Caramel Popcorn

Last week we went to a country show and my boy tried caramel popcorn for the first time. He LOVED it. When I told him I thought I could make it his eyes lit up like the fireworks we watched that night! So tonight, I found this recipe on Taste.com.au and made some. It is soooo good! We've packed some to take to the movies tomorrow.

Makes 14 cups

Get This -

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup popping corn

Caramel

125g butter, chopped

3/4 cup white sugar

2 tablespoons honey

Do This -

1. Line a tray with baking paper. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add 2 pieces of popping corn. If corn slowly turns around in a circle then oil is hot enough.
2. Add remaining popping corn. Cover with a tight-fitting lid. When corn starts popping, shake saucepan gently. Remove from heat when corn stops popping. Transfer to a large bowl, discarding any unpopped corn.
3. Make caramel: Combine butter, sugar and honey in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring, for 5 to 7 minutes or until sugar has dissolved. Bring mixture to the boil. Boil, uncovered, without stirring, for 5 to 8 minutes or until light golden.
4. Remove from heat. Pour caramel mixture over popcorn and stir until popcorn is coated. Spread over prepared tray. Set aside to cool. Break into pieces. Serve.

Pikelets

Pikelets are great for a Sunday breakfast, or morning tea when someone drops in.
Some people like them with sugar sprinkled on top. *gag*
My kids like them with honey or syrup.
I quite like them with jam & cream.
But being a savoury person, my favourite topping is butter and grated Romano cheese!

makes 25

If you can remember "1", you will always remember this recipe!

Get This -

1 cup (150g) self-raising flour

1 tbs caster sugar

1 cup (250ml) milk

1 egg

1 pinch of salt

Melted butter, to brush, plus extra knobs to serve

Do This -

1. Sift flour and sugar together into a bowl with a pinch of salt.
2. Whisk milk and egg together, then add to dry ingredients, whisking until smooth.
3. Heat a non-stick fry pan over medium heat and brush with a little melted butter. Drop level tablespoonfuls of the mixture into the pan and cook for half a minute or until bubbles appear on the surface.
4. Turn over and cook other side for 1 minute until golden.
5. Allow to cool and serve with butter, and whatever else takes your fancy.

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! :)

4 Ingredients - Too Easy Chicken Nuggets

Too easy is right!! These are so easy, and so yummy.
Miss 4 gobbled them up and asked for more.

As the title suggests, I found these on the 4 Ingredients website.

serves 2 - 4

Get This -

2 chicken breasts, cut into bight size pieces
1 cup(120g) breadcrumbs
1cup (125g) organic mayonnaise
1 tbsp. butter, melted


Do This -

1. Preheat oven to 180C.
2. Coat chicken with mayonnaise and roll in breadcrumbs.
3. Lay on a baking paper lined baking tray.
4. Drizzle with a little butter and bake for 20 minutes.

I didn't even use the butter, so it was only 3 ingredients and a winner!

Julie Goodwin's Cheesy Tuna Pies

Just for a change - photo by ME!

Serves 4

Prep time - 10 minutes
Cooking time - 25 minutes

Get This -

1 x 375g packet macaroni
50g butter
1 medium carrot, diced small

1 brown onion, diced

1 cup frozen baby peas

1 tin corn kernels

1/4 cup plain flour

1 1/2 cups milk

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

1 cup grated tasty cheese

425g tin tuna in brine, drained

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper

1 cup fresh bread crumbs

Olive oil spray

Do This -

1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees Celsius (180 degrees Celsius fan forced).
2. In a large pot of rapidly boiling, salted water, cook the pasta to packet directions. Drain.
3. In a large pot over medium heat, melt the butter and add the carrot and onion. Saute gently until the carrots are soft. Add the peas and corn.
4. Sprinkle in the flour and stir to coat all the vegetables well.
5. Pour in 1/2 cup milk and stir until it is all incorporated and starting to form a thick, doughy sauce. Add another half a cup and repeat. Add the last of the milk and cook for a minute more, stirring.
6. Toss in the mustard and cheese and stir until the cheese has melted. Add the tuna; break up any huge lumps but don't stir too much after this or the tuna will disintegrate and become mushy. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
7. Stir the pasta gently through and divide between 4 ramekins or small pie dishes. Sprinkle breadcrumbs over the top and give a little spray of olive oil.
8. Bake for 15 minutes or until the top is golden brown and crunchy.

Hokkien Noodles with Prawns

Image and (tweaked) recipe from Taste.com.au

Serves 4

Get This -

450g thin hokkien noodles
1 1/2 tsp vegetable oil
300g green prawn cutlets
1 garlic clove, crushed
400g fresh stir-fry vegetables
2 tbs kecap manis
2 tbs fresh lemon or lime juice
1/2 cup fresh basil leaves

Do This -

1. Place the noodles in a large heatproof bowl and cover with boiling water. Set aside for 2 minutes or until tender. Drain.
2. Heat a large wok over high heat. Add 2 teaspoons of the oil and heat until smoking. Stir-fry the prawns and garlic for 2 minutes or until they change colour. Transfer to a plate.
3. Heat the remaining oil in the wok. Add the vegetables and stir-fry for 4-5 minutes or until tender crisp.
4. Add the noodles, kecap manis and lemon juice to the wok. Return the prawn mixture to the wok and add the basil. Toss until combined and heated through.

Beef & Vegetable Korma

This curry is a perfect winter warmer, and so simple! All you need is time to let it simmer.

Serves 4

Get This -

1 tablespoon olive oil

600g diced beef

1/2 jar korma paste (I used Patak's)

1 onion, diced

2 carrots, peeled, chopped

2 zucchinis, chopped

150g cauliflower, cut into small florets

3/4 cup (200g) Greek-style natural yogurt

1/2 cup roughly chopped fresh coriander

Steamed rice, to serve

Cooked pappadums or naan bread, to serve

Do This -

1. Heat half the oil in a large saucepan over high heat. Add half the beef and cook stirring 1-2 minutes or until browned. Transfer to a bowl. Repeat with remaining oil and beef.
2. Add onions to the pan and saute until lightly browned.
3. Return the beef to the pan and add the korma paste, vegetables and 1/2 cup (90g) of the yogurt. Bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered for 2 or more hours.
4. Reserve 1 tablespoon of the chopped coriander and stir the remaining coriander through the curry. Spoon the curry onto the rice and sprinkle with the remaining coriander. Serve with the remaining yogurt and pappadums or naan.

Note - you can add any vegetables you have or like to this curry.

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.

Bacon & Cheese Mini Muffins

from Taste.com.au

Makes 30

Get This -

1 tablespoon olive oil

4 short-cut bacon rashers, finely chopped

2 cups self-raising flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

2 tablespoons caster sugar

1/4 cup coarsely grated cheddar cheese

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup extra light olive oil

1/4 cup light sour cream

2 eggs

Do This -

1. Preheat oven to 200°C. Lightly grease a 12 x 1 1/2-tablespoon (30ml) capacity mini muffin pan.
   
2. Heat oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add bacon. Cook, stirring, for 6 minutes or until bacon is crisp. Drain. Allow to cool.
   
3. Sift flour and baking powder into a bowl. Stir in sugar, cheese and bacon. Whisk milk, oil, sour cream, eggs and pepper in a jug. Add to dry ingredients. Use a metal spoon to combine.
   
4. Spoon mixture into muffin holes to almost fill them. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre of a muffin comes out clean. Stand for 5 minutes in pan before turning onto a wire rack. Repeat with remaining mixture. Serve warm or at room temperature.

From Taste.com.au and tweaked a little.