Ambrosia Salad

serves 4 - 6

Get This - 

1 cup green grapes, cut in half
1 300g can mandarin segments, drained
1 425g can fruit cocktail, drained
1 cup flaked coconut
1 cup miniature marshmallows
1 cup whipped cream or cool whip
1 250g carton sour cream


Do This -

1. Mix the mandarin and grapes, fruit cocktail, and coconut in a large bowl.
2. Fold in the whipped cream, sour cream and marshmallows.
3. Chill for at least an hour.
4. Stir again before serving.

Cheesecake Brownies

Makes 16

Get This -

Melted butter, to grease
150g butter, chopped
300g good-quality dark cooking chocolate, chopped
3 eggs
215g (1 cup) caster sugar
225g (1 1/2 cups) plain flour
65g (1/4 cup) sour cream
1 x 250g pkt cream cheese, at room temperature


Do This -

1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Brush a square 20cm (base measurement) cake pan with melted butter to lightly grease. Line the base and 2 opposite sides with non-stick baking paper, allowing it to overhang.
2. Combine the butter and chocolate in a saucepan over low heat. Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until chocolate melts and mixture is smooth. Remove from heat. Set aside for 5 minutes to cool.
3. Whisk 2 of the eggs in a small bowl. Add whisked eggs and 140g (2/3 cup) of the sugar to the chocolate mixture, and stir to combine. Add the flour and sour cream and stir until well combined.
4. Use an electric beater to beat the cream cheese and remaining sugar in a bowl until smooth. Add the remaining egg and beat until just combined.
5. Spoon chocolate and cream cheese mixtures, alternately, over base of pan. Use a skewer to swirl to create a marble effect. Bake in oven for 30 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Set aside in the pan for 1 hour to cool. Cut into squares to serve.

Tzatziki - Cucumber Yogurt Dip

Get This -

1 tbsp olive oil
3 tsps lemon juice
1 clove garlic, minced finely
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp white pepper
3/4 cup greek yogurt
1/4 cup sour cream
1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced
1 tsp chopped fresh dill

Do This - 

1. Combine olive oil, vinegar, garlic, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Mix until well combined.
2. Using a whisk, blend the yogurt with the sour cream. 
3. Add the olive oil mixture to the yogurt mixture and mix well.
4. Finally, add the cucumber and chopped fresh dill. Chill for at least two hours before serving.
5. Garnish with a sprig of fresh dill just before serving.

Chicken Enchiladas with Beans

Serves 4

Get This -

1 tablespoon olive oil
500g chicken breast fillet or chopped barbecue chicken
10 enchilada tortillas or corn Mountain Bread
450g can refried beans
3/4 cup grated tasty cheese
375g jar chunky tomato salsa
avocado
sour cream


Do This -

1. Preheat oven to 200°C. Heat oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Cook chicken for 4 minutes each side, or until cooked through. Stand for 10 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, heat tortillas using packet directions.
3. Slice chicken and put back into the frying pan with the refried beans. Stir until warmed through.
4. Place chicken and bean mixture onto each tortilla. Top with a little cheese. Roll up tightly to secure. Place onto a greased and lined baking tray.
5. Spoon salsa down centre of enchiladas. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until heated through.
6. Serve with avocado and sour cream.

Also serve with a side salad of rocket, cherry tomatoes & red onion if you wish.

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! :)

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.

Rice Cakes

Tonight I had some left over cooked rice.
I'd usually make fried rice with it, but I did that 2 nights ago, so I went looking for something else.
I found a recipe on Taste.com.au for rice cakes that used smoked chicken. But I didn't have any chicken so I substituted bacon and added some sour cream to make sure they wouldn't be too dry.

They were really tasty! A bit like mini quiches, but without flour, which is always good for me!

Makes 12

Get This -

1 - 1 1/2 cups cooked basmati rice
4 bacon short cut rashers, diced
2 tablespoons semi-dried tomatoes, roughly chopped
1/3 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cup grated cheese
1/3 cup grated parmesan
1 tablespoon sour cream
3 green onions, thinly sliced
1/4 cup basil leaves, finely shredded
3 eggs, lightly beaten
salt and pepper

Do This -

1. Preheat oven to 200°C. Grease a 12 hold muffin pan.
2. Fry the bacon until cooked, then leave to cool.
3. Place rice, bacon, dried tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, cheese, parmesan, onions, basil, eggs, salf and pepper into a large bowl. Mix well to combine.
4. Spoon mixture into prepared pan. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until cakes are firm to the touch and light golden. Stand in pan for 5 minutes. Run a flat-edged knife around edges of cakes. Turn onto a wire rack.
5. Serve with salad. Tonight's salad was coral lettuce, cherry tomatoes, red onion, capsicum, lebanese cucumber, fetta and avacado dressed with balsamic vinegar and olive oil.

These would also be great lunch box idea.

Sausage Pasta Bake

Or as my husband likes to call this dish, bubble & squeak.

This is what I do with left over sausages from dinner the night before...

• Chop 2 or 3 left over sausages into bite size pieces and fry with some onion & bacon
• Cook enough pasta to feed the number you need
• Throw a handful of red lentils into the pasta while it's cooking
• Combine sausage mixture, cooked pasta and lentils, a can of tomatoes, some fresh or dried herbs, salt & pepper, a tablespoon of dijon mustard and 2 tablespoons of sour cream into a baking dish.
• Sprinkle with a small amount of grated cheese
• Bake in a moderate oven until golden and bubbly

Not my photo, but it does look a lot like this.

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.