single meals

Baking-Pumpkin Spinach and Feta Pizza

2012-04-27T13:14:00.000+10:00

After a crazy shoot in Victoria, I was so happy that the Easter holiday had arrived. I joined in on the Cosh family trip to the Barossa. They have a cute Bed and Breakfast in Tanunda call the Tin house. I must admit that one of my favourite things I get to do there is having fires at night. No need for a jacket when I get one roaring.

Tanunda is in South Australia, a beautiful wine region. It has great little hidden treasures, finding them is half the fun. My parents told me that our family has a vineyard, friends in the area helped me find it. Sadly its closed.

When you head to the Barossa you have to make a plan and stick to it there is so much to do. Breakfast at the markets, where you will find amazing products for the area. Maggie Beers Pheasant Farm, if you are lucky you can book a cooking class. Pretzels from the Tanunda bakery, Metwurst from Hahndorf. As well as many restaurants and wineries.

Our first day was Good Friday and we were also celebrating Linda's birthday. The Laycock family were hosting a celebration for Linda at their beautiful home which is surrounded by their vines. They supply St Hallett grapes for their Blackwell Shiraz. The Barossa is well know for their bold body Shiraz and this one is a must try! Jeff also has his own label Debarcle a Barossa hidden treasure :)

The Laycock's family home is well know for hosting fantastic gatherings. The home is surrounded by rolling hills full of grape vines. Jeff is also a well know wood fire pizza oven builder and of course they have one at their home. Parties consist of everyone gathered around the kitchen island creating masterpieces. Here is one of my favourites.

Ingredients-

1 1/2 teaspn dried yeast

1 1/2 teaspn caster sugar (dough)

1/3 cup warm water

1 cup flour (dough)

1 TBLspn olive oil

1/3 cup flour (kneading)

Salt and pepper

Olive oil spray

10 slices of peeled pumpkin

2teaspn crushed garlic

75g danish feta

1cup spinach leaves

2teaspn olive oil-to brush the pizza with when cooked


Most fruit and veg shops sell pumpkin wedges. This recipe uses half of this piece.

Method-

*Preheat oven 180'c

1. Mix the sugar, yeast and warm water together and sit to the side

*NOTE DO NOT USE HOT WATER this will kill the yeast

2.Put the flour, olive oil, 1/2 teaspn of salt and pepper in a mixing bowl

3. Mix the flour and yeast mix together for 2 min, the dough ball will be sticky when you are done

4. Cover with a wet towel and set aside for 10 min

5. Flour down your bench and put your dough ball on the floured surface

6. Knead for 2 min, then rest for5 min

7.Spray pumpkin with olive oil spray and season with salt and pepper

8.Roast for 15 min

9. Roll out with a floured rolling pin

10. Spray you oven tray with oil

11. Lay your dough on the tray

12. Lay spinach leaves down

13.Arrange pumpkin on the pizza

14.Crumble feta on

15.Bake for 17min

16.Brush the edges with olive oil

17.Cut into wedges and enjoy :)

Braising-Slow cooked Ham Hock- two ways

2012-04-26T18:07:00.000+10:00

When Tour de Cure finished I had a quick break then I headed back to Victoria. Thornton to be precise. The rest of the Canadian Kitchen team was working hard on a new TV show call the Frontier.

My new home was in the Thornton Caravan park which was right up the road from a trout farm. I will admit I was like a child who was fishing for their first time. Eventually I figured out what I was doing and I caught my first trout :)

My Canadian bosses are awesome foodies and before you know it Linda had found the best places in the area for us to dine on our day off. The Tea Rooms at Yarck were amazing, I didn't eat that night or breakfast the next day, SO MUCH FOOD :-0
Ruffy Road Produce Store was a blast, even the fruit trees in the garden proved to be great entertainment for Juno who's 3. Why buy a apple when the one above our table taste so much better.

Da Noi in South Yarra's country restaurant


The Produce Store had fantastic deserts

On the last day of shoot I got to do Braised ham hock for the crew so here are two ways you can do it.
These two recipes together will use one braised ham hock.

First you need to braise the ham hock-

Ingredients-
1 smoked ham hock(you can find these in the deli section of your supermarket)
2 small brown onions diced
2 medium tomatoes diced
1teaspn minced garlic
1teaspn salt
1teaspn cracked pepper
2TBLspn maple syrup
1/4cup water
alfoil

Method-
1.Preheat oven 170'c
2.Place ham hock, onion, tomato, garlic, salt, pepper, maple syrup and water in a oven proof dish
3.Cover with alfoil
4.Braise in oven for 2 hours

5.Remove from the oven

6.Remove the ham hock from the liquid
7.Dispose of the bone and knuckle
8.Rough dice up the meat-you can dice the skin. I prefer to use half of it
9.Return the meat back into the braising liquid
10.Continue to braise for 30 min
11.The meat is now ready to be used

Ham & Tomato Fettuccini

Ingredients-

1ltr water

1teaspn table salt

1TBLspn olive oil

75g fettuccini

1/2 cooked braised ham hock mix

5 leaves basil thinly sliced

1TBLspn shaved Parmesan

10 leaves rocket

Method-

1.Place water, salt and oil in a pot and bring to the boil

2.Cook fettuccini- make sure you stir to make sure the pasta does not stick

3.Strain the pasta

4.In a mixing bowl place pasta, ham, basil, and parmesan

5.Toss

6.Serve in a bowl topped with rocket

7.Enjoy :)

Ham and Bread Pudding

Ingredients-

1 crusty bread roll diced

3 eggs

2TBLspn cream

2TBLspn Parmesan

1/2 ham hock mix

4 basil leaves

8 spinach leaves

Salt and pepper

Grease proof paper

Method-

-Preheat the oven at 170'c

1.Whisk egg and cream together

2.Add the bread and allow to soak for 3 min

3.Add ham, parmesan, basil, spinach, salt and pepper

4.Mix thoroughly

5.Line a small cake tin with grease proof paper

6.Put the bread mix onto the tin

7.Cover with alfoil bake for 30 min

8.Remove the alfoil and bake for a further 40 min

9.Cool down for 20 min then remove from the tin cut into wedges enjoy :)

Great when served with creme fraiche :)

Breaky-Bircher Muesli

2012-04-26T14:34:00.000+10:00

This year I was lucky enough to be asked to cater for a cancer fund raising group, TOUR DE CURE. They are a amazing group of people who ride their bike to raise money and awareness for cancer. This ride went from Geelong down to Warrnambool then we came up the Great Ocean Road finishing at Torquay.

I am always amazed by the passionate people who undertake such huge experience. Its not just a group of people who jump on the push bike to raise money, its the amazing journey the ride takes you on. This ride focused on getting help to remote areas in Victoria. They raised $100,000 on this ride which will go to a number of causes. Flying doctors for fuel, putting people in schools so children can deal with cancer and donating to medical research hoping one day we can find a cure.

Everyday the bike riders stopped at schools to inspire children to be fit, be healthy and be happy. Not only is it a bike ride but they stop and listen to those people who their ride will effect. This gives the riders the inspiration they need to ride when they feel they can go no longer.

Being on the support team for TDC will keep you on your toes. We make sure that all they have to focus on is the ride and the experience. We feed, hydrate, keep them safe and care for their well being when they are on the ride. Lisa, Shani, Paul, Emma, Brendon and Sam I had a blast on this ride with you :)

One of the favourite dishes on the ride is Bircher muesli. It is low GI, a slower burning fuel for the riders as well as it taste yummy. I was asked many times on the ride for its recipe so here it is.

Ingredients-

Soak-

1 cup rolled oats

2TBLspn Greek yogurt

2teaspn maple syrup

Zest of 1 orange

Juice of 2 oranges

1/3 cup apple juice

1 cup milk

1 apple grated

Finish-

1TBLspn whipped cream

1TBLspn toasted shaved almonds

2teaspn toasted coconut threads

1. Soak the oats with yogurt, maple syrup, OJ, zest, apple juice, milk and grated apple

2. Cover and refrigerate overnight

3. Fold the whipped cream through the oat mix

4. Serve topped with almonds and coconut

5. Enjoy :-)

Chocolate-Rocky Road

2012-04-18T11:42:00.000+10:00

Everyone loves Rocky Road, its a great treat I love to make for my friends as you can use their favourite lollies to make it extra special. A couple of my friends have been taking care of Bruce my Budgie :) So i whipped up a batch to say thanks!

I haven't been able to do a blog for a while as I have been on the road with my job. One of my employers is Canadian Kitchen. It is a location catering company, so every now and then I have to hit the road and go to remote towns which means no internet.

So for the last 7 weeks I have been on a few adventures which you will hear about in my next few blogs.
But as they say there's no place like home, so coming home and cooking in my own kitchen is like heaven :)
For Angela I made her Rolo milk chocolate rocky road.

Christian loves dark chocolate so I made him a cherry ripe version.

Ingredients

375g chocolate
50g marshmallows
150g raspberry lollies
50g moist coconut flakes
100g rolo/cherry ripe

note- you can change the lollies and chocolate types to suit your needs
I prefer to use the moist coconut flakes as it has a better texture and sweeter flavour.

Method-

1. In a dry microwave safe bowl break up the chocolate up into bite size pieces and put on for 1 min
2. Stir chocolate around and the microwave for 1 min

3.Add the rest of the ingredients into the bowl and mix

note- with the cherry ripe version I chopped the cherry ripe bar into bite size pieces

4.Scoop your mix into muffin trays

note- I used the silicone version you can use the metal tray as well

5.Refrigerate for one hour
6.Remove from the trays

7.Cut into quarters and enjoy :)

Lunch- Slow Cooked Pork Bun

2012-02-04T09:25:00.000+10:00

Ingredients-

Olive oil spray
1 pork chop
1/2 small red onion
1TBLspn jalapeno
1TBLspn Dijon mustard
1teaspn crushed garlic
1/2teaspn cayenne
1 cup red wine vinegar
1Tblspn BBQ sauce
1/2teaspn Salt and Pepper
Fresh crusty roll
Butter
Aoili
Mixed salad leaves

1. Preheat the oven at 160'c
2. Blend onion, jalapeno, mustard, garlic, cayenne, vinegar, BBQ, salt and pepper
3. Oil a oven proof dish
4. Put chop in the dish cover with the blended marinade

5. Cover with foil and bake for 90 min
6. Remove chop from the juices
7. Cut off the bone and the fat
8. Rough cut the pork

9. Put meat back in the juices
10. Cut bread in half
11. Butter roll
12. Spread aoili on the roll
13. Lay mixed leaves

14. Remove meat from the juices
15. Place meat on the bun
16. Enjoy :)

Meat- Osso Bucco

2012-02-04T08:28:00.000+10:00

Ingredients-
1teaspn Olive oil
1teaspn crushed garlic
2 pieces of Osso bucco (beef)
Salt and Pepper
1 sachet tomato paste
1 carrot chunky diced
1 stalk celery diced
1/2 red onion chunky dice
1TBLspn strawberry jam
100g chunky diced tomato
1/4 cup butter beans
1/2 cup spinach leaves
7 sugar snap peas

1. Preheat your oven 160'c
2. Pan fry the garlic in oil
3. Coast the meat with tomato paste
4. Brown your meat

5. Add carrot, celery, onion, jam, tomato, salt and pepper to the pan
6. Cover with foil then bake for 1 hour
7. Remove the meat and half of the veggies from the pan
8. Blend the remaining veggies and juices

9. Put the meat and veggies back in the sauce
10. Add beans, peas and spinach
11. Cover with lid for 4 min
12. Serve and enjoy :)

Meat-Thai Beef Salad

2012-01-22T19:35:00.000+10:00

Ingredients-

2TBLspn flaked almonds
1 egg yolk
1/2 of a lemon juice
1/2 of a lime juice
1 teaspn Dijon mustard
1/2 small chili chopped
Salt and pepper
1/2teaspn sesame oil
1/2teaspn olive oil
100g lean steak
1/2teaspn olive oil- for cooking
1 cup spinach leaves
3 cherry tomato cut in half
1/4 bell capsicum sliced
5 slices of cucumber
1/4 red onion sliced

1. Preheat your oven at 180'c
2. Put your almonds in a pan then toast for 7 min in the oven
3. In a bowl mix the egg yolk, mustard and the juices
4. Add the oils and chill and mix

5. Add salt and pepper to the dressing mix then set aside
6. Cool the almonds
7. Season the meat
8. Turn your frying pan on high add the cooking oil
9. Seal the steak making it golden brown on both sides then rest on chopping board

10. In a mixing bowl place the spinach, cucumber, tomato, onion, capsicum and the almonds
11. Mix the dressing through
12. Place the salad on your plate
13. Slice your steak and lay on the plate
14. Enjoy :)

Poultry- Spiced chicken with a tortilla salad

2012-01-01T17:16:00.000+10:00

Ingredients-

1 Small tortilla
Olive oil spray
1 TBLspn olive oil- cooking
1 TBLspn bush spice
1 TBLspn corn flour
1 Egg
3 Chicken tenderloins
1 Small capsicum
1/4 Avocado
1/2 Cup mixed salad leaves
1/2 Lime
1 teaspn honey
Salt and pepper
1 teaspn olive oil- salad

1. Preheat oven to 200'c
2. Spray a small oven proof bowl with oil
3. Lay the tortilla in the bowl spray it with oil
4. Weigh down the tortilla with a smaller oven proof bowl and cook for 10 min in the oven
5. Put the olive oil in a frying pan and start to heat the pan

6. On a plate mix the bush spice and corn flour
7. In a small bowl beat the egg
8. Coat each tenderloin with the spice mix
9. Dip the tenderloins in the egg mix
10. Coat the tenderloins in the spice mix again

11. Fry the chicken until cooked

12. Pull the tortilla out of the oven and cool

13. Slice the capsicum and dice the avocado

14. Put the tortilla shell on the plate and layer the leaves, capsicum and avocado

15. Salt and pepper the salad, then drizzle with the olive oil

16. Arrange the chicken on the plate

17. Drizzle honey on the chicken

18. When you are ready to eat it squeeze the lime over the salad then enjoy :)

Baking- Margherita pizza

2011-12-31T18:55:00.000+10:00

Ingredients-

100ml diced tomato
2 small onions sliced
10 basil leaves
3 cloves of garlic
1/2 teaspn caster sugar (sauce)
1/2 teaspn hot sauce
1 1/2 teaspn dried yeast
1 1/2 teaspn caster sugar (dough)
1/3 cup warm water
1 cup flour (dough)
1 TBLspn olive oil
1/3 cup flour (kneading)
Salt and pepper
Olive oil spray
1/3 cup grated mozzarella

1. Preheat the oven to 170'c
2. In a oven proof dish put the tomato, garlic, onion, sugar, basil, hot sauce, 1/3 tea salt and pepper
3.Cover and put in oven for 40 min

4. Mix the sugar, yeast and warm water together and sit to the side
*NOTE DO NOT USE HOT WATER this will kill the yeast
5.Put the flour, olive oil, 1/2 teaspn of salt and pepper in a mixing bowl
6. Mix the flour and yeast mix together for 2 min, the dough ball will be sticky when you are done
7. Cover with a wet towel and set aside for 10 min
8. Flour down your bench and put your dough ball on the floured surface
9. Knead for 2 min, then rest for5 min

10. Roll out with a floured rolling pin
11. Spray you oven tray with oil
12. Lay your dough on the tray
13. Remove the tomato mix from the oven and turn the oven to 200'c

14. Blend the tomato mix
*NOTE IF YOU ARE USING A DRINK BLENDER LIKE I DID HOLD THE LID DOWN AND PULSE otherwise you will be cleaning up the sauce from all over your kitchen :)
15. Spoon the mix onto your pizza
16. Cover with cheese
17. Bake for 16 min
18. Rest for 10 min cut then enjoy :)

Snack- Cheese Souffle

2011-12-31T11:35:00.000+10:00

Ingredients-

Olive oil spray
1TBLspn polenta
1 1/2 TBLspn butter
1 1/2 TBLspn plain flour
1/3 cup milk
1/4 cup cheese
1 TBLspn mustard
1/2 teaspn hotsauce
10 leaves of basil sliced thinnly
1 egg seperated
Salt and pepper

1.Take you egg out and let it come to room temperature
2. Preheat your oven to 200'c
3. Use a oven proof dish that holds 1 1/2 cup, spray it with oil then put the polenta in and shake it around tap out excess
4.Melt butter
5. Add flour keep on the heat stirring for 2 min

6.Add cheese, mustard, hotsauce, basil, egg yolk, salt and pepper and stir well take off the heat
7.Whisk the egg whites to a soft peak

8.Fold half of the eggwhite mix through the cheese mix
9. Fold through the second half
10.Spoon the mix into the prepared dish
11. Cook for 25 min
12. Enjoy :) add a little salad if you want it for a main meal

Meat- Lamb shanks with sweet potato mash

2011-12-16T14:49:00.000+10:00

Ingredients-

2 aussie lamb shanks
3 sml onions
1 sml carott
2 stalks of celery
1 leggo sachet tomato paste
1 TBLspn olive oil
1 1/2 teaspn crushed garlic
1 campbells real beef stock = 1 1/2 cups of stock
2 TBLspn cranberry sauce
1 tomato
Salt and pepper
Baking paper
Alfoil
1 sml sweet potato
10 snow peas

1. Preheat oven at 160'c
2. My shanks had 1 1/2 inch of bone at the top of the shank cut separate from the base so I now remove the bone from this top section but still leaving the meat attached to the bottom
3. Put the oil in a pan on high
4. Rub the shanks with the tomato paste

5. Brown the outside of the shanks
6. Large dice the onion, carrot, celery and tomato
7. Add the stock, onion, celery, carrot, tomato, cranberry and then season with salt and pepper

8.Cover the meat with baking paper
9. Cover with alfoil
10. Bake for 90 min
11. Turn over the shanks and cook for another 30 min
12. Peel sweet potato and dice into 1cm by 1cm cubes
13. Put a pot of hot water on with sweet potato cook for 15 min

14. Remove the top and tail of the sweet potato
15. Strain the sweet potato
16. Put the pot of water back onto boil
17. Mash the sweet potato then add salt and pepper
18. Remove the shanks from the oven

19. Set the shanks to the side
20. Put the veg and juices in to a pot and blend
21. When water is boiling cook the snow peas for 30 sec
22. Strain the snow peas

23. In a bowl stack the mash
24. Lay the shanks on the mash
25. Set the snow peas beside the mash
26. Spoon sauce over the shanks
27. Enjoy :)

Note- There is a lot of the sauce left this can be kept for gravy

Baking - Hot chocolate covered cookies

2011-12-14T19:32:00.001+10:00

Ingredients-

65gr soft butter

1/3 cup caster sugar

1/2 tea vanilla essence

1 egg

1 1/4 cup flour

1 tea baking powder

1 TBLspn milk

20g drinking chocolate powder

Oil spray

Baking paper

1. Preheat the oven at 180'c

2. Cream the butter and sugar

3. While whipping add the vanilla

4. Next whip in the egg

5.Mix in flour, baking powder and the milk

6. Spray a baking tray then put the baking paper on top

7. Roll the dough into a small ball 3cm across

8. Roll the ball in the chocolate

9. Put onto the baking tray and press down to make it flat

10. Bake in the oven for 12 min

11. Cool down for 3 min

12. Enjoy with a cold glass of milk :)

Poultry- Chicken and chilli spaghetti

2011-12-14T19:29:00.000+10:00

Ingredients-

1 ltr water 2teaspn salt
1TBLspn olive oil for pasta water
150gr spaghetti
3 chicken tenterloins
2 teaspn olive oil
1 tea garlic
1/2 bell chilli
30 ml white wine
1 lemon juiced
60 ml cream
1 egg
1 TBLspn parmesan cheese
salt and pepper

1.Put water salt and oil in pot to cook pasta and put on high heat
2.When the water is boiling add pasta and stir
3.Put a frying pan on high heat with olive oil
4.Slice the chilli and shallots

5.Chop up the chicken about 2 cm pieces
6.Fry the garlic and chilli
7.Add the chicken and brown
8.Strain the spaghetti when it is cooked

9.Deglaze the chicken pan with wine
10.Add the lemon juice to the chicken
11.Add the cream and reduce for 2 min
12.When the sauce is bubbling add the egg and stir quickly to thicken the sauce
13.Remove from the heat
14.Add the cheese and pasta to the sauce
15.Add salt and pepper
16.Lightly fold the sauce through the pasta
17.Bowl up and enjoy :)

Meat- Slow cooked beef quesadillas

2011-12-13T09:08:00.000+10:00

Ingredients-

1 brown onion
1/2 TBLspn chopped garlic
500gr diced beef
1/2 teaspn cayenne pepper
12 cherry tomatoes or 1 cup of crushed tomato
1 old el paso taco mix
1 tea salt
1/2 beer
2 small capiscums
Grated cheese
Jalapenos
6 mission white corn tortillas
Sour cream to serve

1. Preheat the oven at 180'c

2. Dice onion

3. Put beef, onion, garlic, tomatoes, taco spice, cayenne, salt and 1/2 beer in a oven proof dish and mix together

4. Cover dish with foil then put in the oven for 90 min

5.Remove the dish from the oven stir then put back into the oven for 40 min

6. Slice the capscums

7. Turn on a sandwich grill

8. First put the bottom tortilla on the grill

9. Layer the cheese, beef, capsicum and jalapenos

10. Add the top tortilla then grill for 2 min

11. Remove from the grill then allow to cool for 1 min

12. Cut in half and serve with sour cream

13. Enjoy !!

Dessert- Pavlova with cherries and blueberries

2011-12-08T21:04:00.001+10:00

Ingredients-

1 Egg white
1/4 cup caster sugar
Canola oil spray
Baking paper
1/4 cup thickened cream
7 cherries
12 blueberries
1 teaspn honey

1. Preheat oven 160'c
2. Put the egg white and the sugar in a mixing bowl
3. Whip egg white mix until they are stiff peaks

4.Spray a oven tray with oil then lay the baking paper on top ( the spray will prevent the paper moving when you are cooking the pavlova)
5.Make a 1 inch high mound of the egg white mix
6.Cook for 45 min on the top shelf then turn off the oven and sit for 20 min

7.Wash the cherries and remove the stems
8.Run a knife around the cherry seed
9.Twist off one side
10.Cut under the cherry pit then remove it

11.Whip the cream, I used a milk frother :)
12.Place the pavlova on a plate
13.Top the pavlova with cream

14.Layer the cherries and blueberries
15.Drizzle with honey
16. Enjoy :)

Snack- Chicken Fried Rice

2011-12-06T21:08:00.001+10:00

Ingredients-
Olive oil spray
1/3 cup Jasmine rice
150ml room temp water
1/4 teaspn salt for cooking rice
1/2 teaspn butter
2 crushed garlic cloves
1 onion sliced
1/2 sml carrot grated
100gr chicken diced or 2 tenderloins diced
2 mushrooms sliced
1 egg
1/2 TBLspn sesame oil
1/2 cup frozen peas
1 1/2 TBLspn soy sauce
1 teaspn hot sauce/ tabasco or if you don't like a little heat use 1 teaspn sweet chilli sauce

1.Preheat oven to 200'c
2.Spray you oven pan with oil spray
3.Add rice, water, butter, salt and garlic
3. Cover with alfoil then cook for 30 min, then turn off the oven and sit for 10 min

4.Slice the onion, mushroom, then grate the carrot
5. Remove the rice when finishing resting from the oven, and remove foil
6. Fluff the rice with a folk
7.Crack your egg into the warm rice then fold quickly

8.Spray your frying pan with oil then heat on high
9.Add the sesame oil, then fry off the onions
10. Add the chicken and mushrooms and cook
11. Add the rice and peas
12. Add the soy sauce and the hot sauce
13.Pan fry for 2 min
14. Plate and enjoy :)

Poultry- Chicken Parmigiana with a Summer Salad

2011-12-05T19:43:00.001+10:00

Ingredients-
1 rasher of bacon         Olive oil spray
1 chicken breast 1 egg
1 teaspn milk               1/4 teaspn of salt
1/4 teaspn pepper      1/2 cup shredded parmesan
1 TBLspn olive oil for cooking the chicken
1 Tblspn pesto- I like to use Wattle Valley chunky dips from Woolworths
1 roma tomato    1/4 red onion
50g spinach leaves washed and stems removed
1/2 sml capsicum    1 tea balsamic vinegar
1 tea olive oil for dressing

1. Preheat the oven to 200'c
2.Spray a frying pan with the olive oil spray the fry the bacon rasher and set aside
3.Whisk together the milk, egg and 1/4 teasp salt and 1/4 teasp pepper in a bowl

4.Put the frying pan back onto a high heat add the cooking olive oil
5.Put the parmesan cheese in a flat bowl
6.Dip the chicken into the egg mixture make sure the whole breast is dipped into the mixture
7.Quickly now coat the chicken in the parmesan cheese

8.Make sure the pan is hot when you place the chicken in
9.Brown both sides of the chicken then remove from the heat
10.Remove the top and the bottom of the tomato, then slice into 4 equal pieces

11.Spoon the pesto onto the chicken
12.Lay the bacon on next
13. Lay the tomato slices on then cook in the oven for 18 min
14.Slice the capiscum
15.Dice the red onion

16.Mix the balsamic vinegar and the olive oil together for the dressing
17.Layer the spinach, capsicum and the red onion
18.Drizzle the dressing over the salad
19.When the chicken is cooked add to the plate then enjoy :)

Tips- Buying Pots and Frying Pans

2011-12-05T14:41:00.001+10:00

When you decide its time to shop for pots and frying pans and you go to a store this is where it seems a little tricky???

So many choices, make buying any kitchen equipment a little daunting.

My first tip for buying pans is always buy one with a metal handle, this means you can use it in the oven.

This also means you don't have to buy extra oven trays.

Secondly make sure you get one with a good solid base, and is made of a solid metal. The pot/pan should have some weight to it.

Thirdly a metal lid also means you can use it in the oven as well

-Remember you don't have to purchase a whole set, one frying pan and a good size pot is a great start to your kitchen!!!!

-Also talk to the people you are buying them from, most of them have tried the products.

-Go to a kitchen store as they will have a better range and are more likely to sell products individually

Meat- Lamb cutlets with mushy peas

2011-12-05T13:13:00.001+10:00

Ingredients-
1 1/2 cup of water
1 teaspn of table salt
olive oil spray
3 lamb cutlets
1 1/2 cup of frozen peas
Salt and pepper to season the lamb

1.Put water and table salt in a pot and put on the stove on high
2.Preheat oven at 180'c
3.Spray a frying pan with oil then put on high heat
4.Season the lamb cutlets with salt and pepper
5.Seal the cutlets in the frying pan then cook in the oven for 5 min

6.When the water is boiling it is time to cook the peas. Cook for 4 min then remove from the heat
7. Remove the cutlets from the pan
8.Put 3 TBLspns of the water from the peas into the cutlet pan
9.Strain the rest of the water from the peas, then put the peas into the cutlet pan
10.Now put the peas and water into a blender then blend for 60 sec
11.Plate up and enjoy

Salad- Prawn and Avocado Salad

2011-12-04T20:53:00.001+10:00

Ingredients-

7 cooked king prawns
70g spinach leaves
1/4 continental cucumber
1/2 small capiscum
8 mixed cherry tomatoes
1/2 avocado
1/4 red onion
1/2 lemon
1 tea tomato sauce
1 tea aioli or mayo
1/4 tea salt
1/4 tea pepper

1. Remove the head from the prawn, then remove the shell from the tail and last remove the vein
2.Wash the spinach leaves and then remove the stems from the leaves
3.Slice the cucumbers, capsicum, cherry tomatoes
4.Small dice the avocado and the onion

5.Squeeze the juice of the lemon into a bowl
6.Add the tomato sauce and the aioli to the juice and mix together for the dressing
7.In a bowl put all of your ingredients, add the salt and pepper, and then add the dressing
8.Mix lightly and then place in the bowl and eat :)

Meat- Roast Lamb with roast sweet potato, asparagus and tomato and onion sauce

2011-12-03T18:33:00.001+10:00

Ingredients-

300gr small roast lamb butterflied (not rolled) or 300g saddle bag of a lamb
6 sprigs of thyme
1/2 teaspn of salt and 1/2 teaspn pepper for meat
1 1/2 TBLspn olive oil for the meat and veg
1 small sweet potato
1/2 red onion
1/2 tomato
1/4 teasp salt and 1/4 teaspn pepper for veg
1/3 cup of water

1. Preheat oven at 200'c
2.Heat your frying pan with 1/2 of the olive oil
3.Chop up the thyme then combine with salt and pepper for the meat the rub all over the meat
4.Seal the out side of the meat so it is a light brown, then remove from the heat
5. Cut the sweet potato in half length ways then score it(only cut into the sweet potato 5mm)
6.Cook the sweet potato in the microwave for 120sec on high heat

7. Remove the meat from the frying pan
8. Cut the tomato in 1/2 making it a wedge
9. Slice the onion into 4 pieces
10.Put the tomato, onion and the sweet potato in a baking dish (or you can use the frying pan that you sealed the meat in, only if it has a metal handle)
11. Drizzle the remaining oil over the veg
12.Season the veg with the salt and pepper
13. Put the meat on top of the veg
14. Put into the oven and cook 27 min for medium or 35 min for well done

15.Let the meat rest with the sweet potato on your chopping board
16.Put the meat juices with the tomato and onion in a blender and blend
17.Put a frying pan on high heat
18. Cut off 1 1/2 inch of the bottom of the asparagus
19.Put the asparagus in the hot frying pan add the water and place the lid on for 30 sec then remove from heat
20. Slice your meat up arrange on the plate with the vegies then spoon your sauce over the meat
21. Enjoy!!

Salad- BLT with avocado

2011-12-01T18:40:00.001+10:00

Ingredients-

1 sml washed baby coz lettuce
9 mixed cherry tomatoes
1/2 avacado 1 hotdog roll
1 1/2 bacon rasher cut into 1 inch pieces
Garlic oil see tip 1
Salt and pepper
1 teaspn aioli- today I found the Birch and Waite brand in the fresh fruit section in Woolworths above the mushrooms. If you can not get this brand try Paul Newmans
1teaspn water
3 sprigs thyme

1.Preheat oven to 170'c
2.Panfry the bacon pieces when you flip over to cook other side remove from the heat

3. On a angle cut the tip and tail of the hot dog roll then cut remaining into 3 even slices
4. Place in bacon pan, drizzle with garlic oil, sprinkle the fresh thyme leaves on and salt and pepper the crutons (bread slices)

5. Cook bacon and crutons(bread) for 15min in the oven, then set aside to cool

6.Cut the cherry tomatoes in half
7.Put 1 tea of aioli and 1 tea of water in a bowl and mix this will thin the aioli as it is too thick

8. Using a dessert spoon remove the avocado from its skin then dice

9.Lay the coz, tomatoes, avocado and bacon into a bowl and drizzle the aioli over the salad

10. Place crutons on top and enjoy :)

Tips- Garlic

2011-12-01T14:49:00.001+10:00

One of the most annoying aspects of cooking at home is when I go out and buy ingredients that I don't use all in one go then eventually I through the leftover out. Garlic cloves are one of these ingredients, by the time I get to using the remaining cloves they are dry and nasty.

So to prevent wastage I roast the leftover cloves in olive oil and store them in the fridge until I need them again. If I have herbs kicking around I pop them in too.

When I have used up the cloves I now have yummy garlic oil to use :)

Breaky- Cinnamon French Toast

2011-12-01T10:01:00.001+10:00

Ingredients-

2 eggs         1/3 cup of milk
1TBLspn butter                2teaspn brown sugar
1teaspn vanilla essence Maple syrup
1teaspn cinnamon ground    1 rasher bacon
2 slice of sour dough bread (can use any type of bread)

1.Preheat oven to 130'c
2.Panfry bacon then keep warm in the oven
3.Put eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla and cinnamon in a bowl and mix together

4. Soak one side of your bread in the egg mixture
5. Place butter in a pan and put on a high heat
6.Flip bread over allowing the other side to soak up the mix
7. When the butter starts to become golden colour add the 2 slices of soaked bread and turn the heat to medium
8.When the bottom of the toast is golden flip over

9.When the bottom is golden brown plate up and serve with the bacon rasher and lashings of maple syrup

You can also serve this plain with only the maple syrup :)

Snack- Twice cooked Pork Ribs

2011-11-30T19:08:00.001+10:00

Ingredients-

900gr pork ribs
1/2 cup tomato sauce
1/2 cup BBQ sauce
1/4 cup Maple syrup
1/3 cup worcestershire sauce
1 TBLspn louisiana hot sauce or tabasco
3 teaspn salt
1 teaspn pepper
1 finger bowl (bowl of water to wash fingers as you are eating)
Alot of napkins- this sauce is sticky :)

Preheat your oven to 170'c

1. 3/4 fill a large pot with water, put 1 teaspn of salt in water, put pot on stove on high
2. Cut ribs between each bone

3. When water is boiling place ribs in water and cook for 15 min
4. Put tomato sauce, BBQ sauce, maple syrup, worcestershire sauce, louisiana hot sauce, salt and pepper in a bowl and mix
5.Drain the water from the ribs then place the ribs in the rib sauce and mix

6. Place a doubled up sheet of baking paper, this will stop the sauce cooking to the tray and will save you scrubbing the tray :)
7. Lay the ribs on the tray and bake for 20 min, wrap the rest of the sauce for the end of the recipe
8. Turn the tray of ribs around (180') in the oven so the ribs will cook evenly cook for another 20 min

9.Pull the ribs out and toss again in the sauce leftover
10.Cook the ribs for a further 20 min
11. Pull out of the oven and rest for 10 min then enjoy!!!