Alison Lambert

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Alison Lambert

www.tasteofmylife.org
alisonlambert71@gmail.com its all about my life here in Dunedin, New Zealand.
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I write recipes on a daily basis using only local, seasonal products. I have a blog tasteofmylife.org where you can easily create my delicious food.

02/04/2026

Makes 12
Ingredients

500g white flour
10 g instant yeast
10g salt
75g caster sugar
50g butter, softened
1 medium egg, lightly beaten
200 - 220ml warm full fat milk
80g currants
80g sultanas or raisins
80g dried cranberries
80g mixed peel
1 apple, cored and grated
2 oranges, zest
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground mixed spice
⅛ tsp freshly grated nutmeg
For the cross
75g flour
75 ml water
Glaze
Warm apricot jam or marmalade or you can brush over milk

Method

You can make hot cross buns by hand or in an electric mixer.
Put the flour into a large mixing bowl. Add the salt and sugar to one side of the bowl and the yeast to the other. Add the butter, egg and add 200 ml warm milk. Mix slowly to combine, if the mix is feeling too tight and dry add remaining milk. You want the dough to be soft and elastic. This will take about 15 minutes by hand or turn up the speed on your mixer and knead until smooth and elastic looking.
Lightly grease a bowl with a little butter, place dough in and cover with a warm damp cloth. Place in a warm spot until doubled in size.
Once again you can do this in your mixer or by hand.
Tip the dough onto a lightly floured surface and scatter the sultanas, mixed peel, orange zest, apple and spices on top. Knead in until evenly incorporated. Cover and leave to rise for a further hour.
Fold the dough inwards a few times, turn out onto your bench.
Divide into 12 pieces and roll into balls. Place, fairly close together, on lined and greased baking tray.
Cover the tray and leave in a warm place to prove for 1 hour, or until the dough has doubled in size and springs back quickly if you prod it lightly with your finger.
Meanwhile, heat your oven to 200°C (180C fan forced).
For the crosses, mix the flour and water to a paste. Using a piping bag fitted with a fine nozzle, pipe crosses on the buns. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown.
Warm the apricot jam with a splash of water, sieve and brush over the tops of the warm buns to glaze. Or simply brush with a little milk.

06/03/2026

Morena , what a fantastic way to start my morning .
Thank you to all the producers and kind, caring and happy people who support this outstanding market. Have a delicious weekend 😋🥦🍅🍑

27/02/2026

Making the most of this stunning morning in Ōtepoti- morning walks around the neighbourhood and quick stop . Home to cook market goodies and finally sit down to enjoy brunch 😋

31/01/2026

Blissful walk along Blueskin bay, collected some cockles (as you do). Carefully watched for protective sea lions 🦭 as it is pup season and they were sheltering along the shore. Keep walking and finish at the beach. One of my favourite little places along the coast ☺️

30/01/2026

Thank you to each and every vendor I now have a fridge of the most delicious veg, meat, fish, fruit and cheese. Handcrafted breads, pies and cakes to add to our market shop. Not only is it a beautiful way to start the day, you are supporting local, eating food with nutrition and flavour and it just makes you feel bloody good 😊
Thank you once again 🙏🌱

23/01/2026

☀️

26/11/2025

ROAST SALMON WITH HORSERADISH, FENNEL & SAFFRON MAYONNAISE

22/07/2025

ROAST CARROT, NOODLE SALAD WITH WHITE MISO DRESSING

The sweet, caramelised roast carrots take this noodle salad to the next level. Soft, sticky, and packed with flavor. Tossed with fresh herbs, crunchy edamame beans, and my new favourite white miso dressing (is my current addiction) this dish is light, punchy, and super satisfying.

Preparation time - 20 minutes
Cooking time - 25-30 minutes
Skill - easy
Serves 4

Ingredients
400g carrots, peeled, cut into bite sized pieces
1 Tbsp miso paste
1 Tbsp oil
Salt and cracked pepper
200g egg or soba noodles, cooked and refreshed
100g edamame beans, cooked, refreshed
2 spring onions, sliced thinly
1 shallot, sliced thinly
1 Tbsp lemon juice
50g coriander, roughly chopped
1 Tbsp sesame seeds, toasted
White miso dressing
½ cup mayonnaise (kewpie)
2 Tbsp white miso paste
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 lemon, zest
1 Tbsp lemon juice

Method
Preheat the oven to 180C fan-bake (200C bake)
Toss the carrots with miso paste, oil, salt, and pepper.
Roast for 25–30 minutes, turning halfway, until caramelised and tender.
Miso dressing : In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, miso paste, garlic, lemon zest, and lemon juice until smooth.
To assemble the salad: In a large bowl, combine the cooked noodles, edamame, roasted carrots, spring onions, coriander (leaving some for serving) and shallot. Add lemon juice and half the miso dressing. Toss to coat.
Taste and adjust seasoning. Add more dressing if needed.
Scatter over the sesame seeds, and remaining coriander.

# salads # winter

13/07/2025

BROWN RICE, PUMPKIN AND LEEK PILAF

Pilaf has many variations throughout the world. Some use wheat over rice, some cook it on the stove top, others bake it in the oven. Whichever way you choose the end result is always a delightful addition to your meal. I have used brown rice as I wanted a more wholesome flavour to partner with the sweet pumpkin and leeks. I also piled it high with fresh dill as I still have it in my garden but you can swap this out for a sweeter rosemary if desired.

Preparation time - 20 minutes
Cooking time - 50 - 60 minutes
Skill - easy
Serves 6

Ingredients
2 Tbsp oil
2 cardamom pods, lightly crushed
2 (400g) leeks, sliced
2 sticks celery, diced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 cups brown rice, washed
½ tsp ground cinnamon
5g fresh rosemary, finely chopped
500g pumpkin, peeled, deseeded
2 tsp salt
Freshly cracked pepper
1 litre vegetable stock
5g dill, roughly chopped
1 lemon, sliced into thin rounds
20g butter
To serve, unsweetened yoghurt, pomegranate seeds (optional), pinch sumac

Method
Add the oil to a large fry pan with a lid.
Add the cardamom pods, leeks, celery and garlic. Cook for 3 minutes over a moderate heat.
Add the rice, cinnamon and rosemary, stir to coat. Gently fry for a couple of minutes to allow the granules to lightly toast.
Coarsely grate the pumpkin and add to the rice.
Season with salt and pepper.
Pour over the stock, stir to combine, cover with a lid and turn the heat down to a gentle simmer.
Cook for 20 minutes, stir the rice, place the lemon rounds over the surface and little of the dill. Cover and cook for a further 20 minutes. Check on the moisture level as brown rice takes longer to cook. If needing more liquid add another 100 ml stock.
Once 50 minutes is up check on the rice, taste and see if the rice is cooked. If nearly done, turn off the heat, fluff up the rice with a fork, dot over the butter, cover with the lid and let sit for 5-10 minutes.
To finish, blob over the yoghurt, scatter with pomegranate seeds and a little sumac.

20/05/2025

Two very crummy desserts, quick to make and seasonal.
Recipes - tasteofmylife.orgco.nz

Address

Dunedin

Website

http://www.tasteofmylife.org/

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