One of the key things I learned during my ten years as the manager of a food market and co-owner of a cooking school was to talk with the greengrocers, butchers, poulterers and fishmongers – and ask about the origins of the fresh produce that I was buying from them. The chefs I worked with were always keen to know and, as the chief cook for a family of four, so was I.
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Growing up in suburban Australia as part a Hungarian migrant family was certainly interesting when compared to the households my friends lived in. The cultural differences were significant, perhaps most remarkably when it came to the food we ate. While my bestie was eating takeaway foods such as Chinese fried rice (on Thursday nights), barbecued chicken and chips (on Friday nights) and home made hot-buttered toast on Saturday nights (because her mum was out and about), I was enjoying my mum's home made Töltött paprika (capsicums stuffed with pork mince and rice), Töltött káposzta (cabbage rolls stuffed with pork mince), and Fasírt (rissoles made from pork and veal mince). It's not that often that ordinary folks get the chance to sit across the dinner table with a politician, but thanks to veteran political journalist, Annabel Crabb, we can. The fourth series of her popular Kitchen Cabinet returns to our screens this month and, once again, there's an interesting, if not delightful, agenda with a delicious menu to match. Long time readers of Good Things will know that yours truly is a city-girl. I was born and bred in Canberra, Australia and have lived here all of my life and absolutely love it. And yet there deep down inside there's always been a wee yearning for a taste of the rural life. As good as that sounds, I do ask myself how I'd go with a tree change. Heck, I break out in hives from head to foot at the mere sight of a horse. I love cows but am also just a little daunted by their size. And my hay fever would get in the way of any crop farming outdoors in the dusty Australian landscape. That said, I do so greatly appreciate farmers and farming, a little like ABC Landline's wonderful journalist, Pip Courtney, who loves everything to do with rural life but once told me (via Twitter) that she's not a country lass either. 'The light music of whisky falling into glasses made an agreeable interlude.' Our planet and the creatures that we share it with are nothing short of awesome and there are many good things that we should all endeavour to see at least once in our lives. I have a bucket list that includes whales, gorillas and sharks. How about you? 'So, how is your retirement going?' my ex-husband asked when we were chatting on the telephone the other day. 'It's good, but surprisingly busy,' I responded. Indeed, the day that he'd called it seemed as though I'd been pottering from early morning to late afternoon — well and truly living up to the Bizzy Lizzy nickname. Thankfully, I'd made a big pot of my chilli con carne the day before, so all I had to do was whip up a tasty side dish to go with the leftovers. 'I am captivated by bees. I love bees. Bees are fascinating and working with a beehive is an amazing opportunity. You can see the girls coming and going [from the hive] with all this different coloured pollen on their legs, and [you] wonder where they've been. And what started the journey for me really is that bees are in big trouble. All around the world everybody knows about it and [people] are doing things about it. Obama just gave a whole lot of money to looking after bees in America, 20 million I think, to doing something about and [yet] in Australia people aren't really aware of it, or are only just beginning to be aware of it now...' This jar of blood orange honey that I purchased from Two Skinny Cooks larder door in Berrima is sitting on my kitchen bench and, as you can see, it's begging to be opened and enjoyed. Crumpets or toast? What say you, my friends? 'Mmm, that was good,' Peter said licking his lips, as he walked back into the kitchen with the empty cake plate in his hand. 'It is really good, isn't it,' I replied. 'Would you like another piece?' I added. 'Yes please,' came the quick response. 'I should have baked two, shouldn't I?' He nodded and answered with a smile, 'Yes, absolutely.' |
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Cooking and writing have been a lifelong passion. Join me as I share with you my favourite recipes; postcards and morsels from my travels; conversations with cookery writers and chefs; and news on food, cookbooks and cooking. - Liz Posmyk
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NB: I use Australian standard measuring cups and spoons in my recipes.
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