Pumpkin and butternut squash soup

Ingredients

• 1 cup chopped onion
• ½ cup chopped carrots
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• ½ tsp. of coriander
• 1/ tsp. of curry powder
• 4 - 6 cups chicken stock
• 4 cups pumpkin puree
• 4 cups of butternut squash
• Salt and pepper
• ½ cup of heavy whipping cream

Place onions, carrots, garlic, coriander and curry powder in a pan and slowly cook veg until soft. Add in pumpkin and butternut squash and chicken stock and then bring to the boil. I usually add in just 4 cups of stock but you may need more.

Allow soup to simmer for 30 minutes and then puree/liquidise soup using a food processor or hand blender. Add salt and pepper to taste then stir in cream and serve. (I don’t like soup too creamy but could add more J )

Pizza dough

Ingredients

• 2 cups of flour
• 2 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. sugar
• ¼ oz. packet of active dry yeast
• 1 cup warm water.

Mix the yeast with the water and set to one side. Place flour, olive oil, salt and sugar in a bowl and mix. I often also add herbs. For the flour I have used regular flour, bread flour, basically whatever I have. If I do use whole wheat flour I usually mix it half and half with white flour otherwise it is a really tough dough.

Add the yeast to the flour mixture and fold together to form a ball of dough. Cover it and let it rise for a half hour or so. You can let it rise over night too.

Cheese and onion sausage rolls

Ingredients

Pastry
8 oz of flour
4 oz of butter or suet, which ever you prefer for pastry.
water

Filling
1/2 onion, diced.
1 oz of butter
80z of grated cheese
40z of breadcrumbs
pinch of Mustard, salt and pepper.
1 egg
herbs and spice to taste (suggestions below)

blend the butter into the flour, then mix in a little water to form a dough. Let the pastry rest while you mix the filling.
Combine the ingredients in a bowl. If you wish you may cook of the onion before hand, but it is not necessary.
Half the pastry an roll out into an oblong. Cutting off excess.
place the filling along the middle an fold along sealing with water to form a tube.
cut into 3-4 inch sausage rolls.
Roll out and form the remainder of the sausage rolls.
egg wash and cover in sesame seeds for extra crunch.
Bake in an Oven at 375F for 20 minutes or until they are golden brown.


You could easily add some spinach or other veggies. You could add some Hummus in the mixture instead of the egg. A touch of curry powder, or cumin to spice things up.

Spicy veggie pasties

(Pictures to follow)

Pastry
1 onion chopped
3 potatoes chopped
1tbspn veg oil
1 clove of garlic
1 tbspn coriander
1 tspn of cumin
1 carrot chopped
1 can of chick peas

• Boil potatoes and carrots together.
• In a large frying pan, brown the onions with the oil, then add the garlic, coriander and cumin.
• Add the potatoes, carrot and chick peas into the frying pan and mix together.
• Allow to simmer for 10 -15 mins.
• you can leave the mixture chunky or you can place the mixture in a food processor and blend together.
• Cut pastry into circles, fill 1/2 circle with mixture then use egg wash to seal and close up. cover the top with egg wash and then top with sesame seeds.

cook in oven at 400F for 10 minutes, then at 350 F for 20 mins.
Excellent served with baked beans.

Stromboli

Ingredients

1/2 lb of ground beer or turkey
1 can Pillsbury pizza dough or french bread.
1/4 cup of tomato sauce
Garlic
onion
green pepper
4 oz grated cheese

• Brown the ground beef, then add in garlic, chopped onion and pepper to taste.
• mix in tomato sauce and allow to simmer for 5-10 mins
• meanwhile roll out the pizza dough on a cookie sheet.
• once the meat is ready, place it all over the dough, top with grated cheese, then roll it up into the Stromboli shape (a huge sausage.)
• Bake in the oven at 400F for 15-20 mins until golden brown.

carrot, orange and coriander soup

Just made this wonderfully easy soup today. Apparently they use it a lot on diets ?! who knew! I am sure you could adapt it by adding what every you have, but really it tasted so good like this. Enjoy

Carrot, Orange and Coriander Soup

Ingredients

2 oz butter ( i only used 1oz in the end)
2 medium onions
1 lb carrots
1 1/2 pints of stock - i used veggie
1/2 pint of orange juice. a friend uses lemon juice in hers
2 tsp of ground coriander
salt pepper to taste
cream for decoration
coriander leaf for decoration

Preparation

Melt the butter in a large pan and fry the chopped onions until very soft.

Add the carrots and fry for another minute or two.

Stir in the stock, orange juice and Ground Coriander and simmer covered for 40 - 50 minutes or until the carrots are very tender.

Liquidise the soup, season to taste and serve garnished with swirls of cream and a sprinkling of Coriander Leaf.

Tomato and Cinnamon Chicken

1 large Onion
5 Cloves of Garlic
3 oz Butter
1 tsp Cayenne Pepper
1 tsp Tomato Puree
1 tsp Cinnamon
4 Tomatoes
1 lbs of chicken

• Heat oven to 325F
• Place Onion, Butter, Garlic in a casserole dish on the stove top and saute slowly.
• Chop chicken into cubes and then add to the dish.
• Once the chicken is cooked, add the Tomatoes, Puree and spices, plus one cup of water.
• Bring it all to the boil, then cover and place the dish in the Oven for 2 hours.
• Excellent with Potatoes or Rice.

Quick and Easy Meatloaf

OK lets be honest, where i come from, Scotland, we do not have meatloaf. When i see it on a menu here in the US i avoid it, i have heard so many weird and wonderful stories about it that it scares me. then my friend posted her Tuesday tip - Easy Meatloaf. I read the ingredients, all things we ate, what was my problem, so i thought what the heck, better just give it a go! My family, and I loved it! So i thought i had better share, with my fellow mummies who read this blog, Enjoy.

Meatloaf

The recipe is great and the ingredients things most will have, and you can add to it. She likes to use Ground Turkey breast and as many healthy and organic ingredients as possible. Her final tip is to cook it in Muffin tins. Just put your meatloaf filling in the muffin tin using a scoop and you have individual sized portions for you and your family in 25 minutes.

1lb ground turkey breast

splash of milk for moistness

squeeze of organic ketchup or 3/4 cup tomato sauce

handful of breadcrumbs or dried quick cooking oats are a wonderful addition

1 egg

handful of feta cheese or grated cheddar cheese

handful of Romano cheese (you could use Parmesan, we only use Romano here)

pinch of dried parsley, oregano, and basil

1 clove of fresh garlic minced

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees,
• Use cooking spray to coat muffin tin.
• Mix together well in a bowl.
• Feel free to use your hands.
• Then scoop into the muffin tin.

Other additions that go well with the turkey meatloaf base (just add in when mixing):

*Chopped baby spinach, sundried tomatoes, feta, red bells

*sauteed vegetables such as onions, carrots, and bell peppers

Tattie Scones

Boy it's been a while since anyone posted anything but hey, that's the way it goes, since our last post there has been two new babies, between the 5 of us we now have 10 kids, hence the reason why there has been no posts!

Anyway this isn't really a meal it's a snack, goes well with a cooked breakfast of bacon etc, kind of a replacement for hash browns i guess

Tattie (potato) scones

9oz potatoes
1 oz butter
2 oz flour (in Colorado i would use 3 oz)
1/2 tspn of salt
1/4 tspn baking powder


Peel and cut the potato and boil.

Mash the potato with the butter, then sift in flour, salt and baking powder.

Divide mixture into two balls. Roll out the balls into circles about 1/4" thick.

Cut the circles into quarters and the prick with a fork all over. Use a fish slice to transfer to a hot griddle or frying pan and cook on each side till golden brown.

Serve warm with butter and a breakfast, or wrap in foil and keep for a day. Re-heat in the toaster and not the microwave.

Pin Wheels

ingredients: crescent roll dough 1/2 bar cream cheese baby spinach leaves lunch meat slices (i used ham) Roll crescent dough on work surface. Use rolling pin to thin out dough just a bit, not too much Spread a layer of cream cheese on the dough and then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place spinach leaves on top, then lunch meat, press into cream cheese. Roll up jelly roll style. Wrap roll into plastic wrap. At this point you can put into fridge to freeze and cook the next day. Otherwise place in freezer for about 30 - 50 minutes. It's easier to cut when slightly frozen but impossible to cut when completely frozen. Cut into slices about 1/3". Place slices on greased cookie sheet. Cook at 350 deg for about 20 minutes or until done.

ideas for kids

Check out this great site that a friend sent to me, lots of cooking ideas for those with kids of all ages.

http://weelicious.com/

Breakfast on the go

Just made these, i used one packet as suggested then the other pack of rolls in a mini muffins. the mini ones worked out so good. It was part of a Pillsbury bake off contest.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 (8 ounce) cans Pillsbury garlic butter crescent rolls
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
  
• 3 eggs
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 (9 ounce) box spinach, thawed, squeezed to drain
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray muffin cups with Cooking Spray.
2. Separate each can of crescent dough into 8 triangles. Press 1 triangle on bottom and up side of each muffin cup.I used one triangle for two mini's
   
3. In large bowl, beat cream cheese with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in onion, spinach, salt and pepper until well mixed. Fold in cheese. Fill each cup to the top with egg mixture (do not overfill).
4. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean and edges of rolls are golden brown. Remove from pan. Serve warm.

Spinach and Artichoke Mac and Cheese

So haven't been putting anything on for a while as quite frankly we don't eat complicated meals anymore. Dave's on his diet and i make all my meals for the kids and i just eat one or the other. Not very organised, but the diet is too restrictive for the kids. Anyway enough rambling, everyone else is eating and with the snow outside i am posting some comfort food. Saw this on Rachael ray yesterday, it looked so good.

The list looks long but basically it's pasta, spinach, artichoke and cheese, with other basics that you probably have. I am making this next pot luck..... All i need is a party

Spinach and Artichoke Mac and Cheese

• Salt
• 1 pound regular or whole wheat penne
• 2 tablespoons EVOO – Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped or grated
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 1/2 cup white wine
• 2 cups milk
• A few grates fresh nutmeg
• 1 10-ounce box frozen chopped spinach, defrosted and wrung dry in a kitchen towel
• 1 10-ounce box frozen chopped artichokes, defrosted and wrung dry in a kitchen towel
• Ground black pepper
• 1 1/4 cups shredded Italian Fontina cheese, plus additional for sprinkling on top
• 1 1/4 cups grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, plus additional for sprinkling on top

Make pasta

While the pasta is cooking, place a medium pot over medium-low heat with 2 turns of the pan of EVOO, about 2 tablespoons, and the butter. Add the onion and garlic to the pan and cook the veggies until very soft, about 10 minutes.

Turn the heat up to medium-high and sprinkle the flour into the pan. Cook for about 1 minute then whisk the wine into the pan, cooking for another minute to burn off the alcohol. Whisk the milk into the pan and bring up to a bubble. Add the nutmeg, veggies, some salt and pepper to the sauce, and simmer until thickened, 2-3 minutes. Add the cheeses to the sauce and stir until melted.

Turn the heat up to medium-high and sprinkle the flour into the pan. Cook for about 1 minute then whisk the wine into the pan, cooking for another minute to burn off the alcohol. Whisk the milk into the pan and bring up to a bubble. Add the nutmeg, veggies, some salt and pepper to the sauce, and simmer until thickened, 2-3 minutes. Add the cheeses to the sauce and stir until melted.

Toss the prepared sauce with the cooked pasta and transfer to a casserole dish. Sprinkle some more Fontina and Parmigiano over the top and bake until the cheese has melted and the top is golden brown, about 30 minutes.

Cake in 5 minutes....

A friend sent me this, haven't tried it yet but thought i would share - cake in 5 minutes, mmmmmm


5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE.
4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
a small splash of vanilla extract
1 large coffee mug

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly.
Pour in the milk and oil and mix well.
Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again.
Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts.
The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!
Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.
EAT! (this can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous).

Yummy Apple Cake

2¼ cups sugar
1¼ cups oil (or oil substitute)
2 eggs
3 cups flour
2 tsps vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
4 cups apples (peeled 1 tsp salt and diced)
1 tsp cinnamon
1 cup chopped walnuts or almonds

Mix 2 cups sugar, oil, and eggs. In another bowl, mix flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.

Add gradually to first mixture and add vanilla. Fold in apples and half of the nuts.

Place in a 13x9x2-inch greased and floured pan or two 8- or 9-inch round pans.

Sprinkle remaining ½ cup of nuts and ¼ cup of sugar over top. Bake at 325 for about 1 hour.

Cannelloni tubes!

So last week i was making meatballs but the only pasta we had was macaroni and so i came up with this idea instead, tasted good! Use your own meatball recipe or try this one, not very adventurous just what i had in the house really!

1/2 lb ground turkey or beef
1 egg
bread crumbs, about 1/2 a slice
herbs
garlic
1/2 a cup of grated cheese
Lasagne sheets, the flat kind
Pasta Sauce

Mix the turkey meat with the egg, crumbs, herbs garlic and cheese. then divide into the number of tubes you'd like, i made 6 for us, 3 for daddy, 2 for me, 1 for the boy. Roll each bundle of meat into a sausage shape.

Soak the pasta sheets for a few mins in boiling water so they are flexible. then wrap around each sausage. Place in a pan and cover with your favourite sauce.

Bake in oven for about 30 - 45 mins at 375.

Vegetable curry

Another curry recipe. This one is vegetarian, but i add chicken in sometimes. I am busy making this right now for recipe club. Hoping to come back with some yummy recipes too

Vegetable Curry

1 lb onions chopped
14 oz can of diced tomatoes, or can use 1/2 lb fresh
1 tsp ginger
1 tsp coriander
1tsp cumin
1 tsp turmeric
2 cloves garlic
vegetables of choice, cauliflower, carrots, sugar snap peas are all great
optional - raisins

Brown the onion and garlic in a pan, and chicken if you so wish, then add spices and vegetables and allow to simmer for 10 mins. meanwhile cook some rice.

At the very end add the raisins. you can mix in the rice for a biryani type dish or leave it separate.

Easy Curry

I have lots of curry recipes but this one is really quick, you can sub the chicken for veggies of your choice or use both.

1 tspn Olive oil
1 medium onion chopped
3 cloves of garlic
1 lb of chicken
3 tspn Curry Powder
1/2 tspn thyme
16 oz can of stewed tomatoes
1 cup of fat free broth of choice
2 tbspn raisins

Saute onion and garlic in a pan, then add chicken
Once the chicken is cooked add the curry powder and the thyme. and simmer for a few minutes
then add the tomatoes, broth and salt and pepper.
reduce heat and simmer for 20 mins. Cook the rice
add raisins and stir in gently.

Bettycrocker.com

Caribbean Chicken Kabobs

Juicy fresh pineapple chunks and jerk seasoning will turn this chicken dinner into a taste of the tropics. Don’t forget your shades and the sunscreen! Prep Time:15 min Start to Finish:35 min Makes:8 servings

1 3/4	pounds boneless skinless chicken breast halves, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
1/4	cup vegetable oil
3	tablespoons Caribbean jerk seasoning (dry)
1	small pineapple, rind removed and pineapple cut into 1-inch cubes
1	medium red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
1	small red onion, cut into 1-inch pieces

1.	Brush grill rack with vegetable oil. Heat coals or gas grill for direct heat.
2.	Brush chicken with 2 tablespoons of the oil. Place chicken and jerk seasoning in resealable plastic food-storage bag. Shake bag to coat chicken with seasoning. Thread chicken, pineapple, bell pepper and onion alternately on each of eight 12-inch metal skewers, leaving 1/4-inch space between each piece. Brush kabobs with remaining 2 tablespoons oil.
3.	Cover and grill kabobs over medium heat 15 to 20 minutes, turning once, until chicken is no longer pink in center. This recipe is from Bettycrocker.com

Crockpot anyone?

OK a different post this time....Do you own a crock pot? I saw an article or two on this women who had had enough and so as a new years resolution she decided she would make a different homemade meal everyday of 2008 in her crockpot and would post an entry on her blog everyday. The blog contains each days recipes and pictures. If you have a moment and are looking for a new idea you should check it out she has all sorts on there including enchiladas, vegetarian and deserts.

Strawberry Spinach Salad

Seen as this disappeared rapidly at the recent party thought i better give out the recipe.

Dressing
Juice from one lemon
2 tbspns white wine vinegar
2 tbspns sugar
1 tbspn vegetable oil
1 tspn poppy seeds

Salad
1/4 cup almonds, sliced
8 oz strawberries quartered
cucumber, sliced and quartered
1/4 red onion chopped
6 oz baby spinach.

Combine all the ingredients for dressing and store until ready to serve.

place spinachin a bowl and then add in other ingredients and toss.

Chicken Finger Subs

Ingredients:
Breaded Chicken Fingers
Sub Rolls
Lettuce
Tomato
Provolone Cheese
Blue Cheese Dressing (I prefer Kraft)
Frank's Red Hot Sauce (I don't put this on)
Optional: Onion


Bake chicken fingers according to package. Lightly toast open rolls. Put a generous helping of blue cheese on then provolone cheese, and then all other ingredients. This one is a NY thing. You pretty much can get them at any sub shop by where I grew-up and it is one of my favorite to eat!!!

Raspberry summer drink

3 cups rasp and cranberry juice
2 pints or 1 quart raspberry sorbet
1 litre sprite

let the sorbet sit out to melt slightly then mix altogether and serve.

for extras add some fresh rasberries or a scoop of sorbet on top.

You can easily change it to a lemon or on orange drink too.

Garden pizza

2 packages of refrigerated pizza crust (10 ounces each) or one large pre made pizza dough

1/2 cup mayo

1 package (2 ounce) ranch seasoning and salad dressing mix

1 garlic clove

8 oz grated mozzarella cheese

1 cup broccoli

1 red bell pepper

1 carrot

1/2 cup pitted black olives



roll out dough, i usually make individual pizzas.
In a bowl mix the mayo, garlic and ranch dressing then spread over the pizza base(s).
Add chopped veggies, (i add what ever i have) and the olives and then top with the grated cheese.
Bake in 400F oven for about 20 mins.

Alfredo Sauce

you can easily add just pasta or veggies, some chicken, whatever you have.

1/4 cup butter
1 cup heavy cream
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 1/2 cups freshly grated cheese

Melt butter in a medium pan over a low heat.
Add cream and simmer for 5 mins, then add garlic and cheese and mix together.
Then add any other ingredients