Eating well, Everyday

Posted on 2018-07-01

Peter Gordon‘s “Everyday” cookbook was recently re-published as “Eating Well, Everyday” by Jacqui Small. Peter’s book has the most recipes I cook, out of any of the books on my shelf, and was a particularly great project to work on, as I was given a lot of creative freedom. Peter is great like that. He puts a lot of faith into the people he chooses to work with. One of the things I really enjoy about shooting a cook book, is coming up with the theme for the book. How to bring all the recipes together and break the chapters up with chapter openers and incidentals.

In this case, with “Eating Well, Everyday” we used a lot of props, and I thought it could be fun to try and colour code each chapter, and create a chapter opener, using the props from the dishes that appears in that chapter. Stacking everything up in a simple and beautiful way, creating a natural pause between each chapter of the book. Off course some of the setups were rather time consuming to set up, and quite wobbly, despite their easy and serene look. I like to keep things real and simple, and using these principles in Peter’s “Everyday” book, seemed to work quite well.

Probably the “Everyday” recipe I cook the most out of anything I’ve ever shot! Something as simple as an omelette, you wouldn’t think requires much of a recipe, however this one gives you perfect, and tasty eggs, with the right amount of fluff and umami!

SMOKED SALMON AND GOATS CHEESE OMELETTE
Serves 2

You can use either hot-smoked or cold-smoked salmon, and the goat’s cheese can be
replaced with most other cheeses.

5 eggs
1 handful ﬂat parsley, coarsely chopped
4 tbsp cold water
salt & pepper
2 knobs butter (or 1 tbsp olive oil)
100 g smoked salmon, sliced or ﬂaked
80 g goat’s cheese, crumbled (or your ﬁavouite cheese)
hot buttered toast, to serve

1. Crack the eggs into a bowl. Add the parsley and the cold water. Season with salt and pepper and use a fork to beat the eggs for barely 4 seconds to break the yolks.

2. Place a 15-24 cm frying pan (ideally non-stick) over medium-high heat.

3. Add half the butter (or oil) and when it begins to sizzle pour in half the eggs. Swirl
it around a bit and use a spoon or spatula to bring the set outer egg into the centre until it all begins to set.

4. Lay half the salmon and half the cheese across the centre and leave for another 5 seconds. Carefully fold one edge over the ﬁlling, then gently ﬂip the omelette over. Give it a few more seconds, then slide onto a hot plate while you cook the other one.

5. Serve immediately with hot buttered toast.

Recipe © Peter Gordon

Food styling and props by Grant Allen. Additional props by The Propsdepartment. Photography and styling by Manja Wachsmuth.

More cookbook snippets? How about Vanilla Table or Spice Health Heroes?

Golden Pavlova with Summer Berries and Salted Chocolate Sauce

Posted on 2017-12-20

Golden Pavlova with summer berries and salted chocolate sauce. Cooking with Salt. Recipes, foodstyling, styling & photography by Manja Wachsmuth

GOLDEN PAVOVA WITH SUMMER BERRIES AND SALTED CHOCOLATE SAUCE
Server 6-8

A Pavlova recipe with a golden twist and a salty chocolate sauce that breaks with the sweet pav and the tart summerberries.

Pavlova:
6 egg whites, at room temperature
380g brown sugar
4 tsp. cornflour
2 tsp. cider vinegar
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Salted Chocolate Sauce:
100g dark chocolate of good quality
150 ml single cream
1 tbsp. syrup
2 tsp. sea salt flakes

Garnish:
200 ml single cream, whipped to peaks
100g Blueberries (fresh or frozen)
100g Blackberry (fresh or frozen)
100g Raspberries (fresh or frozen)

Golden Pavlova:
Preheat the oven to 140 ° C. Place baking paper on a baking tray. Whip egg whites until they stiff and then gradually add brown sugar until the meringue forms soft peaks and is shiny. Be patient, it may take up to 10 minutes. Then add corn flour, vinegar and vanilla and whip on low setting until the meringue is even. Arange the meringue on baking paper on a baking tray and shape it in a large circle, about 5-6 cm high using a rubber spatula. Smooth the edges with the spatula and then bake approx. 1 hour until it is firm and light golden. Turn off the oven and leave to cool completely before serving. The Pavlova can be made a few days in advance and stored in an airtight container.

Salted Chocolate Sauce:
Heat water in a large sauce pan on the stove and place a heatproof bowl that fits into the pan so that the water touches the bottom of the bowl. Then slowly melt the chocolate into the water bath while stirring occasionally with a silicone / rubber spatula. When the chocolate is melted add the syrup and mix thoroughly. Then add whipped cream into small portions and stir continuosly until the sauce is smooth. Finally, taste with sea salt.

Gather the pavlova by distributing whipped cream over it in a smooth layer and decorate with berries and salted chocolate sauce. If you are using frozen berries, leave the pavlova for 10-15 minutes before serving so they can thaw a bit. Serve with extra chocolate sauce.

This recipe is part of my salt story published in Matmagasinet Nord #23 2017, focusing on using salt as a main ingredient for cooking or flavouring. Try these recipes from this series too:
Blackberry Grav Lax
Salt & Vinegar Potato Skins
Bork Belly in Brine with Cripsy Crackling
Salt Dough Baked Leg of Lamb
The Perfectly Salty Margaria
Oozy Salted Chocolate Caramel Tart
Salted Caramel Ice Cream

Blackberry Grav Lax

Posted on 2017-08-20

Salt recipes Cooking with Salt

BLACKBERRY GRAV LAX
Serves 8-10

In this Grav Lax recipe salt, in combination with the sugar, alcohol and fruit is used to draw moisture out of the flesh and preserve the fish. Giving it a lovely smooth texture and a very slight salty taste. The traditional Scandinavian Grav Lax, has had an overhaul with blackberries, creating a stunning fillet, that looks great on your smorgasbord.

1 kg Salmon Fillet, skin on, pin boned
½ cup/70g Sea Salt Flakes
¼ cup Raw Sugar (weigh)
2 tsp Heilala Vanilla Powder (seeds from 2 vanilla pods)
2 tbsp freshly ground Pepper
3 cups/ 400 g Frozen or fresh Blackberries
1/3 cup/ 1 dl Snaps
2 tbsp fennel seeds

Horseradish Dip:

Horseradish cream
Sour cream
Salt & Pepper to taste

Serving:

Rye Bread
Micro greens (coriander & beetroot sprouts or watercress)
Lemon rind
Blackberries

Method Grav Lax:

Place sea salt, sugar, vanilla powder, pepper, blackberries, snaps and fennel seeds in a food processor or blender, and blitz to mix.

Place the salmon skin side down on several layers of cling film, (enough to wrap around and cover the salmon), and place on a baking tray. Using tweezers, remove the pin bones along the side of the salmon fillet. Spread the salt and blackberry mixture over the fish, making sure it’s completely covered. Then wrap the cling film tightly around the salmon. Place a second baking tray or chopping board over the fillet and weigh it down with a heavy item (Weighing the fish down, is not usually part of traditional Swedish curing technique, however it’s often used in Southern Hemisphere cooking, to help draw moisture out. This technique may give the fish a tougher texture).

Refrigerate and cure for at least 24 hours, up to 48 hours.

Remove the cling film and clean the seasoning mixture from the salmon with a wet teatowel. Avoid rinsing the filet, under the tap, as this will rinse out the beautiful red colour. Serve thinly sliced on toasted rye bread, garnish with micro herbs (ie coriander & beetroot sprouts or watercress), lemon rind, blackberries and horseradish dip (see method below).

Method Dip:

Mix horseradish cream and sour cream, evenly 50/50 and season with sea salt and pepper to your liking.

The Grav Lax will keep 3-4 days, chilled.

Cooking note: It is important to use sea salt crystals and not rock salt, as flavour and texture will vary greatly.

Salt recipes

This recipe is part of my salt story published in MAD&venner #129 2015 & Matmagasinet Nord #23 2017, focusing on using salt as a main ingredient for cooking or flavouring. Try these recipes from this series too:
Salt & Vinegar Potato Skins
Pork Belly in Brine with Cripsy Crackling
Salt Dough Baked Leg of Lamb
The Perfectly Salty Margarita
Oozy Salted Chocolate Caramel Tart
Salted Caramel Ice Cream
Golden Pavlova with Summer Berries and Salted Chocolate Sauce

Berry Beautiful

Posted on 2014-12-19

NZ House & Garden Magazine #244

It’s summer in New Zealand! And it is time to utilise some of the beautiful produce this season has to offer.
For NZ House & Garden, I’ve shot a beautiful berry story, using ripe berries of the summer season. With Christmas fast approaching, I thought it would be a good idea to share this lovely take on the classic Pavlova with fresh berries, along with a Raspberry Vinegar recipe to use with the Pavlova. Happy Holidays!

Stay tuned for a recipe on a Danish Christmas classic: Ris a’la Mande with homemade Cherry Sauce. Will be up before Christmas!

Individual Pavlovas with Berries & Raspberry Vinegar Sauce
Makes 6

This is a fabulous make-ahead dessert – the sauce can be made several days before required, while the pavlovas can be made the day before needed and stored in an airtight container.

6 egg whites
2 cups caster sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
1 teaspoon white vinegar
2 teaspoons cornflour
300ml cream, beaten until thick
500g mixed fresh berries
Raspberry vinegar sauce:
11⁄2 cups fresh or frozen raspberries
3 tablespoon raspberry vinegar
3 tablespoons icing sugar

Heat oven to 100°C. Line a baking tray with baking paper.

In a large bowl, whisk eggs whites to firm peaks. Gradually add caster sugar a teaspoon at a time (this can take about 10 minutes).

Beat in vanilla, salt, vinegar and cornflour until mixture is fluffy and glossy.

Spoon mixture onto lined tray to form 6 evenly sized pavlovas. Bake 1 hour or until crisp and dry looking. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack.

Sauce: Blend raspberries, vinegar and icing sugar together until smooth. Strain through a sieve and discard seeds.

To assemble dessert, place pavlovas on serving plates and top with beaten cream, fresh berries and a good drizzle of sauce.

Raspberry Vinegar
Makes about 2 cups

Use this vinegar to make dressings, drizzle over berries or add to marinades and sauces – both sweet and savoury.
It’s also ideal for the sauce served over the pavlovas on page xxx, and makes a lovely gift.

1 cup fresh or frozen raspberries, lightly crushed
2 cups white wine vinegar
2 small cinnamon sticks

Place all ingredients in a glass jar and seal. Store in a cool, dark place for 2-4 weeks. To remind you when the vinegar will be ready, add a date label.

When vinegar is ready to be bottled, line a sieve with muslin and place over a bowl. Pour contents of jar through sieve then transfer the clear liquid to sterilized bottles or jars and seal.

Vinegar will keep for up to 12 months in a cool, dark cupboard, even after opening.

Christmas with Dish

Posted on 2013-12-13

Dish Magazine #51, Christmas Feature 2013

Phew, does time go by fast! I can’t belive how fast 2013 has gone! Christmas is almost here, and it’s been a whole month since my last post.

With NZ summer in full bloom and Christmas just around the corner, I hope to be able to post a few things for inspiration for Christmas, starting with these lovely images I did for Dish Magazine’s Christmas issue.

The white and metal story is their main Christmas feature, which we shot in my studio. As the studio is a nice, open space with both white walls and floors, it was easy to keep tones of grey and white looking clean, and with Lianne Whorwood’s (The Props Department) amazing talent for finding quirky and beutifull things, this feature is sure to inspire. As always Claire’s (food editor of Dish Magazine) food is beautiful and full of flavour and every issue there’s usually at least one recipe that goes into my repetoire as a favorite. This Christmas ham is certainly no exception and also the buns in the background have a secret ingredient, and they are to DIE for!

When I started this blog, I did have the hopes of updating once a week, and with so many posts lined up, and ideas for new ones, I honestly thought it was going to be a piece of cake. But as with anything else, if you want it done properly, it takes time and effort, and I do tend to be referred to as a perfectionist. So fingers crossed, there will be a few Christmas related blogposts up next week. But for now, if I may say so: Get your Dish Magazine Christmas issue ASAP!