Favourite Food Quote (#6): "There is no sight on earth more appealing than..."

Favourite food quote for this week...

Amen to that! 


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Famous LAST MEALS(#1): Andrew Chan (and group)

If you were given the choice of a last meal, what would it be?

Various countries have varying traditions in regards to a condemned prisoner's last meal. In many countries, the prisoner is allowed, within reason, to select what their last meal will be...

GOAT CHEESE Salad with BEETS and Maple-candied Walnuts

Apparently, tons of people have made this salad before since there are sooo many recipes (and reviews) for it out there. Now it was my turn to make it and after doing so, I can understand why. I've had it so many times in the past week.

The combined flavours of the earthy beets and the intense goat cheese with the crunch of the candied walnuts complimented each other so well, it was enough to drive your taste buds wild. I even burnt the walnuts by accident and it still turned out great!

Tips 'n Tricks(#6): Keep your celery looking fresh!

We've all had them - some really sad-looking celery we forgot about in the fridge. But don't throw them out just yet! Check out the tip below on how to store them or get them looking good as new...

Refreshing STAWBERRY SHORTCAKE Sandwiches

Look what I made - some strawberry shortcakes using a cupcake recipe (or any cake recipe you want for that matter), and one of those whoopie pie pans. You know it's summer when everyone's trying to make strawberry... something. 

I had this whoopie pie pan sitting around for over a year gathering dust and my hubby would often bitch that I would buy things that I would never use so it was time to put this pan to work.

The (Wilton Nonstick 12-Cavity) Whoopie Pie Pan:

I used a recipe I found online, Vanilla Cupcake Recipe, some old strawberries I had on hand and some basic, home-made whipped cream frosting to slap it all together.

Originally, I started off making some simple but yummy vanilla cupcakes, (hence the recipe name)...

and thought to myself, I could also make some strawberry shortcake sandwiches while I was at it!

7 'Italian' Foods I Thought were... well, Italian

Good Lord! I thought these foods were authentically Italian but I was oh, so wrong.
Read on to see what 7 Italian foods I thought were the real deal until Italian food blogger and culinary tour guide Monica Cesarato put an end to it setting things straight about our so-called favourite 'Italian' foods.


1. Pepporoni Pizza

Want some spicy salami slices on your pizza? Then don’t ask for ‘pepperoni’ in Italy - it’s the plural for peppers, so you’ll end up with a pizza covered in grilled peppers. “If you want to order a ‘pepperoni’ pizza in Italian, then you have to ask for ‘salame piccante’ (spicy salami),” counsels Cesarato.

2. Penne Alfredo

This is a definite no-no in Italy, according to Cesarato. Legend has it that, back in the 1920s, an Italian brought a similar dish over to America that was cooked with butter and sage. However, possibly short of ingredients one day, he substituted cream for the butter and parsley for the sage. Presumably his patrons liked it because the dish is now common in English-speaking countries. Not in Italy, though. As for the chicken element of the Anglo Penne Alfredo – “Just don’t go there,” sighs Cesarato. “In Italy, the only chicken you put in pasta is livers and kidneys when you make a ragù sauce. But that’s about as far as we go.”

3. Spaghetti Carbonara with cream 

“Carbonara is definitely never cooked with cream in Italy,” says Cesarato. “And it should only be cooked with guanciale (pork cheek).” If you can’t get hold of this, then some pancetta will do. Other genuine Italian tips: the cheese should be either Pecorino or Parmesan. Crack the egg (Cesarato suggests using about one egg yolk per person but some Italians also use a whole egg) over the top of the pasta.

Favourite Food Quote (#5): "People who love to eat..."

Favourite food quote for this week...

Amen to that! 


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Tips 'n Tricks(#5): Eat a BANANA to Improve your CONCENTRATION!

There are a lot of fruits and veggies that are considered 'brain foods'. Banana is one of them...

TOAST TOPPER #2: Smoked Salmon on Whipped Chive Cream Cheese...

Because it's not just about peanut butter and jam anymore...

Topped my toast today with:

• whipped chive cream cheese
• smoked salmon
• red onions
• capers 

So what do you like to top your toast with?

Favourite Food Quote (#4): "Maybe a person's time would be as well spent raising food as..."

Favourite... famous... famous... favourite, whatever tickles your taste buds, but this is one of my favourite food quotes:

Amen to that! 


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PHOTOS: Wine and Cheese

Visited some friends the other night. Had some wine and cheese - German Riesling and some old Italian goat cheese.
Took some pictures before consuming both. Unfortunately, the photos didn't turn out as expected. Still need to work on my lighting... and backgrounds.

Feel FREE to use any of the photos in your project or as you wish.**