Saturday, May 21, 2011

Halloumi cheese

This is actually pretty simple. Just get some halloumi cheese from a supermarket. Once removed from the package, rinse it with water and pat it dry. Cut into small slices and then place sage leaves on both sides. Then pan fry it in olive oil till golden brown on both sides. Serve it warm with a side salad.

Lemon coconut slice with fresh strawberries jam

Ingredients
1/2 lemon
100 grams of desiccated coconut
150
185ml milk grams of butter
225 grams of flour
3 eggs
100 grams caster sugar
2 table spoons lemon rind

Preheat the oven to 180 Degrees Celsius. Beat the butter and sugar till pale and creamy. Add in the eggs gradually and continue beating till mixed. Fold in the flour, coconut and lemon rind. Add the lemon juice, milk and mix evenly.

Pour into a nonstick baking tin and bake for 40 minutes till golden brown.

Strawberry jam
Mix near ripe strawberries with caster sugar. For every 1 kilo of strawberries, you'll need 150 grams caster sugar. Either use  your hands or masher, mash up the strawberries and sugar into to a pulp. Then pour into a pan to cook. Bring it up to a boil and then simmer for 20 minutes till it's reduced. Cool down and refrigerate.

Burgers!!

Here's a family favorite. Once you master this, then it's Mcdonald's no more plus it's healthier!

Ingredients
Minced lean beef, chicken or pork (or even lamb)
Onions
Mustard
1 egg
Breadcrumbs

Prepare the burger by mixing all the ingredients into a bowl. Add the breadcrumbs till the mixture is not too wet. Form the size of a burger and put it in a fridge to rest. Once ready to cook, heat up a pan with olive oil or butter. Pan fry the burger to your liking (medium well is best!). Serve it with your favorite salad, bread and other sides (pictured here is rosemary potatoes, ciabatta bread and chopped salad)

Brocolli chicken pasta

Ingredients
Mini shell shape pasta (oriochettes)
Brocolli
Chicken
1 egg yolk
Parmesan cheese
Lemon juice

Boil the pasta till al dente. Drain but keep a small portion of the pasta water. Cook the chicken with a bit of olive oil. Add the brocolli (cut into bite size). Season with salt and pepper. Then pour in the brocolli, egg yolk and a bit of lemon juice. Add a bit of the pasta water and parmesan cheese. Mix well. Serve immediately

Strawberry pavlova

What you need is a pavlova recipe, fresh strawberries and either yoghurt or fresh cream.

How to make the pavlova
2 egg whites
50-110 grams caster sugar
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1 table spoon of cornflour
1 teaspoon of white vinegar

Prepare your oven at 150 degrees Celcius

Beat the egg whites till soft peaks are formed. Gradually add in the sugar while beating till the mixture is firm and glossy. Then sieve in the corn flour and add the vanilla extract, vinegar. Mix it till even.

On a tray with grease proof paper, either spoon the pavlova mixture to form small egg like shapes. Using the back of the spoon, create an indent on the top of the pavlova so that you can use it to put the toppings.

Bake it in the oven and turn down the heat to 120. Back for 1 hour 30 minutes till firm. Leave it to cool completely before serving.