Author: Bunny Eats Design

New Zealanders love their pies

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I was once told by someone, that something I once said while eating struck a chord with her. “Every now and then, a girl needs a pie.” The cut off date for the Bakels NZ Supreme Pie Awards was yesterday and from now until July, pie makers all over the New Zealand will be perfecting their pies leading up to judging day on the 19th July. This excites me. If only I knew someone who needed a human guinea pig for their pie perfecting month. Last year, a fruit pie shocked the nation (ok, slight exageration) when it beat 4,400 entries and took the coveted top pie award. Fruit pies are ok, but I’m a meat pie kind of girl. Mince and cheese to be exact. New Zealand beef with a layer of melted cheese in a buttery puffy pastry case. Oh gawd. Pies in New Zealand are a traditional food (borrowed from England) and eaten for breakfast by kids on their way to school, everyone for lunch and others for dinner with an optional …

Tofu Tuesday: Tofu vs Thyme

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I didn’t witness this, but The Koala reported it back to me and I thought Tofu Tuesday fans would enjoy this too. I had planted a thyme plant in a plastic trough and left it on the edge of the deck about 2 feet up from ground level. Tofu the bunny, with terrible sight due to cataracts in both eyes, still has an excellent sense of smell. The very next day he used another, lower pot as a stepping stone to nibble at the overhanging thyme springs. Then he proceeded to pull the whole plant – and the dirt that goes with the plant – out and on top of his head. He continues eating. Unfazed. Hilarity ensues. I wish there was video or photos.

Cook Curry Goat

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Since I saw Hugh Fearnley-Whittinstall’s curry goat episode on River Cottage, I’ve been obsessed with trying curry goat. Curry goat is curry goat. Do not call it goat curry. There’s a difference. I’m not sure what the difference is, but asking for goat curry at any Jamaican eatery is sure to have you ridiculed and branded as a floundering noob. I tried a delicious Carribean curry goat over the summer at Splore Festival (pictured). The food stall was run by catering company Jamaican Me Hungry and the goat was divine (though it could have done with a little food styling). I couldn’t wait another two years to try curry goat again so last week, I made curry goat at home. Goat Meat Goat meat isn’t popular here in New Zealand. No, our prized beast here is lamb. But as tasty as lamb is, it can can be expensive and often reserved for special occasions. I have never cooked with goat meat and I can’t say I’ve eaten it many times, but I’ve enjoyed it every …

June Book Review: Death By Gumbo by Phil Edwards (Kindle Edition)

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I’ve never been to New Orleans, but something about the distinct, fiery cuisine of this city has always excited me. There is romance and comfort and an equal measure of the exotic. I hope to visit New Orleans one day, and discover the foods that make it so famous. Gumbo, Jambalaya, Beignet, Crayfish Pie…Oh yes! When I was really young, in the late ’80s, my parents and their friends had karaoke at their houses and at the restaurants they owned. Karaoke doubled as entertainment and as a babysitter at gatherings back then. It kept the kids out of the adult’s hair while they caught up with each other and the adults could join in after dinner when it was appropriate. One favourite song of mine was Jambalaya (On The Bayou). I didn’t know the meaning of the words as a child, but the words sounded funny and they felt good coming off my tongue. Released in the early 1950’s, it was an unlikely song for an early ’80s, Hong Kong born, Kiwi-raised girl to love, …

Tofu Tuesday: Bunny is sick

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Scenario Tofu was sick. He was weeing on himself and spending a lot of time in his litterbox which could be due to several reasons. He was smelly and pink underneath and his fur was missing in patches where the urine burned away the fur. It can be uncomfortable and even be painful. Rabbits have sensitive and elastic skin. We trimmed away the really dirty, dreaded bits and gave Tofu daily baths with a medicated shampoo which soothed and helped to clean it up. But all we were doing is washing away a reoccuring symptom, so a week and a bit ago, we took him to the vet. Diagnosis The best diagnosis was a simple infection, treatable with a course of antibiotics. Best case scenario. If the antibiotics didn’t work, we were advised that Tofu may have to go back for x-rays and further tests. Sitting differently while weeing can be a symptom of arthritis (he can no longer sit comfortably in the position required) and the doctor also mentioned the possibility of diabetes. Thankfully, …

I’ve been paying too much.

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It turns out dear reader, that we’ve be scammed. We kind of all knew it, but maybe we forgot about it. Maybe the trip to yet another specialty store got streamlined to the supermarket. Maybe those cute little matching packages were irresistible. Even though they didn’t weigh much in our hands. Herbs and spices from the supermarket are incredibly overpriced and this week I visited the Bulk Food Savings store near my house. Maybe you have something similar near you? Mums and hippies go there. It’s all healthy, unbranded stuff. My local store is tucked away in a carpark and has no street presence.  This little shop is a treasure trove of unbranded goods. When it opened a couple of years ago, no one noticed. I only know of its existence due to the drive through at Wendy’s on Dominion Road. Ironic. I got change from a tenner after buying these bags of aromatics (cardamom pods, fenugreek seeds, cinnamon sticks and coriander seeds) and bought a few other bits and pieces there too. A bargain! Do …

Dried mushrooms and a recipe from my childhood

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Like many Cantonese children, I grew up regularly eating what I we call Dong Gu. Dong Gu literally means “winter mushroom” and is also known as a Shiitake or Chinese Black Mushroom. Dried Shiitake mushrooms are used in various asian cuisines and are inexpensive, easy to use and if stored correctly, last a long time. Dried Shiitake mushrooms taste nothing like fresh Shiitake. Dried have an intensely savoury earthy flavour and the fresh stuff tastes weak in comparison. Do not substitute fresh for dried! My family always bring back a bag or two of dried mushrooms back from trips to Hong Kong, but New Zealand customs can be frightful to deal with so it’s not really recommended. Luckily, you can buy dried Shiitake at any Asian grocer these days, perhaps even at your general supermarket. Dried Mushrooms Tips: Once open, store mushrooms in the freezer. While they will last outside the freezer, they can inevitably attract moths and other nasties. No need to thaw before rehydrating as the lack of water means these don’t really …

Tofu Tuesday: Blindness diary. Week 4

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Week 4 Even with his blindness, Tofu still spends 12 hours a day outside in the garden. He is eager to go outside in the mornings and runs to the back door to be let out. He sometimes comes inside on his own in the evenings, and equally, sometimes needs to be fetched. Tofu is jumping up onto our bed and couch and continues to move around the house like he owns the place. He still doesn’t sleep on our bed like he used to, but that’s no biggie. He prefers to sleep on the floor next to our bed. One time he went to jump onto the couch, but underestimated the height and fully bailed. I swear he looked embarrassed. Failing to reach the couch could happen due to his blindness or could just be something that happens. We once had a bunny named Sharmi and a couple of times, she bailed when jumping up onto things. One time Sharmi was walking along the top of the couch and fell off the back. She was …

Monday Bunday: Lady Aiko

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Tokyo-born, NYC living artist Aiko Nakagawa goes by the name Lady Aiko has a background in graphic design and filmmaking. Her bunny welding a can design has taken on a life of it’s own. I’m loving the Hot Pink Bunny Cans that feature a stencil of the bunny holding a can. Lady Aiko has painted this rabbit on canvases and also out there in the real world (in the streets). Vinyl toy giants Kidrobot have made her bunny into a collectable toy and you can pick it up online for about $40US. You can view Lady Aiko’s work at her website http://www.ladyaiko.com

La, la, la, la, take me home

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After 40 days of travel, The Koala and I are coming home tomorrow. As much as I love traveling and seeing new sights, there is really no place quite like home. I’ve posted a little on my foodie adventures over the last few weeks, but as I go through all my photos, expect a few more gems to pop up. In the meantime, here is a song that I can’t get out of my head all holiday. Both these versions are lovely. Home Alabama, Arkansas I do love my ma and pa Not that way that I do love you Holy moley, me oh my You’re the apple of my eye Girl, I’ve never loved one like you Man, oh man, you’re my best friend I scream it to the nothingness There ain’t nothing that I need Well, hot and heavy, pumpkin pie Chocolate candy, Jesus Christ Ain’t nothing please me more than you Ah, home, let me go home Home is wherever I’m with you Ah, home, let me go home Home is wherever …

Winter to do list

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It is impossible to imagine that winter is starting back home in Auckland. We are finally acclimatising to the the heat of Thailand but due to fly home to the start of winter very soon. Even though it is warm here, I’m glad that I’ve been pondering my winter to do list for quite some time. These are 10 things that I’ve always wanted to eat, cook or experience. 1. Make Spaghetti alla Puttanesca A dish to get promiscuous with. This quick, fiery dish is reputed to be named after the ladies of the night (ie. Whore Pasta). I tasted it for the first time for breakfast in Thailand (of all places) after a night on the turps. It is made using ingredients from the pantry and is a tasty pasta to serve to any sluts in your life. Perhaps wait until after you have all eaten to tell your friends they have just eaten Whore Pasta. They’ll either think it’s funny or hold a grudge. 2. Cook curry goat I saw Hugh Fearnley-Whittinstall’s curry …

Autumn To Do List Summary

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As the Autumn season draws to a close it’s hard to believe we’re almost June already. The next few months will fly by and once the silly season hits, it will be over once again. I have this weird sensation over the last few months, that we are hurtling. Time won’t sit still. I feel like I’m in a shopping trolley that’s crashing down a steep hill. The flat nowhere in sight. I want some stillness. Being in Thailand and Laos over the last 4 weeks has been a good mix of stop and go. It’s been hot. Real hot. Not long now until we come home to the emergence of winter. This Autumn as been great. Auckland has had many warm, sunny days. Easter for example was all promise of torrential rain, but turned out to be beautiful blue skies all long weekend. Autumn fashion is hawt. I like tailored stuff more than showing skin. Tailored coats and cute jackets. Smart hats and sexy boots. Dresses, tights and colourful scarves. This Autumn, I wrote …

Try A New Fruit

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On the way to and from Pam Bok Waterfall in Pai, Thailand, there is a farm. Huge cracks in the ground appeared a few years ago (and continue to grow in number) means that the owners can no longer grow as many crops as they used to. With the land deemed worthless and crop production down, this can mean very hard times for a farmer. In a stroke of genius, they have opened up what is left of their farm to the visitors that pass every day to get to the waterfall. After a day of exploring the nearby hot springs, canyon and waterfall by bike, we stopped by the “crack farm” for a refreshing roselle juice. Roselle are a hibiscus flower that look more like rose hip. If you have had hibiscus juice before, it is similar to that, if not, I guess it tastes like a watered-down glass of cranberry juice. As the only visitors there and just one table, you really feel like you are guests in someones home. Our friendly, Thai-speaking …

Tofu Tuesday: Blindness diary. Week 3

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Week 3 Tofu is starting to jump up onto the couch and up to our bed on his own. Either he is getting very confident with his blindness or he has learned how to use what little sight he has. He runs to the back door most mornings now, eager to be let outside. Our feijoa tree is in full fruit so it’s possible he’s been dreaming of feijoas all night and is eager to see if any more fruit has dropped. It’s really hard for me to find feijoas in our backyard as our grass is long and the feijoa are green. But Tofu manages to find them fine as they smell wonderfully perfumy and sweet. Tofu has come back inside on his own a few times in the evenings, but usually he needs to be fetched. When we bring him inside, it takes him a little while to figure out where in the house he has been put down. But once that has been figured out, he’s pretty much good to go. Check out …