Our grandmothers did it, our mums did it… so now is the perfect time to go back to it. My secret to a couple of effortless, ‘cost less’, delicious and quick family meals is already lurking in the fridge.

Those few roast potatoes, half bowl of creamy mash, ladleful of bolognaise, half a chicken carcass with a little meat on the bones is the base of some terrific easy meals.

For centuries leftovers have been used to create meals – famous dishes like pizza and paella originated to use up what’s left.

The rules to keep it healthy and hygienic are easy. I like to ‘plate’ the meal in the centre of the table with a serving spoon or tongs…. I do not plate up every meal. I let the family and friends do this themselves (with a lot of encouragement from me about not skipping the broccoli, or forgetting the beans!). I find this means there are not half eaten bits and pieces left on plates, but clean and untouched bits and pieces. On clearing the table the family is well trained to pop these ‘bits and pieces’ into the waiting containers which get sealed and popped into the fridge.

But what to do with these bits and pieces? Here are some ideas… Read the rest of this entry →

I must confess, I’m a big fan of new kitchen products. So you can imagine how much fun I had introducing a new limited edition KitchenAid standmixer on a recent regular cooking segment I do.  KitchenAid has just released the most a beautiful “candy apple red” standmixer you have ever seen to celebrate the company’s 90th birthday.

What a milestone! The mixer is of course known and loved all over the world by celebrated professional chefs, caterers, cookbook writers and millions of home foodies. So last week I showed off the new standmixer on the KitchenAid segment of Foxtel’s paid television channel ‘TVSN’.

Each show we use various KitchenAid appliances and attachments. My co-host Peter Mason and I cooked up a storm, making fresh pasta sheets and cutting them into fettuccine – here’s some pics of us on the set.

We also whipped up a moist golden almond orange cake and a fabulous apple radish salad. And what about the standmixer? Read the rest of this entry →