Soup with Pork Bones and Water Cres

This is the easiest soup. You just put some water in a large sauce pan, add pork bones and a garlic clove the you’ve just bruised. I find the garlic makes the soup smell nicer during the cooking process, you don’t have that full on pork smell going through your house. In 20 min to 1/2 hour after simmering add some chopped carrots and a generous amount of fish sauce, to taste. When the meat is tender add in the water cress and be ready to serve.  You could also use cabbage as well.

This has been a family dish since I can remember and it’s a winner with the children.  Add steamed rice into the soup bowl and break off the meat and serve it to even babies who can’t get enough.

Cooking, Lots

 

I’ve been spending a heap of time in the kitchen making adventurous dishes from scratch, pounding spices like star anise and coriander seeds for a five spice braise. Maybe it’s because winter is coming, or maybe it;s because I know I should cut down on my calorie intake and do it to spite myself. What ever it is I’m turning out delightful dishes. The whole buiding smells of garlic, tumeric, coriander, and even tamarind.

The other night I made a traditional Cambodian beef sour soup with lemon grass and water spinach, yum! I think even my mum would have given me the thumbs up for that!

The Great Aussie Barbecue

Last night I caught the train to Yarraville for a well deserved barbecue. Mark my friend from New Zealand and his friend Fergus knew a thing or two about how to put on a great Aussie barbie with style.  There were prawns, twice cooked ribs, sausages and the humble dim sim sizzling away on the grill while chilled out guests drank sparkling, pear vodka and beer on the friendly veranda. There were dogs of all description running through our legs waiting for a tasty snack someone had dropped. Outside was the small lawn and a lemon tree out the back.

Gone are the days of merely throwing sausages on the gas burner and having a bottle of tomato sauce handy with a slice of white bread… That’s what some of my adventures will be about; finding the ‘Great Aussie Barbeque ‘ and seeing the melting pot of ideas come together to continue this sacred tradition in this sunburnt country of ours.