Easy Chilli Con Carne

Serves 4


Get This -

500g minced beef
can crushed tomatoes
can red kidney beans
1 onion sliced
small jar salsa - hot


Do This -

1. Fry onions until soft and golden.
2. Add mince and stir until browned.
3. Stir through tomatoes, drained kidney beans and salsa.
4. Simmer 20 minutes or until cooked through.

Serve with rice, tortillas or corn chips and top it off with sour cream and avocado.

Chorizo Chilli

Serves 2 - 4

Get This -

2 - 4 chorizo sausages, 1 per person (cooked and sliced)
1 can crushed tomatoes (garlic, chilli & coriander flavour)
1 can red kidney beans
2 tablespoons salsa
1 red onion, cut into thin wedges
1 teaspoon ground chilli


Do This -

• Fry chorizo and onions in a saucepan until onions are soft.
• Add salsa, kidney beans, tinned tomatoes and chilli powder. Simmer for 10 - 15 minutes.
• Season to taste.
• Serve with rice, pasta or microwaved potatoes and a green salad. Add a dollop of sour cream to the top of the chilli chorizo.

Chunky Beef with Beans and Chilli

From Taste.com.au

Serves 4

Get This -

1 tablespoon olive oil
400g can chopped tomatoes
300ml bottled chunky chargrilled salsa
500g lean beef stir-fry strips
2 tablespoons chopped fresh coriander
1 red capsicum, seeds removed, coarsely chopped
400g can red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 onion, sliced


Do This -

1. Heat oil in a large frying pan, add onion and red capsicum and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes or until golden. Add beef and cook, stirring, until browned.
2. Add salsa, tomatoes and kidney beans, and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in coriander and season with salt and pepper.
3. Serve in bowls, topped with a generous dollop of yoghurt.

This recipe is from Taste.com.au... click here

Lasange

Lasagne is something I love to eat, but never make because it seems too fussy.

Well, tonight I gave it a go.

I combined three recipes from online searches and came up with this...

I reckon it's pretty good!

Serves 4

Get This -

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 brown onion, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 500g lean beef mince
• 400g can crushed tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 2 teaspoons dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 250g packet dried lasagne pasta sheets
• small carton of cream
• 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

Do This -

1. Preheat oven to 180°C/160°C fan-forced.
2. Heat oil in a heavy-based saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic. Cook, stirring, for 3 minutes or until onion is tender. Add mince. Cook, stirring with a wooden spoon to break up mince, until browned. Add tomatoes, tomato paste, dried herbs and cinnamon.  Season with salt and pepper. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low. Simmer, uncovered, for 40 minutes or until sauce has thickened. Remove from heat.
3. Soak the lasagne sheets in a single layer in boiling water for 5 mins. (Although the packet says no pre-cook, soaking improves the texture.) Drain well. 
4. Drizzle a little olive oil over base of a 7cm-deep, 25cm (base) square baking dish. Arrange pieces of lasagne over base of dish. Pour enough cream to just cover lasagne sheets. Spoon one-third of the mince mixture over pasta. Spread with one-quarter of the cheeses. Repeat layers twice. Top with lasagne sheets, cream and cheeses. Cover loosely with foil.
5. Bake for 45 minutes. Remove foil. Bake for 15 minutes or until pasta is tender and cheese golden. Stand for 10 minutes before serving.

Option 1 - Replace cream with cream cheese.
Option 2 - Replace cream with ricotta cheese. 
Option 3 - Use a mix of all three

Leftover Sausage Chilli

I had some leftover sausages from dinner last night and I was going to make my Sausage Pasta Bake for dinner tonight. But I just didn't feel like pasta. I'm trying to cut down on carbs. And I know rice is carbs too, but I always feel better after eating rice than I do after eating pasta...don't know why...

So I made this instead.


Serves 4

Get This -

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium brown onion, chopped
• 1 medium red capsicum, chopped
• 1 medium zucchini, quartered lengthways, chopped
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin seeds
• 2 teaspoons ground coriander seeds
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
• 1 beef stock cube
• 1/2 cup frozen corn kernels
• small jar of hot salsa (or mild if you prefer)
• can diced tomatoes
• can four bean mix, drained, rinsed
• 4 cooked thick beef sausages, thinly sliced
• Fresh coriander leaves, sour cream, avocado and steamed rice, to serve

Do This -

1. Heat oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Add onion, capsicum and zucchini. Cook, stirring, for 3 to 5 minutes or until vegetables are just tender. Add ground cumin, ground coriander and oregano. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute or until fragrant.
2. Stir in tomatoes, salsa and stock cube. Bring to a simmer. Add corn, beans and sausages. Simmer for 7 to 10 minutes or until sausages are heated through. Top with coriander, sour cream and avocado. Serve with rice.

Chilli Con Carne

Serves 2 - 3


Get This -

250g mince
1/2 medium onion
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can red Mexican Chilli beans
salt, pepper & chilli flakes to season
avocado or guacamole, sour cream and coriander or spring onions to serve


Do This -

1. Saute onion until soft.
2. Add mince and stir until browned.
3. Add tomatoes and can of beans.
4. Season to taste with salt, pepper & chilli flakes.
5. Mix well and simmer for 10 - 15 mins.
6. Serve with rice, pasta, tacos or jacket potatoes.
7. Add avocado or guacamole and  a dollop of sour cream on top.
8. Finish off with some fresh coriander or sliced spring onions.

This one is almost too easy, that's why I love it! :)

Curly Fettuccini & Meatballs

Serves 4

Get This -

500g mince

1 onion, diced

2 cloves of garlic, crushed

1 egg

1 cup of breadcrumbs

3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

5-6 basil leaves, roughly chopped

1/2 bunch Italian parsley, chopped
2 bay leaves

2 tablespoons tomato paste

2 tins diced tomatoes
1 teaspoon brown sugar

olive oil, for cooking

curly fettuccini (or regular fettuccini or spaghetti)

grated parmesan to sprinkle

Do This -

1. In a large bowl add 1/2 of the chopped parsley, 1 garlic clove, mince, breadcrumbs, egg, parmesan cheese and a generous pinch of black pepper & salt. Mix with hands until well combined.
2. Heat some olive oil in a large pot to a medium heat and add onion & and remaining garlic clove. Fry till translucent and fragrant.
3. Roll the meatballs then brown them in the pot with the onions & garlic.
4. Add the tomato paste, canned tomatoes, the remaining chopped parsley, basil & bay leaves, sugar, salt & pepper.
5. Turn to low and simmer for 20 minutes. Or longer for more flavour. If the sauce seems a little dry add 1/2 cup of water.
6. Serve with curly fettucinni and sprinkle with parmesan and basil.

Fi's Minestrone

I found this recipe on Fi's blog Mummy Daze and thought it looked so good and so easy that I'd give it a go! It's absolutely delicious!!

Not my image, as per usual!

Serves 4 - with enough for seconds and leftovers

Get This -

2 tablespoons oil
ham/bacon/salami
onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, crushed

3 tablespoons tomato paste

800g tinned tomatoes

2 teaspoons stock powder

4.5 cups cold water

2 medium potatoes, cubed

1 large carrot, diced

zucchini, sliced

1/2 broccoli, chopped finely

1/2 cup frozen peas

750g tin cannellini beans, rinsed and strained

1/2 cup macaroni/broken spaghetti pieces

1 tablespoon sugar

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

2 cups fresh baby spinach (if you have some)
salt & pepper

fresh basil

serve with a dollop of pesto

Do This -

1. Add diced bacon, onion, crushed garlic and oil to large pot. Cook over medium heat for 3 minutes or until onion is softened.
2. Add tomato paste, tinned tomato, stock and water. Cover, and bring to the boil. Add potato and carrots. Cook, uncovered for 15 minutes, or until cooked through.
3. When you are nearly ready to serve, add the beans, zucchini, broccoli, peas and pasta. Cook for 10-15 minutes or until pasta is just tender. Add sugar and vinegar and season with salt and pepper to taste. Mix in baby spinach leaves just before serving.
4. Ladle into bowls and dollop with pesto and basil. Serve with toasted bread or oven-baked rolls - whatever you have handy.

I served it with parmesan instead of pesto, and fresh basil.

Devilled Sausages

As you know, I do not like using packet mixes or bottled bases. Who knows what's in those things!
So here's an easy recipe for devilled sausages...no packet required!

Serves 4

Get This -

• 500g beef or pork sausages
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 125ml water
• 2 onions, finely sliced
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon mustard
• ¼ tsp cayenne pepper (or to taste)
• 1 x 400g can diced tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• fresh parsley

Do This -

1. Heat oil in pan and brown sausages until cooked.
2. Remove sausages and chop into chunks.
3. Fry onions in the same pan until soft.
4. Combine all other ingredients with the water to make a sauce. Add to sausages and onions and stir until sauce begins to boil then reduce heat to a simmer. Stir occasionally and cook for at least 10 mins, but the longer the better. I like at least an hour.
5. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley or your favourite herb. Serve with mashed potato or sweet potato, or on a bed of steamed rice with vegetables.

This recipe is from http://allrecipes.co.uk/ with a few tweaks.

Crispy-topped Cottage Pie

from Taste.com.au

Serves 4

Get This -

• olive oil
• 1 brown onion, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 750g beef mince
• 1 cup beef stock
• 400g can diced tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons plain flour 
• 2 carrots, peeled, diced
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 500g Desiree potatoes, thinly sliced
• 100g tasty cheese, finely grated

Do This -

1. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook onion and garlic, stirring, for 8 minutes or until soft. Add tomato paste. Cook for 3 minutes.
2. Increase heat to high. Add mince. Cook, stirring, for 8 minutes or until browned. Add stock, water and tomatoes. Bring to the boil. Stir in flour and carrots. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer, partially covered, for 10 minutes. Add peas.
3. Preheat oven to 200°C. Grease a 10-cup capacity ovenproof dish. Spoon in mince.
4. Combine potatoes, 1 1/2 tablespoons oil, and salt and pepper. Arrange one-third potatoes over mince. Sprinkle with half the cheese. Repeat layers, finishing with potatoes. Drizzle with a little oil. Season with salt and pepper. Cover with foil. Bake for 30 minutes. Increase heat to 230°C. Remove foil. Bake for a further 20 minutes or until golden. Serve.

Note - to hide the vegetables from Miss 4, I grated the carrot and swapped frozen peas for grated zucchini.

This recipe is from Taste.com.au

Spaghetti Bolognese

I know the really simple way to make this is to brown some mince, add a jar of prepared sauce and add to pasta, but it's so easy to make your own. It tastes heaps better and you know exactly what you're eating, too.

With illnesses, ailments and disorders on the rise I have to wonder if it has something to do with the mountains of processed foods we eat with all the additives, preservatives & chemicals. I don't like to use any bottled sauce bases anymore.

Serves 4

Get This -

500g beef mince
1 brown onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 cans diced tomatoes
4 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 beef stock cubes
a shake of dried oregano
a shake of dried thyme
a shake of dried tarragon
a pinch of cinnamon
a pinch of nutmeg
1/4 red lentils
1/2 to 1 cup vegetables, eg carrot, zucchini, cauliflower, capsicum
1/2 cup water (I swish out a can of tomatoes & use that)
salt & pepper
fresh parmesan, shaved/finely grated
fresh basil
spaghetti or other pasta

Do This -

• Heat oil in large pot.  Saute onions & garlic until translucent.
• Add vegetables, stock cubes & herbs.
• Add mince and stir until browned.
• Add tomato paste and cook for about 1 minute.
• Add all other ingredients and simmer.
• Sauce will be ready in about 20 minutes, but I love it after a few hours of gentle simmering...much tastier! 
• Just before you're ready to serve, cook pasta according to the instructions on the packet.
• Drain pasta, serve in bowls with the bolognese sauce on top and finish with fresh shaved parmesan and chopped basil.

Madras Beef Curry

I do love curries.
And this one is a winner.
So easy and so yum.


Just for a change, this is actually my image.
Yes, it's my dinner that I'm eating right now! :)

Serves 2

Get This -

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 400g gravy beef, trimmed, cut into 3cm cubes
• 1/2 large brown onion, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 2cm piece fresh ginger, peeled, grated
• 1/4 cup madras curry paste
• 3 cardamom pods, bruised
• 1/2 cup chicken stock
• 400g can diced tomatoes
• 1 large potato, peeled, cut into 3cm cubes
• salt & pepper
• 1 stalk spring onions, chopped
• Steamed basmati rice, to serve

Do This -

1. Heat half the oil in a large, heavy-based saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook beef, in batches, for 5 to 6 minutes or until browned. Transfer to a bowl.
2. Heat remaining oil in dish. Add onion, garlic and ginger. Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until onion has softened. Add curry paste and cardamom. Cook for 1 minute or until fragrant. Return beef to dish. Add stock, tomatoes and potato. Season with salt & pepper. Cover. Bring to the boil.
3. Turn the heat down to low and simmer for 2-3 hours or until beef is tender. Remove and discard cardamom pods. Serve with rice and top with plain yogurt or raita and spring onions.

Creamy Chicken Pasta Bake

Serves 4

Get This

250g dried macaroni pasta
2 cooked chicken breasts, shredded
3 bacon rashers, cooked and chopped
100g broccoli
300ml light thickened cream
1 can tomatoes
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/2 cup grated mozzarella cheese

Do This

1. Preheat oven to 200°C. Lightly grease an  8-cup capacity baking dish.
2. Cook pasta in a large saucepan of boiling, salted water for 10 minutes or until tender. 
3. Drain pasta and return to saucepan. Add cooked chicken and bacon, broccoli, cream, tomatoes and parmesan. Toss until well combined. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Spoon mixture into prepared dish. Top with mozzarella. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden.