Recipes Brisbane | The Weekend Edition

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

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

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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

Food & Drink

The Weekend Series: warm your belly with a dose of baked cheese goodness

26 Jul 2018

After you’ve exhausted your repertoire of cheese toasties, cheesy bakes and cheesy pastas, where do you go for a sure-fire cheese-based winter warmer? For us, we’ve started straight-up baking our cheese. No, we’re not just scooping up melted cheese with our fingers (though it’s not outside the realm of possibility) – we’re getting sophisticated with it. Take our advice – fire up the oven, grab a wheel of something tasty, and get ready to witness the unbrielievable spectacle of a freshly baked cheese wheel in all its ooey-gooey splendour. more

Food & Drink

The Weekend Series: warm up with some hearty winter cocktail recipes

31 May 2018

We've already broken out our jackets and winter hasn't even officially arrived. Good thing we're prepared. We’ve already enlightened you to some divine belly-warming eats and clued you in to some chill-proof cottages, now it’s time to sit back and sip on something that will spread warmth throughout the rest of your soul. It’s pointless having a liquor collection if you’re not interested in forming a solid repertoire of cocktails, and not all cocktails need to be minimalist concoctions. Winter is about indulgence, baby. If you’re looking to snuggle up on the couch next to someone special or simply want to unwind with a nice drink after a long day, these winter cocktail recipes are just the ticket. more

Food & Drink

The Weekend Series: five hearty pasta recipes to warm your bones this winter

17 May 2018

Sure, having a fit rig to strut the sand with come summer is great and all, but what good will abs do when the mercury plummets? This chilly season we’re advocating for the winter bod – that extra bit of cushion that keeps you warm when conditions outside become abominable. Pasta is winter food – through and through – and there’s no dish we’d rather eat for dinner when rugged up and cosy. If you’re keen to jump on the winter bod movement, try these five warming recipes that will keep you from hibernating. more

Food & Drink

The Weekend Series: five ways to step up your garlic bread game

15 Mar 2018

In the words of Belinda Carlise, “They say in heaven, carbs come first. We’ll make heaven a place on Earth”. We’re pretty sure those are the exact lyrics, and if they’re not, when we’d like to start a petition to make it so. What we’re trying to say is that carbs give us heavenly joy. On the carb deliciousness hierarchy chart, garlic bread sits pretty much at the top and it’s easy to see why – you’ve got toasted bread, moreish garlic butter and plenty of opportunities to mix it up. If you're ready to step your garlic bread game up to the next level, we've found find variations that are sure to make your stomach flip with excitement. Bring on the garlic breath! more

Food & Drink

The Weekend Series: Spud studs – five fab potato-based recipes for festive feasting

07 Dec 2017

When it comes to versatility, the potato reigns supreme as one of the most beloved and adaptable foodstuff. French fries, mashed potato, potato bake, roast potato, potato gems, hash browns – without potatoes our lives wouldn’t be nearly as good. It’s that time of year when we meet up with friends and family to celebrate the festive period, which usually entails a lot of food-centric gatherings. If you are strapped for ideas but are flush with spuds, then put them to good use with these five potato-based recipes that will be sure-fire winners at the table. more

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Slam-dunk your tastebuds with Press Club’s signature Space Jam cocktail

30 Nov 2017

If the mere mention of Space Jam doesn’t immediately fill you will an overwhelming sense of nostalgic joy, you’re probably a monster (or a robot, or a robot monster). The live-action/animated sports comedy starring NBA hero Michael Jordan and a motley crew of Looney Tunes characters is a legitimate cinematic masterpiece, so it’s no wonder that it has been a source of inspiration for many. In fact, beloved Brisbane bar Press Club named its signature cocktail for the movie – and these guys know their cocktails like Lola Bunny knows her way around the court. To celebrate the launch of its first-ever ticketed New Year’s Eve event, Press Club is handing over its coveted Space Jam recipe. This sparkling concoction is deceptively easy to make and will impress your pals more than Jordan landing a three-pointer right on the buzzer. more

Food & Drink

The Weekend Series: embrace the cob life with five baller cob loaf recipes

23 Nov 2017

The humble cob loaf is having something of a powerful resurgence at the moment and to be honest we couldn’t be more thrilled. This simple but effective culinary number is pretty much the social equivalent of a puppy – if you show up to any sort of event with a cob loaf, you’re going to be the star of the show and everyone is going to want to be your best mate because you are an individual of fine taste. So revered is the cob loaf that the New South Wales town of Wellington has created a whole festival dedicated to it! Fear not if you can’t make it – we’ve rounded up five delicious and not-so-common cob loaf recipes so you can recreate the vibe at home. more

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The Weekend Series: binge mode – what to eat when you are devouring your favourite shows

19 Oct 2017

Here’s the deal – no movie night is complete without snacks. Are we all in agreement? Good. The same goes for a solid Netflix binge, though if we’re being constructive humans, we need to acknowledge that a party-sized bag of corn chips is not the most glamorous option. Sorry guys, but it’s true. It’s time to dust off the crumbs and put some effort in! If you’ve got some pals coming around for a weekly Bachelorette episode party, or if you’re keen to snuggle up with your loved one and the latest blockbuster, do so with some creative snacks that will be as much of a talking point as the movie or episode (or season) you’ve chosen for the night. more

Food & Drink

Start your morning right with an egg and bacon galette

27 Jul 2017

They say getting out on the wrong side of the bed is a sure-fire way to start your day on the wrong foot. Well, for us our day starts off poorly if we haven’t had a decent breakfast. Sure, muesli and fruit is great, but in the colder months we find something warm to be preferable. Katrina Ryan from The Golden Pig Food & Wine School contributed to the gargantuan anthology The Great Australian Baking Book, which features great savoury day starters such as Katrina’s delicious recipe for egg and bacon galettes with caramelised onion. more

Food & Drink

Blow away the winter blues with a comforting old-school cheese toastie

06 Jul 2017

If you hadn’t noticed, it’s gotten a bit cold recently. Chilly weather begets cravings for comfort food, but its important not to settle for just any dish because it’s warm. If you are looking to jazz up your winter warmers, we suggest you start with the humble toasted sandwich. Chefs Eat Toasties Too by Darren Purchase is a great resource for anyone that wants to flex their culinary muscles but want to start small. This book can help you turn your grilled cheeses into gourmet, golden-crispy gob fillers, and you can’t go wrong with the old-school cheese toastie. Say goodbye to hunger and say goodbye to the winter chill – we’re moving to toastie town! more

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The Weekend Series: beat your broke-ass blues with these pre-pay day meals

27 Apr 2017

'Twas the night before pay day and all through the pantry, nothing to eat – just bare cabinetry. It’s a grim scenario that we’ve all experienced before – we’ve blown out our budget on UberEATS and online shopping, leaving our dinner options slim and sad. It’s not all doom and gloom, though. There are ways to make the final few meals before payday bearable – you just have to get creative! Take stock of your paltry staples, have a crack at these ingenious recipes and compliment yourself on your resourcefulness. more

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The Weekend Series: desk lunches that don’t suck courtesy of Lettuce Lunch

09 Feb 2017

There’s nothing worse than being (figuratively) chained to your work desk all through lunch. Whether it be because of tight deadlines or simply a mountain of work that must get done, sometimes it’s not feasible to go out for lunch when you want. Desk lunches are an unfortunate necessity of office life, but it’s rarely a source of culinary inspiration. If your desk neighbour is giving you some fierce food envy with their freshly bought lunch or you are sick of your bland sandwiches and tinned tuna, we suggest improving your meal prep game. We recruited the services of Carlton Talbot of Lettuce Lunch to give us some killer recipes to try. Lettuce Lunch is a thriving recipe repository that educates thousands on nifty vegetarian meals that are perfect for work. Without further ado, here are five lunch boxes that’ll be the talk of the office – we guarantee it. more

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Make friends with this killer kale salad

12 Jan 2017

Yeah, yeah, we know. Raw kale salad doesn't sound very killer. But trust us on this one – if your kale salads have been bad in the past, it's because you haven't learnt to massage your kale. Help it relaaaxx into deliciousness and it will change the way you look at the leafy vegetable forever. This is just one of the many hot tips Dale Pinnock, aka The Medicinal Chef, offers in his new book How to Cook Healthily. The cookbook is full of tasty and healthy recipes to help you to kickstart the new year, and introduce nutritional dishes into your weekly kitchen routine. In addition to this killer kale, sweet potato and cherry tomato salad, you'll find Chinese-style roast chicken, feel-good fish fingers, goji berry cheesecake and much more. more

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Munch on sesame crunch chicken tacos with cos, avocado and zesty crema

05 Jan 2017

It’s really hard to go past good Mexican food – the sheer vibrancy in both colour and flavour is a feast for the eyes and the tummy combined. Plus, what’s not to love about foods you can eat with one hand? Chef Paul Wilson has focused firmly on feel-good eats in Taqueria, a cookbook that features tacos, salsas and cocktails as the main event. In Taqueria, Paul explores regional flavours and specialities whilst playing with flavour, proving that there’s so much more to this country’s cuisine than lime and jalapenos. The book celebrates taco culture, showcasing the art behind these little parcels of love. What better way to say hola to Mexican cuisine than with a good old favourite like the taco? Far from humble, this recipe for sesame crunch chicken tacos with cos, avocado and zesty crema will have you rethinking everything you thought you knew about Mexican food. more

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The Weekend Series: five festive cocktail recipes to help spread joyous cheer

22 Dec 2016

The holiday season is ideal for bringing people together, spending time with your loved ones and celebrating the connections you’ve made throughout the year. If you are a serial entertainer, this is either the happiest time of your year or the most stressful. The fun part about Christmas catering is the cocktails, but any seasoned host will know that a your trusty Passion Pop punch won’t tantalise everybody’s tastebuds (no matter how much fruit you put in it). We’ve made a list of cocktails to cater for some specific groups and situations that you might encounter over Christmas. more

Food & Drink

The Weekend Series: five festive last-minute recipes for Christmas lunch

15 Dec 2016

Hey, we don’t want to alarm you but as of the publication of this article there is ten days until Christmas. If that sends you into a full-blown panic-spiral we’re sorry, but we also want to assure you that it’s okay – there is still time to get your shopping done. Of course, there’s more to Christmas Day than just giving (and receiving) sweet presents – there’s a large food component that is equally important. If you’ve promised to bring a dish to contribute to the annual feeding frenzy but are short on time, we’ve decided to give you your Christmas present early. Here are five easy recipes for dishes you can throw together at the eleventh hour to bring to Christmas lunch this year. more

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Cool off this summer by whipping up a tall glass of Stone’s Paradise Punch

15 Dec 2016

Queensland summers are a whole lot of hard work – every time you have to go outside it becomes a chore to operate and being sweaty for the vast majority of the day is not appealing. At the end of a hot day (or even in the middle of one) it's nice to be able to cool off with a refreshingly chilled drink. When that drink happens to be a cocktail, we start thinking that maybe summer isn’t all bad. Stone Restaurant and Bar in South Bank has recently unveiled a new summer cocktail menu, filled with mixtures that will help ease your heatstroke. For times when we couldn’t even fathom going outdoors, Stone has graciously gifted us the recipe for one of their fanciest summer cocktails – the Paradise Punch. This fruit-topped drink is perfect for sunshine sipping, and is easy to make! more