Suitable for the Spa!

Photo Credit: Sue of Couscous & Consciousness/Soy-Roasted Salmon

 This week is all about dishes that are light and lovely, and of course healthy, but also and Suitable for the Spa!  What type of food represents spa food to you?

Choose any Donna Hay recipe that you feel is Suitable for the Spa and post on or by Sunday, January 5th!

Please remember to link a thumbnail image below, and leave a comment after you link so that we don't miss out on your post.

New to IHCC?  Need help linking up?  Check out our Welcome page.  If you have any questions, please leave a comment below and we will get back with you.

If you missed our 'Tis The Season theme last week, be sure to click on the links and check out all the wonderful dishes everyone made.

'Tis The Season

This week is all about celebration ... food and drink for holiday parties and entertaining.

Choose any Donna Hay recipe that speaks to you of the festive season and post your dish by Sunday 29 December.

Happy Holidays everyone and happy cooking!

Please remember to link a thumbnail image below, and leave a comment after you link so that we don't miss out on your post.

New to IHCC?  Need help linking up?  Check out our Welcome page.  If you have any questions, please leave a comment below and we will get back with you.

If you missed our Potluck theme last week, be sure to click on the links and check out all the wonderful dishes everyone made.

December Potluck!

Just in time for the holidays...

It truly is the most wonderful time of the year month!

It's December Potluck time!

Potluck is your chance to choose any Donna Hay recipe you like, or if you prefer take the opportunity to revisit ANY one of our previous eight IHCC chefs:

Nigella Lawson

Mark Bittman

Giada de Laurentiis

Jamie Oliver

Tessa Kiros

Rick Bayless

Madjur Jaffrey

Yotam Ottolenghi

To join in just post and link your December Potluck dish from any one of our IHCC chefs by Sunday, December 22nd.  

Please remember to link a thumbnail image of your dish and don't forget leave a comment after you link so that we don't miss out on your post.

New to IHCC?  Need help linking up?  Check out our Welcome page.  If you have any questions please leave a comment below and we will get back with you.

If you didn't get a chance to Fill the Tins! last week be sure to click on the links and check out all the fabulous treats that everyone made.

Fill the Tins!

Photo & Recipe Credit: Sue of Couscous & Consciousness

This week is all about making homemade goodies. Whether you're making them for yourself, for your family, or to hand out as gifts.  It's time to Fill The Tins with cookies, bars, candies, cakes, and all kinds of sugary treats!

Photo & Recipe Credit:  Sue of Couscous & Consciousness

Choose any sweet little Donna Hay recipe that will bring a smile to someone's face and fill the tins and cookie platters!  Please make and post your dish by Sunday, December 15th.

Please remember to link a thumbnail image below, and leave a comment after you link so that we don't miss out on your post.

New to IHCC?  Need help linking up?  Check out our Welcome page.  If you have any questions, please leave a comment below and we will get back with you.

If you missed our Fast & Fabulous theme last week, be sure to click on the links and check out all the wonderful dishes everyone made.

Fast & Fabulous!

It's that time of year, when all the pressures of the holiday season begin to collide.  Parties to attend, Christmas baking to do, gifts to make and buy, childrens' school events to prepare for, entertaining guests ... both planned and unexpected.  No matter what's going on, time is such a precious commodity right now, you won't want to be spending hours standing over the stove preparing meals.

Donna Hay to the rescue.  Donna is the self-confessed queen of the shortcut, and you will find so many of her recipes are perfect for the busy cook, without any compromises in terms of flavour and good looks.

Yes, this week we're all about Fast & Fabulous.  Choose any Donna Hay recipe that takes less than 30 minutes to make, and post your dish by Sunday 8 December.

Now, go get cooking ... your time starts now!!

Please remember to link a thumbnail image below, and leave a comment after you link so that we don't miss out on your post.

New to IHCC?  Need help linking up?  Check out our Welcome page.  If you have any questions, please leave a comment below and we will get back with you.

If you missed our EASY Entertaining theme last week, be sure to click on the links and check out all the wonderful dishes everyone made.

EASY Entertaining!

The holiday madness has begun!!!

We all love to spend time with our family and friends this time of year but there's no need to spend hours in the kitchen making fussy "company" food when we have the recipes of Donna Hay! 

This week we are going for EASY Entertaining!

It's hosting made simple with dishes that are perfect for serving to guests but, easy to prepare. 

So pull off your apron, put on your party duds and find a Donna Hay dish that is EASY to make and post it by Sunday, December 1st.

Don't forget to link your dish with a thumbnail image, below and remember to leave a comment after linking so that we don't miss out on your dish. Please remember, we are cooking the recipes of Donna Hay!

New to IHCC?  Need help linking up?  Please see our Welcome page.  If you have any questions, please leave a comment below and we will get back with you.  

If you didn't check out the entries for last week's Potluck theme, be sure to check out the links and see the fabulous dishes that were made.

November Potluck!

Potluck week is everyone's favorite for a reason.  Choose any recipe from any of the chefs below. 

That's right, choose any donna hay recipe you like, or if you prefer take the opportunity to revisit any one of our previous eight IHCC chefs:

Nigella Lawson

Mark Bittman

Giada de Laurentiis

Jamie Oliver

Tessa Kiros

Rick Bayless

Madjur Jaffrey

Yotam Ottolenghi

That makes for a veritable smorgasbord of English, American, Italian, Mediterranean, Mexican, Indian, Middle Eastern and "modern Australian" recipes to choose from.

To join in just post and link your November Potluck dish from any one of our IHCC chefs by Sunday, November 24th. 27.  Please remember to link a thumbnail image and leave a comment after you link so that we don't miss out on your dish.

New to IHCC?  Need help linking up?  Check out our Welcome page.  If you have any questions please leave a comment below and we will get back with you.

If you missed our Are You Calling Me A Tart? theme last week, be sure to click on the links and check out all the fabulous dishes everyone made.

Are You Calling Me A Tart?

Now you know we would never call the gorgeous Donna Hay a tart, but she sure knows how to make a great one.  And you can too.

Sweet Potato Galettes, at Couscous & Consciousness

Donna's books, magazines and online recipes offer a multitude of tarts and pies, both sweet and savoury.  She offers recipes for pastry, or quick and easy shortcuts using pre-made, ready rolled pastry.

Apple Tarte Tatin with Salted Caramel Sauce, at Toast

So, no matter whether you consider yourself a "dab hand" at pastry making or making pastry is your complete nemesis, you'll have no problem finding a Donna Hay tart or pie recipe to suit, and post your dish by Sunday 17 November.

Please remember to link a thumbnail image below, and leave a comment after you link so that we don't miss out on your dish.

New to IHCC?  Need help linking up?  Check out our Welcome page.  If you have any questions, please leave a comment below and we will get back with you.

If you missed our In Season theme last week, be sure to click on the links and check out all the wonderful seasonal dishes everyone made.

In Season

Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall... 

What's In Season right now in your little corner of the world?

Make a Donna Hay dish featuring or including ingredients that are In Season where you live and post it by Sunday, November 10th.

Don't forget to link your dish with a thumbnail image, below and remember to leave a comment after linking so that we don't miss out on your dish. Please remember, we are cooking the recipes of Donna Hay!

New to IHCC?  Need help linking up?  Please see our Welcome page.  If you have any questions, please leave a comment below and we will get back with you.  

If you didn't check out the entries for last week's Sandwich Sensations theme, be sure to check out the links and see the fabulous dishes that were made.

Sandwich Sensations!

Oh the wonderful world of sandwiches.  There is a sensational sandwich for every mood or occasion.  Dainty little tea time sandwiches, burgers for a cookout, a quick weeknight sandwich, a sloppy man-sized sandwich, an elegant cocktail sandwich, and don't forget about dessert....an ice cream sandwich!

Make and post your Sandwich Sensations! dish by Sunday, November 3rd.

Don't forget to link your dish with a thumbnail image, below and remember to leave a comment after linking so that we don't miss out on your dish. Please remember, we are cooking the recipes of Donna Hay!

New to IHCC?  Need help linking up?  Please see our Welcome page.  If you have any questions, please leave a comment below and we will get back with you.  

If you didn't check out the entries for last week's October Potluck theme, be sure to check out the links and see all the fabulous dishes.

*photo credit to http://www.donnahay.com.au/

October Potluck!

Oh, yes ... we all love a Potluck around here!

And, what's not to love, when Potluck means not only do you get to choose the recipe, but you also get to choose the chef.

That's right, choose any donna hay recipe you like, or if you prefer take the opportunity to revisit any one of our previous eight IHCC chefs:

Nigella Lawson

Mark Bittman

Giada de Laurentiis

Jamie Oliver

Tessa Kiros

Rick Bayless

Madjur Jaffrey

Yotam Ottolenghi

That makes for a veritable smorgasbord of English, American, Italian, Mediterranean, Mexican, Indian, Middle Eastern and "modern Australian" recipes to choose from.

To join in just post and link your October Potluck dish from any one of our IHCC chefs by Sunday 27 October.  Please remember to link a thumbnail image and leave a comment after you link so that we don't miss out on your dish.

New to IHCC?  Need help linking up?  Check out our Welcome page.  If you have any questions please leave a comment below and we will get back with you.

If you missed our Up & At 'Em! theme last week, be sure to click on the links and check out all the fabulous breakfast dishes everyone made.

Up & At 'Em!

Do you like something sweet for breakfast, or are savory dishes your favorite way to start the day? 

Whether you like to relax over French toast or a bowl of granola, grab a muffin or smoothie on-the-go or even nosh on the leftovers from last night's dinner for breakfast, just pick a Donna Hay recipe that will get you...  

Up & At 'Em!

Thanks to Sue for the delicious-looking breakfast pictures collage background!

Make and post your Up & At 'Em! dish by Sunday, October 20th

Don't forget to link your dish with a thumbnail image, below and remember to leave a comment after linking so that we don't miss out on your dish. Please remember, we are cooking the recipes of Donna Hay!

New to IHCC?  Need help linking up?  Please see our Welcome page.  If you have any questions, please leave a comment below and we will get back with you.  

If you didn't check out the entries for last week's Pantry Magic theme, be sure to check out the links and see the fabulous dishes that were made.

Pantry Magic!

Pantries are magical places full of yummy inspiration.

So many possibilities just waiting to be shared.

What kind of magic can you create from your pantry this week?

Please make and share your Pantry Magic dish by Sunday, October 13th.  Don't forget to link your dish as well as a thumbnail image below, and please leave a comment after you link so that we don't miss your dish.  Please remember, we are cooking the recipes of Donna Hay!

New to IHCC?  Need help linking up?  Check out our Welcome page.  If you have any questions please leave a comment below and we will get back with you.

If you missed out on last week's theme, G'day Donna Hay,  be sure to check have a look back and check out our very first week with Donna Hay!  There was quite a tasty roundup of dishes!


photo credit www.sacramentostreet.com and www.theaustrailian.com

G'day Donna Hay

A Pot Luck party to say G'day and Welcome to our new chef,

Donna Hay.

Australian food writer & stylist, Donna Hay, began her career at the age of 19, and within a few short years was appointed Food Editor of marie claire magazine.  Donna is now the editor of her own magazine, donna hay magazine, a top-selling bi-monthly food magazine which has achieved tremendous success in her home country of Australia, as well as much international acclaim, with subscribers in 82 countries worldwide.

Donna is currently Australia’s leading food editor and best-selling cookbook author.  Her food and recipes, which focus on basic ingredients, simply prepared, have inspired a whole new generation of cooks to get into the kitchen, while her signature styling and beautifully photographed dishes have set the benchmark for food publishing worldwide.

She has 18 award-winning cookbooks to her credit, and was named one of the ‘Magnificent Seven’ cookbook authors by the international Gourmand Awards in January 2007.

Donna also has a popular weekly food column in both Australian and New Zealand newspapers, and is also a regular contributor to UK’s leading lifestyle magazine, Living etc.

And it doesn't stop there.  Donna also has her own concept store in Sydney, Australia, her own highly successful range of homewares, and has more recently launched the donna hay food range, with cookies, brownies and cupcake baking kits full of all natural ingredients.

Whew!!  You'd wonder how such a busy woman would ever find time to cook.  Proof positive, no doubt that Donna's simple but stylish dishes are perfect for busy people.

We're excited to be introducing this wonderful new chef to you, and hope you will enjoy cooking with Donna for the next six months.  In addition to Donna's books and magazines, which are available through both her own website and through Amazon (other major booksellers too), you will also find a ton of her recipes by visiting any of the links in the sidebar.

So, what are you waiting for.  Cook up that Donna Hay dish (or drink) that says G'day, and post your recipe by Sunday 6 October.

Don't forget to link your dish as well as a thumbnail image below, and please leave a comment after you link so that we don't miss your dish.

New to IHCC?  Need help linking up?  Check out our Welcome page.  If you have any questions please leave a comment below and we will get back with you.

If you missed our Oh, Ottolenghi (We're Gonna Miss You!) theme last week, be sure to check out the links and get a taste of all the wonderful dishes we made.

Oh, Ottolenghi! (We're Gonna Miss You!!!)

Oh, Ottolenghi!

Dear Yotam Ottolenghi,

What a incredible six months it has been cooking along with you! 

• You brought vegetables from the sidelines to the center of our plates...
• You introduced exotic ingredients like harissa, sumac, za'atar, and labneh into our world...
• You showed us the beauty in a perfectly "burnt" eggplant and had us drooling over your cookbook photos... 
• You got us to cook with unique and delicious flavor combinations...
• You made salads sexy...
• You challenged us and made us grow... (I mean sure, occasionally we grumbled a bit about the long and unusual ingredient lists and sometimes vague recipe directions, but the end results made it worth the effort!)
• You gave us an amazing amount of wonderful dishes and cooking experiences... 

Oh Ottolenghi! 

As much as we are looking forward to cooking along with our new IHCC chef Donna Hay, we are truly going to miss cooking with you each week and exploring the world of Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and Israeli cooking. But, don't be too sad--although we might not see you as quite regularly anymore, we will always have POTLUCK!

Yours Truly, 

Your Loving I Heart Cooking Club Friends

----

As we spend this last week with Ottolenghi, feel free to make any Ottolenghi dish you have been wanting to make and/or share a roundup of your favorite Ottolenghi dishes and post by Sunday, September 29th.


-----

Don't forget to link your dish with a thumbnail image, below.  Please remember to leave a comment after linking so that we don't miss out on your dish. 

New to IHCC?  Need help linking up?  Please see our Welcome page.  If you have any questions, please leave a comment below and we will get back with you.  

If you didn't check out the entries for last week's September Potluck theme, be sure to check out the links and see the fabulous dishes that were made.  

 

September Potluck!

It's Potluck week again!  Choose any Ottolenghi recipe you like, or if you prefer choose any recipe from any one of our previous seven IHCC chefs:

Nigella Lawson

Mark Bittman

Giada de Laurentiis

Jamie Oliver

Tessa Kiros

Rick Bayless

Madjur Jaffrey

That makes for a veritable smorgasbord of English, American, Italian, Mediterranean, Mexican, Indian and Middle Eastern recipes to choose from.

To join in just post and link your September Potluck dish from any one of our IHCC chefs by Sunday, September 22nd.  Please remember to link a thumbnail image and leave a comment after you link so that we don't miss out on your dish.

New to IHCC?  Need help linking up?  Check out our Welcome page.  If you have any questions please leave a comment below and we will get back with you.

If you missed our You Made Me Love (Or At Least Like) You, be sure to click on the links and check out all the fabulous dishes everyone made.

We are excited to announce that we will begin cooking the recipes of Donna Hay starting October 1st.  Please see the sidebar for October themes!

 

You Made Me Love (Or At Least Like) You!

This week we're all about those ingredients that you once used to hate, but have grown to love - or at least to like a little bit.  We all have one of those, don't we - brussels sprouts, oysters, tofu, sardines, offal, are just a few ingredients that spring to mind which are often not so popular when we first try them.  I'm sure there is a list a mile long of potential ingredients you've grown to like.

So break out those Yotam Ottolenghi books (or have a look online), track down a recipe featuring one of those ingredients you were once less than enamoured of, and post your dish by Sunday 15 September.

Don't forget to link your dish as well as a thumbnail image below, and please leave a comment after you link so that we don't miss your dish.

New to IHCC?  Need help linking up?  Check out our Welcome page.  If you have any questions please leave a comment below and we will get back with you.

If you missed our New To Me theme last week, be sure to check out the links and get a taste of all the wonderful dishes we made.

New to Me! & Labneh Roundup

One of the joys of cooking along with Ottolenghi is the variety of ingredients he uses and the way he combines them into different combinations and dishes! So this week our IHCC theme is...

New to Me!

It's your chance to make any Ottolenghi recipe you like with a new (or newish, less used or familiar) to you ingredient, dish, cuisine, cooking technique or cooking style.

So open up those cookbooks, go online, pick something NEW and post your Ottolenghi recipe by Sunday, September 8.

Don't forget to link your dish with a thumbnail image, below.  Please remember to leave a comment after linking so that we don't miss out on your dish. 

New to IHCC?  Need help linking up?  Please see our Welcome page.  If you have any questions, please leave a comment below and we will get back with you.  

If you didn't check out the entries for last week's Pies & Tarts theme, be sure to check out the links and see the fabulous dishes that were made.

***Optional Monthly Community Recipe: Labneh Roundup***

August's Optional Monthly Community Recipe was Labneh, creamy and delicious strained yogurt cheese. 

Sue of Couscous & Consciousness ended up with a beautiful jar of creamy labneh orbs and says, "When you're ready to use the labneh, remove the balls from the oil, roll in a mixture of dried mint and freshly ground black pepper, and serve in salads, or as part of a mezze platter, or just with a couple of crackers. ... The resulting cheese has a delicious, delicate, citrusy/yoghurty tang, and the dried mint is the perfect complement to it.  Although there are a couple of days involved in making this, most of that time it's just taking care of itself in the fridge.  The actual effort you have to put in is about 5 to 10 minutes max, and results in a great store cupboard ingredient to have on hand."

At Kahakai Kitchen, I used my yogurt cheese in Ottolenghi's Labneh with Olives, Pistachios & Oregano which was so darn delicious I think I am going to have to make it again this week. Topped with a mix of briny olives and toasted nuts and spread on crusty bread, it made for an easy and tasty appetizer. (OK, actually I ate a small plate as my dinner meal with bread and rosemary flat bread crackers but it would be a fabulous pupu!) ;-)

I looked through the last few weeks and didn't see any other entries so if you did make labneh, leave a comment on this post and I will add you to the roundup. Since this is our last month cooking along with Ottolenghi, we are going to skip an Optional Monthly Community Recipe for September and evaluate if we will continue this feature with our next chef. (Voting poll for our next female chef will be up soon--keep your eye on the side bar!)

Looking forward to seeing your "New to Me!" dishes!

**Please take a moment to vote for our new female chef!  Voting poll will be up for one week only!**   

Pies and Tarts!

Photo Credit: Heather of girlichef - Caramelized Garlic Tart

Yotam Ottolenghi has a wide variety of sweet and savory pies and tarts. 

Photo Credit: Joanne of Eats Well With Others - Very Full Tart

We know that some of you are natural born bakers and love making crust from scratch.  However, there are some of us (ahem...perhaps all three of your IHCC hosts) that do not enjoy making crust from scratch!  Thankfully, for our sake, there are lots of options using puff pastry and Phyllo dough which are right up our alley!

Please make and post your Pies and Tarts by Sunday, September 1st.  Please remember to post a thumbnail image and leave a comment after so that we do not miss out on your tasty dish!

New to IHCC?  Need help linking up?  Check out our Welcome page.  If you have any questions please leave a comment below and we will get back with you.

If you missed our Potluck theme last week, be sure to click on the links and check out all the fabulous dishes everyone made.

Don't forget to check out the Optional Monthly Community Recipe - there's still a couple of days to get your entries done, and you can post them using the linky at the end of this post. This month we're making Labneh, and you'll also find a round-up of all the Hummus dishes everyone posted last month.  This fun IHCC feature is a great way to join in cooking one recipe as a group, to share your experiences and connect with other members of the group.

Please note the voting poll on the upper right sidebar.  We are asking participants to vote on whether they would like to continue cooking the recipes of Yotam Ottolenghi until the end of November or if they'd rather vote in a new female chef/cook starting October 1st.  There is only one more day to vote so please get your vote in!  Once the voting is complete we will make an announcement on the sidebar so stay tuned!

August Pot Luck

Oh, yes ... we all love a Potluck around here!

And, what's not to love, when Potluck means not only do you get to choose the recipe, but you also get to choose the chef.

That's right, choose any Ottolenghi recipe you like, or if you prefer choose any recipe from any one of our previous seven IHCC chefs:

Nigella Lawson

Mark Bittman

Giada de Laurentiis

Jamie Oliver

Tessa Kiros

Rick Bayless

Madjur Jaffrey

That makes for a veritable smorgasbord of English, American, Italian, Mediterranean, Mexican, Indian and Middle Eastern recipes to choose from.

To join in just post and link your August Potluck dish from any one of our IHCC chefs by Sunday 25 August.  Please remember to link a thumbnail image and leave a comment after you link so that we don't miss out on your dish.

New to IHCC?  Need help linking up?  Check out our Welcome page.  If you have any questions please leave a comment below and we will get back with you.

If you missed our Nuts and Seeds theme last week, be sure to click on the links and check out all the fabulous "nutty" dishes everyone made.

Don't forget to check out the Optional Monthly Community Recipe - there's still a couple of weeks to get your entries done, and you can post them using the linky at the end of this post. This month we're making Labneh, and you'll also find a round-up of all the Hummus dishes everyone posted last month.  This fun IHCC feature is a great way to join in cooking one recipe as a group, to share your experiences and connect with other members of the group.

**Please notice the poll on the sidebar.  We are asking participants to vote on whether they wish to continue cooking the recipes of Yotam Ottolenghi for an additional two months (end of November) OR whether they wish to vote in a new female chef/cook starting October 1st. The poll will be up for one week only, until August 27th.  Depending on the results of the poll, we will either announce a continuation with Ottolenghi or post a new poll asking for your vote on a new female chef/cook!

Nuts and Seeds!

Sometimes you feel like a NUT...    (or maybe a SEED!?!)
It's time to pick a Yotam Ottolenghi recipe that includes Nuts and Seeds of any kind.

So just go NUTS and don't be afraid if things get a little SEEDY!

Make and post your recipe by Sunday, August 18th!

Make sure it is a Yotam Ottolenghi recipe from online, one of his books . Don't forget to link your dish with a thumbnail image, below.  Please remember to leave a comment after linking so that we don't miss out on your dish. 

New to IHCC?  Need help linking up?  Please see our Welcome page.  If you have any questions, please leave a comment below and we will get back with you.  

If you didn't check out the entries for last week's Gorgeously Green theme, be sure to check out the links and see the fabulous dishes that were made. 

*** Don't forget to check out this month's Optional Monthly Community Recipe.  There is still time to join in! This month we're making Labneh, and you'll also find a round up of last month's delicious Harissa recipes.  This  is a great way to join in cooking one recipe as a group, to share your experiences and connect with other members of the group.  Do join us. ***

Gorgeously Green!

This week we're celebrating all things green.

Chose a Yotam Ottolenghi recipe that features any green ingredient and post your Gorgeously Green recipe by Sunday, August 11th.   Don't forget to link your dish, as well as a thumbnail image, below.  Please remember to leave a comment after you link so that we don't miss out on your dish.

New to IHCC?  Need help linking up?  Check out our Welcome page.  If you have any questions please leave a comment below and we will get back with you.

If you missed our Mezze Madness theme last week, be sure to check out the links and get a taste of all the amazing "small plates" everyone shared.

*** Don't forget to check out this month's Optional Monthly Community Recipe.  This month we're making Labneh, and you'll also find a round up of last month's delicious Harissa recipes.   You have until August 31st to submit your entries - just link them at the end of this post. This  is a great way to join in cooking one recipe as a group, to share your experiences and connect with other members of the group.  Do join us, and come back on September 1st for a round-up of all the Labneh posts and discover what we're doing for next month's community recipe. ***