FINYS FABULOUS FOODS AND FINDS

This is an interesting mixture of ingredients, and is both sweet and salty. I love food cooked using Hoisin sauce - this is the sauce that is used in Peking Duck which is one of my all time favourite foods.  It has an unusual taste, and goes very well with so many other ingredients, whether they are vegetarian or meat dishes. This meal has a rich and unusual flavour, and could be also served with steamed vegetables.  Cashew nuts could replace the walnuts if need be, however I had walnuts in my fridge so that is what I used in this instance. I served it over potatoes so that I could soak the sauce into the potatoes, and then I dipped fresh home made bread into the left over sauce!  This was delicious and well worth eating a bit less so you can fit this in. And remember, as I always say, my lovelies, do NOT over cook chicken breasts - they become dry and tough when overcooked.  If you JUST cook them so the pink is only just gone, they will be melt in your ...

Gnocchi is often eaten in Italy as a first course, however I always serve it as a main meal. Gnocchi is another versatile food as there are so many toppings you can make to go with it.  I generally make my own gnocchi however on this particular day I had been out all day, and was in a hurry so used a packet variety. Of course these are not as nice as home made ones, however I will do home made gnocchi in another recipe. There are several variations of gnocchi, and the softest is made with potatoes. Other types tend to be firmer whereas the potato ones have a softer texture.  They are therefore far more pleasant to eat , and if you can get the brand in the picture, I find this brand is very nice. Spinach is one of the easiest vegetables to grow yourself, and I use the variety pictured.  This one has a slightly more "peppery" taste and works well in most dishes.  It is a climbing spinach and keeps coming up year after year, and can be eaten raw in salads or coo...

Baklava is considered a national dessert in countries like Lebanon, Turkey and Greece. I love this sweet, odd shaped dessert or accompaniment with afternoon tea.  It is quite sweet, but the taste of the filo pastry mixed with butter and nuts is just divine. They are not real big, and if you didn't want to eat as much, you could always cut them into smaller shapes than I have, as mine are cut to the traditional size. I made it slightly different to the traditional Baklava you buy, however it has no added chemicals as the store ones do, and they taste absolutely delicious. Here in Australia these tiny morsels can cost up to $5.00 a piece, so I decided to make my own.  I had a few failures before they actually turned out right, but I think these are even nicer than the store bought ones as there is more  walnuts and almonds in them. An added benefit is that it's cost is so much lower than $5 a piece! Preparation Time: 40 minutes Cooking Time: 55 minutes Mak...

This apple slice is delicious, very moist and has the added flavours of walnuts, making it both moreish, and hard to stop eating all at once! As I do not like having dishes that do not go in the dishwasher, the good thing about this recipe is that you only use two dishes to make it. It is also easy to make, so any beginner can attempt it, and does not need an electric beater so you have less mess. In most of my recipes I use coconut sugar instead of refined, processed sugar as it is healthier. This apple slice can be eaten as is, or you can add thickened or whipped cream if you desire, or you could even add vanilla ice cream to the top if this delicious slice. Preparation Time:  10 minutes Cooking Time:  40 minutes Makes:  About 20-25 servings Ingredients   4-5 apples - I used mixed types 2 ½ cups Self Raising flour 1 cup chopped walnuts 1 ½ cups sugar, or coconut sugar ¾ cup oil 2 eggs Vanilla 1 tsp bi carbonate soda Cinnamon Method P...