Libby: I LOVE my new chopping board - a belated birthday gift from my sister Sarah. It's good and sturdy so it doesn't slide around on the bench but is light enough to pick up and move around as required. It makes my old plastic boards look especially old and decrepit! It's made by Bec's friend Marc Zuckerman of MZ Design. We're also fans of his remarkably useful toast tongs. 
Becs: I have rediscovered greenshell mussels lately when just cooking for myself, they are such an easy meal for one and so cheap. I think their low price makes us take them for granted a bit here in NZ. These ones I steamed open in a covered pan with a little white wine, then removed the top shell, lay them on a lined baking sheet and drizzled them with sticky thai sauce before grilling for a few minutes. (To make the sauce just simmer 50ml each of lemon juice, soy sauce and fish sauce together with 2 chopped red chillis and 1/4c each of fresh mint and coriander - thicken with a little cornflour and store in the fridge - it will keep for ages.) These make a great pre dinner pass-around too when piled up on a platter.
Uh, I think that I need those toast tongs ;-)!
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Alessandra
I used to buy mussels a lot but I think they were really small last winter so I stopped buying them and forgot to start up again this summer. I love how mussels are so cheap and generally very good. Great idea about these as a party snack. I always get 1 kilo for 2 people and serve in a yummy sauce and a loaf of good bread for mopping. Dinner for less than $5. Yum.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely chopping board :) I that we have beautiful woods to choose from in NZ too.
ReplyDeleteMmm, those mussels sound amazing. I've never really had Asiany flavoured mussels before, which should change soon! You are so right about how undervalued they are too, although tbh I'm not too fussed about this ;)