Roast Cauliflower Soup with pancetta bark I'm a lazy chef, I have a busy and beautiful life. As much as I love food and cooking, I certainly don't want to spend a day in the kitchen, have dishes piled to the ceiling, and then end up with only one dish....
Chef Mel Alafaci | Jun 24, 2021 | 0 Comments
Perfect for entertaining...death by chocolate self saucing pudding. Warning: Do not wear your skinny jeans after eating this:) But you will definitely be happy:) Ingredients for pudding: Serves 4 so just double if you have more guestes but you will have to...
Chef Mel Alafaci | May 29, 2020 | 0 Comments
A LITTLE SLICE OF HEAVEN…BRILLIANT BACON AND SWEET POTATO BREAKFAST SLICE THAT IS! A little slice of heaven…brilliant bacon and sweet potato breakfast slice that is! Just wish I had taken a photo of this gorgeous dish before it got devoured this morning! Not only...
Chef Mel Alafaci | Apr 9, 2020 | 0 Comments
Perfect Peach or Apple Cobbler Filling 3 cups peaches or apples diced, skin on is fine (you can use any fruit you have instead of course) ½ cup white sugar 2 tablespoons butter 150ml cream 2 tablespoons plain flour Quickie Pastry 1 ½ cups plain flour 1 teaspoon...
Chef Mel Alafaci | Apr 9, 2020 | 0 Comments
Happy Sexy Quickie EGGS In my quest for the laziest YET sexiest eggs, this has become one of my best inventions. Almost a cross between an omelette and fried eggs but the best of both! Omelettes have the privilege of having a filling to make them a bit sexier. ...
Chef Mel Alafaci | Dec 3, 2019 | 0 Comments
Change your life BOLOGNESE Mel's versatile Bolognese recipe (Serves 6-8) 1kg premium beef mince 1 large onion finely sliced 3-6 cloves garlic 3 tablespoons fresh oregano/thyme/margoram or use 1 teaspoon dried Italian herb mix 1 carrot finely diced or grated...
Chef Mel Alafaci | Oct 21, 2019 | 0 Comments
SPECTACULAR SPANISH…WHO WANTS TO MAKE LAZY BUT PERFECT PAELLA. Spectacular Paella made easy (Serves 6-8) 1 large onion finely sliced 3-6 cloves garlic 3 tablespoons olive oil pinch saffron threads, soak in 30ml boiling hot water, allow to seep 1 teaspoon turmeric 1...
Chef Mel Alafaci | Jul 8, 2019 | 0 Comments
Ingredients Makes enought for 6-8 people ( my son makes this huge batch so he has meals for the next few days...clever lad!) 125g butter 100 g plain flour 1 liter milk 200g grated cheese 3 ml salt ground pepper to taste 500g macaroni pasta dried...
Chef Mel Alafaci | Jun 28, 2019 | 0 Comments
Strawberry Sundae Cupcakes This is the cake I made when I married the man of my dreams. I knew this was his favourite cake so I perfected it. Its perfect for cupcakes too, here's my favourite take on the strawberry sundae cupcakes to use some of our amazing...
Chef Mel Alafaci | Mar 27, 2019 | 0 Comments
Support your local farmer and bake these perfect pumpkin and pepper scones with matching whipped pumpkin, pepper and parmesan butter. Hello everyone! How exciting, I just love sharing fabulous recipes with you. And what better way to show our amazing farmers...
Chef Mel Alafaci | Mar 27, 2019 | 0 Comments
5 minute Keto Bread - Enough for a week So in an attempt to shed the kilo's I found in my latest trip overseas to London, I am on the low-carb bandwagon. I know this is not everyones path at the moment, but I must say that it works for me and I find...
Chef Mel Alafaci | Feb 18, 2019 | 0 Comments
My amazing foodie tour of London I was lucky enough to head to England last week on my 'Culinary Quickies' book launch. I also met with a few of my students and friends that now live in the UK and we took over the beautiful library lounge at the Radisson...
Chef Mel Alafaci | Feb 14, 2019 | 0 Comments
Greetings everyone! It's good to be back at home. No matter how much I love to travel, there is nothing like walking through your own door and sleeping in your own bed. What a fantastic trip I had. I was really besotted with what England had to...
Chef Mel Alafaci | Feb 6, 2019 | 0 Comments
VANILLA ZULU’S FAMOUS DEATH BY CHOCOLATE ‘BLINGED’ BROWNIE This is truly the dessert of love. It will surely make your loved one know how you feel about them. It's dead easy too, may look like a million bucks but it's easy, can be made in advance...
Chef Mel Alafaci | Jan 17, 2019 | 0 Comments
Love is in the air... It's the time of the year we embrace romance and passion and all things LOVE! Cupid has practically aimed his bow at...
Chef Mel Alafaci | Jan 17, 2019 | 0 Comments
Mozambique Cuisine...Africa on fire This weekend I was fortunate enough to be one of the presenters on stage at the Gold Coast Food and Wine Expo. Who would have thought that a little blond haired Zimbabwean, growing up in the most remote corners of Africa,...
Chef Mel Alafaci | Jan 14, 2019 | 0 Comments
If you haven’t heard about Oz Harvest I really recommend supporting their amazing initiatives. Promoting and focusing on reducing food waste and rescuing food to distribute to people in need, makes this a charity very close to my heart. I am lucky enough to have...
Chef Mel Alafaci | Jan 12, 2019 | 0 Comments
Vanilla Zulu Orange, Pistachio and Vanilla Christmas Mince Pie with spun sugar bling Tart shell 1 ½ cups / 180g plain flour 60g almond meal, toasted ½ cup / 110g sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 140g cold butter, chopped Zest of 1...
Chef Mel Alafaci | Dec 18, 2018 | 0 Comments
Dirty Black Beef with biltong, chilli, pistachio and coriander bling Anyone that knows me also knows that I'm the worlds laziest chef. If there is a shortcut or if I can shave some time off and still get my beautiful result, I'm just all for it. Which is...
Chef Mel Alafaci | Sep 21, 2018 | 0 Comments
Four years is a very long time not to return to see friends and family, but the amazing news is that I leave in less than two weeks, and there is much excitement! Australia is most definitely my home now, but I will always have Africa beating through my veins. I've...
Chef Mel Alafaci | Sep 19, 2018 | 0 Comments
Bling up your next roast with this fabulous 'spray-tanned' roast chicken! Roast chicken is an all time favourite. It's the definitive crowd pleaser and will never go out of fashion. 'Bling' up your next roast with this fabulous turmeric and curry...
Chef Mel Alafaci | May 25, 2018 | 0 Comments
I'm so excited! My mother arrived last week to be with me and her beloved grandson's. It's been two years since I last saw her so it's just a relief to have her here for Mother's Day. And although we Skype and call and Whatsapp all the time, nothing can beat a...
Chef Mel Alafaci | May 11, 2018 | 0 Comments
Ras el Hanout Spice Mix I know this like a massive investment, but once you have this made up, you will use it in so many different dishes! There are so many varieties of ras el hanout, you will eventually end up with your own special blend…just like I did! Make a...
Chef Mel Alafaci | May 1, 2018 | 0 Comments
Stir fries are a wonderful, healthy, economical family meal. Not only are they tasty, they are bursting with health and nutrition and are full of colour, flavour and personality.
BUT...are your stir fries soggy and full of liquid, or are they gloriously sticky like your favourite take away from you Asian restaurant!
There are so many varieties of the good old stir fry so the only wisdom I can impart is on how to cook it successfully every time! Get that wok out guys and let's get cooking!
Chef Mel Alafaci | Apr 27, 2018 | 0 Comments
