Lauraine Jacobs
Sailor’s Hearty Pasta Pie
When New Zealand hosted the America’s world cup, there were seemingly endless days out on the water, requiring endless picnic fare. We decided to do a picnic feature for Cuisine and I needed an unusual and substantial pie. I was inspired by Lynne Rossetto Kasper’s recipe for a tortellini pie, traditionally served at festive occasions in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. My version is simpler, and in adapting it for antipodean palates I omitted the sugar that...
Salad of Crayfish, Mussels, Prawns, Scallops and Pipis with Lemon and Avocado
I created this recipe for a Christmas feature in Cuisine. It has all the hallmarks of a special dish, for it uses a selection of luxurious shellfish, and looks very showy on a large platter. I planned it so that all the seafood can be prepared and cooked the night before Christmas – but be sure to keep all shellfish refrigerated. Just before serving, toss together with the lemon segments, avocado and vinaigrette, and serve with slices of fresh crusty ciabatta to mop up every last drop of juice.
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Salad of Mozzarella, Crispy Bacon, Figs and Rocket with Honeyed Vinaigrette
If I allow myself a cooked breakfast each morning (I’m usually far too busy to stop at that time of day), I would grill a couple of rashers of the best bacon I could find and eat it with tomatoes. I do find the time to make lunch, and so can incorporate my need for a fix of bacon into a salad like this one. This tasty combination of salty and sweet flavours is given extra punch with the tang of the rocket and smooth mozzarella, which really picks up the vinaigrette. It is dead easy and the only...
Salad Rouge
I prepared this recipe when all the Cuisine food writers gathered at my beach house to create our Christmas feast in 2005. I was astonished just how many readers and friends have commented that they served this dish for their family Christmas. It just shows how ‘simple’ can be terrific. Beautifully cooked vegetables are always the best part of a meal for me. This bright fresh vegetable salad with contrasting crunch and flavour adds a real hit of colour to any table. Prepare everything in advance then...
Salmon, Spinach and Mozzarella in Pastry
Despite limited time to prepare meals, all really good cooks love to get busy in the kitchen with a dish that requires some care and loving attention. When you’re looking for something to really impress, this is a wonderful party piece that can be served warm or cold. The salmon is wrapped in a mixture of chopped spinach and mozzarella and encased in a light puff pasty.
