Wednesday, December 6, 2017

Sun dried tomato and mushroom pasta in a garlic and basil sauce

I found this recipe here but copied it into metric because it was too hard to follow in American measurements. 

Serves 4



Get This -

2 tablespoons olive oil
200g mushrooms, sliced
3 garlic cloves, minced
100g sun-dried tomatoes, diced
2 chicken stock cubes (use vegetable for vegetarian version)
2 cups boiling water
1/2 cup half and half (may need to add another 1/2 cup)
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon dried basil (or up to 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil)
fettuccine for 4

NOTE:
WHAT IS HALF AND HALF? Half and half is the US milk product that combines half milk half cream to form a lighter cream (unlike heavy cream). To make 1 cup of half and half, combine 1/2 cup milk and 1/2 cup regular cream (heavy, or whipping cream).


Do This -


  1. Heat olive oil on medium-high heat, add sliced mushrooms and garlic and cook for about 3 minutes. Add diced sun-dried tomatoes. Reduce heat.
  2. Dissolve 2 chicken stock cubes in 2 cups of boiling water. Add the broth to the pan and cook on medium heat until the mushrooms and sun-dried tomatoes absorb some of the broth and the broth reduces somewhat. Add half and half, heavy cream and bring to boil just for a short moment. Add Parmesan cheese and cook the sauce, stirring, for a couple of minutes, on low-medium heat until the cheese melts. Add the basil.
  3. If your sauce is too thick at this point - add another 1/2 cup half and half. If your sauce looks thin to you - do not continue simmering the sauce to thicken it as you will be adding pasta shortly (in the next step) - and pasta will absorb some of the sauce liquid. Even if the sauce looks thin now, it will not be so thin once you add pasta.
  4. Cook fettuccine according to the package instruction. Drain and rinse in cold water (this will stop the cooking). Add the fettuccine into the sauce and continue cooking the sauce with the pasta in it, on medium heat, for a couple of minutes (or more - to achieve the desired thickness) stirring constantly to coat well.
Note: Do not add salt to the creamy sauce because it should already be salty enough from the chicken cubes. Check at the end when the sauce is done to see if some salt is needed.

Sunday, October 22, 2017

Mince Lettuce Cups

Serves 3-4



Get This -

500g beef mince
1 teaspoon curry powder (or less to taste)
1 teaspoon white pepper
1 teaspoon garam masala
1 tablespoon fish sauce
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
1/4 cup fresh coriander, chopped (including stalks)
1 tablespoon vegetable or peanut oil
1 tablespoon lime juice
1/2 red onion, diced
1 carrot, diced
1/2 red capsicum, diced
cos or iceberg lettuce leaves, washed
snow peas or bean sprouts for garnish


Do This -
  1. Mix mince, spices, herbs, sauces and ginger in a bowl with hands and set aside for 15 minutes.
  2. Fry onion, carrot and capsicum in oil until softened.
  3. Add mince and stir until cooked through.
  4. Add lime juice & finley sliced snow peas or bean sprouts.
  5. Serve in lettuce cups

Thursday, September 28, 2017

Tomato & Avocado Salad





Get This -

1 large tomato, diced
1 avocado, diced
1/2 onion, diced
feta
fresh herbs (parsley/dill/coriander/basil/chives)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
salt & pepper to taste

Do This -

Mix together and enjoy!

Monday, July 10, 2017

Asian Beef Mince & Noodles

(From Taste.com.au)


Serves 4

Get This -

500g beef mince
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 cup hoisin sauce
soy sauce to taste
teaspoons fish sauce to taste
ground chilli to taste
1 onion sliced into thin wedges
3 cloves garlic minced
260g Asian style coleslaw mix
Noodles of choice, prepared following packet instructions 
4 eggs
1 long red chilli, thinly sliced
Spring onions, thinly sliced, to serve
Steamed Asian greens, to serve


Do This -
  1. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a frying pan or wok over medium high heat. Add onion & garlic and fry until soft and fragrant. Add mince and cook for 5 minutes, breaking it up with the back of a wooden spoon, until browned.
  2. Add coleslaw mix and 1 tablespoon of water and toss until well combined. Cook for 1 minute or until vegetables are just tender. Add sauces and noodles. Stir until well combined. 
  3. Meanwhile, heat remaining oil in a large frying pan. Fry eggs for 2-3 minutes or until whites are cooked. Place an egg over mince, sprinkle with chilli and green onions. Serve with steamed Asian greens.

Friday, January 13, 2017

Thea's Favourite Summer Salad



Get This -

potato salad
ham
cherry tomatoes
fetta
mango
boiled egg
fresh herbs (parsley/dill/coriander/basil/chives)

Do This -

Mix together and enjoy!