Cereal Treats

Easy to make - any cereal can be used - great fun for kids but adult assistance is required for the first part! Let them have fun decorating them!

INGREDIENTS
1/4 cup butter
1 (10.5 ounce) package miniature marshmallows
5 cups crispy rice cereal

Grease a 9x13" pan.

In a large microwave safe bowl, combine butter and marshmallows. Microwave on high for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds, until smooth. Remove and stir in the cereal.

Press in to the prepared pan with the back of a buttered spoon. Let the treats cool for about 2 hours until set. Cut into squares.

Chile Spiced Tenderloin Steaks

Ingredients

3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon ancho chile powder
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 teaspoons minced garlic
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
4 (4-ounce) beef tenderloin steaks (about 1 inch thick)
Cooking spray

Combine first 9 ingredients - rub over steaks - leave at room temp for approx 15 mins.
Spray grill rack with cooking spray and grill steaks for 5 mins each side or until reached required 'doneness'.

Fake-and-bake Chicken

I love ranch ranch dressing so this appealed to me in instantly. I was very dubious about the potato flakes but have to say they worked so well - and easily spiced up by adding any favourite spices of your choice in with the potato flakes or by using something like a sweet chilli sauce to coat the chicken with - then you can have tastes met for the whole family.

INGREDIENTS
Chicken pieces
Ranch Dressing
Instant Potato Flakes

Heat oven to 450F/230C/Gas8. Coat baking sheet with vegetable cooking spray.
Brush the chicken pieces with ranch dressing.
Roll in the potato flakes.
Place on baking sheet (duh!)
Turn oven down to 350F/180C/Gas4 - bake for 25 mins/until juices run clear when pierced with a fork.

Cheats coconut brittle

This is done in the microwave mainly - a little treat that takes minutes to make - delicious with the macadamia nuts!
As microwaves vary on cooking strength - check these times halfway for each cooking period.

1 cup flaked coconut

1 cup white sugar

1/2 cup corn syrup

4 ounces chopped macadamia nuts

1 tablespoon butter

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon baking soda

Spread coconut evenly over a buttered baking sheet.

In a medium microwave-safe bowl, combine sugar and corn syrup. Microwave on high 3 minutes.
Stir in nuts and microwave 4 minutes more.
Stir in butter and vanilla and return to microwave for 1 minute.
Stir in soda until light and slightly foamy.
Pour over coconut on sheet. Let cool until firm (1 hour at least).
Break into pieces - enjoy!!!

Chinese Shrimp Salad

This is quite sweet as contains fruit - but it is a nice light refreshing summer dinner - or a quick and easy potluck dish!
Serve with lettuce and usual green salad ingredients.
Instead of using apples - you can also used pre-cooked new potatoes.

1 (11 ounce) can lychee fruit, drained with juice reserved
1 pound cooked shrimp - peeled and de-veined
3 Fuji apples - peeled, cored and cubed
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/4 cup mayonnaise

Combine lychees, shrimp and apples. Add lemon juice and 1/4 cup of reserved lychee juice - chill for 15 mins.

After chilling - drain liquid (reserving it!!) - combine drained liquid with mayonnaise and toss together with other ingredients. Chill till needed.

Texas Yum Yum

A chocolate and vanilla layered pudding pie - easy and NO baking!

INGREDIENTS
1 (3.9 ounce) package instant chocolate pudding mix
3 cups milk
1 (9 inch) prepared graham cracker crust
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 (8 ounce) tub frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 (3.4 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix

In a medium bowl, mix together the chocolate pudding mix and 1 1/2 cups of milk until smooth and well blended. Pour into the graham cracker crust.

In a clean bowl, beat cream cheese until soft, then mix in confectioners' sugar. Fold in 2 cups of the whipped topping, and spread on top of the chocolate pudding layer.

Whisk together the vanilla pudding mix and 1 1/2 cups of milk until well blended. Spread over the top of the cream cheese layer. Spread the remaining whipped topping over the top. Chill for at least 30 minutes before slicing and serving.

Easy Chicken Parmesan

I love this recipe - easy - quick -tasty!

Ingredients:
4 boneless chicken breasts, pounded to 1/2 inch thickness
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
seasoned bread crumbs
2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil
8 slices mozzarella cheese, or more - to taste
1 jar (16 oz) spaghetti sauce (any favorite)
Parmesan cheese

Whisk together egg and milk.
Dip chicken breasts into this and then in bread crumbs.
Heat oil over medium heat in large skillet - brown chicken - about 3-4 mins until golden.
Set chicken aside in a baking dish.

Place 2 slices of mozzarella on each breast.
Pour jar of spaghetti sauce over.
Sprinkle with parmesan - cover with a little more mozzarella.
Bake at 350F/180C/Gas 4 for 25-30 mins - or until bubbling.

Serve with spaghetti - garlic bread and salad.

Shrimp

One of my favorites - quick and versatile.
This recipe is no different - good flavor and can be served with salad or for a more filling meal with rice.

Caribbean Shrimp
INGREDIENTS
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger root
2 limes, juiced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon white sugar
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
2 pounds large cooked shrimp, peeled, tails on (this will depend on how you are serving it)
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Combine all the ingredients - marinade shrimp for approx half an hour.
Heat gently. Serve with salad or rice.

Moussaka

(not my pic)

This is one of my favorite Greek dishes.
There are many variations of this recipe - with and without the sliced potatoes - a yogurt topping rather than bechamel sauce and different herbs.
Try your own flavors - experiment and find one that works for you.

2 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for brushing
1 large onion, finely chopped
3-4 lbs potatoes - sliced and cooked till tender but not breaking
3 garlic cloves, crushed
1 1/2 lamb mince (ground mince)
2 tbsp tomato purée
half tsp ground cinnamon
half tsp thyme (fresh preferably but dried also works)
half tsp oregano
2 x 400g (16oz) can chopped tomatoes
2 tsp dried oregano
4 med aubergines (eggplant) cut into 1/2inch slices
25g freshly grated Parmesan
50g feta/gruyere - crumbled
1 large jar bechamel sauce

Place the sliced aubergines in a colander - sprinkle with salt and leave for 30 mins - this draws out any bitter juices.
Brown the mince.
In a large casserole dish/deep pan - add 2 tbsp oil - cook onion gently for 10 mins - till soft but not colored.
Add the mince and break with fork - mix with onion.
Add garlic, tomatoes, tomato puree, cinnamon, thyme, oregano and mix together in the casserole.
Aubergines - pat dry - dust with flour and lightly fry in batches in remaining oil - about 8-10 mins till golden on both sides. Put to one side.

Construct the moussaka:
A large ovenproof dish:
Alternating layers of meat - potato and aubergine - at least 2 layers of each.
Pour on the bechamel sauce.
Add cheeses to the top.
Cook in oven - 180C/350F/Gas4 for 50-60 mins.
Allow to settle for 5 mins before serving.

This is delicious served with a chunky tomato, parsley, cucumber and mint salad and big chunks of crusty bread.

Pork Loin Chops With Cinnamon Apples

Ingredients

1 teaspoon dried rubbed sage
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 (4-ounce) boneless centre-cut loin pork chops (about 1/2 inch thick)
1/2 teaspoon vegetable oil
Cooking spray
1 teaspoon butter
4 cups (1/2-inch) slices peeled Granny Smith apples (about 4 medium)
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Dash of salt

Preparation

Combine first 3 ingredients, and sprinkle over the pork. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium heat. Add pork; cook 3 minutes on each side or until done. Remove the pork from pan. Cover and keep warm.

Melt butter in pan over medium heat. Add apples and remaining ingredients, and cook 5 minutes or until tender, stirring frequently. Serve the apples with pork.

(Rather than pasta/noodles as in pic below - I prefer this with mashed potatoes and gravy!)

Celebration Hoagie.............

So simple yet so so tasty - add a sparkler and celebrate a little more!!!

Ingredients

1/2 cup light mayonnaise
1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh basil
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
1 (16-ounce) loaf Italian or French bread
1 pound thinly sliced lean deli roast beef
1 large tomato, cored and thinly sliced
1 cup thinly sliced red onion
1 large yellow bell pepper, seeded and thinly sliced into rings
1 cup trimmed arugula, watercress, or lettuce leaves
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper

Preparation

Combine mayonnaise, fresh basil, and ground pepper; chill 15 minutes.

Cut bread loaf in half horizontally; spread mayonnaise mixture over bottom half of bread; top with roast beef, remaining ingredients, and top half of bread. Cut loaf into 6 pieces.