OUR MELBOURNE VISIT...GARY ABLETT JUNIOR...I WON THE LUCKY TABLE PRIZE COMPLETE WITH SIGNATURE!

VOILA...THE PALM SPRINGS RESTORED OUTDOOR SETTING...AND I'M THRILLED WITH THE END RESULT!

PANNA COTTA RECIPE...SO SIMPLE YET A WONDERFUL LIGHT DESSERT

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon gelatine powder (neutral)
• 1 vanilla bean
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ½ cup sugar
• strawberry coulis (or passion fruit)

• Method

  1. Sprinkle gelatine over 2Tbsp of cold water and let stand for 5 minutes.
  2. Cut vanilla bean in half, length wise and scrape the seeds with the tip of the knife.
  3. Heat cream and half and half (heavy cream) with vanilla bean as well as the seeds. Had sugar and gelatine and stir well until everything is melted, do not boil.
  4. Pour into 6 serving cups.
  5. Refrigerate for at least 3-4 hours.
  6. Serve with a little bit of strawberry coulis on top or with the pulp of passion fruits.

WE ARE ENJOYING A COOKING WEEKEND...ONE OF OUR SHARED PASSIONS...

Ingredients

• 325 grams soft dried figs (snipped in half)
• 220 grams pitted dry-packed black olives (2 x 110g jars)
• 100 grams dark brown muscovado sugar
• 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 pinch of ground cloves
• 60 ml marsala
• 150 ml red wine vinegar
• 100 ml water

CHOCOLATE OLIVE OIL CAKE

Ingredients

• 150 ml regular olive oil (plus more for greasing)
• 50 grams good-quality cocoa powder (sifted)
• 125 ml boiling water
• 2 teaspoons best vanilla extract
• 150 grams ground almonds (or 125g plain flour / 3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour)
• ½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
• 1 pinch of salt
• 200 grams caster sugar
• 3 large eggs

THE CORNER STORE CAFE FOR BREAKFAST...AFTER CYCLING FROM NEW FARM!!!