Turkey Burgers With Mustard and Dill

Ingredients:

1kg turkey mince
6 shallots, sliced 
large handful of chopped fresh dill
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/2 cup fresh breadcrumbs
2 eggs, lightly beaten
light sour cream for sauce
extra dill and mustard


Method:

Mix the mince with the shallots, dill, mustard, breadcrumbs and egg in a large bowl. Divide mixture into 8 portions and shape into patties about 10cm wide. Fry in a non-stick frying pan sprayed with olive oil for a few minutes each side until cooked through. Meanwhile, for the sauce, mix another handful of chopped dill and 2-3 teaspoons of Dijon mustard into some sour cream.

Serve in a toasted hamburger bun with salad and the sauce. Add a "plastic" cheese slice and some tomato sauce if you must (Sarah!).

Serves 8

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Chicken Cacciatore

Cooked this tonight, really simple to make and delicious.

Ingredients:
olive oil spray
1 kg chicken lovely legs (drumsticks with skin removed) , or try chicken thighs
1 tbs olive oil
2 brown onions, sliced (option: replace 1 onion with a diced red pepper (capsicum))
2 cloves garlic, chopped
700g bottle pasta sauce with basil (from Aldi)
400g can chopped tomatoes
1/2 cup pitted kalamata olives
steamed green beans and brocollini and spaghetti to serve
Parmesan cheese to sprinkle


Method:

Spray large deep frying pan with olive oil and cook chicken for 5 mins, turning to brown.
Transfer to a plate.
Heat oil in the pan and add onion. Cook for a few minutes until soft, then add garlic and continue to cook for a minute before returning the chicken to the pan and adding the pasta sauce and tomatoes. Bring to the boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for about 45 minutes, stirring and turning the chicken half way.
Add the olives and simmer a further 10 mins while preparing the spaghetti and green vegetables to serve with it.

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Italian Sausage and Rice Hot Pot

A child-friendly dish liked by Rebecca who likes all things Italian (and Greek salad!).

Ingredients:
375-500g pack Italian sausages, beef or pork
1-2 onions, chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 tablespoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2-3 truss tomatoes, chopped or a punnet of cherry toms, halved
1 small-medium red capsicum (pepper), chopped
400g can chopped tomatoes
1 cup of brown rice, cooked or 2 x 250g packs of 90-second rice
1 cup frozen peas
freshly picked basil, about half a cup, chopped
grated Parmesan cheese, to serve

Method:

1. Snip ends from the sausages and squeeze out the meat in pieces to form meat balls. Throw out the casings and fry the meatballs in a deep frying pan over medium-high heat until browned.

2. Add the onion and garlic and cook stirring until the onion is softened.

3. Add the dried herbs, tomatoes, capsicum, and canned tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper. Stir and bring to the boil, then cover the pan and simmer gently for about 10 minutes, or until the sauce thickens and the tomatoes cook down into it.

4. Add the rice, peas and basil leaves and cook another few minutes.

5. Serve topped with cheese.

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Caramel Kisses

Yummy mini caramel chocolate bites. I had these for the first time about a year ago in a Gloria Jean's cafe and just had to find a recipe. I found it on-line here:  http://www.arnotts.com/recipes/recipes/caramel-kisses.aspx

Here's my version:

Ingredients:
1 packet of Aldi Butternut snap biscuits
90g butter melted
1 can caramel topping
100g chocolate bar



Method:

Preheat oven 170C. Grease a 24 hole mini muffin pan by brushing with some of the melted butter. Break up the biscuits and mix with the rest of the melted butter in a food processor. Divide the mixture between the muffin holes and use your fingers to press into the bottom and up the sides of each hole. It doesn't need to be too exact. Bake in the preheated oven for about 8 minutes. Then remove from the oven and use a teaspoon to press a dip into each case as they tend to flatten out. Put a teaspoonful of caramel topping into each case and return to the oven for about 10 minutes. Then cool completely and top with teaspoons of melted chocolate. Refrigerate until set. Enjoy!!

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Microwave Brownies

Here is an old favourite recipe. Makes a quick dessert, only 5 mins in the microwave! The original was written on an index card and as you can see has been used many times over the years. I can't remember where the recipe came from, but think it may have been copied from a Cadbury product wrapper.

Ingredients:

100g cooking chocolate

100g butter cut into pieces

100g brown sugar

100g self-raising flour

1 tablespoon cocoa

¼ teaspoon salt

2 eggs, beaten

1 tablespoon vanilla

½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Method:

1.    Grease and line a 20 cm square microwave dish e.g. pyrex.

2.    Break chocolate into pieces and add to a large casserole or glass mixing bowl with the cut up butter.

3.    Microwave on medium/low for 2-3 minutes and stir until smooth.

4.    Stir in sugar and sifted flour, cocoa and salt.

5.    Add eggs and vanilla and beat well.

6.    Stir in the chopped nuts.

7.    Pour into the prepared dish.

8.    Shield the corners with triangles of foil to prevent overcooking and cover dish with plastic wrap.

9.    Microwave on High for 5 minutes.

10.  Remove plastic wrap and foil.

11.  Allow to cool in the dish before cutting into squares.

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