Quick Goulash

This is really easy and really yum!

Serves 4

Get This -

• 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
• 500g stir-fry beef
• 1 brown onion, thinly sliced
• 200g button mushrooms, thickly sliced
• 1 tablespoon ground paprika
• 400g can condensed tomato soup
• 400g can diced tomatoes
• steamed rice, chopped flat-leaf parsley leaves and light sour cream, to serve

Do This -

1. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large frying pan over high heat. Add half the beef. Cook, stirring often, for 3 minutes or until browned. Transfer to a plate. Repeat with oil and remaining beef.
2. Add remaining 2 teaspoons oil, onion and mushroom to pan. Cook for 3 minutes or until tender. Add paprika. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add soup and tomatoes. Stir until well combined. Bring to the boil.
3. Reduce heat to low. Return beef and any juices to pan. Simmer for 3 minutes or until warmed through. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Spoon rice into bowls. Spoon over goulash and sprinkle with parsley. Top with a dollop of sour cream and serve.

Thai Beef Stir-Fry

This recipe is divine.  Especially for a hot summer night, so fresh, crisp and healthy!

Serves 4

Get This -

• 1 1/2 tbs peanut oil
• 500g beef stir-fry strips
• 2 carrots, cut into short thin sticks
• 1 red capsicum, cut into thin strips
• 1 stalk lemongrass, white part only, finely chopped
• 4cm piece fresh ginger, thin sticks
• 3 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 1/2 tbs soy sauce
• 1 1/2 tbs sweet chilli sauce
• 1 tbs lime juice
• 2 cups bean sprouts
• 1 cup fresh coriander leaves
• 1 cup fresh mint leaves
• Steamed jasmine rice, to serve

Do This -

1. Add 1 tablespoon of oil to a wok on high heat. Add half the beef and stir-fry for 1-2 mins. Repeat with remaining beef.
2. Heat remaining oil over medium-high heat. Add carrots, capsicum, lemongrass, ginger and garlic. Stir-fry for 2 mins. Add soy sauce, sweet chilli sauce and lime juice. Toss well.
3. Return beef and bean sprouts and toss through. Remove from heat and toss in half the coriander and mint. Serve with remaining coriander, mint and rice.

This recipe is from http://www.taste.com.au/ , my favourite recipe website.

Massaman Curry

I was going to make the 4 Ingredients Calendar version but it was completely tasteless.  I added a few more ingredients and it was so yummy I ate way too much!

Serves 4

Get This -

500g beef cubed
1 tablespoon massaman curry paste
3 potatoes peeled and cubed
400ml coconut milk
(that was their bit...here's my added extras...)
1 brown onion, cut into fine wedges
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/2 tablespoon fish sauce
juice from 1 lime
salt

Do This -

1. Heat 1/4 cup water on high heat in large saucepan.
2. Add beef and onions and cook until beef is browned.
3. Mix coconut milk, curry paste, sugar, fish sauce and lime juice together and add to saucepan with beef and onions along with potatoes.
4. Simmer for at least 2 hours. (The original recipe said 20 mins but I find meat is always chewy unless it has been cooked slowly for a couple of hours at least.)
5. Stir occasionally and season with salt to taste.
6. Serve with rice.

Extra extras...

You could add peanuts or cashews.
You could garnish with your favourite herbs.
You could serve with green vegetables and carrots.
Or you could eat as it but try not to eat too much!!

Polenta

This recipe comes courtesy of Taryn over at Taryn Rucci.  Thanks Taryn!!

Ingredients -

1 cup of instant or fine polenta
4 cups chicken stock
Good seasoning of salt
Few teaspoons dried mixed herbs (you can use fresh, or whatever you have)
1 cup cheese (any type). I use cheddar

Put the polenta, stock and salt in a saucepan. Mix well. Put on the stovetop. Bring to the boil. Let it simmer for 10 minutes or so. If you use "normal" polenta it will take longer - normally about 30 minutes or so. Just read the packed instructions. Let it simmer until it thickens nicely. Take it off the heat and stir through cheese.

You can serve it like that OR

Pour mixture into a rectangle baking dish and wait till it has set. You can then cut it into slices and serve. OR

Pour mixture into rectangle baking dish and put in the fridge to set for a few hours. You can then cut into slices and either fry these or grill these. For extra crispiness coat them in flour and fry with a little oil.

You can try putting mushrooms, spring onions, tomatoes, spinach, feta, capsicum, sliced olives, garlic, zucchini or just about anything in with the polenta. Include this in the first step when all ingredients are combined before putting on the heat.

You can use polenta as a substitute to pasta in a lasagne. Its yummy topped with a tomato based sauce.

Chicken and Mushroom Pasta Bake

And another chicken pasta bake......



Serves 4

Get This -

350g short pasta
1 teaspoon oil
2 teaspoons butter
1 barbecued chicken (including stuffing)
1 medium brown onion, chopped
2 spring onions, finely sliced
200g button mushrooms, sliced
300mL cream
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
salt and pepper
1 cup grated tasty cheese

Do This -

1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Cook pasta in a large pan of boiling salted water until tender, drain and place in an 8cup ovenproof dish.
2. Heat oil and butter in large frying pan. Saute onion and mushroom until soft. 
3. Add white parts of spring onions (save green parts for garnish) and chopped stuffing and cook for another couple of minutes.  
   
4. Shred the chicken breasts from the barbecued chicken (remove the skin) and add to the pan.  Mix and season well with salt and pepper.
   
5. Mix cream and mustard in a separate bowl or jug.
   
6. Add everything to the baking dish and stir through. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake in moderate oven for about 20 minutes or until heated through and golden brown.
7. Serve with green spring onions sprinkled on top.
   

Bean Salad

I love cold salads in Summer.  This one is particularly yummy!

Serves 4

Get this -

430g can three-bean mix, rinsed, drained
1/2 small red onion, sliced very thinly
1 punnet cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup chopped fresh coriander
1 large lemon, juiced
Salt & freshly ground black pepper

Do this -

Place the beans, onion, tomatoes and coriander in a medium bowl. Add the lemon juice, season with salt and pepper, and toss to combine.

Honey Joys

I made these for a playgroup afternoon tea.  I'd almost forgotten how good they are!

Get this -

90g butter
1/3 cup sugar (I used raw sugar because it was the only sugar I had in the house)
1 tablespoon honey
4 cups corn flakes

Do this -

Preheat oven to 150C.
Put butter, sugar and honey in a saucepan and heat until sugar is melted and mixture bubbles.
Pour over corn flakes and mix until corn flakes are coated.
Spoon into 24 cupcake or 12 muffin papers.
Bake in oven for 12 minutes until golden.
Take out and let sit to cool.

Chicken and Asparagus Pasta Bake

This is a bit like the other pasta bake that I posted, but different.

Serves 4

Get This -

350g short pasta
1 barbecued chicken
1 medium brown onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed
2 bunches asparagus, trimmed, cut into 5cm pieces
300g sour cream
1/2 cup (125ml) chicken stock
1 1/2 cups grated tasty cheese
1/4 cup finely grated parmesan cheese

Do This -

1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Cook pasta in a large pan of boiling salted water until tender, drain and place in an 8cup ovenproof dish.
2. Heat oil in large frying pan. Saute onion and garlic until onion is soft.
3. Shred the chicken breasts from the barbecued chicken (remove the skin) and add to the pan.
4. Add asparagus, sour cream and stock, mix well. Season well with salt and pepper. Add pasta, combine well.
5. Add to the pasta in the baking dish and stir through. Sprinkle with combined cheeses. Bake in moderate oven for about 20 minutes or until heated through and golden brown.

Caesar Salad

I love caesar salads, but I hate those pre-packaged ones.  You may as well be eating cardboard, I think.  So here's my real do-it-yourself one.  I do buy a bottled dressing but if you get a really good one this salad tastes just as good as one from a cafe or restaurant.

Serves 2

Get this -

2 cos lettuce hearts
2 boiled eggs, quartered
2 bacon rashers
1 clove garlic
4 - 6 anchovy fillets
1 tablespoon capers
baguette
parmesan
bottled caesar salad dressing

Do this -

1. Cut baguette into slices, rub both sides with garlic, butter lightly or spray with oil and crisp in oven or in a sandwich press.
   
2. Separate lettuce leaves and place into a salad bowl.
3. Dice bacon and fry until crisp.
4. Sprinkle bacon, anchovies (chopped or whole) and capers over lettuce.
5. Drizzle with dressing and toss gently.
6. Arrange egg wedges and toasted croutons on top.
7. Shave parmesan over salad and serve.
   

TIP - Add cooked prawns or chopped barbecued chicken for a light summer dinner or heartier lunch.

Easy As Chips/Wedges/Potato Skins

WHAT YOU NEED

Washed potatoes, roughly 1 per person
salt
oil spray

WHAT TO DO

Preheat oven to 200oC.
Spray a baking tray with oil.
Pierce potatoes all over with a sharp knife then microwave them until tender.
Let cool slightly then cut the potatoes into wedges.
Slice skins off or leave them on, whatever you or your kids prefer.
Place wedges and skins onto a baking tray, give them a light spray with oil and sprinkle with salt.
Bake in oven for about 30 minutes or until golden.


Easy as!!  Enjoy! :)