Pumpkin and blue cheese is one of the most comforting flavour combos of our time, so make a big pot of this and dive in (literally, if you want – we won’t judge). There is something wonderful about the combination of sweet, deep orange pumpkin and salty, sharp blue cheese. Even better when served alongside … Read more
Aglio, olio e peperoncino is a beautifully simple dish that’s as good at home on the couch as it is at a back-street Napoli trattoria. I have to first admit to having a penchant for all things pasta. A soft spot. A great love. An obsession. A problem. I’m constantly trying to ditch the carbs … Read more
Is there anything better than pasta with meatballs in tomato sauce? The answer is no. Pasta has to be the ultimate comfort food – and if it’s accompanied by meatballs and sauce, then even better. I tend to get stuck in a meatball-making rut, so my family really only ever eats the same version, time … Read more
Taking the time to make pasta by hand is a soothing, restorative experience, as is making sourdough bread. Combining the two, then, is a recipe for a very zen afternoon – not to mention a delicious dinner. I’ll never forget the first time I made pasta. I was 13 or 14 and we lived in … Read more
A simple, well-executed tomato pasta is a thing of beauty. This recipe is for those days when culinary inspiration just won’t strike, and if you’ve got a garden full of ripe tomatoes, it’s a great way to use them up (if not, a couple of tins of tomatoes work well too). With few ingredients, the … Read more
Dietary Requirements is The Spinoff’s new monthly podcast in which we eat, drink and talk about it too, with special thanks to Freedom Farms and Fine Wine Delivery Co. This month on Dietary Requirements, we throw caution to the wind and cook up an Aperol Spritz-fuelled pasta storm as we discuss the joys of Italian food and drink. … Read more
Get your fill of the glorious green spears because they’re here for a good time, not a long time – and they make a damn fine addition to a classic carbonara. You know that summer isn’t too far around the corner when asparagus makes an appearance on the supermarket shelves. I love the versatility of this vegetable. … Read more
What, a paella made with pasta?! We know, but wait, it gets better – Freedom Farms’ delicious new smoked pork chorizo features too. Much of the deli meat − cured products such as salami, chorizo and the like − sold in New Zealand is made from imported ingredients, and under current laws, there’s no requirement … Read more
A quest for pasta perfection takes one carb enthusiast from Mt Eden, Auckland, to Bologna, Italy. This story originally ran in Barker’s 1972 magazine. During my three-week honeymoon in Europe, I gained 7kg. Despite spending only two days there, I believe Bologna is where the majority of the weight was assumed. I am obsessed with pasta … Read more