Author: Ben Starr
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Spicy Pickled Asparagus
I planted my asparagus patch in my garden about 4 years ago, and it has always been productive, but this year…I guess with the mild winter…it has been rabid. I’m pulling about a pound a day out of the garden, harvesting twice a day, and have been for more than a month! If you’ve never…
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Did I Make the Finals for TasteMaster?!?
Friends, I woke up this morning, eager to find out if I was among the 3 finalists for Tourism Australia’s Taste Master…the dream job of a lifetime. And the vegemite jar was empty. No Western Australia for 6 months for this crazy cook! I want to deeply thank everyone from the bottom of my heart…
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How to build a spot-watering system for berries, bushes, and trees
So you’ve planted some blackberries or raspberries or blueberries, and you spent your first year trying to remember to water them deeply once a week. Occasionally you’d leave the water on all night by accident. Occasionally you’d forget to water on that one week when it was blisteringly hot, and your berries nearly died. And…
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Venison Meatballs
Venison is one of my favorite meats. The last meal I cooked before leaving to film MasterChef was venison tenderloin. (Ironically, the dish that sent me home in 5th place from MasterChef was venison tenderloin…I was trying to cook it the way Ramsay cooks it, rather than my own special way.) Venison is the most…
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All About Australian Wine
Most Americans are familiar with Australian wine. Ask any person with average wine knowledge what wine comes from Australia and they’ll tell you, “Shiraz.” Of course, many other varietals are raised there, but Shiraz (the same grape as Syrah) is the most popular wine grape grown in Australia and it is responsible for making Australian…
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Passion Fruit Creme Brulee
I realize that, because I’m obsessed with doing everything from scratch, many of my recipes can be a little bit complex. Personally, I take great joy from avoiding canned and processed ingredients, and doing it all myself. But I realize that many of my fans would enjoy a really easy recipe every now and then…and…
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Tequila 101
So I’ve just returned from an agave cutting demonstration at Agave Azul, my favorite gourmet Mexican place in Dallas. Tequila has been one of my favorite liquors for over a decade, but it’s only just now coming into its own as a true craft beverage. Fraught with an out-dated reputation as a harsh alcohol only…
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The truth about Vegemite…from an American foodie
If you show this bottle of Vegemite to 10 Americans, half of them won’t know what it is. Out of the remaining 5, four of them will recoil in abject horror and begin dry-gagging, while the remaining 1 will say, “Oh, I love that stuff on toast!” Show that same bottle of Vegemite to 10…
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Kangaroo Loin with Mushroom Sauce
**PLEASE NOTE** A video on how to make this dish is located at the bottom of this recipe! Yes, yes…you’re shocked and a bit disgusted that I’ve posted a kangaroo recipe. Folks…kangaroo is the venison of Australia. It’s their most common game meat. It jumps into the road in the middle of the night and…
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Foraging for Morels in Arkansas
Anyone who classifies themselves as a “foodie” knows about morels. These miraculous mushrooms are the most coveted table fungus on the planet, rivaling the reputations of even the black and white truffles of southern Europe. However, unlike truffles, which CAN be cultivated and dependably harvested, the morel has resisted ALL attempts at cultivation. Every…