Stuffed pumpkin flowers



A few weeks back my dad’s vegetable garden was overgrown with rogue pumpkin plants and I decided to make use of the beautiful yellow flowers. The fairytale soon turned into a disaster when I realised how awful and prickly pumpkin plants can be.

But the rumble of my stomach spurred me on, and I braved the elements, so that I might try this Italian cuisine that had been on my cooking to-do list for years.

The reviews from the family dinner table were all very positive, except for my mum who decided the stalks were not to her liking. Harsh critics aside, I enjoyed the experiment and I would defenitely do it again.

Ingredients

  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tablespoon plain flour
  • 12 pumpkin flowers
  • 200 g fresh ricotta
  • 1 teaspoon nutmeg, freshly grated
  • 1 teaspoon of chives, snipped or 4 fresh basil leaves, chopped
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten
  • 3 tablespoon parmesan, freshly grated
  • salt and freshly milled pepper
  • olive oil for frying

Serves: 3
Cooking time: 30 mins

Chilled Tapioca Pudding



This is one of my all time favourite summer desserts! I was inspired to try it out a few years ago after an amazing dinner banquet at Jimmy Liks in Sydney.
I have previously made it with mango, lychees and strawberries but you can use any fruit you like.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup of tapioca seeds
  • 2 cups of cold water
  • 2 cups of milk
  • 1/2 cup of sugar
  • 400ml of coconut milk (not coconut cream)
  • brown sugar to sprinkle
  • 6-8 lychees (or other tropical fruit)

Serves: 6-8
Soaking time: 12 hours
Cooking time: 40 mins
Chilling time: 12 hours