Chicken, Vegetable and Pasta Bake

Chicken, Vegetable and Pasta Bake

Ingredients

300 g of spiral pasta

425 g of reduced fat cream of mushroom soup

2 eggs

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1/2 cup of whole egg mayonnaise

1 cup of grated tasty cheese

600 g of chicken breast thinly sliced

400 g of frozen broccoli and cauliflower

1/2 cup of breadcrumbs

Pepper

Method

Preheat oven to Moderate = 180°C = 350-375°F = Gas Mark 4

1. cook pasta until al dente and set aside.

2. In a bowl, add mushroom soup, eggs, mayonnaise, mustard and half the cheese.

3. In a frypan, cook chicken over medium heat for about 5 minutes. Set aside. 

4. Add the soup mixture and chicken to the pasta and stir to combine. 

5. Transfer to a baking dish and sprinkle with breadcrumbs and pepper and remaining cheese.

6. Bake until golden, about 20 minutes.

Recipe Stars

Chicken is an excellent source of lean protein that provides all of those essential amino acids.

Cruciferous vegetables, including broccoli and cauliflower reduce blood pressure due to the presence of nitrates.

Thought of The Day

Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people. Eleanor Roosevelt.

Chocolate Oat Cookies

Chocolate Oat Cookies

Ingredients 

One tin sweetened condensed milk

2oz. cocoa powder

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

3/4  cup rolled oats

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1/4 teaspoon salt

I teaspoon vanilla essence  

Method 

1. Cook condensed milk and cocoa in double boiler until melted and the mixture becomes thick.

2. Add remaining ingredients and mix in well. 

3. Drop tablespoonfuls on greased baking-pan and bake in moderate oven  for about 10 minutes. 

Makes about 20 cookies.  

Recipe Stars

A soluble fiber in oats, called beta-glucan, has many health benefits. 

Walnut consumption is beneficial for heart health.

Thought of The Day

There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power or our will. Epictetus.

Chicken and creamed Corn Soup

Chicken and creamed Corn Soup

Ingredients

2 teaspoons of canola oil

2 small onions, finely chopped

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

2 cups of chicken stock

2 cups of water (500ml)

350g of chicken mince

310g can of creamed corn

1 cup of frozen corn

1/2 cup of frozen peas

1 small carrot finely chopped

1 egg lightly beaten

1 tablespoon rolled oats

1/4 cup of extra water

Method

1. Heat the oil in a large saucepan and cook the onion, until transparent. Add garlic and stir in.

2. Add stock and water and increase heat. Add the chicken mince and carrot and reduce heat, cook for 5 minutes.

3. Add rolled oats, mixed in extra water. Add creamed corn, frozen corn, peas. 

4, Cook soup until it thickens and then slowly add the egg, before serving. 

Recipe Stars

Corn is rich In antioxidants and fibre.

Peas are a good source of vitamins C and E, zinc, and other antioxidants.

Thought of The Day

It's a crazy world out there. Be curious. Stephen Hawking

Zucchini Savory Muffins

Zucchini Savory Muffins

Ingredients

2 eggs

1/4 cup of sugar

1/4 cup of canola oil

1 cup of low-fat natural yogurt

1 cup grated zucchini 

1/2 cup of grated tasty cheese

2 1/2 cups of self-raising flour

1 tsp cinnamon

Method

Preheat oven to180°C = 350-375°F = Gas Mark 4-5

1. Line muffin tin with paper liners. 

2. Mix together, eggs, sugar, oil and yoghurt. Then, add zucchini and cheese, cinnamon.

3. Fold in flour.

4. Spoon the mixture into muffin tin and bake for 20 minutes.

Recipe Stars

Zucchini can help promote healthy digestion and has many important vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

Eggs are an affordable and nutritious protein.

Thought of The Day

A low-class man will just talk; deeds are the hallmark of a gentleman. Swahili Proverb.

Apple and Strawberry Crumble

Apple and Strawberry Crumble

Ingredients

30g of butter, allow to soften

75g of wholemeal plain flour

3/4 cup rolled oats

40g of sugar

1 tablespoon of chopped walnuts

200g canned apple

125g of strawberries, cut in half

Method

 Preheat oven to 180C/160C fan-forced.

1. Rub butter into the flour with a fork to resemble breadcrumbs.

2. Add in oats, sugar and nuts and combine.

3. Put strawberries on bottom of an oven-proof dish and add the oat mixture on top, evenly.

4. Bake in oven for 25-30 minutes, until golden.

Serve with custard or ice cream.

Recipe Stars

Apples are full of nutrients and fiber and beneficial plant compounds.

Beta-glucan in oats has positive effects on hyperglycemia, lowering blood lipid levels and reducing weight. 

Thought of The Day

Is butter a carb? Regina George, Mean Girls.

Niçoise Pasta Salad

Niçoise Pasta Salad

Ingredients

200g large pasta
200g green beans, cut small
3 eggs
Juice of one lemon
2 tsp Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and pepper, to taste
200 g mini tomatoes
½ red onion, finely sliced
⅓ cup kalamata olives, roughly chopped
1 x 185g tin tuna in oil, drained

Method

1. Cook pasta until al dente.Set aside in a bowl.

2. Boil eggs. Place 3 eggs in the bottom of a saucepan and cover them with tap water with 2.5 cm (1 inch) extra on the top. Bring the water to a boil, then remove the pot from the heat. Let the eggs sit in the hot water for 10 minutes for hard-boiled eggs. Then, pour out hot water and replace with tap water and allow to cool. Peel and slice.

3. Add lemon juice, Dijon mustard, oil, salt and pepper to the bowl of pasta. Mix well to combine. Then add your pasta and beans, the tomatoes, onion, olives and tuna. Toss well to combine. Add eggs and toss gently.

Serve at room temperature or chill in the fridge.

Recipe Stars

Eggs contain essential nutrients and vitamins, as well as antioxidants, lutein and zeaxanthin.

Olives contain flavonoids like quercetin, which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.

Thought of The Day

The only thing more dangerous than ignorance is arrogance. Albert Einstein.

Easy Aussie-Style Damper

Easy Aussie-Style Damper

Ingredients

450g (1lb) self-raising flour, and extra for dusting
A pinch of crushed rosemary
1/4 tsp salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
210 ml (7.3 oz) water

Method

Turn the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6 

1. Place flour in a bowl with olive oil, rosemary and salt. Rub the oil into the flour with your fingertips, until it resembles breadcrumbs.

2. Add the water and mix to combine with a rubber spatula.

3. Turn onto a floured surface and using the flour, shape into a round loaf. 

4. Bake in a hot oven (200°c) for 25 minutes or until the bread is golden and it sounds hollow when tapping the bottom. Serve warm with soup.

Recipe Stars

Damper is an important part of Australian history. Before European arrival, Aboriginal people would grind seeds and then add water to form a dough. The damper would then be baked in hot coals. Later, stockmen would cook damper in a cast-iron pot with a lid, called a "camp oven". 

Thought of The Day

I love a sunburnt country,
A land of sweeping plains,
Of ragged mountain ranges,
Of droughts and flooding rains.
I love her far horizons,
I love her jewel-sea,
Her beauty and her terror
The wide brown land for me!

My Country
Dorothea MacKellar