Q&A with Glenys Woollard

Is there any advantage to poaching fish in milk rather than water?

It adds to the flavour, plus you can use the fish-infused milk as a base for white sauce to serve with the dish. Note that some cooks prefer using half milk and half water. Add flavourings like sliced onion, a small bayleaf and a few peppercorns to the cooking liquid, and strain it before making the sauce in the traditional way or by thickening it with cornflour. Add chopped parsley, chives or hard-boiled eggs as desired.

Do you have a straightforward recipe for blueberry muffins?

Set the oven to 200C and butter 12 muffin tins. Sift 2 cups self-raising flour into a bowl, stir in cup caster sugar and cup (125g) blueberries. Beat 2 eggs with cup milk, stir in 125g melted and cooled butter then add to the dry ingredients, gently folding together until the mixture is just combined. Spoon into the prepared tins and bake for about 16 minutes. Cool slightly before turning on to a wire cooling rack.

 

If you have a food question email Glenys at  glenyswoollard@clear.net.nz