Sunday, January 30, 2011

American Pumpkin Biscuits (dumplings)

Great with stews!


1/2 cup Mashed Pumpkin
1 Tbsp Butter
1/4 Cup Milk
1 Tbsp Maple Syrup
1 Cup Plain Flour
1 Tbsp Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Mixed Spice
Salt


Method


Preheat oven to 180 (fan forced)
Sift dry ingredients together in a bowl. Mash boiled pumpkin with wet ingredients until smooth.
Mix into dry ingredients spoon onto lined baking sheet (makes 6 x 1/4 cup dumplings). Cook for approx 12 - 15 minutes until firm and golden, serve warm.




I served them as a side, would recommend making smaller dumplings for stews.
Definitely tasty and good for vegetarians!


Served with Smokey sausage and bean casserole



Two Potato Bake




This is a very simple potato bake. The measurements are just rough as I threw it together.
Definitely not over the top, but sometimes the classic tastes are better!


1 Medium Sweet Potato (sliced thinly)
2 Medium Potatoes (sliced thinly)
1/2 Onion (sliced finely)
2-3 Bacon Rashers (diced)
Plain Flour 
Pepper
Garlic
Grated Cheese
1 cup Milk (approx)


Method


Grease baking dish and pre heat oven to 180 (fan forced)
Place one layer of potato in dish, sprinkle with flour, pepper, onion, bacon and cheese (I added a sprinkle of garlic granules here as well). Repeat until potato is used up - top layer to be just potato and cheese. Pour milk over and bake for approx 1 hour.


Like I said - with this one I really did just throw things together, it tasted really good though!


And some pictures...




Layer potato...
 Sprinkle with flour, garlic, onion, seasoning, cheese...
 Repeat through all layers... Bake in oven






Friday, January 28, 2011

Mini Puff Pizzas

I cook these quite often for Steve - he tends to go nuts over them.
If they were for a kids party you could always use some cookie cutters to make little round pizzas.




Ready Rolled Puff Pastry Sheets (cut in quarters)
Philly Cream Cheese
Mozarella Cheese
BBQ Sauce
Bacon/Ham (sliced thinly) 
Mince
Onion (diced/sliced very finely)
Chicken Breast (diced small)


1. Cook mince and chicken completely. 


2. Brush edged of each square with water or egg wash - fold over to create 1cm edge on all sides. Prick entire bottom of pastry with fork (inside the crust line).


3. Spread with philly then bbq sauce, sprinkle cheese and add toppings.


4. Place in oven until pastry is cooked.




Obviously can be done with variety of toppings! Cream cheese just seems to finish it off perfectly.

Friday, January 21, 2011

Cheesy Potato Mash

** An interesting twist on mash!


4 Medium Potatoes - Mashed
1/2 Cup Whole-Egg Mayo
2 Green Onions - Diced Finely
1 Tbsp Dijon Mustard
1/2 Cup Tasty Cheese
1/2 Cup Parmesan Cheese
Paprika to top.


Method


Pre-heat oven to 200c.  Combine first 4 ingredients and place on baking tray. Sprinkle with cheese and paprika, bake for 20-25 minutes.

*** Orange and Rosemary Chicken

[I'm yet to try this one - I posted it so that I wouldn't lose it - will leave remarks when I have done it - or remove it if it was blah]


2 Seedless Oranges
1/2 Cup Honey
1 1/2 Tbsp Fresh Rosemary
2 Tbsp Dijon Mustard
4 Cloves Garlic
1.5 Kg Chicken Legs


1 Juice one orange, add honey, rosemary, garlic and mustard - slice remaining orange.


2 Add chicken to mixture, season - bake for 40-50 minutes, basting and turning halfway through.

Creamy Chicken & Pumpkin Pasta

700g Butternut Pumpkin
300g Dried Pasta
3 Chicken Breasts (diced)
2 Garlic Cloves
2 Tbsp Plain Flour
375ml Evaporated Milk
60ml Water


Method


1 Dice pumpkin and bake until cooked. Cook pasta.


2 Fry chicken, add garlic and season, add flour, remove from heat, stir through milk and water, cook until thickens.


3 Stir through pasta and pumpkin.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

*** Apricot Sesame Glazed Chicken

*** Another one I am looking forward to trying.


4 Chicken Breast
3 tbsp. dijon mustard
3 tbsp. soy sauce
3/4 cup apricot nectar (keep small amount aside)
1 tbsp sesame seeds


1 Combine sauce and rub over chicken. Grill in oven for 10 minutes.


2 Add apricot and sesame seeds to remaining sauce and brush over chicken - flip and repeat.


3 Brush remaining apricot nectar over chicken when removed from oven.


*** This recipe is a bit vague. I'll leave any tips once I have done it.