Tuesday, April 09, 2013

Easy Muesli Slice

1/2 cup (125ml) honey
1/2 cup (130g) peanut butter
3/4 cup (120g) wholemeal self-raising flour
3/4 cup (65g) rolled oats
1/4 cup (10g) flaked coconut
1/3 cup (40g) finely chopped roasted hazelnuts
1/2 cup (80g) sultanas
1/4 cup (35g) finely chopped dried apricots
1/4 cup (20g) finely chopped dried apples
1/4 cup (50g) seeded finely chopped prunes
2 tbsp sunflower seed kernels
1 tbsp sesame seeds
2 eggs, beaten lightly

Preheat oven to 180°C.
Grease 19cm x 29cm rectangular slice pan, line base & 2 long sides with baking paper, extending paper 2cm above edge of pan.
Stir honey & peanut butter in medium saucepan over heat until combined.
Remove from heat & stir in remaining ingredients.
Spread over base of prepared pan & bake for 20 min.
Cool in pan before cutting.

Wednesday, March 06, 2013

Pasta Carbonara

Serves 4-6

4 rashers bacon or pancetta
1/3 cup cream
pinch paprika
1 egg
1 egg yolk, extra
60g grated parmesan cheese
30g softened butter
cracked black pepper
250g fettucine or tagliatelle

Cook pasta until al dente.
Meanwhile, remove rind from bacon & cut into thin strips.
Fry bacon in pan over low heat until crisp.
Drain off fat leaving 2tbsp approx.
Add cream & paprika, stirring until combined.
Place egg, egg yolk & 30g parmesan into bowl & beat until combined.
Toss pasta with butter over low heat until combined.
Add bacon-cream mixture & toss to combine.
Add egg mixture & toss to combine.
Season with pepper & serve sprinkled with remaining parmesan.

Monday, February 25, 2013

Butter Chicken

Serves 4


6 chicken thigh cutlets (on the bone)
2 tbsp ghee (or butter)
1 tbsp olive oil
250ml tomato puree (not paste)
1 tbsp sugar
125ml cream
1/2 cup fresh coriander, roughly chopped
marinade
1 chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 tsp chopped fresh ginger
3 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp paprika
½ tsp ground turmeric
1 tsp salt
½ tsp white pepper
½ tsp ground cardamom
½ tsp ground cinnamon
¼ tsp ground nutmeg
1/8 tsp ground cloves
½ tsp saffron strands, powdered

Puree all marinade ingredients in blender (not food processor).
Spread mixture over chicken.
In heavy pan or wok heat ghee & olive oil.
Add chicken & cook until browned.
Reduce heat & add tomato puree & sugar.
Stir & then cover pan to simmer for 15 min or until chicken is tender.
Add cream & stir gently.
Serve scattered with fresh coriander & accompanied by puris, naan and/or rice.

Wednesday, January 09, 2013

Quinoa Chilli Con Carne

Serves 6

2 tbsp olive oil
1 large onion, finely chopped
500g minced beef
3 cloves garlic
2tbsp dried oregano
2 tbsp ground cumin
1 tbsp ground paprika
1/2 - 1 tsp chilli powder
2 tbsp tomato paste
2x400g cans diced tomatoes
salt, to taste
1 cup water
1 1/2 cups quinoa, rinsed & drained
2 1/2 cups boiling water
2x400g cans red kidney beans, drained & rinsed
grated parmesan, to serve
chopped coriander, for garnish
sour cream, for garnish
avocado slices, for garnish

Heat oil in large, deep frypan & sauté onion until soft & golden.
Add beef & continue cooking until browned, breaking up any lumps.
Stir in garlic & cook for 30 sec until fragrant then add oregano, cumin, paprika & chilli & cook for 1 min.
Stir in tomato paste then add undrained tomatoes, salt & water.
Reduce heat, cover & simmer on low for 15 min.
Stir in quinoa & boiling water, cover & simmer for 20 min, stirring occasionally until quinoa is cooked.
Stir in red kidney beans & simmer on low for 5 min until beans are heated through and all flavours have combined.
Rest for 10 min before serving with sprinkling of grated parmesan, some fresh coriander, dollop of sour cream & slices of avocado.

Variation for kids:
Exclude chilli & salt. Garnishes - parmesan, coriander, sour cream & avocado - are optional.
Summer Eggnog

5 egg yolks
1/2 cup raw caster sugar
1 cup thickened cream
2 cups milk
3/4 cup bourbon or whiskey
1/4 cup rum
pinch of nutmeg
1 tsp vanilla essence
1/2 tsp extra nutmeg, for garnish

Whisk yolks with sugar until creamy & sugar begins to dissolve.
Add cream, milk & liquor & stir well to combine.
Stir in nutmeg & vanilla & chill for at least 2 hours.
Serve cold, over ice if desired, with a sprinkle of nutmeg.

Thursday, January 03, 2013

Easy Couscous Salad

Serves 4 as a side salad

1 cup couscous
1 cup vegetable stock
200g grape tomatoes, halved lengthways
1 Lebanese cucumber, halved lengthways, sliced
1 small avocado, peeled, cut into cubes
1/4 cup French dressing
sea salt & cracked black pepper

Place couscous in heatproof bowl.
Pour over boiling water & cover with foil.
Stand for 3 to 5 min or until water is absorbed.
Stir with fork to separate grains.
Allow to cool for 15 min.
Add tomatoes, cucumber & avocado.
Drizzle over dressing.
Season with salt & pepper.
Stir until well combined.

Thursday, December 06, 2012

Raw Carrot Dip

4 carrots, washed & trimmed
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tsp crushed garlic
pinch sea salt
1/2 cup raw cashews
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 tsp ground cumin

Soak cashews overnight in water then drain.
Blend all ingredients together to desired consistency.
Serve with vegies and crackers, if desired.

Monday, October 22, 2012

Easy Chargrilled Vegetable Lasagne

Serves 6

1 large eggplant, thinly sliced into rounds
2 zucchini, thinly sliced diagonally
canola or olive oil spray
500g smooth ricotta
500g cottage cheese
cracked black pepper
700g bottle passata
6 large instant lasagne sheets
500g jar chargrilled capsicum, drained & cut into small lengths
190g jar basil pesto
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
1/4 cup finely grated parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 180C.
Spray eggplant & zucchini with oil spray & chargrill over medium-high heat in batches until browned, then cool.
Mix ricotta, cottage cheese & pepper together in bowl.
Grease a medium baking dish with oil spray.
Pour 200g passata over base of dish & cover with 2 lasagne sheets.
Using 1/2 of vegetables, layer eggplant, then zucchini, then capsicum.
Spread over 1/2 of cheese mix, then 250g passata.
Layer again 2 lasagne sheets then remaining vegetables, cheese mix & passata.
Cover with last 2 lasagne sheets & spread over pesto.
Sprinkle over cheddar then parmesan cheeses.
Cover with foil & bake for 30 min.
Uncover & bake for further 15-20 min or until cheese is lightly browned & lasagne is cooked.
Enjoy with salad & your favourite red wine!

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Roast Pumpkin & Lentil Salad

Serves 4-6

1.5kg butternut pumpkin
sea salt
1-2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
3/4 cup quinoa*, rinsed & drained
1 1/2 cups water
2x400g cans brown lentils, rinsed & drained
1 medium red onion, finely sliced
4 spring onions (scallions), chopped
1/2 cup fresh coriander, chopped
dressing
1/2 tsp ground cumin seeds
zest & juice of 1 lemon
3-4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
sea salt & cracked black pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 190C & line baking tray with non-stick baking paper.
Peel & chop pumpkin into small pieces (~1cm cubes), season with little salt & drizzle with olive oil.
Baked until cooked & charred along edges (20-30 min), remove from oven & cool.
Meanwhile place quinoa in small saucepan with water, bring to boil, then reduce heat, cover & simmer for 10 min or until all water is absorbed.
Remove from heat & cool completely.
Place pumpkin & lentils in bowl; gently stir in quinoa, onion, spring onions & coriander.
To make dressing, mix all ingredients well, pour over salad & gently toss through.

*Quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) is an ancient seed native to the Andes Mountains. It is considered to be almost a complete food, being very high in protein, containing all 9 essential amino acids (the only known grain to do so), is full of vitamins, & is totally gluten-, wheat- & cholesterol-free. It is available from the health food aisle of the major supermarkets & many health food stores.

Grilled Thigh Fillets with Salsa Verde

Serves 4

8 chicken thigh fillets (880g)
salsa verde
1/2 cup coarsely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh mint
1/3 cup (80ml) olive oil
1/2 cup (125ml) lemon juice
1/4 cup (50g) rinsed, drained capers, chopped coarsely
8 anchovy fillets, drained, chopped coarsely
2 cloves garlic, crushed

Combine all ingredients of salsa verde.
Place 1/3 cup of salsa verde in medium bowl; add chicken, turning to coat in marinade.
Cook chicken on heated oiled grill plate, or grill or BBQ, until browned both sides & cooked through.
Serve topped with remaining salsa & potatoes cooked to your liking (mashed, smashed, boiled...).

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Ren's Magic Muffins

This one is straight from the lovely René, a fellow new mum, and can be used for sweet or savoury muffins.

Makes 9-10

base dry ingredients
1.5 cups self raising flour
If sweet: 1/2 cup sugar OR if savoury: 1 tbsp sugar (I use raw, low GI)
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

base wet ingredients
1 cup milk
If sweet: 1/4 cup canola oil OR if savoury: 1/4 cup olive oil
1 egg

additions
1 1/2 cups of lovely stuff, e.g. fresh fruit, dried fruit, chocolate, nuts, cheese, cooked veggies, whatever the 'title' of the muffin is.

Preheat oven to 200°C.
Grease 9-10 cups of a muffin tray or place paper muffin cups in tray.
Combine dry ingredients (base & dry additions e.g. nuts) in one bowl.
Combine wet ingredients (base & wet additions e.g. fresh fruit) in another bowl.
Mix wet & dry ingredients.
Spoon batter into muffin cups 2/3 full.
Bake 20-30 min until golden brown.
Enjoy!

My favourite combo is capsisum & feta - I chop up little squares of red, yellow & green capsicums (frying them in a bit of olive oil & herbs & adding them in step 4) & one biggish cube of feta per muffin. I don't add the feta in step 4, but instead place them into the muffins in step 6 to be sure everyone gets one!
I like to sprinkle sesame seeds on top if making the capsicum/feta muffins - I do this between steps 6 & 7.