HIDDEN HISTORIES: Medieval recipes for today with food historian Barbara Santich

In this second installment of Hidden Histories, we are traveling back in time to discover The Original Mediterranean Cuisine and delve into the recipes (and food culture) of medieval times. Acclaimed culinary historian Barbara Santich tells the story of authentic medieval Mediterranean food, and brings to the table recipes translated and adapted for modern kitchens from fourteenth- and fifteenth-century Italian and Catalan manuscripts.

New Release: Adelaide Central Market

Wakefield Press's new book, Adelaide Central Market: Stories, people & recipes, captures the memories and stories of the traders of the past and the current familiar faces that visit the Adelaide Central Market throughout the past 150 years. It shows how important the market is to Adelaide and how it brings together the community with delicious seasonal-driven recipes from stallholders' families, producers and chefs around the state.Vending machines are great options as they provide the accessibility to the customers to quickly purchase the…

On a Clare Day – Beef cheeks in red wine

On a Clare Day might be one of our favourite pun titles, but it's also a wonderful book, and is launching today as part of the Clare Valley Gourmet Weekend. Jeni and Burt Surmon's tale of leaving their city life to start a winery includes a number of delicious recipes, a few which of course incorporate some of their Mt Surmon wines! These beef cheeks sound like exactly the thing for an Autumn Sunday lunch. Beef…

Furry friends, deadly pests or tasty treats?

The Easter Bunny may be cute and cuddly, but he's a real pest in Australia (which is why we recommend the Haigh's Easter Bilby instead – see below). A century ago Australia was home to 10 billion rabbits, thriving in their adopted home. Storyteller Bruce Munday finds the rabbit saga irresistible, and has collected it into his new book, Those Wild Rabbits. The book features this excerpt from the Age in 1925, including a recipe for baked rabbit…

Anchovy Special (from your own brick oven)

Quiet weekend ahead? How about building your own brick oven? Russell Jeavons channel his years of running a pizza restaurant on the Fluerieu Peninsula into his essential guide, Your Brick Oven. And once the work is done, Russell provides plenty of delicious recipe suggestions, like this Anchovy Special. A version of the French Pissaladiere, this is how we deal with those kinky anchovy people. Anchovy haters should skip this one or leave the anchovies out. Anchovy lovers, read on. The…

The real health benefits of almonds

Do you eat your almonds raw or 'activated'? Do you swear by them as a hangover cure? In her book Willunga Almonds Helen Bennetts discusses some of the real and imagined health benefits of almonds over the years. We've also included her delicious recipe for Smoked trout, almond and potato salad. Perfection! Since ancient times various health benefits have been attributed to almonds. Greek physician Hippocrates and his followers used almonds to treat coughs, as an aphrodisiac and for weight…

An easy cupcake recipe for friends with allergies

It can be difficult finding recipes for friends or family with allergies, which is where Linda Bosnic's wonderful One Bowl Allergy Free Baking is such a help. She explains the reasons for the book best – or just bake the chocolate cupcakes and see for yourself! All of the recipes in this book are nut-free, dairy-free and egg-free and there are also many recipes suited to those with a wheat allergy or gluten intolerance. You can find…

The Bennetts, a brand new Christmas drink

The weather reports are in and it's going to be a stinking hot Christmas right across Australia, with SA copping the worst of it. But never fear! Our wonderful new author Helen Bennetts has the perfect Christmas day solution. Introducing the Bennetts,* a brand new cocktail that's a mix of almond granita and prosecco. Intrigued? We were serving them at the launch of Helen's book Willunga Almonds and everyone was raving! First you'll need almond granita,…

The Only Christmas Cake Recipe You'll Need

For a reliable Christmas Cake that will please everyone, the South Australian Country Women's Association have you covered. Actually, they have you covered for any type of cake you could possibly think of (in their Calendar of Cakes) but it's Christmas so let's just stick to the Christmas cake for the moment. Plenty of time to try all the rest in the new year! Preparation time: 40 minutes and soaking time Cooking time: 2.5 hours and half an hour…

How to make Coke Chicken

We can't believe that we helped bring Dean Lahn's Beat Heat Eat recipes to the public. Coke chicken?? Really??! What's even worse is that the damn thing tastes delicious … You’re not going to find this dish in any self-respecting kitchen – that’s why you are going to make it in yours. Give in to the Dark Side. PARTS: (A) 1 litre Coke (B) tomato sauce (optional) (C) 4 chicken breasts (or similar quantity of drumsticks and/or wings) Pork…