Gazpacho

When you have an abundance of beautiful heirloom tomatoes, cucumber and purple capsicums in your garden and it is a hot Aussie Valentines day evening, what does one do? Well if you are me, then you make gazpacho - yummy, healthy, refreshing, super easy and quick to make with the perfect hues of pink to start your valentines evening.

This recipe is gluten free and does not have any bread and still has a lot of body and volume, however, you may choose to add some stale bread soaked in water if you prefer or alternatively add some almond meal.

You will need:

5-7 medium sized ripe tomatoes
1 lebanese cucumber or 1/2 a continental cucumber
1 small capsicum
Salt to taste
2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
Freshly ground pepper or a few drops of tabasco sauce (optional)
Fresh mint leaves for garnish

Method:

Roughly chop the tomatoes, peeled cucumber and capsicum and add to a blender. You can also use a hand blender. Blend until all the chunks disappear, season with salt and pepper and add the olive oil. Briefly blend again and pour into glasses. Chill for 20 minutes and garnish with mint leaves and a drizzle of olive oil. You can also add ice cubes and serve it immediately.

Enjoy and happy valentines day!

Jhal moori - puffed rice salad

Speak to anyone who has lived or travelled to West Bengal in India and they have most definitely come across the cries of 'jhal moorie, jhal moorie' on railway stations and local trains.  Moorie, as it is also called around the city of Calcutta is so called after the main ingredient puffed rice which is called moorie in Bengali and the work jhal simply means spicy hot. It is a favourite street food and is sold at pretty much every street corner.

In fact, it is so popular that we had a 'moorie man' selling his delicious produce inside our very strict convent school compound. He would do brisk business everyday selling moorie to students and teachers alike from his little kiosk which he would set up on a wicker stand. At the end of the school day, he would just pack and carry his little stand and kiosk and set up shop somewhere else.

Having grown up eating this road side staple, I often make it at home, especially on hot days, when I do not feel like cooking. In all honesty, it is really simple to make, in fact it is nothing more than an assembly job and as with most street food in India, it is customised to ones preferences. Though, there is a list of ingredients which are usually added, you can omit some or add more or less of something depending on your taste buds.

You will need

Moorie (puffed rice)
Chopped cucumber
Chopped tomato
Chopped red onion
Chopped boiled potato
Handful of roasted peanuts
Chopped fresh coconut (can be omitted if unavailable or dried coconut flakes can be added instead)
Chopped coriander
Bhujiya (gluten free gram flour noodles)
Chana chur (gluten free mixture also called bhuja mix)
Chat masala
Ground cumin powder
Salt
Chilli powder
Black/ pink mineral salt (if available)
Lime or lemon juice (tamarind water can also be used)
Mustard oil
Green chilli (optional)

I have not mentioned the quantities as it will depend on how much you would like to make. Since my husband and I love it, I often make a large bowl and have it as a meal instead of dinner. I use 1 onion, tomato, cucumber and boiled potato each and finely chop them into a large bowl. Next, I add small handfuls of the chopped coconut, peanuts, bhujiya and chanachur, followed by the desired amount of spices. Next, I add 1 teaspoon of mustard oil and the juice of 1 lime/ lemon and the chopped coriander and green chillies, if using and mix well. I save the puffed rice for the very end as it goes soggy very quickly and the moorie must be served as soon as the puffed rice goes in and has been mixed well. The ratio of puffed rice I use is approximately equal to the amount of chopped onion, tomato, cucumber and boiled potato used. Though this can also be adjusted to your liking. Mix well, serve in large bowls, garnish with some coriander sprigs and bhujiya and enjoy immediately as it cannot be stored.

The moorie, and gluten free bhujiya and chanachur can be bought from any Indian grocery store.

Palak wali dal - lentils with spinach

Given that I have an absolute abundance of spinach in my garden right now, I have been using it in absolutely everything from quiches, pies, curries, soups, sauteed with eggs and now with dal. I remember my mum used to make something similar and I have tried to recreate the dish from memory. I have used split Urad dal but I am sure other lentils will also work. You can eat it Indian style with flat bread or rice or enjoy it like a thick, chunky soup with some crusty bread.

Ingredients:

2 Cups of Urad dal (rinsed and soaked for at least 20 minutes)

4 cloves of garlic

1 inch piece of ginger

1 large onion chopped finely

1 tomato finely chopped

1 large bunch of spinach -  washed and roughly chopped

Salt and chilli powder to taste

1/4 teaspoon of turmeric powder

1/2 teaspoon of Garam masala powder

2 tablespoons of cooking oil (I use rice bran oil)

Coriander springs for garnish

Method:

I precook the dal and cook the spinach with tarka  (tempering) to avoid overcooking the spinach. I pressure cook the dal but you can also cook it in a saucepan until tender.

Cook the washed and soaked dal in about six cups of water with the chopped onion, garlic and turmeric powder until tender.  A pressure cooker will speed up the cooking time. Allow the pressure cooker to come to pressure on high flame, then turn down the gas and allow it to come to pressure two more times. Turn off the gas, set aside and allow the pressure to dissipate on its own.

Fot the tarka, heat up a skillet and add the the cooking oil. Add the chopped onions and fry on a medium heat until the onions are golden brown in colour. Add the chopped tomato and cook for a further 5 minutes. Add the salt and chilli powder followed by the chopped spinach. Cook on a low heat until the spinach wilts and is tender. Add the garam masala powder and add the tarka (the spinach, onion tomato mixture) to the cooked dal or add the cooked dal to the tarka (depending on the size of your utensils, the idea is to combine the two). Bring the dal to a boil (adding more water if required to achieve the desired consistency), add the chopped coriander. Serve hot and enjoy.

Aloo Palak - potatoes in a spinach curry

Anyone familiar with Indian food and Indian restaurants has most likely eaten Palak Paneer - cottage cheese cubes in a spinach curry. Aloo Palak is a lactose free, vegan twist on this popular dish. You make the spinach curry the same way as you would for palak paneer but add boiled potatoes instead of cheese.

You will need the following (serves 4-6)

Large bunch of fresh spinach
6-8 medium sized potatoes
1 large onion
Small piece of ginger (1 cm long)
2 large cloves of garlic
2 tablespoons of tomato paste
Salt to taste
1/2 teaspoon of red chilli powder
1/4 teaspoon of turmeric powder
1 teaspoon of garam masala powder
2 tablespoons of olive oil

To make this dish, we need to prepare both the spinach and potatoes separately. I am lucky to have my own vegetable garden and in this instance have used both the spinach and potatoes from my veggie patch. Instead of uprooting the entire spinach plants (as you would find in the shops) I simply cut as many spinach leaves as I need and leave the rest of the plant behind to sprout new leaves. This has a few advantages -  less mud/grit in the leaves thus requiring less washing, I continue to benefit from the plant and having grown the vegetables myself, I know no nasty chemicals or sprays have been used.

To prepare the spinach, I wash the leaves and place them in a large saucepan with a clove of garlic and some salt to boil. I also add sugar (optional) as my mum always does, she believes it helps retain colour and adds to flavour. But I do not think it is necessary, if you do not overcook the spinach it will not discolour and with really fresh spinach, flavour is not a problem. Having said that, I still add a pinch out of habit and respect for my mum. Once the water has come to the boil and the spinach has wilted, turn the heat off and place the cooked spinach leaves and garlic clove in a food processor and blend into a smooth puree and set aside. I reserve the spinach water to thin the curry during the cooking process instead of using water.

To prepare the potatoes, simply peel and cut each potato into eight pieces and boil them in salted water until tender.

While the potatoes are boiling, I get started with the base of the spinach curry by pureeing the onion, ginger and remaining clove of garlic. Then add oil to a wok or heavy based skillet and cook the mixture, stirring regularly until it has browned. Add the tomato paste and cook for a further two minutes before adding the salt and other powdered spices. Add the spinach puree and cook for a couple of minutes before adding the boiled and drained potatoes and mixing well to ensure they are coated with the spinach. I add a couple of tablespoons of the water the spinach has been cooked to get the right consistency (I have kept mine thick as I was serving it with flat bread). Simmer, cover with a lid for five minutes. Serve warm and enjoy with flat bread or rice.

Chicken and vegetable clear soup

Ingredients (to serve 4)

2 chicken thigh fillets cut into strips
2 carrots thinly sliced diagonally
2 cloves of garlic chopped finely
1 inch piece of ginger chopped finely
2 spring onions chopped finely
12 green beans cut into batons
1 cup/ can of corn kernels
1 litre of chicken or vegetable stock

Salt and peper to taste
1 tablespoon of oil

In a large sauce pan heat the oil and add the ginger, garlic and spring onions and cook for 1 minute, add the chicken and stir fry to seal the meat, followed by the carrots, beans and corn kernels (if using fresh). Cook for another minute and then add the stock/ water. Bring to a boil and turn the heat down. If using canned corn kernels add them at this point. Season with salt and pepper and simmer for 5-7 minutes. Garnish with coriander or spring onion greens and enjoy hot. You can also spice it up with a little chilli oil/ sambal.

Raspberry surprise chocolate cupcakes

These scrumptious cupcakes are both gluten free and vegan. To make a batch of 12 you will need the following:

1 cup almond meal
1 cup chick pea flour (besan)
1 cup soft brown sugar
1/4 of pure cacao powder
1/4 cup of oil
3/4 cup almond milk
1.5 teaspoons of baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Pinch of salt
2 heaped teaspoons of egg replacer powder
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract


Raspberry compote*
1 cup of fresh or frozen raspberries
2 tablespoons of soft brown sugar
 * alternatively you can use a good quality shop bought raspberry conserve or jam

Chocolate icing
1 avocado
1 teaspoon of cacao powder
1.5 teaspoon of icing sugar


I always start with making the raspberry compote as I like it to be cool when I add it to the cup cake mixture. Place the raspberries in a saucepan and turn on the heat, cook the raspberries until they have softened and the juices have released and started to evaporate. Add the sugar; I like the mixture to be a little tart as it contrasts well with the chocolate cake, but if you prefer you can increase the quantity of sugar added. Cook until the mixture is glossy and has a jam like consistency. Set aside to cool.

Pre heat a fan forced oven to 180C and line a cupcake tin with paper cases. In a large mixing bowl add all the dry ingredients and mix well with a spatula, taking care to break any lumps in the almond meal or brown sugar. In a separate bowl mix the almond milk, oil and vanilla extract and add to the dry ingredients. Mix to form a smooth batter, taking care not to over mix.

Fill the lined cup cake tin with the cake mixture, placing enough mixture to fill each mould half way. Add one teaspoon of the raspberry compote and then top with the remaining mixture until the cup cake moulds are 3/4 full. Place in the oven and cook for 20 minutes.

Remove from the oven and place on a wire rack to cool. Once cooled you can either dust with cacao powder or icing sugar.

As a special treat, I often ice the cakes with a vegan icing. In the past I would have used vegan margarine, but now I use avocado instead which is so much healthier. However, you need to be careful to only ice the number of cakes you actually need as avocado tends to oxidise, not that you would notice with the cacao powder in it:)

To make the icing, finely mash one avocado (to frost about 4 cupcakes), so that there are no lumps and add the cacao powder and icing sugar and mix well.  Place the mixture in  a piping bag and pipe onto the cupcakes or use a palette knife to spread. Top with a fresh raspberry. Serve and enjoy.

Aloo Gobi (cauliflower and potato dry curry)

Not sure if any of you have watched Bend it like Beckham; in that movie it is Aloo Gobi that the Indian mother is trying to teach her tomboyish daughter to prepare. My mum did not have to make any such effort as I loved it so much that I sort of figured it out myself:). For this simple and delicious recipe you will need the following:

Cauliflower (I use an entire one, but you can use half and adjust the quantities of the other ingredients)
6-8 potatoes
2 onions
4 garlic cloves
2 green chillies
2 inch piece of ginger
2 tomatoes
1/2 teaspoon of turmeric powder
Salt and red chilli powder to taste
1/2 teaspoon of garam masala powder
1 black cardamon
1 inch piece of cinnamon bark
1 bay leaf
Handful of chopped coriander
2 tablespoons of oil

Method

Prepare the cauliflower and potatoes by cutting the cauliflower into florets. I also use most of the stalk, just cut it into thin pieces (about the same size as the florets). Peel and cut the potatoes into eights. Wash and drain the vegetables and set aside. Cut the onions and tomatoes in a medium dice and finely chop the ginger, garlic and chillies.

In a large wok or skillet, add the oil and the whole spices. Allow the oil to infuse with the whole spices for 30-40 seconds and add the onion, ginger, garlic and chillies. Cook until the onions are translucent. Add the cauliflower and potatoes and mix to ensure they are all coated with the oil and onion mixture. Cover and cook on a low heat for 10 minutes. Ensure the lid is tight fitting as this locks in steam, which  cooks the cauliflower and potatoes. Uncover, stir and add the tomatoes along with the salt, turmeric and chilli powder. Cover again and cook for a further 10 minutes. At this point the potatoes and cauliflowers should have been cooked through. If not, cook for a further 5 minutes, until they are tender.  Add the garam masala and increase the heat, until all the moisture has evaporated. Be gentle while stirring as the cooked cauliflower breaks easily. Add the chopped coriander and serve hot with a flat bread of your choice.

Quick and easy tomato soup

This is a really quick, easy and delicious tomato soup, perfect for a cold evening when you have no energy, time or inclination to cook. It is as fast to prepare as a packet soup without any additives or nasties added.

Ingredients

1 bottle of passata (700-750 ml bottle of Italian tomato puree, you can also use normal puree or tomato paste and increase the amount of liquid used. Check the ingredients to ensure there are no additives.)
2.5 cups of stock or water
Salt and pepper to taste

In a sauce pan add the tomato puree and the stock/ water and bring to a boil. Season with salt and pepper and lower the heat and simmer for 5-6 minutes stirring occasionally. Once the preferred consistency is achieved, ladle into bowls. I garnish with a little vegan margarine and use cut up corn crisp bread as croutons and also serve some on the side instead of dinner rolls.

Turkey mince chilli con carne

Traditionally chilli con carne is made with minced beef, but since it is a potential allergen I use lamb mince or as with this recipe turkey mince instead as it is a healthier alternative to red meat.

Ingredients (to serve 4-6)
500 gms turkey mine
1 cup/ can of red kidney beans
1 cup/ can of corn kernels
1 can of diced tomatoes or 4 tomatoes chopped
2 green chillies
2 onions
5 cloves of garlic
1 teaspoon each of cumin and coriander powder
1 teaspoon of cacao powder
Salt and chilli powder to taste
1/4 cup of chopped coriander
2 tablespoons of oil

I start with soaking the 1 cup of dry kidney beans and then cooking them until tender. I reserve both the beans and the cooking liquid as it adds a great flavour and colour to the final product.

In a large skillet, add the oil and fry the chopped chilli, garlic and onions until the onions are translucent. Add the turkey mince and mix well, using the back of the spatula to break down any lumps. Once the meat is browned, add the tomatoes followed by the salt. continue to cook on a low heat for about 10 minutes and then add the corn and the kidney beans. Mix well and add the cooking liquid from the kidney beans a little at a time. If using canned kidney beans, just add some water or stock (if available). Add the remaining spices and cacao, mix and simmer for a further 10 -15 minutes, adding more liquid if required. Add the chopped coriander and serve hot with rice or corn tortillas and a side of guacamole. Any left overs can be frozen or can be used as a topping for nachos.

Guacamole

Up until recently I did not really eat avocado, but since it is a great meal/snack option for babies, I always have some at home and often make guacamole, which I use as a spread or as an alternative to sour cream.

You will need:

1 avocado
2 spring onions (you can also use half a spanish onion)
1 small tomato
Juice of 1 lime
Salt to taste

Method

Scoop out the avocado flesh with a spoon and roughly mash it before adding the chopped spring onions (I use both the white and green parts), tomatoes, salt and lime juice. You can also add some chopped green chili/ jalapeno and coriander if you prefer. Mix well and serve. It is best to make it just before serving.

Asian inspired vegetable and rice noodle soup

This is another one of the recipes in my repertoire that I cook when I want something quick and easy.

Ingredients (to serve 4)

1litre of vegetable or chicken stock
2 packets of rice noodles (400-450 gms)  (I have used the fresh variety which I rinsed in water to separate before adding to the soup)
1 can of sweet corn kernels drained
4 cloves of garlic finely chopped
1 inch piece of ginger finely chopped
1 red chilli finely chopped (optional)
3 carrots diced
1/2 cup of chopped beans
1/2 cup of peas
Handful of coriander springs
1 lime
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon of oil

Method

In a large saucepan, heat up the oil and add the ginger, garlic and chilli (if using). cook for about 1 minute and add the fresh vegetables. In my case only the carrots were fresh and the beans and peas were frozen so I reserved them for later. Cook the carrots for 2-3 minutes and then add the stock. Continue to cook the carrots in the stock, once it comes to the boil, simmer and add the corn kernels followed by the frozen vegetables and rice noodles. Season with salt and pepper and allow the soup to come to a boil again. Simmer further for 2-3 minutes and add the chopped coriander and lemon juice. Serve hot and garnish with coriander and slices of fresh lime.

Quick and easy minestrone soup

As soon as there is a nip in the air, I start making soups for our evening meal at least 1-2 times per week. This version of the minestrone soup is one of my favourites as it is really quick and simple to prepare and is also healthy and delicious.

To serve 4, you will need the following:

1 litre of stock (I have used a good quality shop bought vegetable stock with no preservatives or additives, but you can make your own or use chicken stock if you prefer)
1 bottle (720 ml) of passata (Italian tomato puree, which is a bit runny, you can choose to use can tomatoes, or fresh, but will need to increase the cooking time)
1 cup of rice pasta
1 can of beans/ chick peas
assortment of vegetable ( about 2 cups)
3 cloves of garlic
Small bunch of basil and chives
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon of olive oil

Method

This is more of an assembly job than cooking, and that is why it is so quick to make. I start with 1 tablespoon of oilve oil in a large saucepan, to which I add the finely chopped or minced garlic cloves. Fry for 30 seconds and add the vegetables (I used 2 carrots, 1 green and 1 yellow capsicum). Fry the vegetables in the oil for 2 minutes and then add the stock and passata. Bring the mixture to the boil and add the pasta. Once the pasta is nearly done, add the can of drained and rinsed beans of your choice. I used chick peas. Simmer, until the pasta is cooked. Season with salt and pepper and add the fresh herbs.

Ladle into large bowls, sprinkle over some more herbs and drizzle with olive oil and enjoy a hearty meal.

Chana ki dal

Dal chawal (lentils and rice) are the corner stone of Indian cuisine, and for me they are not only comfort food but a life saver as in my house they do double duty as both baby and adult food.

Ingredients (serves 4-5)

(For the dal)

2 cups of channa dal (washed and soaked for at least 30 minutes)

1onion

4 large cloves of garlic

1 inch pice of ginger

8 cups of water

1/2 teaspoon of salt

1/2 teaspoon of turmeric

(For the tarka)

1 onion

1 teaspoon of garam masala powder

Salt and chilli powder to taste

2 tablespoons of oil

Chopped corriander for garnish

Method

In a large saucepan or pressure cooker (if you have one) add the channa dal, along with the chopped onion, ginger, garlic, salt and turmeric powder with the water. Cook on a high heat, until the pressure cooker reaches full pressure of the contents of the saucepan come to a boil. reduce the heat and continue cooking for a further 3 whistles or until the dal is cooked through.

At this point, I set aside some dal for my little one, and blend it with some plain rice for a nutritious protein packed meal. 

For the adult version, I prepare the tarka by heating some oil in a fry pan and adding a chopped onion. Fry the onion on high heat, stirring occasionally to stop it from burning. The idea is to fry and brown the onion. Once the onion is golden brown, add the salt, chilli powder and garam masala. Turn off the heat and add the tarka to the cooked lentils. Add chopped coriander and serve hot with rice or flat bread and a simple salad of chopped onion, cucumber and tomato seasoned with salt and lime juice.

Tacos with lamb and kidney beans

I buy the normal super market variety of Tacos, making sure that no nasties or allergens have been added. In fact, the ones I buy do not even have salt added to them -  just corn flour, vegetable oil and water.

You will also need the following ingredients:

500 gms of minced lamb or lamb strips
1 cup of kidney beans (which I soaked overnight and boiled) or 1 can of kidney beans
2 medium sized onions
2 tomatoes
1 green capsicum
2 tablespoons of tomato paste
5-6 cloves of garlic
1 jalapeno
Small bunch of salad leaves
Handful of coriander springs
1 avocado
1 lime
2 tablespoons of oil
salt and chilli powder to taste
1 teaspoon each of cumin and coriander powder
a little water

Method

Finely chop the onion, jalapeno and garlic. You can also use a food processor. Add oil to a frying pan/skillet. Once the oil is warm, add the onion, ginger, garlic and jalapeno chlli, and cook until the onions turn brown. Add the lamb and cook on a high heat to seal the meat. Add the two tablespoons of tomato paste with 3-4 tablespoons of water and mix well. Add the powdered spices and continue cooking on a low heat for 5 minutes. Add the capsicum and tomato (cut in small cubes or strips, to match the type of meat used) and cooked kidney beans and cook for a further 5 minutes. If using minced lamb, you can allow to simmer on a low heat, while you prepare the other ingredients. however, if you used strips, turn the heat off as overcooking will toughen the meat. Add the fresh coriander before serving.

Heat the tacos in a 180C oven for 5 minutes. Wash and dry the salad leaves. In a bowl, mash the avocado. Season and add the juice of 1 lime.

To assemble, add some salad leaves in the bottom of each taco; fill with the lamb mixture and top with the avacado. The salad leaves add crunch and protect the tacos from getting soggy too quickly and the avocado and lime add a refreshing, creamy zing.

Aloo methi (potatoes and fenugreek)

This is very simple and healthy Indian dry curry or sabji. The literal translation is potatoes and fenugreek leaves and since fenugreek leaves  (like most green leafy vegetables) are full of health benefits  and have the added advantage assisting lactating mothers, I try and have it at least a couple of times each month.

Ingredients
6-8 medium sized potatoes
1 large bunch of fenugreek leaves (you can also use a bag of frozen fenugreek leaves, which is what I have done in this instance)
1 onion
3 garlic cloves
1 inch piece of ginger
1 green chilli
salt and chilli powder to taste
1/2 teaspoon of turmeric
oil for cooking

Method

Peel the potatoes and cut them into cubes. If using fresh methi (fenugreek leaves), pick out the leaves and wash them well. I generally grow the fenugreek in my veggie patch (weather and season permitting) as it is hard to find in Melbourne, but also keep a couple of frozen bags in the freezer, which can be found in most Indian grocers.

Finely chop the onion, chilli, garlic and ginger. In a wok, add about two tablespoons of oil and add the onions, ginger, chilli and garlic. Fry for 3-5 minutes until the onions are translucent and add the potatoes. Fry for two minutes on high heat stirring to ensure all the potatoes are coated in the oil. Cover and cook for 10-15 minutes on a low heat. Once the potatoes are semi cooked, add the salt, chilli powder and turmeric, followed by the frozen methi ( if using fresh, you will need to add it sooner). Stir and cook covered on a low heat for a further 5-7 minutes.

Serve warm, it is best enjoyed with flat bread

Vegan, no cook halwa balls

This is the simplest halwa recipe ever. Whenever, I am craving a sweet treat but do not have the time or energy to make anything, I whip this up. These halwa balls are middle eastern inspired as the base ingredient is tahini -  sesame seed paste (which can be found in the health food section of most supermarkets as well as middle eastern grocery stores).

You will need the following

Tahini
Honey
Almond meal (optional)
Chopped nuts (optional)

Essentially, you are mixing equal quantities of honey and tahini together. You might think that this may not work as the tahini is a bit runny, but as soon as you start mixing in the honey it seizes. At this point I also add in equal quantity of almond meal, but you can leave it out if you want this to be nut free. Mix well, shape into little balls and roll them in chopped nuts or sesame seeds. For the quantity shown in the photograph, I used three tablespoons of honey, tahini and almond meal and rolled them in different nuts - pistachios, hazelnuts, cashews, almonds, walnuts, mixed nuts and sesame seeds. If you prefer, you can completely leave out this step and serve them plain or rolled in toasted sesame seeds or shredded coconut. Refrigerate if possible, as this helps to set the halwa, but they can be eaten straight away as well.

Enjoy these easy and healthy (sesame seeds are full of calcium and great for individuals who are on a non dairy diet) sweet treats any time of the day.

Pumpkin rice

I generally make this rice for my baby, but it can easily be a family meal as well, just adjust the quantities, add some salt and pepper and pronto you have a cross between a kichdi (Indian savoury rice porridge/ congee) and risotto that everyone in the family can enjoy

Ingredients
1/2 cup of rice
1 cup of butternut pumpkin roughly chopped
1 teaspoon of olive oil
1 small clove of garlic
1 tablespoon of chopped onion
3 cups of water
A pinch each of salt, turmeric and cinnamon.

The ingredients here have been dictated by things I have already introduced to my baby, or am trying to introduce, like the cinnamon. I also always try and add a pinch of turmeric due to its health benefits -  it is considered to be an anti inflammatory and anti bacterial however, you can choose to leave it out.

Method

Finely chop the garlic and onion. In a pressure cooker (makes life so much easier, if you do not have one, you may consider investing in one and the basic ones are very affordable and last a long time, if not, just use a saucepan and cook covered until all the ingredients are cooked through) add the olive oil and fry the onion and garlic for 1 minute. Add the pumpkin pieces, washed and soaked rice and stir for two minutes to ensure all the rice is coated in the oil. Add the spices if using and 3 cups of plain water. Close the pressure cooker and allow it to come to pressure on high heat. Reduce the heat and allow it to come to pressure again. Do not open the pressure cooker and allow the pressure to subside naturally, this ensures the rice keeps cooking and you end up with a thick, creamier dish similar to a risotto, without any of the hard work of adding and stirring in the stock one ladle at a time.

Open the the pressure cooker and stir the rice to break up the pumpkin pieces. If the consistency of the rice is not to your liking you can add some more water to thin it down or cook on high heat to thicken the rice.

Refrigerate or freeze any unused portion for later. If serving to adults, season with a grinding of salt and pepper, add some chopped chives and drizzle over some extra virgin olive oil.

Sweet and sour chicken

Sweet and sour chicken is a chinese takeaway staple, but generally it is greasy, laden with msg, loads of corn flour and who knows what else. My version is a healthier, lighter and delicious version.

The ingredients below will serve 4-5.

Ingredients

600 gms of chicken thigh fillets cut into strips

2 spanish onions sliced

1 green capsicum sliced

1 yellow capsicum sliced

4 small to medium carrots sliced

1 cup of fresh pineapple or 1 small can of pineapple 

6 cloves of garlic minced

Small piece of ginger finely chopped or grated

2 red chilies finely chopped

Juice of 1 orange

Juice of 1 lemon

3 heaped tablespoons of tomato paste

2 tablespoons of black strap molasses

1 tablespoon of raw/ brown sugar

2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar (or any other vinegar of your choice)

3 tablespoons of potato flour

3 tablespoons of oil

salt, chilli powder and pepper to taste

Method

Add the chicken strips in a mixing bowl and cover with the three tablespoons of potato flour. I also season the potato flour with a little salt. Once all the chicken strips are coated well, heat a non stick fry pan and add two table spoons of oil. Pan fry the chicken on high heat, cooking both sides, we are not after a lot of colour here. The idea is to seal the chicken and the potato flour helps to crisp it and then also thickens the sauce when added to the vegetable mix. Pan fry all the chicken in small batches ensuring that you never crowd the frying pan.

Once all the chicken has been pan fried, place it on kitchen towel and set aside for later.

In a wok or the same fry pan if it is big enough, add 1 tablespoon of oil. I always start with the carrots first as I like them a bit more cooked than the remaining vegetables, but you can choose to start with the other vegetables or with the ginger, garlic, chilli and onions.

Once, you have given the carrots a 3-5 minute head start, add the other vegetables (reserving the pineapple), stir fry on a high heat stirring occasionally to ensure the vegetables do not burn.

In a small mixing bowl, mix the tomato paste, molasses, vinegar, sugar, salt, chilli powder and pepper with 150 ml of water. Taste, to ensure the sauce is well balanced, if you need to add more of anything adjust it to your liking, though remember the orange and lemon juice are yet to be added. Once the vegetables have softened add the sauce and mix, add the chicken strips and pineapple chunks and ensure they are well coated. Next add the orange juice and simmer the sauce until it thickens and has the right consistency. Take off the heat and add the lemon juice and coriander. Serve immediately as the chicken will go soggy the longer it sits in the sauce.

I choose to serve it with plain rice.

Simple green salad

A bag of mixed salad leaves
One Granny Smith apple
One Lebanese cucumber
Olive oil
Juice of half a small lemon
Salt
Pepper

Wash the salad leaves and dry them well. I use a salad spinner for convenience. Cut the Granny Smith apple into thin strips - like match sticks. Slice the cucumber into slices diagonally and then further cut each diagonal piece into little strips.

Add all the ingredients into a large bowl. In a small jar or bowl add one teaspoon of lemon juice and two teaspoons of olive oil and salt and pepper to your taste. Mix well to emulsify ( you can also add sone dijon mustard to the dressing and use garlic infused olive oil), but since I was serving it with a schnitzel, I decided to keep the flavour clean and simple. Dress the salad just before serving to avoid it going limp and soggy. Toss well to ensure all the leaves are covered. Enjoy

Gluten & egg free chicken schnitzel

When you think of chicken schnitzel, the first thing that comes to mind is the crisp coating giving away to the soft interior. Before I commenced my elimination diet, chicken schnitzel or chicken Parma were one of our family favourites . Hence, I was really keen to find a way to make them within the parameters of my diet.

The key to the success lies in the three stage crumbling, whether you use the traditional plain flour, egg or bread crumbs or as in my case, rice flour, slurry made out of egg replacer powder (I even added a pinch of turmeric to resemble the egg wash) and corn crumbs. You can also use rice crumbs. In addition to the crumbling ingredients, you will need salt, pepper, oil, and chicken breasts.

I use organic, free range chicken and cut each breast into three, first I remove the tenderloin and then slice the chicken breast from the middle ( the thickest part) into two. If you leave the ends connected, you get the trademark heart shape, which is sold in the supermarkets but I cut it all the way through as I find it easier to cook. Next, I use a meat mallet to flatten the pieces out, ensuring they are the same thickness all through, which ensures that the entire piece will cook at the same time. Once all the chicken is prepared, set up the crumbling station. You need two plates and a shallow bowl big enough to fit the chicken pieces. In the first plate add rice flour. In the shallow bowl make a slurry of the egg replacer powder ( the quantity will depend on the amount of chicken you are using). I used two chicken breasts and used two heaped teaspoons of the egg replacer powder mixed with some water and a pinch of turmeric. In the last plate,  add the corn or rice crumbs and season them with salt and white pepper.

Dust the chicken breast with the rice flour, covering both sides, dunk it in the egg replacer mixture covering both sides and finally cover with the corn crumbs, ensuring the entire breast is well coved.
Follow the process with all the chicken pieces. You can choose to deep fry the schnitzels at this point, but I prefer to pan fry them in a non stick pan. I use rice bran oil as it has a high smoking point. Get the non stick pan really hot, add enough oil to over the bottom of the pan in a thin layer. Add the chicken pieces cooking each side on high heat for 1 minute and them lowering the heat. Cook for about 6-8 minutes, until the schnitzels are golden brown and the insides are cooked to your preference. I serve mine with a simple green salad and some corn cobs brushed with garlic infused oil. For my husband, I placed some chopped seasoned tomatoes and grated cheese on top of the schnitzel and place in under a hot grill, until the cheese melts.

Serve hot with your favourite condiments.