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Mackenzie's Menu

My hero in Lost in Kakadu is a fabulous five star chef but crashing into Kakadu without even so much as a frying pan made gourmet meals practically impossible. So I've given Mackenzie the chance to share some of his favorite recipes with you. Don't worry there's no Snake Kebabs, Witchetty Grub Stews or Snail Fritters on the menu. 
Click here to read some of the crazy things I did to prepare for this book.

Sticky Date Pudding

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Pudding
250g seeded dates
1¼ cup boiling  water
1  tsp Bi-Carb soda
1 cup self raising flour
¾ cup  firmly packed brown sugar
60g butter
2 eggs
Sauce
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
100g chopped
butter
300 ml  cream
Method:
1.  Put dates, water and soda in  a blender, put lid on and let stand for 5 minutes.
2.  Add brown sugar and chopped butter and process until dates are roughly chopped
3.  Add eggs and flour and mix until just combined.
4. Pour into a greased and lined round tin.
5. Bake for 50-55 minutes in a moderate oven, turning once during cooking
6. Turn onto a plate to serve.
7.  To make sauce: Place sugar, butter and cream in a saucepan and stir continually until butter is melted and sauce begins
to boil and thicken.
8. To serve: slice a portion of cake, drizzle with caramel sauce and top with vanilla ice cream.
Mackenzie's tips. Serve with ice-cream and cream. This recipe is so delicious it shouldn't be saved just for Christmas.


Have I enticed you enough to read the book and see what he actually cooked in the rugged Australian jungle?  Click here.

Thai Fish Cakes

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250g White Fish Fillets, skin and bones removed.
1/2 cup cooked long grain rice
1/2 cup green beans roughly chopped
1 stalk lemon grass, sliced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 red chili, seeds removed and chopped
1 coriander plant, roots included chopped
2 teaspoons fish sauce
1 egg, beaten
Vegetable oil for frying

Method:
1) Put all ingredients except oil into a food processor and process until just combined.  Do not over mix.
2) Shape into heaped tablespoonsful and fry a few at a time in about 1cm of oil until golden brown on both sides.
3) Drain on absorbent paper. Serve with fresh green salad and dipping sauces.
Mackenzie's tips.  Always make a double batch, these will be popular. Make a day ahead and reheat.  

Now have I enticed you enough to read the book and see what he
actually cooked in the rugged Australian jungle? 
Click here.

Polenta Chips

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2 cups chicken stock
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh rosemary leaves
1 garlic clove crushed
1/2 cup instant polenta
1/4 cut finely grated parmesan
Olive oil cooling spray


Method:
1) Grease and line with baking paper a 6cm deep, 19cm (base) square cake pan.
2) Place stock, rosemary and garlic in a medium saucepan over high heat. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low.
3) Add polenta in a slow, steady stream, siting constantly. Cook stirring for 5 minutes or until thickened. Stir in parmesan.
4) Spread polenta into prepared pan. Cover. Refrigerate for 3 hours or until set.
5) Preheat oven to 220C/200C fan-forced. Remove polenta from pan. Cut in half. Cut each half into 2 cm wide chips.
6) Place on a greased wire rack over a baking paper-lined baking tray. Spray with oil. Bake for 15 minutes or until golden and crisp.
Mackenzie's Tips: Make up to step 5 a day or two ahead if you need.

What about now? Do you want to read the book and see what he cooked out in the wild?  Click here.

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Lost in Kakadu - Survival, grief, endurance and undying love - available now.
Click here to read some of the crazy research I did for
Lost in Kakadu