Whether you are a mum, have a mum, are missing a mum because she’s far away, or sad because mum isn’t in your life for whatever reason, I hope you’re able to have a cheery day. Even if Mother’s Day couldn’t feel less relevant to you in whatever circumstances you find yourself, I promise these recipes still work without a Mother’s Day angle!
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Happy cooking and happy Mother’s Day!
Breakfast in Bed
Matcha Smoothie Bowl
Mum will love this quick, easy and healthy breakfast that also works as a jarred meal on the go? I certainly do! I love everything about this Smoothie Bowl, with the goodness of oats, nuts and chia seeds and a green boost from spinach and matcha, a Japanese green tea powder.
Crumpets
Crumpets are like the love child of bread and pancakes – you make a yeasted batter, let it rise, then cook the little rounds gently in a pan. There’s nothing like watching crumpets in creation and I guarantee Mum will love them too.
Zucchini Fritters
These fritters are perfect for Mother’s Day brunch or lunch. You can serve them plain but I love them with this pineapple chutney, invented when we ended up with half a pineapple that just didn’t have that much flavour. As so often happens, a dish that starts as an improvisation ends up becoming a firm family favourite.
Lunch or Dinner for Mum
Ginger Duck with Steamed Bao
Inspired by sauce running down my elbow at Momofuku in New York, the creation of these steamed bao for Thermomix has been a tasty victory. The bao are fluffy fold-over pouches and they’re filled with ginger-marinated duck, fresh vegetables, a lusciously punchy sauce and shatter-crisp duck skin.
Chilli Padi Chicken Rendang
Rendang is a typical Malaysian curry, an absolute favourite that’s loved all around the world. There are countless variations – today’s is cooked by Malay cookbook author Suriya, who I was delighted to spend time with in Kuala Lumpur.
Cauliflower Rice
If you’re not familiar with this kind of ‘rice’ please let me explain! For a start, it’s not actually rice, it’s cauliflower turned into a rice-like rubble. Lots of people eat it because they’re avoiding grains or carbohydrates. I just eat it because I love cauliflower.
Something Sweet
Peanut Butter Miso Biscuits
I tasted a peanut butter miso cookie at Falco Bakery in Smith Street, Collingwood, and instantly knew I needed to recreate the recipe at home. I absolutely love the sticky chewiness of the peanut butter underlaid with the salty funkiness of the miso and I know your Mum will love them too. The flavours are as round as the biscuit!
Blackberry Vinegar Chocolate Truffles
The main thing I need to tell you about these chocolate truffles is that they are life-changingly good. The second thing is that your Mum is going to love them. Berry-infused vinegar brings a tart finish, both undercutting and highlighting the richness of the chocolate ganache.
Basque Cheesecake
As soon as I ate this cheesecake, I knew my mission: get the recipe and adapt it for Thermomix. Now that I’ve done so, my life is pretty much complete. (If you don’t have a Thermomix, see the ‘traditional’ method below…bliss is still possible.)
Gifts for Mum
Give Mum some lovingly prepared freshly baked pretzel cookies. She will also love these delicious pantry condiments that make it easy for her to add pizzazz to any meal. All these condiments can be packaged into jars and kept in the pantry, except for the Ginger and Spring Onion Oils, which belong in the fridge.
Quince Paste
I think quinces are magic. They start hard, fluffy and pale, but when coaxed with gentle cooking, they turn a deep, luscious ruby.
Double Chocolate Pretzel Cookies
Your Mum will love these cookies. They’re are super chocolatey with a savoury hit from the pretzels and I promise you Mum won’t be able to stop at just one.
Entertaining with Dani Valent Cookbook
My third cookbook is full of delicious recipes packaged into 13 themed menus that will allow you to gracefully create stunning dinner parties, celebrations and occasions.
You’ll be the host with the most if you’re the cook with the book. Head over to the Thermomix shop and purchase a copy for your beautiful Mum today.
Chilli Lime Crumb
This flavoured salt is quick and easy and you can whack it in jars to give away as a colourful, flavourful, fragrant gift. It’s an incredibly versatile condiment: spicy, zesty and ready to add a kick to everything from fruit to prawns to mayonnaise. Turn cantaloupe or honeydew melon wedges from a kids’ snack into a thrilling grown-up nibble: arrange cut melon cubes on a platter and sprinkle over for a sparky pre-dinner conversation starter!
Virtual Bacon Dust
Bring ‘facon’ joy to all with this George Calombaris recipe. The Pumpkin Soup method in this video and recipe is interesting but it’s the ‘virtual bacon dust’ that is the real mind-bending taste explosion. It tastes just like bacon, but no pigs were harmed in its creation and there are just three ingredients. Use Virtual Bacon Dust on everything from scrambled eggs, to peas or pea soup or even sprinkled over a risotto or salad.
Vadouvan Spice
Vadouvan is the French version of an Indian curry powder and it’s a great condiment to have on hand. Put it in a jar for Mum to have in her pantry and tell her she can use it in my Emergency Lentil Soup, the Vadouvan Mussels video (where you’ll find the recipe) and in the Spiced Mini Rolls that are in my Entertaining cookbook.
Magic Dust
‘Magic Dust’ is a flavoured salt that takes meat from mediocre to magnificent. It features in this nourishing recipe from chef Joseph Vargetto – Barolo-Braised Beef with Polenta Cremoso.
Furikake
Furikake is a Japanese condiment that features in my Salmon & Rockling Poke with Furikake and in my Rice Crackers. It’s a handy sprinkle to have on hand to season scrambled eggs and soups as well.
Ginger & Spring Onion Oils
Chef Victor Liong’s flavoured oils will give sparkle and surprise to countless Chinese dishes. They star in his recipe – Steamed Oysters with Ginger & Spring Onion Oils.
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My business card says ‘Writer. Eater. Traveller. Cook.’ I do all these things with equal passion, which is why I’m sometimes sitting at my laptop with an apron on! This is where I share all my best bits of writing, recipes and videos. There are free areas of the site where you can stay up to date with my journalism and get a taste of my cooking adventures. Sign up as a member and you’ll get access to my awesome and ever-growing library of cooking videos and recipes, focusing on Thermomix.
This is a place for inspiration, chefs’ secrets, practical tuition and happy creativity. If you like cooking and eating delicious food and basking in the compliments of family and friends, this site is for you. You’ll be amazed what you can create with my recipes and videos as your guide.
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