Big Mary’s Mexican Bombe

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Our offspring are all married and running their own households.  They all love to cook and we spend a lot of time discussing recipes and things we have made.  James went to a Mexican-themed dinner party the other evening and made an impressive meringue-based dessert called Big Mary’s Mexican Bombe.  I gather everyone went back for seconds and there was none left for breakfast!

You may wonder how the Bombe got its name.  Well one of my father’s cousins from the Hill House clan in the north of England was called Big Mary, to distinguish her from Little Mary, wife of one of her brothers who was much shorter.  Big Mary gave me this recipe which has always been a winner.  The optional cream around the sides (not shown in the photo) gives the Bombe more of a gateau look and the longer you leave it in the fridge, the more the meringues will soften into a cake-like consistency.  I know the recipe seems to have a lot of sugar in it, but with a few unsweetened raspberries on the side, it just hits the spot!

Big Mary’s Mexican Bombe

4 egg whites
250g brown sugar
2 tsp instant coffee, dissolved in 1 tsp water
Filling:
125g caster sugar
2 Tbs water
2 Tbs water, extra
125g dark chocolate
2½ cups cream
To garnish (optional):
1½ cups cream, extra
50g praline, roughly chopped (optional)

Fresh berries to serve (optional)

Line 3 baking sheets with foil or non-stick baking paper and draw a 20 cm diameter circle on each.  Set oven to 120°C.  Whip egg whites until stiff.  Gradually beat in brown sugar and continue beating until sugar has dissolved and meringue is stiff and shiny.  Fold coffee mixture into meringue and divide amongst the foil sheets, spreading it evenly into three round discs.  Bake for 1 to 1½ hours or until crisp.  If your oven heats unevenly, swap the tins around halfway through cooking time.  A fan-forced oven helps avoid this.  Turn oven off and leave until cold.

Filling: melt chocolate and cool.  Whip cream and divide in two.  Heat sugar and water gently until dissolved.  Increase heat and cook, without stirring, swirling pan from time to time, until you have a rich caramel.  Quickly add extra cold water, being careful to protect your arm from the steam.  Swirl the pan to dissolve the caramel, then cool.

Gradually beat caramel into half the cream and fold cooled chocolate into other half.  Peel meringues from foil.  Place one on a large flat plate, flat side down.  Spread evenly with chocolate cream.  Place another meringue on top and spread with caramel cream.  Place remaining meringue on top and gently press down.  Refrigerate for several hours.

Optional garnish: An hour or two before guests arrive, whip extra cream and spread around the sides of the bombe, filling in the holes to create a smooth surface.  If liked, press roughly chopped praline into the cream.  Refrigerate until serving time.  Serve the bombe in thin slices, accompanied, if liked, by fresh berries.

Serves 12

Thai Pumpkin Soup

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I borrowed a cook book from the library last week called Five of the Best by Valli Little.  It was printed to celebrate five years of the Australian food magazine Delicious.  I read cookbooks the way some people read novels and by the time I had finished going through the recipes I had decided to buy a copy so I ordered one from the ABC bookshop.  So far I’ve made several dishes including Tuna Stuffed Capsicum, Cauliflower Cheese Soup, Baked Eggplant with Goat Cheese and Cream and Thai Pumpkin Soup – all very good.  We’re not vegetarians, but sometimes I think it makes a nice change to skip meat for a few days.  Here’s the Pumpkin Soup recipe.

Thai Pumpkin Soup with Coriander Pesto

2 bunches fresh coriander, roots trimmed
(a few leaves reserved for garnish)
zest and juice of 1 lemon
2 garlic cloves
4 Tbs olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 tsp grated ginger (I used a bit more)
1 Tbs Thai red curry paste
1 kg pumpkin, peeled and cut into small pieces
2 cups (500ml) vegetable or chicken stock
400ml can light coconut milk
thinly sliced red onion and thinly sliced red
chilli, to garnish

To make the pesto place coriander, lemon zest, lemon juice and garlic in food processor.  Process adding 3 Tbs oil to make a sauce consistency, season to taste.

Heat remaining tablespoon oil in a large pan over medium head.  Add onion and stir for a minute.  Add ginger and curry paste and stir for a minute.  Add pumpkin and stock, bring to the boil, then simmer 15 minutes or until pumpkin is cooked.  Cool a bit then blend until smooth.  Return to the pan, add coconut milk and season, then warm through.

Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with a swirl of pesto, some onion, chilli and reserved coriander leaves.

Serves 6

Note: to make a more substantial meal, serve with croutons or toast.

Jacqueline’s Bread

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When we were living in South Africa in the late 80s, just before Mandela was released, we became friends with Johan van Heerden and his French wife Jacqueline.  Johan continues to be one of South Africa’s leading sculptors.

One Sunday they invited us for lunch and Jacqueline had made a delicious bread which she served with home made pâté.  When I asked for the recipe, she said it was too embarrassing to give it to me, because it was SO easy!  I told her it was just the kind of recipe I like – something which looks and tastes fantastic, but takes less than five minutes to make.

The basic recipe is just buttermilk, self-raising flour and salt, but you can add anything which takes your fancy to make it more interesting.  It’s best eaten the same day.

Jacqueline’s Bread

500g self raising flour, sifted
600 ml buttermilk
1 tsp salt

Mix all ingredients. Put 2-3 Tbs water into the packet and shake  to remove any remaining buttermilk stuck to the sides and add this to the mixture. Mixture should be like a stiff scone mixture.  Add any extra ingredients – see below.

Spoon roughly into a greased metal ring mold or a loaf tin for 45 mins at 180°C – don’t smooth it over. A ring mold is best because you get more crunchy edges. Eat the same day or freeze. Delicious toasted.

Don’t be tempted to take it out too early – it may look cooked on the outside but might still be raw in the middle.  If after 45 mins you’re not sure, stick a toothpick in the middle and check that it comes out clean.

Variations:

  • use wholemeal self raising flour instead of white or half and half
  • add 1 Tbs honey or sugar and some dried fruit and/or nuts
  • add 2 Tbs olive oil, chopped herbs and crushed garlic
  • add chopped sun-dried tomatoes or olives and grated Parmesan
  • sprinkle the top with sesame seeds or pumpkin seeds
  • add some porridge oats or bran or poppy seeds

Chicken Parmigiano

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Chicken Parmigiano is a dish I developed many years ago and have made again and again.  It’s a great family dish but also perfect for casual entertaining.  Everyone loves it.  You can make it the day before or in the morning, then refrigerate it till you need to stick it in the oven.  I usually make double the sauce and freeze half so next time it’s super quick to make.  A large mixed salad, preferably including avocado, is the perfect accompaniment, but if you have teenage sons with hollow legs, then garlic bread goes well.  If the chicken breasts are very large you can cut them in two.

4-6 single chicken breasts
About half a cup of plain flour, seasoned with salt and pepper
1 egg beaten with 1 Tbs water
dry packaged breadcrumbs
60g butter
3 Tbs oil
250g cheddar cheese, grated
60g Parmesan cheese, grated

Sauce:
1 Tbs oil
1 large onion, finely chopped
2 sticks celery, finely chopped
1 red capsicum, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed
400g can tomatoes, whizzed in processor
1 Tbs finely chopped parsley
1 Tbs finely chopped fresh basil (or 1 tsp dried)
2 tsp sugar
1 Tbs tomato puree
1½ cups water and ½ chicken stock cube

Use a meat mallet to flatten out the chicken breasts a little and remove any fat.  If very large  you might like to cut into two portions. Toss in seasoned flour, dip in egg mixture then coat in breadcrumbs, patting them on firmly.  If you have time refrigerate, covered in one layer for half an hour or up to several hours. Heat oil in large frying pan. Gently cook onion, garlic, celery and pepper, all together, until soft but not coloured. Add tomatoes, sugar, tomato puree, water and herbs. Simmer 30-40 mins until thickened, but not too thick as it will cook more in the oven. Heat oil and butter in another large frying pan and cook chicken on both sides until golden brown.  Place in a buttered shallow ovenproof dish in one layer. Cover with the sauce and sprinkle with the two cheeses mixed together. Bake uncovered for 25-30 mins at 180°C or until golden. Serve with a mixed salad.

Serves 4-6

Tomato and Mozzarella Tian with Pesto

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I’ve always been passionate about food and have a huge collection of recipes, so I thought it was time to share my culinary thoughts with anyone who might be interested.  Given the number of great food blogs I’ve seen online, starting my own is somewhat daunting, but here goes. The name Cafe Cat comes from my nickname within the family of Cat or Mrs Cat. I can’t remember how I ended up with with this name, but somehow it stuck.

I thought I would launch this blog with a favourite summer recipe, Tomato and Mozzarella Tian with Pesto. Impressive but simple, it makes a great starter or light lunch. A friend recently made a video of me making this recipe.  It was the first time I had been filmed cooking and the first time she had filmed anyone cooking. All of this shows in the slightly wobbly results, but hopefully we’ll get better! Once you have some stacking rings you can invent all sorts of stacked combinations using seafood, smoked salmon and even desserts.

Tomato & Mozzarella Tian with Pesto

Pesto
2 cups basil leaves
2-3 cloves garlic, depending on size
¾ cup pine nuts
70g Parmesan cheese, grated
pinch of salt
½ cup extra virgin olive oil, more or less

Tomato Salad
4-6 large tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped
4-6 semi dried tomato halves chopped (optional)
1-2 Tbs fresh basil, chopped
1 Tbs olive oil
2 tsp white balsamic vinegar or lemon juice
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
pinch sugar

To finish
4-6 mozzarella balls, thinly sliced (or boconcini balls)
Extra virgin olive oil
Balsamic glaze

Pesto: toast pine nuts by stirring in a dry frying pan over moderate heat till lightly golden. Place all ingredients except the oil in a food processor. Process until finely chopped, then gradually add the oil through the feed chute with the motor running, until you have a thick but chunky paste.

Tomato Salad: Mix tomatoes, basil, seasonings and oil. Leave to macerate for a few minutes, then drain in a sieve to remove excess liquid. This recipe is best in summer when tomatoes are at their best. When they’re not, add some semi-dried tomatoes, to add more tomato flavour.

To finish: Place a 7-8cm diameter, 4cm deep stacking ring on serving plate. Place a layer of mozzarella slices to cover the bottom of the ring, then a layer of tomato salad, another layer of mozzarella slices and finally cover the top with a layer of pesto, pressing down lightly with the back of the spoon.

Drizzle a little extra virgin olive oil and a few drops of balsamic glaze around the edge of the plate, remove the stacking ring and serve immediately. It’s easier if you have enough rings for everyone, then you can whip them off just before taking the dishes to the table. Don’t leave them too long, or the juice from the tomatoes will start to ooze out, requiring a quick clean up with a paper towel!

Note: if you can’t find mozzarella balls (those big fat white ones sold in liquid) you can use the smaller balls called bocconcini or substitute ricotta or feta cheese.

Quantities of mozzarella and tomatoes are slightly vague as it depends on the size of your stacking rings and the size of the tomatoes.

Serves 4

Tian of Smoked Salmon & Crab with Celeriac Remoulade & Green Shallot Dressing

1 large celeriac, peeled and coarsely grated or shredded on a fine julienne cutter
juice 1 lemon
¾ cup mayonnaise, preferably home made
1 Tbs Dijon mustard
200g chunky crab meat, lightly seasoned
300g smoked salmon (approximately)

Green Shallot Dressing:
½ cup vegetable oil
2-3 green shallots (spring onions), green part only
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
pinch sugar
lemon juice or white vinegar to taste

Garnish:
Salmon roe (optional)

Make dressing by whizzing oil and spring onion tops in food processor, adding S and P, pinch sugar and lemon juice or vinegar to taste. Tip into a jar. Mix celeriac with lemon juice, mayonnaise and mustard, adjust seasoning if necessary,then refrigerate. Prepare crab leaving it in large chunky pieces. Can be prepared ahead to this point.

To serve place a stacking ring on six entree plates. Place a tablespoon of celeriac remoulade in each ring, spreading evenly, then divide the crab between the rings, then another layer of remoulade and finally a layer of smoked salmon. You may have some remoulade left over. Drizzle a little dressing around each salad, place a little salmon roe on top of each then remove rings and serve.