This Thai festival is celebrated every year. Loy means to float and krathong is a small raft. This festival was adapted by Buddhists in Thailand as a ceremony to honor the Lord Buddha. Apart from venerating the Buddha with light (the candle on the raft), the act of floating away the candle raft is symbolic…

This is a great recipe for picnics, pot luck dinners or for when you’re expecting a crowd for dinner. The chicken can be served hot, room temperature or cold. This dish is adapted from an Australian cookbook called, ‘Coast‘ and this recipe is from chef Kate Lamont of Lamont’s East Perth restaurant. I haven’t eaten…

Gnocchi (pronounced nyohk-kee) is a small dumpling and is most often made with potatoes, although it can also be made from flour, squash, cheese or even polenta. Gnocchi is served much in the same manner as pasta, with sauce or some butter and sage or Parmesan cheese. Gnocchi recipes date back to the twelfth century…

Salads come in many forms and this recipe is no exception. This recipe is adapted from Donna Hay‘s cookbook, ‘The New Cook‘. It’s full of timeless ideas and although it was first published in 1997, I love revisiting it. Pomegranate fruits contain polyphenols, tannins and anthocyanins – all are beneficial antioxidants. Evidence suggests that drinking…

Legend has it that the Banoffee Pie was invented in 1972 in Jevington, England by Ian Dowding and Nigel Mackenzie of The Hungry Monk restaurant. The name is a combination of the word banana and toffee. Mixing the banana and toffee can be extremely addictive and it’s difficult to eat just one slice! Serves 6400g…

A relatively easy salad to make which is packed full of flavor and vitamins. This recipe is adapted from Marie Claire book, ‘Zest‘. Polenta was formerly known as peasant food and is fairly bland but when mixed with cheeses or tomato sauces, polenta comes to life. Cooked polenta can also be shaped into balls, patties…

Noodles, such as these, are a favorite of mine. In today’s grocery stores, thanks to international travel, there’s a lot more than spices on the shelves. This meatless version of fried noodles can be easily made at home even if you don’t live in tropical Asia. Most grocery stores now carry a wide assortment of…

This Asian inspired dish is a host to many flavors to tantalize ones taste buds and is adapted from ABC Delicious magazine. Wholesome ingredients is what this recipe is all about. The pesto is also great as a dip or a sauce for vegetables. Makes 280ml (1/3 cup) lime juice2 tablespoons canola oil1/2 teaspoon wasabi…

The crunch factor along with the flavors of the dressing make this a mouth watering appetizer. This recipe is adapted from BBC Olive magazine. Crispy noodles on top is the crowning glory and a show piece for your friends and family to talk about. Who could resist this very fresh and light dish? Serves 4…

Budget food never tasted so good! A quick and easy week night meal or for casual weekend entertaining. The sweet potato has been classed as an “anti-diabetic” food because it helps stabilize blood sugar levels and lowers insulin resistance. This root vegetable is an excellent source of vitamin A and a very good source of…

How to make a blueberry muffin even better? This recipe does so by adding a lemon curd filling topped by meringue. This recipe is adapted from Australian Good Taste magazine. Makes 66 blueberry muffins (homemade or store bought)90g (1/4 cup) lemon curd2 egg whites, at room temperature100g (1/2 cup) caster sugar Preheat oven to 200c.…

Healthy eating and food on the table within 20 minutes is always a great combination! Don’t worry about the chillies being too hot so long as you remove the seeds and the white membrane you’ll be fine. This recipe is adapted from Australian Good Taste magazine. Serves 42 tablespoons Chinese rice wine2 teaspoons oyster sauce500g…