General Chat

Hi BossyBoots

I thought I would share my version of Cottage Pie with you, as its will soon be your winter!! Sorry:))

Carole's Cottage Pie.

I kilo of lean mince.
2 grated carrots.
2 grated zucchinis.
2 stalks of celery, finely diced.
Four Tbs of tomato paste.
2 tsp finely crushed garlic.
A dash of red wine.( A nice one if you are to have a sip too.)
about a kilo potato mash, for topping.

1. Fry mice, drain of excess.
2. Add carrot, zucchini, celery, tomato paste, garlic and wine.
3. Lightly saute until all ingredients are combined, stirring continuously.
4. Transfer to a oven proof dish, top with potato mash.
5. Bake in a moderate oven for about 45 minutes.
6. Serve with your favorite gravy. ( I add a bit of garlic to mine)
7. You can brush the top with a beaten egg.

Enjoy with a nice red!!!

Regards
Carole

Margot

Thanks for joining the thread.

Your banana recipe sounds wonderful I am definetly going to try it.

Bridget

Lindy,
I am going to try your recipes because they sound so Yummy and I love anything with a banana flavour.

Will add a couple of recipes later today.

Favourite 3 cousre meals

1. Fresh Asparagus with melted butter

2. Lobster, freshly caught and cooked, when in UK Cromder Crab is also excellent. Must have very dry good white wine or champagne!

3. Lemon sorbet

Good company.


1. Home made onion soup
2. Beef casserole cooked in Guiness, with fresh winter veg
3. Baked Apples


will send more later and recipes.


Bridget

Lemon Chicken

The Portuguese have another name for it but most likely I would be given a holiday for been politically incorrect.

Your normal size roasting chicken.

Prick a lemon all over with a fork, the size of the lemon depends on your chicken.

In the cavity of the chicken add a few teeth of crushed garlic, half a chopped onion, two chicken cubes and the lemon.

Secure with toothpicks or sew it up. Rub the outside of the chicken with salt, pepper and lemon juice. Let stand for a few hours, then roast in the normal way. The pan juices will have a lemon flavor and can be used as is on the chicken if so desired.

Serve with white rice and boiled veggies.

Lindy ;))))))))))

Caldo Verde ( Green Cabbage Soup ) EDITED

I had a devilish time trying to find out the name of the cabbage that is used in this recipe and I believe it is called Kale.

We buy the cabbage already finely shredded in sealed packets, although years ago when my boys were little I would cut it with a kitchen scissors or chop it finely. I learned to make the soup by watching so cannot really give the right amount but boiling water will solve the problem if too thick.

Boil water on the stove and add more or less 3 cups of shredded Kale and cook for two minutes ( to remove bitterness )

Drain and set aside. Boil about four medium potatoes, large onion ( garlic optional ) and bay leaf in about four or five cups or water until soft. ( you can always add more water if too thick ) Remove bay leaf and liquidize, add salt and pepper and chopped kale and about three tablespoons of olive oil and simmer for about 40 minutes until done. Cut a few slices of chourico sausage and put it in a soup plate before serving.

This is the traditional recipe, but my family like a whole chourico sausage cut up into the soup so I add the chouriço about fifteen minutes before the soup is done. The soup must not be watery nor thick.

Serve with fresh bread.

This is the traditional soup that is eaten on Christmas Eve and also in the early hours of the morning after the news years eve bash to help settle the stomach.

Lindy ;))))))))))))

Banana Fridge Tart

Hiya Val in RSA and everyone else.

I craved Tennis Biscuits and bought some from a UK shop that sells RSA goods, they were out of date and crushed, so I use Marie Biscuits instead which we get in Portugal so sure you can also find in UK.

I pressure cook four cans of condensed milk for an hour and keep them in the pantry as the bought stuff does not taste the same.

One and a half packets Marie Biscuits, crushed finely with a rolling pin.

Mix 1/3 a cup of butter/margarine then add a can of cooked condensed milk.

Don't be afraid to use your hands and mash it all together until a thick paste.

Line bottom and sides of pyrex dish/tart pan whatever, about half an inch. Refrigerate.

Next day, cut bananas into rings as thick or thin as you like, to fill dish/pan. Also,add a bit of fresh lemon juice (optional) so bananas do not go brown if tart is kept for a few days.

Whip up fresh cream and pour over bananas, sprinkle chocolate powder on top (optional)

Refrigerate for a few hours before serving.

This recipe can be used with peaches, pineapple or any hard fruit.

Enjoy !!!

Lindy ;))

A very big THANK YOU to everyone for keeping this going for me. Son has now been discharged from hospital and thankfully he has ground floor accommodation at the back of one of his shops. He appears to have a bevy of female friends looking after him.

I will try to be back with recipes tomorow but if not I will be back by the weekend.

I am now thinking about a slow cooker, any particular make I should consider.

Bye for now

bridget

PS we had home made chicken curry today but I did cheat a little and put in a jar of Jalfrazee Sauce...it was delicious.

Also, here's a really easy,tasty Asian type meal which can be cooked on the top of the stove in one pan,all at once.

KY SEE MIN

Lightly brown 1 lb. or half a kg. of very lean mince steak and 1 chopped onion in a little oil in a very large,deep frypan with a lid.Cook until the meat turns from pink to brown.

Place all the remaining ingredients in the frypan -
one quarter sliced cabbage, 1 cup celery,1 cup beans(I use frozen whole baby beans) salt and pepper to taste, 1 level Tablespoon curry powder,1 Tbspn. Soy sauce,1 packet Chicken Noodle soup in 2 cups boiling water.
Mix well,simmer for about 15 minutes,stirring occasionally,making sure the lid is on the frypan.Serve with rice.

Best wishes, Margot.

LIZ-here's a lovely,easy recipe for bananas which is delicious.

It's meant to be done in a blender or vitamiser but if you don't have one I don't think it would matter.

Banana Loaf
1 cup milk , 1 egg, 3 ounces sugar(90g) , 2 small bananas, 2ozs(60g)
butter, half tspn.bicarb soda, pinch salt, 8 ozs (2 cups SR flour),sifted

Place all ingredients except flour in blender and vitamise until smooth.
Have sifted flour ready in a large container and fold mixture into flour.
Turn out into a greased bread loaf tin. Bake in a mod.350 degrees F or 180 degrees C for approx.40-45 minutes.Cool on a wire rack.Delicious with butter or lemon icing.,or both!

I did have a recipe for using up squashy bananas which had milk in it,and you combined them together and then froze them,using icypole sticks and cups which would have been perfect for you,but I can't find the recipe at the moment.I will ask my sister-in-law for it,as she gave it to me originally.

Margot.

Couple of other things which are useful. A Steamer and a Rice cooker.both a good investment.**M**.

N

Hi Ann

I bet that does taste nice cooking all that time, with all those flavours.

Im going to get mine out the box and start using it :)

Thanks
Deb

sending to the top so we don't get lost.

I put in the slow cooker, at about 9am.
4 chicken thighs, chopped mushrooms, cover with a jar of cooking sauce (whichever you like), cook on medium for about 45 minutes, turn down to low and we eat it with rice or potatoes and whatever veg (usually sweet corn heated in the microwave) at 7pm.

Also do the same with two pork chops. (sometimes make my own sauce with tinned tomatoes, wine and a little bisto to thicken)

Also cook mince with a tin of tomatoes, tomato puree and chopped mushrooms. same length of time but all on low. turn into bolognese with spaghetti or chile with rice, or cook the mince in curry sauce and serve with rice.

Thanks Ann

Stir fry tomorrow and I will make that sauce for the Freezer.

I bought a slow cooker last year but still in box. I must get it out and start using it ( I cant belive myself sometimes )

Deb

Top of stove, stir fries are good, omelettes, bolognese, I am assuming you have recipes for these. best thing we ever did was buy a slow cooker, didn't cost much and so easy to produce a nice meal.

Use them in bolognese sauce, or casseroles, or simmer gently until soft to make into a sauce, cool quickly and freeze to add to stews.

Hi has anybody got any good receipe sugestions what to do with soft cherry Tomatoes

Ive just come in from picking the rest of my tomatoes (in the rain) but of course I have left them to long and alot of them are soft.

A very silly

Deb :(

Bananas.roast them in the oven, when skins are black,open up and serve with Ice cream. nice.cooking on top of stove, All in Stew.Sausage Egg and home made chips with black pudding and tomatoes.or Stir Fry chicken with Rice, Steak with Saute Potatoes and Peas.**M**.

Hello Everyone

I will not be able to be on here for a couple of days. eldest son who lives in Barcelona had surgery yesterday so have to sort a few things out for him. He is likely to be in hospital for a while.
I am sure you will all understand and will keep this going for all of us


Thanks

bridget

Hello everyone,
love the recipies on here so am bookmarking it for future use. Anyone got any ideas for meals to cook on top of stove as my oven has gone belly up at the mo, can't get a new one till next week, sick of takeaways at the mo.