Wass4Dinner

slow-cooked beef ragu with gnocchi

2011-07-26T13:49:00.003+02:00

this is simply the best thing i've had in ages...

in a saucepan over a medium to low heat, gently fry 6 finely chopped carrots, 4 finely chopped leeks and 4 cloves of finely sliced garlic cloves in a dash of olive oil until softened, not colored.

add 2 tablespoons of tomato paste, 6 anchovy fillets, 1 chopped sprig of rosemary, 1 tablespoon chopped oregano, 3 tablespoons chopped flat-leafed parsley and 1 x 400g tin of chopped tomatoes. simmer for 20 minutes.

add 1.5kg beef shin, 1 cup beef stock, 1 cup of red wine, cover and simmer for about 2 hours or until the beef is broken up and the sauce has thickened. check seasoning.

cook 500g fresh potato gnocchi according to instructions, drain and stir through the beef ragu. scatter with grated parmesan cheese and enjoy!!!

Pasta with butternut and chicken

2011-04-18T11:42:00.003+02:00

This recipe created itself totally accidentally. Here's how...

On a certain day, I took 2 whole butternut squash, halved and de-seeded them, and filled them with creamed spinach, before wrapping them in foil and baking them in an oven for 1½ hours at 180º Celsius. We never got around to eating them, so the next day...

I took the butternut, cut it into chunks (with or without the skin, your choice) and placed it in a buttered over-proof dish. I topped it with 250g cooked penne rigate and sprinkled it with grated Parmesan cheese. Then I took a ready-roast chicken, tore it into chunks and put in pieces in and around the butternut pasta. Then I covered the dish with foil and baked it in the oven for 30 minutes at 180º Celsius to warm it through.

Delicious with crusty bread, garlic bread or a salad.

Lamb and Barley Soup

2011-04-18T11:20:00.002+02:00

In a big soup pot, gently sweat 2 roughly chopped onions and 5 chopped celery sticks.

Then layer as follows: 1.5kg lamb knuckles, 2 cups of pearl barley, 5 large carrots chopped into chunks, 350g green beans sliced into length of your choice, 3 medium potatoes, roughly cubed, 3 large sweet potatoes, also cubed, and 500g of butternut chunks.

Add 200ml Maggi Arome, 4 tablespoons of vegetable stock powder, and top with water to cover it all.

Bring to boil then reduce heat to a gentle bubble, cover, and simmer undisturbed for about 3 hours. Thereafter, stir through and top with water to keep all ingredients submerged. Continue simmering, covered, until the meat falls off the bone and the soup has reached a consistency of your choice.

Check seasoning and enjoy!

chicken schnitzel with gnocci and spinach

2010-11-16T08:36:00.000+02:00

place 4 chicken schnitzel on a lightly greased roasting tray and bake according to instructions, normally about 15 minutes at 180°c.

heat a tablespoon of butter and glug of olive oil a large pan over medium heat. add 500g of fresh gnocchi and fry until golden brown before turning over and allowing the other side to get nice and crispy. remove from the pan, season and set aside.

in the same pan, saute 400g of spinach with a crushed clove of garlic and a pinch nutmeg. when the spinach is just wilted, add a squeeze of lemon juice and season to taste.

serve the warm schnitzels with some cheese sauce, the fried gnocchi and spinach.

caprese lamb stacks

2010-11-15T15:25:00.001+02:00

in a large frying pan, brown 12 lamb chops for about 3 minutes per side. place on a roasting tray and season with lemon juice, salt & pepper.

on 6 of the lamb chops, place a slice of tomato (sprinkled with some salt), a few basil leaves and finally a slice of mozzarella.

cover with the other 6 lamb chops to make little ‘sandwiches’ and tie together with string or stick a skewer through it.

place in a 180°c oven for 10 minutes until the cheese has melted and the lamb is just cooked.

the mozzarella oozes out everywhere, but don’t worry about that, it adds to the yumminess. scoop it all up and serve.

spicy lamb wraps

2010-11-09T16:24:00.000+02:00

in a heavy-based pan, brown 500g of cubed, lean, boneless lamb and 1 finely sliced onion in olive oil. stir often to prevent catching.

season lightly, reduce the heat and stir in 2 tablespoons of tikka masala paste until well coated.

add 1 tin (450g) of chopped tomatoes, stirring to loosen any browned bits. simmer, uncovered, stirring every now and again for about 40 minutes or until the lamb is tender and the sauce well reduced. check seasoning. turn off the heat and stir through 100g of baby spinach leaves.

spoon the hot lamb mixture onto warm naan breads.

serve with a cucumber yoghurt - ½ grated english cucumber, 1 teaspoon of mint sauce, 2 cloves of finely chopped garlic, and a handful of freshly chopped coriander leaves mixed with 1 cup of thick plain yoghurt, salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

portuguese fish stew

2010-11-08T15:59:00.000+02:00

heat ½ cup of olive oil in a large casserole. add 2 large chopped onions and cook very gently for about 30 minutes, until meltingly soft and pale. this method of reducing onions and olive oil to a thick, sweet puree is known as refogado, and is the basis for many portuguese dishes.

meanwhile, cut 1kg of skinned and filleted mixed fish into large chunks, salt and set aside for 20 minutes.

to the casserole dish, stir through 1 chopped clove of garlic and add 1 large chopped green pepper and cook gently for about 10 minutes until softened. add 1 tin (400g) of chopped tomatoes or 500g for fresh tomatoes, chopped, 2 teaspoons of paprika, 1 bay leaf, a few sprigs of fresh parsley and 1-2 small hot red chillies, whole. simmer for about 10 minutes until nicely reduced.

pour in 2 cups of fish stock, ½ cup of dry white wine and simmer briskly for 10 minutes.

add the prepared fish, 300g of cleaned prawns, 250g of closed, cleaned clams or mussels, cover and cook for 10 minutes until the fish is just cooked and the clams/mussels have opened. discard any unopened clams/mussels. check seasoning. dd a generous handful of fresh coriander leaves.

serve with chunks of crusty bread for dipping, or a few boiled potatoes.

chicken and prawn curry

2010-11-07T16:02:00.002+02:00

in a pan over medium heat, brown 1kg of cubed chicken breasts in butter, remove and set aside. add 1 finely sliced onion and fry until translucent.

add 3 teaspoons of ginger paste, 3 finely chopped cloves of garlic, 2 teaspoons of tumeric powder and 1 teaspoon of garam masala. cook until the mixture becomes fragrant.

mix 2 tablespoons of tomato paste with 1 cup of water and add to 2 pureed tomatoes. add to the pan with 1 tin (400g) of coconut cream and cook for 5 minutes.

return the chicken to the pan and cook until tender.

place 1kg of cleaned prawns on top of the chicken and allow to steam until cooked. stir through when ready to serve.

garnish with fresh mint and coriander and serve with basmati rice and naan bread.

paella

2010-11-06T15:53:00.003+02:00

pour some olive oil into a paella pan and heat gently. brown 8 – 10 pieces of chicken on both sides and set aside.

in the same pan, gently fry 2 thinly sliced onions until softened. add 4 thinly sliced red or yellow peppers and cook until softened. stir in 3 chopped cloves of garlic and 2 cups of uncooked rice. add 1 tin (450g) of chopped tomatoes, 1½ cups of chicken stock and 250ml of dry white wine or verjuice.

bring to boil, then mix in a good pinch of paprika and saffron. add the browned chicken pieces, cover and simmer gently for about 15 minutes. add 400g of defrosted and cleaned prawns, about 20 mussels, scrubbed and de-bearded, and cover tightly with a lid.

simmer for about 10 minute or until the mussels have opened (discard any unopened mussels) and all the ingredients are cooked through and tender. check seasoning and sprinkle with torn italian parsley.

coconut prawn curry with tomato salsa

2010-11-05T15:49:00.002+02:00

heat a glug of olive oil to a medium heat and gently fry 1 tablespoon of curry paste, 2 cloves of garlic and a 5cm piece of finely chopped ginger. add 400ml coconut milk and 2 tablespoons of peanut butter and simmer for 10 minutes.

add 400g of cleaned prawns and cook for 5 – 10 minutes. remove from heat and set aside.

stir 300g of blanched baby spinach through the prawn curry, ladle into deep bowls and top with the tomato salsa. serve immediately.

for the tomato salsa, slice 2 tomatoes into wedges, then crush them between your fingers and toss with 50g coconut shavings, ¼ cup chopped coriander, 1 crushed dried chilli, and salt and pepper to taste.

great with basmati rice or naan bread.

banana bread

2010-11-04T16:27:00.005+02:00

cream 125g of butter and 1 cup of castor sugar. add 2 eggs, one at a time, and beat well. add 3 mashed, very ripe, large bananas and 1 teaspoons of vanilla essence. fold mixture into 2 cups of flour, 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda and 1 teaspoon of baking powder.

bake in a buttered loaf tin at 180º celsius for about 45 minutes.

leave to cool for 5 minutes before turning out. an absolute family favourite, this is!

frikkadels with spicy paprika-tomato sauce

2010-11-04T15:44:00.002+02:00

for the frikkadels, mix together 750g beef mince, 2 eggs, ½ cup breadcrumbs, ½ cup chopped chives, 1 finely chopped red onion, salt and freshly ground black pepper. form into bite-sized meatballs and gently fry until browned. set aside.

for the sauce, heat a glug of olive oil and fry 4 fresh tomatoes cut into chunks, 1 finely chopped red onion, and 4 cloves of garlic over a medium heat until softened and fragrant.

add 2 tablespoons of smoked paprika, 1 tin (450g) of chopped tomatoes, 2 tablespoons of tomato paste, 2 tablespoons of worcester sauce, 1 crushed dried chilli and 1 tablespoon of sugar. simmer for about 10 minutes until thickened, add the meatballs and simmer for a further 20 minutes.

serve with either a pasta of your choice, or with crusty bread, and top with a generous scoop of guacamole.

to make guacamole, mash 1 ripe avocado with a finely chopped fresh chili, freshly chopped coriander, a squeeze of lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste.

butter chicken

2010-06-21T11:38:00.002+02:00

combine ½ cup of natural yoghurt, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 teaspoon tumeric, 2 teaspoons garam masala, 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger and 2 cloves of crushed garlic in a bowl. add 1kg chopped chicken breasts, stir well, cover and refrigerate overnight.

place 60g of roasted cashew nuts in a food processor and ground until fine.

heat 60g butter and 1 tablespoon of sunflower oil in a pan over medium heat, add 1 finely chopped onion, 1 teaspoon ground cardamom, 1 cinnamon stick and 1 bay leaf and cook for about 2 minutes under the onion starts to soften. reduce heat to low, add the chicken and marinade, and 2 teaspoons sweet paprika, 425ml tomato passata, the cashew powder and 150ml chicken stock. simmer for 20 minutes. stir in 1 cup of thickened cream and cook for a further 10 minutes.

garnish with whole cashew nuts, fresh coriander and serve with basmati rice and naan bread.

tomato chutney chicken

2010-06-21T11:36:00.001+02:00

preheat oven to 180º celsius.

mix 1 tablespoon grated ginger, a pinch of chilli flakes, ¾ cup of tomato chutney, the zest and juice of 1 lemon and ½ cup of chicken stock together, and toss with 8 chicken pieces.

place in an ovenproof dish and bake, uncovered, for 35 minutes.

add 125g of rosa tomatoes and return to the oven for a further 15 minutes until cooked through and slightly caramalised.

scatter with fresh coriander before serving

moroccan meatballs with poached eggs

2010-06-21T11:33:00.002+02:00

meatballs:

combine 500g lamb mince, 1 tablespoon ground cumin, 1 tablespoon ground coriander, 1 tablespoon paprika, the zest of 1 lemon, 1 finely chopped onion, ½ cup of finely chopped mint, 2 crushed cloves of garlic, salt and freshly ground black pepper.

roll into small, bite-sized balls. heat a glug of olive oil in a pan and brown the meatballs. set aside.

sauce:

gently fry 1 chopped onion and 2 cloves of crushed garlic in a glug of olive oil until soft. add 1 tablespoon of mixed dried herbs, 2 tablespoons of tomato paste, 1 410g tin of chopped tomatoes and a pinch of sugar.

add the meatballs to the sauce, cover and simmer for about 20 minutes until the sauce has thickened slightly.

create hollows between the meatballs and crack 4 eggs into the hollows. cover and simmer until the eggs have set to your liking.

serve immediately with crusty bread to mop up the sauce.

italian bread salad

2010-06-21T11:31:00.002+02:00

heat oven to 200º celsius.

tear 1 ciabatta loaf into small chunks, place on a baking tray, drizzle with a touch of olive oil and bake for 5 minutes until golden.

place 6 quartered tomatoes, 4 cloves of garlic and a few sprigs of thyme on a baking tray, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and freshly ground black pepper. bake for 10 minutes, then allow to cool slightly.

toss the croutons, tomatoes, 1 disk of sliced camembert cheese and a handful of fresh rocket leaves together and drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. allow to stand for 20 minutes before serving.

quick fish pie

2010-06-21T11:27:00.002+02:00

peel and dice 5 large potatoes, 1 onion and 3 cloves of garlic in a pot, cover with chicken stock and cook until tender. drain and mash with butter and milk, season and set aside.

melt 4 tablespoons of butter in a pot and add 4 tablespoons of flour. remove from heat and gradually add 400ml milk to form a smooth sauce. return to heat and allow to boil and thicken. add 150g grated cheddar cheese to the sauce and stir to melt. season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. set aside.

cube 500g hake fillets and mix with 1 cup frozen peas, ¼ cup of finely chopped parsley and the cheese sauce.

place in an ovenproof dish, top with mashed potatoes and bake at 200º celsius for about 30 minutes until cooked and golden brown.

snoek bobotie

2010-05-31T16:34:00.002+02:00

preheat oven to 180º celsius.

cut 1kg fresh snoek into large pieces, place into a large saucepan of boiling water and simmer gently until cooked, about 5 – 10 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fish. drain, allow to cool, then carefully flake the fish, removing the bones.

place 2 slices of bread into a bowl and pour over ½ cup of milk and leave to soak.

in a pan, gently fry 1 cup of chopped onions until soft, and then add 1 teaspoon finely grated fresh ginger, 1 clove of finely chopped garlic, 4 curry leaves (optional), 1 teaspoon crushed cumin seeds, 1 teaspoon crushed coriander, the seeds from 3 cardamom pods and 2 teaspoons of mild curry powder. stir-fry for 2 minutes and add 1 x 410g tin of chopped, peeled tomatoes. let this bubble away until reduced and the mixture starts to thicken.

squeeze the excess milk from the bread and break into large crumbs. sprinkle over the snoek flakes and add the spice sauce. stir gently to combine and transfer to a backing dish. add 4 lemon or bay leaves and 4 sticks of cassia.

beat 1½ cups of milk plus the milk left from the bread with 3 large eggs, pour over the fish and bake for 40 – 45 minutes, or until set and the edges have browned.

serve with basmati rice, naan bread and fruit chutney.

what is snoek?

Etymology: Afrikaans from Dutch zeesnoek 'sea pike'.

Noun: Snoek

An edible fish Thyrsites atun native to South African (Cape), South American and Australian waters, often smoked or salted. …a long, bony fish that looks like a second cousin of a barracuda…

Abstract--Snoek (Thyrsites atun) is a valuable commercial species and an important predator of small pelagic fishes in the Benguela ecosystem. The South African population attains 50% sexual maturity at a fork length of ca.73.0 cm (3 years). Spawning occurs offshore during winter-spring, along the shelf break (150-400 m) of the western Agulhas Bank and the South African west coast. [2]

Snoek: A silvery and oily fish, traditional to the Cape. It is available fresh when in season and frozen at other times of the year. It has long needle like bones and doesn't need to be scaled before cooking.

Use: It can be smoked, grilled, baked, fried or poached and served with lemon, garlic, dried chillies and melted butter for extra flavour. Although it's quite an oily fish, when baked or grilled it should be basted well to prevent it from overdrying. Wrapped in foil with onion, green pepper and tomato slices and barbequed over hot coals is also a South African favourite. It makes delicious hors d'oeuvres, soufflés, quiches, and roulades.

exert from http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/snoek

tagliatelle with lamb bolognaise

2010-05-18T08:43:00.001+02:00

trim the fat off 400g lamb steaks and chop fairly finely. heat olive oil in a deep pan, add 1 finely chopped onion and the lamb, and cook over a brisk eat until browned. stir in 1 crushed clove of garlic.

pour in ½ cup of beef stock and stir to loosen any bits sticking to the pan. add 3 tablespoons of chopped parsley and a 800g tin of chopped tomatoes. cover and simmer for about 30 minutes until the lamb is tender. season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

cook 400g of tagliatelle, drain and mix with half the sauce. Pass the rest of the sauce and parmesan cheese around at the table…

mussel chowder with cheese muffins

2010-05-06T09:05:00.000+02:00

place a large saucepan over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon of butter and 1 tablespoon of olive oil and gently sauté 4 baby leeks, 3 cloves of thinly sliced garlic and 2 potatoes, peeled and diced. do not allow them to colour.

add 1kg of fresh mussels and turn up the heat. stir-fry briefly before adding 1 cup of dry white wine. stir for a further minute or two and add ½ cup of cream and 2 cups of chicken stock. season to taste and leave to simmer for 10 minutes. remove from heat and with a slotted spoon, remove the mussels from the broth. discard any unopened mussels. then discard the shells from about half the mussels, returning the plump flesh to the broth. to serve, return the remaining shelled mussels to the broth and garnish with a fresh sprigs of sage. serve with cheese muffins.

cheese muffins

preheat oven to 220º celsius.

grease a muffin pan or used paper muffin cups in the pan.

place 3 cups of grated strong cheddar cheese, 2 cups of flour and 2 tablespoons of baking powder in a bowl. mix well.

mix 2 large eggs and a ¾ cup of milk, and combine with the flour mixture to form a soft, sticky dough.

spoon the mixture in the muffin pan and bake for 12-15 minutes until puffed and golden.

baked penne with tomato & bacon sauce

2010-05-05T08:02:00.000+02:00

preheat oven to 180º celsius.

cook 400g penne pasta according to instructions until al dente. drain and set aside.

heat a glug of olive oil in a pan. add 2 cloves of crushed garlic, and 5 chopped rashers of bacon and sauté for about 3 minutes. add 125g of halved cherry tomatoes for cook for a further 2 minutes. add 2 x 410g tins of chopped peeled tomatoes for cook for another 4 minutes.

remove from heat and stir through 1 tablespoon of freshly chopped basil.

stir through the cooked pasta and spoon into a buttered ovenproof dish. sprinkle with ½ cup of breadcrumbs, ½ cup of grated cheddar cheese and ½ teaspoon of chilli flakes.

drizzle with olive oil and bake for about 15 minutes until golden and crispy.

baked fish with biryani rice

2010-05-03T09:44:00.000+02:00

preheat oven to 180º celsius.

lightly season 4 portions of yellowtail (about 100g each) with salt and freshly ground black pepper. mix 1 teaspoon of cape malay curry powder with 2 tablespoons of melted butter and coat the fish. set aside.

melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a saucepan over medium heat and soften 1 finely chopped onion. then stir in 2 teaspoons of cape malay curry powder, 1 teaspoon of cumin, ¼ teaspoon turmeric, 3 cardamom pods and 1 cup of basmati rice. add 2 cups of water, 1 cinnamon stick, 1 bay leaf and 1 teaspoon salt. bring to bubble, cover and reduce heat. cook for about 10 minutes or until the liquid has been absorbed.

turn the rice into a greased baking dish and bury the fish in the rice. cover with foil and bake for 15 minutes, or until the fish is just cooked and still moist and the rice fluffy and tender. check seasoning.

add 1 clove of crushed garlic and 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh mint to 1 cup of buttermilk or low-fat yoghurt. spoon over the fish and rice and serve immediately.

great with naan bread.

salmon frittata

2010-05-02T12:51:00.002+02:00

preheat oven to 220º celsius. boil 2 medium potatoes in their skin and allow to cool, then peel and dice.

whisk 6 large eggs, 100ml fresh cream, ¼ cup of grated cheese and salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

heat a large knob of butter in a 20cm non-stick ovenproof saucepan over medium heat. add the diced potatoes, 2 grated baby marrows and 120g of smoked salmon. pour over the egg mixture. cook for about 5 minutes over a low heat until the edges start to set.

place the saucepan in the preheated oven for about 10 minutes until cooked through.

serve with fresh rocket leaves and crusty bread.

mediterranean burgers

2010-03-24T16:30:00.002+02:00

this is anything but a burger, but for something more delicious, you’ll have to search a long way……

for the patties:
mix 3 tablespoons of breadcrumbs (preferably home-made), 6 fresh sage leaves, finely chopped, the grated rind of 1 lemon, 2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon white pepper, 5 finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes and 175ml milk, and leave to swell for a few minutes. add 800g of minced beef and combine well. form into patties and brown in a little butter. set aside.

for the sauce:
combine 750ml cream, 15 finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes, 10 fresh sage leaves, finely chopped, 3 tablespoons capers, salt and pepper in a large saucepan and bring to a boil. add the browned burgers and let them cook through. it’s okay to leave them for longer, but it will only take a few minutes.

serve with pasta of your choice boiled in plenty of salted water.

penne with crushed tomatoes

2010-03-08T16:44:00.002+02:00

in a large pan, gently heat about 4 tablespoons of olive oil and ½ cup of roughly chopped italian (flat-leafed) parsley. add 500g fresh whole rosa tomatoes and fry until they start to pop. using a potato masher, crush the tomatoes to make a rough sauce. add 2 cloves of finely chopped garlic, salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

in the meantime, cooked 350g of penne until al dente, drain and add to the tomato sauce.

add about 150g good quality soft mozzarella, torn into smallish pieces, mix through the pasta and allow to melt.

check seasoning and serve immediately. deeeeevine!

ina's incredible rice salad

2010-01-08T16:29:00.002+02:00

gently cook 1 cup of rice in 2 and a bit cups of salted water until all the water has been absorbed. set aside.

melt 2 generous tablespoons of butter in a large frying pan. add 250g chopped mushrooms and fry over a high heat until the moisture from the mushrooms has cooked away. reduce the heat and add 1 sliced onion, 1 each green, red and yellow pepper and 2 teaspoons of finely chopped garlic. fry gently until softened and golden in colour. add salt and freshly grated black pepper to taste.

add 1 cup of cubed mixed vegetables, the frozen kind that includes carrots, peas and corn, which has been cooked and drained.

stir through the cooked rice, add a tablespoon or so of mayonnaise and transfer to your serving dish.

serve at room temperature. absolutely delicious!!!

sweet mustard

2009-12-21T11:22:00.002+02:00

yesterday we were talking about christmas eve and our traditional meal of bockwurst und kartoffelsalad, potted cheese butter and hot rolls. the bean then requested i make his favourite sweet mustard with it, which of course i'd happily do. only, i went through the drawer twice, three times, and couldn’t find the recipe… my heart nearly stopped. only to find it the tiny scrap of paper its written on right at the bottom in the corner, wheeeew. so, to make sure i do not to loose again, i’d better put it here…

mix together 1 cup of white sugar, 110g of hot english mustard power and a 397g tin of sweetened condensed milk.

add 200ml mayonnaise and 200ml vinegar and combine well.

pour into glass bottles and refrigerate.

waldorf salad

2009-08-18T17:51:00.002+02:00

core and chop 4 crisp, green apples into bite size pieces. sprinkle 1 tablespoon of lemon juice over the apples to prevent them from browning.

plump up ½ cup of raisins. do this by soaking them in hot tap water, covered, and letting them stand for a few minutes. drain well and add them to the apples pieces.

thinly slice about 3 stalks of celery, and add to the salad.

add ½ cup of walnuts, although i prefer to use macadamia nuts instead, your choice…

in a bowl, mix ½ cup of mayonnaise with 3 teaspoons of sugar and then stir through the salad, coating all the ingredients.

a fresh, crunchy and chewy salad, perfect for hot summer days.

cheesy gnocchi bolognaise

2009-08-10T10:14:00.003+02:00

pre-heat oven to 200º celsius.

in a frying pan, gently fry 1 finely chopped onion and 2 crushed cloves of garlic in olive oil until soft. increase heat and add 750g lean beef mince. break up with a wooden spoon and cook until browned.

add 600ml pasta sauce (of your choice), season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, and bring to a boil. reduce heat and simmer for about 20 minutes, until sauce thickens.

in the meantime, cook 650g gnocchi in salted water according to instructions and drain.

spoon the bolognaise mixture in an oven-proof dish. top with the cooked gnocchi. sprinkle with grated cheddar cheese.

bake for about 20 minutes until the cheese has browned.

sausage sandwiches

2009-07-23T07:41:00.003+02:00

heat oven to 220º celsius.

put 16 pork sausages in a roasting tin with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and a few sprigs of fresh thyme. roast in the oven for 20 minutes.

add 250g sliced mushrooms and 150g cherry tomatoes, drizzle with a bit more olive oil and 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar. return to oven and cook for a further 20 minutes, stirring through after 10 minutes, until cooked through.

heat 6 ciabatta rolls in the oven, and serve the sausage and vegetables on buttered rolls with onion marmalade.

butternut bredie

2009-06-22T15:49:00.001+02:00

bredie is the sa word for stew. this is 100% pure winter food...

heat a dash of olive oil in a large saucepan and sauté 2 large sliced onions and 2 cloves of crushed garlic until soft. add 1kg stewing lamb and brown over high heat.

mix 3 tablespoons of marmite with 300ml boiling water and add to the saucepan. cover and simmer gently for 1½ hours.

add 300g baby potatoes, 2kg diced butternut, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon and 2 teaspoons brown sugar. continue to simmer for a further hour or until meat is tender.

mix 2 tablespoons of flour with cold water and stir through the bredie. simmer for a further 10 minutes until the sauce has thickened to your liking, adding salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.

serve with rice. yummy…

THE best butternut-mash

2009-06-17T17:56:00.001+02:00

place 1kg of cleaned, peeled and cubed butternut into boiling water and cook until soft. drain.

mash the butternut while still warm, add a dash of olive oil to moisten, 1 generous teaspoon of freshly crushed garlic, 60g grated parmesan cheese, salt and freshly ground black pepper. thin with water to your favourite consistency.

have it as you would potato mash, try it with a saucy stew or with gravy. so, so good!

fresh pineapple salsa

2009-06-14T12:45:00.001+02:00

combine 2 cups of coarsely chopped fresh pineapple, ½ cup of chopped sweet red pepper, ¼ cup finely chopped red onions, 2 tablespoons of lime juice, 1 tablespoon snipped fresh chives, 1 tablespoon honey, and 1 small fresh jalapeno peppers, seeded and finely chopped. stir through well. cover and refrigerate for 2 hours before serving.

excellent with grilled salmon
or combine with cooked fresh fish of your choice and add mayo for a fish salad

linquini with slow-cooked chorizo sauce

2009-06-12T17:27:00.003+02:00

heat a dash of olive oil in a large saucepan. cut 500g of chorizo sausage into small cubes and slowly fry until the juice from the sausages has evaporated and the fat begins to run.

add 2 small red onions, chopped, 6 cloves of chopped garlic, 2 small red chillies, chopped and seeded, and 2 bay leaves. cook gently until the onions start to brown, about 20 minutes.

increase heat and add a third of a cup of dry red wine and cook until the wine has evaporated. lower the heat, add 2 x 410g tins of whole, peeled tomatoes, cover and cook until you have a thick sauce, about 45 minutes.

season with ½ teaspoon nutmeg, salt and freshly ground black pepper. stir through 120g grated parmesan cheese and 150ml double cream. heat through and serve with 500g linguine (or spaghetti).

tomato & prawn pasta

2009-05-15T16:30:00.002+02:00

heat olive oil in a saucepan and fry 1 chopped onion and 4 cloves of garlic until soft. add ¼ cup dry white wine, cook for about 1 minute, and add 1 410g tin of chopped tomatoes, 1½ tablespoons of freshly chopped parsley, 1 tablespoon drained capers, ½ teaspoon dried oregano, ½ teaspoon dried basil, 1 crushed dried chili, and salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. cook for about 5 minutes. add 500g peeled and de-veined prawns, and cook, stirring, until pink, about 3 minutes.

boil 1 cup of orzo pasta (orzo is a small rice-shaped pasta) (or use any small shape pasta of your choice) in boiling water until tender. drain and transfer to a buttered baking dish. toss the tomato-prawn sauce through, sprinkle with ½ cup of crumbled feta cheese and fresh parsley.

bake uncovered for about 10 minutes at 180º celsius until the feta is bubbly.

serve immediately with a fresh salad and crusty bread!

bobotie

2009-05-14T16:26:00.000+02:00

this is a traditional cape malay curry dish called bobotie. try it, you’ll love it!

heat olive oil in a large saucepan, and gently fry 2 sliced onions until soft and transparent. add 1kg ground beef mince and fry until lightly browned and crumbly.

soak 2 slices of bread in 1 cup of milk until soft, squeeze out the milk and add to the beef mixture. reserve the milk!

add to the beef mixture: 1 tablespoon medium curry powder, 2 teaspoons salt, ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, ¾ teaspoon turmeric, 1½ tablespoons malt vinegar, ½ cup of seedless raisins and 2 tablespoons chutney. stir until well combined and spoon into a greased baking dish. push 2 bay leaves into the mixture.

bake for 25 minutes at 180º celsius.

beat 2 eggs with the reserved milk from the bread, and pour it over the mixture. bake for a further 25 minutes until the egg has set and has browned.

serve with steamed rice (traditionally a dash of turmeric is added to the rice for a yellow colour) and extra chutney.

great in winter to warm the soul, equally delicious cold in the summer with a salad.

chunky chilli casserole

2009-04-21T09:09:00.000+02:00

heat a dash of olive oil in a large casserole dish. dice 1kg of steak (i use sirloin or rump) and fry with 250g smoked bacon that has been cut into bite-size pieces. remove from pan.

fry 1 large sliced onion, 3 celery sticks, 3 crushed dried bird’s eye chilli’s, 2 chopped carrots and 1 chopped courgette for about 5 minutes. add 1 generous tablespoon of smoked paprika and fry for a further 2 minutes.

return the meat, add 700g passata (or 2 tins of chopped tomatoes) and 500ml beef stock.

bring to boil, cover and simmer gently for about 1 hour until the meat is tender and the sauce has thickened nicely. sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley and serve.

…with mashed potatoes, crusty bread, whatever takes your fancy.

caesar salad

2009-04-20T09:59:00.004+02:00

my way…

fry 100g streaky bacon in a pan until crispy. slice one french loaf thinly, and toast in a little olive oil.

in a salad bowl, toss 200g of endive salad leaves, the cooled bacon and croutons. garnish with shavings of parmesan cheese. pour dressing over.

the dressing…

mix 2 egg yolks, the juice of 1 lemon, 6 anchovy fillets and 2 cloves of crushed garlic. add ½ cup of olive oil in a slow steady stream, whisking all the time, until a thick emulsion forms. season to taste.

caprese salad

2009-04-19T15:57:00.000+02:00

my new favourite....

thickly slice an even amount of mozzarella and tomatoes. overlap the tomato and cheese on a serving platter, inserting fresh basil leaves between the layers. drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

easy sausage rolls

2009-04-18T10:55:00.000+02:00

pre-heat oven to 220º celsius.

mix 3 tablespoons of wholegrain mustard with 1 tablespoon runny honey. coat 40 pork cocktail sausages.

unroll a 400g pack of ready-rolled puff pastry. cut into about 3cm wide strips, length according to the sausages.

put 1 sausage in the centre of each piece of pastry, brush the edges of the pastry with beaten egg and roll up to encase the sausage. pinch to seal.

place on a greased baking tray, brush with beaten egg and bake for 10-15 minutes until golden and the sausages are cooked through.

serve with tomato sauce and sweet mustard for dunking.

yummy prawns

2009-04-17T14:52:00.002+02:00

marinade 800g of queen prawns in 4 tablespoons sweet chilli sauce and 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh mint for about 1 hour.

heat a dash of olive oil and fry in batches for about 3 minutes per batch, until cooked through.

stir the zest and juice of one lime and 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh coriander into 200g tzatziki* and serve with the prawns.

*get fresh store-bought tzatziki, otherwise, look for the recipe here on my blog…

this is sufficient for about 10 people, cocktail style, or 4 for a meal.

baked brinjal with tomato and cream

2009-04-01T17:02:00.002+02:00

pre-heat oven to 190º celsius. slice 4 brinjal lengthways, very thinly. arrange on a greased baking sheet. moisten with olive oil and bake for 15 minutes. remove and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

blend a 400g tin of chopped tomatoes with 1 cup of cream, 125g jar of sun-dried tomato pesto, 2 cloves of crushed garlic, and ¼ cup of fresh chopped flat-leafed parsley. stir 160g grated parmesan cheese through.

grease a baking dish and fill with layers of brinjal and sauce, ending in a layer of sauce. sprinkle with a little grated parmesan. bake for 20 minutes at 180º celsius, until nicely coloured and bubbling. allow to stand for about 10 minutes before serving.

perfect with a green salad.

pan-fried leg of lamb with sage

2009-04-01T16:59:00.003+02:00

in a large saucepan, fry 250g sliced portabellini mushrooms in 2 tablespoons of butter until nicely browned. remove from pan and set aside.

in a small pot, sauté a handful of freshly chopped sage in 2 tablespoons of butter and set aside.

in the same large saucepan you used for the mushrooms, fry 1kg cubed and deboned leg of lamb until well browned on the outside, but still pink inside. fry in batches.

return all the lamb to the saucepan, add ½ cup of sauvignon blanc and a ¾ cup of cream. simmer until the sauce thickens. add the sage butter and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

garnish with chopped fresh tomatoes and celery leaves and serve. excellent with fresh crusty bread.

beetroot and roasted butternut salad

2009-02-26T11:03:00.004+02:00

cut 400g butternut into chunks, place on a oven tray, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with coarse salt. roast at 180° celsius for about 45 minutes, tossing occasionally, until the butternut is tender and nicely browned.

boil 400g beetroot in their skin until tender, drain and allow to cool, then peel and cut into chunks.

cut 200g haloumi cheese into thickish slices and fry in butter until golden. allow to cool and cut into bite-size chunks.

fill a shallow salad bowl with a selection of salad leaves of your choice. place ½ the beetroot on the leaves, followed by ½ the roasted butternut and ½ the cheese. sprinkle with a selection of roasted seeds. i use a sunflower and pumpkin seed mixture. drizzle over creamed balsamic vinegar. the berry infused variety is especially nice. follow with a second layer. serve at room temperature.

simple, easy, delicious as a meal on its own or as a side salad.

snoked snoek salad

2008-12-08T19:03:00.002+02:00

just the thing for a hot summers night. we just had some….

peel and cut a fresh pineapple into cubes, sprinkle with castor sugar and set aside.

line a large salad bowl with a roughly torn selection of fresh salad leaves.

boil 300g butternut and sage cappelletti pasta pockets as per instructions and cool under cold running water. make a salsa of 1 finely chopped onion, 1 clove of crushed garlic, 2 finely chopped tomatoes and half a finely chopped cucumber. season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. add a dash of olive oil. stir through the cooled cappelletti. place on the shredded lettuce leaves.

flake 400g smoked snoek, taking care to remove all the bones. make a dressing of 150g bulgarian yoghurt, 50g sweet chilli sauce and a dash of balamic vinegar syrup. mix thoroughly and stir through the smoked snoek. place on top of the cappelletti.

finally, end it off with a generous sprinkling of the pineapple pieces and slices of avocado.

great with garlic bread!

lamb in red wine

2008-11-24T11:00:00.002+02:00

now here’s one that just popped into my head this morning… haven’t made it for a while, but it’s just the thing for a cold winter’s night.

take a 1.5kg de-boned leg of lamb and cut into largish chunks. brown briefly in olive oil a deep pot. do this in batches. to this add 400g of peeled carrots, also cut into large chunks, and 400g of whole baby onions. season with black peppercorns and a few dried bay leaves. pour dry red wine over everything to completely cover it. bring to boil, then cover and simmer over a low heat until the meat is tender and the sauce has thickened slightly. it'll take about 2 hours. if the sauce is not thick enough to your liking, thicken it with flour.

the original version is with a dry red wine, but for various reasons, i don’t cook with alcohol anymore, and the web says you can substitute red wine with the following: non-alcoholic wine, beef or chicken stock, diluted red wine vinegar, red grape juice diluted with red wine vinegar, tomato juice, liquid from canned mushrooms, plain water. i have found that diluted red wine vinegar is the best substitute. i add a teaspoon or so of brown sugar to it, just to break the acidity a bit.

and that’s it. serve with creamy mashed potatoes. delicious it is!

weekend tortillas

2008-10-25T10:33:00.000+02:00

you’ll need: 250g of shoulder bacon grilled to your preferred crispness, 2 peeled and sliced avocado pears, 1 bottle of basil pesto, shredded lettuce leaves and sliced peppadews or sun-dried tomatoes.

heat tortillas according to package instructions.

spread the tortillas with a layer of pesto and scatter the remaining ingredients over to taste.

drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

roll up and enjoy!

summer pasta

2008-10-24T10:22:00.000+02:00

place 300g of baby tomatoes on a baking tray, drizzle with olive oil and 10ml dried chili. roast for 20 minutes at 200° celsius. toss the roasted tomatoes (with the juice) with 250g sliced and drained sun-dried tomatoes and 500g of cooked fettuccine.

add 200g of pitted and squashed black olives, drizzle with extra olive oil is needed, and 200g shredded rocket.

serve at room temperature with freshly grated parmesan.

mediterranean chicken

2008-10-22T12:02:00.002+02:00

make a marinade of ½ cup of olive oil, the juice of 1 lemon, 1 teaspoon dried sage and 4 tablespoons of honey. season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. pour over 4 chicken thighs and 4 chicken drumsticks. leave preferably overnight, or a minimum of 30 minutes.

place the chicken pieces on a baking tray. scatter 300g of halved tomatoes and 60g pitted black olives around the chicken and pour the marinade over.

bake at 180° celsius for 50 minutes.

lovely with basmati rice and a fresh green salad.

sloppy joes

2008-10-18T11:14:00.004+02:00

in a little bit of olive oil, gently fry 1 finely chopped onion, 2 celery sticks and 500g ground beef mince until browned.

stir in 1 x 425g tin of chopped tomatoes, 2 tablespoons of oats, 1 tablespoon of worcestershire sauce, ½ teaspoon of chili powder, salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste and a dash of tabasco sauce.

simmer uncovered for about 25 minutes, until the mixture has reduced to a thick sauce.

spoon the ground beef mixture into buttered rolls, top with grated cheese if so inclined and enjoy. perfect easy yummy saturday food…

special meatballs

2008-10-15T17:07:00.002+02:00

in a large bowl, mix 1 egg, 1 tablespoon grated parmesan, 1 teaspoon lemon zest, 1 clove of garlic, 1 teaspoon dried oregano or basil, 1 cup fresh breadcrumbs and salt and pepper. add 500g minced beef and combine well. shape into small balls and place on a plate until you are ready to cook them.

using a food processor, mix 1 large onion, 2 cloves of garlic and 1 teaspoon oregano to a paste. heat 2 tablespoons of butter in a large saucepan, and fry the onion mixture on medium heat for about 10 minutes. puree 2 tins of whole tomatoes (with the juice) in the food processor and add to the onions. season with salt and pepper and add 1 tablespoon of sugar (to break the acidity). bring to boil and let bubble for another 10 minutes. stir through ½ cup of milk and add the meatballs to sauce. don’t stir until the meatballs have changed brown in color, or they might break. cook together for about 20 minutes, adjust the seasoning and enjoy with spaghetti or tagliatelle.

butternut and sweet potato bake

2008-10-02T14:25:00.002+02:00

my sister-in-law made this on tuesday night, and it was delicious!

peel and cube 500g of butternut and 500g of sweet potatoes. par-cook them in the microwave, about 6 minutes each on high.

slice and finely chop 2 medium onions, and brown in butter in a frying pan with 1 teaspoon chopped garlic.

mix a 50g packet of thick white onion soup powder with 2 cups of milk.

place the par-cooked vegetables in an ovenproof bowl, add the fried onions and garlic and pour the soup mixture over it.

cover and bake in a pre-heated oven at 180º celsius for 20 minutes. remove the cover and bake for a further 10 minutes.

goes with just about anything…

steak and onion pie

2008-09-24T14:27:00.002+02:00

home-made pie the cheat’s way…

using a large pot, fry 2 large chopped onions in butter until golden brown. remove and set aside. cube 900g of rump steak and in the same pot, brown the steak cubes in batches. return the onions to the pot and stir through roughly 2 cups of diced vegetables, i use a mixture of carrots, butternut and sweet potatoes. reduce heat, cover and allow to cook gently for 20 minutes. stir through 400ml of ready-made gravy. check seasoning and add if needed. set aside and allow to cool.

using ready-made puff pastry, line a pie dish, fill with the meat mixture, close the pie with a layer of puff pastry and paint with egg or milk. bake at 180º for 30 minutes or until the pastry is cooked and golden brown. delicious…

cheesy hot dogs

2008-09-13T14:36:00.001+02:00

i just made this for the boys and it was a hit. for the grown-up too…

halve hot dog rolls, butter and cover with grated cheese. grill until the cheese is bubbly.

place viennas in a pot with water, bring to boil and drain.

cut vienna in half, place on the bottom half of the roll, squirt on some sweet chilli sauce, close and enjoy!!!

best ever meatloaf

2008-09-08T18:45:00.002+02:00

well, hubby’s on a protein diet, so spaghetti bolognaise fell by the wayside. now what to do with the mince i’d defrosted… mmm, it calls for the world’s best ever meatloaf!

soak 2 slices of bread in just enough milk to disintegrate. add 2 eggs, 1 finely chopped onion, ½ cup of grated cheddar cheese, ½ cup of grated carrot, 1 chopped clove of garlic, 500g beef mince and salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. mix thoroughly and place mixture in a loaf tin.

mix together ¼ cup of brown sugar, ¼ cup of tomato sauce and a ¼ cup of dijon mustard. pour on top of the mixture.

bake in the oven at 180º celsius for 1 hour, turn the oven off and leave to rest for a further 15 minutes. turn out onto a platter, all done!

cheese and tomato salad

2008-08-30T17:02:00.000+02:00

drizzle 250g rosa tomatoes with olive oil and roast for 20 minutes at 180˚ celcius. drain and allow to cool slightly.

cut 3 slices of mozzarella cheese into wedges.

boil 250g of any kind of spiral pasta according to instructions. rinse and drain.

make a dressing of 4 tablespoons of plain yoghurt and 1 tablespoon sweet chilli sauce.

mix the tomatoes with the mozzarella cheese, pasta and dressing.

enjoy!

chicken salad

2008-08-28T11:21:00.001+02:00

this IS the best ever chicken salad i found in a magazine. from jamie oliver of course.

take a whole chicken, drizzle with olive oil and spice, then roast for 1 hour at 180° celsius in a large roasting dish.

take a whole ciabatta loaf and roughly break into pieces. remove the chicken from the oven and arrange the bread pieces in the roasting dish around the chicken. roast for a further 30 minutes. the bread pieces now become lovely croutons.

allow the chicken to cool and roughly tear into pieces.

while the chicken is in the oven, roast 500g of rosa tomatoes drizzled with olive oil. this will take about 20 minutes. allow to cool, reserving the juices.

fry until crispy a 250g packet of bacon, drain, cut into bite size pieces and allow to cool.

form a salad base of 500g rocket leaves and a handful of mint leaves. top with the chicken chunks, croutons, bacon and roast tomatoes and toss lightly. to the reserved tomato juice, add a dash of balsamic vinegar and use this as dressing for the salad. add salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.

a brilliant meal-in-one!

sweet chili salad dressing

2008-08-13T15:46:00.003+02:00

i nearly forgot about this. the best ever home-made salad dressing i've ever tasted. i'm having it with any and every salad lately, and it's also great with grilled chicken or fish. and so simply it's scary...

½ cup of plain yoghurt, 2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce and 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar. mix well and enjoy.

as the mood and contents of the fridge dictates, occasionally i mix in finely chopped fresh rocket, chives or basil, or finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes or peppadews, and i experiment with various spice rubs which hide in the grocery cupboard. so do what your imagination dictates, either way, the basic recipe is great as it is...

pumpkin fritters

2008-08-13T15:30:00.002+02:00

hmmm, having grilled lamb chops tonight. what with it... pumpkin fritters!!!

in a large mixing bowl, combine 2½ cups of cooked and mashed pumpkin, ½ cup of sugar, ¾ cup of flour, ½ teaspoon grated nutmeg, a pinch of salt, 1 egg and ½ teaspoon baking powder.

heat about 2cm of oil to medium heat in a frying pan. fry tablespoon sizes of the mixture on both sides until golden.

drain on kitchen towels before placing on a serving dish and sprinkling with cinnamon sugar. yummy!!!!

kashmiri lamb curry

2008-08-09T18:16:00.002+02:00

…another one that’s easy to make, but takes time.

place 2 dried chillies, 1 cinnamon stick, 2 teaspoons fennel seeds, 2 teaspoons coriander seeds, ¼ cup black peppercorns and 3 cardamom pods in a frying pan and dry fry until fragrant, about 2 minutes. put into a grinder and grind until fine.

place 1kg de-boned leg of lamb, cubed, into a mixing bowl, add the spices and a glug of olive oil and mix to combine. cover and leave to marinade for about 4 hours.

combine a pinch of saffron with 1 cup of warm water and set aside.

put a dash of olive oil in a large saucepan. add 2 thinly sliced onions, 1 finely chopped clove of garlic and ½ teaspoon finely grated ginger and gently fry until soft and golden. add 1 teaspoon ground garam masala and cook for about 5 minutes. increase the heat to high, add the lamb and cook until nicely browned.

add the saffron, with the water, 100g ground almonds, 160ml fresh cream and salt to taste. stir to combine, cover and simmer until the lamb is tender, about 1½ hours.

remove from heat and stir through 1 cup of thick plain yoghurt.

serve wrapped in rotis or with warm naan bread.

lamb and apricot tagine

2008-08-07T17:27:00.003+02:00

a lovely, tangy moroccan lamb dish. the preparation is easy, yet the dish takes time with the soaking of the apricots and then the cooking in the oven. not a dish to make when in a hurry...

pre-heat the oven to 160º celsius.

soak 250g dried apricots in ½ cup of boiling water and ¾ cup of fresh orange juice, covered, for 1 hour.

heat a dash of olive oil in an ovenproof casserole dish and fry 900g cubed pieces of lamb steak in batches until brown. remove and set aside.

in the same dish, gently sauté 1 large onion, 2 red peppers, 3 cloves of garlic, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 2 teaspoons ground cumin and 2 teaspoons ground coriander in olive oil until soft and fragrant.

add 1 cup of dry red wine (i substituted the red wine with red grape juice mixed with a dash of red wine vinegar to take the sweetness away and it worked like a charm), bring to boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until the liquid has reduced by half.

return the browned lamb to the casserole dish, add the soaked apricots (quartered) together with the juice, 1 litre vegetable stock and 2 tablespoons of honey. bring to boil.

cover and place in the oven until the lamb is tender, ± 2½ hours. stir through ¾ of a cup of plain yoghurt just before serving.

serve with couscous or mashed potatoes.

pineapple salad

2008-08-03T15:25:00.003+02:00

since it's a beautiful sunny and warm day, we are having a good ole' fashioned braai today. however, i discovered this salad which i'm testing on my family today.

peel, slice and cut into wedges 1 whole fresh pineapple. grate 1 teaspoon of fresh ginger over the pineapple. add 1 fresh grenadilla and pour over some honey. stir through. delicious with a dollop of vanilla yoghurt...

vietnamese beef fillet

2008-08-03T15:20:00.004+02:00

from my list last sunday, was to try this vietnamese dish, which i made on friday night, and a big success it was.

make a marinade of 6 cloves of garlic, 4 tablespoons of soy sauce, 8 teaspoons of fish sauce, 8 teaspoons of sesame oil, 8 teaspoons of sugar, 4 teaspoons of freshly ground black pepper and 4 red chillies (to taste) seeded and finely chopped.

add 900g thinly sliced beef fillet and combine well with the marinade. leave for 4 hours.

heat a non-stick frying pan ‘til hot and stir-fry the fillet in batches, round about 1 minute per batch. the oil from the marinade is sufficient for frying.

place the fillet on a serving place and sprinkle with sesame seeds. serve with special fried rice.

special fried rice

2008-08-03T15:18:00.002+02:00

heat a non-stick pan to medium heat and melt a generous dollop of butter. scramble 3 eggs. pour the scrambled eggs into the frying pan, reduce heat and cook gently (as for an omelette) until set. using a knife, cut the set egg into fine strips. set aside.

cook one cup of rice with half a cup of mixed frozen vegetables according to instructions. once cooked, pour the rice into the frying pan with the egg strips, add about 1 tablespoon of soy sauce and stir through. voila.

peppermint crisp tart

2008-06-21T13:31:00.001+02:00

whip 250ml orley whip and then add a 375g caramelised condensed milk, 2 tablespoons castor sugar and 3-4 drops peppermint essence. beat until well mixed and then stir in 2 crushed peppermint crisp chocolate bars. crush them by putting them in a plastic packet and crushing with a rolling pin.

put a layer of whole tennis biscuits in a 30 x 20cm dish. spoon a third of the caramel mixture over the biscuits and spread evenly. continue layering, finishing with a layer of filling on top.

sprinkle 1 crushed peppermint crisp chocolate bar over the top. refrigerate for about 4 hours. cut into squares and enjoy!

hot curry potatoes

2008-06-18T12:16:00.002+02:00

hmmm, haven’t cooked for a while i see…. i wish! nah, just going through an inspiration-less patch. but today i feel like…. curry potatoes

boil 8 large peeled potatoes until nearly fully cooked. drain, cool and cube into dice-sized pieces. heat a large dollop of butter in a pan and fry 1 teaspoon mustard seeds, 2 cloves of crushed garlic, 1 teaspoon ground coriander, 1 teaspoon tumeric, 1 teaspoon garam masala powder and ½ teaspoon chili powder (adjust to your preferred heat level) for about 1 minute over medium heat. add the cubed potatoes and stir to coat them with the spices. add 4 large chopped fresh tomatoes and salt to taste. bring to boil, cover and gently simmer until the potatoes have cooked all the way through and the tomatoes have reduced to a thick sauce.

with this you can do a bunch of stuff…

serve with grilled chicken pieces
makes holes in the potato mixture, break eggs into the holes, cover and cook until done, and serve with a green salad
pile the potato mixture onto tortillas, top with another one to make a ‘sandwich’, pressing down gently to ‘glue’ them together. toast them in a bit of butter in a frying pan until brown before turning and browning the other side. serve by cutting them into wedges. great with tsatsiki and chutney.

i’m going with the egg version tonight…

spaghetti and tomato sauce

2008-06-06T11:48:00.000+02:00

i made this last night after forgetting to defrost something for dinner. so i went through my fridge and grocery cupboard and ended up with this…

re-hydrate 40g of dried porcini mushrooms. you do this by placing the dried mushrooms in a jug and pouring boiling water over it, just enough to cover. leave to stand for about ½ an hour.

take a pot and fry 250g bacon until it’s just about crispy. add 2 cloves of garlic and 1 chopped red pepper until the peppers soften. add olive oil if the bacon wasn’t fatty enough. once re-hydrated, drain the porcini mushrooms (reserve the water), chop and add to the pepper mixture. now add a 50g tin of anchovies (drained) until they break up. add 6 large chopped tomatoes, 2 tablespoons of tomato paste and the reserved water from the mushrooms. cook over a high heat until reduced to sauce consistency. stir in 60g pitted black olives and a good handful of freshly chopped chives and heat through. adjust the seasoning, but be careful with the salt because the bacon and anchovies are already quite salty.

boil 250g spaghetti until tender, drain and pour over the tomato sauce. serve with grated cheese and crusty bread.

oxtail

2008-05-29T12:48:00.003+02:00

a proper dinner (and favourite too) for the delinquent husband tonight… this dish takes just about all day to gently cook so that the meat is tender, but it’s worth it.

heat some olive oil in a deep, heavy-based pot. brown 1kg oxtail pieces, a few at a time, and set aside as you go along. add a little extra oil if needed, and gently fry 2 sliced onions until soft. return the browned oxtail to the pot. pour in 2 x 410g tins of chopped tomatoes, and enough beef stock to cover the meat. bring to boil, cover with a tight fitting lid and simmer gently until the meat falls off the bone. i just leave my pot gently bubble like this for the better part of the day. when you can see tht the meat is getting tender, add 300g julienne style carrots, replace lid and continue gently simmering until they too are soft. to thicken this stew, i use a black pepper sauce powder, pre-mixed with a little cold water so that it's not lumpy. thicken to your preference. check and add seasoning if you feel it needs a little extra. serve with rice, brown rice goes especially well.

penne with spinach

2008-05-25T12:37:00.001+02:00

melt a generous amount of butter in a deep pot. fry 1 finely chopped onion until soft. add a clove of crushed garlic and 300g sliced mushrooms. fry gently until all the moisture from the mushrooms has cooked away.

roughly chop 400g spinach leaves, add to the pot and cover with a lid until wilted. stir every now and again. add salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

boil 250g penne until tender. drain and add to the spinach mixture. stir through 500ml fresh cream and heat through. finally add the juice of 1 lemon. serve immediately.

a perfect side dish that goes with almost everything, and equally nice on it’s own with a fresh salad.

mushroom fried pizza

2008-05-22T11:36:00.003+02:00

since man cannot live by salad alone, and i have mushrooms in the fridge, i’m thinking…

mushroom fried pizza

gently fry 1 x 250g packet of streaky bacon, chopped into smallish pieces until the fat starts running. add 1 finely chopped onion and fry until golden (add some butter if needed). add 300g sliced button mushrooms, 1 crushed clove of garlic, a good squirt of fresh lemon juice, salt and freshly ground black pepper. continue frying over medium high heat until the mushrooms are nicely browned. stir through a bunch of fresh chopped chives. set aside.

i’m planning on using this as a topping for jamie’s fried pizza http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/pasta with mozzarella cheese. i'm taking a short-cut though, and getting some ready-made pizza dough from the bakery around the corner...

watermelon & halloumi salad

2008-05-22T11:03:00.003+02:00

halloumi is a greek cheese made from goat’s milk, and is one of the few non-melting cheeses around. i got this receipt from a greek deli-owner friend. yesterday while out shopping, i saw what must be the last of the seasons watermelons. since summer will only be returning in a while, i guess i’ll make this while i can.

peel and cube watermelon into bite-sized pieces. remove pips as you go along, but it’s not necessary to remove each and every single one of them.

slice halloumi cheese into 2cm thick slices. heat butter in a pan and fry the cheese over medium heat until golden brown. allow to cool to room temperature and cut into bite-sized pieces.

toss the watermelon and halloumi cheese with roughly torn rocket leaves and about 3 cloves of finely crushed garlic, drizzle with freshly squeezed lemon juice, and sprinkle with course ground salt and freshly crushed black peppercorns.

chorizo chowder

2008-05-19T07:43:00.002+02:00

this is a recipe from ainsley harriott and a firm winter favourite. use whole chorizo sausages and slice them yourself, since the ready-sliced chorizo you can buy are too thin for this soup. chorizo is a smoked spanish sausage spiced with paprika and garlic.

heat butter in a large pot and gently fry 1 finely chopped onion, 4 crushed cloves of garlic and 500g peeled and cubed potatoes for about 15 minutes. add 1 thinly sliced leek and 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper. stir through and cook for another few minutes.

add 1 litre of vegetable stock, bring to boil and then simmer for about 30 minutes until the potatoes are soft and beginning to break up. use a potato masher and roughly mash the potatoes.

slice 250g chorizo sausage into 1cm slices and add to the soup. simmer until the soup turns to a rich orange from the sausages.

i serve this with italian bread slices which i butter and grill till brown.

parmesan chicken

2008-05-18T08:52:00.003+02:00

mix together in a shallow bowl ½ cup of melted butter, 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce and ½ teaspoon garlic powder.

in a separate bowl mix 1 cup bread crumbs, 1 cup grated parmesan cheese and 2 tablespoons dried parsley.

i use 4 chicken drumsticks and 4 thighs. dip in the butter mixture, then in the crumb mixture and place in a baking pan.

bake for 1 hour at 180˚ celsius.

serve with a garlic foccacia and green salad.

tomato bredie

2008-05-15T13:35:00.001+02:00

bredie is the sa word for...... stew i think. maybe even casserole.

this dish is an absolutely must on a cold day!

in olive oil, brown 900g of lamb chop in batches and set aside. slice 2 large onions into rings and place into a deep pot. drain the juice of 2 x 410g tins of whole tomatoes, reserving the whole tomatoes and pouring the juice into the pot with the sliced onions. add 10 whole peppercorns and a splash of olive oil. ‘fry’ until the onions are soft. add the browned chops and the reserved whole tomatoes. bring to boil, cover tightly and allow to simmer for about 1½ hours until the meat is tender. if your lid is tight fitting, you should not need to add any liquid. add vegetable stock or water if, however, it cooks dry. peel and dice 2 medium potatoes and 2 medium sweet potatoes. add to the stew, cover and simmer until the potatoes are tender. check seasoning and add salt and freshly ground black pepper if required. if you’d like to thicken the sauce, stir through 2 tablespoons of flour pre-mixed with cold water. serve with rice.

deboned leg of lamb

2008-05-14T15:16:00.003+02:00

a wholesome meal tonight. why? don't know, just feel like it. we’re having roast lamb with warm potato salad, carrot salad and cauliflower.

buy a deboned leg of lamb, large enough to suit your family. unroll it and spread with crushed garlic, cranberry sauce, salt and freshly ground black pepper. roll back together, tie with string to keep the shape and douse with olive oil and course salt. roast on a roasting tray in a pre-heated oven of 180° celsius for 20 minutes per 500g plus 20 minutes. once it’s reached the right colour and crispiness, cover with foil to prevent it from over browning.

warm potato salad

2008-05-14T15:13:00.003+02:00

i made this 'accidentally' first time round, but everyone loves it, so here goes... boil 6 medium potatoes in their skins until soft. drain. allow to cool, peel and cut into largish cubes. add 1 finely chopped onion and about 3 tablespoons of fresh chopped chives. mixed 2 tablespoons of softened butter, 1 crushed clove of garlic, 4 tablespoons mayonnaise, salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. stir through the potato, onion and chives. serve at room temperature.

old-fashioned carrot salad

2008-05-14T15:11:00.003+02:00

for my carrot salad, i finely grate about 8 large carrots, and mix with ½ cups of raisins. dissolve around 4 teaspoons of sugar in ¼ cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice (or sweeten to you taste), pour over the grated carrots and raisins and mix through.

mom's cauliflower

2008-05-14T15:08:00.000+02:00

i like cauliflower the way my mom made it. only difference is i like buying the small cauliflowers, just large enough for 1 per person. boil in salted water until soft, this only takes about 15 minutes. drain. sprinkle the cauliflower generously with bread crumbs and salt. pour over melted butter and place very briefly under the grill to brown.

grilled lamb chops

2008-05-11T14:22:00.002+02:00

i’m grilling some lamb chops and serving it with pasta-filled ciabatta bread.

i like use lamb rib chops, which i season with salt, pepper and paprika and place on the rack on an oven tray.

place the tray on the lowest oven rack and grill for about 7 minutes a side, before turning and continue grilling until the chops are done to your liking and the fatty parts are nicely crispy. all in all it takes about 25 minutes.

pasta-filled ciabatta bread

2008-05-11T14:20:00.000+02:00

i’m using 250g fresh four cheese cappelletti, but use any fresh filled pasta. boil according to instructions, drain, and stir through your choice of pasta sauce.

cut the top off a ciabatta bread, keeping the ‘lid’. hollow out and fill with the pasta and tomato sauce. press cubes of cheddar cheese in-between and close with the ‘lid’. wrap in foil and bake at 180º celsius for about 15 minutes until heated through and the cheese has melted.

spaghetti bolognese

2008-05-09T14:12:00.003+02:00

gently fry 1 chopped onion and 1 red pepper in olive oil until soft. add 500g beef mince, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until nicely browned. stir through 2 tablespoons of tomato paste, 1 x 410g tin of chopped tomatoes, 2 tablespoons dried parmesan cheese, 2 cloves of crushed garlic, 2 teaspoons oregano, and finally salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. bring to boil, reduce heat, partly cover with a lid and cook over a medium heat for about 30 minutes. the bolognese should have reduced and thickened and be a deep rich red in colour.

boil spaghetti according to instructions and serve with grated cheese. i either add a garlic bread and, you guessed it, green salad.

easy friday food!

peri-peri chicken

2008-05-08T07:50:00.009+02:00

use a butterfly cut chicken, or chicken pieces, whichever you prefer.

make a peri-peri marinade of ¾ plain yoghurt and ¼ ready-made peri-peri sauce. this you can obviously adjust to your ‘burn’ preference. leave to marinade for the afternoon.

place the chicken with the marinade in a roasting dish with a bit of olive oil. i place a mixture of whole potatoes and sweet potatoes around the chicken that have been tossed in olive oil and sprinkled with coarse salt. roast in the oven at 180º celsius for 1 hour, turning the potatoes halfway through. also, keep an eye on the chicken and when it's nicely browned, cover just the chicken with a piece of foil to prevent it from over-browning.

my fave veg of choice with this to counteract the heat is a sweet cinnamon butternut. and i'm making a sweet chili pasta salad with this.

enjoy!

sweet cinnamon butternut

2008-05-08T07:45:00.001+02:00

peel and cut butternut into medium chunks and boil until nearly tender. drain. add a big blob of butter, salt, cinnamon and brown sugar. leave this to semi-fry over a low heat until caramelised, by which time the butternut will also be completely tender. stir it around every now and again. the butternut does break up a bit, but that’s perfectly acceptable.

sweet chili pasta salad

2008-05-08T07:40:00.002+02:00

cook 300g pasta spirals according to instructions until tender. drain.

finely chop 1 red and 1 yellow pepper and 1 red onion. quarter a big handful of small cherry tomatoes. mix into the pasta spirals and stir through mayonnaise mixed with a generous touch of sweet chilli sauce to just coat everything. add salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

steak tortillas

2008-05-07T11:44:00.002+02:00

after two nights of toasted sandwiches and take aways, i guess the family needs a proper dinner tonight. so steak tortillas it is…

sprinkle rump steak with meat tenderizing powder and leave to marinade in worstershire sauce for about 1 hour. fry in a griddle pan over a high heat until done to your liking. leave to stand for about 5 minutes and then cut into strips. pour the juice from the steak and the left-over marinade in the griddle pan to de-glaze and pour over the steak strips. keep warm.

make (or buy) tzatsiki as follows: greek yoghurt (‘cause of the low water content) and stir through finely grated cucumber, crushed garlic, fresh crushed mint leaves, salt and pepper to taste. leave to stand for about 20 minutes for the flavours to develop.

when you are ready to eat, heat the tortillas, fill with steak strips, top with tsatsiki and roll up.

this with a green salad. but then again, we have everything with a green salad…

i use about 250g steak per person, but adjust according to your family’s meat needs…

spaghetti carbonara

2008-05-04T11:39:00.001+02:00

i think this is just about the only dish i make in the microwave…

boil 300g spaghetti until soft.

cut a 250g packet of streaky bacon into small pieces and microwave until crispy.

scramble 6 large eggs and season with salt and pepper.

grate about 1 cup of cheddar cheese.

in a large microwave bowl, mix the cooked spaghetti, crispy bacon, eggs and grated cheese using two forks to lift and toss. microwave for 30 seconds, toss with the forks again, return to microwave for 30 seconds, and repeat until the eggs are cooked. serve immediately.

delicious with tomato sauce, freshly baked rolls and a mixed salad.

enough for: 4

lamb neck

2008-05-03T13:19:00.002+02:00

it’s cold, it’s wet and time for some comfort food...

in a large pot, fry 2 sliced onions in olive oil until soft. add about 1kg of lamb neck pieces and brown. add a 410g tin of chopped tomatoes and enough beef stock to cover the meat. once it boils, reduce the heat, cover and leave it to simmer until the meat is tender, 2-3 hours. thicken with cornflour to desired thickness just before serving.

we are having this with mashed potatoes, my way. i boil an equal amount of potatoes and sweet potatoes until soft. drain and mash with butter, salt and ground black pepper to taste. finally, stir through a tablespoon of creamed horseradish.

enough for: 4

crispy oven fried chicken

2008-05-01T12:18:00.004+02:00

melt about a ½ cup of butter and pour into an ovenproof baking dish.

in a big plastic bag, mix 1 cup of flour, ¼ cup of sesame seeds, 2 teaspoons of paprika, and some salt and pepper.

i use 4 chicken thighs and 4 chicken drumsticks for this recipe.

pour about ½ cup of milk into a shallow dish. take one piece of chicken at a time and shake in the flour mixture, dip in the milk and shake in the flour mixture again. place skin side down in the melted butter. finally, drizzle some lemon juice over.

bake at 180º celsius for about 60 minutes.

enough for: 4

we are having this with sweetcorn fritters and a green salad.

sweetcorn fritters

2008-05-01T12:15:00.004+02:00

mix 1 x 420g tin of creamed sweetcorn with 2 cups of flour, 2 eggs, 2 teaspoons of sugar, 2 heaped teaspoons baking powder, salt and pepper to taste. add a little milk if too thick.

heat oil to medium heat in a pot, about 5cm deep. put a tablespoon amount of the mixture into the hot oil and fry a few at a time until golden brown.

great as a side dish or on their own with grated cheese and syrup.

makes about 15.

nachos

2008-04-30T10:25:00.003+02:00

something quick and easy tonight...

spray an ovenproof tray with non-stick spray and place 1 packet of nacho corn chips in a single layer. sprinkle liberally with grated mozzarella and cheddar cheese. place on the lowest oven rack and grill until cheese has melted. serve with salsa and guacamole.

salsa: make a fresh salsa of 1 finely chopped onion, 2 tomatoes, ½ cucumber, 1 red pepper and 3 cloves of garlic. add a dash of olive oil and balsamic vinegar, salt and ground black pepper.

guacamole: mash 1 avocado, add 1 teaspoon mayonnaise, a dash of lemon juice, 1 teaspoon sweet chili sauce, salt and ground black pepper.

baked peppers with spiced beef and pasta

2008-04-29T13:19:00.000+02:00

this is one of the bean’s favourites.

gently fry 1 chopped onion in olive oil until softened. stir in 2 teaspoon crushed garlic, 1 teaspoon cinnamon and a ¼ teaspoon allspice. add 500g lean beef mince, break up and stir until it changes color. add 3 tablespoons finely chopped parsley, 1 tin drained chopped tomatoes and 1 cup of cooked arborio pasta rice. add salt and pepper to taste. cover and cook gently for about ½ an hour.

slice the tops of 6 sweet peppers, I usually use the red ones, and scrape out the seeds and core. stuff the peppers with the mince mixture and top with the lids.

place into an oiled baking dish, be sure that they will remain upright. drizzle some olive oil over and back at 190º celsius for 45 minutes, or until the peppers start to wrinkle and are tender.

serve with crispy rolls and a salad of your choice.

depending on the size of the peppers, 1 per person is usually ample.

potato salad I

2008-04-28T12:45:00.004+02:00

it’s bockwurst (a spicy german sausage) with potato salad, sa style, for dinner.

the sausages you put in water, bring to boil, remove from the stove and leave for about 5 minutes to heat up. don’t boil them for those 5 minutes otherwise they’ll burst.

the potato salad recipe i got from a neighbour many many moons ago.

boil 6 large potatoes in their skin until soft. leave to cool for a while, then peel and cube. also make 6 hardboiled eggs. cool and cut up. add one medium onion, finely chopped and fresh chives or parsley to taste.

for the dressing: 8 tablespoons mayonnaise (use a thick tangy mayonnaise, not salad cream), 4 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk and salt. depending on the mayonnaise you use, you may want to thin it out with milk to get the consistency of thick cream. stir through the salad.

a firm favourite.

lemon cake

2008-04-26T12:36:00.006+02:00

since it’s the weekend and my lemon tree’s decided that now is the time to produce, i’m make a lemon cake. this recipe i got from my dear sister-in-law, suzanne, from germany.

mix together the rind of 3 lemons, 250g melted butter, 4 eggs, the juice of ½ a lemon, 250g sugar and 2 tablespoons vanilla essence.

stir in 500g flour and 1 heaped tablespoon baking powder.

mix to the consistency of thick cream, adding milk if needed.

pour into a buttered loaf tin and bake at 180º celsius for 45 minutes.

squeeze out the juice of the remaining 2½ lemons and sweeten to taste. once the cake is done, use a skewer to make holes in the cake. pour the sweetened lemon juice over. leave to cool and then turn out. dust with icing sugar.

mexican steak strips with salsa in pita breads

2008-04-26T12:01:00.005+02:00

slice about 600g steak into finger strips and fry, a few at a time, until browned, but still pink on the inside. set aside.

dressing: ¼ cup olive oil, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 teaspoon oregano, 1 teaspoon cumin, ½ teaspoon ground coriander, ¼ teaspoon ground chili, a clove of garlic and salt to taste. mix well and pour over the browned steak strips.

salsa: make a fresh salsa of finely chopped tomatoes, onion, cucumber, a dash of balsamic vinegar, ground chili and salt to taste.

i normally make the steak and dressing in advance and keep it in a low oven to stay warm so that the flavours can develop. cover the dish with foil if you do this, so that it doesn't dry out.

now when everyone is hungry, all you need to do is heat the pita bread, about 2 per person. let everyone fill up their own pita's with the steak and salsa. yummmmm

enough for: 4

chicken wings

2008-04-25T11:05:00.003+02:00

it’s friday night, my brother-in-law is arriving for a week long visit, yet simple and easy it’s gotta be. so chicken wings it is.

place the chicken wings side by side on an oven tray, sprinkle with olive oil and season generously with nando’s lemon and herb spice. this is a sa spice in a grinder, made up of course salt, pepper corns, onion and garlic flakes, chili and lemon oil amongst other green things. use whichever seasoning you like.

bake in the oven at 180ºC for 30 minutes, turn, season the other side and continue baking for another 20 minutes. now you should have yummy crispy chicken wings.

with it i’ll make tortillas…
i use ready-made tortillas and a ready-made red pepper pesto. spread pesto on ½ the tortilla and cover with thin slices of cheddar cheese. fold the tortilla in half and then into quarter. heat a frying pan. lightly butter the tortilla and fry on medium heat until golden. lightly butter the other side and turn over. the cheese should be nicely melted now. watch them! it goes quickly.

...a green salad

grub’s up!

i work on 4 chicken wings per person

mulligatawny soup

2008-04-24T15:11:00.004+02:00

this is adapted from a jamie oliver recipe. btw, if anyone could tell me how to pronounce this, i would be terribly grateful....

heat olive oil in a large pot. add 1 chopped onion, 1 grated carrot, 1 chopped red pepper, a good bunch of crushed garlic, a couple of crushed coriander seeds and a chopped fresh red chilli. gently fry until soft.

add 1 teaspoon curry powder and 2 tablespoons tomato paste. if you have a dried curry herb mixture add some too. i do. leave to fry a couple of minutes.

add 250g beef mince, breaking up with a wooden spoon. pour in 2 tins of chopped tomatoes and 500ml beef stock. stir through, bring to boil, cover and simmer for about an hour.

add 1 cup of rice and cook until rice is done.

voila! very nice with crusty bread.

enough for: 4 generous helpings

chicken kebabs

2008-04-23T16:20:00.006+02:00

chicken kebabs
8 deboned chicken breast, cut into chunky pieces
500g button mushrooms, stalks removed
250g streaky bacon, halved
1 tin pineapple pieces, drained (reserve the juice)

8 kebabs sticks, soak them in water for about an hour to prevent them from burning when cooking.

thread the kebabs: chicken, mushroom, bacon, pineapple, or whichever way you choose…

make a marinade with:
1 cup tomato sauce
½ cup chutney
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
a good dash of worstershire sauce
some of the reserved pineapple juice
mix well and paint on the kebabs

grill for about 10 minutes, before turning and painting the kebabs with the marinade. you need to watch them carefully and turn them before the marinade starts to burn. paint with the remaining marinade each time.

served with...
flatbread with a cheddar cheese and onion topping
salad of tomatoes, onion, peppers, cucumber and rocket leaves with a berry olive oil and balsamic vinegar dressing

enough for: 4
i work on 1 chicken breast per kebab, and 2 kebabs per person is usually sufficient.