JERUSALEM (F)ARTICHOKES

2kg jerusalem artichokes, scrubbed
olive oil
butter
salt and pepper
2 - 3 cloves garlic, chopped
large handful of parsley, chopped

Break or cut the artichokes into walnut-sized pieces and peel, putting into acidulated water to stop them going brown. (It is tedious to peel these knobbly things and really, next time I would just scrub them well instead).

Heat plenty of olive oil in 2 pans and put the artichokes into them in a single layer. Add a good knob of butter and when melted turn the artichokes over in it, roughly. Put on the lid and cook for 10 minutes. Remove the lid and continue frying until beginning to turn golden all over (about another 10 minutes). Eat one - it should be soft inside like a potato. Throw in garlic and parsley just before serving. Don't eat too many or you will know about it in the middle of the night!

EASY LEMON TART

I can't believe I forgot to take a photo. Oh well...it looks like...a lemon tart!

Grease a shallow 25cm pie dish. Turn oven to 200C.

4 eggs
1/2 cup plain flour
1 cup (or less) sugar
1 cup coconut
125g melted butter
1 cup yoghurt
3/4 cup milk
grated rind 2 lemons
1/4 cup lemon juice

Whisk eggs. Gradually whisk in the flour then the rest of the ingredients, until well combined.
Pour into pie dish. Bake about 40 minutes or until set and slightly coloured.
Serve warm or cold with cream or yoghurt.

Serves 6

DEB'S LIMONCELLO

This is best served cold from the freezer, neat or over ice.
Method:
1500ml alcohol (strongest you can get) I used vodka, Deb said Grappa is good too
15 large, thick-skinned lemons
750ml rain water
3/4 - 1 kg sugar

1. Put alcohol into a large jar
2. Clean lemons, dry and then, using a lemon peeler, peel the lemons - making sure you don't get any pith. Make the pieces as large as possible
3. Put the peels into the jar with the alcohol and stir gently. Make sure lemon is covered.
   
4. Cover tightly and put into a cool, dark place to infuse
5. On days 8, 22 and 36 gently shake or stir and return to cool, dark place
6. On day 45 dissolve sugar in water and boil 5 mins. Cool as it needs to be cold to add to lemons
7. Gently scoop out the peels with a slotted spoon
8. Filter liquid thru' a coffee filter. Repeat if not clear
9. Into a clean jar place the filtered alcohol and the sugar syrup to taste (don't taste too much!) and leave for 40 days.
10. Filter again thru' coffee filter
11. Bottle and seal well. Enjoy.
    

MUSSELS RECIPES

I love mussels and they are so cheap. ($6.90 / kg at Angelakis in the central market).
1 kg mussels in shells serves 2 - 3 people. To serve more I buy some mussel meat, rather than more in shells or you get too big a volume to cook in a pan.

THAI RED CURRY MUSSELS

2 Tbl peanut oil

1 stalk lemongrass, crushed

1 Tbl Thai red curry paste

1/2 cup white wine

1 can coconut milk

2 Tbl fish sauce

2 Tbl fresh lime juice

2 Tbl chopped corinader stems

1 kg mussels, de-bearded

2Tbl chopped coriander leaves

4 Tbl chopped Thai basil leaves/ Vietnamese mint leaves / laksa herb leaves

Into a large pan put the first 8 ingredients and bring to a boil. Stir to combine. Add mussels, cover, reduce heat to a simmer, and cook 5 minutes or until all the shells are open. Add the herbs to the liquid and cover for 1 minute more. Serve on rice or (I prefer) organic buckwheat noodles, so it is almost like a soup.

ITALIAN MUSSELS WITH PASTA

1/2 jar tasty pasta sauce (bought is fine!)
3/4 cup white wine
chilli powder or fresh to taste
1 kg mussels, de-bearded
spaghetti / fettuccine
olive oil
1/2 cup chopped parsley / other suitable herb

Cook pasta, drain, tossin the oil and parsley.
Meanwhile, place pasta sauce, white wine and chilli in a large pan and bring to the boil.
Add mussels, cover and simmer 5 minutes or until shells are all open.
Serve pasta, top with mussels and liquid. Don't forget to wear a red shirt while eating!

ENGLISH MUSSELS IN CREAM SAUCE

1 kg mussels
2Tbl butter
1 small onion, chopped
1 small stalk of celery, chopped
pepper
2/3 cup white wine
1/3 cup cream
1/3 cup yoghurt
chopped parsley

Melt butter in a large pan. Add onion, celery, pepper, wine and mussels. Cover and simmer 5 minutes until the shells are open. Remove mussels from the pan and reduce liqid to 1/2 cup.
Remove from heat and stir in cream, yoghurt and parsley. May reheat gently but do not boil.
Serve with rice or other.

SEAFOOD LAKSA

I made this version the other night and it was fabulous.

serves 4

500g mixed seafood
1Tbl (or less) Thai red curry paste (original recipe said laksa paste)
1 cup vegetable stock
1 cup water
200ml coconut milk / cream
2 kaffir lime leaves, finely chopped
150g organic Jap buckwheat noodles
2 bok choy, roughly chopped
2 large spring onions, thinly sliced
3 or 4 sprigs laksa herb
1 bunch coriander, roots chopped and leaves chopped


Cook the curry paste briefly in a hot pan then add seafood, stock, water, coriander roots, lime leaves and coconut. Bring to the boil. Simmer, uncovered a few minutes, until seafood is just cooked.
Meanwhile cook noodles according to packet instructions.
Stir into seafood : bokchoy, laksa herb, spring onion and coriander leaves and cook, uncovered until bok choy is just wilted.
Divide noodles between bowls and top with laksa mixture.

GRILLED CAPSICUMS IN OIL

6-8 large red capsicums

600-700ml white wine vinegar

2 bay leaves

about 300ml olive oil

Cut capsicums in half lengthwise and remove the seeds. Grill the capsicums until skins are charred. Peel.

Put the vinegar into a pan and bring to the boil. Place the capsicums into the hot vinegar, cover, return quickly to the boil and boil 1 minute.This may need to be done in a couple of batches. Remove with a slotted spoon and spread out to dry.

Pack the capsicums into clean, dry jars, inserting the bay leaves and covering with oil as you go, making sure there are no air bubbles. You get a lot of capsicums into 1 jar so I use smallish jars.

Put the lid on the jars and leave in a cool, dark, dry place for at least 2 - 3 weeks before eating. They should last at least 1 year but I am sure you will eat them sooner.

THAI STYLE PUMPKIN SOUP

I cooked this beautiful soup after reading the recipe on Mas du Diable. It is a much needed alternative to regular pumpkin soup for those of us who have lots of pumpkins to eat!

500g pumpkin, peeled and cubed
oil
1 - 1.5 Tbl Thai Red Curry Paste (I used 1 tsp so it wasn't so hot)
1 large onion, sliced
500ml chicken stock
300ml cocnut milk
I also added :
2 kaffir lime leaves, finely chopped
3 sprigs Laksa herb(Vietnamese mint), chopped

Heat some oil in a large pan, add curry paste and onion and fry for a few minutes until the onion is translucent and the paste is giving off its aroma. Add the rest of the ingredients and bring to the boil.
Lower heat, cover and simmer until pumpkin is soft.
Puree until smooth and add a little fish sauce, chili oil or lime juice