Scalloped Potatoes with Best-Ever Mushroom Sauce

This is (finally) a healthy way to have scalloped potatoes. I just love recipes that mimic a heart-attack inducing white sauce.

Best-ever mushroom sauce
Potatoes
Butter
Salt & Pepper

Slice potatoes thinly, then layer 1/2 on bottom of casserole dish. Top with dabs of butter, salt and pepper. Cover with 1/2 of mushroom sauce, then repeat. Bake in 180 oven for 60 minutes, or until sauce has thickened and potatoes are tender.

Best-Ever Mushroom Sauce

I'll be using this in the (upcoming) scalloped potatoes recipe from the same blog, but also think it would be lovely on steak, or mixed into pasta.

Butter
Onion, sliced
Mushrooms, sliced
Lemon Juice
Yogurt (approx 1 cup)
Sea Salt
Pepper

Melt butter, then add onion and saute until cooked through. Add mushrooms and saute, covered, until cooked about halfway (still slightly plump), then add yogurt, lemon juice and salt. Bring to simmer and let cook, covered, about 30 minutes, or until thickened. Add pepper at end.

Baked Home Fries with Yogurt Sauce

It's been cold here, work has been busy, and I've been super lazy about cooking as a result, but I'm finally trying some new recipes. The Wednesday Chef can always be trusted for easy, tasty recipes, so I'm trying her recommendation for fried potatoes with yogurt sauce, although changing it up a bit.

Potatoes
Olive oil
Thyme
1/2 cup plain yogurt
2 tablespoons crumbled Greek feta cheese
2 to 3 tsp Dijon mustard
Pepper (I used close to a tablespoon)
1 tablespoon of white wine vinegar

Slice potatoes into shape and size you desire, sprinkle with thyme then toss in olive oil. Bake until crispy and cooked through. Combine the yogurt, feta, mustard and pepper. Add the vinegar and stir well, until creamy. Use the sauce to dip!

Spats Coffee House

Hubs took me on a date last night, to Spats Coffee House on Goodwood Road. It is a gorgeously cosy place, with 3 separate rooms, two downstairs and one upstairs, and although it claims to be Edwardian, it looks Victorian to me. I'd be very curious to know in what way they consider the place to be Edwardian, given that that era only spanned 9 years. We tried to make a reservation, but they told us they don't do reservations for dessert/coffee and that we would be fine coming in at around 8,30pm. Good thing we weren't much later, because starting at about 9,15pm there was a line that was almost out the door and people seemed to be waiting about 1/2 an hour for a table (Sunday night on a long weekend). It was a lovely place, and 3 out of 4 items we ordered ranged from excellent to very good. We started by sharing a drink, called Black Forest, made from blended morello cherries, Tia Maria, ice cream, ice and cream. It was out of this world, and I think I might have to attempt it at home. The ice cream and banana crepes we had next, drizzled with chocolate sauce, were very nice, and hubs finishing drink of Bailey's iced chocolate was good. I was looking forward to my Irish coffee the entire time we were there, but this was where it all went wrong. Think whiskey mixed with filter coffee that has been sitting around for 2 days in the pot, bitter and old, topped with whipped cream. This was by far the worst Irish coffee I've ever had; I'm not even sure I'd refer to it as an Irish coffee. I would have sent it back, but it was a date. Given all that, I'd recommend this place, but just make sure you don't go for a coffee!

Rigoni's

Never judge a restaurant based on one menu item. I've been holding off having a word on Rigoni's, but after my hot chocolate this morning, I decided to go for it. On my first trip to Rigoni's a few weeks back, I ordered one of the daily specials, which was a gnocchi with beef. It was melt in the mouth amazing, although very rich and could only be eaten in small portions, which was ok since it was a tiny portion. It being so good, I overlooked the fact that said tiny portion cost $22. If you've read my other reviews, you know I'm anti-posh eateries, if I don't feel that I'm getting good value for money on some level. All in all, my meal cost $40, which included the main at 50% off (thanks to the Entertainment Book coupon I had), sparkling water, a glass of wine, and a coffee & tiramisu for dessert. To be honest, I think it was a rip off, particularly considering the fact that the tiramisu was dry.

My final opinion is a big old 'Meh'. (Imagine saying it with a shrug of the shoulders and corners of the mouth down turned and you'll know what I mean.) To finish what I started off with, the hot chocolate was some weak ass, watered down powdered shit that I wouldn't serve my dog...

Beef & Broccoli Stir-Fry

This was so good I'm never getting Chinese take away again;) I didn't use specific measurements.

Peanut Oil
Sesame Oil
Garlic Powder
Oyster Sauce
Fish Sauce
Water
Beef strips
Broccoli

Heat peanut oil in wok on high, then add beef and stir-fry until browned. Remove beef and set aside. Add sesame oil to wok, then add broccoli and garlic powder and stir-fry for 1-2 minutes, then add water and oyster sauce and bring to boil. Simmer until sauce thickens, then add in cooked beef and fish sauce. Mix well and serve over rice.

Beef Goulash

I think sour cream just makes everything that much better, and so long as you aren't ingesting it on a regular basis, all is good.

Canola oil
1/2 kg diced beef
3 large onions, chopped
1 tsp salt
1.5 tbspn paprika
1 c beef stock
1 tbspn tomato paste
1 tbspn flour (optional, to thicken)
1/2 c sour cream

Heat oil and brown beef (*option to flour, salt & pepper beef beforehand so as to retain more flabour). Remove beef and add more oil, then add onions and saute until soft and golden. Return meat to pot and add salt, paprika, stock and tomato paste. Bring to simmer and let cook for about an hour or until the meat is tender, then add in sour cream before serving. Serve over mash or noodles.

Spiced Chickpeas with Barramundi

I've adapted this from a recipe in Australian Good Food, a fantastic magazine I've just discovered. There are at minimum, a dozen recipes I want to try out in the May issue. The original called for roasted capsicum and haloumi, but barramundi was on sale at the store today.

olive oil
1/2 jalapeno or other chilli, seeded
1 small onion
a handful of kalamata olives
2 tsp ginger
1 red capsicum
1 can chickpeas
spinach
2 fillets fish
juice of 1/2 lemon
garlic powder

Place jalapeno, onion, olives, ginger and capsicum in food processor and mince. Heat oil in pan and add the mix to the pan. Saute for 3-4 minutes, then add chickpeas and spinach and saute about 5 minutes. Push to side of pan and place fish in center; fry until cooked through, about 3-4 minutes on each side. Squeeze lemon over the lot. Place fish on plate and top with chickpea & spinach mix. Complete meal in one pan!

Update: I'm an eejit. Realise after the fact that haloumi is a cheese, not a fish. I knew that! Ah well, there are two recipes for you then, and one is vegetarian;)

The New Review Blog

I'm shifting my restaurant reviews to a new site, Adelaide - Australia's Hidden Gem. It will include more than restaurant reviews, covering my favourite places to go in the Adelaide area, so have a look if you live here or are just coming for a visit.

Kappy's Cafe, Still Open

Forgotten to report on this, but Kappy's did not close as scheduled, due to some last minute menouvres. I may be wrong, but this is tentative at the moment as I understand it. Regardless, get in there for a cuppa or a meal when you have the time. Unfortunately for me I am switching jobs so will not make it there as often, but I did get in today to buy some tea and take a break with colleagues. On my way out I noticed the daily soup being brought out, which was a sweet potato and onion consomme. Thought I would try some for lunch and it is absolutely gorgeous. Sorry I won't be able to come here weekly any longer:(

The Wakefield Hotel

I have mixed feelings about this place, which is at 76 Wakefield Street. Today, a group of about 15 of us went here for my work going away lunch. The pre-ordering process went very smoothly, and meals were out right on time, with staff allowing us to pay separately after the meal (arranged ahead of time). The meals were quite decent, although nothing special, and the drinks were average price. On Tuesdays, they do offer $10 schnitzels with chips & salad, and they modified my fish 'n chips to come with mash since I'm still not chewing superbly. The only issue I had was with the cook, as one of the meals, a bar platter, came out with feta which my fellow diners felt was off. The waitress brought it back, minus the cheese, and said the chef stated that the cheese wasn't spoilt but that he had removed it from the plate. Very very poor customer service, I felt, so I went to the bar staff, who when advised of the situation, took it off the bill. I'm not sure I would eat there again, given this, and I think they need to have a word with chef snooty.

Aunt Rose's Spinach Pie

My Aunt Rose was a fantastic cook. This is a simple recipe, but I wish I had some more of her more complicated ones. My mom sent it to me this week in hopes it would be something soft and edible, until I get my teeth fixed, so will give it a go tonight.

1 (16 oz.) tub cottage cheese
1 cup shredded cheese (whatever you have on hand)
1 pkg (10 oz.) chopped spinach (frozen)
3 eggs
2 tbspns flour
2 tbspns melted butter
½ cup chopped onion
Salt and pepper to taste

Mix it all together and put in a greased pie plate.
Bake in pre-heated oven at 180C for an hour.