Showing posts with label Alphabet Challenge 2025. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alphabet Challenge 2025. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Kiwi Tomato Feta Salad

A fresh twist on the classic tomato and feta combo, this kiwi tomato feta salad is bright, flavorful and delicious. 

Food Lust People Love: A fresh twist on the classic tomato and feta combo, this kiwi tomato feta salad is bright, flavorful and delicious.

If you know any New Zealanders, I can guarantee that they will correct you on calling our main ingredient here kiwi without its whole name, kiwi fruit because, of course, the kiwi is also their national bird. Recipes for kiwi? Horrifying. No one eats the flightless bird! At least no one does anymore. 

So, I debated with myself about the name of this recipe. Do I add the word fruit so search engines will know I’m not cooking a protected bird? But then, please forgive me, NZ friends, it occurred to me that most of the world has never even heard of the bird that gives you your nickname. Kiwi tomato feta salad it is! 

As a small aside, regarding the kiwi fruit, I’ve been reading online that you can actually eat the fuzzy peel but I’ll be honest, that really doesn't sound like a good idea to me. (I prefer nectarines to peaches because of the fuzz and peaches aren’t even sharp.) Some Reddit users claim they scrub or even shave the little hairs off to make the peel more palatable and more power to them. I’ll stick with peeling! For this salad, you do you. 

Kiwi Tomato Feta Salad

Since this recipe makes more dressing than you actually need, this salad is very easily doubled. Add a protein, like cooked salmon or chicken and, as is, it makes a lovely lunch for two. I added salmon to mine but since I put it on last, it covered up the lovely green kiwi fruit in those photos, our star ingredient. Without the protein, it's the perfect side salad. 

Ingredients
For the dressing:
1 green onion, divided
3 tablespoons cider vinegar
2 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 teaspoon mustard powder (like Colman’s)
Good pinch flakey sea salt
A few good grinds of black pepper, plus extra to finish the salad

For the salad:
3 ripe but firm kiwi fruit
1 ripe but firm tomato
1 oz or 28g feta cheese

Method
Slice the green part of the green onion and finely mince the white part. 


Put the white part in a small jar with the vinegar. Set aside for a few minutes then add the rest of the dressing ingredients. 


Give it all a good shake until fully mixed, then set aside. 


Peel and slice the kiwi. 


Core and cut the tomato in to small pieces. 


Lay the kiwi slices out single file on a plate. Scatter the tomato on the sliced kiwi. 


Crumble the feta and scatter it on the kiwi and tomato. 


Give the salad dressing another good shake and then pour or spoon some over the salad. You will not use it all and the rest of the jar can be stored in the refrigerator. Sprinkle on the green onion.  Give the whole thing another couple of grinds of black pepper to finish. 

Food Lust People Love: A fresh twist on the classic tomato and feta combo, this kiwi tomato feta salad is bright, flavorful and delicious.

Like all good tomato salads, this is best served at room temperature. My husband and I both loved the salad, agreeing that the kiwi was a great addition to the classic tomato feta combo. I don’t buy kiwi fruit very often but using it in this salad will certainly change that! 

Food Lust People Love: A fresh twist on the classic tomato and feta combo, this kiwi tomato feta salad is bright, flavorful and delicious.

Enjoy! 

Welcome to the 11th edition of Alphabet Challenge 2025, brought to you by the letter K. Many thanks to Wendy from A Day in the Life on the Farm for organizing and creating the challenge. Check out all the K recipes below:



Here are my posts for the 2025 alphabet challenge, thus far:

K. Kiwi Tomato Feta Salad – this post! 



Pin this Kiwi Tomato Feta Salad!

Food Lust People Love: A fresh twist on the classic tomato and feta combo, this kiwi tomato feta salad is bright, flavorful and delicious.
.

Wednesday, May 7, 2025

Small Batch Strawberry Jam

This small batch strawberry jam is so much better than store bought. Made with just strawberries, sugar and lemon, it's so quick and easy, you may never buy strawberry jam again! I know I won't. 

Food Lust People Love: This small batch strawberry jam is so much better than store bought. Made with just strawberries, sugar and lemon, it's so quick and easy, you may never buy strawberry jam again!

Last year my close friend group was hosting a shower for one of our daughters who was getting married. We decided on an “afternoon tea” theme which everyone loves. 

I volunteered to make mini scones, jam, clotted cream and blood orange curd. The clotted cream was an absolute nightmare so in comparison, everything else was super easy. Especially the jam! I called it Sweet as Audrey Strawberry Jam on the labels in honor of our beautiful bride to be. 

Small Batch Strawberry Jam

This recipe makes two full pint jars and about 2/3 of a third pint. 

Ingredients
3 lbs or 1.36kg fresh strawberries
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt 
4 cups or 800g white sugar
1/3 cup or 80ml fresh lemon juice
Zest from 2 lemons

Method
Remove the hulls and green tops from the strawberries. Rinse them with cool water. 


Slice the strawberries and put them in a large pot and sprinkle them with the salt. 


Add in the sugar and leave to macerate for at least 30 minutes. 


Cook over a medium heat, stirring constantly and bring the strawberries to the boil.


Once boiling, add the lemon juice and zest.


Boil for about 15 minutes, or until the jam reaches the setting temperature of 220°F or 104°C.


Stir often, to make sure the jam doesn’t burn.

Ladle into sterilized jars, screw the lids on and turn the jars upside down. Leave to cool, retightening the lids occasionally.


Once cooled, turn the jars right side up. The lids should pop in. Refrigerate any that have not. 

Food Lust People Love: This small batch strawberry jam is so much better than store bought. Made with just strawberries, sugar and lemon, it's so quick and easy, you may never buy strawberry jam again!

Enjoy on scones or buttered toast! 

Food Lust People Love: These fluffy two-bite mini scones are a wonderful addition to your breakfast table. Serve them hot so that pat of butter will melt inside when you split them in two!

Welcome to the 10th edition of Alphabet Challenge 2025, brought to you by the letter J. Many thanks to Wendy from A Day in the Life on the Farm for organizing and creating the challenge. Check out all the J recipes below:

 

Pin this Small Batch Strawberry Jam!

Food Lust People Love: This small batch strawberry jam is so much better than store bought. Made with just strawberries, sugar and lemon, it's so quick and easy, you may never buy strawberry jam again!

.
 

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Fresh Cherry Ice Cream

This fresh cherry ice cream is made with ripe cherries, sugar and whipped cream. So easy and delicious, no churning required. Gin optional! The flavor of my favorite summer fruit shines through. 

Food Lust People Love: This fresh cherry ice cream is made with ripe cherries, sugar and whipped cream. So easy and delicious, no churning required. Gin optional! The flavor of my favorite summer fruit shines through.

I have so many favorite summer fruits that it really is hard to choose just one but fresh cherries are definitely in my top three, along with figs and watermelon. You just can’t buy cherries or figs any other time where I live and watermelon grown out of season or imported is usually not very sweet, which is always disappointing. 

Last summer I got lucky though because I came across whole boxes of cherries at a discounted price and we ate like cherry kings for almost two weeks. Most of them were eaten straight from the box but the rest were turned into muffins, jam, tarts and, finally, this very ice cream. 

Fresh Cherry Ice Cream

If you don’t have fresh cherries, I’d substitute frozen ones but make sure to pit them if they aren’t already pitted. And doublecheck that the pitting process didn’t miss any pits if they are. Nothing will break a tooth faster than biting down on a hard cherry pit when you weren’t expecting one! 

Ingredients
12.5 oz or 354g cherries
1 cup or 240ml water
3/4 cup or 150g sugar
1 2/3 cups or 393ml whipping cream
Optional: 2 tablespoons gin – I used strawberry infused gin for more fruity flavor 

Method
Pit the cherries. Chop them roughly (which helps to check for pits you might have missed!) and set aside a few for garnish for when you are freezing the ice cream later. 


Pulse the cherries briefly in a food processor. You want small chunks, NOT puree. 

In a pot large enough to hold the cherry chunks, dissolve the sugar in the water over a medium high heat and then heat to boiling.

Add in the cherries.


Cook until the liquid is reduced by about half and the temperature just reaches 220°F or 104°C. This could take as many as 20-25 minutes.


Remove the cherries from the heat and transfer them to another vessel to cool. 


Once they are cool, whip the cream to soft peaks. 


Gently fold a couple of spoonsful of the cream into the cooled cherries.


Then fold the cherries and cream into the rest of the cream. 


Gently does it! You don’t want to deflate the air in the whipped cream. 

Add the gin, if using, and fold again. This isn’t essential but I think it makes the ice cream easier to scoop and serve. 


Spoon the ice cream into a freezer friendly container with a lid. Top with the reserved chopped cherries then cover and freeze until set. 


Remove from the freezer 15-20 minutes before you want to serve it. 

Food Lust People Love: This fresh cherry ice cream is made with ripe cherries, sugar and whipped cream. So easy and delicious, no churning required. Gin optional! The flavor of my favorite summer fruit shines through.

Enjoy! 

Welcome to the 9th edition of Alphabet Challenge 2025, brought to you by the letter I. Many thanks to Wendy from A Day in the Life on the Farm for organizing and creating the challenge. Check out all the I recipes below:





Pin this Fresh Cherry Ice Cream! 

Food Lust People Love: This fresh cherry ice cream is made with ripe cherries, sugar and whipped cream. So easy and delicious, no churning required. Gin optional! The flavor of my favorite summer fruit shines through.

.

Wednesday, April 9, 2025

Smoked Herring Spread

This smoked herring spread is lovely on crackers but I’ve also been known to pile it on a piece of soft bread, fold it in half and call it a sandwich. Its strong flavors stand up well to whatever you want to spread it on or dip into it. (Like carrots, celery or cucumber!)

Food Lust People Love: This smoked herring spread is lovely on crackers but I’ve also been known to pile it on a piece of soft bread, fold it in half and call it a sandwich. Its strong flavors stand up well to whatever you want to spread it on or dip into it. (Like carrots, celery or cucumber!)

In the UK, they call smoked herring kippers. They are a beloved breakfast item, either on their own with eggs or in kedgeree, a rice dish of Indian origin. 

Just last summer we were in London staying at a friend’s club and kippers were on the breakfast menu. I did not partake but another table ordered some. How did I know what another table well across the dining room ordered? Because the fishy smell traveled!

As we finished our breakfast and left the room, we passed by those very diners who were tucking in to their kippers, eggs and hot buttered toast. Big smiles all round! These were clearly quality smoked kippers and not from a tin. You are either a fan of fish or you are not. I am one!

Here in the States, we consider ourselves lucky to get the tinned ones at a nearby gourmet store.  Why they are called "snacks" is beyond me. 


Smoked Herring Spread

For the hot sauce, we like Louisiana Hot Sauce, the habanero version, but truly your favorite will work. I put just a few drops because I wanted to share this with my mother-in-law and she can’t handle pepper heat. Just for us, I’d have used more so you do you. The smoked herring flavor can absolutely stand up to more spicy heat. 

Ingredients
3.54 oz or 100g can smoked herring aka kippers
1-2 green onions
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
3 tablespoons (42g) cream cheese, softened
Zest of half a lemon
freshly ground black pepper
Dash Worcestershire sauce
Lemon juice to taste
Optional but recommended: Several drops hot sauce or to taste

Method
Chop the green onions finely. Set aside a little of the green part for garnish. 


Drain the smoked herring and flake with a fork in a mixing bowl. 


Add in the chopped green onion, mayonnaise and cream cheese, mixing well. 


Add a couple of grinds of black, lemon zest, Worcestershire sauce and a generous squeeze of lemon juice. Stir well to combine.


Add hot sauce, if desired.  


Spoon the spread into a ramekin or small bowl. Top with reserved green onions. 


Cover with cling film and refrigerate for at least four hours or if you have the time, overnight. 

Food Lust People Love: This smoked herring spread is lovely on crackers but I’ve also been known to pile it on a piece of soft bread, fold it in half and call it a sandwich. Its strong flavors stand up well to whatever you want to spread it on or dip into it. (Like carrots, celery or cucumber!)

Serve with crackers or crudités. 

Food Lust People Love: This smoked herring spread is lovely on crackers but I’ve also been known to pile it on a piece of soft bread, fold it in half and call it a sandwich. Its strong flavors stand up well to whatever you want to spread it on or dip into it. (Like carrots, celery or cucumber!)

Enjoy! 

Welcome to the 8th edition of Alphabet Challenge 2025, brought to you by the letter H. Many thanks to Wendy from A Day in the Life on the Farm for organizing and creating the challenge. Check out all the H recipes below:




Pin this Smoked Herring Spread!

Food Lust People Love: This smoked herring spread is lovely on crackers but I’ve also been known to pile it on a piece of soft bread, fold it in half and call it a sandwich. Its strong flavors stand up well to whatever you want to spread it on or dip into it. (Like carrots, celery or cucumber!)

.

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Extra Herby Gremolata

Gremolata is usually made with just three main ingredients: flat-leaf parsley, fresh garlic, and lemon zest. This extra herby gremolata includes basil as well! 

Food Lust People Love: Gremolata is usually made with just three main ingredients: flat-leaf parsley, fresh garlic, and lemon zest. This extra herby gremolata includes basil as well!

I love this stuff! It adds so much pep and flavor to anything it’s added to. This small batch extra herby gremolata is perfect spooned on top of pan-fried fish and chicken breasts. Or as an accompaniment to grilled beef and lamb.

If you’ve got fresh herbs growing in your garden, feel free to add more kinds and/or different herbs altogether. I give you permission to still call it gremolata because, truly, who cares as long as it tastes great! You might recall I shared one last year made with fresh asparagus. So good! 

This time around I actually tossed this with some hot boiled new potatoes for a whole new side dish. I just checked back through my photos in case I had a photo of that but, sadly, no. Trust me, it was good. 

Extra Herby Gremolata

Any very tender stems can be left on the herbs, otherwise, use only the leaves. As mentioned above, mix and match your favorite herbs. 

Ingredients
1/2 lemon (for zest and juice)
1 clove garlic
Small bunch basil leaves, about 1/8 cup, tightly packed, or 10g
Small bunch parsley, about 1/8 cup, tightly packed, or 10g
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
Few good grinds black pepper

Method
Rinse the leaves well with cool water and use a salad spinner to dry them well.


Peel, crush then mince the garlic.  


Finely mince the herbs. 


Grate the lemon zest into a small bowl. 


Add the minced garlic and herbs to the lemon zest along with the olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Stir well. 


Set aside for about 30-45 minutes to give the flavors time to blend. If not using till much later, refrigerate until ready to use. This can easily be made a day ahead. 

Food Lust People Love: Gremolata is usually made with just three main ingredients: flat-leaf parsley, fresh garlic, and lemon zest. This extra herby gremolata includes basil as well!

Enjoy! 


Welcome to the 7th edition of Alphabet Challenge 2025, brought to you by the letter G. Many thanks to Wendy from A Day in the Life on the Farm for organizing and creating the challenge. Check out all the G recipes below:





Pin this Extra Herby Gremolata!

Food Lust People Love: Gremolata is usually made with just three main ingredients: flat-leaf parsley, fresh garlic, and lemon zest. This extra herby gremolata includes basil as well!

.