Top 7 treats to get this Easter!

Easter is just around the corner. Here’s a list of our top 7 must-have treats for the festive season.

1. Go retro with T Cavallaro & Sons marzipan Pascal Lambs

For centuries, Sicilians have been giving gifts of Easter lambs. 

Because of its historical and religious significance, Tony (owner of T Cavallaro & Sons) tells us this is one of the most rewarding things they make. Making the lambs reminds him of the days when he would watch his father produce these works of art. 

The moulds were brought to Australia by Tony’s father in around 1941 and would have been used by him since the 1900s.  Dusted lightly with cornflour, the moulds are then filled with marzipan. The larger ones are then filled with a layer of Madeira sponge which is placed just under a fruit mince of sultanas, cherries, orange peel and almond which adorns a third layer within the lambs.

The lambs are then covered with a butter cream to resemble the wool.

What: Pascal Lambs (sizes rangefrom 50 gms to 3 kgs)

Where: T. Cavallaro & Sons is at 98 Hopkins Street, Footscray. 

Price: Varies depending on size

How: Call 9687 4638 to ask for availability or to place an order. 

Read more about T Cavallaro & Sons here.

2. Go mod-Oz with Cafe Vue / Burnham Bakery hot cross buns

Cafe Vue offers two delicious varieties of hot cross buns this season: Spelt and Cranberry and Chocolate

The Spelt and Cranberry hot cross buns are absolutely delicious. Made from spelt wholemeal flour from Powlett Hill Mill with a selection of sweet dried fruits thrown into the mix, the buns have a lovely hint of mixed spice, ginger and orange. Full of fruit yet, retaining a fluffy and soft texture, these hot cross buns are divine. 

For the chocolate lovers, Cafe Vue’s chocolate hot cross buns are an indulgent mix of orange puree, ginger a hint of mixed spice, and smooth chocolate chips. Threading the delicate balance between bun and cake, these hot cross buns certainly satisfy.

What: Hot cross buns (spelt or chocolate)

Where: Order online or purchase at any Cafe Vue location and Burnham Bakery:

• Cafe Vue 430 Little Colllins Street, Melbourne
• Café Vue 401 St Kilda Road
• Café Vue at Heide 7 Templestowe Road Bulleen
• Burnham Bakery, Sherbrooke Rd, Sherbrooke

Price: One for $3.50 or 6 for $18

How: Order online here

3. Artistic Chocolate treats @ T By LuxBite 

Bernard and Yen have recently opened up a new concept in the CBD, T By Luxbite. It is Luxbite’s new confectionery concept: a store dedicated entirely to the wonder that is the tart. Their speciality tarts and macarons push the boundaries in the most miraculous manner!

What: Various chocolate and other dessert creations

Where: T By LuxBite, 517 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

4. Bean to bar chocolate

Bright Chocolate are a small batch chocolate maker located in Bright NE Victoria. They use only premium single origin cacao and sugar to produce their range of bean to bar chocolate and have been awarded three gold, silver and bronze in the 2015 Melbourne Fine Food Awards, along with three silver medals at the 2015 Sydney Royal Fine Food Awards.

We absolutely loved the chocolate bars we sampled (pictured above)!

The single origin bars were each particularly unique. The Madagascar 72% Single Origin Chocolate possessed summary floral notes with a citrus undertone. On the other hand the Ecuador 72% Cacao Single Origin Chocolate boasted a heart-warming cinnamon, honey and vanilla flavour.

The Dominican Republic 70% Cacao Single Origin Chocolate was an enchanting chocolate which displayed earthy notes of tobacco and coffee, with a hint of cherry. The Trinidad 68% Single Origin Chocolate was our favourite chocolate. Beautifully balanced in flavour, it tasted of fresh spice, tropical fruits and had luscious caramel undertones.

Last but certainly not least the Bright Blend the 44% milk chocolate was a crowd pleaser - smooth, creamy but with half as much sugar as most milk chocolate!

Fnd out more at www.brightchocolate.com.au. 

5. Spread some cinnamon love with Box of Scrolls

Box of Scrolls have perfected the art of the humble cinnamon scroll. Turning moist, light dough made into fresh, aromatic cinnamon scrolls infused with the perfect cinnamon and filling, it is no wonder Box of Scrolls already have a cult following. 

Their Nutella & Banana scroll is perfect for indulging in the Easter festivities. The Nutella & Banana Scrolls are decadent and possess a melt-in-your-mouth quality that is just heavenly. The slightly savoury buttery flavour of the scroll cuts the rich taste of the Nutella and banana, resulting in a dessert that is not only incredibly indulgent, but very well balanced. 

What: Cinnamon scrolls and various variety scrolls
Where: Scrolls can be quickly delivered to most cities around Australia.

Price: Varies. Check our their site for more details - http://www.boxofscrolls.com.au/

6. Classics with a twist

Brumby’s Bakery is baking a delicious variety of Hot Cross Buns this Easter:

• hot Cross Bun with Nutella;
• hot Cross Bun with Salted Caramel; and 
• traditional Hot Cross Bun

Our favourite are the tasty Hot Cross Buns which are filled with generous amounts of Nutella -a twist on the good old fashioned Hot Cross Bun.

7. Cadbury Easter Chocolates - something the whole family will love

For something that both the kids and adults will love, Cadbury's Easter chocolate range will be a sure hit. 

Share the joy and do a social media post: #CadburyEaster2015 #ShareTheJoy

Recipe: BBQ Murray Valley Pork Half Loin

Gastrology bloggers tried the Pork Half Loin courtesy of MVP.

With Easter just around the corner, here's a really simple recipe that is perfect for hosting an Easter BBQ on and you want to throw something a little different into the mix!

Ingredients

1 kg Murray Valley Pork Half Loin, boneless & rindless

1 tablespoon olive oil

Southern Spice rub (we used the Jamie Oliver one)

Pinch of salt

Method

Dry the pork with paper towels.

Rub and massage liberal amounts of olive oil, salt and Spice rub into the skin.

Sprinkle salt all over the surface of the skin.

Wrap the pork in foil

Chuck it on the barbie for 40 minutes

Unwrap and finish it off on the grill, allowing it to cook over the coals for 1 minute each side.

Serve!

It's a seriously simple little dish that the whole family will love. 

Get your hands on some Murray Valley Pork -> Find your nearest stockist here!

Or if you would like to find other porky recipe ideas, check out our posts about Murray Valley Pork's Topside mole here, Murray Valley Pork's Half Netted Shoulder Roast here or Murray Valley Pork Belly here .

Easter highlights: Best Malaysian satay in town from Sugi Satay | Sweet Easter treats from Michel's pattiserie

Best Malaysian satay in town from Sugi Satay

This Easter, we enjoyed a sumptuous feast of succulent, aromatic, freshly grilled meat on skewers from Sugi Satay. 

Sugi Satay serves the most authentic and delicious Malaysian satays that we have ever tasted in Melbourne.

There are three types of satay to choose from (lamb, beef and chicken) – our favourite was the chicken satay.

We loved how the satay was authentically served with cucumber, onion and delicious ketupat which helped soak up the decadent and perfectly spiced satay sauce.

The creator of Sugi Satay, Soo Ghee Tan, comes from a heritage of chefs specialising in authentic Malaysian cuisine. Secret family recipes were handed down from generations, from beef rendangs to varieties of sambals.

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Sweet Easter treats from Michel's pattiserie

Gastrology bloggers sampled the products courtesy Michel’s Pattiserie.

We celebrated the magic of Easter with decadent sweet treats from Michel’s Patisserie. 

We loved that Michel's had a wide range of Easter-themed products, like their Party Cake, a delicious Chocolate Sponge Cake topped with milk chocolate Easter eggs. Michel's scrumptious chocolate flavoured gingerbread Easter Bunny biscuit were an absolute hit with the children. They were gone in seconds!

Hope you had a lovely Easter weekend too :)

 

Recipe: Maggie Beer’s Crispy Skin Salmon with Pea Puree | Tips from Aussie Farmers Direct: 10 good reasons to eat seafood this Easter

Gastrology bloggers sampled the new range of seafood  courtesy of Aussie Farmers Direct.

This Easter, Aussie Farmers Direct is working to put the ‘good’ back into Good Friday by partnering with Maggie Beer to release a collection of Easter seafood recipes as part of a move to encourage Australians to include more seafood in their diet this year. We thought we would share our favourite recipe with you...

Recipe:  Maggie Beer’s Crispy Skin Salmon with Pea Puree

 Ingredients 

Aussie Farmers Direct Salmon fillets ($13.79 for two 180g fillets)

1 tbspn unsalted butter

4 thick salmon steaks, skin on

To taste salt flakes

1 tbspn Extra Virgin Olive Oil

4 wedges lemon

Frozen pea salsa

1 1/2 cup frozen peas

15g unsalted butter

2 tspn Extra Virgin Olive Oil

2 golden shallots peeled and chopped

3/4 cup Chicken Stock

1 sprig chervil

1 tbspn lemon juice

To taste salt flakes

Method

For The Frozen Pea Salsa:

1. Spread peas on a tray to thaw for 10 minutes.
2. Place a large frying pan over medium heat, add the butter and melt with the Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Add the chopped shallots and sauté until soft.
3. In another small sauce pan, bring the Chicken Stock to the boil.
4. Add the peas to the shallots along with chervil and lemon juice.
5. Pour the hot Chicken Stock over the peas and quickly bring up to the boil again, then remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly.
6. Pour the pea mixture into a blender or mouli and process until fine. Taste for seasoning and adjust if necessary.

For The Salmon:

1. Heat a large frying pan over a moderate heat with half the butter.
2. Season the salmon on the skin side with sea salt.
3. Once the pan is hot, add a dash of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and place the salmon steaks skin side down in the pan. Cook for about 2 minutes or until the skin is crisp. Putting the salmon aside, quickly wipe out the pan with a paper towel.
4. Return salmon to pan, add the remaining butter and return to heat.
5. Once melted, turn the steaks over with tongs and almost immediately take the pan off the heat and allow to sit in the hot pan. The centre of the fish should be a little rare.
6. To serve, pile a layer of salsa on to a plate and place the fish on top. Squeeze a wedge of lemon over each piece of salmon, sprinkle the herbs on top and dress with a drizzle of Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

Aussie Farmers Direct brings back Fish on Fridays

Aussie Farmers Direct is working to put more 'good' back into Good Friday by offering Australians ten good reasons to eat seafood on Good Friday...or any Friday!  Traditionally, seafood was consumed on Good Friday in place of other meat. Though over the years this seems to have fallen by the wayside. Fish and other seafood are highly beneficial to our health, so perhaps it’s time to revisit the tradition and bring back fish on Fridays. 

Essentially, here's why we should bring back fish on Friday:

• Low in unhealthy saturated fat and high in protein
• High in Omega-3 fatty acids which are great for heart health
• Prevents inflammation and reduces the risk of conditions like arthritis
• Assists in proper foetal growth and development during pregnancy
• Associated with positive brain health
• High in iron and vitamin B12
• It's easy to prepare and cost effective
• And most importantly, it's deliciously versatile!

Aussie Farmers Direct has launched a new range of Australian seafood including Natural Calamari, a Half Side of Huon Salmon, Honey Soy Flathead Fillets, crumbed White Fish and Lemon Myrtle Blue Grenadier Fillets, which will soon join Aussie Farmers Direct’s existing range of Aussie prawns, salmon and barramundi. 

This Easter, Aussie Farmers Direct will be delivering a range of freshly caught seafood including:    

• Natural Calamari, $7.99 for 300g
• Half Side of Huon Salmon, $19.99 for 500g
• Honey Soy Flathead Fillets, $14.99 for 300g
• Crumbed White Fish, $8.99 for 250g
• Lemon Myrtle Blue Grenadier Fillets, $8.99 for 300g
• Salmon Fillets, RRP $13.79 for two 180g fillets
• Barramundi Fillets, RRP $12.99 for two 180g fillets
• Smoked Salmon, RRP $6.69 for 100
• Plain Unmarinated Prawns, RRP $10.99 for 300g

To enjoy a wholly Australian Easter this year, visit AussieFarmers.com.au 

Top 6 treats to get this Easter!

Easter is just around the corner. Here’s a list of our top 6 must-have treats for the festive season.

1. Go retro with T Cavallaro & Sons marzipan Pascal Lambs

For centuries, Sicilians have been giving gifts of Easter lambs. 

Because of its historical and religious significance, Tony (owner of T Cavallaro & Sons) tells us this is one of the most rewarding things they make. Making the lambs reminds him of the days when he would watch his father produce these works of art. 

The moulds were brought to Australia by Tony’s father in around 1941 and would have been used by him since the 1900s.  Dusted lightly with cornflour, the moulds are then filled with marzipan. The larger ones are then filled with a layer of Madeira sponge which is placed just under a fruit mince of sultanas, cherries, orange peel and almond which adorns a third layer within the lambs.

The lambs are then covered with a butter cream to resemble the wool.

What: Pascal Lambs (sizes rangefrom 50 gms to 3 kgs)

Where: T. Cavallaro & Sons is at 98 Hopkins Street, Footscray. 

Price: Varies depending on size

How: Call 9687 4638 to ask for availability or to place an order. 

Read more about T Cavallaro & Sons here.

2. Go mod-Oz with Cafe Vue’s hot cross buns

Cafe Vue offers two delicious varieties of hot cross buns this season. 

Spelt and Cranberry hot cross buns

The Spelt and Cranberry hot cross buns are absolutely delicious. Made from spelt wholemeal flour from Powlett Hill Mill with a selection of sweet dried fruits thrown into the mix, the buns have a lovely hint of mixed spice, ginger and orange. Full of fruit yet, retaining a fluffy and soft texture, these hot cross buns are divine. 

Chocolate hot cross buns

For the chocolate lovers, Cafe Vue’s chocolate hot cross buns are an indulgent mix of orange puree, ginger a hint of mixed spice, and smooth chocolate chips. Threading the delicate balance between bun and cake, these hot cross buns certainly satisfy.

What: Hot cross buns (spelt or chocolate)

Where: Order online or purchase at any Cafe Vue location:

• Cafe Vue 430 Little Colllins Street, Melbourne
• Café Vue 401 St Kilda Road
• Café Vue at Heide 7 Templestowe Road Bulleen

Price: One for $3.50 or 6 for $18

How: Order online here  

3. Not quite molecular gastronomy with Heston's buns

Heston's Lemon Myrtle Hot Cross Buns are just moreish. Filled with plump sultanas, spicy ginger and aromatic lemon myrtle, the buns have a brioche-like texture and consistency and are the ultimate treat.

What: Lemon Myrtle Hot Cross Buns

Where: Coles

Price: 4 for $8

4. Brumby's Nutella hot cross buns - something the whole family will love

For something that both the kids and adults will love, Brumby’s twist on the good old fashioned Hot Cross Bun will be a sure hit.

The tasty Hot Cross Buns are filled with generous amounts of Nutella and baked fresh in store daily. 

What: Nutella Hot Cross Buns

Where: Brumby's

Price: One for $1.30 or 6 for $6.60

5. Spread some cinnamon love with Box of Scrolls

Box of Scrolls have perfected the art of the humble cinnamon scroll. Turning moist, light dough made into fresh, aromatic cinnamon scrolls infused with the perfect cinnamon and filling, it is no wonder Box of Scrolls already have a cult following. 

Their Nutella & Banana scroll is perfect for indulging in the Easter festivities. The Nutella & Banana Scrolls are decadent and possess a melt-in-your-mouth quality that is just heavenly. The slightly savoury buttery flavour of the scroll cuts the rich taste of the Nutella and banana, resulting in a dessert that is not only incredibly indulgent, but very well balanced. 

What: Cinnamon scrolls and various variety scrolls
Where: Scrolls can be quickly delivered to most cities around Australia.

Price: Varies. Check our their site for more details - http://www.boxofscrolls.com.au/

Read more about Box of Scrolls here.

6. Easter-themed cakes and biscuits from Michel's Patisserie 

With the Easter bunny’s annual visit fast approaching, Michel’s Patisserie is celebrating the magic of Easter with a range of Easter-themed products like their Party Cake, a delicious Chocolate Sponge Cake topped with milk chocolate Easter eggs, or their scrumptious chocolate flavoured gingerbread Easter Bunny biscuit.

What: Easter-themed cakes and biscuits

Where: Michel's Patisserie

Price: Varies. Check out their site for more details: http://www.michels.com.au/products/


Gastrology bloggers sampled the products for the purposes of this review courtesy of T Cavallaro & Sons, Cafe Vue, Box of Scrolls, Brumby’s and Michel’s Pattiserie.