For my February $7 meals I am going for a vegetable selection and a Cottage Pie. I have chosen the vegetable selection because even though the recipe says you have to boil the potatoes now you can use another way of preparing them.

We have just bought a Philips Air fryer where you can have any food you like but not feel guilty. If you buy one I would use one of these to cook your vegetables because they taste wonderful in the air fryer.

For the main course with it being winter in most parts of the world a good cottage pie is great at this time of the year and I love it. Both these recipes should come in about the $7 mark. Vegetables and ground meat are pretty cheap where ever you live in the world.

Healthy Vegetable Recipes:

Ingredients:

1 Small Cauliflower, Cut Into Florets
200g Thin Green Beans, Halved
2 Courgettes Cut Into 2.5cm Pieces
250g Baby Carrots
200g Baby Corn
2 tbsp Mayonnaise
1 tsp Poppy Seeds
2 tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
Ground Black Pepper

Method:

1. Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil, add the vegetables and simmer for 8-10 minutes or until just tender. Drain the vegetables and place in a medium sized bowl.

2. To make the dressing, mix together the mayonnaise, poppy seeds and vinegar. Season with pepper and mix with the warm vegetables, then leave to cool for 30 minutes before serving.

Cottage Pie Recipe:

Ingredients:

1 Large Onion, Chopped
2 Medium Carrots, Chopped
2-3 Cloves Garlic, Minced
1 lb (14.5oz) Can Beef Broth
1 1/2 lbs Ground Beef
1 (8oz) Can Tomato Sauce
1 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Pepper
1/2 tsp Dried Oregano
1/2 tsp Dried Thyme
1/2 tsp Parsley Flakes
1/2 tsp Dried Rosemary
1/2 tsp Rubbed Sage
2 Cups Hot Mashed Potatoes

Method:

1. In a saucepan, combine onion, carrots, garlic and broth.
Bring to the boil; reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until vegetables are tender.

2. Drain, reserving liquid to make gravy, if desired.
In a skillet, cook beef until browned; drain.

3. Add tomato sauce and seasonings; bring to a boil.
Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15 minutes.

4. Add reserved vegetables and mix well.
Transfer to a greased 2-quart baking dish.

5. Top with mashed potatoes.
Bake, uncovered, and at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until potatoes are lightly browned.

6. If desired, make gravy with reserved vegetable liquid; serve with pie.

For my December Recipes for $7 I have chosen Potato Gratin and a Chocolate Cheese cake. Potatoes are inexpensive around the world so you should not have any problems getting a cheap bag of those.

With the cheese cake you might already be able to source some ingredients from your cupboard already if you are a keen cook and like to cook at home. So you might not have to buy too many ingredients.

I personally do not like cheese cake that much but the rest of my family really loves it. If you get it right then the cheesecake can be unbelievable but sometimes like myself if you get it wrong the rest of your family will soon let you know!

Au Gratin Potato:

Ingredients:

175g/6¼oz Potatoes
30g/1oz Unsalted Butter
2 Garlic Cloves, Peeled/Chopped
285ml/½ pt Double Cream
110g/4oz Mature Cheddar Cheese, Grated
Salt And Ground Black Pepper

Method:

1. Bring a large pan of water to the boil and cook the potatoes for 6-8 minutes, or until tender. Gently melt the butter in a large non-stick frying pan and fry the garlic for 1-2 minutes.

2. Stir in the cream and cheese and simmer gently for a few minutes, or until the cheese has melted. Season. Drain the potatoes, and once cool enough to handle, slice. Layer the slices into an ovenproof gratin dish.

3. Pour the creamy cheese mixture over the potatoes. Serve.

4. I like to bake this dish with some grated cheese over the top mixed with some breadcrumbs then put in a moderate oven for 10-15 minutes.

Chocolate Cheese Cake:

Ingredients:

1 1/2 Cup Light Process Cream Cheese
1 Cup Sugar
1 Cup 1% Low Fat Cottage Cheese
1/4 Cup Plus 2 tbsp Unsweetened Cocoa
1/4 Cup All Purpose Flour
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
1/4 tsp Salt
1 Egg
2 tbsp Semi Sweet Chocolate
Mini-Morsels
Chocolate Curls

Method:

1. Sprinkle chocolate wafer crumbs in bottom of a 7-inch spring-form pan. Set aside. Position knife blade in food processor bowl; add cream cheese and next 6 ingredients, processing until smooth.

2. Add egg and process just until blended. Fold in the chocolate morsels. Slowly pour mixture over crumbs in pan. Bake at 300 degrees for 65 to 70 minutes or until cheesecake is set.

3. Let cool in pan on wire rack. Cover and chill for at least 8 hours. Remove sides of pan, and transfer cheesecake to a serving platter. Garnish with chocolate curls, if desired.

I love kebabs and they are so nice when they are cooked correctly. Obviously I am not including those that the chavs have on a saturday night that are used from old meat and look like they are covered in more calories than the cider they have already drunk.

No I am talking about real kebabs like the lovely ones we are lucky enough to get locally in Portugal.

The kind that we get when we go to a local barbecue or make together as a family at home when we want to go through some of our leftovers.

I always have a good stash of the sticks for using in kebab making in my cupboard so that whenever we fancy a nice kebab it never involves much effort!!

So here is my favourite beef kebabs and I hope you enjoy them and not to mention they are good for you.

Ingredients

Pack Beef Medalions

2 Tablespoons Soy Sauce

1 Green Pepper

2 Onions

Seasoning To Taste

Method

First of all you need to dice your beef into thick cubes and soak for about 10 minutes in some soy sauce.

In the meantime chop some onions into cubes that are the same size as your beef and then do the same for some green pepper.

Once you have done this get your wok out and add some low calorie cooking spray to your wok along with a teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil and once it is hot you need to add the beef once it is half cooked you need to add the peppers and onions.

When it is nearly cooked season it with some mixed spice, mixed herbs and a little mustard and then when it is cooked put it to one side.

In the meantime you need to make some sauce to go with your kebabs. I personally suggest you make a garlic sauce as it works really well together. I am a big fan of the Spanish garlic mayonnaise called Olioli.

If you don’t have any to hand just place a large tablespoon of  mayonnaise in a dish, add a squirt of lime juice and a teaspoon of garlic paste and mix it altogether.

Then the kebabs will have reached a handling temperature and you need to prepare them.

Add a piece of beef, followed by a piece of pepper and then onion. And then repeat. You want it so that you have 2 of everything on your kebab stick.

Then make enough to go around the rest of the family.

Then you can serve your tasty kebabs.

For my November recipes I have gone with a fishy theme. You can’t beat a good old fashioned Prawn cocktail. A few prawns with abit of Mary rose Sauce over the top and some brown bread toasted on the side, heaven.

For the main course I have gone for a simple Tuna Pasta bake. I have being making these for years and this recipe has being fine tuned for quickness and tastiness. I also like some crusty bread with my Tuna Bakes and abit of spice.

I like to add abit of spice but nothing that takes away from the tuna, just abit to add some extra flavour, a few chilli flakes go down well and a dash of Tabasco. I hope you enjoy these recipes.

Prawn Cocktail:

Ingredients:

450g Peeled, Cooked Prawns

200 g Salad Cream

3 tbsp Tomato Ketchup

1 tbsp Lemon Juice

Few Drops Tabasco

3 Heads Gem Lettuce

Method:

1. Make sure the prawns are drained well of their liquid. Mix the salad cream, ketchup, lemon juice and Tabasco in a bowl. Tip in the prawns and mix well to coat them in the Marie-Rose sauce.

2. Finally shred the lettuce, and arrange as a bed on six small plates or dessert glasses. Divide the prawns in their sauce on the centre of each plate in a kind of pyramid, and then dust with paprika.

3. As long as the prawns were properly thawed and drained before you started mixing them in their famous Marie rose pink sauce, it does not matter if they sit for a good few hours in the fridge before being turned out onto their lettuce-lined dishes.

Tuna Pasta Bake:

Ingredients:

30g Margarine

4 tbs Flour

2 Cups Milk

½ Cup Grated Cheese

Salt And Pepper

1 Can Tuna, Drained.

2 Cups Of Pasta Shells

Method:

1. Make white sauce with margarine, flour, milk, salt & pepper. Add cheese

and tuna. Heat through.

2. Cook pasta until ready or if you are not sure look at the packet when ready take of the heat and refresh under cold water.

3. Then drain, add to the cheese/tuna sauce, mix well and heat through when ready serve.

Cheese Burgers is one of those great snacks that everyone loves. Though I am not too sure that we like what it does to our waist line!!

I make cheese burgers for my family about three times a month in summer and about once a month the rest of the year.

They go really well with some chips or onion rings and take very little time to prepare. In fact I don’t think it has ever taken me more than an hour and that includes adding the salad to the buns.

I prefer to have Cheese Burgers with Pork Mince just because it is a drier meat and as a result it is easier for making the burgers and they never fall apart and taste so amazing when they are cooked.

So let’s get cooking and here is my Pork Cheese Burger Recipe.

Ingredients:

500g Pork Mince

4 Burger Buns

Salad (to go in your burger if required)

½ Egg

1 Small Onion

Handful Breadcrumbs

Handful Chopped Basil

Pinch Mixed Herbs

Teaspoon Tomato Paste

Pinch Chives

4 Slices Cheddar

Method

First of all you need to mix your meat in a mixing bowl until it is nice and soft and easy to mix up. Then you need to dice your onion and add it to your mixture along with a handful of breadcrumbs.

You then add your fresh basil, mixed herbs and chives. Then add the tomato paste. Along with salt and pepper, once you have done this mixed together in your hands and form the mixture into 4 large burgers.

Then place the burgers on a baking tray and grill for 12 minutes for until cooked through.

Once they are done cook for a further minute under the grill with a slice of cheddar on top.

When you are done add them to the burger buns and add some salad if you wish. I love my burgers with a little lettuce, a slice of tomato, some red onions and a small spoonful of mayonnaise.

But we all have a different opinion of what works for us and how we like our garnish.

Enjoy your cheeseburgers I know I will be tonight!!

For my October recipes I have chosen Bangers and mash and Gingerbread. I find both are cheap and very easy to prepare. They are ideal for a small family or large family. My sausages always have to be the thick ones.

I am sorry but there just is no comparison. Pork or beef sausages are fine; if you buy them in bulk they will be cheaper. Potatoes are not too expensive but they are far better than packet mash.

I can not think of anything worse than packet mash potato so please if you are thinking that the best way to go for convenience is packet mash then please think again. I think fresh potatoes are cheaper. My Gingerbread recipe is an old family favouritewhich i hope you like. I hope you enjoy these recipes.

Bangers And Mash:

Ingredients:

16 x Sausages Of Your Choice

1 tblsp Olive Oil

675g /1.5lbs Potatoes

110g/4oz Margarine/Butter

Salt And Ground Pepper

1 tblsp Flour

250ml/9fl oz Stock

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C / 350°F

2. In a large frying pan heat the oil and add the sausages, cook for 1-2 minutes to allow the skin to brown turn each sausage until it has browned on two or three sides. Place the frying pan in the oven (plastic handles? Transfer to roasting tray) Cook for a further 5-8 minutes.

To test if the sausages are cooked either:

Cut one sausage in half and visually check the flesh is cooked all the way through – still pink? Return to the oven or Insert a thermometer if its above 75oC it will be ready.

3. Boil the potatoes in lightly salted water until soft and tender. Drain then mash the potatoes with the margarine, add the salt and pepper to your taste.

4. Remove the sausages from the pan. Add the flour to the fats and juices left in the pan. Stir over a moderate heat for 1 minute add the stock and increase the heat. Stir vigorously to remove any lumps then season with salt and pepper.

5. I also like to add some cheese to my mash with a dash of mustard and sometimes some salad cream!

Gingerbread Recipe:

Ingredients:

1 Cup of Brown Sugar

1 Cup of Sour Milk

3 Cups of Plain Flour

0.75 Cup of Molasses

0.75 Cup of Melted Shortening

2 Medium Beaten Eggs

1 Teaspoon of Baking Soda

1 Teaspoon of Ginger

1 Teaspoon of Cinnamon

0.25 Teaspoon Salt

Method:

1. Firstly in a medium sized bowl combine the eggs, sugar, shortening and molasses. Then sift the flour, baking soda, salt, ginger and cinnamon in another bowl.

2. Add milk to the first mixture and then add the second mixture to the first. Beat the mixture until you have a stiff substance.

3. Now transfer the mixture onto a medium sized oven tin at 375c for 40 minutes or until a fork entered into the middle comes out completely clean.

Cauliflower Cheese has to be one of the most favourite traditional meals of all time. I love Cauliflower Cheese and I remember at 12 years old when I refused to learn to cook in the kitchen with my mum it was the one dish I could make.

In my teenage years I was a vegetarian so I would eat a lot of Cauliflower Cheese and other beautiful dishes with a cheese sauce involved somewhere!!!

Nowadays though I tend to eat my cauliflower cheese as a side dish to go with a main meal and then the leftovers will then be frozen to use at a later date.

Here is my Cauliflower Cheese recipe and I hope you enjoy it as much as me.

Ingredients:

1 Medium Cauliflower

150g Margarine

150g Mature Cheddar Cheese

½ Pint Semi Skimmed Milk

150g Plain Flour

Pinch Nutmeg

Pinch Mustard

Salt/Pepper (If Desired)

Method

First of all you need to chop your cauliflower into florets so that they are of an equal size so that none become mushy or undercooked and then add some salt and pepper and cook them until they are cooked. I prefer to use a steamer as it keeps their flavour and they taste much better.

While your Cauliflower is cooking you need to work on your cheese sauce. Cook the fat in the pan and once it is runny add the flour and make sure you properly cook your flour in the margarine otherwise it will taste awful.

Then once you have a beautiful rue you need to add your milk until you have a lovely white sauce. At this point you need to add your pinch of nutmeg and mustard. My husband always gives me a nasty look when he sees me with the nutmeg but it gives it a wonderful flavour.

Once you have done this you need to add your cheese. This is down to preference some people prefer to have more cheese than others.

Once you have added the cheese and it has all melted lovely. You need to check on your cauliflower and once it is done, mix the two together and place in a casserole style dish. I also like to slice some tomatoes on top and scatter some breadcrumbs but it is optional if you want to do this or not.

If you want to make a bigger or smaller cheese sauce just remember you always have the same amount of flour, cheese and fat so just alter it to your needs.

After 5 minutes under the grill your Cauliflower Cheese is ready to serve. Enjoy!

For my September recipes I have chosen a rustic starter. A lovely autumn soup, it is very filling and full of vegetables and abit of meat. I like to use chicken instead of Turkey because I can utilise the rest of the chicken in the main course.

For my main course I am going for a basic chicken curry because when you are on a budget it is great to be able to make 2 dishes out of the one piece of meat. I find this curry recipe very tasty indeed.

It is a pretty basic recipe when you fist look at it but it certainly doesn’t lack any flavour. I hope you enjoy these 2 money saving recipes, I certainly enjoy putting them together for you.

Autumn Soup Recipe:

Ingredients:

1 lb Lean Ground Beef or Turkey

1 Onion, Chopped

1 Cup Carrots, Chopped

1 Cup Celery, Diced

1 Cup Potatoes, Cubed

3 Cup Beef Stock

2 tsp Salt

1/4 tsp Pepper

1 Bay Leaf

1/8 tsp Basil

1 Can Tomatoes

Method:

1. In large saucepan brown the meat, drain off fat. Add onions and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in remaining ingredients, except tomatoes. Heat until boiling, reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes.

2. Add the tomatoes, cover and simmer 20 minutes longer, or until vegetables are tender. Add bouquet sauce if desired. Remove bay leaf.

3. Then serve the soup I like it with toasted thick bread.

Basic Chicken Curry Recipe:

Ingredients:

1 Chicken
2 Large Onions
125g Butter
2 tbs Sugar
1 tbs Curry Powder
6 Heaped tbs Plain Flour
2 tsp Salt
1 tsp Pepper
6 Cups Chicken Stock

Method:

1. Chop up chicken. Chop onions and sauté in melted butter for 5 minutes.

2. Add curry powder, flour, salt & pepper, fry for 2 minutes.

3. Add sugar, stock & stir until thick.

4. Add chicken & simmer 15 minutes.

I love the idea of one pot wonders, they are an amazing invention for quick easy cooking as a family that you can all enjoy together. I often cook a one pot meal at least once a week and often make casseroles.

Casseroles are my personal favourite as you can go down the route of what you have left in your fridge at the end of the week in your plan to combat your food waste. This particular casserole that I have written about below is a pork casserole that is full of goodness and is very cheap and easy to make.

Most of the ingredients involved you will also often have sat there is your fridge and cupboardas.

Ingredients:

900g pork shoulder

Large Handful Breadcrumbs

2 Apples Cored & Sliced

200g Shredded Cabbage

1/2pt Apple Juice

Handful Chopped Parsley

300g Diced Leek

200g Pre Rolled Puff Pastry

3 Cloves Garlic

1 Diced Onion

100g Frozen Peas

1 Beaten Egg

Method:

Preheat the oven to gas mark 6 or 160c and cook your pork in a casserole dish on the stove until they are nicely browned. Add the onion and the garlic and cook on a medium heat. Add the apple juice and a bit of corn flour and stir until thickened.

Add the leeks and bring to the boil then cook in the oven for 50 minutes.

10 minutes before it is complete prepare the pastry for on top and get your other ingredients ready.

When you have got your casserole from the oven add the apple, cabbage, parsley and peas. Then add your breadcrumbs and mix well. Once you have done this you need to add the pastry to the top of the casserole and brush with the beaten egg.

Now cook for a further 15 minutes in the oven, until it is cooked thoroughly and the pastry is a lovely shade of brown.

Now it is time to serve your masterpiece and enjoy your beautiful meal with your family.

Thanks for reading my blog post and in the meantime if you would like to read more of my fantastic healthy eating cooking tips and food recipes you can subscribe to my RSS feed or join my free online Ezine.

]]> http://simplyfoodndrink.com/mummy-kitchen-my-favourite-one-pot-wonder-pork-casserole/feed/ 0 http://simplyfoodndrink.com/dominic%e2%80%99s-7-family-meals-prawn-recipes-and-an-easy-chicken-salad/ http://simplyfoodndrink.com/dominic%e2%80%99s-7-family-meals-prawn-recipes-and-an-easy-chicken-salad/#comments Mon, 01 Aug 2011 15:28:33 +0000 Dominic http://simplyfoodndrink.com/?p=1048

For my August recipes I have gone for a very summery double. My prawn recipes are a fantastic mix of prawns and spices. You can cook on a stove or out on the BBQ. I prefer the BBQ at this time of year.

My Easy chicken salad is a fantastic recipe for those of us that like to take it easy in the sun and not do too much but the food is still just as good as standing on your feet all day slaving over a hot cooker.

In the recipe I use cooked chicken pieces. I usually save the legs a bit of breast for my chicken salads. So I get a couple of meals out of one chicken and thus saving money. Both meals will be ideal for summer in the blazing heat.

Prawn Recipes:

Ingredients:

2 tbsp Mild Olive Oil
2 Cloves Garlic, Finely Chopped
1 Red Chilli, Deseeded & Finely Chopped
2cm Piece Fresh Root Ginger, Peeled & Finely Chopped
200g Jumbo Tiger Prawns, Cooked & Peeled
1 tsp Ground Paprika
1 tsp Fresh Coriander, Chopped
Freshly Ground Black Pepper

Method:

1. Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan. Add the garlic, chilli and ginger and fry on a gentle heat for 1 minute.

2. Add the large tiger prawns and paprika to the pan & cook on a moderate heat for 1-    2 minutes. Season to taste and stir in the fresh coriander. Serve with lemon wedges.

Easy Chicken Salad:

Ingredients:

3/4 Cups Light Mayonnaise
1/2 tsp Ginger
1/2 tsp Salt
3 Cup Cooked Chicken
1 1/2 Cups Red Seedless Grapes
1 Cups Sliced Celery
1/3 Cups Sliced Green Onion
1/2 Cups Broken Walnuts
Ground Black Pepper

Method:

1. Combine mayonnaise, ginger and salt. Stir in chicken, grapes, celery, green onion and walnuts it will make 5 1/2 cups.

2. Serve on a lettuce leaf.

Thanks for reading my blog post and in the meantime if you would like to read more of my fantastic cooking tips and food recipes you can subscribe to my RSS feed or join my free online Ezine.

To your food heaven

Dominic