.
Baked Salmon Oven Christmas
This baked salmon is a spectacular dish to serve at Christmas or any other special occasion. But did you know that it is super easy to make (especially so if you have a Thermomix). A whole side of salmon is baked in the oven and then served with preserved lemon beurre blanc. It is then finished off with fresh dill and salmon roe. This is a restaurant quality meal easily made at home! This is a pushy recipe Dear Reader.
Lune Croissanterie Sydney
The hotly anticipated Lune Croissanterie has arrived in Sydney! Lune are known for their picture perfect croissants and monthly specials that encourage people to keep coming back. Come along as we visit the new Rosebery store to see what the pastries are like. Find out what to order and what the monthly specials are like!
Pommes Anna
Looking for an impressive and delicious baked potato side dish for Christmas or a dinner party? Try Pommes Anna! This layered French potato dish is made up of simple ingredients (potatoes, clarified butter) for the most divine textured layered potatoes that are crispy like a chip on the top and tender and velvety on the inside. Find out why Pommes Anna should make an appearance at your Christmas table! This is a pushy recipe Dear Reader.
10 Minute Christmas recipes
So you're going to a Christmas lunch or dinner and you've been asked to bring a plate. But you've been busy working and seeing everyone to even think about it. I've got you with these easy Christmas lunch or dinner contributions! Christmas cooking doesn’t have to be complicated or time consuming to impress! There is the whimsical charm of a Caprese Salad Candy Cane, an indulgent creaminess of Puerto Rican Coquito or add some flair with Venetian Grilled Scallops. You can create a wowing Christmas Tree Salad or put together a delightful 10 Minute Snowball Cake for dessert. Each dish takes 5-10 minutes to prepare, leaving you more time to enjoy the holiday magic!
Moxy Sydney Airport
Moxy Sydney Airport is Sydney's newest airport hotel, designed for people that want a playful, fun airport hotel to stay at before an early flight or that live far from the airport. Part of the Marriott chain, Moxy is aimed at younger clientele or the young at heart that prefers a well priced self service style of hotel. Come along and see what life is like at the Moxy Sydney Airport!
10 Minute Christmas recipes
So you're going to a Christmas lunch or dinner and you've been asked to bring a plate. But you've been busy working and seeing everyone to even think about it. I've got you with these easy Christmas lunch or dinner contributions! Christmas cooking doesn’t have to be complicated or time consuming to impress! There is the whimsical charm of a Caprese Salad Candy Cane, an indulgent creaminess of Puerto Rican Coquito or add some flair with Venetian Grilled Scallops. You can create a wowing Christmas Tree Salad or put together a delightful 10 Minute Snowball Cake for dessert. Each dish takes 5-10 minutes to prepare, leaving you more time to enjoy the holiday magic!
Christmas Rolled Turkey Breast
This magnificent rolled turkey breast is simple and perfect for serving up to 8 people for Christmas, Thanksgiving or just a special occasion. This turkey breast comes out succulent and perfectly seasoned with a delicious cranberry, apple and pistachio stuffing (plus extra stuffing of course!) and gravy. It's also great as it needs to be cooked a couple of hours ahead of time and can even be served cold so ideal for cold or warm weather Christmases. This is a pushy recipe Dear Reader.
Akipan, Pyrmont
Akipan is a Japanese bakery and cafe in Pyrmont selling loaves of shokupan or soft Japanese milk bread. There is also a cafe menu with around half a dozen varieties of their shokupan with sweet and savoury Japanese style toppings as well as coffees and teas. Find out what the must orders are here that you should not miss!
Gingerbread House Kit
This illuminated gingerbread cookie house is a show stopper for Christmas and is based on a delicate glasshouse design. And Dear Reader, I've got a present for you this Christmas - I'm giving you a PDF template that you can print out so that you can make your own beautiful Christmas glasshouse gingerbread house from scratch! This is one of the easier gingerbread cookie houses to make and still one of the most visually effective. This is a pushy recipe Dear Reader - Merry Christmas to you! :)
Ground Beef Turkish Pasta
This ground beef mince Turkish pasta is the easiest pasta dish you can whip up and is perfect for when you are short on time. If you need a quick 15 minute recipe that will feed a lot of people this beef pasta is perfect. It's made with beef mince and pasta topped with a delicious garlicky yogurt sauce and paprika butter to finish it off. It makes for great leftovers and is ideal for lunchboxes too.
Bannisters Pavilion, Mollymook
Bannisters Pavilion is part of the Bannisters hotel family. Located 2 minutes away from Bannisters on the Sea in Mollymook on the scenic NSW South Coast, it offers dog friendly accommodation and fantastic food. If you're looking for a Christmas gift they also offer gift vouchers for stays at any of their properties.
Top 10 Christmas Seafood Recipes
Christmas and seafood are a match made in festive heaven and here are my top 5 Christmas seafood recipes! From the delicate layers of a seafood crepe cake to the bold, smoky flavours of cedar-plank salmon, these seafood dishes are designed to impress. Whether you’re grilling prawn salads, layering crab lasagne or assembling a dazzling seafood tower, these recipes will bring a touch of elegance and plenty of flavour to your festive celebrations.