Chinese Shrimp & tofu Soup

Heat 1tbsp oil in wok, add 2 cloves minced garlic & 2” piece of minced ginger & stir til lightly browned. Stir in a hanfdul shrimp & fry til cooked, remove & set aside. Pour a quart of chicken stock into wok & btb. Reduce heat to med, add 8ox small diced tofu & 4tsbp peas, season with salt/pepper. Lower heat to simmer. Mix 1tbsp cornflour with a little water to pake thin paste then add to wok, simmer until clear & thickened for about 1 min. Stir shrimp back into soup & serve.

Homemade Tomato Chutney

Heat 1tbsp oil in a small pan, add half a chopped shallot, 2 medium chopped tomatoes & 1 crushed galic clove, cook about 6 mins til softened. Add 1tbsp blasamic vinegar & 1tsp brown sugar & cook 5 mins more or until chutney has caramelised slightly. Serve with:
http://rosesjustquicksnacksblog6.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/turkish-bulghur-wheat-kofte.html

http://rosesjustquicksnacksblog6.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/chicken-breast-stuffed-with-goats.html

http://rosesjustquicksnacksblog6.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/lamb-feta-patties.html

Chinese Egg Soup

In a large saucepan bring to boil: 2 cups chicken stock, half a cup of frozen green peas, mushrooms, & carrots. Slowly add 1 beaten egg to the boiling mixture stirring constantly. Serve hot toppped with chopped green onions.

Thai Sweet Chilli Fish with Couscous

Thai Sweet Chilli Fish with Couscous

Using any fish, remove & discard skin & cut fish into inch cubes & place in a dish & coat well with a mixture of 4tsp sweet chilli sauce, quarter each tsp chinese all spice powder & ground ginger & 2tbsp lime juice, refridgerate whilst you prepare:

Small dice: half a celery stick, 1 spring onion, one inch slice of each red, yellow & green sweet peppers, large mushroom.

Layer ingredients in a frying pan without oil as follows:

small diced veg above, a handful of small cut frozen green beans; a tbsp frozen peas; scattter cubed fish & drizzle sweet chilli mixture all over; 4 tbsp couscous. Pour a small cup of chicken stock on top ensuring couscous is moistened. Bring to boil on hob, stir, turn off heat, cover with a lid & leave for 10 minutes. Arrange small sliced cucumber around the edges of a plate, small slice tomatoes & place on top of cucumber with couscous mixture in middle to serve.

For flavour variations coat fish with:

1tsp each cinnamon, garlic powder, onion flakes, rosemary, thyme, red pepper flakes.
Or
1tsp each paprika, turmeric, coriander; pinch of each cumin & chilli powder
Or
2tbsp soy sauce, 1tbsp tomato puree & rice vinegar & a pinch of sugar
Or
2tbsp fish sauce, 1tbsp mint, lime juice & coriander
Or
1tbsp mixed herbs, 2tbsp worcester sauce, 1tbsp runny honey, 1tbsp english mustard & lemon juice

Soy glazed Chicken with steamed greens

Skin 3 chicken drumsticks or thighs & make 2 long slice cuts in each so they will soak up juices. Heat 1tbsp oil in a wok & place chicken in turning just to seal meat. Place finely chopped garlic, ginger & red chilli with seeds (amount to your taste) on top of chicken & a handful of finely diced spring onions then 2tbsp dark soy sauce & 2 tbsp water.  Place lid on wok & turn heat down to simmer for 10 mins.

Place washed veg in order: a handful of chopped kale; arrange evenly on top: 1 diced celery stick, small florets of broccoli & 1 asparagus stick (cut into 4) & a handful of  sliced green beans into a steamer.  If using microwave steamer cook for 5 mins for al dente or 6 mins if you prefer well cooked veg.

Arrange washed uncooked baby spinach leaves on a plate, top with cooked veg then chicken mixture.  Drizzle with warmed runny honey, extra chopped chilli & raw spring onions to garnish.

If you like even more healthy greens serve with a salad – cut cucumber & spring onions into bite size pieces & dress with a mixture of  1 clove garlic, 1 deseeded chopped chilli, 1tbsp each of rice wine vinegar, light soy sauce & sesame oil with half tsp sugar.

Turkish Bulghur Wheat Kofte

Put half cup bulghur wheat in a bowl & pour on enough hot water to just cover it & leave for 15 minutes. Add 0.75lb lean minced lamb, 1 large grated onion, 1 finely chopped green pepper, 1tsp crushed red pepper flakes, 1.5 tsp cumin, 0.5 cup fine chopped flat leaf parsley, 3 crushed garlic cloves, one third cup of fine chopped mint or 1.5tbsp of dried mint or basil, 2tbsp olive oil, salt & ground pepper. Use golf ball sized pieces of the mixture to shape in oval patties. Either grill until both sides are crispy or cook both sides in a lightly oiled pan. Sandwich one pattie between 2 large spinach leaves or rolled up in a lettuce leaf etc to eat as finger food.

Corned Beef Hash (tasty rib sticker)

A main meal for 2 or snack for 3:

Cut 1 small leek & 1 small red onion into mini rings & microwave for 2 mins with 1tsp oil. Peel & small dice 3 medium potatoes & place over leek/onion mix together with half a small tin of corned beef which has been cut into one inch cubes.

Add 1tbsp worcester sauce, 1tsp english mustard, white pepper, one quarter pt of hot beef stock & microwave with lid on for 10 mins. Drain the tomato sauce from a small tin of  branston baked beans (discard the sauce or keep to enrich home-made tomato sauces) then stir beans only into the potato mixture (if you want steamed veg, place any washed leafy green veg in microwaveable steamer on top of main bowl) & cook for 5 more mins regardless. Use a potato masher or fork to loosely mash all of cooked mixture & stir together. Serve on top of veg if made.

Alternative: reserve large dessertspoonful of cooked mixture to serve on a baked potato next day with grated cheese on top; or why not put it in some pastry for a tasty pie.

Chicken Breast stuffed with goat's cheese, sun-dried tomatoes & basil

Per person: use a sharp knife to slash the side of a chicken breast making a deep pocket. Place 2 slices of goat's cheese (cut about one inch squared) & 2 sun-dried tomatoes (taken from a jar in oil) & a sprig of basil. Season with salt & fresh ground black pepper & brush both sides with tomato oil from the jar & season again. Grill for around 12 minutes until cooked through.

Use this recipe for a barbeque by chilling for up to 4 hours & barbeque up to 12 minutes until cooked.

To make a delicious main meal serve with my extremely easy to prepare & cook :

Bulghur wheat with leeks

Check out BASIL info

Lamb Feta Patties

Serves 6 for a snack. Put 50g (2oz) sundried diced tomatoes, 500g (18oz) lean lamb mince, 1 tsp oregano, half diced red onion, 200g (7oz) diced feta cheese into a bowl & mix well. Divide in 6 & shape into patties. Chill 30 mins, then grill 10 mins turning once. Toast burger buns & place a pattie on top.  Freezeable if  you only want one.

To make into a main meal serve with:

Greek Feta salad
In a large serving bowl use your hands to mix together 450g(1lb) fresh large beefsteak tomatoes (cut into chunks), 1 peeled & thick sliced red onion. 1 small sliced cucumber, 1 small deseeded & thickly sliced red & green pepper, 1 tbsp flat-leafed parsley, 10 black olives, juice of 1 lemon, 5 tbsp olive oil, 2 tsp red wine vinegar. Season with freshly ground salt & pepper then carefully fold 250g (8oz) feta cheese broken into large chunks (try not to crumble it as it will take on too much oil & vinegar). Serve with warm pitta bread.
Good with lamb, chicken or fish.

Feta cheese is fairly low in fat – 20% compared to regular cheddar (33%) & cream cheese (49%).

Devilled Chicken (scrumdelicious!)

For 2 people place 6 chicken drumsticks or 4 chicken thighs in a microwave dish & cook 4 and half minutes (remove skin beforehand for a lower fat content if you wish).  Remove dish.
In another dish microwave for 1&half minutes: 1tsp curry powder, 1tbsp soy sauce, 8tbsp tomato puree or tomato ketchup, 3tbsp dark sugar & 25g(1oz) butter, marg or flora cuisine.  Stir well then brush this mixture top & bottom onto the chicken prepared earlier coating well.  Microwave chicken for 4& half minutes.  Brush top & bottom of chicken again with remaining sauce & microwave for 2 minutes.  Garnish with spring onions to serve as a snack.

To make a substantial meal from this:
Using stackable microwave dishes with foundation dish & steamer stack; place handful of curly kale into steamer along with washed medium potato to bake at same time as chicken.  Depending on potato size you have chosen check if longer cooking needed but generally this timing has been adequate.
Plate with Kale, chicken on top, remainder of sauce mix & potato on side.

Sausage Apple Spaghetti Snack

Place 1 diced red onion & 2 Jamie Oliver sausages (apple & pork works well) which have been cut into bite sized pieces into a microwave bowl for 7 mins.  Drain off fat. Stir in 1 tbsp wholemeal plain flour, 4 tbsp passata, 1 quartered tomato, 1 tbsp tomato puree, cover & microwave 3 mins.  Add half a diced  granny smiths apple, half pt beef stock, 4 sticks of uncooked whole wheat spaghetti which have been snappped into 2 inch pieces, salt & pepper, handful of baby spinach & 1tsp each of oregano& basil.  Cover & cook for 10 mins, stirring half way through.

To make a main meal of this recipe just add more ingredients. 
Works with any pasta shapes, just add a handful per person - simple!

Easy Beef Rice - simple one pot cooking

Easy Beef Rice

Put a small tin of kidney beans in a non-stick pan with a tight fitting lid & add half pt (10 floz) water.  Add 25g frozen mixed vegetables, 1 sprig fresh thyme or 1tsp dried, 1tbsp fromage fraiche or coconut cream, 1 bay leaf, 1 spring onion finely chopped, 1tsp cumin powder, 1 clove fine chopped garlic, 1 diced red pepper or use 1 from jarred, ground mixed pepper & salt to taste. Bring to boil.  Trim fat off 1 small beef steak and cut into half inch cubes.  Add to pan.

Rinse 50g (2oz) basmati rice in warm water before adding to pan and stir.  Cover pan and simmer avoid lifting lid for 20 mins.
Check if more cooking time is required. All liquid should be absorbed & rice cooked Add little more liquid to soften rice and simmer longer if necessary. 

Will serve 2 people a snack portion size.  Add more rice & beef if you want to make a main meal from this easy recipe.

Red meat & kidney beans are rich in IRON click to check value of iron in food.

Pesto Sauce

In a food processor blend 3 cups fresh basil leaves, 4 cloves peeled garlic, 1 & half cups chopped walnuts and quarter cup parmesan cheese, pour in 1 cup olive oil slowly whilst still mixing, add salt & pepper to taste. Use to stir cooked pasta into (microwaved variety if you must save time)!

Try sage pesto instead of  the more traditional italian pesto:

Blend 2 cups loosely packed sage leaves, half cup extra virgin oil, 2 tbsp (30ml) lemon zest, 2 tbsp slivered almonds (or almond paste) 1 tsp sugar, then refrigerate.

Fresh coriander version with garlic, 60g pinenuts, 125ml olive oil, 60g parmesan, black pepper.

If you have more time try this recipe from my Just Food blog to use the home made pesto described above:

Codparcels with Parma Ham & Pesto

INDEX: Links to my established blogs

Ozzy Spaniel Quotes for Life

http://spanielquotes.blogspot.co.uk/

A guide on what herbs to use & why;& vitamins & minerals for health:

http://rosesblog4herbsspicesallthingsnices.blogspot.com/

My Additional interest blog links:

Drying herbs:

http://rosesblog4herbsspicesallthingsnices.blogspot.com/2012/03/drying-herbs.html

Quick overview of cooking with herbs:

http://rosesblog4herbsspicesallthingsnices.blogspot.com/2012/02/quick-overview-of-cooking-with-herbs.html

Just puddings, cakes & treats:

http://rosesblog5justpuddingscakesandtreats.blogspot.com/

Just (microwave) Food

http://rosesblog7justmicrowavefood.blogspot.com/2012/03/my-blogs-index.html

English springer spaniel dog training blog & worth a look articles I rate as interesting

http://essdogtraining.blogspot.com/

These links describe the importance of other elements & vitamins with easy tasty recipes to try (click title to link)

Fenugreek
Dill
Bee products
Vitamin C
Chives
Vitamin Q

Smoked Mackeral Paste sandwich filling or topper

Using tinned smoked mackeral make a smoked mackerel paste by blitzing with cottage cheese, low-fat natural yogurt, cracked BLACK PEPPER, & a squeeze of lemon juice. Use as a sandwich filling or a topping on oatcakes or crackers for a nutritious snack.

Other blogs I have (click title to link):

I'd like to share links with these blogs:

Tried and tested quick to make & tasty recipes - Just Food

A guide on what herbs to use & why; & vitamins & minerals for health - Just Herbs...

  
http://rosesblog5justpuddingscakesandtreats.blogspot.com/

English springer spaniel dog training blog & worth a look articles I rate as interesting

Salmon Pate

Flaked left over cooked salmon into a bowl. Add 2tbsp cream cheese, a handful small chopped chives, 1tsp horseradish, 1tbsp capers or gherkins (small chopped), a squirt of lemon juice & mix well. Add ground BLACK PEPPER to serve using as a topping for toast, baked potato or as a dip.

Substitute cream cheese for greek yoghurt, crème fraiche or mayonaise to your taste.

Quick easy kedgeree

Cooking rice doesn’t get any easier than measuring the water with your finger & setting the timer. Key is to find the right sized pot for the amount of rice you need:

Place the dry rice (any amount you choose) into a saucepan which is sized so the rice fills it 1/4 to 1/2 of the saucepan depth (a larger saucepan will throw off the water ratio, & a smaller one may overflow). Fill with cold water until the water covers the rice from the tip of your finger to the first knuckle. Cover & cook over moderately high heat until it starts to boil (the lid will start to rattle).

Turn off the heat but leave the pot in place & covered, & let sit for 10 minutes. Fluff the rice with a rice paddle or fork.  To turn it into a quick & easy kedgeree, heat 1tbsp sesame oil in a frypan stir in a tin of smoked mackeral, 2tbsp peas, 2 tbsp sweetcorn, & 1 egg, keep stirring til heated through.

If you want to save even more time & also have a lower calorific value:
Mix mackeral, peas & sweetcorn into the cooked rice & microwave for 4 minutes.

Cheesy Crab

Remove crab meat from the shell of a dressed crab, mix in 2tbsps breadcrumbs, lemon juice from half a lemon, 1tbsp malt vinegar & 1tsp cayenne pepper & mix well. Spoon mix back into crab shell, sprinkle few breadcrumbs over & then 25g any grated hard cheese. Bake 15 mins at 220c, fan 200, or gas 7.

You could also use tinned crab baked in a small dish if you wish.

Quick low fat home made soup

Tinned tomatoes make a delicious, low fat, home made tomato soup in minutes by sautéing an onion with some crushed   GARLIC until soft. Add tinned tomatoes, a generous splash of red wine vinegar & heat through. Finish with a handful of fresh BASIL (or use a little pesto) & a splash of milk. Blend until smooth.

Bulghur wheat with leeks

This recipe has few ingredients but is quite filling for a quick lunch snack, the leeks add flavour to the somewhat bland bulghur wheat & salt is not needed. (Per person): Bring half a cup of chicken stock to boil, add quarter cup of bulghur wheat & half cup of very thin sliced leeks & a salad tomato quartered. Bring back to boil again, stir to combine ingredients, add a little ground white pepper & a dash of lemon juice. Turn off heat, cover & leave for 10mins. Stir in 1 tbsp roasted unsalted chopped almonds before serving.

As an alternative, add left over vegetables cooked from the day before, at the stage when you add the leeks.

Eg brocolli, click title link: Rib-eye steaks with bacon, leeks & shallots

to see my recipe on my Just Food blog.
By cooking a whole brocolli you can retain a quarter to use in the Bulghur wheat with leeks recipe above