Author: lessonstodate

Hi, my name is Sharon, and I live in Albany on the North Shore of Auckland, New Zealand. I started my cooking blog as a hobby during my 'gap year' - 'lessonstodate' to share my family recipes and some personal accounts that come with being a mum, and grandmother - and corporate worker. My love of taking photos had taken a back-seat but recently after spending time on my own while my husband travelled, I found myself picking up my camera again. It really is good company! Looking out at the world and watching it unfold; you don't have to participate in it, just watch and wonder. Sharon

Kai Si Ming – an old family dish!

Kai Si Ming – an old family dish!

Kai Si Ming is an Asian-inspired one-pan mince and rice dinner and something that I have not had since a kid (and that is some years ago now!)

I was reminded of this old family dish when I saw that Maggi – who are an international brand of seasonings, instant soups and noodles –   have made a packet meal of it.

I thought ‘fancy that!’ –  you don’t need to buy the packet mix because you will have the ingredients in your pantry, and best of all, you can add whatever vegetables you have on hand.

A bit of research online told me Kai Si Ming hit the NZ dinner scene sometime in the 60s, when recipes for it started popping up in women’s magazines, Plunket newsletters and the like.

Ingredients:

  • 1 brown onion, finely chopped
  • 450 g mincemeat
  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • 2 teaspoons curry powder
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1⁄2 cup uncooked rice
  • 3 cups of chicken stock
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • 1 cup broccoli, pieces
  • 2 stalks of celery, celery
  • 1 chopped red capsicum
  • 2 cups cabbage, shredded 

Heat the oil in a large pan (I use my wok)

Cook the onion until soft, then add the mince and brown.

Add Worcestershire sauce, curry powder, rice and boiling water.

Simmer for 30 minutes.

Add frozen peas and broccoli, celery and simmer for about 10 minutes

Add shredded cabbage and turn off the heat. Leave to stand with a lid on for about 5 minutes.

Serve in bowls.

** Use any vegetables that you have on hand

**Substitute the rice for noodles if you prefer.IMG_0299.JPG

If you are a child born in the 1960’s in New Zealand, your mum will have her version of this dish in her recipe book somewhere. I think mine is pretty close to my mum’s – I’ll have to ask her if I got it right!

What is a dish you can remember from your childhood that you haven’t had since then? It might be time to resurrect it and share it with your family, and make a new memory.

Happy foody memories xx

 

 

 

 

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Crunchy Oatilicious Cookies!

If you are looking for a new cookie recipe, look no further. This is an oldie but a goodie, packed with flavour, and perfect with a coffee.

Similar to an New Zealand favourite, the ANZAC, this cookie is a little chewy which I really enjoy.

Ingredients:

  • 150g butter
  • 2 tbsp golden syrup
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup shredded coconut
  • 2 cups rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup flour

Melt the butter, golden syrup and brown sugar in a pot – large enough to mix all of the ingredients.

Mix in coconut, oats and flour until combined. Using a measuring spoon, roll tablespoons into balls. Place on a baking paper line tray; allow some room for spreading. Flatten with the back of a spoon.

Bake for 10 minutes at 180°c, o until lightly browned.

Cool on a cooling rack.

Makes 26IMG_0188

If you like cookies, why don’t you check out some of my other home-made cookie recipes which I’m 100% positive the family will enjoy too!

Happy baking xx

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French Toast Waffles

French Toast Waffles

Okay, my latest burning question in the world of cooking was “could my waffle machine make quick work of French toast?”.

I very pleased to report the answer to this burning question was a resounding YES!

Ingredients:

  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup milk or cream
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla paste
  • Pinch salt
  • 4 slices of bread

Pre heat your waffle maker.

Meanwhile, whisk all of the ingredients in a flat-bottomed bowl. Dip the bread slices in one at a time, both sides, and lay on a sheet of baking paper to let the eggy mixture really get soaked into the bread.

Spray your waffle plates lightly to ensure the total non-stick of the plates.

Place the bread in the preheated waffle maker. Close the lid and cook for 3-5 minutes, or until golden brown.

Voila! You are done.

I had some leftover blueberry sauce, and added a butter-cooked banana to the plate with the obligatory low-fat yoghurt 🙂

Oh my goodness, I know it’s a new year and one should really be thinking about that diet, but really….is there anything more delicious than french toast?

There is always next week to start that diet!

Happy brunching xx

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Prosciutto wrapped Prawns with Fresh Salad and a Pimento Mayo

Prosciutto wrapped Prawns with Fresh Salad and a Pimento Mayo

This delicious lunch or entreé consists of 3 parts: the prawns, the salad and the dressing.

Let’s start with the prawns:

Ingredients for 4 servings

  • 16  large prawn cutlets (4 per person)
  • 7 rashers of prosciutto, each slice cut into thirds or once lengthways

Wrap the prawns with the strips of prosciutto. Add a little splash of olive oil to a pan and sear allowing the prosciutto to caramelise before turning. This step takes literally minutes!

Okay let’s make the salad:

Ingredients for 4 servings

  • 1 carrot
  • 1 beetroot
  • 1/4 Daikon radish
  • 1 spring onion

Julienne the carrot, beetroot and Daikon; now I have a great little kitchen gadget for this job but if you don’t have one of these, it’s not to difficult to julienne with a sharp knife.

Julienne, or french cut, is when you finely slice your vegetables. Peel the vegetable, if necessary, and cut it crosswise into strips.

Rinse your beetroot in cold water to allow the colour to wash out before adding to the mix; place all the vegetables into a bowl of cold water. Add a couple of ice blocks from the freezer.

Right, now the dressing:

Ingredients for 8 servings – (why so much? because this is super yummy and it keeps in the refrigerator for another meal)

  • 2 whole roasted red peppers, seeds removed and pureed (or very finely chopped)
  • 1-2 teaspoon Spanish smoky paprika
  • 2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 2 teaspoon sherry vinegar
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 200 ml Sunflower oil ( or a light vegetable oil)
  • Salt & pepper

Add all of the ingredients except the oil. Whisk ingredients together, and then drizzle the oil into the bowl very slowly. When thickened, season with salt and pepper to taste.

Okay let’s assemble the dish:

Drain the vegetables first off.

Take a small handful of the salad and make a mound in the middle of the plate with it; add the prawns to the plate and drizzle the Pimento dressing around the plate. I’ve decorated the plate with a little avocado oil, and micro leaves.

IMG_0295.JPG

And there you have a quick and tasty entreé or light lunch. I always put flavour at the top of my list when I am preparing a dish, and then ensure that the plate looks gorgeous. We eat with our eyes after all; what’s that old saying? ‘eyes bigger than your stomach’. You won’t have to worry about that with this dish!

If you feel like a seafood menu, try making this dish as the entreé and then follow with my fresh fish with chargrilled eggplant and zucchini recipe. Treat yourself to a desert after all this health – perhaps a nice piece of Pinot Noir Chocolate Cake – yes really!

Happy eating xx

 

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