Banana Muffins

A while ago I signed up for a freezer cooking class online with One Roast Vegetable.  One of the bonus recipes was for banana bread/muffins.  Today I finally made them after Logan begged me to make him banana bread.  So quick and easy to make and they were delicious.

Easy vegetarian Pie

This week I started cooking out of the Your Family March 2011.  They had a "Bonus Meals for a Month" article and I thought I would try it out.  I hate thinking of what to make each night for supper so this is really nice.  I am on day 4 now and I am enjoying the meals very much.  Last night we had this pie. Orin used a cookie cutter to make the hearts for me.

Preheat oven to 180 C

Place 4 peeled and thinly sliced potatoes on an oiled baking tray (I just used baking paper)

drizzle with 1 tbsp olive oil, roast for 15 minutes.  (I baked them for 25 minutes while I was preparing everything else).

Heat a further 3 tbs olive oil and 2 tbsp butter in a pan over low heat.  

Add 4 onions, cut into thing wedges, and cook for 20 minutes until soft and golden. 

Set aside to cool.  

Combine onion and potato with 125ml cream, 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves and 2 crushed garlic cloves.  

Season and set aside to cool.

Roll out 2x275g blocks puff pastry on a lightly floured surface to 35cmx20cm rectangles.  

Place one sheet on a lightly floured baking tray and spread the mixture in the centre, leaving a 2cm border.  Brush edge with beaten egg, place other sheet on top and press together, pinching until sealed.  

Brush with more egg.  

Make 2 air holes in the top and bake for 25 minutes until crisp and golden. 

Serves 4.

Meringues

The 13th of January was Devra's birthday.  I decided to make meringues for her.  This is my favourite recipe and it really is very easy.

4 egg whites
115g castor sugar
115g icing sugar

Beat egg whites using mixer, until stiff.
Add caster sugar 1 tablespoon at a time until mixture is thick and glossy.
Slowly fold in icing sugar.  I put the mixer on very low and gradually add the icing sugar.
Spoon tablespoons of meringe onto baking paper.

Bake on 90 degrees centigrade for about 2 hours.
Steal a meringue every half hour or so (to check for readiness of course)

Stocking up

Last Saturday we went as a family to General Supply to stock up on baking goods.  I have a lot of cookies to make for Christmas.

Apricots

 I picked another huge bowl of apricots today....

I felt overwhelmed by the amount that still need to be picked and processed...

and sad for the amount that had already fallen.

and grateful for the beauty of the earth. 

Broccolihoender

I am enjoying baking and cooking so much lately.....that really is a first for me.  For tonights supper I found this recipe in the "Huis" magazine.  My step mom always sends it to me because she gets an english and an afrikaans copy.  It was a bit of extra work to first translate everything but it was worth the effort.  By the way, what is the real afrikaans word for broccoli?

Broccoli Chicken

Serves 4

4 chicken breasts

30ml oil

1 onion chopped

30ml flour

250ml warm chicken stock

250ml mayonnaise

10ml mustard powder

1 large head broccoli, broken into florets

500g baby potatoes, not overcooked

200ml breadcrumbs

Fry the chicken in the oil until brown, set aside.  Fry the onions in the same pan.  Stir in the flour and cook for 1 minute.  Stir in the stock  over medium heat and stir until thick.  Stir in the mayonnaise and mustard and season with salt and pepper.  Blanche the broccoli and arrange with potatoes and chicken in an oven dish.

This is how it looks:

Pour the sauce over and sprinkle with bread crumbs.  Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through.

It was delicious!  One to add to the success list :-)  The only thing we would change is to make a bit more sauce.

The Four Hour Brownies

These brownies are delicious.  I got the recipe from Ruby-Lynn after she made them for us on a Sunday afternoon.  Whenever I make them I think of her and how it took us a whole afternoon to get to eat them.  She has introduced us to some delicious new recipes.  My absolute favourite is a Brocolli Bacon salad.  The whole family fights over it :-)  

Ruby tries out Lemon Curd Swiss Roll

On Monday night I tried to make this recipe

It was absolutely delicious.

My baking tester was ever willing.

Spring Trifle

 We had to Braganca's over for supper Friday night and I made a trifile for dessert.  My first try.  It was fun and tasted good.

Orin was very excited to try it out.

Tuesday night Dessert

Strawberries, cream, crushed meringues and grated Cadbury's chocolate.  Even the non fruit lovers ate theirs.