Today – Friday October 13 – is World Egg Day. I’ve had eggs on my mind all week, thanks to Food Writers NZ’s #7dayeggchallenge on Instagram. We eat a lot of eggs in this household and I’m lucky to have found a great source down at Wellington’s Harbourside Market. Shevington Farm from Ōtaki have one… The post Eggs in a nest with bacon, thyme and mushrooms appeared first on The KitchenMaid ..read more

Unless you’re careful, December can turn into a month of eating terribly – too many ‘treats’ and not enough of the good stuff. Here’s a salad to redress the balance (plus it looks appropriately festive). RED QUINOA, BEETROOT AND BEAN SALAD Did you know that quinoa (pronounced keen-WAH) is grown in New Zealand? For this… The post Really easy quinoa, bean and beetroot salad with balsamic dressing appeared first on The KitchenMaid ..read more

This morning I’ve been for a run around the harbour and a quick dip in Oriental Bay on the way home. Spring has a bad reputation in Wellington (expressed best in this calendar), but today feels like one of those mythical ‘can’t beat it on a good day’ days that the city’s tourism campaigns are… The post Strawberry, radish and cucumber salad appeared first on The KitchenMaid ..read more

If you’re a silverbeet fan, it’s my public duty to warn you that it’s going out of fashion. You’ll probably know this already, because silverbeet (known as chard in the northern hemisphere) is the party guest no one wants to talk to, let alone go home with. It’s the DBW (dull-but-worthy) stalwart of the vegetable… The post IS THERE ANY HOPE FOR UNFASHIONABLE SILVERBEET? appeared first on The KitchenMaid ..read more

Conventional wisdom – at least in my household – is that there’s nothing better than a roasted potato. Call me contrary, but I reckon a roasted kūmara knocks a roasted spud out of the park every time. Even our dog, who has become a bit of a dietary fusspot in recent months, loves them (though,… The post OVEN-ROASTED KŪMARA WITH DATE, CHILLI AND CORIANDER SEED BUTTER appeared first on The KitchenMaid ..read more

In the depths of winter, one dessert reigns supreme in my household. On a dark, wet night (or even a gloomy afternoon with a chill in the air), one of us will generally say to the other, ‘I think it’s a night for chocolate pudding’. They’re usually right – not much compares to digging a… The post Who wants some old-fashioned self-saucing chocolate and raspberry pudding? appeared first on The KitchenMaid ..read more

Macaroni cheese is the ultimate comfort food, but I’m never in the right frame of mind to make it. This unconventional method is the answer – the pasta cooks in the milk, eliminating time and dirty pots. What’s not to love about that? Once you’ve tried this method, you won’t look back. It’s best made… The post The ultimate autumn comfort food: really easy macaroni cheese express appeared first on The KitchenMaid ..read more

Exciting news: Homecooked has been named Best Lifestyle Book in the 2022 NZ Booklovers Awards! The judges said: ‘Homecooked is more than just a cookbook; it’s an artwork, a treasure, and a gift to yourself, or for someone you love. The presentation is stunning; from the bright, sculptural, cover, to the mouth-watering butter-yellow end-plates. The… The post Homecooked wins 2022 NZ Booklovers Award appeared first on The KitchenMaid ..read more

In these trying times, it helps to have a reassuring snack at hand. If you want something to briefly take your mind off the woes of the world, I have the snack for you: Nuts & Bolts. For the uninitiated, Nuts & Bolts are a highly addictive snack with just-about zero nutritional benefits. For me,… The post How to make Nuts & Bolts appeared first on The KitchenMaid ..read more

I’m such a fan of tinned Black Doris plums that I devoted a chapter of Homecooked to ways to use them. Lots of people have told me how much they love that section – if you’re one of them, this bonus recipe is for you. Black Doris Overnight Oats This serves four people generously, or… The post Overnight oats with Black Doris plums and vanilla appeared first on The KitchenMaid ..read more