Some soup for the soul is just what I need. Not only has it been raining cats and dogs but life has been a bit of a roller coaster recently. So what better than a nice cup of soup (and no, not this kind). I took a leaf out of Charlotte Lascève, the author of the delightful “Petit sequences” which we launched at La Cocotte this thursday. She made a delicious pumpkin soup. Perfect for a wintry evening. However I do like things spicy. The sweet, slightly nutty pumpkin flavour with the coconut milk marries well with a tablespoon or two (depending on how hot you like things) of red thai curry paste. Think a kick arse version of “Chicken soup for the soul” minus the meat

If you haven’t checked out the amazing prizes in the Menu for Hope IV fundraiser. Make sure to do so!

28.10.08

This soup has been entered in the Cookthink: Rootsource challenge “Pumpkin”. Take a look at the site for other delicious pumpkin recipes.

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Tags: Rootsource

Hate to blow my trumpet, but who cares I’m so excited about being on the cover (with my cake) of this month’s Elle à table I just had to share it with you. There’s an 8 page article inside “Christmas dinner with the 4 girls from la Cocotte“. Andrea and I wrote the recipes and made the food (and some food styling). Nathalie did the beautiful interior and prop styling…well worth rushing to your local newsagent and getting a copy now, while there are still some left

Tags: Elle à table

Cantucci: famous tuscan almond biscotti

The last couple of weeks (or maybe months) have been pretty crazy, not just workwise but socially. I seem to be meeting a whole bunch of cool people every week. The obligatory ‘So what do you do in life?’ question crops up within 2/3 minutes of the first conversation. I usually say I bake biscuits, makes things a lot simpler (telling people you’re a food stylist, always involves a lengthy explanation). Then comes the ‘Can you make xxx?’ ‘Yes’ ‘Can you really?’ …and a demand of some proof of some sort. Keep reading…

Tags: Biscotti, Cantucci, Competition, Stop the Traffik

Drum roll, please…here are the absolutely fantastic chocotastic entries for the Stop the Traffik chocolate competition. And what a range there has been. Each entry has had me licking my lips and going yum yum. Thanks to everyone who participated I’m truly impressed with all the effort everyone has made. If I’ve forgotten your entry or made an error, please let me know.

So start drooling over your keyboards (click on each image for the whole entry) and send me your votes to rkhooks@gmail.com by Tuesday 16th October.

P.S. Only one entry per person. I know you guys want to win the goodie bag

Tags: chocoholics, Competition, Stop the Traffik

On Thursday we had our little ‘flowery’ event @ La Cocotte for the book launch of ‘Petits bouquets de cuisine’. There were flowery mocktails and these little raspberry dahlia mousses with mint choc leaves. Absolutely delish! I couldn’t stop eating the mint choc leaves. Think After eight but without the sweet filling and calories.

Just a tip if you’re going to use Dahlias to decorate make sure you use pesticide free (flowers from the florist are usually heavily sprayed).

Special thank you to Andrea (the La Cocotte mastermind) who spent the night making the delicious mint choc leaves.

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Tags: DMBLGIT