Scones

3 c self-rising flour
4 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp salt
100 g butter
1 1/4 c milk

Sift together dry ingredients. Mix in melted butter, then milk. Knead lightly. Cut into 12 evenly sized pieces. Cook in 220C (fan forced 200C) for 10 minutes, or until slightly golden browned on top.

Barossa Brekky Sandwich

I found this recipe in Around the World in 80 Dinners, and modified it slightly by not including bacon, using scrambled eggs instead of fried, and using freshly made scones instead of rolls. This is a perfect brunch, served with a side of fresh fruit.

Scones
Fruit Chutney
Eggs, scrambled with cheese
Pickled onion

Cut scone in half. Slather both halves with fruit chutney. Slice pickled onion and place on top of chutney, on one half. Spoon scrambled eggs on top of half with pickled onion and place other half on top.

Homemade Blue Cheese Salad Dressing

Blue Cheese, in small chunks
Lemon Juice
Garlic
Milk
Mayo

Put all in small jar and shake, shake, shake!

Smothered Chicken

This didn't taste of sinful as the last time I had it, but it was still tasty!

4 chicken breasts
1/2 c flour
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp paprika
salt & pepper, to taste
1/4 c canola oil
1 onion, chopped
2 - 4 garlic cloves, minced
1 c sour cream
1/2 c chicken stock

Mix flour, cayenne pepper, paprika, salt & pepper, then coat each chicken breast in this mixture. Heat oil in pan and brown chicken breasts, about 3 minutes on each side. Remove chicken from pan and add onion & garlic to saute, about 3-5 minutes. Place chicken back in pan, mix sour cream & broth together, and add to pan. Bring to simmer and cover. Cook for 10 - 15 minutes.

Cocoa Brownies

I've been craving brownies for some time now. These are heaps better than a package mix.

10 tbspn (140 g) unsalted butter
1 1/4 c sugar
3/4 c cocoa
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1/2 c all-purpose flour

Mix sugar, cocoa and salt into softened butter. Add vanilla and stir, then add eggs, one at a time, mixing well. Finally, add in flour and mix well. Bake in 325F oven for 20-25 minutes, or until toothpick comes out with slightly moist with batter.

Homemade Taco Seasoning

I was overjoyed to find minced turkey at the shops the other week. It's a rarity to find. Not sure what to make with it, I initially thought burgers, but then saw this recipe for taco seasoning. I abhor the Old El Paso type stuff in packets, but this turned out really lovely. Just enough seasoning, without being overpowering. (I can't remember how much mince I had, but I used Kevin's measurements as a guide.)

chili powder
paprika
cayenne pepper
cumin
oregano
garlic powder
onion powder
salt
pepper

Brown your meat in oil, then add in seasoning and simmer for 10-15 minutes. This is healthy as well!

Spicy Roasted Potatoes

I buy a new spice about once a month, usually intending to use it for some partcicular dish. This month is was fennel seed, which I just ground up with my new mortar & pestle. I've become a huge fan of roasted potatoes, which we never had much when I was growing up, and am experimenting with different spices when cooking. This time, it is:

Fennel seed, ground
Paprika
Cumin
Salt
Pepper

Cut up potatoes, mix in olive oil and spices, and bake for 45 minutes or until soft on the inside and crispy on the outside!

Brussel Sprouts Gratin

Another winner from Closet Cooking!

Brussel sprouts
Butter
Flour
Milk
Nutmeg
Salt & Pepper
Parmesan Cheese
Cheddar or other cheese, to your taste
Breadcrumbs

Steam brussel sprouts and set aside. Melt approx 2 tablespoons butter in saucepan, then add 2 tablespoons flour and mix. Add milk (1 cup or so..start with a small amount and add more as needed), nutmeg, salt & pepper and mix. Then add in cheeses and bring the mix to a simmer, adding more milk as needed. The sauce should be slightly thick. Put brussel sprouts in casserole dish, then pour cheese mix over. Top with breadcrumbs and put in 180C oven for approx 20 minutes or until sauce bubbles.

Hot & Cheesy Cauliflower and Broccoli

Butter
Olive Oil
Chili Flakes
Minced Garlic
Parmesan
Broccoli
Cauliflower

Steam veggies. Melt butter and olive oil in wok on high. Reduce to medium, add chili flakes and garlic and saute for 2 to 3 minutes. Take off heat and toss in veggies, then parmesan. Serve!

Broccoli & Mushrooms with Oyster Sauce

1 small bunch of broccoli, cut up
150 grams (1/3 pound) white button mushrooms, sliced
2 tablespoons olive oil
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
about 1/4 to 1/3 cup water
2 tablespoons good-quality oyster sauce

Heat your wok or pan over high heat, and add the oil. When hot, add the broccoli and mushrooms and stir well. Add a splash of water, and continue stirring and tossing the broccoli, adding more water as it evaporates.

When the broccoli is about half cooked, add the garlic. When the broccoli is mainly cooked, add the oyster sauce and toss well. Cover and cook for a minute or two more.

Hillier’s Mini Christmas Puddings

Hubs and I began a new (for him) holiday tradition on our 1st Christmas living together - Christmas stockings. That first year, I think I explained the process incorrectly, as while his stocking was full of candy, books, and other such items, mine was chock full of chocolates! This wasn't a bad things, and since then, we've stuck to candy filled stockings. This year, I ran all over town and did about four separate candy runs, looking for a few unique and special items. While Darrell Lea provided my 'xmas choc of the year' in 2008, this year my choc of choice came from Hillier's. Wandering through Harris Scarfe's Christmas section, I spotted this bag of Mini Christmas Puddings. Not sure about the brand, and wondering how it could possibly taste as good as the real thing, I thought why not try it out. The rest is history! Of course I had to have a taste before handing them all over, and ended up eating half the bag before the rest made it into hubs' stocking;) Rich dark chocolate covered, spicy, nutty, creamy, candy Christmas pudding was too much temptation to pass up. The intention was to go back and get more, but alas, I never made it:( Next year...

Lamb, Spinach & Egg Meatloaf

We fancy a meatloaf once in a while but also love lamb, so this seemed like a perfect combo. A Persian-style polpettone!

1 onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
450g lamb mince
1 tsp ground cumin
1 cup fresh breadcrumbs
1 egg
1/2 cup fruit chutney

Filling
2 cups spinach leaves
3 hard-boiled eggs, roughly chopped
1 tsp curry powder
2 tbsp mayonnaise
Salt and pepper

Mix onion, garlic, lamb mince, cumin, breadcrumbs, egg and chutney. On a piece of baking paper, spread mince mixture evenly into a rectangle. Place spinach leaves evenly over the mince. Mix hard-boiled eggs with the mayonnaise, curry powder and salt and pepper, and spread on top of the spinach. Roll up meat and filling from the long side. Bake for 1 hour at 180C.