Classic sponge recipe
Need a cake for a special occasion to please a crowd (or your mum)? Few people have the willpower and self-control needed to say no to a slice of decent sponge cake. This recipe from Christchurch-based food photographer and recipe developer Jessica Donaldson is perfect for a treat or celebration. Is there a […]
Chocolate truffle martini
Is it dessert? Is it a cocktail? We’re pretty sure mum won’t quibble with the semantics when you present her with this delicious, chocolatey treat. Ingredients: 60ml vodka (vanilla or chocolate vodka) 30ml chocolate liqueur 30ml Irish cream liqueur 30ml cream Ice cubes, 2 or 3 Method: In a cocktail shaker, combine vodka, […]
Creamy carrot & bacon soup recipe
Perfect for those wintry days, this heart-warming soup from the new book by Sue Heazlewood, Tangleby Everyday Recipes Book Two, is a delicious lunch when served with buttered and grilled ciabatta. Head along to the book’s launch on 21 May at North Canterbury Books. Ingredients | Serves 4 150g bacon, diced 1 tbsp […]
Banana miso caramel cake recipe
Caramelised bananas sit on top of a tender spiced cake in this elevated upside-down variation, with a sweet and salty twist. Developed by Jessica Donaldson of Semla Studio, this treat is best served warm while the caramel is soft and glossy. Ingredients, serves 8-10 For the cake • 120g caster sugar • 3 […]
Mini lemon thyme polenta cakes
From the baking book called You Had Me At Cake by Emelia Jackson, these little cakes are a riff on the classic pound cake – a pound of this, a pound of that – which is why you’ll find very rounded amounts in the ingredients list. Emelia says she used lemon thyme to […]
Mixed berry & rhubarb pie
Serve up elegance this Easter. A lighter pie filled to the brim with juicy tart berries and rhubarb, it’s perfect for an Easter tea table or as a dessert topped with ice cream. INGREDIENTS | Serves 6-8 Pastry • 1 1/3 cups plain flour • 1/3 cup icing sugar • 125g salted butter, […]
Potatoes au gratin dauphinoise
For quintessential potatoes au gratin, who better than French cuisine maven Julia Child. This is an adaptation of her recipe for the classic French dish, also known as Dauphinoise potatoes. Before Martha Stewart, Jo Seagar and Alison Holst, there was Julia Child. A ground-breaking gourmet chef, author and television personality Julia was the […]
Baked potato, by Nina Tucker
A satisfying staple with freshly dug summer spuds – this is my go-to meal for the bigger potatoes of the crop. Lathered in butter and salt with a fluffy inside and versatile toppings, these crispy baked potatoes balance nutritious with naughty. INGREDIENTS • 4 large potatoes • 1/2 cup butter, softened (substitute olive […]
Dolly Parton’s decadent mashed potatoes
Whether it’s her hair, music or the Dollywood theme park, Dolly Parton is known for doing everything bigger and better. She brings the same energy to her food. Like many of us, Dolly loves a spud. In an interview with AllRecipes, she says, “I’ve always been a potato person, even if it’s a […]
Potato crisps
Crunchy to the bite and smothered in salt, are potato chips the most snackable thing around? You tell us – try these easy air fryer chips. INGREDIENTS | SERVES 2 • 2 large Agria potatoes • 1 sweet potato • 1 Tbsp sunflower or vegetable oil • Salt, to taste METHOD Carefully cut […]












