Faking It: How to Cook Delicious Food Without Really Trying by Valli Little

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  • Vodka salmon with mini rosti

    from Faking It: How to Cook Delicious Food Without Really Trying Faking It by Valli Little

    • Categories: Breakfast / brunch; Main course
    • Ingredients: smoked salmon; vodka; dill; whole grain mustard; crème fraîche; rice flour; lemons; red potatoes
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  • Breakfast cranachan

    from Faking It: How to Cook Delicious Food Without Really Trying Faking It by Valli Little

    • Categories: Quick / easy; Breakfast / brunch; Dessert; Scottish
    • Ingredients: Greek yoghurt; evaporated milk; lemons; berries (strawberries, raspberries or blackberries); honey; muesli
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  • Toffee-apple pancakes

    from Faking It: How to Cook Delicious Food Without Really Trying Faking It by Valli Little

    • Categories: Pancakes, waffles & crêpes; Quick / easy; Breakfast / brunch
    • Ingredients: Calvados; green-skinned pears; thickened cream; frozen crêpes
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  • "Round the house" breakfast slice

    from Faking It: How to Cook Delicious Food Without Really Trying Faking It by Valli Little

    • Categories: Egg dishes; Quick / easy; Breakfast / brunch
    • Ingredients: onions; bacon; button mushrooms; chat potatoes; cherry tomatoes; parsley; eggs; cream; tomato ketchup
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  • Summer fruit salad with pikelets

    from Faking It: How to Cook Delicious Food Without Really Trying Faking It by Valli Little

    • Categories: Pancakes, waffles & crêpes; Quick / easy; Salads; Breakfast / brunch; Summer; Australian
    • Ingredients: oranges; mangoes; bananas; strawberries; mint; honey; packaged pikelets
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  • "Espresso" scrambled eggs

    from Faking It: How to Cook Delicious Food Without Really Trying Faking It by Valli Little

    • Categories: Quick / easy; Egg dishes; Breakfast / brunch
    • Ingredients: eggs; cream; parsley
    show

  • Deep-fried eggs with asparagus

    from Faking It: How to Cook Delicious Food Without Really Trying Faking It by Valli Little

    • Categories: Quick / easy; Egg dishes; Breakfast / brunch
    • Ingredients: eggs; panko breadcrumbs; asparagus; balsamic vinegar
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  • Parmesan custards

    from Faking It: How to Cook Delicious Food Without Really Trying Faking It by Valli Little

    • Categories: Quick / easy; Egg dishes; Breakfast / brunch
    • Ingredients: cream; milk; Parmesan cheese; egg yolks; white peppercorns; bread; Gentleman's Relish
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  • Quail egg & pancetta tart

    from Faking It: How to Cook Delicious Food Without Really Trying Faking It by Valli Little

    • Categories: Quick / easy; Egg dishes; Pies, tarts & pastries; Breakfast / brunch
    • Ingredients: puff pastry; crème fraîche; Parmesan cheese; pancetta; quail eggs; chervil
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  • Spanish eggs

    from Faking It: How to Cook Delicious Food Without Really Trying Faking It by Valli Little

    • Categories: Quick / easy; Egg dishes; Breakfast / brunch; Main course; Spanish
    • Ingredients: Pontiac potatoes; red onions; chorizo sausages; smoked paprika; ground cumin; roasted red peppers; eggs; parsley
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  • Cheat's blinis with jamon and figs

    from Faking It: How to Cook Delicious Food Without Really Trying Faking It by Valli Little

    • Categories: Pancakes, waffles & crêpes; Quick / easy; Canapés / hors d'oeuvre; Russian
    • Ingredients: dried figs; Pedro Ximénez sherry; mascarpone cheese; jamón serrano; chervil; packaged pikelet bites
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  • French goat's cheese dip

    from Faking It: How to Cook Delicious Food Without Really Trying Faking It by Valli Little

    • Categories: Quick / easy; Dips, spreads & salsas; Small plates - tapas, meze
    • Ingredients: soft goat cheese; store-cupboard ingredients; parsley; chives; baby carrots; celery; radishes; crusty bread
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  • Quail eggs with walnut hummus and dukkah

    from Faking It: How to Cook Delicious Food Without Really Trying Faking It by Valli Little

    • Categories: Egg dishes; Quick / easy; Dips, spreads & salsas; Appetizers / starters; Lunch
    • Ingredients: walnuts; hummus; sour cream; parsley; quail eggs; cherry tomatoes; pita bread; walnut oil; dukkah; mint
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  • Chicken liver pâté with rustic croutons

    from Faking It: How to Cook Delicious Food Without Really Trying Faking It by Valli Little

    • Categories: Dips, spreads & salsas; Quick / easy; Appetizers / starters
    • Ingredients: butter; chicken livers; brandy; cream; black peppercorns; gelatine leaves; crusty bread; onion marmalade; eschalots
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  • Posh popcorn

    from Faking It: How to Cook Delicious Food Without Really Trying Faking It by Valli Little

    • Categories: Quick / easy; Snacks
    • Ingredients: store-cupboard ingredients; herbes de Provence; celery salt; popcorn kernels
    show

  • Tuna sashimi with wasabi bean salad

    from Faking It: How to Cook Delicious Food Without Really Trying Faking It by Valli Little

    • Categories: Quick / easy; Salads; Appetizers / starters; Japanese
    • Ingredients: wasabi paste; green beans; red onions; parsley; sashimi grade tuna; black sesame seeds; soy sauce
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  • Beetroot & goat's cheese stacks

    from Faking It: How to Cook Delicious Food Without Really Trying Faking It by Valli Little

    • Categories: Quick / easy; Appetizers / starters
    • Ingredients: canned beets; balsamic vinegar; chives; soft goat cheese; micro greens; walnuts
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  • Deep-fried Brie with sweet chilli sauce

    from Faking It: How to Cook Delicious Food Without Really Trying Faking It by Valli Little

    • Categories: Quick / easy; Appetizers / starters
    • Ingredients: panko breadcrumbs; lemons; parsley; Brie cheese; sweet chilli sauce; sunflower oil
    show

  • Salmon & prawn timbales with chilli cucumber

    from Faking It: How to Cook Delicious Food Without Really Trying Faking It by Valli Little

    • Categories: Quick / easy; Appetizers / starters
    • Ingredients: smoked salmon; cooked king prawns; sour cream; coriander leaves; Lebanese cucumbers; red chillies; peanut oil; soy sauce
    show

  • Roasted cherry tomato tarte Tatins

    from Faking It: How to Cook Delicious Food Without Really Trying Faking It by Valli Little

    • Categories: Quick / easy; Appetizers / starters; French
    • Ingredients: frozen puff pastry; Persian feta cheese; basil; balsamic vinegar; roasted cherry tomatoes in oil
    show

  • Hummus soup

    from Faking It: How to Cook Delicious Food Without Really Trying Faking It by Valli Little

    • Categories: Quick / easy; Soups; Moroccan
    • Ingredients: chicken stock; lemons; canned chickpeas; mint; parsley; yoghurt; dukkah; flat bread
    show

  • Chilled cucumber soup with smoked trout tartines

    from Faking It: How to Cook Delicious Food Without Really Trying Faking It by Valli Little

    • Categories: Soups; Sandwiches & burgers; Quick / easy; Main course; French
    • Ingredients: onions; telegraph cucumbers; Pontiac potatoes; chicken stock; dill; crème fraîche; ficelle bread; smoked trout; mustard cress
    show

  • Spiced carrot & lentil soup

    from Faking It: How to Cook Delicious Food Without Really Trying Faking It by Valli Little

    • Categories: Soups; Quick / easy
    • Ingredients: cumin seeds; dried red pepper flakes; onions; carrots; red lentils; chicken stock; cream
    show

  • Bean, coconut & lime soup

    from Faking It: How to Cook Delicious Food Without Really Trying Faking It by Valli Little

    • Categories: Soups; Quick / easy; Asian
    • Ingredients: sunflower oil; onions; Thai green curry paste; cannellini beans; chicken stock; kaffir lime leaves; limes; coconut milk; fish sauce; red chillies; coriander leaves; peanuts
    show

  • Pea soup with croque monsieur

    from Faking It: How to Cook Delicious Food Without Really Trying Faking It by Valli Little

    • Categories: Quick / easy; Sandwiches & burgers; Main course; Entertaining & parties; French
    • Ingredients: onions; celery; leeks; potatoes; bouquet garni; chicken stock; frozen peas; cream; mint; snow pea sprouts; croque-monsieur sandwiches
    show

Notes about this book

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Notes about Recipes in this book

  • Salmon & prawn timbales with chilli cucumber

    • debkellie on March 02, 2014

      Really easy. Would have benefitted from overnight chilling to firm further: 4 hours left it like a spreadable pate. The pickled cucumber offered a nice contrast. Maybe Melba toast as a side next time.

  • Thai-style braised beef cheeks

    • debkellie on March 02, 2014

      Did this for a "no work" dinner party last night. Substituted chuck steak for beef cheeks, and used slow cooker for 7 hours. Consequently, did not need the 1 litre water. The reduced cooking stock made for a tasty sauce; and the fresh herb salad was a lovely contrast (basil, mint, coriander). Nicely balanced flavourings.

    • Kirstin_the_Kiwi on August 27, 2017

      Cooked 2 cheeks and thirded the rest of the ingredients. Next time will try only thirding the liquids.

  • Sticky honey, soy & ginger pork ribs

    • Melyinoz on February 27, 2023

      This was nice but the recipe made way too much marinade. Even though the marinade becomes the glaze, most went to waste. Consider halving if I make again.

  • Spanish pork with orange & poppyseed salad

    • e_ballad on March 01, 2017

      Very quick & tasty. Would suggest halving the dressing quantity or you'll drown the salad!

  • Sausages with home-style baked beans

    • debkellie on September 04, 2020

      Subbed dried cannellini beans for tinned using the ratio from Serious Eats chart. Have enough beans for 8 serves not 4! Not sure why she started with such large quantities for the sauce .. recipe requires reduction from 1 litre down to 500 ml....which takes way longer than 7 minutes suggested (maybe I should have used a wider surface area - ie: frypan not saucepan.) Sauce a little sweet for my taste. I'd omit the brown sugar or the molasses next time .. guess it depends on the sweetness of the "good quality BBQ sauce" you use!

  • Tomato soup with spaghetti and chicken meatballs

    • e_ballad on July 18, 2021

      This was more of a’wet’ pasta dish than a soup. Needed a touch of sugar to balance the acid of the canned tomatoes. The success of this dish will depend on the quality of your sausages.

  • Green curry with smoked salmon

    • debkellie on January 05, 2022

      Cleaning up the fridge: had everything in stock. This was quick, easy & absolutely delicious. The balance of flavours was just excellent.

  • Salmon poached in olive oil and vanilla

    • Kirstin_the_Kiwi on April 18, 2015

      Needs to infuse for four hours before baking

    • e_ballad on August 02, 2019

      With the poaching oil requiring standing for at least 4 hours or overnight for the flavours to infuse, I was expecting the same flavours to be imparted to the salmon, however, they were barely perceptible. With 1 litre of oil left to discard, I’ll be sticking with my pan-grilled salmon in future.

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  • ISBN 10 0733324274
  • ISBN 13 9780733324277
  • Published Nov 01 2008
  • Format Paperback
  • Page Count 256
  • Language English
  • Countries Australia
  • Publisher ABC Books
  • Imprint ABC Books

Publishers Text

Want to learn the secret to creating stunning yet simple dishes for family and friends? Look no further than Faking It, an essential collection of all-new recipes by Valli Little, food director of delicious.magazine and bestselling author. Even the keenest cooks find themselves short on time and ideas sometimes, and this book has the answers. Whether you're looking for fast midweek dinners or impressive food for entertaining, you'll find yourself reaching for Faking It time and again. Inside, you'll discover the key to saving time in the kitchen without compromising on flavour - including when to use one or two quality ready-made products. With just a few fresh ingredients and Valli's clever shortcuts, you can put together a huge range of creative, fuss-free meals - from quick soups and salads to burgers with a twist, fresh pasta ideas, simple seafood dishes and indulgent desserts. With more than 100 sensational new recipes, each beautifully photographed, Faking It is the book that every clever cook should have on their shelf.

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