Charlie's Favourite...Chicken Balls

These chicken balls by Annabel Karmel are a fantastic finger food and delicious.  A little fiddly to make but they keep well in the freezer so you one batch will last a while.

The recipe says to fry the balls in shallow oil, I actually tried baking half of them the last time to see if that would work and not dry them out too much.  The baked balls are just as good as the fried ones and I would bake all of them next time.  I baked them at 180 degrees for about 13-15mins.

I also used wholemeal bread for the breadcrumbs - just tore up 2 pieces and let it become finely chopped in the food processor.

Chicken and Apple Balls by Annabel Karmel, New Complete Baby and Toddler Meal Planner
2 tsp light olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
1 large Granny Smith apple, peeled and grated
2 large chicken breasts, cut into chunks
1/2 tbsp fresh thyme or sage, chopped, or a pinch of mixed dry herbs
1 chicken stock cube, crumbled (from 1 year)
50g fresh white breadcrumbs
salt and pepper (from 1 year)
plain flour for coating
vegetable oil for frying

Heat the olive oil in a pan and sauté half the onion for about 3 minutes.
Using your hands, squeeze out a little excess liquid from the grated apple.
Mix the apple with the chicken, cooked and remaining raw onion, herbs, stock cube (from 1 year) and breadcrumbs and roughly chop in a food processor for a few seconds.
Season with a little salt and pepper (from 1 year).
With your hands, form into about 20 little balls, roll in flour and fry in shallow oil for about 5 mins until lightly golden and cooked through.

Makes 20 chicken balls.

Baked chicken balls

Frying process - I don't use a huge amount of oil

Fried chicken balls

Baked - I'll bake them all next time

Charlie's favourite...Frittata

I kept hearing how babies love frittata as finger food but it has taken me until now to finally make one for Charlie.  He loved it.  I threw this together very quickly with the vegetables I had in the fridge.  You could use any vegetables you have available - fresh or frozen.

My very simple recipe (give or take a few rough measurements) -

4 eggs (as that's all I had)
A good slug of full cream milk
2 potatoes, chopped into fingers (easy for small fingers to hold)
1 sweet potato, chopped into small squares
1/2 cup Cheddar cheese, grated

Preheat oven to 200 degrees.
Crack eggs into a bowl, whisk them.
Add the milk.
Pour mixture into a lined square tin or dish.
Sprinkle vegetables evenly over the top and spread them out before topping with cheese.
Bake in oven for 20-30 minutes until golden on top - keep an eye on it.

This recipe is derived from the frittata recipe on another blog - http://retromummy.blogspot.com.au/2011/08/easiest-frittata-for-kids.html

The photo below is of the second one I made yesterday with potato, peas and broccoli.  Literally the only veggies I had available.  Charlie seems to like it...

Beef in Red Wine

A great new recipe from Mum that I made last week for a dinner party.  It was delicious and exactly the sort of meal you crave on a freezing night.  I started on Thursday as the meat needed time to marinate.  Mine marinated in the fridge overnight and I slow cooked it on Friday, so all ready for dinner on Saturday.

It's a rich stew, packed with flavour.  I served ours on mashed potato, with a rocket and parmesan salad, some yummy peas in mint and parsley, plus some crunchy bread.

I ended up buying about 1.8kg of chuck steak as I was feeding 6 big eaters and wanted to be sure I had enough.  I also asked the butcher to cut them into larger size chunks (not small cubes as per the recipe), as Mum had suggested it's better for serving and looks nicer on plates to have a couple of larger pieces. Was pleased I did this.  I slowed cooked it for a little longer, about 2.5 - 3 hours.

As I was making it ahead of time, once I added the shallots, bacon, mushrooms etc to the pot, I stirred everything together but did not cook it for the extra 20 minutes.  I popped it in the fridge ready for Saturday and finished off the cooking then just before serving.  I cooked it for 1 hour at 160 degrees and then served it out.

I would definitely make it again, it's a great dish.

1.5kg chuck steak, trimmed and cut into small cubes
5 garlic cloves, sliced
1 onion, chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
500ml / 2 cups red wine
400g tin chopped tomatoes
1 tbsp olive oil
200g French shallots, peeled
150g bacon, rind removed, cut into batons
250g button mushrooms, trimmed
3 tsp cornflour (cornstarch)
sea salt
freshly ground black pepper
2 tbsp chopped fresh flat-leaf (Italian) parsley

Put the steak, garlic, onion, celery and wine in a large non-metallic bowl, mix together, cover and leave in the fridge to marinate for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight.
Preheat oven to 160 degrees.
Tip the beef, the marinade and the tomatoes into a large ovenproof dish, cover and cook in the oven for 2 hours.
Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat.
Add the shallots and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until golden.
Add the bacon and mushrooms and cook for a further 3-4 minutes until the bacon is crisp.
Mix the cornflour with enough cold water to form a smooth paste.
Add the shallots, bacon and mushrooms to the casserole with the cornflour mixture and stir together very well.
Return to the oven for a further 20 minutes, season with salt and pepper and stir through the parsley.
If you like the sauce to be thicker, uncover the dish and cook it on the stove top at a high simmer for 5 minutes to reduce the liquid.
Serve with some creamy mashed potatoes.
Serves 6.

Not a great photo....!

Chicken and Sweet Potato Curry by Bill Granger

This is a fantastic curry, it sounds a little boring but the flavour really is great and this is definitely one of my new favourites.  The recipe by Bill Granger was in Sunday Life Magazine a couple of weeks ago.  Sorry - it's another dish with carbs!

Two of my oldest girlfriends came over on Friday night and I served this dish for dinner, along with green beans and baked chapatti bread (see directions in Rogan Josh by Jamie Oliver post).  It was a great meal I could prepare the day before and have ready for our girls night.

8 skinless chicken thigh fillets, cut into quarters (I asked my butcher to cut them up for me)
2 tbsp curry powder
Sea salt
1 tbsp olive oil
1 red onion, sliced
1 red chilli, finely chopped
1 stalk lemongrass, crushed with the back of a knife and split
5cm piece of ginger, peeled and sliced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 tbsp fish sauce
1 tbsp caster sugar
500g sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
400ml chicken stock
250ml coconut milk
Fresh lemon juice
Small handful coriander leaves
Steamed rice

Place chicken and curry powder in a bowl and toss to coat well. (I just shake it all about in a plastic bag)
Season with sea salt.
Heat oil in a large heavy-based pan with a lid over medium heat.
Add onion and chilli and fry for 2 minutes.
Add chicken and cook until sealed and browned all over.
Add lemongrass, ginger, garlic, fish sauce, sweet potatoes and stock to the pan.
Bring to boil, cover, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until sweet potato is tender but still holds its shape.
Stir in coconut milk, cover and simmer for another 5 minutes.
Season with lemon juice to taste.
Scatter with coriander leaves and serve with steamed rice.
Serves 4.

Cheat's Chorizo Paella by Donna Hay

This is actually a new recipe, we had it tonight for the first time and loved it.  I doubled the quantities so there would be enough for four meals, I also added some baby spinach and a cup of peas at the end to get a bit of green goodness.  Will definitely do it again, it's a great meal for mid-week - quick and easy to prepare.

1 tbsp olive oil
2 cloves garlic, sliced
1 onion, chopped
1 chorizo sausage, sliced
1 cup (200g) medium-grain rice
2 cups (500ml) chicken stock
1 x 400g can crushed tomatoes
1/2 cup coriander leaves
100g feta, crumbled

Heat the oil in a large, deep frying pan over high heat.
Add the garlic, onion and chorizo and cook for 4-5 minutes or until browned.
Add the rice, stock and tomato, cover, reduce heat to low and cook for a further 15 minutes or until stock is absorbed and rice is al dente.
Stir through the coriander and feta to serve.
Serves 2.
Recipe by Donna Hay http://www.donnahay.com.au/recipes/mains/pasta-rice/cheats-chorizo-paella

Just finished cooking...  pre coriander and feta

Greek Lamb by Jill Dupleix

This is a fairly new recipe but I've cooked it a few times already and really love it.  It is a slow cooked meal so you need to allow plenty of time...5 hours!

I have served this with a green salad and beans on the side.  Crunchy bread would also go well as there is plenty of sauce to mop up.  This is a generous size dish - you are likely to have lots of delicious leftovers.  I have only used risoni but keen to try the orzo too.

2 tbsp tomato paste
2 garlic cloves, finely sliced
3 tbsp olive oil
Sea salt and pepper
2.5kg leg of lamb on bone, fat trimmed
2 onions, finely sliced
400g tinned tomatoes, chopped
2 cinnamon sticks
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp ground allspice
400g orzo, risoni or kritharakia (rice shaped pasta)
1 litre hot chicken stock or water
Coriander sprigs for serving

Heat oven to 160 degrees.
Mix one tablespoon tomato paste, garlic, one tablespoon olive oil, sea salt and pepper and rub over the lamb.
Place in a lightly oiled roasting pan with two cups of water and bake for two hours.
Cover pan tightly with foil and bake for three hours.
Heat remaining olive oil and gently fry onions for 15 minutes until softened.
Add remaining tomato paste, tomatoes, cinnamon sticks, cinnamon, cumin, allspice, sea salt and pepper, stirring, then add orzo, mixing well.
Drain off most of the lamb juices from roasting pan and arrange orzo mixture around the meat.
Increase heat to 200 degrees.
Add hot stock or water and bake for 10 minutes or until orzo is tender and has absorbed most of the liquid.
Remove lamb, thickly slice and serve with orzo.
Scatter with coriander and serve.
Serves 4.

Recipe by Jill Dupleix.

The lamb falls off the bone...so good!

Moroccan Meatballs with Chickpeas by Jill Dupleix

Mum gave me a photocopy of this recipe from Good Living back in August 2009.  I've made it many times usually on a weekend when there's a bit more time.  It's such a great meal, no need for rice/couscous as it is extremely filling - some spinach or greens on the side is a good accompaniment.  Serve with a dollop of yoghurt.

Meatballs

2 thick slices white bread, crusts removed

100ml milk

500g lean minced lamb

1 small onion, grated

2 tbsp chopped parsley leaves

2 tbsp chopped coriander leaves

2 tsp ground cumin

2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp salt

Chickpeas

2 tbsp olive oil

1 onion, halved and finely sliced

2 garlic cloves, crushed

2 x 400g canned tomatoes, chopped

2 tbsp tomato paste

1 cup water

400g canned chickpeas, drained

2 tbsp finely chopped parsley

2 tbsp chopped coriander

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp paprika

1 tsp ground ginger

1/2 tsp salt

Heat oven to 200 degrees.

Soak the break in milk for five minutes then squeeze out excess milk.

Mix the bread with the meat in a bowl.

Add the onion, parsley, coriander, cumin, cinnamon and salt and knead it with your hands until well mixed.

Roll the meat into golf ball-sized balls, place on a lightly oiled baking tray and bake for 15 minutes until lightly browned.

To make the sauce, heat oil in a frypan and cook onion for five minutes.

Add garlic, tomatoes and their juices, tomato paste, water and bring to the boil.

Add chickpeas, parsley, coriander, cumin, paprika, ginger and salt, stirring, and simmer for 15 minutes.

Add meatballs and simmer for 10 minutes until the sauce thickens.

Makes 16 to 18 meatballs.

Serves 4.

Recipe by Jill Dupleix.

Served on a bed of baby spinach

Poached Salmon and Risoni Salad

Delicious meal for a lunch or dinner on a hot night, also very quick and easy to prepare.  It is meant to serve 4-6 people but if you need large serves I would double the recipe to feed 6.  I made it with a little extra spinach and some extra peas - was delicious.

1 tbsp salt
1/2 tsp white peppercorns
1 bay leaf
400g salmon fillets, skin removed
200g risoni
85g (1/2 cup) peas (frozen are fine)
Grated zest and juice of 1 lemon
55g baby spinach leaves
2 tbsp chopped fresh flat-leaf (Italian) parsley
2 tsp chopped fresh dill
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
A large pinch of caster (superfine) sugar
Freshly ground black pepper

Put the salt, peppercorns and bay leaf in a large deep frying pan with 750ml (3 cups) of water and bring to the boil.
Simmer for 5 minutes, then remove from the heat.
Add the salmon, cover and leave for 15 minutes.
Lift the fish carefully of of the stock.
When cool enough to handle, flake the fish into pieces, picking out any bones.
Cook the risoni in a large pan of boiling salted water until al dente, adding the peas and lemon zest for the last 2 minutes of cooking.
Rinse under cold running water and drain well.
Put the risoni, peas, salmon, spinach, parsley and dill in a large bowl.
Whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil and sugar to make a dressing.
Add the dressing to the salad and toss gently.
Season with sea salt and black pepper.
Serves 4-6.

Recipe by Bill Granger.

Bill Granger's Ham Lasagne

This is a great meal, delicious with a salad and large enough to feed 6-8 people.  If I use a foil lasagne tray (from the supermarket) the quantities below will make two smaller lasagnes - one for the freezer.

My only change to this recipe is that I don't normally need 600g lasagne sheets - I usually use about 375g, which is one packet of the fresh Latina sheets.

3 x 400g tins chopped tomatoes
500g cherry tomatoes
3 garlic cloves, crushed
2 tbsp olive oil
sea salt
600g fresh lasagne
12 thick slices leg ham
750g fresh ricotta
450g fresh mozzarella or bocconcini, sliced
100g parmesan cheese, grated
freshly ground black pepper
1 tbsp olive oil, extra

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees.
Empty the tins of tomatoes into a saucepan with the cherry tomatoes and bring to the boil.
Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 20-25 minutes.
Add garlic, olive oil and a generous pinch of salt and cook for another minute.
Cut lasagne sheets to fit a 25cm x 35cm ovenproof dish.
Lightly grease the dish with olive oil and spread with three tablespoons of the tomato sauce.
Top with a sheet of pasta and then and eighth of the tomato sauce.
Tear and scatter an eighth each of the ham, ricotta and mozzarella over the sauce.
Repeat the layers until the pasta, sauce, ham and cheese have been used up.
Sprinkle parmesan, salt and pepper over the top and drizzle with the extra olive oil.
Cover lasagne with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
Remove foil and bake for another 30 minutes or until brown.
Scatter with basil leaves to serve.
Serves 6.

Recipe by Bill Granger from Simply Bill, page 40.

I'm back!

Happy New Year! It's been a while since my last post but I do have an excuse - my amazing baby boy was born in late September and has been keeping me pretty busy! It has been a challenge to get anything on the table at meal times so I haven't had much to report...  Though I'll add a couple of favourite recipes that have been quick and easy to prepare in the little time I seem to have - amazing how the day disappears and I've not achieved anything apart from having a wonderful time with my little man...