Curried Sausages

H has been travelling quite a bit for work and is in need of some comfort food so I decided to make curried snags for dinner tonight. I smashed together a few different recipes I found online and came up with this. Next time I think I'll add in some sultanas to give it a sweet element.

1 kg beef sausages
2 tablespoons white vinegar
2 Tbsp oil
1 large brown onions, cut into wedges
150g celery, chopped
2 Tbsp madras curry powder
2 Tbsp plain flour
200g sweet potato, chopped
150g pumpkin, chopped
450g potato, chopped
200g carrot, chopped
3 cups beef stock
1 cup frozen pas & corn
2 tsp cornflour (optional)

water (optional)

Preheat oven to 180C
Prick sausages and place in saucepan with enough cold water to cover, add vinegar.
Bring to boil and simmer gently for 10 minutes. Drain, cool and remove skins from the sausages.
Chop sausages into 5cm pieces and brown in a frypan. Set aside
Heat oil in a deep oven proof saucepan and sauté onions until soft. Add celery and sauté for 2 minutes.
Add sausages and sprinkle curry powder and flour over the surface and stir to combine.
Add sweet potato, potato, pumpkin and carrot and stir to combine.
Add stock and bring to the boil while stirring.
Cover and bake for 30mins.

If you need to thicken the sauce mix some cornflour and water together and slowly add to curried sausages and stir.
Serve with mashed potato or with white rice.

Serves 6

Perfect mashed potatoes

For perfect mashed potatoes every time get yourself a potato ricer. There are a few different varieties but the common theme is that the ricer incorporates air into the potatoes, making the fluffiest, most luxurious mashed potatoes. But the best thing is that you will never have lumpy mash ever again!

The potatoes are prepared the same as for normal mash:
Peel and chop the potatoes into 1 inch pieces.
Place in a saucepan of cold salted water, bring to the boil and simmer until fork tender.
Drain the water and place the drained potatoes back into a hot pan to help evaporate remaining water.
Spoon the potatoes into your ricer a few at a time and turn the handle or press down (depending on the design). The potatoes will be pressed through the holes in the die of the ricer (mine came with three different sizes). This is called "ricing." Perform this step over a bowl to catch the riced potatoes.
Continue to add more potatoes to the ricer until you have riced all of the potatoes.
Stir in warmed milk and butter with a fork and season to taste.

Variations:
- add chopped chives
- add dry mustard powder
- add French Onion Soup packet mix
- make a Root Purée: try using the ricer for mashed summer squash, pumpkin, carrots, turnips, celery root, parsnip and sweet potato

Panko crusted veal schnitzel with Sweet Potato Chips

1/2 cup plain flour
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 tbs milk
3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
5-6 veal escalopes
1 tbs oil
25g butter
Salt and pepper to taste

Sweet potato, cut into chips
Olive oil spray
Tuscan seasoning

Preheat oven to 180C. Line a baking tray with a baking sheet.

Place sweet potato on baking sheet, spray with cooking spray and sprinkle with tuscan seasoning or salt and freshly cracked black pepper. Cook for 20-30 minutes or until edges are lovely and crisp.



Pay veal dry with paper towel.

Place flour onto a plate and add salt and pepper. Mix to combine.

Combine eggs and milk in a shallow bowl.

Place breadcrumbs onto a plate.



Dip veal one at a time into flour and shake off excess. Dip into egg wash then coat with breadcrumb mixture, pressing crumbs on firmly with your fingertips.

Heat oil and butter in a frying pan, add veal and cook for about 3 minutes each side or until golden and cooked through. Remove from pan.

Serve schnitzels with sweet potato chips.

Serves 2-3

Corned beef with cabbage, horseradish mash and mustard sauce

Corned beef and mash has got to be an all-time family favourite. I adapted this from numerous recipes and what I had on hand. Paired with horseradish mashed potato, mustard sauce and cabbage with bacon it was the perfect Sunday dinner.



Corned Beef1.5 kg corned silverside
1 1/2 brown onions, quartered
6 whole cloves
4 Tbs brown sugar
3 Tbs apple cider vinegar
8 whole black peppercorns
2 dried bay leaves
6 cloves garlic, crushed
1 carrot, roughly chopped

Push a clove into each onion quarter. Place all ingredients in slow cooker and top with just enough water to cover. Cook on High for 6 hours.



TIP: To keep corned beef submerged during cooking, weigh it down with a small lid or plate.

Mustard Sauce50g butter
2 Tbsp plain flour
1 cup milk
1 cup strained cooking liquid
2 tsp mustard

Heat butter in a pan over low-medium heat. Stir in flour and cook, stirring, until it bubbles. Remove from heat. Gradually stir in strained cooking liquid milk. Return to heat and stir until mixture thickens. Stir in mustard.

Horseradish Mashed Potato3 medium brushed potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
milk
butter
2 tsp horseradish
freshly cracked black pepper
strained corned beef cooking liquid or water

Strain a third of the cooking liquid into a clean saucepan and bring to the boil over medium heat. Add potatoes and cook for 15 minutes or until tender. Drain potatoes and mash or put through a potato ricer. Add milk and butter and mix gently with a fork. Add horseradish and freshly cracked black pepper.

Fried Cabbage with Bacon2 tsp olive oil
100g bacon, chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed
1/4 large cabbage, shredded
freshly cracked black pepper



Heat oil in a large deep frypan or wok and fry the bacon for 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 2 minute.

Stir in the shredded cabbage and season with freshly cracked black pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally for 10 minutes. Cabbage will retain it's crispness, if you prefer it softer you can cover it and let it steam until it is coked to your liking.

Remove meat from cooking liquid and slice against the grain.

Serve with steamed broccoli & cauliflower, horseradish mashed potato, cabbage with bacon and mustard sauce.

Mashed Potato Variations

- Add a teaspoon of garlic and sweet chilli sauce.
- Add a big dollop of Horseradish Cream.
- Add some Honey Wholegrain Mustard.
- Add some Dijon Mustard.
- Mash and add chicken salt and a bit of cream.
- Mash and add chicken salt, milk and butter.
- Add a splash of mint sauce and lemon.
- Dice up some onion and add it in after mashing.
- Add Sultanas
- Add BBQ Sauce, Peas n Corn
- Add a little bit of Cumin
- Add crispy bits of bacon, some onion and a tiny sprinkle of cheese all mixed through
- Add cooked finely sliced cabbage, diced bacon and spring onions

Cheesy potato bake with bacon and mushroom

I adapted this from a basic cheesy potato bake recipe on Taste.com.au

With the addition of onion, bacon, mushrooms, garlic, mustard & parmesan cheese this is lifted to a new level of deliciousness! Serve as a side dish or pair it with some cold meat and salad for a lovely lunch.



60g butter
1/4 cup plain flour
2 1/3 cups milk
2 cups grated tasty cheese
2 Tbsp freshly grated parmesan cheese
1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp olive oil
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 brown onion, diced
1 portobello mushroom, diced
3 rashers shortcut bacon, chopped
1 kg Sebago potatoes, peeled, thinly sliced
salt & freshly ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease a 6cm deep, 24cm square baking dish.
Melt butter in a heavy-based saucepan over medium heat. Add flour. Cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes, or until bubbly. Remove from heat. Slowly add milk, stirring constantly until well combined. Return to heat. Cook, stirring, until sauce comes to the boil. Add 1 1/2 cups of tasty cheese , parmesan cheese and mustard. Stir to combine.
Heat oil in frypan, add garlic and onion and cook onion until soft. Add bacon and cook, stirring, until slightly crisp. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes.
Arrange one-third of potatoes, overlapping slightly, over base of baking dish. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Spoon one-third of the cheese sauce over potatoes followed by one-third of the bacon & mushroom mixture. Repeat twice.
Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake for 1 hour, or until potatoes are tender and top is golden.
If top begins to brown too much, cover with foil.

Serves 6 as a side dish

Warm Salmon Potato Salad

Try this easy summer dish with pan-fried salmon, warm potatoes, dill and watercress salad. The garlic–lemon dressing adds instant flavour, while the fennel and tomato give a wonderful raw crunch. If cooking for more than two, fire up the barbecue and grill the salmon for that great barbie flavour.

For The Salad

400g kipfler potatoes, washed, skin on
2 x 180g salmon fillet
½ bulb fennel, sliced thinly
1 lemon, zested
½ punnet cherry tomatoes, cut in half
1 red onion, sliced
½ bunch watercress, picked and washed
12 sprigs dill, picked

For The Dressing2 tbsp whole-egg mayonnaise
2 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp hot water
½ clove garlic, crushed
Salt and pepper

Bring potatoes to the boil from cold water. Cook gently till just done, drain and set aside. Brush the salmon skin with olive oil and place, skin down, into a warm nonstick frypan. Cook salmon for about 5 minutes till skin crisps. Turn over and cook another 3–4 minutes. Remove from pan. Meanwhile, to make the dressing, whisk all the dressing ingredients together.

In a bowl toss together fennel, lemon zest, cherry tomatoes, red onion, watercress and picked dill. Slice warm potatoes and toss into the salad with the dressing. Serve on large plates and place salmon fillet on top, or see this week’s tip for a flaked version.

You can also serve this dish by flaking the salmon and tossing it through the salad. Once salmon is cooked, discard the skin, flake into large pieces and lightly toss with salad and dressing.

Preparation time: 20 mins
Serves: 2

Baked Sweet Potato

Wrap sweet potato in foil
Cook in oven at 180C
Check by softly squeezing - when very soft it is ready
Unwrap and scoop flesh out from skin
Serve when cooled slightly

Self crusting quiche

This can be served hot at home or cold on picnics. A salsa or chutney makes a good accompaniment. You can also add any leftovers such as sliced sausages, salami or bacon to this recipe.

1 large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tbsp butter
3 eggs
1 cup milk
Seasoning (e.g. dried or fresh herbs, parmesan cheese, dash of sweet chilli sauce)
Salt and pepper
½ cup self raising flour
2 cooked potatoes, cubed
1 cup cooked vegetables
1 cup grated cheese

Preheat the oven to 220C. Cook the onion and garlic in butter until soft. Allow to cool. Combine the eggs, milk, seasonings and salt and pepper and beat with a fork. Pour this into a large bowl containing the flour and stir until just combined. Add the vegetables and cheese and pour into a well-greased pie or quiche dish (do not use one with a removable base). Cook for 30 minutes, then allow to cool for five minutes before cutting.

Good sources of dietary fibre

• Wholemeal, granary and softgrain varieties of bread
• Jacket potatoes, new potatoes in their skins and baked potato skins
• Wholegrain breakfast cereals, eg. Weetabix, branflakes, unsweetened muesli, Shreddies and porridge oats
• Wholemeal pasta and brown rice
• Beans, lentils and peas
• Fresh and dried fruits – particularly if the skins are eaten
• Vegetables – particularly if the skins are eaten
• Nuts and seeds
• Wholemeal flour

Mum's Spaghetti Stew

My Mum made this recipe up when I was a kid and I still love it. The only problem is that I find that it can be quite addictive as it reminds me of home :-)
It is quick & easy and freezes & reheats well and can be modified by adding garlic or chilli to taste.

1 onion, chopped
500g mince
2 x 420 g tins Spaghetti

Heat oil in a large frypan and cook onion until soft.
Add mince and cook until brown.
Add spaghetti and simmer for 10 mins.
Serve with chips and salad or mashed potato and green vegies.
Or place into a casserole dish and top with mashed potato and bake as you would a Shepherds Pie.

Source: Mum xxx

Cardamom Scented Lamb with Mashed Sweet Potato

This is a recipe I adapted from Bon Appétit which I first made way back in 2002. I still rate this as one of my favourite dishes. Add some spinach or swiss chard to round out a perfect dish.

Sauce:
1 tbs butter
2 tbs tomato paste
6 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp chopped fresh thyme
2 cups dry red wine - Cabernet Sauvignon
1 cup beef stock
1 cup low-salt chicken stock
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) chilled unsalted butter, cut into pieces
4 tsp coarse-grained mustard
freshly ground black pepper

Lamb:
2 tbs shelled cardamom seeds
2 x 600g frenched racks of lamb, trimmed
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 garlic cloves, crushed
salt & freshly ground black pepper

Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Maple Syrup (see below)

Sauce:
Melt 1 tbs butter in heavy medium saucepan over medium-high heat.
Add tomato paste, garlic and thyme; sauté 1 minute.
Add wine and boil until reduced by half, about 8 minutes.
Add both broths; boil until reduced to 1 1/4 cups, about 25 minutes. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)

Lamb:
Preheat oven to 230°C (450°F).
Toast cardamom seeds in heavy small skillet over medium heat until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Cool. Transfer to spice grinder; grind coarsely.
Rub garlic over lamb and sprinkle with cardamom, salt and pepper.

Heat oil in heavy large skillet over high heat. Add 1 lamb rack; sear until brown, turning occasionally, about 6 minutes. Transfer lamb, meat side up, to baking sheet. Repeat with second lamb rack.

Roast until meat thermometer inserted into center registers 51°C (125°F) for medium-rare, about 18 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes. Cut lamb between bones into chops.

Bring sauce to simmer. Reduce heat to low. Add butter and mustard; whisk just until butter melts. Season with pepper. Spoon mashed Sweet Potato onto plates. Top with lamb and sauce.
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Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Maple Syrup
1kg sweet potatoes, peeled, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/4 cup butter
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom

Cook potatoes in pot of boiling salted water until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain. Return potatoes to pot and mash. Mix in butter, syrup and cardamom. Season with salt and pepper.

Serves 4

Chorizo and Bean Stew

We made this last night and it was so delicious we had seconds and thirds!!

700g salad potatoes (such as chats or Nicola), quartered
60ml / 1/4 cup olive oil
1 red onion, peeled, chopped
500g chorizo sausage, sliced
4 garlic cloves, crushed
1 teaspoon dried chilli flakes
400g can butter beans
410g can diced tomatoes
2 fresh bay leaves
150ml beef or chicken stock
4 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley

Place the potatoes in a large saucepan of cold, salted water.
Bring to the boil and simmer for 10 minutes or until just tender. Remove from heat. Drain.
Heat the oil in the same pan. Add the onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until just softened.
Add the chorizo and cook until it starts to turn golden.
Transfer chorizo mixture to a plate and set aside.
Add garlic and chilli to the pan. Cook for a few seconds, then add potatoes, butter beans,tomatoes, bay leaves and chorizo mixture.
Pour in stock, bring to the boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes.
Stir in parsley and serve with crusty bread.

Serves 4

Source: Delicious magazine April 2003. Recipe by Valli Little