Author: Tanya Zouev

Five-Spice Raspberry & Banana Cake with Coconut Lemon Icing (Paleo, Grain-Free, Sugar-Free, Dairy-Free)

It’s ironic that the same time in my life I decided to go cold turkey on sugar was exactly the time I started to get really good at baking. Back in 2006, just after I found out about my various food allergies, I set about the task of learning how to bake gluten-free. As a result I spent many hours transforming conventional wheaten baked goods into their gluten-free incarnations. However I only started to really get the hang of individual properties of the myriad of gluten-free flours much later on…

Mrs Chang’s Crunchy Wombok, Cucumber & Mango Salad (Paleo, Sugar-Free)

Whether we like it or not, memories are very deeply ingrained in the food that we eat. I’m sure if you really think about it, you will find that most of your everyday food choices are ones made with some link to your childhood or much younger self. For example, I loved chicken schnitzel as a kid. For me it’s the ultimate comfort food and from time to time I will recreate a grain-free version. When I eat it, schnitzel reminds me of cold winter days when I’d come home from school to find that my mother had cooked it for me…

Indo-Greek 9-Hour Slow-Cooked Lamb

Recipes solely about meat are not something I write about often. On the contrary I encourage my readers to pad out their meat dishes with bucket loads of vegetables to make animal protein go a long, long way. Sometimes, however, an idea for a recipe comes along where meat just has to be the star and this is one of those. I love lamb and I love Greek food, and Greeks are particularly well known for the way in which they prepare it…

The Cook Has Done What?! The Cook Has Gone Paleo.

Photography and food styling by Tanya Zouev.  I’ve been quiet for a while on this blog. I’ve missed posting, I’ve missed my readers. “Por qué?”, you ask? Well for a number of reasons actually, but mainly my health. You see, a few years ago my health started going downhill and about twelve months ago it … Continue reading The Cook Has Done What?! The Cook Has Gone Paleo.

My Mother’s Cold Chinese Summer Noodles (Gluten-Free)

Recipe by Julia Zouev. Photography and styling by Tanya Zouev. When it comes to carbs, my absolute favourite of the lot is rice and rice noodles. You see I grew up on the stuff. As my mother was born in China, rice with just about everything was pretty standard at my family home. As a … Continue reading My Mother’s Cold Chinese Summer Noodles (Gluten-Free)

I Can’t Believe There’s No Butter Dark Chocolate Brownies (Gluten-Free)

Recipe, photography & styling by Tanya Zouev I really love chocolate, really really love it. In fact I don’t know of anybody who doesn’t like chocolate, it’s just one of those foods that seems to have universal appeal. It is no wonder then that “theobroma cacao” translated as “food of the gods”, was highly prized for … Continue reading I Can’t Believe There’s No Butter Dark Chocolate Brownies (Gluten-Free)

Love OzHarvest, Hate Food Waste, Love Shakshouka

Recipe, photography & styling by Tanya Zouev. When I began working as a food photographer nearly thirteen years ago I was shocked at the huge quantity of food thrown out after being photographed. Entire turkeys and cakes would be swept off the set by the food crew and dumped into the trash. When I enquired … Continue reading Love OzHarvest, Hate Food Waste, Love Shakshouka

Eton Mess with Mulberries Steeped In Gin

Recipe, photography & styling by Tanya Zouev. Growing in the neighbour’s yard is an enormous mulberry bush, part of which hangs over our back fence. It spans several meters across and at least three meters high, and right now as I write this post the branches are laden with fruit. The birds are having daily … Continue reading Eton Mess with Mulberries Steeped In Gin

Quince Paste with Vanilla, Star Anise & Cardamom

Recipe, photography & styling by Tanya Zouev. I wonder what thoughts went through the mind of the first person to stumble upon a quince? Did he or she come across the large yellow fruit hanging heavily on its branches and wonder what on earth it was? Perhaps they puzzled over its furry skin? Or that … Continue reading Quince Paste with Vanilla, Star Anise & Cardamom