Table of contents for December 2018 in Taste.com.au

you know that feeling. The temperature’s rising outside. The temperature’s rising inside. The heat’s on! And I’m not just talking about the weather. There’s nothing quite like the silly season frenzy. But not this year. This issue is your festive-season lifesaver, part secret weapon, part survival guide. Scrambling your way through the Chrissy rush? Grab our super-speedy mid-week meals, along with a tasty preview of Matt Preston’s new book, Yummy Easy Quick (p41), for clever dishes that are ready in minutes. Want to cut the pain and up your game with this year’s festive feast? Dive into our Easy Cheat’s Christmas menu (p86). Looking for the ultimate dessert? Hello Choc Cherry Bombe Alaska (this month’s cover), with just eight ingredients and only 20 minutes prep. Freeze it ahead (p10). And…

tip 1 To make cake dome, cut one cake in half crossways. Stand the cut edge of 1 half upright. Cut the cake lengthways into 5mm slices – you’ll get about 8 pieces. tip 2 Place 5 cake pieces inside the lined basin. They will snuggly curve in as you press them down. Trim and use any extra cake to fill any gaps in the basin. tip 3 Dip the knife in hot water before slicing the ice-cream as this will help you cut it into individual portions. Place each colour in a separate bowl. tip 4 Keep an eye on your ice-cream as it softens. You don’t want it to get too runny or it will lose its aeration when it refreezes and not have as much volume. tip…

the MILKY WAY Move over (or should that be moo over...) cows, there are some new milks in town! Led by vegan food trends, the use of non-dairy milks is on the rise as people look for alternatives to animal products. As well as the soy and rice varieties we know and love, new dairy-free alternatives appearing on supermarket shelves include coconut, macadamia and oat. We say milk it! THE LAST STRAW There are alternatives to disposable plastic straws. Greenpaxx ‘tye dye’ reusable silicone drinking straws, $16.95 for a set of 4, from Biome mean you can sip knowing you’re treading more lightly on the planet. These colourful utensils have two pieces for easy cleaning. And they’re wide enough for smoothies, green juices and summer sipping. At biome.com.au sling them…

IF THERE'S ONE SWEET SUMMERY SAVIOUR TO SATISFY, IT'S GELATO. EVER VERSATILE, KITCHENAID MAKES IT SO EASY TO CREATE YOUR OWN CROWD-PLEASING FLAVOURS KITCHENAID KSM160 ARTISAN STAND MIXER (5KSM160PSAAC), $879; KITCHENAID ICE CREAM BOWL ATTACHMENT (5KICA0WH), $199 Summer is ice cream season and, with the sweltering weather, the temptation is there to indulge with family and friends. Thanks to the Kitchenaid KSM160 Artisan Stand Mixer, you'll be indulging at every opportunity as it's never been easier to make your own deliciously cool and creamy varieties using the Ice Cream Bowl Attachment. Consisting of four parts – Adapter Ring, Rotating Dasher, Drive Assembly and the freezable Ice Cream Bowl itself, the entire attachment fits together in seconds. You're then ready to get creative with seasonal fruits, nuts, vanilla, chocolate, coffee, green…

Today, busy families need more than a big fridge to meet their needs. With 681L capacity, the new FlexSpace™ French Door Fridge from Westinghouse will certainly hold everything you could want, but where it really shines is through its clever range of storage solutions that make accessing your food and drinks that much easier! The fridge’s FlexSpace™ Convertible Drawer, for example, is a unique highlight – with just the touch of a button it adapts from fridge to deep freezer. Five pre-defined temperature settings, ranging from -23°C to 7°C, provide an ideal environment for whatever you need to store, whether it’s frozen meals or cold drinks. The main body of the fridge, meanwhile, is optimally designed with SmartSplit Asymmetrical Doors that offer more usable space and room for larger items.…

pineapple mojito Super-refreshing on a hot day, omit the rum for a drink the kids can enjoy, too. serves 8 | prep 10 mins 2 large limes, cut into wedges 2-3 tsp caster sugar, to taste 8 fresh mint sprigs 1L (4 cups) soda water, chilled 500ml (2 cups) fresh pineapple juice, chilled 310ml (1 1 /4 cups) white rum Fresh pineapple slices, to serve Mint ice-cubes, to serve (see tip) 1 Squeeze lime wedges into a large punch bowl or serving jug. Add the squeezed wedges, sugar and mint to the bowl. Use the back of a wooden spoon to muddle. Top with soda water, juice and rum. Stir to combine. Add in pineapple and mint ice-cubes just before serving. For mint ice-cubes, place fresh mint in ice-cube trays…

choose Large, plump and shiny cherries with stems attached. Avoid any that are dull, browned or split. store Place them in a plastic bag in the fridge without delay – they’ll keep for 3-5 days. Do not remove the stems and only wash them just before eating. cook Delicious and juicy when eaten fresh. You can also pickle cherries with vinegar and aromatics to serve with glazed ham or roast turkey. Or poach them in a sugar syrup with a splash of brandy to serve over ice-cream or fold through whipped cream to layer in eat with cakes. • cream • cream cheese • dark chocolate • duck • goat’s cheese • ham • pastry • yoghurt…

macadamia, mango & coconut tart serves 10 | prep 30 mins (+ chilling time) | cooking 15 mins 145g (1 cup) roasted salted macadamias 50g ( 1 /2 cup) rolled oats 30g ( 1 /2 cup) moist coconut flakes 1 tbs coconut sugar 75g butter, melted 2 mangoes, peeled, thinly sliced 2 passionfruit, halved Toasted flaked coconut, to serve filling 170g ctn vanilla quark-style yoghurt 250g light cream cheese, at room temperature 11 /2 tbs fresh lemon juice 1 tsp gelatine powder 1 tbs maple syrup 2 tsp vanilla bean paste 1 Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan forced. Grease a 22cm fluted tart tin with removable base with olive oil spray. Place macadamias, oats, coconut and sugar in a food processor. Process until finely chopped. Add the butter and process…

De Bortoli 2018 Rosé Rosé, $22 This brand-new pale and dry rosé is made from sangiovese, which gives it a grippy texture that makes it wonderful with festive feasting. It has peach and pomegranate aromas with a dry, crisp finish. DRINK IT WITH seafood, canapés, quiches, pasta, pizza, roast vegetables, tarts. Blue Pyrenees NV Sparkling Shiraz, $32 It’s not Christmas unless there’s a bottle of sparkling shiraz on the table! It’s a perfect match for traditional foods, such as ham. And this one has notes of spice and plums. DRINK IT WITH turkey, ham, roast meats, Christmas leftovers. Pizzini 2017 Prosecco, $21.50 Bubbly, crisp but fruity, and ultra-refreshing, this Australian prosecco is a wonderful sparkling to serve over the hot summer. Perfect with your fave Christmas nibbles, as well as…

Michelle Southan: Family favourites “The whole family will tuck into this easy glazed ham with potato salad, and you won’t have to spend hours slaving in the kitchen to make this delicious dessert.” Miranda Payne: Gluten free “Keep your Christmas eating fresh and colourful. There’s lots to love with this easy smoked salmon wreath, a filling vegie pie and a low-in-sugar pavlova.” Katrina Woodman: Vegies galore “Vegetarians will love this Christmas roast with its festive topping, especially accompanied by a salad. The mango tart is an easy way to feed a crowd.”…

SustainaPod outdoor kitchens make entertaining and food prep easy! Sized to fit perfectly on your balcony or outdoor entertainment area, your SustainaPod can be customised with mix ’n’ match cabinet and bench-top colours. This Byron model comes with 3 easy-to-install pods, your choice of benchtop and cabinet colours and a Weber Family Q Premium Built In barbecue. Summertime has never been better. “I’ll be looking for a real wow factor – even neapolitan layers and beautiful piped meringue.” SEND IN YOUR ENTRIES BY 26 DECEMBER Terms and conditions: Entries open 00:01 (AEDT) 15/11/18 and close 23:59 (AEDT) 26/12/18. Open to Australian residents only. Winners determined 14:00 (AEDT) 07/01/19 at NewsLifeMedia Pty Ltd, 2 Holt Street, Surry Hills, NSW 2010. Winners’ names published in Taste.com.au Magazine March 2019. Total prize pool…

KEEP YOUR SUMMER CHILLED WITH THE PERFECT MIX OF SEASONAL FRUITS, CRUSHED ICE AND A HIGH-PERFORMANCE BLENDER VITAMIX ASCENT 2500I BLENDER IN WHITE (063210), $1,195; 2300I BLENDER IN BLACK (065302), $895 A great way to get your summer party started is with fresh, bright and enticing cocktails that capture all the senses. With programmable settings, variable speed and pulse control, Vitamix Ascent is a blender range perfect for whizzing up a host of creative and cooling crushed-ice delights quickly and easily. And what's extra impressive about them is that they're the first high-performance blenders to offer a complete system of containers with wireless connectivity. This means the machine reads each container and automatically adjusts blending times. From sparkling frosés made with seasonal fruits and ice, to refreshing non-alcoholic crushes, smoothies…

hot-smoked salmon & rice salad serves 4 | prep & cook 10 mins secret ingredient Hot-smoked salmon – all you need to do is flake it. Smoky flavour, perfectly cooked! 2 bunches broccolini, trimmed, halved 2 x 250g pkts microwave black rice 2 x 150g pkts hot-smoked salmon with cracked pepper, skin removed, flaked 2 small Lebanese cucumbers, peeled in ribbons (see tip) 60ml (¼ cup) Kewpie Japanese Dressing Sesame Soy Sauce 1 Place the broccolini in a large heatproof bowl. Pour over boiling water and leave for 1-2 minutes or until tender-crisp. Drain and refresh under cold water. 2 Heat the rice following the packet directions. Divide the broccolini, salmon, rice and cucumber among serving plates, or arrange on a large platter. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and…

gingerbread tree GINGERBREAD 110g (1/2 cup) caster sugar 240g (11/2 cups, packed) dark brown sugar 500g (3 cups) Lighthouse Biscuit, Pastry & Cake Plain Flour 3/4 tsp Anchor Double-Acting Baking Powder 3 tsp Spencers Ground Ginger 21/2 tsp Spencers Ground Cinnamon 21/2 tsp Spencers Mixed Spice 70g butter, melted 70ml (31/2 tbsp) water 2 large eggs silver cachous, to decorate ICING 10g Lion Cornflour 90g icing sugar 1/2 tsp Anchor Imitation Vanilla Essence 50g butter, softened 15ml (3 tsp) milk SUGAR GLUE 220g (1 cup) caster sugar 1. Preheat oven to 180°C /160°C fan forced. Line 2 large baking trays with baking paper and set aside. 2. In a large bowl, mix caster and dark brown sugar, ensuring the dark brown sugar breaks down into smaller lumps. Add flour, baking…

IT’S AN ABSOLUTE JOY TO PREPARE AN IMPRESSIVE CHRISTMAS LUNCH WHEN YOU HAVE TRADITIONAL HEAT AND STEAM OPTIONS IN THE ONE OVEN AEG 600MM STEAMCRISP OVEN (BSK774320M), $2999 It wouldn't be Christmas without beautifully prepared festive classics – and that includes a delicious glazed ham. The AEG 600mm SteamCrisp Oven will make it easy to achieve superb results. Using steam to enhance traditional oven heat, the SteamCrisp offers the best of both worlds. Not only will the ham be crisp on the outside, it will also be juicy on the inside thanks to the gentle flavour-preserving nature of steam. The oven also features SurroundCook advanced fan technology for even cooking, intuitive SenseCook command control with temperature probe, 19 cooking functions, and pyrolytic self-cleaning capability. BOURBON, MAPLE AND MUSTARD GLAZED HAM…

National Product Review is a great resource for learning about not only the KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer but also a whole host of industry-leading appliances. The website features informative videos with Sofie Formica, who can guide you through full product specifications and features. Then, once you’ve chosen your appliances, you can find out where they’re stocked, either online or at your favourite retailer. • For full product information, visit nationalproductreview.com…

This combo of fresh watermelon and salty feta is a summer starter you can serve with a dry rosé. Use a small star cutter to create star shapes from slices of seedless watermelon. Arrange the stars to form a Christmas tree on a large platter. Crumble over smooth feta, drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, sprinkle with mint leaves and pepper. Slice the watermelon to a thickness of about 1cm, so the stars don’t break up.…

elegant tart What’s more Christmassy than roast veg? Plus, they make a hearty filing for tarts and pies, which are perfect for feeding a crowd. We’ve used roast parsnip and carrot to top this easy dish. Carrots are sweet, full of fibre, low in kilojoules and rich in antioxidants. Orange carrots contain beta-carotene, while purple ones get their hue from anthocyanins, which may assist memory, protect against cardiovascular disease and have anti-ageing properties. lovely layers For this dish, we swapped regular cheese with ricotta for a protein-rich, low-fat, heathier cheese sauce. For a vegie main that’s sure to be a centrepiece on any table, try this layered pie. With a rainbow of vegies, each colour offers something unique. Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, which may provide protection against some cancers,…

Michelle For turkey and stuffing without hours in the kitchen, make stuffing muffins. Prepare your stuffing mix and bake it in muffin pans. Use quicker-cooking turkey cuts, such as boned breast pieces, to cut cooking time down by hours. You can even cut down on oven time by cooking turkey breasts on the barbecue. And haven’t made a pudding in advance? Don’t panic. Grab a jar of fruit mince and stir through some softened vanilla ice-cream. Add a few candied nuts for crunch, and refreeze. Serve scoops of ice-cream in tall glasses or set in a loaf pan, like the recipe on p92. Decorate with extra toppings, if you like. need a little help? If you have a question for one of our foodies, send it to tastemag@news.com.au…

spiced peach & cherry pie  serves 12 | prep 1 hour (+ 1 1 /2 hours chilling & overnight cooling time) | cooking 1 hour 15 mins 300g unsalted butter, chilled, chopped 45g ( 1 /4 cup) pure icing sugar 1 /2 tsp salt 450g (3 cups) plain flour 125ml ( 1 /2 cup) iced water 2 tbs apple cider vinegar 600g ripe firm peaches, cut into 2cm chunks 300g fresh or frozen cherries, pitted 155g ( 3 /4 cup) caster sugar, plus 2 tbs, extra 45g ( 1 /3 cup) arrowroot (tapioca) flour 2 tsp mixed spice 1 egg, lightly whisked Store-bought vanilla custard, to serve 1 Process butter, sifted icing sugar, salt and 2 cups flour until mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Add remaining 1 cup flour. Pulse to combine.…

Choc-raspberry ice-cream cake Sneak two whole packets of Tim Tams into this easy no-bake treat. “A big hit! Everyone was impressed and took photos of it. Everyone loved it.” ANDREARICH “My guests raved about this cake.” SASHER “This was too easy and looked very impressive. Such a fail-safe cake.” SPWINDMILLS Watermelon & haloumi salad Fresh summer salad combo perfect for easy entertaining. “Perfect light dinner for a scorching summer night! The mix of flavours was perfect. I also added rocket.” SCHIRM “This salad was perfect! I added baby rocket, which really complemented the sweetness of the watermelon and saltiness of the haloumi. Served with fresh prawns and was a hit all round.” NICKIBROWN7 Iced VoVo pavlova The colours and flavours of the classic Iced VoVo in one pavlova. “I have…

Here’s what you’ll find... HERO RECIPES Whether you’re a novice in the kitchen or fancy yourself as a master chef, we’ve got the perfect step-by-step hero recipe to make cooking easy. From show-stopping cakes to super-easy snacks and everything in between, our Hero Recipe ideas have you covered. HEALTHY HACKS Make healthy eating easier than ever with our all-new Healthy Hacks videos! We have healthy twists on your faves, plus tips and tricks to make healthy eating super-easy and delicious. Go to www.taste.TV EMERGENCY DINNERS Take the struggle out of midweek cooking with our Emergency Dinners Facebook Live videos. Follow Food Editor Kim Coverdale as she beats the clock to have a delicious dinner on the table in 10 minutes! Tune into our Facebook page every Thursday at 4pm*. WATCH…

Salad NO SUMMER SPREAD IS COMPLETE WITHOUT A COLOURFUL, FRESH AND CRUNCHY SALAD. ADD A TWIST TO YOURS THIS SEASON WITH HELP FROM THE KENWOOD CHEF SENSE ELITE XL KENWOOD CHEF SENSE ELITE XL MIXER IN PLUM (KQL6200V) $799; CHEF SENSE ELITE XL SPIRALIZER ATTACHMENT (KAX700PL), $199 It's easier than you might think to give your salads a lift with some special touches, and summer is the perfect time to create crisp, light, fragrant and vibrant options. Great salads push the boundaries with unexpected combinations of flavour and texture, and the Kenwood Chef Sense will help you add some deliciously crunchy and colourful twists to the mix. The Chef Sense Spiralizer attachment can turn fruit and vegetables into a variety of ribbons, noodles, zoodles and more – texture and tastes…

“My new book takes super–tasty, super–simple recipes for dinner and whisks you around the world to find yummy, easy and quick ways to cook favourite dishes.”Matt Preston really, the title of this book should be ‘Faking it’, because you’ll soon realise that by combining certain key ingredients a dish quickly starts to take on the unique feel of another corner of the world. This is not some dull, cheffy tome loaded with time-consuming and dusty techniques dating back to a time when your nonna’s nonna had to spend all day in the kitchen to make dinner, but a book that will show you how to fake unique flavours from around the world, so you can knock up a tasty and thoroughly convincing pad thai or a samosa pie in less…

Individual trifles bring festive cheer no matter the size of the crowd. Make one 85g pkt raspberry jelly following packet directions. Pour into four 350ml glasses. Divide 125g raspberries among glasses. Place in fridge for 2 hours to set. Melt 100g chopped white cooking chocolate and 1 /2 cup thickened cream in a saucepan over a low heat. Cool to room temperature. Whisk chocolate mixture with 250g mascarpone and 1 /2 cup thickened cream until firm peaks form. Crush 75g vanilla melting moments and 50g Charlie’s Cookies Mini Melting Moments Raspberry White Choc. Arrange in layers on top of jelly. Top with white choc cream, Raffaellos, a chocolate star and extra raspberries. Make ahead and top with chocolate and berries just before serving.…

“Two layers of pav mean double the wow!” “This pav has a chocolatey base!” like the Russian ballerina for whom it’s named, the pavlova is a light and pretty performer, with its creamy and fruity toppings. I’ve doubled the layers to give this dessert even more wow (and so there’s plenty for seconds). Nailing the meringue base is essential. Make sure you give it time to dry out in the oven – don’t rush it. This is critical to being able to stack them at the end. I fold through some extra sugar mixture to get a super-crisp shell with a marshmallowy centre. And, instead of the more traditional vinegar, I’ve used a small amount of lemon juice, which gives this pav a slight citrus tang. Bake it slowly in…

“A shared table is one of the joys of Christmas with family and friends.” brunch platter Start the day with an easy-to-prepare feast of fresh flavours. serves 4 harissa-spiced chickpeas  prep 5 mins | cooking 25 mins 400g can chickpeas, rinsed, drained 2 tsp olive oil 2 tsp harissa paste 1 Preheat oven to 200°C/180°C fan forced. Grease a baking tray and line with baking paper. Dry chickpeas on paper towel. Place in a large bowl with olive oil, harissa and a good pinch of sea salt. Toss to coat well. 2 Spread in a single layer on the prepared tray. Roast for 20-25 minutes, until crunchy. Set aside to cool. Make up to 1 day ahead. spanish baked eggs  prep 15 mins | cooking 40 mins 2 tsp olive…

Beat 250g room temperature cream cheese in a bowl until smooth. Add 1 cup thickened cream, 125ml double cream, 1 /4 cup caster sugar and finely grated rind of 1 lemon. Beat for 2-3 minutes, until thick and creamy. Stir through 1 tbs lemon juice until combined. Dollop some cream cheese mixture in the base of four 250ml glasses. Top with sliced mango. Continue layering and finish with mango slices. Top with passionfruit pulp, mint leaves and edible flowers, if you like. BEST OF DECEMBER fruit apricots blackberries blueberries grapes pink grapefruit mangoes nectarines peaches raspberries strawberries watermelon vegies asparagus butter beans capsicum cucumbers eggplants tomatoes zucchini herbs basil chives mint oregano…

EGG LETTUCE CUPS WITH COCONUT PANDAN RICE serves 4 | prep 15 mins | cooking 20 mins 400g (2 cups) jasmine rice, rinsed 125ml ( 1/2 cup) coconut milk 2 pandan leaves, tied into a knot 8 eggs, at room temperature 125ml ( 1/2 cup) ABC Sweet Soy Sauce Kecap Manis 1 lime, rind finely grated, juiced 200g (1 cup) fried shallots 2 tbs shredded coconut, toasted 1 kaffir lime leaf, finely shredded 1 long fresh red chilli, thinly sliced 8-12 butter lettuce leaves 1 Lebanese cucumber, sliced into batons Thinly sliced green shallot and fresh coriander leaves, to serve 1 Place rice, coconut milk, pandan and 560ml (2 1/4 cups) water in a saucepan over high heat. Bring to the boil, cover, reduce heat to low and cook for…

PARTY season Make your once-a-year catch-up with friends hassle free with Patties party pies, pasties and sausage rolls from supermarkets. Made with 100% Aussie beef wrapped in golden-brown pastry, these bite-size snacks will disappear faster than the ice in your Christmas cocktail. BOX SETS Socks, jocks and chocs are the great standard Christmas gifts, and Cadbury’s new gift boxes are sure to please anyone who finds them in their stocking on Christmas morning. Available from major supermarkets, Cadbury Chocolate Coated Almonds or Fruit & Nut Gift Boxes are $12 for 225g. Go nuts and add them to your wish list now. FARM TO TABLE From the people who brought us farm-made jams, chutneys and sauces comes a new range of easy meal helpers that will make weeknight cooking a cinch.…

GO WITH THE GRAIN Sorghum is a gluten-free grain that pops just like corn. With a mild nutty flavour, it’s the star ingredient in Real Foods’ tasty new Whole Grain Thins Sorghum. You’ll find it in the biscuit aisle at Woolworths. Visit cornthins.com.au NUTS FOR COCONUT It’s the same great quality and the same great taste you know – the only change to McKenzie’s iconic coconut range is the packaging. Bring your sweet and savoury dishes to life with various cuts of coconut. Rest assured McKenzie’s has you (and your lamingtons) covered. Visit mckenziesfoods.com.au EASY AS 123 ABC Sweet Soy Sauce gives an instantly authentic Indonesian flavour to your dishes. ‘Manis’ means sweet, and this rich, syrupy, caramel-coloured sauce lives up to its name. It is naturally sweetened with sun-dried…