Today is the type of day they don’t warn you about when you say you want kids/when you’re pregnant. The type of day where your children didn’t sleep all too well the night before but you still have to go about your day in a normal, functioning fashion. The type of day when all that is going to get you through is good coffee (thank you Nespresso). So I’m sure you’ll excuse me for not writing a long, winding post about how fabulous this gnocchi is. I hope that, by now, you trust my judgement. This takes a little bit of effort as I made the gnocchi myself (but…
Simply Delicious
A general food and cooking blog. I like to experiment and try all different types of cuisine and I have a passion for food photography and styling.
Archive for the ‘Pasta’ Category
Today, most South Africans go back to work and after a much-needed break, so am I. And I won’t lie, I really don’t want to. Of course I am so excited for 2013 especially as I have some incredibly exciting things in the pipeline, making 2013 (hopefully) the year that I want it to be. But I still can’t stop thinking about falling asleep to the sound of the waves crashing against the rocks a few metres away, the smell of salty, humid sea-air and toes in the sand. And so, the first meal I cooked when we got back home, was one that reminded me an awful lot of…
Everyone needs a simple but stunning pasta recipe to pull out when inspiration has packed its bags and have bid you adieu. One of my favourites is the Roasted cherry tomato, ricotta & basil pesto pasta which I’ve cooked more times than I can remember. After a while though, these pastas become more of a staple than they should and you start getting tired of the tried and tested combination. As I needed a new pasta recipe (because I’ll be honest, I feel like my mojo is very slowly trickling out of me as we get closer to the end of the year), I decided to create this pasta. …
After a wonderful weekend in Cape Town celebrating my book launch, browsing food markets and eating way too much food, I came home longing for light and fresh food. I decided to make this pesto by combining the contents of my fridge, if I have to be quite honest. I’ve tasted rocket pesto before and loved the peppery flavour the leaves add to a traditional pesto. I didn’t have any pine nuts but found some pecans in my pantry and then to add bulk, decided to add fresh spinach. Finished with Pecorino, garlic and lemon, this pesto turned out to be one of the most delicious I had ever tasted….
When I think of Fettucini Al Fredo, I think of the horrible restaurant variety. Over-cooked fettucini drowned in a stodgy sauce with flavourless ham and mushrooms. Not exactly appetising, but I come with good news. This is not the way it is meant to be and definitely not the way I cook it at home. A good Fettucini Al Fredo is one of the most delicious pastas you can make and is one of my all-time favourite comfort foods. The combination of crispy ham, perfectly cooked mushrooms and creamy sauce on top of al dente pasta is one that’s just too good to resist and is a favourite to many….
As I look out our office window, I am treated with the most beautiful bright pink Bougainvillea against a bright blue sky. The sight always puts a smile on my face because I know that Spring is well and truly here. Along with all the other things I adore about Spring, I love the fact that there is an abundance of lovely fresh produce around. Last week I saw the most beautiful Rosa tomatoes in my supermarket and decided to use them in a simple pasta to showcase their beautiful flavour. I decided to roast them along with two whole heads of garlic and made a quick sauce using…
Not much needs to be said for this Mac & Cheese. Crispy bacon, beer and cheese all in one dish? Yes please! This might seem like it’s ‘bloke-only’ food but I have to say, I loved this so much I had seconds and found myself picking at the left-overs all night. I like to make a huge amount of this as there never seems to be enough but also because I love (LOVE) left-over Mac & cheese the next day. Re-heated with tons of chilli sauce, it’s one of my guilty pleasures in life. Serve the Mac & cheese with a zesty side salad and cold beers for a weeknight…
When I told my kids that we would be having Ratatouille pasta for dinner last week, they were ecstatic. Not because they like the dish (they had in fact never tasted it before) but because of the movie. They are just obsessed with the little rat, Remy, who is bitten by the cooking bug and goes on to become a wonderful chef. Every time they watch it, Aidan asks what the rat is making when he layers sliced aubergines, courgettes and tomatoes. And every time he repeats “ratatouille” like it’s some magical word. I decided to chop all the vegetables and place them in a roasting dish with…
Spaghetti Carbonara is one of my absolute favourite, fall-back meals. By that I mean a meal that I can whip up in minutes with ingredients I have in my fridge/freezer with guaranteed success. It’s a really simple pasta but delivers big on flavour and ‘mmmm’-factor. Because this pasta is so simple however, it is necessary that you use only the very best quality ingredients you can get your hands on/afford. I suggest using dry cured, smoked streaky bacon, free-range eggs, strong Pecorino and the freshest cream possible. It’s also important to note that I am by no means an ‘authentic’ cook who sticks to traditions when I’m busy in the…
When I saw the idea for this recipe in the latest Donna Hay (iPad app), I knew I had to make it. What could be better in Winter than digging into a bowl of perfectly cooked gnocchi drenched in a rich pork ragu? Not much, I have to be honest. Add a bottle of red wine and a crackling fire and you have the perfect Winter’s evening in my opinion. I wanted to use Donna’s idea but wanted to give the recipe my own spin, so for the original, please get your hands on a copy of the latest Donna Hay or download it onto your iPad. I chose to…
