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Not Quite Nigella - Recipes, Restaurants and Travel - Food
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Chillis Cottage, Davistown
Chillis Cottage is the latest restaurant opening by Central Coast couple Hayley Hardcastle and Cameron Cansdell. The waterside restaurant is situated in Davistown, inside a heritage listed house with a white picket fence and views of boats crossing the inlet. Come and take a look at what is on the menu of the Central Coast's newest restaurant!
Grilled Prawns
Grilled prawns or shrimp are one of the best things about summer (or early Autumn technically!). Try these restaurant quality chef's recipe for grilled prawns with a nduja butter sauce on top! This is a quick and easy dinner or lunch recipe and they take about 6 minutes on the grill to cook.
Pistachio Hot Cross Buns
Love pistachio? It's almost Easter time and that means it's time for Dubai Chocolate Hot Cross Buns! Try these incredibly soft and light Hot Cross Buns filled with Pistachio Cream and Nutella for Easter. They're based on my cult hot cross bun recipe using tangzhong roux to make them super soft and downy. These will taste as fresher and soft as a bakery hot cross bun (many say these are even better!). This is a pushy recipe Dear Reader.
Fig Confit
Fig Confit helps you make the most of fig season by preserving fresh figs. Here we confit them in a spiced marsala wine (you can also use grape juice). And if you have dry figs that you want to make more luscious give this fig confit recipe a try! You can have figs for 6 months past the end of fig season using this wonderful preserving technique. This is a pushy recipe Dear Reader.
Top 5 One Bowl Cake Recipes
These five one-bowl cakes are simple to make and full of flavour. From the warm, buttery pear tea cake and chewy pumpkin pie butter mochi to fudgy homemade chocolate brownies, there's something for every taste. The burnt Basque cheesecake is creamy perfection with just five ingredients, while the one bowl chocolate cake is rich and gooey. Minimal prep, maximum flavour!
Humbug, Newcastle
One of downtown Newcastle's most popular restaurants is HUMBUG. This restaurant located on Hunter street in Newcastle is owned by local couple Mike Portley and Stephanie Wells - she takes care of the wine and drinks and he the food. Take a look at what is on the menu and what is a must order!
Mango Panna Cotta
This mango panna cotta is something special. While it looks gorgeous, it is also straightforward to make and keeps for days in the fridge so it's a great make-head dessert. Fresh mango is pureed and then combined with a coconut and cream layer and then topped with fresh, diced mango. You'll think you're in the tropics with this gorgeous mango and coconut dessert! This is a pushy recipe Dear Reader.
Crispy Pork Belly
Dear Reader, this Crispy Pork Belly will be one of the best pork belly dinners you will ever make. It has a delicious spicy Asian style sauce with a crispy crunch and melting texture. This tastes like a restaurant quality crispy pork belly and that's because it comes from a fantastic restaurant where it is their signature dish. Don't sleep on this pork belly recipe, this is a pushy recipe Dear Reader!
Dragon Pastry, Haymarket
Dragon Pastry is a new pastry store and dessert place on busy Dixon Street in Sydney's Chinatown Haymarket. They sell traditional Chinese pastries and cookies as well as dessert bowls and bingsus. And the prices? Well they're a very nice surprise with most pastries around $2.50-$3 and dessert bowls for less than $10. Come and see what it's like and find out all about traditional Chinese pastries!
Best Homemade Chocolate Brownies
For the best chocolate homemade brownies all you will need is one bowl and one spatula! These chocolate brownies are a wonderful mixture of cakey and fudgey brownie with lots of chocolate chips in each bite. These brownies are also easy to mix up, no heavy duty equipment needed! This is a pushy recipe Dear Reader!
Santorini, Greece
Santorini is a visual dream come true. But is it possible to see Santorini on a budget? I will show you how to not break the bank and still see the beauty of Santorini. Explore the the Greek Island of Santorini with us and find out where to get those amazing photos and where to eat some amazing food.
Delicious Chicken Breast Recipes
If you’re looking for new ways to cook chicken breasts, these five chicken recipes will change the game! From juicy stuffed chicken with spinach and cheese to a light and delicious Tuscan-style dish, there’s something for every craving. Try the rich and crispy Chicken Sorrentino, the spicy Mexican-spiced baked chicken or the elegant Chicken Paillard with capers and olives. Ready to upgrade your chicken dinners? Let’s get cooking!
Places to eat Newcastle
A lot can happen in a year especially in the food scene of Newcastle which is coming in leaps and bounds. Since last year's visit in early 2024 there are new places to eat and drink. Find out more about what is new to eat in Newcastle. From dining with an ocean view to a playful degustation, a Roman trattoria to a late night bar serving native botanical drinks plus changes to favourite restaurants and chefs!
Grilled Peaches
It's the last vestiges of peach season at the moment and while it's still warm try grilling peaches for an easy, healthy peach dessert! Fresh peaches are basted in honey butter and then grilled until they caramelise. We add a dollop of fresh ricotta on top and a drizzle of honey. This is summer-time in a dessert and perfect if you're looking for something light and healthy after a big meal.
Chicken Tenders Strips Tenderloins Air Fryer
I am so excited to share this Air Fryer Chicken Tender recipe with you! I make these a few nights a week and it is one of my favourite dinners as it is healthy as it is air fried and yet has the crunch of a deep fried chicken tender. Chicken tenderloins or chicken strips are marinated in a spiced yogurt (or buttermilk) mixture that tenderises the chicken so well (trust me, there's no dry chicken here!) and then we crumb the chicken in a mixture of crushed cornflakes and parmesan for the most delicious, healthy dinner around - cooking time is less than 15 minutes! These are also easily made gluten free. This is a pushy recipe Dear Reader.
Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce
This honey mustard dipping sauce is the most delicious sauce to use to dip vegetables, seafood or chicken tenders or nuggets in. I make a big jar of this and keep it in the fridge. It's a McDonalds sweet mustard sauce dupe (by sheer accident)! I bought some just to test it out and I was shocked at how much it tasted like this. I think the only difference is that they use sugar rather than honey which is why it is called Sweet Mustard rather than honey mustard! I love pairing this with air fried chicken tenders.
Christmas Piel De Sapo Melon Salad
This melon salad is the easiest salad that tastes like it came from a restaurant. It has 4 ingredients and requires no dressing and takes less than 5 minutes to put together and is so utterly delicious that I suspect you will keep this in your salad repertoire (because I am!). Christmas Melon or Piel De Sapo melons are combined with cucumber, mint and stracciatella cheese for the easiest, most delicious melon side dish ever and there's no need to even make a dressing! I am not even a big melon lover and I absolutely love this melon salad. This is a pushy restaurant quality recipe Dear Reader.
Top 5 Melon Recipes
Melons are an abundant summer fruit and are in season now. Whether blended into a thirst-quenching Filipino rockmelon drink, paired with salty prosciutto for an effortless appetiser, or turned into fun candy corn-inspired fruit kebabs, there's a melon recipe for every mood. Cool off with a quick and easy melon granita or toss together a vibrant watermelon salad that vanishes as soon as it hits the table!
Echoes, Katoomba
Dinner at Echoes Restaurant & Bar in Katoomba in the scenic Blue Mountains has changed with a new chef at the helm and a fine dining menu. It's also now the perfect spot for a birthday, anniversary or special occasion dinner-or dining solo! Come along on our anniversary dinner and see what the menu is like.
Grilled Scallops
These grilled miso butter scallops are one of the easiest and most delicious dinner recipes you can make and take about 5 minutes on the grill. And would you believe that they only have 5 ingredients and taste like they came from a restaurant? That's because they did! They were one of the most popular dishes at Ape restaurant and when I ate them I just had to ask them for the recipe and they were kind enough to share the recipe with me!
Lilianfels, Katoomba
Anniversaries call for special stays and one of the most romantic places in NSW is the scenic, misty Blue Mountains. We combine our wedding anniversary with a stay at the luxurious 5 star hotel Lilianfels and the opening of their new restaurant Miss Lilian. But there’s just one hitch!
Apple Cobbler
Apple Cobbler is one of the easiest and most delicious American apple desserts you can make! Start with 5-6 apples and top it with the easiest one bowl or food processor Thermomix drop batter and bake! That's it. I promise this is the less complicated but no less delicious cousin of an apple pie! This is a pushy recipe Dear Reader.
Tomato Salad Recipe
This tomato salad recipe is one of the best tomato salads I've ever eaten. Made with ripe summer tomatoes, fresh peach and ricotta, it is perfectly balanced and tastes just like it came from a restaurant - because it did! I was lucky enough to get this tomato salad recipe from a renowned restaurant and I am sharing this delicious side dish with you today. This is a pushy recipe Dear Reader.
Top 5 Cooling Cucumber Recipes
Be cool as a cucumber with these cooling cucumber recipes! Start with the cool and crisp Apple Cucumber Popsicles, the perfect natural treat for hot days. Then, whip up a quick and satisfying 5-Minute Chilled White Bean, Cucumber, Mint & Yogurt Soup for a smooth, cooling meal. For a snack that takes me back to my childhood, try my mother's Cucumber Pickles. If you’re in the mood for something savoury, enjoy a refreshing bowl of Watermelon Gazpacho or a tasty Prawn, Taramasalata and Cucumber Salad that's perfect as a meal on its own.
neapolitan-pizza-recipe
I am SO excited to share my Neapolitan pizza recipe with you. After much testing back and forth and many, many pizza parties, I've got a reliable and spectacular Neapolitan pizza dough! I'll go through every step with you from the flour, fermentation and shaping. And then of course the toppings where I share a Margarita pizza recipe with you! If you have a pizza oven, this is a pushy recipe Dear Reader!
Strawberry Cheesecake
This strawberry cheesecake is one special cake. This cheesecake is so light and silky and not heavy, even for a baked cheesecake. It is topped with fresh strawberries dipped in a strawberry glaze. If you love the Cheesecake Factory's Strawberry Cheesecake then you will love this one! This is a pushy recipe Dear Reader.
Newcastle Weekend Food Month
Picture this: a weekend in Newcastle with a night in one of Newcastle's best hotels, extra gifts and breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks for $500 for two people! This is possible thanks to Newcastle’s food month. In April, Newcastle’s restaurants open their doors with "Plate Date" specials offered to the public. Come along and see what your $500 weekend in Newcastle would look like, where you would be staying and what the meals are like!
Patmos, Greece
The Greek Island of Patmos is our last stop on our dreamy Mediterranean cruise with the Celestyal Cruises. This stunning Greek Island is made up of beautiful whitewashed homes with a rich history. Patmos is one the smallest Dodecanese Islands but one of the most important historically. Come along as we explore this beautiful island and try some of their delicious specialties!
Watermelon Margarita
Watermelon margaritas are a delicious summer cocktail that are refreshing and thirst quenching. Made with frozen watermelon chunks, lime, tequila, triple sec and ice cubes, these cocktails come together quickly and are cooling and delicious. Make the most of the summer weather and seasonal fruit with this delicious drink!
Top 5 Mardi Gras Recipes
It's time to celebrate the Sydney Mardi Gras with some rainbow magic! From the light and fluffy Rainbow Chiffon Cake to the dazzling Rainbow Sushi that's as beautiful as it is delicious, there’s something for every occasion. Bake some magical Rainbow Cupcakes topped with dreamy buttercream, enjoy the easy delight of Rainbow Rocky Road, or whip up some sweet and simple Rainbow Meringue Kisses to add a pop of colour to any dessert! Let's celebrate!
Channa Dahl
I am SO excited to share this dahl recipe with you! Channa dal or dahl is so good for you and tasty. And recently when I tried the best dahl ever in a pub (yes!) I asked them for the recipe and they kindly shared it with me. I promise this is one of the tastiest, healthiest Indian vegetarian recipes you will EVER make (and can easily be made vegan) and can be made on the stovetop or pressure cooker.
Vinny's Bread & Wine, Oatley
Vinny's Bread & Wine is a sandwich shop serving delicious freshly made sandwiches on house baked focaccia. By day they sell bread aka sandwiches and by night it turns into a wine bar. Located right near Oatley train station find out what the sandwiches are like and what you have to try when you get there!