Not for the weight watchers again.... sorry ladies, I promise to add some healthy recipes soon.
Here's what you'll need;
1 bag of peeled ready chopped pumpkin
1 cup of flour
1 egg
Oil for frying
Cinnamon
a fairly nice size blob of butter
1/2 cup sugar
Water
Boil your pumpkin until it is soft
Drain and mash in the pot
Allow to cool to room temperature
Add your egg and 1/2 a cup of flour
Mix through the pumpkin thoroughly
In a pan heat oil, about a cm deep
Spoon your pumpkin into hot oil, in desired size fritters
Turn the fritters when they are browned
Layer the fritter in a Pyrex dish once they are cooked on both sides and sprinkle with Cinnamon
Next you're going to make a regular white sauce but without the milk, directions below.
In a pot add;
Your blob of butter
Allow it to melt
Sift 1/2 cup of flour into the melted butter and using a whisk, mix through
Allow to stand on the heat for a short while to get rid of the floury taste
Slowly add water and whisk constantly
Allow to thicken and add more water until you have enough sauce, it should be a thick runny consistency.
Add 1/2 a cup of sugar and whisk through until sugar has melted.
Pour the entire pot of sauce on your pumpkin fritters, I like mine to float in their sauce.
Pop the Pyrex into the oven at 180 degrees for about 15 minutes, the sauce will go like jelly.
Dish when warm and enjoy.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Simple Chicken Pies
Don't know what to do with your left over chicken roast?
Here is a quick simple recipe, for delicious individual chicken pies. So quick, so easy, and bound to be an absolute hit.
You'll need.
1 roll of puff pastry
1 egg
a very small amount of flour
Instant creamy chicken soup
Roberstons sweet sage or mixed herbs
1 x onion
Olive oil
Defrost your roll of puff pastry, not in the microwave, the pastry gets soggy.
Dice your onion and fry in a little olive oil
Shred your left over chicken roast or alternatively pop spiced chicken breasts into the oven to grill and then shred the meat.
Add your shredded chicken to the fried onion, add about a tablespoon of sweet sage or Robertsons mixed herbs. You can add a blob of butter at this stage if you like.
Add your ready mixed instant chicken soup to the chicken and onion mix. You don't want to add too much though, remember, you're going for a small amount of sauce, not your chicken swimming in soup.
In a bowl, lightly beat your egg and add about a tablespoon of milk.
Preheat your oven to 180 degrees
Unroll your puff pastry, and using a dessert bowl or pastry cutter, cut the desired size rounds. Scoop your chicken mix onto one half of the pastry round, leaving some space to fold.
Fold the pastry over into a half circle and lightly brush with the egg and milk mixture on the top side only. Dip a fork into some flour, and press the joins down firmly. Grease an oven tray or use a non stick oven tray and pop your pies into the oven.
Bake until golden brown, +/- 20 minutes.
Enjoy!
Here is a quick simple recipe, for delicious individual chicken pies. So quick, so easy, and bound to be an absolute hit.
You'll need.
1 roll of puff pastry
1 egg
a very small amount of flour
Instant creamy chicken soup
Roberstons sweet sage or mixed herbs
1 x onion
Olive oil
Defrost your roll of puff pastry, not in the microwave, the pastry gets soggy.
Dice your onion and fry in a little olive oil
Shred your left over chicken roast or alternatively pop spiced chicken breasts into the oven to grill and then shred the meat.
Add your shredded chicken to the fried onion, add about a tablespoon of sweet sage or Robertsons mixed herbs. You can add a blob of butter at this stage if you like.
Add your ready mixed instant chicken soup to the chicken and onion mix. You don't want to add too much though, remember, you're going for a small amount of sauce, not your chicken swimming in soup.
In a bowl, lightly beat your egg and add about a tablespoon of milk.
Preheat your oven to 180 degrees
Unroll your puff pastry, and using a dessert bowl or pastry cutter, cut the desired size rounds. Scoop your chicken mix onto one half of the pastry round, leaving some space to fold.
Fold the pastry over into a half circle and lightly brush with the egg and milk mixture on the top side only. Dip a fork into some flour, and press the joins down firmly. Grease an oven tray or use a non stick oven tray and pop your pies into the oven.
Bake until golden brown, +/- 20 minutes.
Enjoy!
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Humble 'lil Couscous
Such a humble dish, but so easy to prepare and even easier to alter.
To make Couscous, pour the relevant amount into a bowl, and cover with boiling water. Close the bowl off with cling wrap or an air tight lid for approximately 2 minute or until the water has been absorbed. Use a fork and mix to get rid of any lumps and add a lump of butter, some salt and pepper and you're done.
Some variations, using the already prepared couscous
Herb Couscous
Lightly fry a chopped onion
Add 2 cloves of finely chopped garlic and a teaspoon of cumin seeds and fry
Finely chop a handful of fresh parsley, basil, and sage.
Add a dollop of olive oil and turn your herbs into the couscous
Squeeze the juice of one lemon over
Garnish with a fresh sprig of Rosemary
Italian Couscous
Lightly fry a chopped onion
Add 2 cloves of finely chopped garlic and fry
Add a dollop of olive oil
Finely chop a handful of parsley
Pit and chop approximately 4 olives
Rehydrate and coarsely chop a handful of sundried tomatoes
Crumble a wedge of feta cheese
Sprinkle +/- 1 tablespoon of Robertsons mixed herbs over and stir all the ingredients through
Summer Couscous Salad (A little more difficult but well worth it)
1 Chicken stock cube, prepared
Soak your couscous in the chicken stock rather than in boiling water
In a bowl whisk; 1 teaspoon sugar, 1/2 a teaspoon Dijon mustard, 1 tablespoon lemon juice and 1/4 cup brown vinegar
Cut one pack cherry tomatoes into quarters
Peel and cut on medium sized cucumber
Finely chop 3 spring onions
Add a dollop olive oil to your couscous
Crumble a wedge of feta over the couscous
Turn your salad ingredients into the couscous
Add your dressing and stir through
Garnish with some finely chopped parsley
To make Couscous, pour the relevant amount into a bowl, and cover with boiling water. Close the bowl off with cling wrap or an air tight lid for approximately 2 minute or until the water has been absorbed. Use a fork and mix to get rid of any lumps and add a lump of butter, some salt and pepper and you're done.
Some variations, using the already prepared couscous
Herb Couscous
Lightly fry a chopped onion
Add 2 cloves of finely chopped garlic and a teaspoon of cumin seeds and fry
Finely chop a handful of fresh parsley, basil, and sage.
Add a dollop of olive oil and turn your herbs into the couscous
Squeeze the juice of one lemon over
Garnish with a fresh sprig of Rosemary
Italian Couscous
Lightly fry a chopped onion
Add 2 cloves of finely chopped garlic and fry
Add a dollop of olive oil
Finely chop a handful of parsley
Pit and chop approximately 4 olives
Rehydrate and coarsely chop a handful of sundried tomatoes
Crumble a wedge of feta cheese
Sprinkle +/- 1 tablespoon of Robertsons mixed herbs over and stir all the ingredients through
Summer Couscous Salad (A little more difficult but well worth it)
1 Chicken stock cube, prepared
Soak your couscous in the chicken stock rather than in boiling water
In a bowl whisk; 1 teaspoon sugar, 1/2 a teaspoon Dijon mustard, 1 tablespoon lemon juice and 1/4 cup brown vinegar
Cut one pack cherry tomatoes into quarters
Peel and cut on medium sized cucumber
Finely chop 3 spring onions
Add a dollop olive oil to your couscous
Crumble a wedge of feta over the couscous
Turn your salad ingredients into the couscous
Add your dressing and stir through
Garnish with some finely chopped parsley
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Beef rolls
Here is a quick easy delicious meal.
You'll need.
Tenderised steak
Feta
Sun dried tomatoes
Olives
Onion
Balsamic vinegar
Parmesan or Parmesan spice
Salt and pepper to taste
Toothpicks
Place your sun dried tomatoes in some water to rehydrate.
Pit your olives and finely chop (leave them out if you're not a huge olive lover)
Dice your onion finely and lightly fry in a tablespoon of balsamic vinegar.
Flatten your tenderised steak nice and thin
In the centre of the steak add approximately;
2 tablespoons fried onions
1 tablespoon olives
Half a wedge of crumbled feta cheese
About a spoon of sun dried tomatoes
Lightly sprinkle Parmesan or Parmesan spice.
Fold your outer 2 corners of your steak in and over the stuffing
Roll the length of the steak over the stuffing and secure the end with a toothpick.
Grind salt and pepper on a bread board and roll your beef roll to coat.
In a deep pot or pan add a splash of olive oil and heat until quite hot.
Put your beef rolls in and cook until browned. The cook through very quickly, +/- 5 minutes.
Serve whole with fresh veggies and cous cous or in slices with roast potatoes and veg.
WARNING: This meal is incredibly rich and not to everyones pallet.
Enjoy.
You'll need.
Tenderised steak
Feta
Sun dried tomatoes
Olives
Onion
Balsamic vinegar
Parmesan or Parmesan spice
Salt and pepper to taste
Toothpicks
Place your sun dried tomatoes in some water to rehydrate.
Pit your olives and finely chop (leave them out if you're not a huge olive lover)
Dice your onion finely and lightly fry in a tablespoon of balsamic vinegar.
Flatten your tenderised steak nice and thin
In the centre of the steak add approximately;
2 tablespoons fried onions
1 tablespoon olives
Half a wedge of crumbled feta cheese
About a spoon of sun dried tomatoes
Lightly sprinkle Parmesan or Parmesan spice.
Fold your outer 2 corners of your steak in and over the stuffing
Roll the length of the steak over the stuffing and secure the end with a toothpick.
Grind salt and pepper on a bread board and roll your beef roll to coat.
In a deep pot or pan add a splash of olive oil and heat until quite hot.
Put your beef rolls in and cook until browned. The cook through very quickly, +/- 5 minutes.
Serve whole with fresh veggies and cous cous or in slices with roast potatoes and veg.
WARNING: This meal is incredibly rich and not to everyones pallet.
Enjoy.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Hubby's Birthday Meal
Last night I cooked hubby his birthday meal of choice.
This is so quick and easy as a 3 course dinner, it takes little preparation and always goes down as a hit.
Serves 5
What you'll need
STARTER
15 x medium sized king prawns
1/4 cup self raising flour
1/4 corn flour (available in the health section of most supermarkets)
1 small egg
3/4 cup soda water (ice cold or it'll flop)
Oil
Sweet chili sauce
Fresh lemons
MAIN
5 x 300g rib eye, rump or sirloin steak
Soy Sauce
Honey
Crushed garlic and ginger mix
Salt to taste
Sushi or Jasmin rice
Olive oil
Balsamic vinegar
Cumin seeds
1 x large onion
3 x medium cloves garlic
2 x large carrots
2 sprigs spring onions or chives
2 x oranges
2 x medium sized aubergines
1 x pack baby marrows
Butter
Lemon juice
DESERT
4 tablespoons cake flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips
A small splash of vanilla extract
A tot of Kahlua or Amarula
1 large coffee mug
PREPARATION
Remove prawns from the freezer, make sure they haven't been frozen too long or they will be floury in texture, and allow to defrost
In a large bowl, pour half a cup of boiling water and add 4 tablespoons of honey, mix until honey has melted
Add 4 tablespoons of soy sauce
and 2 teaspoons of crushed garlic and ginger
Coat each steak in the marinate and salt to taste.
Place the steak in back in the marinate and allow to stand for the day, occasionally turning to allow the sauce to cook through.
TEMPURA PRAWNS
Pull the heads off each prawn
Cut the prawn along the spine with a pair of scissors. At the tail, cut down and toward the abdomen so as not to remove the tail.
Peel the skeleton off, taking care not to remove the tail
Using a toothpick, at the head of the prawn, grab hold of the gut. Gently lift, the hole gut should pull out easily.
Put your side plates out and make a pretty squiggly pattern of sweet chili on it
Quarter a lemon and put on each plate
Pour enough oil in a large pot to cover the prawns completely and bring to the boil.
The oil needs to be hot!!!!
In a deep bowl, sift your flour and corn flour (you may use 1/2 a cup of regular flour if you like, it doesn't alter the taste, only the texture of the prawns)
Lightly beat your egg in a bowl and add the soda water and mix through lightly. (No.... you didn't do something wrong, it's supposed to foam like that)
Add your egg/soda water mix to the flour
Do not mix too much, the consistency should be more on the lumpy side, not smooth.
Grab your prawns by the tail and thoroughly coat each one with your batter, taking care not to get the batter on the tails.
Drop them in the oil
They are done when the batter has turned golden brown
Take the prawns out and lightly pat with roller towel to absorb extra oil
Place 3 prawns on each plate over the sweet chili sauce and serve immediately.
MAIN
RICE
Dice your onions finely
Dice your carrots finely
Leaving your garlic still in the skin, use the side of your knife and crush it
Put your rice on to boil
At the same time in a different pot place enough oil to lightly cover the bottom of your pot and add your cumin seeds and lightly fry
Add your onions and fry until limp
Add 2 teaspoons of balsamic vinegar and stir through
Add your garlic cloves and stir through
Allow the onions to brown through
Turn the heat all the way down to 1 on your stove and add the carrots
Stir through and leave
Chop your spring onions into tubes and set aside
Soften 1 orange to allow for easy squeezing
Once the rice is cooked, wash lightly and drain thoroughly
Add your onion/carrot mix
Squeeze the juice of one orange into the mixture and mix thoroughly
Add the spring onions just before serving and mix through
A little trick.... the reason I use sushi, Jasmin, or Basmati rice is for pretty presentation.
I place the rice into a medium sauce bowl and compact it with the back of a spoon.
Tip the bowl onto a plate and the rice comes out in a perfect little shape
MAIN
VEGGIES
Slice your baby marrows in half
Slice your aubergines into circles about 5mls thick
Sprinkle a little salt on each aubergine slice and allow to sweat for about 5 minutes
In a large pan, melt your butter and add a decent splash of lemon juice
Lightly fry your veggies
Place a lid on your pan and allow to steam on low heat
MAIN
STEAK
I cook our steaks on a hot rock, I find that it seals the meat nicely and keeps all the juices in
Cook your steaks as required.
Place your marinate in the microwave and heat, it should thicken slightly and use to garnish your main.
Serve with a slice of orange for the rice.
DESERT
Add dry ingredients to your largest mug and mix well.
Add the egg and mix thoroughly.
Pour in the milk and oil and mix well.
Add the chocolate chips (if using), vanilla extract and Kahlua and then mix again.
Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes on high.
The cake will rise over the top of the mug
Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate
Can be served with custard, ice cream or cream
And there you have it, a very simple 3 course meal to serve 5.
ENJOY
This is so quick and easy as a 3 course dinner, it takes little preparation and always goes down as a hit.
Serves 5
What you'll need
STARTER
15 x medium sized king prawns
1/4 cup self raising flour
1/4 corn flour (available in the health section of most supermarkets)
1 small egg
3/4 cup soda water (ice cold or it'll flop)
Oil
Sweet chili sauce
Fresh lemons
MAIN
5 x 300g rib eye, rump or sirloin steak
Soy Sauce
Honey
Crushed garlic and ginger mix
Salt to taste
Sushi or Jasmin rice
Olive oil
Balsamic vinegar
Cumin seeds
1 x large onion
3 x medium cloves garlic
2 x large carrots
2 sprigs spring onions or chives
2 x oranges
2 x medium sized aubergines
1 x pack baby marrows
Butter
Lemon juice
DESERT
4 tablespoons cake flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips
A small splash of vanilla extract
A tot of Kahlua or Amarula
1 large coffee mug
PREPARATION
Remove prawns from the freezer, make sure they haven't been frozen too long or they will be floury in texture, and allow to defrost
In a large bowl, pour half a cup of boiling water and add 4 tablespoons of honey, mix until honey has melted
Add 4 tablespoons of soy sauce
and 2 teaspoons of crushed garlic and ginger
Coat each steak in the marinate and salt to taste.
Place the steak in back in the marinate and allow to stand for the day, occasionally turning to allow the sauce to cook through.
TEMPURA PRAWNS
Pull the heads off each prawn
Cut the prawn along the spine with a pair of scissors. At the tail, cut down and toward the abdomen so as not to remove the tail.
Peel the skeleton off, taking care not to remove the tail
Using a toothpick, at the head of the prawn, grab hold of the gut. Gently lift, the hole gut should pull out easily.
Put your side plates out and make a pretty squiggly pattern of sweet chili on it
Quarter a lemon and put on each plate
Pour enough oil in a large pot to cover the prawns completely and bring to the boil.
The oil needs to be hot!!!!
In a deep bowl, sift your flour and corn flour (you may use 1/2 a cup of regular flour if you like, it doesn't alter the taste, only the texture of the prawns)
Lightly beat your egg in a bowl and add the soda water and mix through lightly. (No.... you didn't do something wrong, it's supposed to foam like that)
Add your egg/soda water mix to the flour
Do not mix too much, the consistency should be more on the lumpy side, not smooth.
Grab your prawns by the tail and thoroughly coat each one with your batter, taking care not to get the batter on the tails.
Drop them in the oil
They are done when the batter has turned golden brown
Take the prawns out and lightly pat with roller towel to absorb extra oil
Place 3 prawns on each plate over the sweet chili sauce and serve immediately.
MAIN
RICE
Dice your onions finely
Dice your carrots finely
Leaving your garlic still in the skin, use the side of your knife and crush it
Put your rice on to boil
At the same time in a different pot place enough oil to lightly cover the bottom of your pot and add your cumin seeds and lightly fry
Add your onions and fry until limp
Add 2 teaspoons of balsamic vinegar and stir through
Add your garlic cloves and stir through
Allow the onions to brown through
Turn the heat all the way down to 1 on your stove and add the carrots
Stir through and leave
Chop your spring onions into tubes and set aside
Soften 1 orange to allow for easy squeezing
Once the rice is cooked, wash lightly and drain thoroughly
Add your onion/carrot mix
Squeeze the juice of one orange into the mixture and mix thoroughly
Add the spring onions just before serving and mix through
A little trick.... the reason I use sushi, Jasmin, or Basmati rice is for pretty presentation.
I place the rice into a medium sauce bowl and compact it with the back of a spoon.
Tip the bowl onto a plate and the rice comes out in a perfect little shape
MAIN
VEGGIES
Slice your baby marrows in half
Slice your aubergines into circles about 5mls thick
Sprinkle a little salt on each aubergine slice and allow to sweat for about 5 minutes
In a large pan, melt your butter and add a decent splash of lemon juice
Lightly fry your veggies
Place a lid on your pan and allow to steam on low heat
MAIN
STEAK
I cook our steaks on a hot rock, I find that it seals the meat nicely and keeps all the juices in
Cook your steaks as required.
Place your marinate in the microwave and heat, it should thicken slightly and use to garnish your main.
Serve with a slice of orange for the rice.
DESERT
Add dry ingredients to your largest mug and mix well.
Add the egg and mix thoroughly.
Pour in the milk and oil and mix well.
Add the chocolate chips (if using), vanilla extract and Kahlua and then mix again.
Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes on high.
The cake will rise over the top of the mug
Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate
Can be served with custard, ice cream or cream
And there you have it, a very simple 3 course meal to serve 5.
ENJOY
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Bacon, Tomato, Pasta
Apologies, there are no photos, my camera has finally given up the ghost.
This is one of my favourite recipes. It's quick, easy and delicious.
Start to finish - approximately 25 minutes
Serves 4
Easily frozen and reheated for those lazy days
You'll need a pack of diced smoked bacon, or shoulder bacon that you can dice at home.
Olive or regular oil
An onion
Crushed garlic, or 3 cloves fresh garlic
Balsamic vinegar
A tin of tomato and onion relish
A tin of tomato paste
Worcestershire sauce
Chutney
Brown sugar
Robertsons mixed herbs
Robertsons sweet basil or regular basil
Salt and pepper to taste
Parmesan
Spaghetti
A strong mature cheddar (optional)
Dice your onion and fry in a little olive or regular oil
Add your crushed garlic when your onions are soft but not browned
Add two tablespoons balsamic vinegar and brown your onion and garlic
Add your diced bacon and cook through
In a pot add water, spaghetti and salt and bring to the boil
While your spaghetti is cooking,
Add the tomato and onion relish and add 3 tablespoons of tomato paste
Add about two tablespoons of chutney and a nice dollop Worcestershire sauce
Add a tablespoon of brown sugar
Add about a tablespoon of mixed herbs
Add salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Stir through and allow to simmer for about 5 minutes
Drain your spaghetti once cooked, making sure not to drain all the water as it tends to dry out the pasta
Add a nice dollop of olive oil and about a teaspoon of sweet basil or regular basil to the spaghetti and mix through
Dish up the the spaghetti in bowls and add your sauce
Garnish with Parmesan and mature Cheddar
I usually serve with a side salad and some homemade focaccia bread or mini rolls stuffed with sun dried tomatoes, feta and olives.
This recipe really is lovely because you double or even triple it without fuss and I often use it for Italian nights. I love the rich taste and it's absolutely divine with a dry red wine.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Something different. Old Brown Sherry Pork with garlic,parmesan and rosemary potatoes
I love trying new things in the kitchen. This weekend I bought the latest edition of my favourite mag, and two recipes jumped straight out at me. The 1st of these two, I tried last night. It turned out absolutely delishy, and as per usual, I added my own little flair.
The recipe calls for a little bit of preparation, but is well worth it.
Please excuse the grainy photo, (my camera refuses to focus on anything), and the lack of presentation, (the kinder had been awake since 4:30, yes in the morning. By the time I dished supper up, I just wasn't bothered with how pretty it looked).
Enjoy!
What you'll need
1 x Pork fillet, or pork leg with the fat cut off
A bottle of Old Brown Sherry
1 x Large onion
4 x Spring onion
Soy sauce
Balsamic vinegar
Garlic / Ginger Mix
Olive Oil
Sesame or Peanut Oil
Flour or Maizena
Butter
1 x Lemon
Baby veggies of your choice
Potatoes to roast
Parmesan
Garlic powder
Dried rosemary (Robertsons)
Salt to taste
Cut the pork into steaks of your choice in size
Rub salt into the meat, to your taste
Finely chop half the onion and the 4 spring onions
In a fairly large casserole or marinating bowl add 375mls of Old Brown Sherry, 120mls Soy sauce, 30mls Balsamic vinegar, 20mls of your sesame or peanut oil, 2 teaspoons of the garlic / ginger mix, and your onions and spring onions. Mix it up and add the pork steaks, making sure they are completely submerged in the sauce and allow to marinate for 4 to 6 hours.
About an hour before you cook the pork, peel and cut your potatoes and par boil in salt. Once the potatoes are still firm remove from heat, drain the water and wash off. Coat in olive oil and sprinkle garlic powder, Parmesan, salt and dried rosemary over them, cover and allow to cool in the fridge for about 30 minutes.
In a deep pot, add a little butter or olive oil and place your pork steaks into the pot, let them cook until the meat has turned brown and is cooked through.
In a separate pot, add the left over marinate sauce and bring to the boil, add flour or Maizena to thicken, turn the sauce down to the lowest heat.
Preheat your oven to 200 degrees and pop your potatoes in to roast while the pork is cooking.
Just before you dish up, put your baby veg in a bowel with a blob of butter and the juice of half a squeezed lemon, and microwave until they are cooked but still firm.
The result, a wonderfully rich meal with contrasting flavours.
Enjoy with a glass of dry red wine, preferably a rich Merlot like Stellar Winery's Organic Merlot.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
