ORATIA FARMERS MARKET

Every Saturday I have been getting my fruit and vegetables at the Oratia Farmers market.
Not only do they sell the freshest produce there are also a wide variety of stalls selling breads, cheeses, chocolate, icecream to name a few. Try the portugese tarts. I love them. Another of my favouite stalls sells hungarian fried bread. Try the tomato, feta basil version. Yum!

One gentleman sells fresh passion fruit. I bought a bag and will be making passionfruit puddings.
I also bought some maori potatoes which are delish. Maori potatoes originated from South America apparantly.
Check the markets out and don't eat breakfast before you get there!

MASTERCHEF EVICTION

I was evicted last night from the show and am disappointed but had a great experience!

Check out my interview here with yahoo.

http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/top-stories/6980684/cant-take-the-heat-robert-trathen-on-exiting-masterchef-nz/

Rob

KIDS CANCER CHARITY DINNER ON CLOSEUP

On Friday night live on Closeup with Mark Sainsbury three of us from Masterchef cooked a meal for Mothers with children who have cancer.
You can watch it here
http://tvnz.co.nz/close-up/special-treat-mums-3413114/video

Christine, Kirsty and myself cooked the mothers pan seared snapper with a saffron sauce, fennel and leek puree and roasted vine tomatoes.
For dessert we made individual chocolate and raspberry tarts with a raspberry coulis marscepone cream and fresh raspberries.
Each of us made a plate of canapes.
I made a prawn and mango salad which is pictured here.
It is quick and easy to make and your dinner guests will love it!


Ingredients

3 x mangoes (sliced into small strips)
2 x tablespoons of fish sauce
1 x bunch of coriander finely chopped
6 x kaffir lime leaves chopped finely
1 x fresh chili chopped finely
2 x tablespoons of crushed peanuts (unsalted)
2 x tablespoons of fresh lime juice
1 x tablespoon of palm sugar
2 x bulbs of fresh garlic

Prawns

Fresh raw prawns
sesame oil
1 x tablespoon of lime juice
1x finely chopped garlic bulb

Method

Marinate prawns for 30 mins in sesame oil, a dash of lime juice and some garlic
BBQ or pan fry prawns

Combine all mango salad ingredients and place on a chinese spoon and top with grilled prawn!
Mango salad is also great served as a side to a main.

FREE RANGE BUTCHER

I always buy my meat from the Westmere Butchery in Auckland. It is a free range butchery and sells only top quality meats. There is none of this bright red unaged supermarket meat which is as tough as an old shoe! They also make their own sausages and their beef sausage is award winning.
Some people say they can't afford to buy good quality food. Try staying away from the supermarkets one week and try this idea!
Spend $60 at the butcher and $60 at the green grocer! You will eat like a king for a small family and the ingredients are restaurant quality! You will be amazed at how much produce you can buy and the variety (Do be sensible buying the meat- buy cheaper cuts of meat also to throw in the slow cooker as well as mince for Mousaka or lasagne).

CHOCOLATE AND BLUEBERRY ROULADE

This is a take on the roulade we cooked on Masterchef but I added cocoa and fresh blueberries to make this delicious desert.

ingredients

4 x egg whites
1 1/2 cups of caster sugar
1x teaspoon of vanilla essence
1x cup of blueberries
250ml of fresh cream
1x tablespoon of cornflour
1x tablespoon of cocoa powder
A pinch of salt

Method

Beat egg white until you achieve stiff peaks
Slowly add in sugar a small amount at a time
Add vanilla essence
Add cornflour and cocoa powder and a pinch of salt
Spread onto lightly oiled baking paper
Bake at 180 degrees for 15 mins
Once cooled spread with whipped cream and blueberries
Roll into a roulade
Dust with icing sugar
Slice and serve