Author Archives: melhm

Kitchen News 1st March

Posted on March 9, 2017 by melhm
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A little individual gluten-free tart we made with a corn tortilla

Lots going on this fortnight – and lots of people helping which has been absolutely great!

Last week I sent an email out to each class in the SAKGP with all their lessons listed until the end of Term 2 – so that those who have busy schedules may be able to lock something in down the track. Please ask your class rep if you’d like to see it. There are only 6 or so kitchen lessons for each class until July so not that many!

Mish and the garden kids have been frantically getting new seedlings and seeds into the ground but for the moment we’re making the best of our late summer garden beds: the little baby wild tomatoes have been sliced into a flaky French tomato tart, the baby zucchinis we’ve been stuffing into the spiralisers for Zucchini, mint and feta salad with crunchy pangrattato, and we’ve tried to tame the feral celery into one of our faves, Celery and nutmeg soup.

A new recipe for us has been a veritable hit in the Cottage: crispy Red lentil fritters with green yoghurt, green from all the coriander, parsley and green chilli, and it’s a surefire winner for an easy midweek dinner! And to round out the menu, we’ve been chopping up rolling out crunchy and delicious Rosemary and thyme grissini breadsticks.

5P and 6Y had their first kitchen lesson this week due to Camp and other factors, so to welcome them back I surprised them with a special Pancake Day menu: Spinach and feta crepes with ratatouille (see, you can have savoury pancakes!), Oat pancakes with roasted nectarines and plums, and Pikelets with vanilla mascarpone and lemongrass syrup. Leftovers? Kidding right?!

So thanks for coming along in Kitchen, we all really appreciate it!

See you soon, Melissa

PS. If you have any unwanted forks at home please send them in to the Cottage! I’m having trouble finding any at Vinnies! x

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Red lentil fritters with green yoghurt

Posted on March 9, 2017 by melhm

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These little morsels may be on the diminutive side, but they punch well above their weight in the flavour stakes. If you wanted to make them gluten-free, you could substitute the flour with teff flour or GF self-raising flour – you may need to add a little more to make the required consistency.

Fresh from the garden: lemon, onion, coriander, parsley, garlic, chilli
Recipe source: adapted from a recipe on gourmetraveller.com.au
Serves: 6 or 24 tastes

Equipment:

  • Frying pan
  • Measures: jug, cup, tablespoon, teaspoon, ½ teaspoon
  • Mortar and pestle
  • Chopping boards and knives
  • Large saucepan and lid
  • Mixing bowls – large, medium, small
  • Microplane zester
  • Citrus juicer
  • Salad spinner
  • Tongs
  • Scales
  • Mini chopper processor
  • Whisk
  • Serving plates and little bowls
 Ingredients:

·       ½ onion

·       2 garlic cloves

·       2 teaspoons coriander seeds

·       2 teaspoons cumin seeds

·       2 tablespoons olive oil

·       200g (1 cup) red lentils

·       2 eggs

·       100g self-raising flour

·       2 lemons

·       Rice Bran oil, for shallow-frying

Green yoghurt

·       Small bunch coriander

·       Small bunch flat-leaf parsley

·       1 garlic clove

·       ¼ long green chilli

·       ½ teaspoon ground cumin

·       ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom

·       1 tablespoon olive oil

·       100g Greek yoghurt

What to do:

For the lentil fritters:

  1. Measure the spices into the frying pan and heat, gently toasting for a few minutes. Remove from the heat and leave to cool, then coarsely grind with the mortar and pestle.
  2. Peel and finely chop the onion and 2 cloves of garlic.
  3. Heat the 2 tablespoons of olive oil in the saucepan over medium-high heat, add onion and garlic and sauté until tender for about 5 minutes.
  4. Stir in spices and fry until fragrant for 30 seconds, then add lentils and 650ml water, bring to a simmer, cover and cook until lentils are tender and liquid is absorbed for about 10 minutes. Transfer to a bowl to cool.

 For the green yoghurt:

  1. Wash the lemon and zest only the thin layer of yellow rind, reserving for the lentil mixture, then juice both halves.
  2. Wash the herbs and spin dry. Add just the leaves from the parsley and all the coriander to the small mini-chopper.
  3. Peel the remaining clove of garlic and add to the mini chopper.
  4. Slice the chilli in half (using gloves if you wish). Remove the seeds, discarding into compost, and slice chilli into small bits, adding to the mini chopper.
  5. Finally add the spices to the mini chopper, olive oil and lemon juice and process to a fine purée. Transfer to a bowl, season to taste, swirl in yoghurt and divide into serving bowls.

To finish the lentils:

  1. Separate the eggs, carefully, so that the yolks remain intact and the whites are clean.
  2. Stir egg yolks into lentils, then stir in flour and lemon rind and season generously to taste. Whisk egg whites and a pinch of salt in a separate clean and dry bowl to firm peaks and fold into lentil mixture.
  3. Preheat oven to 180C and heat 3cm oil in the frying pan over medium-high heat. When hot, add heaped tablespoonfuls of lentil mixture in batches and cook, turning occasionally, until golden brown for about 2-3 minutes.
  4. Drain on paper towels, then slice in half if needed. Cut remaining lemon into quarters to serve.
  5. Divide onto serving plates, pop bowls of yoghurt and lemon wedges on and take to the table.

Notes: Why do we need to use gloves when preparing chillies? How can you tell when the oil is hot enough to fry?

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Zucchini, mint and feta salad with crunchy pangrattato

Posted on March 9, 2017 by melhm

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If you have a spiraliser then this dish is easy and looks fantastic! If not, then julienne your zucchini by slicing or peeling them into as thin strips as possible.

Fresh from the garden: zucchini, mint, lemon, sage, mint
Recipe source: Melissa
Serves: 6 or 24 tastes

Equipment:

·     Food processor

·     Measures – cup, ½ cup, tablespoon, teaspoon

·     Microplane zester

·     Paper towel

·     Large frying pan

·     Spiraliser

·     Scissors

·     Citrus juicer

·     Serving bowls and smaller bowls for pangrattato

 

 

 

 

 Ingredients:

For the pangrattato:

·     1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds

·     1/2 teaspoon chilli flakes

·     2 tablespoons olive oil

·     Half a small loaf of sourdough bread

·     1/2 cup pepitas (pumpkin seeds)

·     1 lemon

·     3 sage leaves

For the salad:

·     3 zucchini

·     A small branch of mint leaves

·     3 tablespoons olive oil

·     100g Danish feta

·     Flaked salt

What to do:

For pangrattato:

  1. Break or tear the sourdough into small chunks and then blend up in the food processor until they resemble breadcrumbs. You’ll need about a heaped cup.
  2. Wash and wipe the lemon dry, then zest the lemon, taking only the thin layer of skin off and leaving the white pith on. Wash the sage leaves and gently press dry with a piece of paper towel. With scissors, snip into thin strips.
  3. Heat the 2 tablespoons of olive oil in the frying pan. Add the rest of the pangrattato ingredients and toss until golden and crunchy (this takes about 5 minutes). Taste and add more seasoning if needed. Set aside to cool and crisp up.

For zucchini salad:

  1. Wash the zucchini and wipe dry, then spiralise or julienne them into thin strips. Wash the mint, press dry with a piece of paper towel and using the scissors, snip them into thin strips. You should have about 2 tablespoons worth.
  2. Cut the zested lemon in half and juice one half.

To finish:

  1. Place zucchini in a dish, top with mint leaves, oil and the lemon juice and season with a grind of pepper. Check the seasoning and add a sprinkle of salt if needed. Weigh the feta and crumble what you need into the zucchini. Toss to combine and divide out into your serving bowls.
  2. To serve, top salad with a little of the pangrattato and serve the rest in little bowls on the side for each person to help themselves to, just before eating.

Notes: What does a heaped cup mean? How does a spiraliser work? What is pangrattato?

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French tomato tart

Posted on March 9, 2017 by melhm

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The simple tarte à la tomate is a favourite French dish that makes use of all of those excess ripe summer tomatoes in the kitchen. This classic recipe is without cream or eggs in the filling but just a little kick of mustard smeared over the free-form pastry base.

Fresh from the garden: tomatoes, thyme, oregano
Recipe source: adapted from a recipe on sbs.com.au
Serves: 4 or 24 tastes

Equipment:

  • Food processor
  • Measures: tablespoon, teaspoon
  • Plastic wrap
  • Mixing bowls – large, medium
  • Colander
  • Chopping boards and knives
  • Salad spinner
  • Large baking tray
  • Rolling pin
  • Serving plates
 Ingredients:

·       300g (2 cups) plain flour

·       150g cold butter, chopped

·       1 egg

·       1 tablespoon cold milk

·       2 tablespoons whoegrain mustard

·       A couple of heirloom tomatoes

·       250g vine-ripened cherry tomatoes

·       4 sprigs thyme, plus extra to garnish

·       4 sprigs oregano, plus extra to garnish

·       Olive oil, to drizzle

What to do:

For the pastry:

  1. Process flour, butter and 1 teaspoon salt in a food processor until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Add whisked egg and milk, and process until a dough forms. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate while you wash the tomatoes.

For the filling:

  1. Wash all the tomatoes and drain in the colander. Slice the large tomatoes into slices.
  2. Wash the herbs and spin dry. Strip off the leaves and reserve.

To finish the dish:

  1. Preheat oven to 200°C. Roll out dough between 2 sheets of baking paper to form a 3 mm-thick round. Transfer to a large oven tray and remove top sheet of baking paper.
  2. Spread dough with mustard, leaving a 3cm border around edge.
  3. Arrange sliced tomatoes over mustard so they are overlapping, then top with cherry tomatoes. Pinch and fold over edge of tart, then scatter with thyme and oregano leaves.
  4. Drizzle with oil and season with salt and pepper.
  5. Bake for 30 minutes or until pastry is golden and crisp. Garnish with extra oregano and thyme sprigs.
  6. Serve cut into slices.

Notes: What is tomato in French? What does freeform tart mean?

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New Menu #6 (26th February)

Posted on February 28, 2017 by melhm

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Hello hello!

My new menu is up, ready and waiting for you!

I’ve got these dishes coming up this week: Chicken Kiev – Ottolenghi’s Red rice, Quinoa and Pistachio Salad – Magic Dough – and delicious jars of new season Black Plum Jam as well the old faves… this link will take you to my latest newsletter, and order button.

The Bondi Cook Newsletter Menu #6

As always – please order by midday Wednesday (tomorrow) and pick up Friday 3pm – 4pm at The Cottage, Bondi Public School on Wellington St.

Hope to see you soon!

Mx

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Kitchen News 14th February 2017

Posted on February 28, 2017 by melhm

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This article originally appeared in the school newsletter on 16th February.

Week 4 already! The Chinese Banquet Menu has reared its Roostery head again in Kitchen, with Chicken, spinach and coriander pot-sticker dumplings with honey soy on the menu, the children diligently filling gow gee wrappers with the blended green mush, and sealing the dumplings up tightly… the Vegetable spring rolls have the students preparing all the veggies and then stir-frying with rice vermicelli noodles in a big wok, then rolling up in the pastry and sticking firm with waterdrops, and serving with their homemade sweet green chilli sauce. I learnt today that my recipe is incorrect in chopping up the noodles as the long ones are supposed to signify a long life, and by chopping them up we have been shortening everybody’s lifespan! Sorry about that everybody!

Another success is the Shanghai-style eggplant. I cannot tell you enough how amazingly delicious this dish is! If you have a steadfast eggplant-hater in your life (as I do, two of them) then I implore you to try the recipe at home – it’s available on Edmodo via the SAKGP Bondi group page (see code below to join if you haven’t already). It’s a winner, and renders the eggplant almost unrecognisable. It’s like vegetable chocolate! (ish).

Kylie Kwong’s Chilled cucumber salad is brilliant, especially on a hot day like these, and we have now introduced Special fried rice to the list, with long grain rice cooked the day before and wok-fried with beaten egg and spring onions. Delish!

And served with a really delicate and powder-pink Chinese cup of Jasmine tea. Yum cha indeed.

By the time you read this we should have our timetables sorted and our class reps elected. Please look out for your next Class News with details of Kitchen Garden lessons, and if you can spare the time, please come along and help as we really do need you! Parents from Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 gratefully received too.

The SignUp link for all classes: http://signup.com/go/n5ciGB – please remember to bring your Working With Children signed form to show the office if you haven’t already!

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Special Fried Rice

Posted on February 28, 2017 by melhm

The key to successful fried rice is to cook the rice the night before, cool, cover and store in the fridge – that way the grains have time to cool and separate. At home feel free to add in some cooked chicken or prawns.

Fresh from the garden: eggs, spring onions, garlic, ginger
Recipe source: Melissa
Serves: 6 or 24 tastes

Equipment:

·       Chopping boards and knives

  • Peeler
  • Mixing bowls – large, small
  • Salad spinner
  • Large wok
  • Fork & knife
  • Measures – cup, tablespoon, teaspoon
  • Large saucepan & lid
  • Sieve
  • Serving bowls
 Ingredients:

·       3 cups long grain rice

·       1 litre boiling water

·       1 teaspoon of cooking salt

·       2 garlic cloves

·       2 tablespoons sesame oil

·       1 thumb ginger

·       2 eggs

·       3 spring onions

·       4-6 tablespoons soy sauce

·       Small handful coriander

 What to do:

To cook the rice:

  1. Fill the kettle to the 1 litre mark and set to boil.
  2. Measure the rice grains into the saucepan. Wash the rice with cold running water and swish with your hands. Drain carefully into a sieve and repeat 3 more times until the water is no longer milky. This helps remove excess starch and cleans the grains.
  3. Empty the washed rice back into the pot and carefully pour in the litre of boiling water. Turn the heat to high – when the water starts to bubble, add a teaspoon of salt, stir and then cover the pot and reduce heat to the lowest flame. Cook for 14 minutes without disturbing or taking the lid off.
  4. After the 14 minutes is up, turn off the heat without disturbing the saucepan. Leaving the lid on, just let it sit for another 5 minutes to finish the steaming process.
  5. When the time is up, using a knife, fluff the rice up in the saucepan, and then transfer into a bowl or tub, leave to cool for 10 minutes and then cover and put in the fridge for at least an hour to chill, preferably overnight.

To prepare the fried rice:

  1. Peel the garlic and finely chop. Using a peeler, peel the ginger and grate using the microplane grater.
  2. Wash, trim and peel the spring onion and finely chop, reserving the white parts and green parts separately.
  3. Wash the coriander and spin-dry, then finely chop stalks and leaves.

To cook the fried rice:

  1. Heat vegetable oil in a large wok on high heat.
  2. Add ginger, garlic and white part of spring onions and fry for a minute, stirring.
  3. Crack the eggs into a small bowl, add sesame oil and whisk lightly with a fork.
  4. Add the pre-cooked rice and stir-fry until rice is hot.
  5. Add soy sauce and green spring onions and heat through for another minute.
  6. Spoon out into serving bowls, then garnish with fresh coriander and serve.

Notes: Where does rice come from? How is it grown? What other dishes can you make with rice?

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Chicken, spinach and coriander dumplings with honey soy

Posted on February 28, 2017 by melhm

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Dumplings are so easy to make once you’ve mastered the art of folding the dumpling skin! They can be frozen after Step 8, just make sure you freeze them separately on trays and once frozen, pop them into an airtight bag. They can be cooked straight from frozen.

Fresh from the garden: baby spinach, coriander, spring onions, ginger, garlic
Recipe source: Melissa from The Bondi Cook
Makes: 40 dumplings

Equipment:

  • Mixing bowls – big, med, small
  • Salad spinner
  • Chopping boards and knives
  • Microplane zester
  • Food processor
  • Scales
  • Measures: jug, cup, tablespoon, teaspoon
  • Spatula
  • Large baking tray
  • Small saucepan
  • Potato peeler
  • Small sauce bowls
  • Large non-stick frying pan with lid
  • Serving plates

 

 

 

 

 

 Ingredients:

  • 1 bunch coriander
  • A large handful baby spinach
  • 2 small spring onions
  • 1 small piece of ginger
  • 250g minced chicken
  • 1 tablespoon Shaoxing rice wine
  • 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon light soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • A few grinds of black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons sesame oil

To wrap

  • 2 tablespoons cold water
  • 1 packet 40 gow gee wrappers
  • Cornflour

For the dipping sauce

  • 1 clove of garlic, small piece ginger
  • Small handful coriander
  • 1 cup soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon honey

To cook

  • 2 tablespoons Rice Bran oil
  • 75ml water

What to do:
For the filling

  1. Wash the coriander in a big bowl of cold water and spin dry. Finely chop the stalks and leaves.
  2. Wash and spin dry the spinach and finely chop.
  3. Wash the spring onions and finely slice.
  4. Peel the skin from the ginger and finely chop or grate with the microplane zester.
  5. Combine them all into the bowl of the food processor, weigh the mince and add in and then measure in the rest of the ingredients. Blitz for a few seconds to combine thoroughly. Scoop out into a large bowl, using a spatula to scrape down the sides.

Preparing the dumplings

  1. Fill a small bowl with clean water and make sure your hands are clean. Wipe down and dry your work surface. Lightly flour a large baking tray with cornflour. Open the packet of wonton wrappers and peel off one per person and lay it on the surface in front of you.
  2. Place a large teaspoon of filling in the centre of each wrapper and moisten the edges with a finger dipped in water. Fold the dough in half and pinch together with your fingers.
  3. Pleat around the edge, pinching with your fingers to seal well. The dumpling should look like a small Cornish pasty with a flat base and rounded top.
  4. Transfer each finished dumpling to the tray and keep it covered until you have stuffed all the dumplings in this way.

To make the sauce

  1. Peel the garlic and squeeze through the garlic press into the small saucepan.
  2. Peel the ginger using a potato peeler and zest into the saucepan using the microplane grater.
  3. Wash the coriander well and spin dry. Finely chop stalks and leaves and reserve.
  4. Heat the saucepan with garlic and ginger and a tablespoon of oil, on low heat and gently cook the garlic and ginger until soft. Do not let them go brown! Add in the honey and let cook until bubbling, and then add in the soy sauce and cook for another minute.
  5. Add in the chopped coriander and pour into small serving bowls to dip.

To cook

  1. Heat a large non-stick frying pan until it is very hot. Add the oil and place the dumplings flat-side down into the pan.
  2. Reduce the heat and cook for about two minutes until they are lightly browned. Add the water, cover the pan with the lid and simmer gently for about 10 minutes or until most of the liquid is absorbed. Check the water half-way through and add more if necessary. Uncover the pan and continue to cook for a further two minutes.

To serve

  1. Divide the dumplings onto serving plates and serve with dipping sauce in a bowl on the side.

Notes: Why is it important not to lick your fingers while preparing this recipe? What others fillings could we put in a dumpling?

 

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The Bondi Cook… at Home

Posted on November 12, 2016 by melhm

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For almost 6 years I have been working and playing within the Bondi Public School environment. I wish I had a dollar for every time a parent has said in a Kitchen Garden class, ‘I wish I could wrap you up and take you home!’

Well, now I, Melissa, A.K.A. The Bondi Cook is getting ready to offer you just that!
In 2017 I am launching The Bondi Cook… at Home. Delicious and nutritious home-made meals (by me!) for you and your family.  Don’t worry, I’m not walking away from Kitchen Garden classes, I am just hoping to turn my afternoons and Fridays into a local business, doing what I love most.

The Bondi Cook… at Home will focus on yummy stuff for your fridge and pantry, ready to heat and eat, or freeze for another night.
Fresh, seasonal, homemade and free from any baddies!
I’m running a trial for the rest of this term and then will start properly in 2017.  I am hoping to have a fancy website and a great ordering system but all that will come in time.
Meanwhile, I’ll be sending an email out every Sunday for the next few weeks, with a small menu of four or five items for you to reply back to with your order if interested. I’ll cook on Fridays and discuss pickup instructions with you. Easy!

Dishes might include:
*Herbed labneh with lemon and garlic
*Korean-style kimchi
*Rosemary spiced nuts
*Luxurious chicken liver pate
*Pork and spinach pot-sticker dumplings
*Curry of chickpea, potato and cabbage
*Spanish lentil and chorizo stew
*Salmon and coriander fishcakes
*Fresh pizza dough balls ready to roll, top and bake
*Super-sugo sauce for pasta & pizza
*Yemeni chicken curry
*Greek slow-roasted leg of lamb with tzatziki
*Crunchy granola suite… and other tasty treats!

If you like what I’m doing, sign up to the newsletters! Or follow my page here: facebook.com/thebondicook/

And you can see one of my newsletters here…

Much love x

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Kitchen news 3rd August 2016

Posted on August 15, 2016 by melhm

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(This article first appeared on the School Newsletter on 5th August).

With NAIDOC Week we have been exploring bush tucker in our recipes: what it is, where it comes from and what we would have eaten in Bondi before the shops and houses and fast food places arrived. We talked about the planning needed to hunt, catch, prepare and eat a large animal like a kangaroo or crocodile, and the fact that none of the animal would have been wasted.

We discussed the similarities between bush tucker and the Kitchen Garden philosophies of eating local and seasonal foods, and most importantly about the knowledge passed on to recognise which plants, animals and fish were safe to eat.

I asked the children to smell the roasted and ground wattleseed I brought in and to tell me what they thought: Chocolate, coffee, Digestive biscuits, bread, peanuts and malt were some of the great suggestions. And so then the Carrots made some Wattleseed damper.

And I cut the finger limes we had in half and squeezed out the little lime ‘caviar’ balls for them to try. “WARHEADS!’ was the cry in most of the classes, sour as they were. The Artichokes made a Tom yum soup with finger limes with bok choi from the garden and mushrooms, and then squeezed in the little baubles as a citrusy garnish.

Paul brought us in some branches of lemon myrtle from his garden and we used them in three of the recipes: the Tomatoes made Risotto of broccoli and lemon myrtle, with the leaves infusing in the hot stock, and the Olives made Lemon myrtle shortbread – blending up caster sugar with dried lemon myrtle leaves for a lovely lemony oil flavour – and we also made some Lemon myrtle tea by simply steeping the leaves in hot water. Delicious and very easy! Not like catching a kangaroo…

A pity that we’ve needed to postpone The Rocket movie fundraiser. We’ll wait until warmer weather and try again then.

Melissa
To volunteer for classes or weekend chicken duty: http://signup.com/go/n5ciGB

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