Winter Warmers - Issue #70

Happy Thursday!

I can hardly wait for tomorrow, as it marks the official shortest day of the year here in New Zealand! The recent days in Christchurch have been especially short, cold, and wet so I'm looking forward to them getting longer again as we move towards summer.

Weather often plays a significant role in shaping our culinary choices. Seasonal availability of fresh produce also affects our cooking decisions. In cooler weather, we gravitate towards warm, hearty slow-cooked meals, while summer calls for lighter fare full of salads and quick grilled meats. I love the food presentation options that every season brings.

Pears are definitely an autumn and winter favourite in our house. This versatile fruit can be enjoyed raw, cooked, or used equally well in both sweet and savoury dishes. You can discover more delicious pear options later in this newsletter.

Additionally, I've included a link to the last four videos we've uploaded to YouTube, along with a brief description of each in case you missed them. Happy reading and happy cooking!

In this issue:

• What’s in the pipeline? - Soup Plating Ideas
• In the spotlight - Pears Are In Season
• Incase you've missed it - Our Last Four Videos

What's In The Pipeline?

We can't wait to share our next video with you soon. It's packed with creative ideas and techniques to transform your soup plating from dull to delightful. While soups can be incredibly flavourful and comforting, they often lack the visual appeal that makes a dish truly memorable.

Let's face it, a bowl of runny soup with a few bits of vegetables floating around really doesn't do it any justice. If you can think about your garnishes, your serveware, and the colours it can make a world of difference.

This video aims to change 'boring soup' into something beautiful by offering practical tips and ideas to make your soup look as amazing as it tastes. There are lots of different ways you can enhance your soup plating and presentation, so keep your eyes out for this video coming soon.

In The Spotlight - Pears Are In Season

Autumn and winter bring an abundance of pear varieties to our supermarkets and vegetable stores, and we couldn't be more thrilled! Pears are an incredibly versatile fruit, offering endless culinary possibilities. Whether you prefer them raw or cooked, in savoury or sweet dishes, pears can elevate your meals to a whole new level.

Some ways to enjoy pears:

• Fresh off the tree for a crisp and juicy snack.
• Sliced up as a refreshing addition to salads.
• Paired with cheese for a sophisticated appetizer.

Cooking pears brings out a natural sweetness and enhances the subtle flavours:

• Poach them in wine or a spice-infused syrup for a decadent dessert.
• Roast them with herbs and spices for a savoury side dish.
• Incorporate them into your baking - it adds a natural sweetness and moisture, perfect for creating delicious pies, tarts, and cakes.

What makes pears even more exciting is the stunning varieties available in so many different colours! There are vibrant reds and refreshing greens, warm browns and combinations of all of these. Using these different colours to your advantage can enhance the visual appeal of your dishes. You can also mix and match different coloured pears to create visually striking dishes that are as pleasing to the eye as they are to the palate.

For elegant appetisers, wrap pear slices with prosciutto and drizzle with honey for a simple yet impressive starter. Additionally, preserving pears by making homemade jams and chutneys, drying, or canning them allows you to enjoy their delightful flavours long after the season ends.

As the weather cools down, incorporating pears into your cooking can add warmth and comfort to your dishes, making them a seasonal favourite! I'd love to know what some of your favourite pear dishes are 😄

You May Have Missed It - Our Last Four Videos

It seems like our YouTube subscribers haven't all been notified when some of our recent videos were published, so we thought we'd share them again here for you to have a look at in case you missed them.

The prettiest little sandwiches in the world - Have you ever wanted to put together a plate of beautiful, vibrantly coloured gourmet tea sandwiches but don't know where to start? In this video we'll guide you through the process so that you can effortlessly create your own amazing platter of beautiful sandwiches in no time at all.

Charcuterie Board's are easy and look 'WOW' - I find any excuse, big or small to put together a charcuterie board. Whether it's for a casual afternoon snack, an organised get together, or for holiday entertaining they are often my go to. I love that they’re quick and easy to throw together with little to no cooking required, they look impressive and they are so fun to make and eat! 

Check out this show stopper cheesecake stick dessert - In this video we're making a show stopper dessert - cheesecake sticks. They not only taste delicious, but when you put a plate of these on the table everybody says 'wow'! One great advantage of these is that you can make them well in advance, freeing up valuable time when you're hosting a dinner party. It's a simple (slightly time consuming, but so worth it) three step process which we'll go through in the video.

I make this chocolate cake recipe every week - In this video I share my favourite chocolate mud cake recipe - it's so good I make it every week! You might wondering how I can possibly make it every week without getting tired of it? Well, it's so versatile that it never has to be the same. The beauty of this recipe is that you can create new and exciting flavours with only a few simple tweaks - so it never gets boring!

I hope you're feeling inspired to whip up something tasty and amazing in your kitchen soon.

Happy cooking,
Taryn