You may never have heard of furikake- but there’s a good chance that one taste will convert you! Furikake, aka perilla spice blend, is a Japanese dry spice blend that is best known as a topping for rice. It comes in a variety of flavours, and often includes ingredients like dried fish, nori (seaweed), salt,
Creamy purple yam pudding, also called ube jam, ube pudding, and ube halaya, is one of the coolest desserts you’ll ever make! At once striking, delicious and versatile, this is definitely one to make when you want the wow factor. A traditional Filipino dessert, ube halaya is a sweet, creamy pudding dessert that is made
This is a ‘carrotcake’ oatmeal that you can vary to your hearts content, which makes it easy to eat every day without getting bored. Just switch up the nuts, the dried fruit, the spices or the sweetener, & it’ll taste completely different! Make it the way you like it and use the ingredients that take
Some dishes just brings warmth to your soul… this red currant rice pudding is one of those dishes. It brings back good memories of being at my grandparents house as a child. When the weather was cold, the kitchen was warm, in more ways than one. So much love in one bowl of food is
A seasonal salad with a sensational taste! This is a great Thai-style basic green mango salad that you can eat as a side, a starter or a main. It’s versatile, so you can add any meat, seafood or tofu that you like, and turn it into a main meal. In fact, green mango salad is
It’s always a conundrum when unripe fruit falls from a tree. Should you bin it? Compost it? Or try to ripen it? Fruit that has been damaged or nibbled at by large pests like bats or possums is best disposed of, but unspoiled pieces can definitely be eaten- when they’re mangoes, at least! Green mangoes
Spicy chicken wings are one of the ultimate party foods; great for sharing, fantastic finger food, and easy to make. Whether it’s a birthday, Christmas, or a big bbq, Old bay crispy chicken with ranch dressing might just be the new & unique taste you’re looking for. If you’re Australian, you may not be familiar
These beetroot pancakes can be made sweet or savoury- they’re both fantastic. And look at that colour…nothing ‘beets’ that colour! These beetroot pancakes are something I make on a regular basis, especially when the beetroot needs harvesting and using up. When I make these, I always split the batter in half and make one half
These stuffed artichokes are more than just a meal—they connect me to my heritage and are a reminder of big family dinners at my grandmothers house. A traditional Sicilian dish, this is one that Nana would cook only occasionally, which made it all the more special. Sicilian food is like the tortoise of the culinary
Elegant yet simple, roast almond & potato spiced rice is sure to become your next family favourite. Fragrant & delicious, the double carbs make it hearty and substantial, and it is suitable to serve as a side dish or a main meal. Super-easy to make & supremely adaptable, it can be made vegan, vegetarian, or
Nut creams are a fresh, nutrient-rich alternative to traditional dairy cream, so can be eaten by vegetarians, vegans and carnivores alike. As the name indicates, nut creams are a cream made from nuts- and they really are creamy! If you’ve never made a nut cream before, I guarantee you’ll be delighted by the smooth, dairy-like
Dreamy, creamy & easy to make- this vegan vegetable soup ticks all the essential boxes! Despite the small ingredient list, this soup has a delightful taste and creamy mouthfeel. Big enough to feed a family or make dinner for several nights, this zucchini, potato & pine nut soup makes for a perfect quick weeknight meal.
This recipe for vegan strawberry mylk and the bonus recipe for strawberry lemon mylkshake are cooling, creamy, fresh, sweet and sour. The perfect summer drinks if you ask me. As a child we used to get strawberry milk (or pink milk, as we called it) as a treat. We loved it! The colour, the taste,
Making relish is a great way to preserve your beetroot and perfect for when you have a whole crop that needs to be harvested at once. It’s spreadable, versatile, and will last several weeks in the fridge. Beetroot relish adds interest to a cheese platter or poached eggs, can be used to top mini quiches,
This recipe for coconut & lemon macaroons is so simple, anyone can do it. And let me tell you… they are gooooood. When I make these macaroons for guests or as a present, they go fast. There are often none left by the time I have poured the tea! But I don’t mind, that’s why
There’s nothing like creating a gourmet food product from your own backyard. Not only can you laugh at those big grocery store prices, but you can make a better product as well. With cherry tomatoes being so easy to grow and a prolific fruiter (especially if you live in seQLD like me), it makes sense
There’s an easy way to make your own bread at home- and here it is! In this simple recipe, beer takes the place of yeast and raises the bread for you. None of the yeasting, kneading, raising, and waiting is necessary here; you only need mix the ingredients together and bake. What’s more, this loaf
Flavoured salts are a great way to give an extra boost to recipes or finished dishes without adding extra calories or fat. Even better, making your own is super-easy: all it takes is some salt, fresh herbs from your garden, & a little time. The result is a fragrant blend that is far better than
Cake is the most delicious way to showcase fresh fruit from your own backyard- and when mulberries are in season, there’s never a shortage! This mulberry & lime zest drizzle cake is our take on the traditional lemon drizzle cake. It’s more substantial, incredibly moist, and has a perfect balance between sweet & zingy fruit.
A new take on an old favourite is always fun- but when the main ingredient comes from your own backyard, it’s even better! Blessed with a pest-free winter crop of custard apples, I’ve adapted the traditional teacake to allow the humble custard apple to shine. Custard apples are a fruit that many of us grew
Self Sufficient Me is a blog about self-sustainment by growing our own produce (plant/animal), and self-fulfilment by looking after our health (physical/mental) through exercise and slowing life down a little.
