Yakitori Chicken

1 Chicken Breast Fillet thinly sliced ( I give the slices a little bash to flatten then.

1/4 cup Mirin

1/4cup Soy

1 small Teaspoon Grated ginger

Good sprinkle pepper 

Skewers (soak in water about 30mins so they don’t burn. 

Cut the meat then combine all the remaining ingredients 

Just adjust the amount if using a second fillet. 

Let marinate (I marinated for about 2 hours). 

Place on skewers 

Cook by grilling or frypan you could even use your air fryer.  Till golden and cooked through

These are perfect for your kids. 

I used 1 chicken fillet for two people

Okonomyaki ( Japanese Cabbage and carrot pancake)

Im back after a few years away from blogging. I had thought of starting a new blog  figured best to resurrect this blog in 2022

Enough for two 

2 eggs

1/4 cup flour 

1 teaspoon soy

1/2 teaspoon crushed puréed ginger

1-1/4 cup fine shredded cabbage 

1 carrot grated

Spring onion ( optional) 

1tsp oil 

Pinch powered stock

Mayonnaise 

Dash of Mirin

Beat the eggs first then add the flour slowly whisking as you go, try to get as many lumps out as possible. 

Add the ginger, soy and lots of black pepper the powdered stock. Mix then add cabbage shredded and grated carrot.

Absolutely beautiful 

Cook in hot fry pan with just a touch of oil till cooked through and golden I start hot as soon as they have some colour I turn them down I’ve been known to finish them off for a minute in Microwave.

When serving I put a cap full off Mirin on top of them then squeeze out a bit of mayonnaise.

Pakora

These we made at Lakes Entrance Neighbourhood House Indian cookery class they were the least expensive and the most popular

1½ cups Besan flour (chickpea)
1 teaspn garam masala
1 teaspn salt
½ teaspn tumeric
½ teaspn chilli powder
1 clove garlic
4 cups mixed vegetables, combination of own choice
water about ½ -1 cup
oil for frying

Add Besan, garam masala, chilli, salt & tumeric into bowl add ½ cup water slowly while mixing to a thick batter, add more water if needed ( don’t make it to runny) add garlic.
Allow batter to stand 20mins
Beat again
Add vegetables to batter mix stir
Heat oil in the pan and drop teaspns of mix into the oil cook and drain
When cooked before serving, reheat pan and place again in smoking pan to crispen up don’t burn them.
If the Besan Flour is too strong add half selfraising flour.

'awwamaat Lebanese Sweet

'awwamaat

These are beautiful when my friend Jane and I had a Lebanese night at the Healthy Happening many moons ago these were a hit they are like a donut

4 cups pastry flour

Yogurt

1/4 tsp. soda

1/2 cups olive oil 

Sift flour and mix with yogurt and soda. Knead well together. Heat olive oil until almost smoking. Drop dough by the teaspoonful into hot oil. Fry only a few at a time. They quickly rise to the surface, brown, and are ready to be skimmed out of the fat. Drain on absorbent paper. When all the 'awwamaat are fried, dip a few at a time in sugar syrup

Syrup Sugar

A syrup made by cooking sugar, water and corn syrup over medium heat (240°F / 115°C) until it reaches the soft-ball stage

Serve the doughnuts hot or cold.

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Noodle Salad

I love Noodles and have them a lot. We often dont think of them as a salad but I try to experiment, I also add a dressing of honey lemon and garlic with fresh parsley and oregano and thinly sliced chilli
Try this recipe and see what you think .

Cabbage- savoy or a chinese
1 red capsicum thinly sliced
1/cup spring onions sliced
1 packet cooked and cooled noodles
Combine all the ingredients.
Dressing
1 oriander chopped
Lemon juice or  a splash of wine vinegar (to taste)
Dash soy sauce
Dash sesame oil
1 clove garlic
1/2 small chili sliced thinly
Combine all the ingredients.
Add dressing when about to serve.

Lemon Chicken Parcels

We all love Chicken Fillets. You will need to cook the chicken a bit first till lightly brown then let it cool.
My students made this for some guests we had, we found that fillets were a bit big so maybe you would like to cut them in half once they are cooled, before you wrap them. The sauce is lovely and works well I have it with fresh beans and carrots. Keep the meat juices for the sauce

4 Chicken breasts
30gms butter
1 Tablespn oil
1 tablespn mustard seed
8 Sheets filo pastry
60gms butter (extra)

Heat a small ammount of butter and oil in a frypan and cook the fillets till lightly brown.
Place  2 sheets for each fillet of filo pastry on a tea towel and paint with melted butter top with second layer. Fold the pastry in half and add your Chicken Fillet. spread Chicken with some of the Mustard Fold sides of pastry over the Chicken and roll it up to form a parcel. Place on the oven tray and brush with butter, bake for approx 20 minutes untill golden brown.

Lemon Sauce
2 tablespn lemon juice
1 tablespn chopped coriander
1 tablespn fresh ginger
1/2 cup thickened cream

Add Lemon Juice to the reserved juices in the frying pan, stir in the coriander,ginger and cream. Stir till thicken slightly pour over the cooked Chicken when serving.

Beef Queisadia

Steak, cut in thin slices
3~4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 medium onion finely sliced
¼ cup fresh cilantro chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
½ tablespoon olive oil
1 table spoon soy sauce
Grated mozzarella cheese
Flour tortillas

 
Sautee the garlic and onion in olive oil, add the salt, pepper and soy sauce, once is slightly soft add the steaks. Sautee for a few more minutes and add the cilantro. Remove from the heat.
Heat or cook the 2 tortillas both side, set one aside. Top one tortilla with the grated mozzarella cheese and the steak. Place the second tortilla on top and let it brown both side, until the cheese is melted. Cut into 4 slices and serve hot.

Easy Cheesecake

Over the years I have made many cheesecakes they are not hard to make this one is now my standard and I make it a lot its so easy and you cant make a mistake Ricotta cheese is reasonably priced and easy to obtain
I also make these small and use them in my catering

750gms Ricotta
4 Eggs
1cup Sugar
5 tablespoons Lemon juice
1 packet Biscuits (crushed)
125gms melted Butter
Mix crushed biscuits, and melted butter, press into cheese cake tin
(Refrigerate)
Beat Cheese till soft , Beat eggs until thick,add sugar continue beating and add
Cheese mixture, mix in lemon juice mix When all mixed well spread into crumb crust
Bake in moderate oven180ºC- 25-30mins

Pumkin Soup

This truly delicious soup is refreshing and adored by all that try it enjoy

Approx 2 1/2 cups. Mashed cooked pumpkin
Approx. 2 cups water and a chicken stock cube or 2 cups chicken stock
1 cup milk or 1/2 light cream
S/p
1-2 chicken stock cubes

Dash of dried or fresh chopped mint
Chop pumpkin up small cover just cover with water or stock ;
Cook
Stir to form a puree.
Add milk or cream and mint
s/p to taste heat stirring

Thai Style Tuna Patties

There are many recipes out there but this one is so easy and tastes great

1 large Tin Tuna -drain the juice
3 large potatoes- boiled and mashed
1 medium onion - finelly chopped
2 eggs
2tablespoons sweet chill sauce
Coriander chopped fine about half a cup of fresh will be fine
Lemon juice - 1 lemon
s/p to taste
flour
breadcrumbs
1/2 cup milk

Mix together Potatoe -tuna-onion-coriander- sweet chilli -lemon juice-s/p
and 1 egg and Roll into patties
Roll in flour and dip in beaten egg and milk then roll in Breadcrumbs
sit in fridge for at least an hour.
Deep fry
Drain
Serve with salad and sweetchilli sauce
How simple was that I have often cooked these up for a Cafe
I sometimes cook for they are extremly popular

Easy Falafals

Falafals
This recipe for falafel I first started making as far back as 1972 it’s so easy and tasty
The only addition is Zataar mix which I buy from a health food shop that sells spices
I sometimes blend raw broad beans with this mix as well

1 can chickpeas, drained
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
1 teaspoon coriander
3/4 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1teaspoon Zattar
2 tablespoons flour
Oil for frying (canola or vegetable)

Combine chickpeas, garlic, onion, coriander, cumin, salt and pepper (to
taste) in medium bowl. Add flour and combine well.

Mash chickpeas, ensuring to mix ingredients together.
You can also combine ingredients in a food processor
You want the result to be a thick paste.
Form the mixture into small balls, about the size of a ping pong ball slightly flatten

Fry in 2 inches of oil at 350 degrees until golden brown (2-5 minutes).
Serve falafel by itself, or with hot pita bread with veggies, hummus, or tahini sauce.

Calamari Salad

I’m the only one in my house that loves this, my partner Rod likes his calamari crumbed and deep fried, me I like it sautéed till tender and served with a toss salad .

Calamari
2 tbsp olive oil
3 oranges segmented
1/4 cups mint leaves
Mixed lettuce
1 Lebanese cucumber seeded, sliced
1 red onion thinly sliced
Cook calamari till tender in an oiled pan. Transfer to a salad bowl. Add lettuce, orange segments, onion, cucumber and mint,
Dressing
1/3 cup olive oil
1/4 cup orange juice
1 garlic clove crushed
1 tsp Dijon mustard
Whisk all ingredients together. Pour over salad mix thru.

Couscous and Tuna

I was invited out to dinner and was served this dish and really liked it, we now have regularly, I always have plenty of de pipped Kalamata olives, as I buy them at Safeway by the 1.25Kg for around $10 then marinate them. Serve with a green salad or with toasted pita or flat bread

1/4 cup black olives, halved2 cups chicken stock
1-2 tablespoons sultanas
I tin tuna
1 carrot, diced
1/2 red capsicum, diced
1 cup couscous
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Place chicken stock, carrot, red capsicum, sultanas, olives and lemon rind into a small saucepan. Bring to boil, add couscous and cover. Place on a low heat for a few minutes until liquid is absorbed. Add tuna and lemon juice, stir through couscous using a fork.

Strawberry Mousse

I found this mousse to be really yummy especially as I love strawberry's and a fan of Mousse.

1 punnet strawberries
300 ml thickened cream
2 teaspoons water
1 teaspoon gelatin
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 egg whites
1/3 cup caster sugar

Wash and remove the tops of strawberries, mash well.
Add gelatin to the water and let stand for a few minutes then dissolve it over hot water.
Beat the egg whites until it has soft peaks then add sugar gradually, beating until dissolved. Whip the cream until it has soft peaks and fold into egg white mixture.
Add strawberries and lemon juice and fold in lightly then pour the mixture into serving dishes or glasses and refrigerate until set.

Potato Puff

I love potato and this is a great dish you can add a bit of cooked finally chopped bacon as well don’t panic if it doesn’t . Hint: never try to beat egg whites in a plastic bowl

1 tablespoon butter
100g tasty cheese
30g Parmesan (you can use the parmesan in a pkt)
Chives chopped
2 eggs
3 potato’s, cooked
1 tablespoon flour
6tbsp milk
S/P

Butter 4 ramekins
Cook potatoes, I do mine in the microwave 8-9 minutes
Grate cheeses. Mash the potato and add to a bowl stir in the cheeses, chives and flour.Separate the eggs add the egg yolks to potato mix stir through .Warm the milk and butter in a saucepan, then pour this over the potato mixture and stir everything together. Season with s/p
Whisk the egg whites with an electric beater to floppy peaks and gently fold the egg whites into the potato mixture.
Fill the ramekins with the mixture. Bake for 15 minutes until puffed and golden.

Tortilla Mincemeat Stack

Love this dish I often add some white sauce as well, stacks are great for all the family and are gaining in popularity .

1 tbs oil
500g beef mince
1/2 tsp crushed garlic
taco or burrito powder(Or you can use Cummin garlic chilli and salt)
1 onion, diced
1 red capsicum, diced
Flour tortillas
3/4 cup grated cheese
1/4 cup sour cream
1 jar salsa or try my recipe
1 tin barlotti or kidney beans (drained)(optional)

Heat the oil in a frying pan then add the garlic, onion and capsicum remove when soft
Add mince to pan and cook add a tin of beans(optional). Add some or burrito taco mix (Or you can use Cummin garlic chilli and salt)to meat mixture

On baking tray, layer the tortilla first then salsa and cheese then capsicum and onion and last the mince keep layering or until golden brown.
Serve topped with sour cream

Pesto

We all love a pasta with some pesto, it has become such a popular dish over the last decade you can mix a little bit with your salad dressing for an enjoyable change.

2 cups fresh basil leaves
2 cloves garlic
1/2 -1 cp olive oil
1/2 cup pine nuts
1 cup of fresh parmasen cheese
Place it all in a blender and wizz till blended
Serve with hot pasta

Cinnamon Flan

I remember having this as a child,it was one of those treats that we had on a rare occassion. If I had know how easy it was to make I would have made it myself as a child. It has a strong cinnamon spicy flavor so may not appeal to all but worth a try.

1/2 Cup Sugar
2 tblespns water
Custard..
6 eggs
2 cups milk
1/3 Cup Sugar
1 teaspn Vanilla essence
1/2 teaspn ground cloves
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Mix the custard ingreients together set aside
Combine sugar and water in small pot until sugar is dissolved. Boil uncovered without stirring till mixture starts to turn light golden
Pour the mixture over the base of a round cake tin. Pour the custartd mix on top and add the cake tin to a water bath.(A baking tray with water)
Bake in moderate oven for around 35 mins till set
Remove and cool for a couple of hrs in fridge serve with cream

A new year is upon us

I must wish all the best for 2011 and must apoligise for being away for a couple of months I have been busy studying online and time got away.
I am back now with a series of new recipes I hope you enjoy.
Cheers
Junita Lyon

Pasties

These Pasties are real economical and yummy to eat I always make about 12 a time and freeze them.

Puff pastry sheets (2 pasties per sheet)
Small amount of Mince
2 grated Potatoes
1 grated Carrot
peas
1 onion and a sprig of parsley finely Chopped (optional)
1 Chicken stock cube

Grate Potatoes and Carrot mix with finely chopped parsley and onion, stock cube, mince and peas, add Salt/pepper

When mixed together place spoonfulls of mixture onto pastry sheets that have been cut down the centre into 2 triangles fold and seal
Brush pastry with milk and bake on greased tray for about 30 mins in a moderate oven till golden brown

Chocolate Date Slice

Dates are not an expensive item, they are great to use in slices. I am catering later this week with my students and these are a couple of the recipes I will use.
1 cup chopped dates
1/2 cup butter
1 large egg
1 cup water
1cup sugar
2 cups SR flour
1/2 teaspn bi carb
2tablespoons cocoa
1/2 cup chopped nuts

Cook the dates in water and bring to the boil.
Remove from heat and add butter.
Allow to cool to luke warm then stir in sugar and beaten egg.
Add dry ingredents and stir in crushed nuts.
Pour into a well greased and [papered tray.
Bake for 20mins in a moderate oven 180 C
When cool add icing and sprinkle with nuts.

Jam Drops
125gms butter
1teaspn Vanilla
1/2 cup castor sugar
1 egg  lightly beaten
1&1/3 cup SR flour
2 tablespoons raspberry jam
2 tablespoons apricot jam

Beat the butter, sugar,essence and egg in a small bowl with electric beateruntill combined stir in the flour
Shape 2 level tablespoons on mixture into a ball place on tray with about 5cm space.
use the back of a wooden spoon and indent the biscuits
spoon a small amount of jam in each indent bake for 10mins or untill lightly golden

Anzacs
We all ahve a version of Anzacs.
1 cups oats
1cup flour
3/4 cup coconut
1/2 cup butter
1 teaspn bi carb
1tablespn golden syrup
2 tablespns boiling water
Mix oats flour, sugar and cocnut.
Melt butter and syrup together
Mix soda and boiling water and add to dry ingredients
Heap teaspoons of mix on a greased tray and bake in a low oven for 160 C for 20mins

Salmon Fettucini

This creamy dish is wonderful so easy to make and served with a salad will delight those that eat it.

1 can red salmon
300ml cream
2cloves garlic
2 spring onions
grated Parmesan cheese
Fettuccine

Cook the fettuccine till aldente

Add cream to a pot and warm (dont boil) add garlic and Parmesan cheese take of heat and add drained Salmon then add fettuccine and gently toss
Serve with topped  with more Parmesan and  chopped spring onion on top

Toblerone Chocolate Mousse

For something speacial and easy to make try this Mousse that everyone will love 100gms Toblerone
2 eggs seperated, beat egg whites till stiff.
1/2 cup whipped cream

Melt the chocolate in a metal bowl over a pot of boiling water.
Mix in egg yolks one at a time beat till smooth gently fold in (using a knife)whipped cream then stiffened egg whites. Spoon into individual serving dishes and refrigerate serve with extra whipped cream and grated chocolate.

Tuna and Pasta Frittata

The first time I had this was in 1976 I remember it well , I was living in Sydney when I tried it.

150gms spaghetti
300gms mixed vegetables
415 gms tinned tuna in oil (drained)
6 eggs
125ml cream
125ml milk
s/p
Grated cheese

Add the pasta and salt to boiling water, and boil till aldente then drain.
Add vegetables to pot of water and boil till cooked, drain.
Mix the spaghetti ,vegetables, eggs, milk and cream together season and add to greased frypan.
Sprinkle with cheese , cook on low heat, with lid on  finish off under grill with lid off.
Serve with a salad

Potato Pizza

This is a delicious way to feed a family.I use pasta sauce as my tomato base on top of the potato.
1kg potatoes
oil
S/P
Flour
Peel and cook the potatoes in boiling water till ready to mash, drain and cool.
Return potatoes to saucepan over very low heat,add the oil and season to taste,mash till no lumps.
While potato is cooling preheat oven to 220 degrees C.
Grease and flour shallow baking dish and spread potato evenly.
Top with your favorite Pizza topping
Tomatoe base
cheese
olives
capsicum
Mushrooms
Bacon
salami
Bake in oven for 15-20mins.

Chicken Fajitas

Fajita,s are great as a quick meal they are popular for all, a real mexican style favorite
I often buy the tortilas or make my own with a bit of flour, yeast and a touch of oil
You can serve with a quacamole

Fillet or boned thigh Chicken cut into thick strips
Seasoning(fajita /taco seasoning)
1 Capsicums cut in thin strips
1 Onion cut finely into rings
grated Cheese
Salsa (chopped tomato, onion and capsicum with garlic cummin and salt)
Flour tortilla

Cut chicken into strips
Season with 1/2 fajita 1/2 taco seasoning
Cut capsicums and onions fry in pan till cooked remove keep warm.
Cook chicken in small amount of oil

Add all ingredients into tortilla cheese then add salsa last
Roll add to a Grill press, or serve warmed with salsa and sour cream.

Rock melon Prosciutto & Spinach Salad

We served this at the college cafe and found it a refreshing salad, a new take on a 70,s idea

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
2 tbs brown sugar
1/4 rockmelon, peeled, cubed
75g baby spinach
4 slices prosciutto
Combine vinegar and brown sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir to dissolve the sugar. Simmer 5 minutes or until reduced slightly.

Heat a char-grill pan over high heat, cook the rockmelon that has the prosciutto wrapped around it for 1 minute each side.

Combine spinach leaves and rockmelon on a serving plate, drizzle over balsamic dressing Serve

Potato and Carrot Rosti

For a quick lunch or children wanting a snack these are good, when I had "The Healthy Happening " a wholefoods cafe
We would sell out of them very quickly
I eat Rosti with onion Jam and a salad

500 grams potatoes
500 grams carrots
2 eggs
½ cup flour
3 teaspns cumin seeds

2 red capsicums
2 tablespns oil
2 tablespns wine vinegar
1 clove garlic
2 teaspns shredded mint

Peel potatoes grate and soak in water to remove starch,squeeze all water out with your clean hands and add to bowl grate carrots and add to bowl with eggs flour and cumin seed
s/p
Shallow Fry in oil till golden brown.
Half capsicums and remove seeds and place in oven till blisters and skin peels, chop in large pieces and combine with oil vinegar garlic and mint while still warm.
Add on top of cooked rosti

Small Lamb Meatballs and Onion Jam

The students and I have made this recently and we used the purple spanish onions for the Jam they were glorious with the lamb mince.

500 grams Lamb mince
¾ cup Stale bread crumbs
2 cloves of garlic
1 red chili
1-1/2 teaspns lemon rind
1-1/2 tsps ground cumin and coriander
Chopped fresh mint

Onion Jam
3 large Purple onions
180 ml vinegar
1/3 cup sugar

Combine mince, breadcrumbs, garlic, chili, lemon rind, cumin, coriander
And roll into meatball shapes, cook meatballs until browned, serve with onion jam.

Onion Jam
Combine onions, vinegar and sugar in a pot and cook on low heat, uncovered stiring when frequently for 20-30 mins or until caramalised

Tomato Capsicum & Fetta Salad

During summer this was one of my favorite salads I ate it most days with various meats
Love fetta and olives, I often use dried tomato

2 large fresh tomatoes
1 large green capsicum
1 cucumber
4 spring onions
Fetta cheese
Mixed Lettuce
kalamata olives

Dressing
3 tablsp. fresh lemon juice
1 clove garlic, pressed
1/2 teasp. salt
1/4 teasp cracked pepper
3 tablsp. olive
1/4 cup chopped parsley

Place Capsicums into oven when blister peel and cut into large pieces cool
Slice cucumber and onions place all together over a bed of mixed lettuce
Mix lemon juice, garlic, salt, pepper and oil together add parsley
Set aside in fridge to marinade 20 mins wrapped in glad wrap
Serve on a bed of mixed lettuce add a few olives and diced fetta cheese

Thai Beef Salad

Cooking is so easy when you follow a simplistic recipe this one is so tasty and easy you wont make a mistake.

500gms lean Rump or fillet steak
1/3 cup lime or lemon juice
Dressing
2 tablspn Thai fish sauce
1 tablspn castor sugar dissolved in 1 tablespn boiling water
1 red chill chopped finely
1 tablspn mint chopped
1 tablspn coriander chopped
Salad
lettuce leaves
tomato wedges
cucumber slices
1 red onion sliced thinly
1 Red chili chopped finely
mint leaves
coriander leaves
Fry the beef,and keep it nice and rare when cool thinly slice the beef
Combine the dressing ingredients and then add to the beef
Serve on a bed of salad.

Chocolate Mousse Cake

This yummy mousse cake is decadent
500g dark chocolate
2 tablespoons golden syrup
125g unsalted butter
4 eggs
1 tablespoon caster sugar
1 tablespoon plain flour, sifted

Grease and line with baking paper the base of a cake tin.
Melt the chocolate, golden syrup and butter in a bowl over a saucepan of gently simmering water.
Set aside to cool slightly.
Place eggs and sugar in a mixing bowl.
Beat on high for 10 minutes until very thick and pale. Gently fold in the flour then fold in the chocolate mixture until combined. Pour into the cake tin and bake on the middle shelf of the oven for 15 minutes.
Remove from oven and run a knife around the edge of the cake refrigerate for 2 hrs

Glazed Chicken Wings

The use of Raspberry Jam in this dish creates a tasty glaze the kids will love them.

1- 1/2 cups raspberry jam (try one without seeds)
1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons crushed chili
2 kg chicken wings

In a small saucepan, combine jam, vinegar, soy sauce and chili over low heat.
Stir until well combined and creates a marinade.
In a large bowl, toss chicken wings with half of the jam mixture.
Place on a tray with foil and bake for about 30 mins.
Brush wings with remaining jam mixture after 30 minutes before serving and cook further 10 mins to create a glaze.

Pork Spare Ribs

Pork spare ribs can be a cheap cut to buy and this is certainly a great tasy way to prepare them.

6 large garlic cloves
3 tablespoons fresh rosemary
1 tablespoon olive oil
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
4 pounds country-style pork ribs

Blend the garlic cloves and rosemary together and combine with the olive oil, salt, and pepper. Rub the garlic mixture all over the ribs, wrap tightly and refrigerate overnight
Place the ribs in a roasting pan and bake for 30-40 minutes or until the meat is cooked

Mustard Lamb

I love lamb and with this one I use the leg boned and cut into long pieces, I grew up with Lamb so its a fave

2 tbsp. vinegar
1/4 c. salad dressing
3 tbsp. prepared mustard
1/2 tsp. thyme
1/4 tsp. basil
3/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
Boned Lamb
Combine all ingredients . Marinate the lamb and refrigerate for 3 hours. Save excess marinade. Bake or gently shallow fry until pink inside.
Baste with extra marinade half way through.
Slice and serve on a bed of salad leaves.

Boiled Pineapple and Fruit Cake

This is not just another boiled fruit cake

450 g tin crushed pineapple
125 g butter
1 cup sugar
500gms mixed fruit
1 teaspn mixed spice
1 large teaspn bicarbonate of soda
1 cup self raising flour
1 cup plain flour
pinch of salt
2 eggs

Drain pineapple,save the juice,and put the pineapple into a saucepan with 1/2 cup of the juice.
Add mixed fruit, butter, spice, sugar
Bring gently to boil and simmer for 3-4 minutes remove from heat add bicarb
Mix together,Cool completely
Add flour and salt together,add eggs and mix blending well together
Pour into the prepared tin and bake in moderate oven for 1- 3/4 hours.

Potato Lasagne

You can make versions of lasagne many ways using all sorts of vegetables ,breads and pastas.

1 kg cooked potatoes, peeled and sliced
500gms. ricotta cheese
1/2 cup. chopped onion
1 bunch spinach
2 cups grated Mozzarella cheese
Olive oil

Cook potato
Cook spinach cool and squeeze out moisture
Toss potatoes with pepper, olive oil and salt
Layer the potato, ricotta and mozzarella cheese and spinach in layers finishing with potato and lastly cheese
Bake for 30 minutes till golden

Warm Chicken Salad

This warm chicken salad I made often this summer as its so easy
I cooked the chicken in just a small amount of oil.

1 tbsp. sesame seeds
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup white vinegar
2 tblsp. soy sauce
2 tblsp. sesame oil
1spring onion sliced thinly
1 clove garlic crushed
1 teasp. fresh ginger
1/2 tsp. crushed red chilli
4 cups mixed salad leaves
1 kg cooked chicken, cubed
Sesame seeds for garnish
Toast sesame seeds in oil.
Add honey, vinegar, soy sauce, spring onion, garlic, ginger,red chilli and chicken. Warm through and toss with salad leaves

Applesauce Muffins

With apples in season here in Australia this recipe is perfect if you have an abundance.
Just peel core and slice apples and cook with a about 1/2 cup water till soft and a teaspn sugar. You can do it in the microwave or on the stove.
You are after the consistency as apple sauce you buy commercially. You only need a cup full of apple sauce.
I serve them with custard as a dessert or just as a muffin

1 egg beaten
1 cup milk
4 tablespns of melted butter
2 cups self raising flour
pinch salt
2 tablespns sugar
1 cup sweetened apple sauce

Mix egg, milk and melted butter in to a bowl mix together
Add dry ingredients and mix well , then add 1 teaspn of batter to greased muffin tins then add a small teaspoon apple sauce then add more batter fill each muffin about 3/4
Bake in a preheated oven about 180 degrees C for around 20-25 mins till cooked

No Bake Chocolate Marshmallow Bars

Yum is all I will say about these

2-1/2 cups choccy biscuits crumbs
2 tablespn golden syrup
2 tablespns coconut
125gms butter (melted)
100gms (small pieces) marshmallow
200gms milk cooking chocolate
1 tablespn icing sugar
2 tablespns milk

Combine biscuit crumbs, butter, golden syrup and cocoa and press into a greased pan.
Cover with glad wrap and refrigerate.
When firm sprinkle your coconut on top.
In a pan add chocolate milk and icing sugar stir over low heat till melted.
Pour over slice let set and cut into pieces..

I melt chocolate in Microwave, if you are doing this add the chocolate to a dish and place in microwave for 2 minutes stopping and stirring every 30 seconds if you need more time do in 10 second hits stirring at each interval..Don't Burn... then add the milk and icing sugar at end..

Tuna Roulade

Now for something fancy I have made roulades for years, they are always well recieved and this is a great version it is a refreshing dish for a speacial occassion and everyone will want the recipe

Roulade
1 Tin Tuna drained
1 spring onion
3 tablespoons Mayonnaise
5 eggs separated
Spinach
1 cup milk
3 tablespoons flour
3 tablespoons butter
S/P
Cook spinach in a pan, cool and squeeze out all liquid let sit
Melt butter add flour and mix together add milk slowly stir till boils and thickens let simmer 1 min while stirring S/P
Cool
Beat Egg whites till stiff peaks are formed
When white sauce is cool add to a mixing bowl and beat in egg yolks till well mixed, add squeezed spinach mix together
Fold in egg whites using a knife gently pour into greased and papered Swiss roll tin and bake for around 15mins a light golden (don’t overcook)
Turn out..
Mix drained Tuna with chopped spring onion gently (don’t smash tuna)
Add mayonnaise S/P
Spread onto roulade and roll
Refrigerate serve cold or hot.

Chicken Enchiladas

Everyone goes crazy for these in my budget and international cookery classes
served with the mexican rice its the perfect combination
They are so easy and the flavour is tremendous my passion for Mexican food came about when I worked at Oz Mex
You can use burrittos for this I often make my own with just flour and water or sometimes I use yeast it works any way.
I also buy homebrand burritos you get 15 and they can be frozen.


Easy Chicken Enchiladas
1 burritos per enchilada
2 teaspns Canola Oil
2 cloves garlic crushed
½ cup onion diced finely or minced
½ cup capsicum cut finely
2 teaspns chilli powder
1 fresh jalapeno cut finely (remove seeds)Optional
1 can of blended tomatoes
1 teaspn sugar
½ teaspn cummin
½ teaspn salt
¼ teaspn pepper
water if needed or chicken stock.
Grated cheese

The secret to good chicken is to poach it in water so add chicken to a casserole dish with a chicken stock cube and just enough water to cover mix in with about 1/2 teaspoon of cummin or taco powder.
Cook till tender reserve Water stock for enchilada sauce Cut up chicken into small pieces
In a pot Heat oil sauté onion capsicum and Jalapenos/Chilli (Fresh or dried)until onion soft
Add blended tomatoes or blend in pan add stock from chicken being careful not making it too watery so do it slowly add more as it cooks and gets thicker
Add spices and bring to boil
Simmer 15 mins till thickens just slightly
If you like it hotter add more chilli powder

Add cooked Chicken to burritto bread also add a small amount of grated Cheese and a spoonfull of enchilada sauce roll up.
Place in casserole dish cover in enchilada sauce, place cheese on top
Bake in oven till cooked
Serve with Mexican rice

Spinach lasagne

I owned a cafe called "Junita,s Healthy Happening" a number of years ago and this dish was very popular all our dishes were vegetarian and well recieved the cafe was a bit ahead of its time thanks to its founder Jean and it gave me an oppurtunity to learn more about vegetables and what flavours match
The basil and garlic salt are the secret to this dishes succsess with the cheese at each layer makes this the easiest tastiest dish around

Silverbeet
garlic salt
Large tin tomatoes crushed
Garlic salt
Dried basil or Fresh
Lasagne sheets
Cheese

Cook chopped silver beet set aside to cool squeeze out excess water
Add 1 teaspoon of dried basil to a large tin Tomatoes mix
Add 1 teaspoon of Garlic Salt/pepper to tomatoes
Soak Lasagne leaves
When lasagne soft set up
Place a spoon of tomato mix on bottom of pan
Add lasagne layer- silver beet- sauce-grated cheese-lasagne layer
Ending in tomato then cheese
Bake till brown.

Sausages with Onion Gravy

When times are tough this recipe is a beaut, served with mash potato and green beans.

1 kg sausages (thick or thin pork or beef, or savory)
2 large onions
1 tablespn oil3 tablespn flour
2 beef stock cubes
2 tablespn tomato sauce
1/2 teaspn worchestershire sauce
2-1/2 cups water
S/P

Heat the oil in a pan and add the sausages and cook until browned, then remove from the frypan
Add sliced onions to pan with herbs, salt and pepper and cook till clear or slightly golden then add flour and stir till golden brown colour
When you get to this stage add Water and stir till the gravy boils and thickens add tomatoe and worchestershire sauce.
Add sausages and simmer gently for 15 mins

Hunza Spinach Pie

This is a favorite that goes back to the early 70,s when I was a flower child.
I read a book about the Hunza people and their longevity..
And loved the foods..

Pastry .
1-1/2 cups wholemeal flour
1 teaspn salt
1 1/2 cups wheatgerm
4tablespoons butter
1-1/2 cups water
Rub in butter to flour, wheatgerm and salt till resembles breadcrumbs add water to make a dough, Roll out half and line a greased pie dish.

Filling
2 bunches of spinach (you can use silver beet if you like I do as i grow it in my garden) Cooked in a small amount of water and drained (squeeze out excess moisture).
500gms of potatoes cut into small cubes and cooked.
25o grams cottage cheese.
1/2 teaspoon basil
1/4 teaspn mixed herbs
1/4 teaspn nutmeg
1 teaspoon salt
Pepper
Combine spinach, potato, cottage cheese,herbs, S/P and nutmeg allow to cool fill pie pastry and add lid press edges together bake in oven at least 30 mins till cooked and golden.

Zabaglione

How greatful I am that we live in such a diverse society
This Zablaglione is a real summer treat and perfect for this time of year
Something speacial for the whole family

6 egg yolks
1/3 cup sugar
3/4 cup Marsala wine
1 teaspoon grated zest
Ground cinnamon or freshly grated nutmeg
Vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups cream, whipped
Strawberries raspberries,
lady finger or biscotti biscuits

Place egg yolks and sugar in a large stainless steel bowl
Add grated lemon Peel pinch of cinnamon a drop of vanilla the yolk mixture
Pour in the Marsala wine

Half-fill a large pot with water bring the water to a boil and reduce the heat to very low
Place the bowl with the yolk mixture over the water
The bottom of the bowl shouldn't touch the water
Whisk the egg yolks making sure that the water does not boil as it ensures that a gentle even heat thickens the mixture without curdling it
Whisking traps air in the yolks for a light, fluffy mixture
Whisk for about 10 minutes until the mixture grows
froths up and becomes pale.
When it reaches the desired consistency the texture of mousse take the bowl of custard out of the heat
Cool
Whip cream and add to the cooled custard with a whisk gently fold them together
Keep some of the whipped cream to serve on top
Add Zabaglione to ramekins
Serve with whipped cream, berries, biscotti biscuits

Savory Mushroom Cups

You can add any white sauce filling to this with any flavour
Easy to make and taste and look great. Ideal for the holiday season when wondering what to do with all that leftover cold chicken and ham

Mushrooms
Pitta bread
Flour
Stock cube
Cheese

Cut bread into small circles form into cups by placing into a greased muffin tin.
Bake in oven for 10-15 minutes.
Remove from oven and set aside to cool.


Add mushrooms to pan and stir fry gently
Add flour and stir through add milk and stir till boils and thickens stirring constantly
Season with stock cubes

Spoon mixture into cups top with Cheese
Bake till golden

Stuffed Cannelloni

When I have guests that are vegetarian I make this as a speacial treat, it always goes down well and is enjoyed by all.
I serve it with a side salad

12 cannelloni tubes
Cook cannelloni in plenty of boiling water.
When cooked and while still firm add 2 cups cold water to slow the cooking process.
Set aside till ready to fill.

Filling
3 cups Ricotta
2 eggs
¾ cup tasty cheese (grated)
S/p
Ground nutmeg (pinch)
2 tablespoons butter
1 vegetable stock cube
1 packet spinach

Mix all together and refrigerate till ready to fill cannelloni

Sauce.
1 small onion (chopped)
1 tin diced tomato
Basil 1 teaspoon
S/p
2 cloves garlic
1 cup water
Mix together in a pot and bring to the boil cook 15 minutes

Drain cannelloni and fill with Ricotta and spinach mix
Add to greased pan pour tomato sauce on top cover with cheese
Bake 20 mins

Tortilla Mexican Stack

Want to try something tasty that everyone will love its a Mexican lasagna really.
You will need to make some white sauce first.

8 Tortilla Wraps
1 onion, thinly sliced
2 can kidney beans
1 tin tomato
1 capsicum sliced thinly
1 pkt taco seasoning
2 cups tasty cheese, grated
I serve of white sauce with grated Cheese
1 teaspoon Cumin
S/p
Garlic

Preheat oven to 180C.
Heat 1 tsp oil in a large fry pan and cook the onion until soft and transparent. Add sliced capsicum cook till just soft. Remove from heat.
Add drained beans and tinned tomatoes to pan add garlic, taco seasoning and cumin s/p.
Bring to the boil till slightly thickens add onion and capsicum
Let cool.

Grease a pie dish (roughly the same size as the tortilla). Place one tortilla in the bottom of the greased dish, then layer with tortilla bean mix and cheese sauce repeat finishing with tortilla and finally cheese sauce finally sprinkle with cheese.

Bake in the oven for approximately 15 minutes, or until golden brown.

Rissoles

I Love Rissoles and add lovely fresh herbs, great with mash potato and greens a bit old fashioned but still yum!

500gms mince
Basil
Oregano
S/p
½ cup Tomato sauce
½ cup Worcestershire sauce
1 onion chopped finely
1 tablespoon French Onion soup mix (optional)
1 chicken stock cube
1 egg
Combine all ingredients and season with basil, oregano and s/p
Mix well
Make into patty shapes
Fry in pan with small amount of oil

Potato and Bacon warm Salad

This potato recipe comes with its own dressing Its fairly new to me my sisterinlaw raves about.


6 potatoes
1 cup chopped spring onions
3 tblspns fresh chopped parsley
S/P
2/3 cup vinegar
1/3 cup water
1 1/2 tpns sugar
1 egg
1/3 cup oil
bacon cooked to crisp

Scrub potatoes and cook with skin on in enough water to cover
Cover pan and cook until tender, about 25-30 minutes
Peel and cut into about pieces.
Place in a large bowl and toss with the 1 cup chopped onions, chopped parsley, salt and black pepper
Combine 2/3 cup vinegar, 1/3 cup water and 1-1/2 teaspoon sugar in a small pan bring to boil
Place the egg into a small bowl and beat slightly with a whisk.
Continue beating while slowly pouring in the vinegar mixture
Slowly pour in the salad oil, whisking constantly
Pour this mixture over the warm potatoes and stir to coat evenly
Heat the potatoes in a large pan over low heat until heated through
Cook the bacon until crisp, drain sprinkle over potatoes.

Creamy Chicken, Corn and Bacon Pie

I love this recipe its one that is excellent if you have left over chicken.
I buy pre made pastry or make my own using the food processor.

Puff Pastry
Cooked chicken
2 can corn
4 tablespoons butter
3 bacon rashes (diced)
4 tablespoons plain flour
4 cups of milk
2tins chicken soup
Preheat oven to 180 degrees C.

Cook chicken or buy one already cooked.
Drain corn
Melt butter in saucepan and cook bacon for a few minutes then mix in the flour for 1 minute. Gradually stir in the milk and soup until boiling and thickened add chicken then corn and place in pastry in the baking dish, top with pastry and cook till golden brown

Chocolate Date & Nut Torte

I remember back when I worked for Olga Mueller at the Gourmet Deli, this torte was one we used in catering, we decorated it with lots of fresh cream and chocolate.

1/4 cup plain flour
1 cup loosely packed dates, roughly chopped
1 1/4 cups roughly chopped nuts
1/2 cup chopped dark chocolate
5 egg whites
1 cup caster sugar
1 cup whipped cream

Grease, flour and line a 23cm cake tin.
Pulse the flour, dates and walnuts in a food processor until the mixture is course and even. Take out and add to a bowl

Add the chocolate and pulse to break it up, tip into a mixing bowl with other ingredients.

Whip the egg whites in a clean bowl until soft peaks form and slowly add the sugar.
Beat until glossy and stiff; “gently “fold into the chocolate/nut mixture.

Spoon the mixture into the cake tin and cook for 25-30 minutes in a preheated low 160C oven.

The cake should spring back when gently pressed if cooked.

Allow to cool for 10 minutes in the tin before turning out onto a cooling tray
Fill and top with whipped cream decorate with chocolate twirls.

Talkgroup » Junita Lyon Food Disscussion Talkgroup

Talkgroup » Junita Lyon Food Disscussion Talkgroup

Spinach and Pesto Lasagne

This is a lovely lasagne easy to make and tastes delightful, my Esl students will be taught this recipe and we will sell it at our cafe at the college.

2 pkt spinach
2 cup ricotta cheese
1 cup tasty cheese
1 tablespoon pesto
1 clove garlic
Lasagna sheets
2 eggs, lightly beaten
½ cup low-fat milk
1bottle pasta tomato base sauce
¾ cup fresh white breadcrumbs
2 tblespns grated parmesan cheese

Put the cheese and ricotta in a large bowl and mix together, and then take out half the mixture and set aside.
In half the mixture add the pesto to the cheese in the bowl and blend until smooth.
Stir in the spinach add chopped garlic and seasoning to taste.

Grease a baking dish and spread a layer of pasta on the dish then one-third of the spinach mixture over the base of the baking dish, Spoon one-third of the tomato sauce in an even layer over the spinach mixture, then cover with a layer of pasta.

Add half of the remaining spinach mixture in a thin layer, top with half the remaining tomato sauce and cover with pasta as before. Cover with the last of the filling and arrange the remaining pasta sheets over the top.

Whisk the reserved cheese mixture with the eggs, milk and seasoning. Pour over the lasagna, then sprinkle with a mixture of the breadcrumbs and parmesan. Bake for 25 minutes until the topping is lightly set and browned. Serve while hot.

Baked Stuffed Mushroom

I make this dish a lot its one of Rods favorite, I often have it as a main or serve as a side dish.

12 Mushrooms '
1/2 cup chopped diced bacon
1/2 cup Grated cheese
1 small onion chopped into small pieces

Peel mushrooms and remove stems (don't throw them away) chop stems into small pieces and add Bacon and cheese, mix together and fill mushrooms with the mix.
Bake 20-30 minutes till everything is cooked and golden brown.

Tomato and Roasted Capsicum Salad

I love Roasted capsicum and add them to salads all the time. they mix well with tomato.


2 large capsicum (I prefer red ones) or I mix the coulars'
Bake in oven until blisters appear, peel skin off.
6 olives
3 Large Tomatoes skinned and seeded
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
2 tablespoons oil
Salt/Pepper
1/2 teaspoon of ground cumin
1 squeeze lemon juice
clove garlic, crushed

Preheat oven to 200 degrees C
place capsicum in oven on tray and cook till blisters.
When done cut into strips and scrape off seeds.
Add tomato's to some boiling water as soon as the skin splits take them out and peel them, cut them into quarters and remove seeds, mix with capsicum pieces and chopped parsley
Place garlic,oil,cumin, salt/pepper and lemon juice into a jar and shake.
Pour over salad

Caramel Squares

I don't have a real sweet tooth but I do love these they are so easy to make and are a yummy treat, good with a cuppa.
If you prefer melt the Chocolate over a pan of boiling water if you are worried you may burn the chocolate.
You may like to add some baking paper to top of biscuit base with dried Beans and cook for 10 mins then take them our and cook for further 5mins


Biscuit base
1- 1/2 cups plain flour
100gms butter
1-1/2 tablespoons caster sugar
1 egg
Caramel
approx 3 tablespoon Water
400 gms can condensed milk
1 tablespoon golden syrup
Chocolate
120 gms cooking chocolate
40 gms butter

Biscuit
Blend flour sugar and butter in food processor then add the egg and water to make a dough.
refrigerate in plastic wrap for about 15 mins roll out and line greased tin .
Bake at 200 degrees C for 15 mins
Caramel
Combine the condensed milk, butter,and golden syrup in a pot , stir over a low heat till butter melts and mixture thickens "Don't Burn"pour over the biscuit base.
Bake for further 10 mins Cool .(make sure it is nice and firm)
When cool add the chocolate
Mix the chocolate and butter in a small bowl, microwave till it melts (look in the microwave every 15 seconds and stir till melted."Don't Burn ")

Pear Pancakes

I love pancakes and eat them fairly regularly, I always have some in my freezer as I like them sweet or savoury. This recipe is one of those" what shall I do for sweets tonight" type recipes.
You can use tinned pears and use the juice, just forget about adding water, and sugar
Make your pancakes first.

Filling
3 Pears, peeled and diced
2 tablespoons jam
1 cup water

Sauce
1 tablespoon custard powder
reserved pear juice
1/4 cup cream
1 tablespoon sugar

Place pears in a pot with 1 cup water, simmer gently till soft, remove from heat.
Save liquid separately and let the whole lot cool.
Mix pears and jam together, and place spoonfuls in centre of each pancake roll up and place in a greased ovenproof dish.
Bake for 15 mins.

While that is baking blend custard flour with a little pear juice till a runny paste.
heat up remaining juice and cream, add sugar whisk in cornflour paste stirring until sauce thickens .
Pour over pancakes

Potato Gratin

We all love potato as a side dish and for the family this one is a beaut.
Its one that you can improve the flavour of if you wish add some bacon and serve it as the main meal. We make this a lot at the college cafe and I often add a bit of flour in between the potato layers for a different consistency


1 -1/2 ozs butter
900gms potato, thinly sliced
2 onions, thinly sliced
1-1/2 cup tasty cheese, grated
1 cup milk
1 cup cream
1 chicken stock cube crumbed (optional)

Grease an ovenproof dish with the butter
Layer the potatoes and onion with the grated cheese some of the cheese.
sprinkle each layer with S/P
Finish with a layer of potato slices save some cheese for the top.
Mix milk cream and crumbed stock cube pour over the potatoes and then sprinkle with remaining cheese.
Place the in the oven and bake uncovered for 1 hour or till cooked

Warm Caramel Banana Pudding

This is a great dessert for all the family it’s so easy and tastes great especially when bananas are cheap

For the pudding
4 level tablespoons butter
1 cups of sugar
1 cup mashed banana
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 ½ cups of SR flour
½ cup milk
2 eggs

For the caramel bananas
½ cup sugar
½ cup water
1 cup cream
4 bananas peeled and sliced

Cream butter and sugar add eggs one at a time, beating after each egg, add mashed banana and vanilla and beat.
Add flour and milk alternately and stir till mixed well.
Spoon into prepared greases and papered tin and bake till skewer comes out clean approx 40 mins
In a pan combine sugar and water and stir till sugar melts then bring mix to boil and boil without stirring until mixture turns a slightly golden, remove from heat and stir in cream and bananas.
Serve over the warm cake

Mixed Pickle

When I was a youth one of my first recipes I made was this pickle.The secret is to soak the vegetables in brine for 24 hrs, I love the pickle on salada biscuits with cheese or with cornbeef.
Remember to wash the jars in hot soapy water rinse in hot water and place in the oven to dry this will sterilise

1kg Vegetables (cauliflour,beans,onion,cabbage,choko&green tomatoes)
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon turmeric
1 tablespoon mustard
1 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon curry powder
3 cups vinegar

Brine
1 cup salt
1 Litre water

Mix water and salt to make a brine
Wash peel and dice vegetables small, add to brine
Soak in brine 24 hrs
Drain and wash all the salt from the vegetables
Blend dry ingredients with some of the vinegar,combine it with the vegetables and add remaining vinegar.
Bring to the boil stirring all the time and remove from heat, place in sterilised jars.

Boiled Fruit cake

I have always loved a boiled fruit cake, I once made a couple in a hurry for a quick 2 tiered wedding cake for a friend, whos wedding cake had been dropped and broken.
We got away with it.

4 cups mixed fruit
1 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup sr flour
1cup flour
1 cup water
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
2 eggs

In a pot place the fruit,sugar water and nutmeg stir till boiling add butter mix add bi carbonate of soda stir again, take off the heat allow to cool a bit
Add flour and mix lastly add eggs and mix all together
place in greased and lined cake tin, bake 180degrees for 1 hr or cooked thru test with skewer

White Sauce & Variations

There are many uses for a white sauce I use this recipe when I make roulades, lasagna,voluvants,stuffed pancakes,tuna mornay and cauliflower and cheese sauce to name a few.
This is a basic recipe that can be developed into sauce variations
Add 1 tablespoon parsley for a parsley sauce
Add grated cheese for a cheese sauce
Depending on how many I am cooking for I often double the mix

1 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoon Flour
1cup milk
S/p

Melt butter in a pot remove it from the heat,add flour and stir till a smooth paste
Place back on stove and stir for 1 minute
Add milk and stir with wooden spoon till mixture boils and thickens making sure you have no lumps cook 1-2 minutes stirring continuously

Please feel free to say hello :)

Baked Caramel Pears

Pears have delicate flavour and this recipe certainly enhances them.
Its only takes a couple of minutes to prepare.


5 firm ripe pears
60 gms melted butter
2 tablespoons plain flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
1/2 cup brown sugar

Peel and halve the pears scoop out the core
Run a fork over the back of the pears to score them so flavours pentrate
Arrange cut side down in greased baking dish.
Combine the remaining ingredients and spread over each pear
Bake for 10 mins at 200degrees C then reduce to 180degrees C for 15 minutes.
Serve with custard or cream

Spinach and Mushroom Tortilla

Over 20years ago I worked in a Mexican restaurant, it was hot hard work but the food that was created was delicious, the restaurant is still here in town, and still popular. During my years of bush living this dish was a regular when we ran out of meat,we picked fresh mushrooms grew spinach and I always had cheese, I make my own tortillas.

1 onion finely chopped
250 grams small mushrooms sliced thinly
1 mild chili deseeded and chopped finely
2 cloves garlic
s/p
250 gms spinach leaves
150 gms grated cheese
1/2 teaspoon Vegeta or 1 stock cube(optional)
6-8 tortillas

Fry onion in oil till soft, add mushrooms garlic and chili.
Add the spinach and cook till soft.
Add cheese and stock, s/p and stir till melted
let cool slightly add a spoonful of the mixture to the centre of the tortilla
fold in the ends and roll up ensure the tortillas are sealed.
Deep fry turning once till crisp and golden brown.

No fuss Jams

In Australia Jams are a family favorite and we devour many varieties during fresh fruit season, At present my Lemon and Orange trees are filling up with fruit so marmalade will be our breakfast treat.
These easy recipes are the most basic you can make, but certainly make Jam making affordable.


Always wash Jars in hot soapy water and rinse in hot water, place in oven to dry this is a good sanitiser.
When testing for setting point place a small amount on a saucer, when it cools it will set to the desired consistency
Lemon will build up the pectin

MARMALADE
500 grams oranges and lemons
5 cups water
1.5 kg white sugar

Wash and cut remove the pips, slice the fruit thinly
Place prepared fruit in a dish (not metal) and cover with the water stand overnight.
Place in a saucepan and boil till rind is soft, add sugar stirring till dissolved
Cook for 20 minutes till setting point has reached.
Bottle.


PLUM JAM
3 kg plums
2 cups water
1 teaspoon lemon juice
3 kg sugar

Wash plums and cut in half, remove stones
Place in a pan with the water and lemonjuice
Heat gently to boiling point and cook till plums are soft
Add sugar and stir till dissolved
Bring to the boil and boil rapidly, until it reaches setting point
Bottle.


APRICOT JAM
3kg apricots
2 1/2 cups water
3 kg sugar
juice 1 lemon
Wash and stone apricots combine apricots and water and simmer till fruit is soft
Add sugar and lemon juice stir till dissolved
Bring to boil and boil rapidly until it reaches setting point
Bottle

French Onion Soup

Its amazing how great a homemade onion soup is, its easy to make and delicious.
We tend to forget about onion as a feature in a meal we generally add onion to something else.
Try this for a tasty starter.

3 White onions sliced thinly
60gms butter
5 cups of chicken stock or water with 3 chicken stockcubes
salt /pepper
1/2 cup dry white wine (optional)

Fry the thinly sliced onions in butter till golden brown
Add the stock,S/P and simmer for 30 minutes add Wine.
Serve in a bowl place crusty bread and grated cheese on top of soup and grill till cheese melts.

Steak and kidney pudding

When I was 21 I cooked almost every recipe in a cook book I got for my birthday.
This Steak and kidney pudding was one of them, its an oldy but a goody.
I made it for years for my son who loved it, but in the last decade I have only cooked it a couple of times a year but I still love the flavour.


Crust
2 Cups Self Raising flour
1 teaspn salt
4 tablespns butter
cold water to mix
Filling
500gms beef (any steak)
200gms kidneys (lamb is my preference)
2 tablespns flour seasoned with salt/pepper
1 onion chopped
2 beef stock cubes

Add flour and salt/pepper into a blender add butter blend.
Add 1/2 cup water a spoonfull a time
Mix to a dough wrap in gladwrap,- rest 5-10mins
Knead pastry cut into 2 enough to line a greased pudding basin.
Save enough for a lid.

Wash and cut out the core and chop kidneys into pieces toss in flour.
chop onions
Cut steak toss in flour,add to greased pan and fry till just brown,add a small amount of water and more flour if needed to make a gravy, add 2 beef stock cubes . cool.
Fill pastry lined pudding basin. Roll out pastry lid and add to the top press edges well to seal.
Cover with greased paper and foil tie securly under the rim.
Place in pot of water that reaches just over 1/2 way up pudding basin, add lid to pot.
Steam for 3 hrs adding water when needed, do let the water get too high or too low.

Pumpkin Lasagna

Winter is coming so my diet changes to more comfort style foods. Pumpkin lasagna is very easy to make.
If you are a pumpkin lover as I am, you will find this a beaut.
Ensure lasagna sheets use fresh or sheets that need to be cooked for best results.

500 gms pumpkin, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic crushed
s/p
1 teaspoon vegeta stock cube
250 gms lasagna sheets
1 1/2 cups ricotta cheese
1 tin chopped tomatoes
1 cup grated cheese
fresh basil

Steam pumpkin and onion till tender
Cook lasagna till aldente
Mash or puree with 1 clove garlic s/p and ricotta cheese and vegeta.
Layer pumpkin, grated cheese and lasagna sheets finish with lasagna
Mix tomatoes, basil and 1 crushed garlic together and add on top and finish with grated cheese.
Bake about 30 minutes

Rosti Potatoes

I love to add these as an evening side dish or for a quick lunch with salad.

500gms Potatoes grated
500gms grated carrot
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/3 cup plain flour
3 tspns of cummin seeds
S/p
1 stock cube crushed (optional)

Wash the grated potatoe in cold water and squeeze to get excess water out.
Combine potato and carrot add eggs, flour and cummin seeds stock cubes and s/p.
Oil pan lightly and add spoonfulls and fry till cooked and golden brown

Fettucine with Ricotta & Ham sauce

There are so many ways to serve pasta and I have tried many over the years.
This is so easy, ricotta is still reasonably cheap even though it has doubled in price over the last 3 months.

1oz butter
2 leeks finely sliced
1 clove garlic
150 gms ham
2 cups ricotta cheese
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup tasty grated cheese
1 chicken stock cubes
milk
s/p
fettucine

In a saucepan, melt the butter,and add leeks cook till soft.
Cut ham into small dices and stir into leeks with garlic and cook for a further 2 minutes
In a bowl mix ricotta and sour cream s/p, crushed stock cube and add to bacon and leeks stir and cook till sauce has heated thru.(if you need to thin it out more add a bit of milk. Add grated cheese.
Serve with Fettucine

Traceys "Never Fail Sponge Cake"

I think we all love a sponge cake its pretty embeded into the Australian culture
I have never been any good with sponges as I'm too heavy handed with such a delicate food.
This recipe however was given to me from a student who made it for my birthday.
It was a success when I made it myself, so I hope you like me will find it a never fail sponge.


4 eggs(separated)
3/4 cup Castor sugar
pinch salt

Sift 4 times
3/4 cup cornflour
1 rounded tablespoon custard powder
1/2 teaspoon carb-soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar

Set oven to 180 degrees C
Grease and Line tin with cooking paper
Beat whites of eggs stifly with salt and add sugar slowly
Add yolks beat until well blended
Fold in the dry ingredients with a metal spoon
Pour mixture into a prepared tin
Bake on second shelf for 20-25 mins

Thai Panang Beef Balls

When Thai food started to be come popular here in Australia I learnt about the flavours that are associated with thai foods and fell in love with the cuisine immedietly
This fairly authentic Thai recipe is a favorite its so yummy and again another recipe so easy to make you can adjust the flavour to suit your tastes
I serve these with Rice, and they are a staple in my home Rod and I both love them

1/2 kg minced beef
1 spring onion chopped finelly
1/2 cup flour
3 tablespoons oil
2 tablespoons red curry paste (you may want to add more to taste)
1&1/2 cups coconut milk
2 tablespoons peanut butter
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons fish sauce
mint for garnish

Add spring onion to meat and roll into small balls, roll in flour
Heat oil in wok and fry beef balls until brown fry evenly
Remove and drain on paper
In remaing oil add curry paste and stir, to prevent sticking add coconut milk and stir then add fishsauce peanut butter and sugar, Taste to see if you want to add more of any ingredient to suit your tastes
Add meatballs to sauce simmer around 5 minutes.
Garnish with chopped mint
Serve with rice

Vegatable Filo

I love Filo pastry I dont use Frozen filo I like it from the fridge or fresh,and use it often for many dishes.
I remember when I first came across filo in a small delicatessan in Smith st Collingwood in my early 20,s.
The Deli transformed my way of cooking.
Smith st Collingwood was a multicultural diverse town before it turned upmarket and unaffordable.
This is a simple yummy vegatarian dish.
Make filling first


1 onion finelly chopped
small ammount of parsley chopped finely
1 cup pumkin grated
2 cup grated potato
1 cup grated carrot
when grated wash hands and squeeze excess moisture out with your hands before you add cheese
1 cup grated cheese
2 stock cubes
s/p
1 egg as a binder

Add all ingredients together and mix well it works better if you use your hands

2 tablespns Melted butter for brushing filo

Unfold filo pastry
Lay out one sheets and brush with melted butter continue till you have used around half the packet or you have a good thickness
Add filling to bottom half of filo fold the ends over and roll into strudel shape.
Brush with butter sprinkle with sesame seed, bake till golden brown in a moderate oven about 180 degrees C

Easy Hedgehog

I don't make hedgehog much these days but I still use them for catering
½ cup butter
½ cup sugar
3 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
250 grams Marie or arrowroot biscuits.
¾ cup of mixed fruit and nuts
½ cup glace cherries

Place butter, sugar and cocoa in saucepan over low heat.
Stir occasionally and when sugar is dissolved take off heat and add egg.
Combine with crushed biscuits.
Press into flat tin.
When cool ice with chocolate icing and cut into squares

Barley and shank Broth

An Australian Favorite this lovely winter soup,I learnt to make this as a child when shanks were sold as dog bones.
I love the flavour of pearl barley and lamb this is a magic tasty soup

Barley Shank Broth
3 shanks
10 cups water
2 carrot
I onion
2 stick celery
1 cup pearl barley, (soaked in water or pre cooked slightly)
2 Chicken stock cubes
salt and pepper.

Prepare vegetables and cut into small dice.
Fry meat bones in small amount of oil till they change colour,add vegetables to pot and fry for 1 minute add water and bring to the boil.
Add pearl barley Salt pepper and stock cubes ,Stir.
Simmer for at least 2hrs hours stiring occasionaly so that soup does not stick to bottom of pan.
Adjust salt and pepper and stock cubes by taste.
When cooked remove bones and chop meat into small pieces and add back to soup.
Serve with fresh bread.
You can cool it and skim of any fat that rises for a healthy version.

Ratatouille

When looking for something simple I often make a quick ratatouille especially when egg plants are in season,they always reminds me of “Fawlty Towers” and Manuel.
In the show basil the rat

Ratatouille
2 medium sized egg plants
4 zucchini
2 medium sized onions
5tomatoes
2 green peppers
2-3 cloves garlic
Basil
Salt /freshly ground pepper
Olive oil

Cut eggplant and zucchini into dices and sprinkle lightly with salt allowing
to stand for 1 hour then drain.
Slice onions finely
Chop tomatoes and cut peppers into cubes and finely chop the garlic.
Heat oil in a medium sized saucepan
Fry the onions and garlic, green peppers, eggplant cubes, zucchini and lastly the tomato
Sprinkle with basil
Salt and plenty of pepper to taste

Sweet Dough Balls

This sweet can be served with many sauces I have tried them with a Strawberry sauce and as an Indian dish with a rose water syrup.

2 eggs
2tablespoon water
2tablespoon oil
1/2 cup sugar
1-3/4 sr flour
sugar for coating

Whisk eggs,oil,water and sugar add flour mix to a dough and roll into small balls
Heat oil in pan and deep fry till golden brown roll in sugar and serve with your sauce choice.

Easy sauces
Add fruit or chocolate or rose water and cream to a pot simmer till cream starts to thicken
when thick serve over dough balls

Pasta and Mushroom Sauce

This is my I'm in a hurry pasta its so easy to make and tastes great It is actually quicker to make than going out for takeaway

cooked chicken chopped
1 capsicum chopped into pieces
1-1/2 cups cream
1 pkt french onion soup
250gms Mushrooms sliced
Pasta
Fry the capsicum first set aside fry mushrooms gently set aside,in a pot add chicken capsicum, soup mix, water and cream when starting to simmer add mushrooms
simmer for a few minutes till thickens slightly
when ready add Pasta stir serve with spring onion and grated cheese of you choice

Lemon tart

If your Lemon tree is in abundance like mine you are always looking for ways too use Lemons, This lemon custard tart is easy and yummy.
The pastry can be made in the food processor so its real simple to make.

pastry
1-1/2 cups flour
180 gms butter
1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoons cold water(iced if possible)
1 egg yolk
Add flour,butter and sugar to processor and blend, add the egg whisked with cold water, process till it starts to bind together.
knead slightly and wrap in gladwrap for about 20mins
Roll out to pie tin size, line greased tin with pastry, bake about 20mins

lemon custard filling
1 cup of lemon juice
5 eggs
3/4 cup of sugar
1/2 cup cream
combine lemon juice sugar and cream in a bowl and whisk, add the 5 eggs one at a time and keep whisking as you do it
pour into pastry shell and bake at 180 degrees C for around 20mins
serve with cream

Jelly Slice

I think most of us Aussies grew up loving "Jelly slices" the first time I made them was when I challenged myself and made every dish of one of my cookbooks It took almost a year to get through the book I was 21 at the time but it helped develop my love of cooking

250g packet marie or arrowroot biscuits, crushed
100gm Butter, melted
125gm Milk melts, melted
250g packet cream cheese
400g sweetened condensed milk
1/4 cup lemon juice
150gm White choc melts, melted
1tablespoon Gelatine
2tablespoon Water
85g packet jelly crystals
1cup boiling water

Grease and line bace and sides of a lamington pan
Combine crushed biscuits,melted butter and 125gms melted milk melts in a large bowl
Press over bace of greased lamington pan refrigerate for 15 minutes or until set
Place chopped cream cheese condensed milk and lemon juice and the rest of the melted white melts in a large bowl
Beat with an electric mixer until combined.
Sprinkle gelatine over water in a cup stand in pan of simmering water stir until dissolved
Mix into cream cheese mixture
Pour over prepared base refrigerate 1 hour or until set
Dissolve jelly crystals in boiling water in a heatproof jug cool to room temperature pour it over set cream cheese mixture
Refrigerate for several hours or until set before cutting
Use a warm knife to cut

A simple Tiramisu type dessert

This sort of aussie version of Tiramisu is a treat especially if you don't have much time and want it made in minutes, Its so easy to make there is no cooking It tastes great and everyone will love it a good one for dessert
The mascarpone can be swappped with cream cheese

boiling water
instant coffee
chocolate powder
sugar coated sponge biscuits
mascarpone cheese
condensed milk
In a medium bowl, combine two packages of mascarpone cheese and 1 can of condensed milk.
Add 1/4 cup of boiling water to a small bowl with 1 tablespoon instant coffee
Allow to cool then dip sugar coated biscuits in the coffee one by one until moistened.
Put 1 layer of the sponge biscuits into a larger ovenproof dish, and then spread a potion of the cream on top add another layer of the coffee biscuits and then spread another layer of cream
Finally put some chocolate powder in a sieve and sprinkle on top of the dish.

Calzones

I am rather new at this yummy dish I found an original Calzone recipe on a site and my students and I adjusted to suit the college cafe and our budget, so I can only lay claim to part of this recipe
They tasted amazing and the combination of flavours has turned me into a fan

1 pk yeast
1 c warm water
2 1/2 to 3 cup s/r flour
1 tablespoon sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon oil

Filling
Salami sliced and cut into strips
1 onion, chopped
1 green capsicum, in strips
1 Red capsicum
I egg plant sliced and cut into strips
2 olives whole
1 clove garlic, crushed
Jar/bottled Italian sauce
1 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon basil
1/4 teaspoon pepper
shredded Mozzarella
Grated Parmesan cheese
Tasty cheese

Add yeast to steel bowl with sugar and warm water stir with a whisk till bubbly let sit in a warm place
Add flour to a bowl with salt and oil.
Add warm water and dissolved yeast to the flour mix and mix thru
Pour out onto floured bread board and knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes
Place in lightly greased bowl, cover, let rise in a warm place covered with a clean tea towel about 45 minutes it will grow huge
While this is happening
In a large skillet cook separately the onion sit aside next the green and red pepper with the garlic and last the eggplant let cool in fridge
Slice Salami
Punch down dough and divide it into 12 equal pieces, and form into flat balls roll each piece on a lightly floured board to a circle
On one side of circle, add 1 tablespoon of Italian sauce grated cheeses capsicums eggplant salami onion and season with oregano basil salt and pepper
Fold plain half over filling, pinching edges well to seal. Place on greased baking sheets and press edges together with a fork place in oven a cook at 200◦C

Sweet corn and Mushroom filled pancakes

I make these every few weeks but change the fillings to suit the occassion, budget or mood
In this age of pancake mixes you can buy a mix for 60 cents a packet at your local supermarket if you dont feel like making them from scratch, make plenty and use some for dessert
These are so easy and kids also love them
1 ½ oz butter
Mushrooms, sliced
1 tin Creamed corn
2 cups white sauce
1 stock cube (Veg/Chick)
Cheese
Pancakes
salt and pepper

Melt the butter and cook the mushrooms until they are cooked but not too soft add seasoning and stock cube .
Stir the sweet corn with the mushrooms
Add the mixture to the white sauce season and then place the filling into each pancake.
Dot each one with oil or butter, sprinkle with grated cheese and bake in the oven

Chocolate self saucing pudding

How easy is this recipe an oldy but goody,My students were shocked to see how easy it was to make something so yummy! serve with whipped cream
1 cup self-raising flour
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/2 cup brown sugar
80g butter, melted, cooled a bit
1/2 cup milk
1 egg, lightly beaten
cream
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa powder, sifted
1 1/4 cups boiling water
Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease an 8-cup capacity ovenproof baking dish.
Sift flour and cocoa into a large bowl and stir in sugar
Combine butter, milk and egg slowly add to flour mixture whisking until well combined and smooth
Spoon into greased baking dish smooth top

Make sauce
Sprinkle combined sugar and cocoa over pudding.
Slowly pour boiling water over the back of a large metal spoon to cover pudding. Place dish onto a baking tray. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until pudding bounces back when pressed gently in centre. Serve hot with cream