In medieval times basil was used as an indicator plant. If a girl touched a basil bush and it withered, it meant she was not a virgin! Jackie French tested the theory using a sacred basil plant, with very dubious results – she concluded that perhaps it was the...
Seafood Laksa There’s nothing quite like the heavenly fragrances and fabulous flavours of laksa soup. You can make this delicious seafood laksa using shop-bought laksa paste, or if you have time try Geoff’s homemade laksa paste recipe. The quantities given...
Seared Veal Stack This tasty combination of veal, a stack of vegetables and an Italian style tomato sauce makes a healthy meal for two. It looks very much like the kind of dish you’d find in a trendy cafe, but it’s very quick and easy to prepare at home....
Lactose is the sugar found in the milk of all mammals. It is normally broken down in the small intestine by an enzyme called lactase. Most mammals stop producing lactase after weaning, but many humans continue to produce the enzyme and can digest milk throughout life....
Almost all kids like junk foods – how could they help it when advertisers spend millions of dollars selling it to them? But kids don’t only like junk food. After all, the biggest selling breakfast cereal – by far – is Weetbix, and it’s...
Lazy Stew Peter Valder has a simple approach to cooking. Preparation should be easy, the food should be high in fibre and low in fat, and it should taste good! This “lazy person’s” stew is a perfect example of one of Peter’s quick, healthy...
Some old wives’ tales hold more than a grain of truth, and probably developed from long observation that certain eating habits led to healthier lives. However, others are just pure myth. Rosemary Stanton looks at some of the more popular myths about food, to see...
Magic Pills These days there are pills that claim to get rid of your cellulite, reduce your appetite, metabolise your fat, cleanse your liver and build muscle. Another popular product, JuicePlus+, is supposed to be the next best thing to fruits and vegetables. But do...
Geoff Jansz shows us how to make perfect pizza dough, a fresh tomato base and one of his favourite toppings. He also lets us in on a bit of a trade secret – how to make a professional looking, crusty base. You soak an unglazed terracotta tile in cold water for a...
Crumbles are delicious, warming puddings that fill the kitchen with great aromas and rich flavours, and they don’t have to be stodgy. Geoff’s recipe for rhubarb crumble serves between six and eight people. It’s an excellent dessert to give the family...