|
Post by hannah24 on Jun 21, 2008 2:11:28 GMT
Hi girls, I've been thinking lately about starting a thread about our favourite receipes and cooking tips to share here. Cooking is something I find great therapy in...especially when I'm having a blues day ... I'll be cooking up a storm creating something! I was blessed to have my godmother teach me to cook, oh god I'd be a take away nutter if she hadn't..so as I love to make our pennies stretch and have meals prepared in the freezer for the nights we just want to chill out so we can pop something in the oven already made needing to only be warmed up...here's one of my all time easy peasy favourites...er..actually there's two... ;D...both easy and economical. HOT VEGETABLE CASSEROLE This recipe is yummy, can be had on its own, with any cooked meats ..especially lovely with chops/sausages/steak, also is an excellent hot side dish for a weekend B B Q, which as you know are famous here in OZ ...ahem, I'm looking forward to an Irish one I can tell you ;D Ok..here's are the ingredients to this one: (feeds approx 4-6) Cook up and mashed some potatoes... (5-6 large ones), put aside covered. In a frypan, on simmer: put in 2 Tablespoons butter ***(prepare vegs first)*** 2 Large Onions, sliced (medium to fine slices) 3 Large Carrots, grated 2 Capsicums, sliced into long strips.Green or Red, either or, (or peppers?? if that's what they call them there) 1/4 to 1/2 Cabbage, sliced rather finely. Put into pan, saute for about 10 mins on Simmer, Add Salt n Pepper to taste. ADD 1 Can of Carnation Milk (the medium sized one, I think its 375ml) Mix in with vegs. 1 Tablespoon of Cornflour, mix well in a cup of water, add to vegs, stir in well. Optional: Add in 1/2 cup cream, and a good splash of pineapple juice...about 1/2 cup also. Stir in still keeping all on simmer, when thickened, turn off pan. Transfer all of this into a good sized square or round casserole dish, place scoops of mashed potato covering all, spread evenly, get a fork and gently rake the top of mashed potato, add a good sprinkle of your favourite cheese (cheese is optional, if watching the weight, sprinkle parmesan). Cook in pre heated oven on a medium heat for about 20mins. Serve with your choice of meal/bbq or have on its own...is YUMMY!!! Enjoy ;D ps. lasts up to a week in the fridge, can be frozen in portions, best in plastic containers, or when cold, slice into squares and pop into seal snip bags for freezing. Important to let defrost when taking it from the freezer before reheating.
|
|
|
Post by hannah24 on Jun 21, 2008 2:31:50 GMT
VEGETABLE & MINCE PASTIE LOGS
These are Brilliant, and make the $$$ stretch in the budget.
Easy to make.
You'll need:
1 Packet of 5 or 6 Puff Pastry Flat Sheets
(***really important***...lay them all out after you've done the mixing of below...best to put it altogether when the sheets are half thawed, easier to handle when transferring onto oven trays...I use a very large baking tray, fits about three logs slightly spaced comfortably)
About 1 1/2 Pound of Mince 5-6 Large Potatoes, prepared and mashed (or if you use packet potatoes, two packets prepared and mashed. 1 1/2 - 2 lbs of Mixed frozen vegs (or fresh ones) .. I find using the frozen ones just less fuss.
Put into large dish, the mince is to be raw, and its better if the vegs are slightly defrosted.
Optional: 1 Large Onion sliced/chopped
Mix all together. Add Salt n Pepper to taste. I also add in this, but again, its optional, just makes them Yummier!!! and tasty)...I add about a cup of grated cheese, splash in some Worsterchire Sauce, a few teaspoons of curry, turmeric and a good dollop of sour cream (god my favourite over hot tatties in their jackets!)
Ok..so now lay all your sheets out on the kitchen benchtop, evenly distribute the mix onto the sheets, placing the mix into the middle of sheets, like a log, brush some olive oil/cooking oil on either side of the pastry sheet, and fold up the sides to cover the mix, getting a long log pastie appearance, brush the top of pastie with some oil (down the seam where the two sides fold up to meet) sprinkle with either sesame seeds, poppy seeds or parmesan.
Cook in prepared medium to hot (about 180) until golden brown.
Serve hot! Enjoy..;D
I transfer mine onto oven racks, let them cool a bit and put in fridge. When they are cold, I find it easier to slice and put into freezer in portions of size preference.
So there you have six big pasties, and they are sooooo yummy!!!
hannah xox
|
|
|
Post by hannah24 on Jun 21, 2008 2:53:20 GMT
Ok, heres my RISSOLES mix:
2 lb mince, I add salt n pepper to taste, 2 eggs, Worsterchire Sauce, Soy Sauce, 4 crushed weetbix, a teapsoon of butter and honey melted, pouring it into mix, teasp of tumeric & curry powder, two garlic cloves chopped finely, good bunch of parsley chopped up.
Sometimes I put in some Sesame Oil, just for taste
...mix well all ingredients (I use me hands...LOL feck its a squishy feeling)
Evenly roll into small pattie sizes, I roll some up and have some plain flour on the bench, put them onto in, and roll them in the flour, then pat them to the thickness I want the rissoles to be.
Cook in a mix of butter and Sesame/or Olive oil on medium heat. Turning over until browned.
Tip: I have a pair of rubber dishwashing gloves (ones for cooking mixing only) I put on and mix all the ingredients. After I just put my hands under warm running water, or in a bowl of warm water, and all the mince mix comes of the gloves easy, also is far better than mixing with bare hands as it drives me benuts when all the mush gets under my nails or in my rings. ;D
|
|
|
Post by hannah24 on Jun 21, 2008 3:00:04 GMT
ps ...I love cooking....available for dinners and parties, fees: 1 pint per cooking hour... washing up: 2 pints per hour ;D pss. good music must be in background ;D psss. do not invite Mr Darcy...the cook will faint ;D
|
|
|
Post by Angie on Jun 21, 2008 10:48:46 GMT
gosh im starving after reading that....i love cooking too hannah, esp baking, i love making cakes....and then eating them...lol....i love doing italian food..lasagne, cannelloni, spag bol...etc...
heres a quick tasty sweet treat, Cinnamon crisps... you get tortilla wraps slice them up and fry them very quickly in a hot pan with oil/butter, toss into a bowl with sugar & cinnamon..shake them off...serve straight away on their own or with fruit/cream/ice cream..... mine love them...nice treat/snack....
|
|
|
Post by hannah24 on Jun 21, 2008 11:28:59 GMT
YUM Angie ...just checking that Tortilla Wraps are flat and thin ...lebanese type bread right?god Angie, I'm not even going to dare make them for a month or so...till the spring ...the cold nights here, I'd be having a whole packet to myself ..not wanting to put on the weight again!!!
Well, that's the plan ;D
|
|
|
Post by nicc on Jun 22, 2008 2:36:57 GMT
I have never heard of putting honey into rissole before. I'll have to try that next time.
|
|
|
Post by hannah24 on Jun 22, 2008 4:24:02 GMT
Nic the sesame oil is a tad sweet in some ways, and the teaspoon of honey with the spices just give it a different lift. I'm notorious for not using receipes, I throw in a bit here and bit there, so when I've to write it down I have to remember those who feel more comfortable with a receipe guide. In saying this if it were certain things like a pavlova or a fruit cake I wouldn't have a foggy so I'd use a proven receipe in those cases. Anyone good at making Pavlova from scratch? Or an easy Black Forest Receipe? You know the other thing girls I've not made for so long is Yorkshire pud with a roast, can someone who may make this remind me again, thanks! As its summer over home there for those of you who love ice in drinks, its a little fiddley, thoug I get an orange apple kiwi fruit peach strawberrries lemon and peel/chop etc in to tiny pieces, fill up the ice cube trays and pop some fruit pieces in each cube, or, you can blend the fruit in half water/half apple/orange juice and pour them into cubes. Also can anyone recommend an easy no fail biscuit receipe...we used to make really great ones years ago in cooking at school.. an orange buscuit and a peanut other one....I personally love home made anything, especially bickies with a cuppa ;D
|
|
|
Post by filmbuff on Jun 22, 2008 14:25:05 GMT
hi hannah
i agree cooking and baking is great therapy and very economical i'll post some recipes up soon!
laura
|
|
|
Post by hannah24 on Jun 22, 2008 15:16:40 GMT
Thanks Laura look forward to them. The way the food prices are increasing friends here are starting to go back to baking more, healthier also with all the junk in food these days.
Girls when I've a garden of vegs growing your welcome to bring a basket ... and as said to missus Jacqui...when I've chickens...the eggs are fine to take, but not me chickens ;D
|
|
|
Post by Jacqui on Jun 22, 2008 21:04:45 GMT
oh god roast chicken/chicken nuggets/kiev.......yummy ......lol
|
|
|
Post by franmt on Jun 22, 2008 21:25:26 GMT
This thread is a great idea. I don't cook as much since I started living alone but when I do I enjoy it. Was watching Jamie Oliver earlier today and he made a yummy breakfast that looks really tasty. Egg & Chilli Crumpets with Smoky Bacon & Maple Syrup. For each person. Beat two eggs and add pepper and salt. Chop some red chilli's and add to the egg. Dip both crumpets in the egg mix and let all of the egg soak into the crumpet. On a hot pan with a little olive oil, fry crumpet on both sides for about two minutes. Top with cooked smoky bacon and drizzle with maple syrup.
This looked lovely on the tv so I'm going to try it some morning.
|
|
|
Post by Jacqui on Jun 22, 2008 22:26:55 GMT
jeez Fran that sounds yummy...my mouths watering!! gonna have me some of that the moro
x
|
|
|
Post by hannah24 on Jun 23, 2008 8:10:41 GMT
oh god roast chicken/chicken nuggets/kiev.......yummy ......lol Right..bells are going on them LOL
|
|
|
Post by hannah24 on Jun 23, 2008 8:14:12 GMT
Will be making them Fran..they sound scrumptous!
|
|
|
Post by Jacqui on Jun 24, 2008 11:08:29 GMT
this is yummy served with nice crusty bread Spinach & Potato Soup Ingredients - Serves 4 1lb fresh spinach or 1 bag frozen spinach 3 potatoes 1 onion 1 teaspoon nutmeg 2 pints vegetable stock seasoning Method Dice the onion and fry in a little oil until softened. Cube the potatoes and add to the onion along with the chopped spinach, seasoning, nutmeg and stock. Bring to the boil and simmer for ¾ hour. Liquidize, reseason and reheat before serving.
|
|
|
Post by hannah24 on Jun 24, 2008 13:52:28 GMT
Jacqui I'm going to make this next week..thanks!
|
|
|
Post by megan on Jun 24, 2008 15:33:59 GMT
yes, this soup looks gorgeous. Thanks Jacqui. I love my soup and the weather here is perfect for it at the moment! (Grey and raining.)
|
|
|
Post by hannah24 on Jun 24, 2008 15:53:14 GMT
the weather here is perfect for it at the moment! (Grey and raining.)[/quote] ;D
|
|
|
Post by Angie on Jun 25, 2008 11:54:38 GMT
Never fail Yorkshire puds... 1/4 pint of milk 2 large eggs gasmark 8/450of/230oc 4oz plain flour pinch of salt & pepper oil/fat from the roast... place the oil in the baking tin (i use fairy cake trays) till it gets very hot...beat the milk, eggs & seasoning together for 1 minite with a rotary whisk or electric beater. whisk in the flour until smooth, then pour the batter into the hot fat in the tines.bake above the centre of the oven for 20mins or until well risen and a rich golden brown.... thats the recipe i use hannah...they always come up well with that one.... ye are right about the soup in this weather, I made tomato soup on sunday for our starter..its so horrible here....having soup in the middle of june seems like a sin... im going baking later for school tomorrow...last day woohooo...im making a coffee cake for evans teacher & a marble one for keinas...and fairy cakes for the party....evans teacher is a man so def the coffee cake..you cant give a man a fluffy cake...lol...has to be a manly one.... ;D
|
|
|
Post by hannah24 on Jun 25, 2008 21:40:22 GMT
Thankyou Angie, I'll mind that pud recipe, its really yummy and one thing I love having is someone else making a roast dinner for me, even though I love cooking. No doubt there'll be a pub over there that runs rings around mine. Anyway isn't is a luxury for us women when someone else does the cooking! Sounds like the weather has been consistently a pain in the derry air - yeah soup is always a hearty choice on those wet and windy evenings. Angie coffee cake YUM, would it be alright to request one of those when I come to visit ;D
|
|
|
Post by Angie on Jun 26, 2008 12:21:39 GMT
of course you can..everyone lurrrvvveeesss my coffee cake...funny thing is I dont....lol.....its one cake I dont eat, so I dont even know what it tastes like...also banana bread is another favourite here and I dont eat that either...kids tell me its gorgeous. i take their word for it...cant stand bananas at all..lol...i also make a very nice carrot cake with cream cheese frosting..i won a prize at a fair for it once...its gorgeous... I'll let ye all in on a little secret if you want a nice moist cake theres one ingredient which I add in..esp to the carrot cake. also fruit cakes, maderia....you wont believe me when I tell you what it is? ?? Mayonaise........ its a brill ingredient to put into them..you dont taste it at all...it makes the cake moist & rich...you can also subsitite it for some of the eggs..add a tablespoon of mayo to any cake...even choccie cake....... ;D ;D ;D
|
|
|
Post by hannah24 on Jun 26, 2008 13:36:55 GMT
Angie that's a great tip for moisture in cakes..would never have know that! Well..er...can I push the ask another inch ...um..you mentioned a 'carrot cake cream cheese frosting'...OH that's my all time favourite ;D
|
|
|
Post by Angie on Jun 27, 2008 11:09:26 GMT
of course no bother at all...pity you cant post cakes...id send one over to you.....
|
|
|
Post by Jacqui on Jun 27, 2008 11:20:36 GMT
Angie Shéamy loves yorkshire puddings I dont like them at all,but your coffee cake sounds yum would'nt mind trying that,also do you have a recipe for shortbread? x
|
|
|
Post by Angie on Jun 27, 2008 11:40:02 GMT
for a 2 sandwich tin coffee cake..
6oz self raising flour 6oz marg/butter 6oz sugar 3 eggs 2 teaspoons of coffee mixed with a little drop of hot water..or more coffee if you prefer stronger taste...it will be like a paste... dessert spoon of mayo (optional)
cream butter & sugar together till smooth. add an egg & flour alternatively till both are gone...& mayo) add coffee & mix in well... distribute evenly between the 2 tins...
bake at 175o for about 20mins until risen & browned...if you have a cake tester make sure it comes out dry.
leave on wire trays to cool....
8oz icing sugar 2oz butter teaspoon of coffee in hot water again or more if you want it stronger...
cream the icing sugar together with the butter and add in coffee a bit at a time...until its nice & creamy....spread it in the middle of the sandwichs & on top of the cake..decorate with walnuts....and enjoy..... ;D
shortbread I dont have sorry...ive never tried to bake that.... xxxxxx
|
|
|
Post by Jacqui on Jun 27, 2008 11:43:43 GMT
Thanks angie will try this out today...
x
|
|
|
Post by hannah24 on Jun 27, 2008 12:59:33 GMT
of course no bother at all...pity you cant post cakes...id send one over to you..... lol...I'm sure you would Angie .. I'm happy to wait to have one with a cuppa on Irish soil with you! ;D How's those darn cows by the way? If they steal yer clothing...are you able to steal a little fresh milk from them ;D for those yummy cakes!!! Jacqui...this shortbread receipe is just wonderful...lots of butter, but tastes delicious and easy to make! Ingredients: 2 cups butter, softened 1 cup white sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 4 cups all-purpose flour Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Stir in vanilla; add flour and mix well. Roll out to approx 1/4 in thickness....use a favourite buscuit shape cutter.. or cut into 2" by 2" squares...place on greased tray or baking paper on flat oven tray , Bake for 10 - 12 minutes. Its very more-ish! Enjoy
|
|
|
Post by susanmay on Jun 27, 2008 14:28:13 GMT
You should all get together and open a bakery or coffee shop. Those recipes have made me starving just reading them!
|
|
|
Post by Angie on Jun 27, 2008 14:48:17 GMT
evan was out the back and decided to check and see if the fence was on..he found out it was the hard way...lol....got a shock up his arm so we know its def on..... i wouldnt touch them at all...lol...im terrified of them..... thats a good idea susan, id love to do that...my other half says my tomato & minestrone soup could be sold in a cafe...he said he'd pay for it.... ;D
|
|