Once upon a long time ago, in my father's back garden there was a duck, or kacsa (pronounced cot-yah in Hungarian). I was a small child at the time and all I can remember is that it turned up one afternoon and quacked incessantly. It stayed long enough to chase me around the yard on numerous occasions, and it pooped all over the paving, much to the annoyance of my parents. And then, just as suddenly as it had appeared, the duck was gone.
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It's not too often that this gal gets the opportunity to put on a cocktail frock and high heels before hightailing it to the big smoke for a photo opportunity on the red carpet at the entrance to an awards ceremony. In one of his Calvin and Hobbes comic strips, Bill Watterson quipped, 'The trouble with retirement is that there's never ever time to do all the nothing you want'. Once upon a moment, I would have scoffed at the mere thought, but now I can confirm that this is, in fact, correct. Life in retirement is crazy busy. Canberrans will have a rare opportunity to spend time in the company of the folk from Feather and Bone, in a MasterClass and five-course Feast of the Beast banquet to be held at Pialligo Estate this weekend. It's snowing in some parts of Australia right now and I can also report that there's a thick layer of ice covering everything outdoors in Canberra this morning, too. It's winter in my home town and, as I mentioned recently, despite the bone-chilling cold, there is much to celebrate. One of the highlights of the 2016 Truffle Festival Canberra Region is a Food & Words event, featuring a stellar lineup of speakers - including chef Rodney Dunn from The Agrarian Kitchen; food writer Barbara Sweeney; and academic and baker Dr Roger Haden - accompanied by a truffle-inspired lunch prepared by Canberra's own Sean McConnell, executive chef of Monster Kitchen & Bar at Hotel Hotel. Adam Liaw, television celebrity and winner of 2010 MasterChef Australia, was in Canberra last week for a special ceremony at the Japanese Ambassador's Residence in Yarralumla. Liaw has been rewarded by Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries for his significant contribution to the promotion of Japanese food culture in Australia. He joins 12 other appointees worldwide who are being honoured for their contributions, including the esteemed Sydney-based Japanese chef, Hideo Dekura.
A rug shopping trip to IKEA earlier this week led me to discover this Swedish-style multigrain bread baking mix produced and sold by the iconic Scandinavian chain.
It's a rainy autumn Sunday and there's sufficient chill in the air to remind me that winter is coming. I've switched on the heating for the first time, and in my kitchen there's a pot of smoked hock and lentil soup simmering gently on the stove. Hello there friends, how are you spending your holidays? Are you tackling all those unfinished chores at home - or lounging by a poolside somewhere in the world? Perhaps you are back at work already - refreshed and ready to face the challenges that 2016 will bring? |
Welcome...Üdvözölöm
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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