Easy Potato Bake

Serves 4

Get This -

4 potatoes, peeled and sliced
125g diced bacon
1 onion, diced
300ml cream
1 cup grated cheese

Do This - 

1. Preheat oven to 180C.
2. Spread half of the potatoes in a layer in the base of a greased ovenproof dish. Add half the onion, bacon, cream and cheese. Repeat with a layer of potatoes, then the remaining onion, bacon, cream and cheese. Finish the last top layer with cheese.
3. Bake in the oven until potatoes are tender and top is browned. (about 30-40 minutes)

Zucchini Slice

Get This -

6 eggs

2 large zucchinis, grated

1 cup self-raising flour

1 onion, finely chopped

200g bacon, diced
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
1 tablespoon milk
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
salt & pepper to taste

Do This -

1. Preheat oven to 170°C. Line a 20 x 30cm baking tray with baking paper.
2. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, add the flour and combine well.
3. Add all other ingredients and mix.
4. Pour the contents into the prepared tray and bake for 30 minutes or until brown.
5. Allow to cool slightly, then slice.

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!

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.

Nasi kuning (yellow rice)

8 Servings

From Taste.com.au

Get This -

2 teaspoons peanut oil
1 brown onion, finely chopped
440g (2 cups) medium-grain rice, rinsed
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
400ml can coconut milk
500ml (2 cups) water or chicken or vegetable stock
1 teaspoon Garam Masala
1 lemon grass stem, broken & bruised or 1 teaspoon crushed lemon grass


Do This -

1. Heat oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook onion, stirring, for 3 minutes or until golden. Stir in rice and turmeric.
2. Stir in coconut milk, stock, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, bay leaves and lemon grass. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low. Cover and cook for 15 minutes or until rice is tender. Set aside, covered, for 5 minutes to steam.

Dongella's Shepherd's Pie

(From Taste.com.au)

Get This - 

500g beef mince
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion chopped
clove of garlic
2 teaspoons mixed herbs
1.5 cups of beef stock
1 cup frozen peas
1 grated carrot
1 grated zucchini
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup grated cheese
1 tablespoon butter
3 potatoes


Do This -

• Heat Oil in a large frypan, Saute onion and garlic, add mince and cook until brown.
• Add tomato paste, beef stock, mixed herbs, sauce, peas, carrot and zucchini, mix thoroughly and simmer until liquid is absorbed.
• Meanwhile boil potatoes until soft. Mash with butter.
• Place mince mixture in a casserole dish, top with mashed potatoes.
• Sprinkle with cheese and bake in a hot oven for 20 minutes or until cheese has melted and is lightly brown.
• Enjoy!

The Best Cheesy Muffins

Makes 12

Get This -

2 1/2 cups self-raising flour
1 medium carrot, grated
1 small onion, finely diced and lightly fried to take the rawness away
1 cup grated tasty cheese
30g of your favourite Kenilworth flavoured cheese, crumbled
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
1 cup milk
125g butter, melted and cooled
2 eggs


Do This -

1. Preheat oven to 200°C or 180°C fan-forced. Line 12 large muffin cups with patty papers.
2. Sift flour into a large bowl and add carrot, onion, parsley and cheeses. Stir to combine and make a well in the centre.
3. Whisk eggs and milk a jug. Add egg mixture and melted butter to the bowl and fold together until just combined, do not overbeat.
4. Spoon mixture into prepared tins. Bake for 20 mins until risen and golden brown. Leave in the tin for 5 mins then lift out onto a wire rack to cool.

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.

My Greek Style Salad

Get This -

iceberg lettuce
red onion
cherry tomatoes
Lebanese cucumber
sun dried tomatoes
whole olives
feta
dried oregano
dried thyme
salt & pepper


Do This -

1. Slice and chop the lettuce, tomatoes, onion, cucumber & sundried tomatoes and place in a salad bowl.
2. Squash the olives to remove the pips and then tear them into the bowl.
3. Add crumbled feta, dried herbs and salt & pepper.
4. Pour a little of the sun dried tomato oil from the jar, and a little olive juice from the jar to make the dressing.
5. Toss well and serve.

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

Indian-style Kedgeree

From Taste.com.au

Serves 4

Get This -

1 1/2 cups long-grain white rice

30g butter

1 medium brown onion, finely chopped

1 garlic clove, crushed

1 tablespoon medium curry powder

200g smoked trout fillets, flaked

2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh coriander leaves

2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves

4 hard-boiled eggs, quartered

Do This -

1. Cook rice following packet directions. Line a baking tray with baking paper. Spread rice over prepared tray. Cool. Cover and refrigerate for 3 hours.
2. Melt butter in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add onion. Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until onion has softened. Add garlic and curry powder. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute or until fragrant.
3. Add rice, trout, coriander and parsley. Cook, stirring, for 3 minutes or until heated through. Divide between bowls. Top with egg. Serve.

Options for next time - use prawns instead of smoked trout, add 1 large red chilli, serve with lemon wedges as well as boiled eggs.


Recipe from Taste.com.au

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.

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.

Thai-Style Curry

This recipe is like a choose your own adventure story book.

You choose the type of curry.
You choose as many or as few vegetables as you like
You choose the meat or tofu...and come up with your own special thai-style curry.

Serves 4

 Get This -

• 2 tbsps thai red, green or yellow curry paste
• 400ml coconut milk
• 2 tbsps fish sauce
• 2 tbsps brown sugar
• 1 tbsp lime juice or 1 kaffir lime leaf finely shredded
• 400g - 500g diced chicken, pork, lamb, or prawns peeled and deveined. Or 300g tofu, diced and lightly fried
• fresh coriander
• 4 cups jasmine rice (cooked)

Choose your vegetables -

• small can bamboo shoots (drained and rinsed)
• small can water chestnuts (drained and rinsed)
• 125g baby corn spears, halved diagonally
• snow peas or snow pea sprouts
• capsicum
• carrots
• broccoli
• cauliflower
• shallots or onions
• beans or sugar snap peas
• zucchini

Do This -

1. In a wok or large saucepan, over medium high heat, combine coconut milk and curry paste, heat and stir constantly until the majority of the paste has dissolved. 2. And fish sauce, brown sugar and lime, stir until dissolved. 3. Add meat or tofu and vegetables, stir gently until well incorporated. 4. Let simmer for 10 - 20 minutes until meat and vegetables are cooked through. 5. Serve over rice or noodles and top with coriander or your favourite herbs.

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

Beef Stroganoff

I am a big fan of stroganoff.  I've posted a chicken one, now here's a beef one.  Too delicious!

Serves 4

Get This - 

• 1/2 cup plain flour
• 500g beef fillet steaks, cut into 2cm-thick strips
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 large brown onions, halved, sliced
• 4 garlic cloves, crushed
• 3 cups beef stock
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 200g button mushrooms, halved
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• chopped spring onions to garnish

Do This -

1. Place flour in a snap-lock bag. Season with salt and pepper. Add beef strips. Seal bag and shake to coat. Remove beef. Place in a bowl.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large, deep frying pan over medium-high heat. Cook mushrooms, onion and garlic for 4 to 5 minutes or until soft. Transfer to a plate.
3. Add remaining oil and beef to pan. Cook for 5 minutes or until browned. Return mushrooms, onion and garlic to pan. Add stock. Bring to the boil. Add tomato paste, paprika and mustard. Reduce heat to medium. Simmer, uncovered, stirring, for 10 minutes. Stir in sour cream. Cook for 1 minute or until heated through.
4. Serve with mashed potato, rice, pasta or (my favourite) rice noodles. And top with spring onions.

Chicken Stroganoff

This makes a nice change from beef stroganoff.  It's not the easiest thing on this blog, but it's certainly not difficult...I don't do difficult!

2 serves

Get this -

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large chicken breast fillet, cut into strips
1 small brown onion, thinly sliced
1 clove garlic, crushed
100g mushrooms, sliced
1 teaspoon sweet paprika
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup chicken stock
1/2 cup sour cream
steamed rice and chopped chives to serve

Do this -

• Heat 1 tablespoon oil to high heat.
• Add chicken & stir until it has changed colour and is lightly browned.
• Remove chicken & reduce heat to medium.
• Heat remaining oil, add onion, garlic & mushrooms.
• Cook for 5 mins or until onion has softened.
• Add paprika.  Stir until fragrant, about 1 min.
• Add Worcestershire sauce and stock and simmer 2-3 mins until slightly reduced.
• Remove from heat. Stir in sour cream, season with salt &pepper.
• Return chicken, place back over medium-low heat until chicken is cooked through.
• Serve with steamed rice and chopped chives.

Savoury Muffins

I am sooo not a baker.  But I felt like some savoury muffins today and thought my kids might like to try them, too.  Well, of course, I loved them and my kids wouldn't even taste them!  Oh well, I'll keep trying.

 Makes 12

Get This -

• 2 1/2 cups self-raising flour
• salt and pepper
• 125g melted butter, cooled
• 1 cup milk
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon herbs
• 1/2 cup grated cheese
• 2 bacon rashers, diced
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1/2 small red capsicum, diced
• parmesan to top

 

Do This -

1. Preheat oven to 200C.
2. Fry onion, bacon and capsicum until onion is soft.
3. Sift flour into a bowl.  Add cheese and season well with salt and pepper.
4. Whisk eggs, milk and herbs together.
5. Make a well in the flour, add milk mixture and butter, fold until well combined.
6. Fold in bacon and onion mixture.
7. Spoon into greased muffin tray, top with parmesan.
8. Bake for 20-25 minutes.

 

Try to eat just one!!

Chicken Pasta Bake

If you like pasta bakes you'll love this one...easy and tasty...mmm mmm!


Serves 4


Get This -

300g of your favourite short pasta
1 onion, finely chopped
300ml cream
1 cup frozen corn kernels
1 cup frozen peas
1/2 cup grated parmesan
1/2 barbecue chicken, roughly chopped
3 bacon rashers
salt and pepper
1 cup tasty cheese


Do This -

• Preheat oven to 200C.
• Cook pasta in a large pot as per packet instructions.  Drain and set aside in baking dish.
• Meahwhile, cook bacon, chop, set aside.
• Saute onion in a little oil until softened but not brown.
• Add cream, bring to simmer and cook for 2 minutes.
• Stir in corn, peas, parmesan, bacon and chicken and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
• Add to pasta in baking dish, add salt and pepper and stir to mix well.
• Sprinkle cheese on top.
• Bake in oven for about 20 minutes or until golden on top.
• Sprinkle with chopped parsley if you like.

I guarantee you'll want seconds!