Q & A

Jul 13 2008 Michael Kilkie Of The Jefferson Restaurant

I saw burgers with a cheese filling inside on television. Are they easy to make?

Yes. Shape the burger into a ball and press a hole in the centre with your finger. Place a piece of cheese in and cover over with the mix. Press into an oval-high burger, making sure all the cheese is sealed before cooking.

Are fresh bay leaves much different to the dried variety?

The flavour is slightly more pungent. They still need to be used in dishes that require slow cooking.

I buy jars of grilled artichokes and sundried tomatoes, both in oil. Rather than throwing it away, is there anything I can do with the oil?

The oil normally has vinegar and herbs so you could make a dressing with it, adding olive oil, white wine vinegar and perhaps a little mustard.

My girlfriend is unsure about what cheese she can eat during pregnancy.

Any suggestions?

The general rule is to steer clear of unpasteurised cheese but most mainstream cheeses are pasteurised. She should also avoid dishes which include uncooked or partially cooked eggs.

What's the difference between mutton and lamb - and where can I buy some?

Mutton comes from sheep that are more than one year old. Anything less than a year is lamb. The flavour of mutton is stronger.

You get it in ethnic butchers' or specialist meat suppliers.