Merry Christmas!

A huge Merry Christmas from myself (Roz), Brent & miss Amelia. We hope you all have a wonderful holiday and we will see you in 2012!

Cranberry & Onion Gravy

My husband made this gravy to serve with red meat the other night. Really tasty and certainly tastes like more! Just what you want at Christmas. It can be served with red & white meat. Use what ever gravy you would normally use and add to it. In general adding is always an easy way to "fancy" up your normal store bought gravy.


60g Cranberry Jelly
1 beef stock cube
1 onion, sliced fine
3 tbsp Gravy granules such as bisto
300ml water
1 tbsp olive oil


In olive oil, cook onions until soft

In a pot, bring 300ml water to boil
Add 3 tbsp gravy granules & crumble in stock cube

Stir constantly to dissolve

Once the sauce in smooth, stir in the cranberry jelly until melted

Salt & Pepper to taste

Christmas Foodie Gifts

This year my family decided to mainly buy for the kids in the family but I do like to give something as a token at Christmas. My newest obsession in food in jars so my husband and I put our heads together and came up with a few ideas. As usual I cam up with the sweet & the design, he came up with the flavours :)

The first thing I made were these Cookies for Santa jars
I have been so inspired by these on pinterest that I couldn't wait to make them. How cute to make with kiddies on Christmas Eve?! I've gone with my theme this year which is good old fashioned brown paper & string! I just love it.



These are made with layers of cookie ingredients (all dry) and the instructions for baking are on the back of the tag.

Layers from bottom to top
* 3/4 cup flour, 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1/4 tsp salt
* 1/2 cup oats
* 2/4 cup m&ms (I used red & green)
* 1/4 cup brown sugar
* 1/4 cup white sugar
* 1/4 cup currents / chocolate chips

The tag instructions read
Add 1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
60g butter

Roll into balls & bake @ 180C for 10 mins



Next my husband made Basil Infused Olive Oil




This is made with 250ml olive and a handful of fresh Basil

Bring the oil to a low heat and add the basil. Allow it to INFUSE (see that :D) for 10mins. Remove from heat and allow to cool

Transfer to a bottle and give to someone lucky!



Last but not least is the Honey Mustard Vinaigrette



This is made with

1 tsp whole grain mustard
1 tsp Dijon mustard
80ml Vinegar
170ml Olive Oil
1 tbsp honey
Salt and Pepper to taste

Mix in all and whack it into a pretty bottle with a pretty tag

The Tag reads; "For use with salads" on the back

Krispie Kream Muffins!

For anyone who has travelled and returned to a land where you cannot buy Krispie Kream doughnuts, this will make you as happy as it made me! I saw these pop up on pinterest a LONG time ago and I have had it in my head to make them. Forgive me for having no idea where these came from but they must be passed on, created in all homes and enjoyed with a creamy cup of coffee

OK I'll admit, my kitchen did not look well after making these. There was mess EVERYWHERE. I did not enjoy cleaning BUT if you are better organised than I was at the start it will help. I've tried to include some handy ways to keep the mess down



Ingredients

Muffins

60g butter, room temp
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 2/3 cup flour
1 cup milk

Glaze

3 tbsp butter, melted
1 cup icing sugar
3/4 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp hot water



*Start by measuring everything out. Put the baking soda, baking powder & salt into
one bowl
*Put the milk into a jug with pouring spout
*Add the vanilla extract to the milk
* Pre heat oven to 200C


Start by creaming the butter & sugar
Add the vegetable oil & mix
Add the eggs

Beat well until combined

Add the baking powder, baking soda, salt mix
Mix well

For the next step you need to add both the flour & the milk a bit at a time until they are used up. You will know when you need to add the milk as you mix because the batter will become very dry & thick. Take your time & alternate between them. Start with the flour & end with the flour so that the mix will not be too wet

Line a muffin tin
Add 2 tbsp to each
I got around 20 muffins from this mix

Bake for 15 mins until golden

Rotate the tray after 7 mins to cook evenly



Once cooked, move to a wire rack to cool. If you have them in muffin cases (paper ones) remove these


Now for the delicious icing

Very simply, pop everything into a bowl/jug and mix

Dip each muffin in and coat well

Allow to set. It won't go hard but instead, will be as deliciously soft as a krispie kream doughnut yum!

Festive Cranberry Tarts

These are simple and very tasty. The beautiful deep red of the cranberry makes these perfect for a festive party.


Ingredients

1 sheet puff pastry
Jar cranberry sauce
200g cooked chicken/turkey
150g cream cheese


Pre heat oven to 200C

Cut the puff pastry sheet into squares. You can get about 24 small ones if you are using these for a party. We did this as a lunch/dinner type thing so I cut larger ones

Leaving about a 1 cm edge, spread some cream cheese on each square

Chop the cooked chicken. You don't want it too fine but you want pretty small chunks
Sprinkle it on top of the cream cheese

Add a blob of cranberry sauce


Pop into the oven on a grease proof tray for 15 mins or until the pastry is golden

Serve warm or cold

Chicken Salad in Honey Mustard Dressing

This salad is just delicious. We had it for dinner tonight and I know we will be making this again next week. It's so fresh and filling. Really really tasty. This will also work with any LEFT OVER turkey from Christmas :) Even better!

Serves 4

450g potato wedges
2 heads baby gem, shredded
6 strips streaky bacon or parma ham, chopped
300g cooked chicken/turkey, sliced
Ready made honey mustard dressing


Cook the wedges in the oven until crispy

If using bacon, fry until cooked and then chop

You can prepare two ways

* You can toss the chicken/turkey in the dressing
Mix the salad leaves and wedges
Top with the chicken and ham/bacon

Or you can do what we did which tasted amazing but is less "fancy" for guests

* Everything in a bowl, add about half a bottle of dressing and give it a gentle
toss with your hands.


Everyone enjoyed this and it's such an easy meal with very little cooking!

Chicken Pie

Serves 4

2 tbsp olive oil
500g chicken breast, diced
1 leek, white, sliced
1 carrot, peeled & sliced
1 red pepper, deseeded & chopped
2 tbsp flour
1 packet chicken soup, powder
300ml boiling water
75g frozen peas
75g sweetcorn
60ml natural yoghurt
1 sheet frozen shortcrust pastry
1 egg lightly beaten
Salt & Pepper







Heat oil in a pan and brown the chicken for 5 mins until golden

Add carrot, leek and red pepper
Cook for 4 mins until leek is soft
Add flour & stir until combined

Mix the soup with the water then add the the pan

Bring to the boil and simmer for 15 mins until the chicken is cooked

Add the sweetcorn, peas and yoghurt

Season to taste


Spoon mix into a deep pie dish or deep baking dish

Place pastry over the top and cut to size

Brush the top with beaten egg


Bake for 15 mins at 200C until pastry is golden

Whole grain Mustard sauce

For the sauce

250ml cream
2 tbsp whole grain mustard
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp cornflour with 1/2 tsp water
Pinch salt & pepper



Add both mustard into a sauce pan a dry fry to release the flavour of the mustard seeds. Do this for 1 min

Add cream & bring to the boil
Boil for 2 mins

Add the corn flour/water mix

Allow to simmer for 2 - 3 mins




Serve over pork chops with mashed potatoes and green beans

Chicken Korma

A nice way to add something extra to store bought korma sauce & it wont take any longer to cook! Bonus!

Serves 4

4 chicken breasts, diced
1 tbsp vegetable oil
2 tbsp desiccated coconut
500g jar Korma sauce
3 tbsp raisins
50g dried mango, diced
Salt & Pepper
Basmati rice


Pop the rice into boiling water and cook as instructed

In a hot pan with the oil, cook chicken until golden
Add coconut and cook for 2 mins

Add korma sauce, raisins & mango
Cook for 15 mins

Season if needed

Apple Dip

Ingredients:

2 cups peeled, cored, and diced apple
2 tbsp lime juice
3 tbsp brown sugar
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp corn flour dissolved in 1 tsp water

For the chips
4 wheat tortillas
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 1/2 tablespoons sugar


Combine all the dip ingredients in a small pan except the corn flour mix

Heat for a few minutes until boiled and becomes watery

Add corn flour water mix

Return to the boil and allow to thicken

Set aside

This can be served hot or cold. It tastes amazing either way


Cut tortillas into triangles

Put in a slightly greased baking try and brush with the melted butter

Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar

Bake at 200C for 5 mins until golden


I found this through the wonderful pinterest and had used it for our daughters birthday. It tastes amazing!

Lobster & Guacamole Canape

3 ingredients...
Does it get any easier? You can of course use all pre made ingredients. Canned lobster, store bought guacamole and Melba toast from the pack! Simply layer as in the picture and chow down!












If you do feel like making it from scratch here is our guacamole recipe

http://mybigredkitchen.blogspot.com/2011/08/guacamole.html

Irish Stew

Serves 4

600g stewing beef
3 tbsp olive oil
3 carrots, peeled & cut into large chunks
3 onions, peeled & quatered
400ml beef stock/oxtail soup, boiled
8 potatoes, peeled & cut into chunks
1 tbsp chopped parsley
Salt & Pepper

Pre heat oven to 180C

Chop the meat into managable chunks
Heat olive oil in a pan and brown the beef

Remove the beef and add the onions and carrots to the remaining oil and cook for a minute or two.

Pop all into a crock pot/ caserole dish with the potatoes and stock. Season well. Cook for 2 hrs

Top with parsley to serve

Turkey Wraps

Serves 4

These are easy, light and tasty
Perfect for that left over turkey! Thank you BBC


4 tortillas
1 head Baby Gem, about 2 leaves pp.
6 spring onions, shredded
250g cooked turkey
1/2 cucumber, shredded
2 tbsp mayo
2 tbsp pesto


Combine the mayo and pesto and mix well









Divide baby gem, spring onion, turkey and cucumber between the tortillas

Brush some sauce over each, roll and serve

Try serving with some potato wedges

Marshmallow Pops

These are SO simple and really fun/easy for kids. My 3 year old made these for us. Even though she has been sick for weeks :( she will always help in the kitchen


You'll need;

Bag large marshmallows
Lolly pop sticks
Sprinkles
Plate
100g melted chocolate


You can let the kids do all of this. Smaller ones will need extra help with the melting of the chocolate of course, but it's best done as an easy/fun family activity

I had planned on having step by step pictures with my 3 year old showing how its done but alas she is so unwell that the camera was not her friend and she didn't feel much like smiling for me SO instead you must put up with a few line description from me


Press a lolly pop stick into each marshmallow

Dip into the melted chocolate and coat generously (it is Christmas after all)

Have your lovely assistant roll the choc mallow in the sprinkles which you have poured onto a plate

Repeat many times and pop them into the fridge to set


I've heard Santa is a fan of these ;)

Shallot & Goats Cheese Tarts

These are so tasty. You will not be able to stop eating them. They are great for a party or when having some guests over during this festive season. They can be eaten hot or cold and will the just as tasty either way. Using the store bought pastry saves time and puts a lot less stress on those of us hosting! Of course you can always bring these TO a party! Everyone will love you for it

Makes aprox. 15

12 shallots, peeled
1 roll ready made puff pastry
6 cm round cutter
25g butter
25g brown sugar
1 egg, beaten
100g goats cheese
Salt & Pepper

Pre heat oven to 200C

First cut out your circles and set aside on some baking paper

Boil shallots in water for 3 mins
Remove, drain and rinse under cold water, drain again

Heat butter in a pot with sugar. Stir until dissolved
Add shallots and season. Allow the shallots to break up a little

Set aside to cool

Add roughly 1 tbsp of shallot mix to the centre of the pastry circles. Leave an edge on each circle to allow the pastry to rise

Using your fingers, crumble some goats cheese onto each

Resist the urge to lick you fingers!

You can also sprinkle some parsley on. Its not a must but it does give an extra something if you happen to have it lying around

Brush pastry edges with egg (optional)

Pop all into the oven for 15 mins, until the pastry in golden


Please do enjoy! They taste amazing!

Shallot & Sausage Stew

Serves 4

2 tbsp olive oil
100ml Red wine
500ml chicken stock
10 shallots, peeled & whole
8 sausages, cut into chunks
1 carrot, diced
2 garlic cloves, sliced thin
1 400g tin tomatoes
Salt & Pepper
1 tbsp dried parsley (or fresh)


In a large pot, cook the shallots & sausages in olive oil for 5 mins until shallots are soft and sausages are browned

Add the carrot and cook for 3 min

Add garlic

Add tomatoes 1/2 the wine, the stock and season to taste

Bring to the boil and simmer for 15 min

Add remaining wine

If you want a very wet mix you can add more stock. Personally I like it thicker and sticky but each to their own!

Check seasoning and add parsley

Serve with mashed potatoes or crusty bread

All Butter Biscuits

A great cookie for cutters and easy to decorate!

I made these for my daughters 3rd birthday but im planning on making some Christmas ones this week. Best get out the red and green colouring!

Makes 24

90g unsalted butter
100g caster sugar
1 large egg, beaten
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
200g plain flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt


To decorate I used Royal icing easily made with icing sugar, water and your choice of food colouring!


Pre heat oven to 180C

Cream the butter and sugar

Add the beaten egg & vanilla essence

Combine the flour, baking powder & salt
Add to wet mix

Form a ball with the dough and wrap in cling film (saran wrap) and chill in the fridge for an hour

Once chilled roll on a lightly floured surface

Use what ever cookie cutters you like or if you have none you can cut into shapes with a knife

Bake for 10 mins

Once cooled you can ice & decorate!

Tomato soup with goats cheese & croutons

This can be made super easily with canned tomato soup, boxed croutons & goats cheese!


If you choose to make from scratch you can use our crouton recipe

http://www.mybigredkitchen.blogspot.com/2011/02/garlic-croutons.html



Tomato Soup

2 cans chopped tomatoes
1 medium onion
1 small carrot
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tsp tomato purée
a good pinch of sugar
1 tbsp dried basil
1 ltr hot vegetable stock

Simply wash & chop everything up, dont worry about peeling.

Add olive oil to a large pot. Add chopped veg and soften

Add remaining ingredients

Once carrots are soft, blitz with a hand blender

Caesar Salad

Serves 4 - 6

Ingredients

3 baby cos lettuce heads
Croutons, homemade or using our recipe **
4 sliced of parma ham (or bacon or similar), sliced thin roasted till crispy (15min)

Dressing (or use store bought)
1 cup mayonaise
1/2 lemon, juice
2 crushed garlic cloves
3 anchovie fillets
1 tbsp Parmasan cheese
Salt & Pepper


To make the dressing;
Put garlic, anchovies & parmasan cheese into a food processor/blender and blend into a smooth paste
Add mayo and lemon
Combine well
Season to taste

Wash lettuce heads and slice using only the green part of the leaf
combine all with the dressing
Serve


** http://www.mybigredkitchen.blogspot.com/2011/02/garlic-croutons.html

"Traditional" Jello & Ice cream

Jello served in orange cups!

Just scoop out the flesh of oranges, pour in the jello & leave to set!

Serve topped with a scoop or ice cream :)

Mini Hotdogs

They're easy & fun

Who doesn't like hotdogs?

Cocktail sausages served in small crusty rolls

Meatball Bake

This recipe includes making a sauce. You can of course use a canned sauce & just add some extra ingredients for flavour


Serves 4

250g Penne Pasta (or what ever you have), cooked
16 medium sized meatballs
1 onion, chopped fine
2 garlic cloves, crushed/chopped fine
1 tsp dried oregano/parsley
2 tbsp Dijon mustard
1 tbsp Tomato ketchup
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
75g Edam cheese, shaved thin
Salt & Pepper
1 tbsp olive oil
2 400g crushed tomatoes
1 tsp sugar
40ml red wine


Pre heat oven to 200C

Brown meatballs in a pan in oil and set aside

Cook onion and garlic

Add oregano, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce

Return meatballs to the pan and add the tomatoes, wine and sugar

Bring to boil & season

Simmer for 15 min

Add this along with the cooked pasta to an oven proof dish with high sides
Top with cheese and pop into the oven for 30 mins


**Due to a camera computer relationship issue there is no picture for this but I will make it again and add a picture :)

Homemade Spaghetti Bolognese

This is cooked in one pot (apart from your pasta) and it is PACKED with goodness. If you have picky eaters you have the option of blending the veggies & tomatoes into a sauce and they will eat everything without knowing it!


Serves 4

Ingredients

500g minced beef, lean
400g tin chopped tomatoes
75g button mushrooms, diced fine
1 red pepper (bell pepper), diced fine
1 carrot, peeled & diced fine
1 courgette, ends removed & diced fine
1 onion, finely chopped
2 cloves of garlic, crushed or chopped fine
100ml red wine
1 tbsp basil, dried or finely chopped
1 tbsp olive oil
4 portions of cooked spaghetti



Brown mince in a large pot with the onion in olive oil

Add garlic, peppers, carrot, courgette & mushrooms. Cook until
tender

**If you want to blend these with the tomato, simply
remove the mince from the pot before adding the veg.
You can then add the cooked veg, wine & tomatoes to
a blender and blitz until smooth.
You can then return the mince to the pot in the next
step**

Add tomatoes, wine and basil. Season with salt & pepper and bring to
the boil. Turn down the heat and simmer for 10 mins until your pasta
is ready to go


Serve & enjoy the goodness!

Veggie Stir Fry

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 red pepper, seeds removed & sliced
1 green pepper, seeds removed & sliced
1 yellow pepper, seeds removed & sliced
1 lrg onion, sliced thin
1 carrot, ends removed & sliced at angle
Hanful fine chopped spinach
300g rice noodles
2 tbsp honey
70ml soy sauce
1 tbsp sweet chili sauce
1 tbsp olive oil


In a hot pan, fry onions in oil until soft

Add carrot and all peppers and cook until the carrot is semi soft. You want to keep a fresh crunch to the veg while warming it at the same time

Add honey, soy sauce & sweet chili
Toss to evenly coat all veg

Add spinach

Toss in rice noodles and heat through for 1 - 2 mins

Sausage Bake with Champ Mash

Serves 4

Ingredients

1kg potatoes, mashed
8 pork sausages
1 tbsp olive oil
Sml bunch Spring onions, diced
1 lrg onion, diced
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 1/2 tbsp strawberry jam
100ml red wine
300ml chicken stock
2 tbsp cornflour
1 tbsp dried thyme

To serve; Peas or other green veg


Pre heat oven to 180C

In a pot pan, fry the sausages in oil until brown
Cut into chunks and place into your baking dish

Add onions to pan and cook until soft. Add balsamic, jam and wine. Bring to the boil and cook for 3 mins.

Mix the cornflour with 1 tbsp water and add to the boiling wine

Stir well and allow to thicken
For colour you can add some gray browning but this is option and only cosmetic

Pour gravy over the sausages

To you mash add 1 tbsp butter, sea salt & freshly ground pepper
Gently mix in the chopped spring onions

Spread the mash over the baking dish

Pop into the oven for 25 - 30 mins until piping hot

Chicken Cacciatore

***MUST HAVE***


Serves 4

Ingredients

1 whole chicken
2 tbsp olive oil
10 black olives, pitted & quartered
50g pancetta, diced
1 lrg onion, finely diced
125ml white wine
1 tin chopped tomatoes, drained
225ml beef stock
Salt & Pepper


Portion chicken into 8
2 wings, 2 breasts, 2 thighs, 2 legs
Season well with salt and pepper by rubbing both into the skin

In a pot, fry onion & pancetta in olive oil until onion is soft
Add chicken & brown

Add white wine and bring to boil for 2 - 3 mins

Add tomatoes & stock & bring to boil

Reduce to simmer and cook for 45 mins - 1 hour

The longer it cooks the better it tastes

Serve with mashed sweet potato and enjoy!

Carrot & Corriander Soup

Serves 4 - 6

Ingredients

1kg carrots, ends removed, quartered
1 lrg onion, sliced
50ml olive oil
Large handful fresh coriander
500ml Vegetable stock

Into a hot pot, add carrots and onion with oil

Cook until onion is clear

Add Vegetable stock and bring to the boil

Reduce to a simmer for 15 mins

Add coriander

Cook until carrots are soft

Once the carrots are cooked, blend using a hand blender until the soup is smooth


Serve with crusty bread

Lambs Fry

Serves 4

Ingredients

7 bacon rashers, sliced
1 lrg onion, sliced thin
400g Lambs Liver, soaked over night in milk, sliced with fat removed
1 cup flour
Plenty of salt & pepper
1 tbsp olive oil

To serve; Green veg, mashed potato & beef gravy

Coat each slice of liver in flour before cooking. This will stop it burning and in an essential step. Ensure you SEASON THE FLOUR before hand with salt and pepper.

In a hot pan with olive oil, cook the liver until the flour browns

Add the onions and bacon and cook until the onions are soft and the bacon is cooked through

Serve immediately

Shepherds Pie

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 475g tinned carrots in water
200g frozen peas
500g minced beef/lamb
1 packet Shepherds Pie mix (spice powder mix)
500g potatoes, peeled & cubed
1 large onion, sliced fine
2 garlic cloves, very finely chopped
Baking dish
Salt & Pepper
1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp olive oil


Drop cubed potatoes into a pot of boiling water and cook until soft. Mash with salt, pepper and butter

Make the Shepherds Pie mix in a jug according to packet instructions

In a hot pan with olive oil, cook the onions & garlic for 2 mins. Add mince and brown. Add carrots, peas and the Shepherds pie mix. Continue to cook until the meat is cooked through

Transfer mix to baking dish

If you have a piping bag you can use this to place a layer of mashed potato over the mix. Not to worry if you dont have a bag, you can simply spoon the potato over and flatten with a fork

Place in the oven at 200C/400F for 20 mins or until the potato is golden brown on top

Pumpkin & Orange Soup

Serves 6

600g pumpkin, flesh only
400g sweet potato, peeled and chopped
1 large onion, roughly chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped fine
Bunch fresh coriander, stalks & leaves
Zest & Juice of 2 oranges
50g butter
600ml hot vegetable stock (800ml for thinner soup)
Salt and Pepper


Into a large pot melt butter

Add pumpkin, sweet potato, onion and garlic
Fry until soft and onion becomes clear

Add orange juice & zest followed by the stock
Bring to the boil

Simmer for 30 mins on high heat until potatoes and pumpkin are soft

Using a hand blender, blend until smooth

Season to taste with Salt and Pepper

Traditional Aussie Bread & Butter Pudding

Serves 6

Ingredients

5 slices white bread, crusts removed & buttered both sides
200g raisins
3 large eggs
400ml milk
150g caster sugar
15g mixed spice/cinnamon

*This recipe uses a 6x9inch baking dish*



Pre heat oven to 180C

Combine egg, milk and sugar and whisk until smooth

Layer the bottom of the baking dish with single layer of raisins
Add layer of bread

Add 1/2 of the milk, egg & sugar mix

Repeat steps of layering until all is used

When finished layering, add the remaining liquid

Dust with mixed spice

Place into the oven for roughly 30 mins at 180C
After 30 mins turn the oven up to 200C for 10 mins

Pudding is cooked when it skewers clean

Pumpkin Scones

Makes 6

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups Flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tbsp baking powder
3/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter (1/2 lb)cut into chunks
3/4 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 cup milk
1 tbsp sugar


Preheat oven to 200C

Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon & salt in a large bowl

Add butter cubes and rub with fingers until it looks like bread crumbs

In another bowl, gently mix the milk and pumpkin puree

Slowly add to the dry mix

Form a dough

Lightly flour and knead dough

Flatten and cut into triangles. You can also use a cookie cutter

Sprinkle with sugar


Bake for 20 mins or until skewers clean


**Serve with fresh whipped cream**

Spooky Brownie Cupcakes

Makes 16

Cupcake

1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 cup boiling water
175g all purpose flour
1/2 cup salted butter
1 cup white caster (fine grain) sugar
2 large eggs (room temp)
2 tsp vanilla essence

In a bowl mix sugar and butter until it has the appearance of bread crumbs

Add eggs and flour. Mix on high. Add vanilla essence

Add water and cocoa powder

Beat on high until smooth

Pop into a pre heated oven on 180C for 15 - 20 mins until skewers clean


Frosting

250g cream cheese
1 cup icing sugar
1 tsp vanilla essence
1/2 cup cocoa powder


Using a mixer mix all on high until thick and creamy


The "gravestone" is made from melted chocolate which was shaped and set to dry on a sheet of baking paper, at room temp over night.

Sausage and Apple Mash

Serves 4

Ingredients

8 pork sausages
700g potatoes peeled and cubed
2 bramly apples, peeled, cored and quartered
15g butter
1 tbsp olive oil
1 onion sliced thin
1 Bramly Apple, Grated
Instant gravy

Cook sausages to personal taste

Boil potatoes for 10 mins in boiling water

Add 2 chopped apples to the potatoes and cook until tender

Take 500ml water from the pot and set aside. Drain away the remaining water

Mash the apples and potatoes with butter, salt and pepper

Fry onions in oil until soft. Add the grated apple and cook until soft

Using the instant gravy and the water that you set aside from the boiling pot



**based on recipe**

Chicken Wraps

An easy one

Serves 2

Ingredients

6 crumbed chicken goujons
1 chopped beef tomato OR 2 normal tomatoes
Fresh crispy lettuce
4 tbsp Mayo
1 tbsp sweet chili sauce
2 Fresh Tortilla

Mix the may and sweet chili and spread over the tortilla
Slice goujons length ways
Layer tomato and lettuce

Fold the tortilla and enjoy and easy meal!

Burger Style BLT

Serves 4

Ingredients

4 quarter pounder lamb burgers, frozen or fresh (or beef, turkey)
2 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
1 tbsp Honey
4 rashers streaky bacon
1 Beef Tomato, Sliced
Fresh Lettuce Leaves
Mayo
4 Burger Buns


In a small bowl, mix worcestershire sauce and honey. Rub into each burger

Cook under a grill/BBQ until cooked through

Oven cook the bacon until crispy 5 - 10 mins

To serve...

Layer beef tomatoes and lettuce, next add the burger
Top with a dollop of Mayo and the crispy bacon

Ghost Pancakes

Serves 4

Ingredients

250g Plain Flour
2 eggs (at room temp)
600ml milk
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Handful raisins
A washed empty squeezy ketchup bottle (optional)
Hand mixer or whisk
Large non stick pan
Spatula

Method

In a large bowl, sieve the flour and add the two eggs
Mix gently
Add vanilla extract
Slowly pour in the milk and whisk on high until smooth

Leave mix to rest for at least an hour in the fridge. You don't have to do this but it
will be easier to work with if you do. Mix again before using.

Heat the frying pan. You want this hot before you pour any mix on

To make the ghosts you have two options

NO KETCHUP BOTTLE
If you do not have the empty ketchup bottle you can pour the mix from the bowl to
the pan using a ladle. Then slowly move the pan to create the ghost droop. You can
also use the side of a spoon to drag some of the mix down to form a ghost shape.

WITH KETCHUP BOTTLE
If you are using the ketchup bottle you will be able the "draw" the ghost a little more
accurately. Start with a circle and draw your chosen shape from there. This method
is easier for kids too. It is easier to keep them away from the pan when they are
holding the bottle. Of course insure there is a adult with them at all times as the pan will
remain very hot.

Once your ghost starts to bubble flip him/her over until cooked

Set aside to decorate

My Big Red Kitchen's TOP TIP with pancakes is to only flip them once!
This keeps them light and stops over cooking.

Happy ghost making!

Halloween!

Sunday Roast

Serves 4

450g Rump Roast
1 good sized sweet potato, peeled & chopped into chunks
8 - 10 baby potatoes, halved
200g carrot, cut into batons *
Gravy (store bought) **
100ml Red Wine
1tbsp dried Rosemary
Salt & pepper to taste
Olive oil


Roast

1 hour - 1 1/2 hours at 200C/392F

Line a roasting tray with foil
Place roast in middle and season well
Pour roughly 50ml olive oil over the roast


Sweet Potato & Potatoes

Partially boil both in a pot of boiling water until tender to the touch but not cooked through

Place onto a baking tray
Drizzle with olive oil & season with salt and pepper
Into the oven for 1/2 an hour

Carrots *

Batons are basically carrot sticks

Partially boil the chopped carrot in a separate pot of water until tender
Place onto the tray with the potatoes when they have roughly 10 mins cooking time left



Gravy **

Make gravy according to packet instructions

In a pot bring the red wine to the boil. Reduce by 1/3.
Add made gravy to the wine
Season with salt and pepper
Add 1tbsp dried Rosemary
When roast is cooked, pour the juices from the tray into the gravy and stir well

Red Pepper Pie

Serves 4

1 Red Bell Pepper, deseeded & chopped
200g Broccoli, roughly chopped with stalks
1 lrg brown onion, sliced
3 chicken breasts, sliced
4 tbsp cream cheese
Handful fresh chopped chives
1 sheet frozen puff pastry, defrosted
2 tbsp olive oil
Salt & Pepper


Very simple dish

Pre heat oven to 180C/356F

Heat oil in a pan and brown the chicken

Add the onion. Using a wooden spatula, scrape the pan to loosen any chicken bits. This adds flavour

Add red pepper & broccoli. If using frozen broccoli insure it is defrosted first

Season with sea salt & freshly ground black pepper

Once chicken is cooked, move all to a baking dish

In a small bowl gently mix the cream cheese and chives to combine

Spread the cream cheese over the top of the baking dish. There is no strict way to do this. You can add it in lumps too

Cover with the sheet of pastry and trim to fit

Pierce the pastry several times with a fork

You can brush the top with milk or egg to glaze (optional)

Bake until the pastry is cooked.

Around 20mins

Pear Bruschetta

Serves 2

Ingredients

3 Tomatoes, chopped w/ no seeds
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp basil, fine chopped
Salt & Pepper
2 sml pears, very ripe or tin, sliced
1 1/2 cup raspberries
4 tbsp sugar
4 sml pickled onions, sliced
2 slices of Parma ham
2 tbsp grated parmesan cheese
1 ciabatta, halfed & lightly toasted


Combine olive oil, basil, salt & pepper to make a simple pestoMix gently with the chopped tomato and set aside

Make a coulis with the raspberries. In a pot, heat the raspberries and stir gently until it becomes a jam like consistency. Add sugar. Cook until you can draw a line across the back of a spoon that has been dipped in the coulis. Pour through a sieve to remove some seeds and lumps.

In a bowl mix the pear and pickled onion

To assemble

Spread each half of the ciabatta with the raspberry coulis
Add the pesto/tomato mix
Add a layer of the pear & pickled onion mix
Top with parma ham

Pop under a grill for 5 mins to crisps the parma ham. While warm sprinkle with parmesan cheese

Lunch Box Idea

Ham and cheese rolls Cooked ham sliced, Some mild chedder A fresh soft tortilla Simple & easy for small hands to eat

Gingerbread with love!

Lunch box idea #2

Mango Smoothie

This is a personal favourite of mine Mrs Red Kitchen

It was the only thing I could comsume for the first 16 weeks of my first pregnancy!

This is a great breakfast. Filling and super healthy

Makes 2 - 4
(depending on serving size)


Ingredients

1 ripe Mango, peeled & sliced
125ml milk (low or full fat)
100ml natural yogurt
2 tbsp honey
Handful ice OR scoop of vanilla ice cream


Place all ingredients into a blender and pulse until smooth. Enjoy as a healthy breakfast or snack