Recipes
Invest in a little self-care this Saturday with a bowl of chicken gravy and crisp Brussels sprouts pasta
Food & Drink

Invest in a little self-care this Saturday with a bowl of chicken gravy and crisp Brussels sprouts pasta

22 Oct 2020

Forget the sourdough-baking addiction of early 2020, Elizabeth Hewson is reviving the ancient art of pasta making as the must-try stuck-at-home leisure pursuit to get us through this bizarre new reality. Combining self-care ritual with hunger-busting necessity, the foodie found that the slow act of crafting pasta by hand could serve as a form of therapy and keep her anxiety at bay during difficult times. As this year continues to throw challenges our way, many may find similar consolation from preparing their own bowl of comforting carbs. Pop on a soothing playlist and stir up this soul-cuddling pasta sauce of chicken gravy and crisp Brussels sprouts from Elizabeth’s forthcoming cookbook, Saturday Night Pasta. Elizabeth has put her own spin on this Italian favourite, describing it as “the dish that gives me a hug when the world does not”. If you want to take your culinary therapy a… more

Recipes
Get a little taste of summer in Sicily with Julia Busuttil Nishimura's coffee granita with whipped cream and brioche
Food & Drink

Get a little taste of summer in Sicily with Julia Busuttil Nishimura’s coffee granita with whipped cream and brioche

24 Sep 2020

Whether it's for breakfast or a snack, granita and brioche is the epitome of a summer treat. As the granita melts, the cream and coffee merge to make a kind of slush, which is every bit as delicious as it sounds. This must-try recipe from Julia Busuttil Nishimura is featured within the pages of her new book A Year of Simple Family Food and is an ode to summer holidays in Sicily, where there are no rules and granita with whipped cream and brioche becomes a perfectly acceptable breakfast. Tip, you may need to start the brioche the day before you want to eat it so you can let the dough prove overnight in the fridge.  more

Recipes
Simple delicious – five easy crumble recipes to impress your winter guests
Food & Drink

Simple delicious – five easy crumble recipes to impress your winter guests

02 Jul 2020

There is something deeply satisfying and nostalgic about a warm fruit crumble, especially in the cooler months. It's a guaranteed crowd pleaser to roll out at a dinner party (now we're allowed to have them) and, even better, its super simple to make. The next time you're on dessert duty, whip up one of these five simple-yet-delicious crumble recipes – just don't forget to pick up a tub of ice-cream on the way. more

Recipes
Dinner in a jiffy – five simple-yet-delicious meals you can whip up in 20-minutes or less
Food & Drink

Dinner in a jiffy – five simple-yet-delicious meals you can whip up in 20-minutes or less

25 Jun 2020

A lot can happen in 20 minutes, but when it comes to meal time 20 minutes is the difference between hungry and hangry. We've all been there – you have the very best intentions of meal planning and prepping and yet all of a sudden it's dinner time and there's no dinner to speak of. Before you reach for your phone to order takeaway, take a peek at these simple-yet-delicious meals you can rustle up in 20-minutes or less, which is probably faster than a delivery driver anyway. more

Recipes
Comfort-food alert – five creamy potato bake recipes to satisfy your winter cravings
Food & Drink

Comfort-food alert – five creamy potato bake recipes to satisfy your winter cravings

18 Jun 2020

Let's not beat around the bush here. Potatoes are king. They are delicious in every form and nothing can beat them. We love them mashed, we love them hand cut into chips, we love them expertly sliced and arranged into perfect potato layers. Simply the phrase 'potato layers' brings a joyous tear to our eye – so you can imagine the effect the addition of cream and cheese in a potato bake has. You've likely already nailed your mum's basic potato bake recipe, so we're here to take your tater love to the next level. Think additions of smoky bacon and garlic, carnivore-fooling vegan bakes and a special indulgent treat called at tartiflette. You'll thank us later. more

Recipes
Ginners are winners – five gin-based cocktails to make on World Gin Day
Food & Drink

Ginners are winners – five gin-based cocktails to make on World Gin Day

11 Jun 2020

Okay, the fact that we've got World Gin Day (aka Saturday June 13) marked on our calendars probably reveals far too much about our lifestyles. That being said, we firmly believe some responsible cheer can do wonders for our morale after another week of lockdown. Although restrictions are starting to ease and bars will soon be slinging drinks once more, it's always nice to have a little stash of spirits on hand at home when you're in the mood to celebrate or entertain. If your mixology skills have become rusty, break out a bottle of gin (or splash out and get one if your cabinet is dry), and try your hand at concocting these five gin-based cocktails. more

Recipes
Low and slow – easy but delicious slow-cooker and slow-roast recipes
Food & Drink

Low and slow – easy but delicious slow-cooker and slow-roast recipes

04 Jun 2020

Just in case you haven't been outside and missed the memo – it's officially winter, which means two things – mulled wine and soul-warming comfort food. Meat roasted low and slow until it pulls apart with just a nudge, mountains of creamy mashed potato, pasta bakes aplenty and curries, so many curries! Winter food is one of the true joys of the season and when it comes to comfort cooking, the slow cooker is everybody's best friend. The set-and-forget nature of it means that with just a little prep in the morning you can come home to a cockle-warming feast and best of all, there's only one pot to clean! If you're keen to up the ante on your slow-cooking game, we've found five hearty, winter dishes that will bring you copious amounts of joy. Don't have a slow cooker? Fret not, friend – we've also included a ridiculously tasty slow-roast recipe you can whack in the oven.  more

Recipes
No mess, no fuss – easy but delicious one-pan, one-tray or one-pot meal recipes
Food & Drink

No mess, no fuss – easy but delicious one-pan, one-tray or one-pot meal recipes

28 May 2020

Being confined to our homes for the last couple of months has lead to a lot more cooking and, for a while there, we really embraced our extra time to expand our recipe repertoire. We're starting to get to the point, however, we're pretty tired and craving something delicious, but super easy. Not just when it comes to prep, either – we also don't want much to clean up. To help you maximise on flavour and your free time, we've found five one-pan, one-tray or one-pot meal recipes so you can skip the washing up and get back to your Netflix binge. more

The Locals Next week:

Recipes
Celebrate the Paniyiri Greek Festival at home with this sweet honey puffs recipe
Food & Drink

Celebrate the Paniyiri Greek Festival at home with this sweet honey puffs recipe

20 May 2020

In 1976 a group of passionate Greek Australians sought to share their storied cultural traditions with the people of Brisbane. Four decades later and Paniyiri Greek Festival has grown to become Queensland’s signature celebration of all things Greek and the state’s largest cultural festival. As far as success stories go, this one is pretty amazing. Following the cancellation of this year's festival due to strict social-distancing restrictions, the fine folks behind Paniyiri Greek Festival decided to move their celebrations online this Sunday May 24. To help you experience one of the most colourful and flavoursome cultures at home, the've also shared their mouth-watering honey puffs (loukoumades) recipe. These sweet balls of goodness are a traditional Greek dessert that somewhat resembles the golden crispy-meets-fluffy texture of a doughnut. Once fried to perfection, the puffs are… more

Recipes
Five hearty pasta recipes to warm your bones and soothe your soul
Food & Drink

Five hearty pasta recipes to warm your bones and soothe your soul

20 May 2020

Sure, having a fit rig to strut the sand with post-iso is great and all, but what good will abs do when the mercury plummets? This year we’re advocating for the quarantine bod – that extra bit of cushion that keeps you warm when conditions outside become abominable. Pasta is comfort food – through and through – and there’s no dish we’d rather eat for dinner when rugged up and cosy at home. If you’re keen to jump on the quarantine bod movement, try these five warming recipes that will make your iso experience like the food equivalent of a big, warm hug. more

Recipes
In crust we trust – five easy pie recipes perfect for winter baking
Food & Drink

In crust we trust – five easy pie recipes perfect for winter baking

14 May 2020

Whatever genius invented the pie deserves to be showered with eternal praise – seriously. Close your eyes and conjure the mental image of a flaky and buttery exterior encasing the mouth-watering ingredients within. It's enough to have us levitating with serene joy and the aroma of a pie fresh out of the oven is like an intoxicating perfume. Sorry, were we drooling? Forget about that. Pie is what we are here to discuss and with the winter months approaching (and most of us locked inside with plenty of time on our hands) there's no better time to have a crack at making one. What's your flavour? Do you prefer sweet or savoury? No matter your preference, we've rounded up five easy pie recipes here for you to try. more

Recipes
Skip the sourdough starter – try these five easy-to-master focaccia recipes while in iso
Food & Drink

Skip the sourdough starter – try these five easy-to-master focaccia recipes while in iso

07 May 2020

With most of us figuring out how to occupy an isolation-induced abundance of free time and the days bringing a noticeably cooler change, conditions have never been better to learn how to make focaccia. If you're anything like us, your Instagram feed is filled with folks making their own bread while stuck at home, but we guarantee making a focaccia is way easier, just as fulfilling and far tastier depending on the ingredients you want to include. If the sound of a slightly puffed focaccia – dotted with salt and rosemary, with small pools of liberally spread olive oil resting in its pitted surface – sounds absolutely divine right now, have a crack at making some using these five recipes. You've got time, so why the foc not? more

Recipes
Sweet freedom – five picnic recipes to celebrate restrictions easing this weekend
Food & Drink

Sweet freedom – five picnic recipes to celebrate restrictions easing this weekend

30 Apr 2020

In case you haven't heard, some of Queensland's stay-at-home-restrictions are easing as of this Saturday May 2, just in time for the long weekend. This new freedom is still heavily in line with social-distancing measures, however you are now permitted to venture outdoors for a picnic with members of the same household, or one other person if you live alone. The weather forecast for the weekend is looking pretty darn perfect for a (safely distanced) outdoor spread, so we've found five delectable picnic recipes to help you celebrate this little taste of freedom. more

Recipes
Crank the oven and get ready to bake – Arnott's has released its Monte Carlo recipe
Food & Drink

Crank the oven and get ready to bake – Arnott’s has released its Monte Carlo recipe

29 Apr 2020

If you had visions of using this time in isolation to shred with home-based workouts and clean eating, we suggest you click away now. If, however, you've come to the conclusion that life is short and isolation is made inherently better with delectable baked goods then we have some excellent news – Arnott's has released a home-inspired version of its lauded Monte Carlo biscuit recipe. Delicious on its own or dunked in a cup of tea, the Monte Carlo is a culinary icon and for good reason. If you're keen to give it a crack, don your apron, crank the oven to 170°C and let's bake, baby! more

Recipes
Join the Legacy Anzac Biscuit Bake Off with this macadamia and maple Anzac granola
Food & Drink

Join the Legacy Anzac Biscuit Bake Off with this macadamia and maple Anzac granola

23 Apr 2020

We know that Anzac Day is going to be very different this year and it's heartbreaking to know we can't commemorate in our usual fashion. This also means that for charities such as Legacy, it's the cancellation of their peak fundraising activities. To keep the spirit alive, Legacy has turned to the digital realm with the launch of its inaugural Legacy Anzac Biscuit Bake Off. Joining the virtual bake off is easy – simply register as an individual or team, make your best Anzac biscuits (or Anzac biscuit-inspired delights) and share photos and videos of your creations to inspire donations. Legacy Anzac Biscuit Bake Off is open from now until Sunday May 3, so you better get baking! If you're in need of a little inspiration, you're in luck. Legacy Brisbane has worked with a number of its widows, children, staff, volunteers and supporters, gathering their Anzac recipes to create a free… more

Recipes
Smaklig måltid – IKEA has released its iconic Swedish meatballs recipe!
Food & Drink

Smaklig måltid – IKEA has released its iconic Swedish meatballs recipe!

23 Apr 2020

Every trip to Ikea has a few absolute must-dos – finding the funniest-sounding item names, pretending you live in one of the display units (we see you, 500 Days of Summer), picking up at least five unnecessary items that your shopping partner tells you to put back … but one tradition reigns supreme above all. We’re talking, of course, about the procurement of Swedish meatballs. Due to Ikea journeys being off the table (or SKOGSTA if you want to get technical) for the near future, the generous powers that be have decided to hand over the recipe for this iconic dish. more

Recipes
The Weekend Series: five rustic recipes to watch Game of Thrones by
Food & Drink

The Weekend Series: five rustic recipes to watch Game of Thrones by

18 Apr 2019

Winter is coming and Game of Thrones is back. After a long hiatus, the record-smashing series returned last week with an emotionally charged Season 8 premiere, in what is set to be the beginning of the end. After nearly a decade of dragons, swords and power struggles, the series will wrap up at the end of this season – meaning every episode is ripe for a GoT viewing party. Keep the chills at bay with these five bone-warming dishes that are easy to share among friends and the perfect accompaniment to your next GoT gathering. more

Recipes
The Weekend Series: move over cob – muffuletta is your new breadst friend
Food & Drink

The Weekend Series: move over cob – muffuletta is your new breadst friend

29 Nov 2018

While the humble cob loaf has enjoyed a renaissance this year, it’s time to make room for a new bread-based hero. We’re calling it right now – 2019 is set to be the year that the muffuletta takes over Australia. Originally created in New Orleans, this multi-layered meaty delight has recently had a taste in the Australian spotlight thanks to Sydney’s A1 Canteen – and we’re ready to get on board. Sharing its name with the bread on which it’s made, the muffuletta is traditionally crammed with salami, ham, mortadella, Swiss cheese, provolone and (deep breath) a marinated olive salad. While this combination is legendary, we’ve tracked down five muffuletta variations that will have you kissing the tips of your fingers like an old-timey cartoon chef. more

Recipes
The Weekend Series: celebrate spring with these five batch cocktail recipes
Food & Drink

The Weekend Series: celebrate spring with these five batch cocktail recipes

30 Aug 2018

Hallelujah – spring is finally here! While we’re still a few days from fully shedding all of our layers, there’s no better time to blow the dust of our cocktail cabinet. Spring is the perfect entertaining season, and the best way to entertain is with some ice-cold batch cocktails. Picnics, garden soirees, intimate dinner gatherings – not only is it convenient to have the party juice already prepared, but you can save the hassle of clearing fridge and esky space for errant six packs and wine bottles. Break out the punch bowl and wash out the pitchers, it’s batch cocktail season baby! more

Recipes
The Weekend Series: recreate your favourites with these DIY food projects
Food & Drink

The Weekend Series: recreate your favourites with these DIY food projects

16 Aug 2018

Sure, you can whip up a mean spaghetti bolognaise and don’t burn down the house when cooking Sunday roast. In the words of Her Royal Highness Shania Twain, ‘that don’t impress me much’. We love getting DIY in the kitchen, getting outside our comfort zone and making popular substances from scratch. Ever tried your hand at making jam? What about cheese? Don’t panic – making these items is not outside your skillset, all you need is a good recipe. We’ve found five that will give you enough guidance to take your cooking game up a notch. more