With a crunchy crackling and a deliciously soft and tender… well… under belly, pork belly is awesome! Serve it with a side of slaw or in a burger with our maple lime aioli.

I love Vegemite. I love it so much I’ve been known to grab a spoon, open the cupboard and… well you get the idea. Here is my recipe for beef burgers seasoned with Vegemite dust, topped with maple caramelised onions and a sugar free tomato sauce all on a brioche bun.

Homemade almond milk made at a fraction of the cost of the store bought variety. We use a lot of almond milk at home particularly in breakfast smoothies. While I normally purchase almond milk from the supermarket I decided to give it a go myself at home. It works and tastes great!

Spice rubbed and slow cooked beef chuck with a side of crispy Hasselback potatoes and oven roasted vegies. Great for a warm winter meal!

This breakfast chia pudding, inspired by Tasty Yummies’ Carrot Cake Smoothie, is packed with wholesome goodness by way of fruit, vegetables, dates, almond milk, spices and of course chia seeds. It also works as a tasty dessert.

We think Brussels sprouts cop a bit of an unfair reputation. On their own yes, we agree they’re not the tastiest food out there but serve them with some tasty sides and they come to life. Topped with a hazelnut, cider vinegar and maple syrup dressing this bacon salad is great for a quick and healthy meal.

Cheeseburgers at the double! Chuck and brisket mince patties grilled, red cheddar slices, white onion, pickle and chipotle mayo all on a brioche bun.

Kangaroo meat is extremely lean and as a result needs to be cooked quickly and is best served medium rare. Grill or pan fry the fillets, make the dressing in a food processor or Thermomix and feel free to mix things up with the salad ingredients.

Lightly spiced chicken wings, oven baked with a BBQ honey glaze. Great for entertaining or as an appetizer. This recipe calls for the wings to be oven baked but they will taste equally as good (of not a little better) grilled on the barbecue or smoker.

My fascination for burgers continues here with a freshly minced lamb patty, grilled and topped with tzatziki sauce and crumbled feta cheese. I serve mine on a brioche bun while Mrs Messy Benches has two grilled mushrooms for a gluten free option.

A mild chicken curry made in the Thermomix that replaces potato with cauliflower. Aromatic, full of flavour and lighter on the spices than some traditional curries, this recipe is great for the whole family.

With a barbecue loving husband who likes to fire up his Weber Smokey Mountain most weekends its my job to come up with salads to compliment the low and slow cooked meats. While I do enjoy my not so traditional cauliflower ‘potato’ salad sometimes you just want the real thing which calls for roasting some potatoes and including some bacon.

Pork fillet with a sweet and spicy glaze has been a favourite in my family since I was a kid growing up in South Africa. A simple dish that is delicious for a weeknight meal and flavoursome enough to impress for a dinner party.

Tri-tip is labelled by some as ‘poor man’s eye fillet’ or ‘poor man’s tenderloin’. Whilst it is certainly cheaper in price (about half the price or less) it certainly has more than half the taste and flavour of the more expensive cuts.

The first time I tried buttermilk fried chicken I was really impressed with the taste and texture. It was served in a burger and it was only a matter of time until I tried it at home. It may seem like there are a lot of steps involved but it’s not as complicated as you may think. You will, however, have some very messy benches by the end of it!

Chicken, bacon, cheese and jalapenos. These really do tick a lot of boxes. The jalapenos are stuffed with cheese, cumin, garlic and a hint of lime then wrapped up in a chicken breast that is wrapped with bacon. They can be grilled in the barbecue, baked in the oven or smoked over coals.

Craving a sweet treat but want something on the healthier side? These little balls will hit the spot. They are also great for a breakfast on the run. The protein powder is optional.

No need to buy store bought protein balls or bars when you can make them at home. There are a variety of different textures and flavours available at local supermarkets, health food stores and at shopping centre juice bars but nothing beats homemade.

Pork ribs are one of the most popular menu items at any barbecue restaurant. They’re sticky, sweet, full of flavour and best of all they need to be eaten with your hands!

Chicken marinated in a mix of honey and soy with a few extras tastes great especially grilled on the barbecue. Whether it be chicken thighs, wings or breasts this honey soy marinade works a treat. Throw in some chopped chilli if you like the heat!