When I’m not in the studio laughing (or cringing) at Steve’s Dad jokes I love being in the kitchen.
There’s something therapeutic about creating a meal or baking treats for the kids' lunchboxes (OK, ok...I’ve been known to indulge with a cup of tea while doing my homework for the next day’s show).
I’m so enthusiastic in the kitchen I’m prone to taking on a bit much…ending up with a slice baking in the oven and bread rising while I’m trying to pull together a Chelsea Winter recipe with 6000 ingredients for dinner! That’s when Fred will want to bake cookies and I’ll wonder what the heck I was thinking? It’s a great moment to lighten the mood with some music so I reach for the ROVA app and put on The Breeze Totally 80s station.
Music and food are always a fantastic combo - here are my top 5 matches!
Stormy Night soup with Dhukka: .This delicious, hearty carrot, cumin and coriander soup is from Dish magazine. I made it during appreciation week at work and gave it to a colleague for lunch. They loved it so much that they asked for the recipe. Super comforting with our wettest Wellington winter on record. Eurythmics ‘Here Comes the Rain Again’
Khao Tom Goong: After interviewing Jimmy Barnes I bought his cookbook, Where the River Bends and one of his favourite recipes is this traditional Thai breakfast dish. Made with rice and prawns, you could probably substitute some of the vege stock with white wine (as long it’s not cheap)… Cold Chisel ‘Cheap Wine’.
Chelsea Winter’s Aloha Burgers: This is a delicious combination of pineapple and coated, crispy chicken with a homemade BBQ sauce – an absolute winner with the kids and perfect with The Beach Boys ‘Kokomo’.
Annabel Langebeins’ Brined Italian Roast Chicken: If you’ve never brined a chicken I highly recommend. You’ll need to work ahead and it feels like it takes forever but trust me – melt in the mouth tender and so worth it! Christina Perri ‘A thousand Years’
Peach Melba Pavlova: I made this one year for a family Christmas from an old copy of Cuisine magazine. The raspberries in the sauce are amazing so pair it with Prince ‘Raspberry Beret’
Bon Appetit and Happy Listening.
