This is my version of a baked Orzo pasta dish traditionally cooked with lamb but I’m using chicken legs. Ingredients: 1 large chopped onion 1 clove of crushed garlic 4 chicken legs 2 chopped tomatoes 1 1/2 cups of orzo pasta 750ml of chicken stock 10 – 12 green pitted olives 200g sliced mushrooms Half…
Category: Family
Pork and apple with cider and new potatoes
My husband loves the left over sauce with a pasta the following day, potatoes and all. It’s very Italian to have a “pasta con patate” (pasta with potatoes). It’s not the most attractive dish, it’s very “beige” but it is delicious! Ingredients: 500g pork fillet, cut into bite sized chunks 500g new potatoes 1 chopped…
Pork and fennel mince with cabbage
Pork and fennel are perfect flavour pairs. In this recipe I’ve used fennel seeds as well as chopped fennel bulbs. You can serve this as a one bowl wonder with a slice of crusty bread or as a ragu for pasta with some Parmesan cheese grated on top. It might take a few minutes to…
Baked chilli con carne and rice
This is not something that I make often but it is tasty and really easy because I use a spice sachet for the chilli and pre-cooked rice. Couldn’t be easier! Ingredients: 500g lean beef mince 1 chopped onion 3 chopped peppers 1 tablespoon of tomato purée 1 clove of chopped garlic 1 teaspoon of sugar…
Cherry tomato pasta sauce
This summer we had a bumper crop of tomatoes in the garden. We had tomato salad almost every night, sun dried tomatoes and of course I made tons of tomato pasta sauce to store for rainy days. Another super easy, super tasty sauce. To store the sauce for longer, top the sterilised jar you’ve put…
Insalata di riso (rice salad)
You don’t find rice salad often enough. It’s a great way to use up left over cooked rice too. Once again this is not much of a recipe and more like another chop and assemble job. Very simple. Very delicious. It’s great for a barbecue or served with grilled chicken or fish. Try it with…
Store cupboard chicken marinade
This is another one of those non-recipe recipes. Too easy. Just a mix, save and cool job. I’ve used ingredients that I tend to always have to hand, in the cupboard or the fridge. 6 – 8 skinless, boneless chicken thighs 1 tsp Dijon mustard 1 tsp wholegrain mustard 1 tbsp tomato ketchup 1 tsp…
Melenzane alla parmigiana (Aubergine parmigiana)
This is one of those dishes I’ve enjoyed many times in Italy when we visit. Almost every household has their own variation on the recipe, I’ve seen it done so many different ways, all slightly different to each other. I’ve used half parmesan and half cheddar which is not very Italian but this is my…
Broccoli and cauliflower soup
This is such a delicious soup and so easy to make, not to mention cheap. Serves between 2 and 4 depending on whether you’re serving as a starter or a main course. Ingredients: 900g fresh or frozen broccoli and/or cauliflower – I’ve used both in this recipe but you can use one or the other A…
Lamb and green bean bredie (stew)
This is a family recipe. Very South African. As a child it wasn’t my favourite but now I LOVE it! My Gran used to make it, my Mom makes it and I’m proud to say that it’s still a family favourite. I vary the original recipe only slightly by adding a couple of tomatoes, these…
Creamy baked ravioli and smoked haddock
This is a variation on a recipe I’ve made before (Baked ravioli with cauliflower white sauce) but instead of a tomato based sauce I’ve used my creamy cauliflower white sauce. To mix it up a bit I’ve added some frozen peas and smoked haddock. Serves 2 Ingredients: See cauliflower white sauce recipe 1 bag of…
Mediterranean beef stew
This is something that I’ve been making for at least 15 years now, I saw the recipe in a magazine and have made my own adaptions over the years. It’s a really tasty, warming dish that can be served with pasta, rice, mashed potato, gnocchi or even just a crusty bread roll to scrape up…
Cabbage, mince and tomato one pot wonder
This is another one pot wonder. A really lean, tasty and healthy dish. Enjoy with rice, topped on a baked potato, with crusty bread or just on it’s own as a low carb meal. Serves 4 Ingredients: 500g shredded cabbage 750g lean beef mince 1 or 2 cans of chopped tomatoes (depending on how juicy…
“Creamed” spinach
This is another one of my seriously easy cheat recipes. Simple and healthy, once again I have used one of my favourite “seasonings”, parmesan cheese. 200g frozen spinach 2 tablespoons of low fat natural yoghurt 2 tablespoons greated parmesan Salt and pepper to taste Cook the spinach according to the instructions, I put mine in…
Healthy baked and crumbed chicken thighs
I’ve already shared my recipe for traditional Chicken Milanese (i.e. crumbed chicken breasts) but this is the low fat, “low” mess version. Serves 2 4 skinless, boneless chicken thighs, you can also use mini chicken breasts 3 tablespoons of breadcrumbs 2 tablespoons grated parmesan 2 teaspoons of fresh herbs, I used oregano but you can…
Left over pasta frittata
This is a great brunch idea, or a “cook once, eat twice” type idea too. Ideal for a mid week dinner served with a salad or just on its own. Serves 2/3 – add more eggs to serve 4 people Left over pasta, any type really, I’ve used spaghetti but you can even use penne…
Hidden Veg Mince
This is a very standard issue beef mince sauce. All I’ve done is add a few more veggies to stretch it out, make it tastier and HIDE them from children who don’t like to eat their veg! The secret to getting this to taste extra special is to allow it to cook for at least…
Baked ravioli with cauliflower white sauce
This has got to be one of the easiest pasta al forno dishes out there. Once you’ve made the white sauce this is really just an assembly job. So easy, so delicious AND the sauce is a healthy alternative to a white sauce, just as creamy but loaded with veg. If you haven’t made the…
Cauliflower White Sauce
This is a fab cheats’ béchamel / white sauce. A quick and simple white sauce that’s healthy; a great hidden veg recipe! Use for all sorts of baked pasta’s such as lasagne, ravioli, cannelloni and obviously, for broccoli and/or cauliflower cheese bake. 1 cauliflower 1 pint of milk 100g grated parmesan 100g cheddar cheese (optional) 1 teaspoon of mustard…
Marinated beef steaks
This is another one of those really easy recipes; it’s actually not really a recipe at all ;-). Steak is great on its own with salt and pepper but if you leave these pieces of steak for long enough in the marinade (at least 2 hours) it just adds so much to the flavour. These are…
Tomato salad…. so simple… yet so effective
You might question why it’s even necessary to write this up as a recipe because it really is so simple. It’s another one I’ve taken from my mom in law and adapted ever so slightly and I think it’s worth sharing. Firstly, because it is just so good and secondly, because whenever I make this, everyone…
Turkey and apple polpette (meatballs)
These are so savoury yet sweet and tasty, much healthier than other types of meatballs as turkey is so low in fat. The apple combination is perfect, you wouldn’t know it was there but it works so well. I recently made these as part of a “finger food” selection at a party, hence the large…
Lemon, garlic and herb chicken thighs
This is a really low effort recipe, great for a barbeque but you do need time for the meat to marinate well. Serves 4 4 – 6 skinless, boneless chicken thighs 2 tablespoons olive oil Handful of chopped fresh herbs, I tend to use coriander and/or oregano Juice of 1 lemon 2 or 3 tablespoons…
Salsa di pomodoro (home made tomato pasta sauce)
My mother in law makes her own tomato sauce from the tomatoes that are grown on the family farm and each year she harvests tomatoes to make sauces, passatas and sun dried tomatoes. The family will eat these sauces throughout the year until the next summer. This is my version of my mother in law’s…
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