Potato and Dill ‘Flinis’ with Smoked Salmon and Red Cavi-Art

If you’re looking for a classy canapé (that is also a doodle to make), then this, is that. Your veritable ‘canapé queen’, if you will. The light and fluffy potato ‘flini’s’ are complimented beautifully by the woody smoked salmon. And then the punch of freshness from the bursting bubbles of cavi-art? Party in your mouth.

Oh, and I say ‘flini’ because they are not technically blinis, which are a traditional Russian pancake-style snack usually made with buckwheat flour, and nor are they pancakes, or fritters, so they are faux-blini’s, and they make me smile.

Mini Pitas, with Red Pepper Hummus and Chorizo & Avocado Salsa

This is, in fact, hardly a recipe at all, but rather an ‘assemblage’ of sorts. A top notch Tapas assemblage, but an assemblage none the less. But oh boy it’s got guts. The Red Pepper Hummus from our friends at Mediterranean Delicacies is the real hero of the dish, and is oh-so-nicely backed up by the punchy Chorizo and Avocado salsa. This is real feasting food, for feeding people you love.

Smoked Snoek Terrine with Rustic Parmesan Bread Rolls

There is always something profoundly satisfying about eating home made bread rolls. Which is fascinating really, because they’re so crazy-easy that it makes no sense that we should be so smug each time we tuck into a fresh-from-the-oven doughy delight. But, we do. And I for one don’t see the novelty wearing off anytime soon. And when said fresh-from-the-oven doughy delight is paired with this beautifully light but rich Mediterranean Delicacies Smoked Snoek Terrine, the result is kind of amazing. I am pretty sure you’ll have no trouble scoffing the spoils of your kitchen labours if you give this a whirl.

Linguini with Coriander Pesto and Chilli Calamari

If you know anything about me at this stage, it’s that I get super uber excited about delicious quick-fixes, and that I could live on linguini for the rest of my days and be as happy as a pig in, well, a pen (?!). Anyway, when the fab foodies over at Mediterranean Delicacies sent a little hamper my way this weekend, I couldn’t wait to get started on sharing my new ideas with you. This linguini with the fresh Thai-style zing of the coriander pesto, and the juicy, spicy calamari is, well, epic.

Pasta Shells with Roasted Beetroot, Goats Cheese & Fennel

Yes, I do rather love beetroot. Sorry if you are feeling somewhat un-enamoured by that fact (it’s a word on this blog it is), and sorry too if you think I should change my blog’s name to ‘afoodieliveshere, and she only eats beetroot’. You see, I keep buying these bulk bags of it, and well there’s just always MORE. But this, well this dish is just beautifully simple and the earthiness of the beetroot lends a whole new dimension to the end result.
Also, with it being meat-free Monday and all, that means that I can once again point a surreptitious finger in the general direction of my soap box, and my MFMonday ramblings…

Red-pepper Pesto Chicken Strips with Barley & Feta Salad

This isn’t necessarily a ‘knock your socks off’ kind of meal, it’s not necessarily going to be something that you suddenly want to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day, but it’s beautiful in its simplicity, unassuming and un-fussy, and packs a generous punch in the flavour department, so what’s not to love? Oh, and besides being almost über healthy, barley is one of the cheapest staples out there, so if you’re feeding a crowd, this is where it’s at.

Pan-seared Salmon with Beetroot Fritters & Horseradish Sauce

This has kept me awake for 3 nights in a row now. Ever since I went grocery shopping the other day, and stopped in at my favourite fruit and veg store (The Carrera Centre in Randburg), and added another bag of beetroot to the trolley, and vowed on the spot that I would not let this bag go mouldy in the vegetable drawer (like its very numerous forbears). Don’t get me wrong, beetroot is never neglected in my house because it’s unloved, but rather because it can be a bit of a faff before it ends up on our plates. All that pink-fingeredness usually makes me turn up my nose and reach for the butternut instead. Though, of course, there are many occasions when said faffing has been completely worth it, like this Baked Beetroot & Goats Cheese Risotto, or this Beef Fillet and Warm Beetroot Salad. And, now, I am rather pleased to add this little number to the list. I have no idea why the beetroot demanded to be turned into fritters, but it just did, and rather loudly at that. And since beetroot and horseradish are the best of friends, and salmon and horseradish are also a happy couple, I figured that all three would mean a veritable party on a plate. And it did.

FOUR Pizza Recipes Worth Writing Home About

Oh how we have laboured. And chopped and kneaded and floured and tasted, and tasted, and tasted. And how we loved every minute of it. And there was no plan for it to turn into a competition, but 5 minutes in we found ourselves chopping, kneading, flouring and tasting with much out-of-corner-of-eye peering and snarling and smirking. And what, pray tell, was IT? And who, the heck, are we? IT was Pizza taste-testing, for the better part of a lazy Sunday, and WE are Rob and I, who were once on perfectly amicable terms until this little epicurean adventure came between us.

Quick & Creamy Chicken with Mushrooms and Tarragon

I think that tarragon is definitely one of the unsung heroes of the food world – well, certainly in South Africa anyway. It’s definitely my pet herb of the moment (just like chorizo was my best friend a little while ago, see this Slow Cooked Chicken with Chorizo & Cider), and this is one of my favourite finds so far… Call it an updated twist on your good old classic chicken casserole if you like, but with the added elegance that this favourite French herb adds to everything it meets.

Fettuccine with Peas, Ricotta & Mint