If there’s one thing I’m going to miss about summer, it’s those juicy red garden tomatoes, especially the intoxicating smell of them gently blipping away on the stove.

So as the warm weather comes to a close, I felt it was essentially to celebrate the humble tomato, especially since I had a heap of tomatoes that were almost past their used by date.

I’m still baffled as to how something so simple can taste so damn amazing! The flavour is intense yet mellow, and perfect with feta and mounds of freshly baked bread.

Continue reading Fried Tomatoes with Feta (Przeni Domati so Sirenje)

Firstly, a big thanks to everyone for your lovely pregnancy wishes – it’s wonderful to know how supportive you all are.

Cravings are synonymous with pregnancy and the one thing I can’t get enough of this pregnancy is salad, I guess I should thank my lucky stars I’m not craving a block of chocolate each night!

Here’s an exceptional salad recipe, which can also be prepared in advance for summer-time parties. It’s delicious served with grilled lamb or on it’s own.

This salad is also another that fits into the ‘Dave’s favourite’ category, so I often cook a big batch of sweet potato and onion, keep it in the fridge and quickly assemble for dinner or lunch. If your salad leaves are washed and ready to go, (I keep mine in a salad spinner) it takes less than five minutes to prepare, heck, it’s so easy that even David can put it together himself, and trust me, there’s not much he can put together in the kitchen!

Continue reading Sweet Potato, Caramelised Onion and Goats Cheese Salad

I have some explaining to do…there’s a reason why my posts have been a little sparse over the past few months. I’ve been feeling ridiculously tired, my taste buds have drastically changed, and to my surprise, some days cooking is the last thing I feel like doing! If you’ve guessed that I’ve got a bun in the oven, you’re absolutely right…I’m pregnant!!!

So beloved feasters, I hope you can forgive me for my infrequent recipe posts, and I hope you’re still happy to follow me on my journey as an eager village cook and first time mum to be. The recipe posts will continue, but they may be tad less frequent, and they may become a little simpler over the coming months.

In keeping with the theme of simplified cooking, I’d love for you to try my Mum’s lemon and paprika chicken, it’s an old favourite and perfect during summer on the BBQ served with a simple garden salad or taratur.

Continue reading Some Exciting News!!! …and Mum’s Lemon and Paprika Chicken

I had intended to post this recipe on New Year’s Eve, as it takes me back to the 80s when my parents would throw the biggest New Year’s Eve parties ever imaginable! As a child it was the most fun you could hope for, we had a lamb on the spit, kolbasi on the BBQ and close to fifty people picnicking in the backyard. Just before midnight all the kids would dress up as ‘babari’, a tradition from my parents village Capari.

Everyone brought a dish or two to share, be it salads, pastries, or sweets, but one thing Mum always made was her baked rice with garden tomatoes and chillies. It’s vegan, and great with fish and chicken. Just think of it as a healthy and summery baked risotto.

P.S. This weekend is ‘Suro’, the Macedonian New Year. Traditionally maznik is made and baked with a gold coin, for the recipe check out last years Maznik recipe.

Continue reading New Year’s Baked Rice (Pechen Oris so Domati i Piperki)

With 2010 now behind us, I trust everyone had a joyous Christmas/New Year break and you’re ready for an exciting 2011!

Given I have an abundant supply of yummy garden tomatoes, cucumbers and chillies, I couldn’t resist making this years first recipe a colourful, yet traditional garden salad to enjoy during our Australian summer.

Shopsaka Salata is steeped in tradition and hugely popular in Macedonia and surrounding Balkan countries, namely Bulgaria. Often served as a summery pre-meal appetizer, this salad is somewhat like a Greek salad, but dare I say…it’s better!

The key to an exceptional Shopska Salata is using succulent vine-ripened tomatoes and crisp cucumbers and chillies. In-fact, I wouldn’t even bother making this salad during the off-season as the produce just isn’t up to scratch.

On a different note, tomorrow is the Macedonian Orthodox Christmas, and today is Koleda (Christmas Eve). So ‘Sreken Bozik’ to my fellow Macedonian’s! Remember, if you’re looking for a ‘Koleda Leb’ recipe, check out last years post http://www.villagefeast.com.au/2010/01/06/festive-bread-koleda-leb/

Continue reading Shopska Salad (Shopska Salata)

As always, December is a crazy time of year. Not only have I been busy getting ready for Christmas, but my day job as a designer has also been keeping me madly busy, leaving me little time to spend in the kitchen and post this month.

So here we are, Christmas Eve and the last recipe of the year, and what better way to end the year, than with delicious, melt in your mouth almond shortbread.

This recipe is an old family favourite from my mother-in-laws village Perovo. It calls for only five ingredients, and as it’s relatively easy, it’s a great one for the kids to help out with, especially if you decide to make some last minute Christmas gifts. In fact, a couple of biscuits placed in clean glass jars, dressed up with pretty fabric and twine would make a perfect gift!

P.S. Merry Christmas and thanks for following this year, God bless and see you in 2011! Suzanna xx

Continue reading Christmas Cheer Almond Shortbread

Yesterday was the first day of summer, yet I’m still wearing trackie pants and ugg boots, so I felt my readers would forgive me for posting a ‘non’ seasonal recipe. In fact, my northern hemisphere followers may really appreciate this winter warmer!

Borania is village comfort food and it’s dead easy to throw together. Made with a can of sauerkraut and basic pantry staples such as rice, paprika and flour, this healthy soup is a great one to add to your repertoire for last minute dinners.

If you like meat, feel free to serve borania with pan fried pork and extra dried mint and chilli flakes, it’s a match made in heaven!

Continue reading Sauerkraut and rice soup (Borania)

It’s a fact, our sense of smell is strongly linked to our memory. Certain scents, be it from nature or the kitchen can transport us to another time and place. It’s like the smell of baked pasta with feta, it somehow takes me back to my early childhood Saturday mornings, Mum in the kitchen and me as an eager, somewhat annoying nine year old hovering around, waiting for the oven to open so that I could pick off the crispy pasta and feta.

This is a great weekend breaky, or brunch, as it’s easy, filling, and when served with a fresh garden tomato salad, it’s heavenly! The subtle flavour of the egg, pasta and cheese also makes it perfect for kids.

Continue reading Baked pasta with feta (Makaroni podpecheni)

Summer, where are you? It’s now mid November, and I’m starting to get tired of the constant grey skies and rain!

Although it’s not exactly raining today and the sun is ‘partly’ out, I’m sure that others living in Sydney and the east coast of Australia will agree that this Spring has been one of the wettest in memory! I’m well and truly ready for hot sunny days, sand caught between my toes, the smell of barbecued steaks and fresh yummy salads.

Mum’s basic potato salad is a perfect BBQ accompaniment. It can be jazzed up by adding a couple of dollops of homemade mayonnaise or, a couple of chopped boiled eggs.

Continue reading My favourite potato salad

In hindsight, posting this black forest cake recipe would have been more fitting last week, to mark Village Feasts first birthday. Regardless, I’m of the opinion that there’s never a bad time to make and enjoy cake.

Typically, a cake such as this requires maximum effort, however this cheaters version made with instant chocolate sponge cake and canned cherries is super quick and easy. There’s no pitting and stewing cherries, no melting chocolate and no lengthy beating to make the perfect sponge cake. It tastes heavenly and is a real show stopper, perfect for when you want to make a grand entrance.

In fact, if you have a special party coming up, order a large chocolate sponge slab in advance from your local bakery and create the cake at home. It’s so much better than the cheap store bought versions, you just can’t beat freshly whipped.

Continue reading Quickest black forest cake ever!!