Fish Bake

Heat oven to 180c

Grease a casserole dish

Layer with silver beet or frozen spinach (thawed first)

Place boneless white fish fillets over the spinach

Add a layer of sliced mushroom

Add an additional layer of the spinach

In  a mixing bowl combine
1 can cream of chicken soup
A generous slurp of sweet sherry
1 tbs of flour

Pour this over the whole cover generously with grated cheese

Oven bake for about 30 mins or until golden

This dish could also be done with chicken for those of you who don't like fish.

Vegetable Birayani

Start with vegetable oil and fry
1 diced onion
1 diced carrot
1 diced potato
2 celery stalks
1/2 a cauliflower florets only

Then add the spices
1tsp of garlic paste
1tsp ginger paste
1tsp turmeric
1tsp cardamon
1tsp coriander
2 cloves
1tsp cumin seed
1 cinnamon stick
2tsp ground almonds

Top with a 400gm can of tomatoes
and 1 can of chickpeas

Add approx. 100gms of basmarti
And about three cups of water

Simmer until rice is cooked

Wayne's Texas Tomato Surprise

This is an adapted recipe that has quite an interesting flavour.

Soften in bran oil
1 sliced onion
1 thinly slice red capsicum
2 sliced celery stalks
2 finely diced garlic cloves
Season with:
1 tsp dried basil
1tsp ground cumin
salt pepper
1tsp chilli powder

Brown 1kg minced beef
Add 1 can crushed tomatoes
1 cup beef stock

Simmer, meanwhile in a saucepan stir 2 cups of polenta with 3 cups of water until a smooth paste is formed (1min)

Combine all ingredients in a casserole and top with grated cheese.

Oven bake at 180c until golden brown

Serve with corn chips

This could be served with pitted black olives mixed through

Pan Fried Eggplant

I don't believe in replacing meat with substitutes for a vegetarian meal. Its not necessary at all. This is a well balanced vegetarian meal that ticks all the boxes for taste.

This dish has 3 components:

Firstly road kill potatoes, see recipe on this blog

Secondly pan fried Haloumi

Finally thinly sliced eggplant
coat with a mitre of minced garlic, minced chilli and olive oil
Pan fry until golden

Cheesy Vegetable Bake

Crease a baking dish
Layer with silver beet or spinach
Cover with a sprinkling of grated cheddar
Layer sliced mushroom and sliced onion
Sprinkle with goats cheese
Layer with silver beet or spinach
Mix 1 egg, 1 cup of milk, 1cup of flour
Pour over ingredients
Cover with Cheddar grated or sliced

Oven bake at 180c till golden

Sylvania Country Captain

My version of a Virginia dish, recipe inspired by James Villlas.

Flour a selection of chicken pieces and fry in vegetable oil, set aside.

Fry 2 sliced onions and one large red capsicum.

Combine all ingredients in a casserole dish
Add 1 400gm tin tomatoes
2 tsp allspice
Salt and pepper
1 cup chicken stock

Bake for 30 minutes.

NB: the original dish added raisins and almonds

Creamy Eggplant Curry

Yes another eggplant recipe just for Brenda

Masala Blend (rough idea)

2tbp ground cardamon

2tbp ground coriander

1tsp chilli powder

1tsp tumeric

1tsp ground cumin 

2 dried chilli

Heat 3 tbp  oil in a heavy based pan

Add spices and stir until fragrant

2 sliced brown onions

Cook until softened and covered in the spice blend

3 cubed regular eggplant

2 diced zucchini

Again stir until coated

Add water cover and simmer

Stir occasionally adding water if needed

Sauce:

Whisk together

3tbs besan (chickpea flour)

3tbs yogurt

Water

Add to curry and heat through

Serve on basmarti rice

Lamb Pie

It is always a worry as to what to do with the leftover lamb after a leg roast. Firstly make sure to harvest all the meat.

Begin by thawing 2 sheets of puff pastry and two sheets of shortcrust. It is just easier and time saving over making your own.

Dice two brown onions and sauté in oil
Add 3 celery stalks finely diced
1 Leek sliced thinly
2 finely sliced garlic cloves
Season and add 1tsp oregano and 1tsp sage

When softened and translucent add
1 cup beef stock
3 cups of wine
400gm can bartolli beans (or any bean of your choice)

Cut your leftover lamb into small pieces and add

Thicken with gravy flour

Line a pie dish with the shortcrust pastry (you can blind bake it or leave the base out for a lighter pie)

Place in your filling top with the puff pastry  spray with olive oil

Bake at 180c until golden.