Beef and Crispy Macaroni Cheese Bake

Macaroni and cheese bake is and has always been classified as a comfort food and is easy to compose. It is also an ideal dish to prepare in advance, put in the freezer or fridge for later baking.

Angel Hair Pasta with Roma Tomatoes & Basil

This is a magnetic contemporary Italian vegetarian recipe I use as a vegetarian dish or a starter or even as a part of a complete meat food. The pasta dish is captivating and delightfully thin and is a definite winner.

Sour Cream Dip

A dip or dipping sauce is a frequently used condiment for many kinds of food and are frequently used with finger foods and appetizer. This is a creamy sauce with endless possibilities and a great aroma.

Quiche Lorraine

The famous “Quiche Lorraine” is an oven baked dish made with a wonderful blend of eggs, milk, cream, cheese, onion and bacon cooked in a pie shell. This is my recipe I have used either at work or at home and it is still the most popular quiche.

Muesli Slice

I have made this muesli slice for years in my work places and my bakery with great success. Sporty people enjoyed it as a quick snack and especially liked the chewy and crunchy texture. This muesli bar is packed with healthy energy and you can make your own choice of dried fruit or nuts.

Fudge Brownies

Brownies are usually a chocolate cake made without baking powder and served as a dessert with ice cream, custard or cream. Nevertheless they are also enjoyed as a snack anytime. This brownie is really delightful, moist and easy to make.

Bircher Muesli

Bircher Muesli is a traditional Swiss recipe and makes an ideal healthy and delicious breakfast to start your day. In northern Europe unprocessed grains has always been soaked overnight for fermentation.

This is a modified version which I eat every morning before going to work.

Granola

Granola is a baked crispy breakfast cereal developed by Dr John Harvey Kellogg and in the 1960’s it became known as “Hippie” Heath Food. It is regularly served with yoghurt as breakfast or as an appetizer with fresh fruit anytime of the day. This is my version which is easy to make to your own specifications.

Breakfast

The vital meal of the day!

“Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper.” Adelle Davis

Awakening from the land of dreams, having had a good night sleep and fasting all night it is now time for breakfast. The first meal of the day has to be a quality breakfast with the right quantity transforming into plenty of perfect fuel for the body.

Hedgehog Slice

There is plenty of chocolate and biscuit in this classic slice. A creamy and crunchy texture appealing to all the taste buds. Melting moments of delight when chewing through the top layer of pure good nectar better known as chocolate.  This is a smooth silky chocolate segment with a crisp consistency which engages all your senses.

Shortbread

This shortbread recipe is one I have successfully used for over forty years and is suitable for most tart based cakes and is very useful for everyday cookies. It is extremely satisfying to see somebody else use my recipe and delight in the end results when the beautiful finished product melts in your mouth like a symphony. While in "Cork" down the south of Ireland the "Russell" family experimented with the recipe. They danced around their kitchen with excitement as they removed the beautifully baked shortbread from the oven. What they thought was impossible actually came to be, they boasted to their friends about their culinary skills!!

Choc Chip Cookies

During our recent trip to Europe, this easy cookie recipe proved to be very popular amongst our Irish and Danish friends and family. The little ones were constantly asking "Uncle Alex" to help them in the kitchen. They too got involved in making the dough, delighted in watching the creation of their own cookies and enjoyed devouring them. Eleven year old "Nial" brought his passion for cooking into the kitchen and proved to be a "Mastercook" in his own right. 

Milk Scones

A truly classic scone easy to make at home. Although it has been sometime since I owned and operated my business "Harlequins Continental Bakery" in  Balgowlah, I still recall with fond memories the demand on a busy Saturday and Sunday morning for the much loved milk scones. 

Chocolate Chip Muffins

This recipe has been succesfully used in my bakery in Balgowlah (Sydney) and is scaled down to a modest quantity for use at home. They are brilliant for lunches, morning and afternoon tea. The same recipe can be used for large cakes but needs cooking at a lower temperature and extended cooking time. Our customers favoured the white chocolate chip muffin.

The contemporary custom “High Tea”

Today’s trendy idea of "High Tea" tea is most likely derived from the old English traditional afternoon tea. A plain cup of tea has progressed for more than 300 years. This simple tradition seems to have gone through several developments in its short history in the west. It is identified with different names and values depending on where in the world or society. The humble cup of tea is associated with names such as afternoon tea, low tea, high tea, full tea, light tea, meat tea, royal tea, cream tea and more.

Tea in all its developing forms became an exciting and fashionable custom in Europe and America as  people  learned of its benefits. Cooks from tea rooms, heath spas, hotels and restaurant have been a big part of the progress of this tea culture. The tea drinking ritual was started by Europe’s high society in the 1650’s where tea drinking was only affordable by the wealthy people. The tea leaves were imported through merchants by ships to European countries this proved very expensive given the high transport cost from China. Therefore only the rich, royals and alike have been able to benefit from its distinct taste and rituals.