Monday 30 March 2015

Tortilla Mince Pies

Ingredients:

oil spray
400 g lean beef mince
1 onion, finely chopped
400 g can Delmaine chickpeas in curry sauce
1 cup corn kernels
4 extra light tortillas
3/4 c grated reduced-fat cheese

Optional:
1 carrot, peeled and diced
2 cloves of garlic, chopped
1/2 - 1 pepper. diced
5 - 6 mushrooms, sliced
parsley to garnish

Method:

  1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees celsius and spray 4 small pie dishes with oil.
  2. Cook mince in a non-stick fry pan with a little spray oil until evenly browned.
  3. Add onion and cook for 3 - 4 more minutes. If using additional vegetables or garlic add at this stage.
  4. Add chickpeas and corn. Heat for 5 minutes.
  5. Place 1 tortilla in each pie dish. Push into mould properly and spray with a little oil.
  6. spoon mince into tortillas and sprinkle with cheese.
  7. Bake for 10 minutes or until cheese is melted. 
  8. Garnish with parsley.
Side salad:

1 1/2 cups grated (or sliced) mixed carrot and beetroot
200 g curly kale, shredded

Arrange kale on serving plates and top with carrot and beetroot.

Notes:
I haven't made the side salad. I find it's easier to add extra vegetables into the mince mixture. A great way to use up little bits of veges hiding in the fridge.

Hedgehog Slice


  • Ingredients

  • 1 pkt (250g) super wine biscuits, broken into small pieces
  • 1/2 cup desiccated coconut
  • 1/2 cup soft brown sugar
  • 70g slivered almonds, toasted (optional)
  • 1/4 cup cocoa
  • 100 g milk or dark chocolate, chopped
  • 1 T Maple syrup or golden syrup
  • 100 g butter
  • 1 egg

  • Chocolate topping 
  • 200g dark chocolate, chopped
  • 50g butter

Method

  1. Lightly grease a 20cm square cake tin and line the base and sides with baking paper.
  2. In a large bowl combine biscuits, coconut, brown sugar, slivered almonds and cocoa.
  3. In a small saucepan, over a gentle heat stir chocolate, maple or golden syrup and butter until mixture is melted and combined. Cool slightly. Whisk in egg.
  4. Pour mixture into the dry ingredients and mix well to combine. Spoon into prepared tin and press firmly into the tin with the back of the spoon. Chill while preparing the chocolate topping.

Chocolate topping
  1. Melt chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl over hot water until melted. Stir to combine. Spread over the chilled slice. Refrigerate until topping is set. Cut into small squares to serve

Tips

  • Add chopped marshmallows for a rocky road twist
  • Use gluten free biscuits instead of wine biscuits

Banana, blueberry and coconut muffins GF

Ingredients

100 g reduced-fat spread
1/2 cup caster sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/2 teaspoon baking powder (gluten free)
1 cup Healtheries gluten free baking mix
1 cup mashed banana (approx 2 bananas)
1/3 cup dessicated coconut
1 cup frozen blueberries

Method

1.  Heat oven to 180°C. Line a 12-hole baking tin with paper muffin cases.
2.  With a mixer or in a large bowl mix spread and sugar, beating well until fluffy and light in colour.
3.  Add the remaining ingredients, beating well with each addition.
4.  Gently fold in berries. Divide mixture among muffin cases. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden.
5.  Store in an airtight container or a resealable bag for up to 2 days.


Tips

If you are not gluten-free, use 1 cup self-raising flour instead of baking mix.

Thursday 5 March 2015

Corn Fritters with Feta & Bacon


Ingredients

Fritters

  • cup flour
  • tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • eggs, beaten
  • 400 canned sweetcorn, drained
    • cloves garlic, finely chopped
    • rashers bacon, diced
    • 100 g feta, crumbled coarsely
    • Tbsp fresh coriander, or parsley chopped
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • Olive oil, to fry

  • Dressing

  • Tbsp sweet chilli sauce
  • 125 g sour cream

  • Salad

  • 1/2 bag salad greens
  • tomatoes
  • avocado


Serves 4


Method

Preheat the oven to 200°C.
Put the flour, baking powder, milk and eggs into a bowl and beat until smooth. Add the sweetcorn to the batter with the bacon, feta, coriander, garlic and salt. Mix well.
Fry large spoonfuls in moderately hot olive oil until well browned on each side. Place the corn cakes on paper towels, on an ovenproof tray and put in oven for 5 minutes.
Mix the sour cream and sweet chilli sauce together. Serve the corn fritters with the sour cream sweet chilli sauce and a green salad with tomatoes and avocado.