The Prodigal Daughter

I don't mind telling you that I am feeling rather chuffed with myself, and very festive to boot.  I decided for Christmas this year I would buy a gift for a friend from The Prodigal Daughter.  Until Christmas The Prodigal Daughter have a pop-up shop at 158 Cuba Street, Wellington.  This pop-up shop is opposite and along a bit from Floriditas, and a couple of doors down from the Olive Cafe.

In case you can't quite read the labels on what I have in this little treasure box, here they are:

Modena Balsamic vinegar spray

Extra virgin olive oil porcini mix

Lumaconi pasta shells

Black olive paste

Sun-dried tomatoes

Grilled Artichokes

Rhubarb and raspberry jam

I can't wait to give my friend her Christmas gift box, I'm sure she will love it.

I thought I had better buy some of these for myself, you know, just for research purposes of course!  My favourite so far is the black olive paste.  I spread some on puff pastry sheets and grated over some Parmesan cheese, then cut into wedges and rolled like croissants.  These cooked in the oven at 180C in 15-20mins.  Fantastic finger food for the festive season.  I also made a sweet version on another sheet of puff pastry wedges, with a square of chocolate and hey presto, pain au chocolat.  If you have the time you can make these from scratch from Ruth Pretty's savoury version recipe - http://tiny.cc/sjyv7 

Ruth Pretty's black olive and parmesan Rugelach

Also included in link above from The DomPost Your Weekend on 10th Dec '11, are Devils on Horseback - very Christmassy indeed.

Ruth Pretty's Devils on Horseback, courtesy of Stuff.co.nz

Rachel Priestley - the prodigal daughter – brings you armloads of superior Italian

 tastes after 10 years in Italy as a wine and food consultant, sommelier and chef.

“I have good relationships with some of the best food producers and winemakers 

in Italy and have discovered some of the most amazing products this country has 

to offer. To share my passion for Italian food and wine, I offer a specially selected 

range of quality flavours from some of the top producers in Italy. Some products 

I like so much I produce under my own label: The Prodigal Daughter.”

Ho, ho, ho to you all.