Amanda Lawson

Cooking and recipes

At Amanda’s Table Blog

Spring Minestrone with Celeriac Leaf Pesto

Spring minestrone with celeriac leaf pesto is my kind of dish. It's a quick soup made with what I had on hand before the weekly shop- a tin of cannellini beans, frozen peas, a leek and a zucchini. In last week's blog, I posted a recipe for celeriac remoulade. I recently chatted with Sally from Farmer and Son https://www.farmerandson.com.au about ... Read More

Celeriac Remoulade

Once upon a time at a cafe in Noosa, QLD, I ordered a brunch plate with celeriac remoulade. It was absolutely delicious smeared on flat bread with smoked salmon and poached eggs. Sally from https://www.farmerandson.com.au has been giving me lesser known produce to try, so I thought I'd try my hand at making my own remoulade. Celeriac, or celery ... Read More

Spelt Buttermilk Scones with Cashew Cream

Spelt buttermilk scones with jam and cream are my absolute favourite for a tea-time treat. My dear friend Domenica makes the most delicious scones, served with strawberry jam and freshly whipped cream. I confess, I usually leave with a tummy ache because I can never stop at just one scone! I love to bake with wholemeal spelt flour, and I thought ... Read More

Fig, Cardamom and Orange Brownies

  Fig, orange  and cardamom brownies are a sophisticated version of a much loved Bill Granger 'healthier chocolate brownie' recipe that I've been making since the kids were little. I love the texture of the dried figs and the crunchy pumpkin seeds, while the ground cardamom and orange zest deliver a beautiful aroma. The brownies don't ... Read More

Carrot, Date and Ginger Jam

  Carrot, date and ginger jam goes beautifully with honey cashew cream, smeared on top of spelt buttermilk scones. It's also a delicious addition to a cheese platter. After a bit of chopping and grating (mind your knuckles when you grate), the ingredients pretty well look after themselves with an occasional stir in the pan. The beauty ... Read More

Spiced Pear and Almond Cake

Spiced pear and almond cake is a lovely cake to serve for afternoon tea, warm out of the oven with a dollop of cream or Greek yoghurt. Pears are one of the oldest temperate fruits on earth. The pear (pyrus communis) was valued for both its flavour and texture in ancient times. It's believed to have originated in the Caucasus Mountains between the ... Read More

Okra with Tomatoes and Curry Leaves

  Okra with tomatoes and curry leaves is a very quick dish to make. They're sometimes known as lady's fingers. Originating from Africa, okra are now widely used in Indian cooking, and dishes of the Caribbean and the southern states of the USA. I think this dish would be delicious with some chickpeas or lentils stirred in. Otherwise, ... Read More

Jerusalem Artichoke and Walnut Soup

  Jerusalem artich0ke and walnut soup began with a case of mistaken identity. At the market https://cambridgemarkets.com.au , I picked up what I thought was a piece of ginger. James, my fruit and veg man https://www.farmerandson.com.au told me that it was Jerusalem artichoke. Having shied away from cooking them before, I decided to buy a ... Read More

Cheesy Thyme Bread Puddings

These cheesy thyme bread puddings are made up of stale bread and leftover cheese. Did you know that bread is one of the most commonly discarded household items? I often make breadcrumbs and croutons and freeze them. However, occasionally there is a neglected baguette that is simply too hard to turn into breadcrumbs. But, if you soak the bread for ... Read More