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Easy Recipe/ Main Meal

Easy Chicken Pasta

This year I’ve made the Steggles pledge to #MakeTime for my loved ones by having more family meals together at the dining table!

We get so caught up in routine and it can be so chaotic in the evenings that we usually have three different mealtimes and eating areas – the girls eating on the high chairs in the kitchen while I prepare dinner for everyone else, the boys eating at their kids table, then @mrtwinsandablog and I eating on the couch once the kids have gone to bed!

Growing up, I remember eating at the table together with my family every night and it was a great way to connect and spend time as a family every day!

I made a @Steggles roast chicken in the morning, had a busy day then quickly put together the pasta ingredients in the afternoon so we could eat dinner together.

What do you pledge for this year? More time for mindfulness, more time for cooking at home, or more time for loved ones? #sp

 

Easy Chicken Pasta

Print Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1.9kg @Steggles Family Roast Chicken
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 5 sprigs fresh rosemary
  • Olive oil
  • 2 tbsp taco seasoning
  • 500gm Farfalle pasta (cooked)
  • 2 cups frozen peas/carrots/corn (cooked)
  • 200ml sour cream
  • Salt and pepper to season

Instructions

1

Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Place chicken in a roasting pan.

2

Stuff garlic cloves + 4 sprigs rosemary in chicken cavity.

3

Rub chicken with oil, taco seasoning rosemary (remove leaves from sprig).

4

Cover with foil and bake for 1 hour 15 mins.

5

Remove foil and bake for a further 15 minutes to brown the skin.

6

Remove chicken from oven and allow to cool.

7

Once cooled, shred half the chicken and stir together with pasta, frozen vegetables, sour cream and salt & pepper.

Notes

You can use the whole chicken or half the chicken - I like to use the other half of the chicken for chicken sandwiches/pizza/toasties the next day!

January 17, 2019 By
0
Main Meal/ Thermomix

Vegemite and Cheese Pasta Sauce

This is a huge hit with the whole family, especially with the boys who have been a little fussy lately!! A decade ago, I would make a quick dinner with pasta, and stirring butter, Vegemite and some grated Parmesan cheese through (YUM!)! This version is super easy, and is a thick and creamy pasta sauce with a huge explosion of flavour!!

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Add all ingredients to bowl.

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Cook 11 minutes/90 degrees/Speed 4.

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Stir through cooked pasta and serve.

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Vegemite and Cheese Pasta Sauce

Print Recipe
Serves: 4-6

Ingredients

  • 500 grams milk
  • 100 grams tasty cheese
  • 100 grams parmesan cheese
  • 50 grams butter
  • 50 grams cornflour
  • 50 grams Vegemite

Instructions

1

Add all ingredients to bowl.

2

Cook 11 minutes/90 degrees/Speed 4.

3

Stir through cooked pasta and serve.

Notes

*This amount of sauce is perfect to serve with 1 x 500 gram packet of pasta (cooked as per packet).

January 15, 2017 By
0
Main Meal/ Thermomix

Simple Egg Sandwich Filling

This is my quick and easy lunch solution, especially if I have minimal ingredients at home! My husband and boys love this!! My husband loves his very SIMPLE egg sandwiches (if he makes it himself it is literally just eggs + store bought mayo) however he also loves it with the extra spring onions and occasionally with 1 teaspoon of Keens Curry Powder.

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Add water in bowl, and eggs in steaming basket. Cook 14 minutes/Varoma/Speed 1.

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Empty water from bowl, and peel eggs under cold running water.

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Add spring onions to bowl.

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Blitz 3 seconds/Speed 7.

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Add eggs, mayonnaise, salt and pepper.

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Blitz 3 seconds/Speed 4.

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Simple Egg Sandwich Filling

Print Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 litre water
  • 4 x eggs
  • 2 x spring onions (roughly chopped)
  • 100 grams mayonnaise
  • Sat and pepper to season

Instructions

1

Add water in bowl, and eggs in steaming basket. Cook 14 minutes/Varoma/Speed 1.

2

Empty water from bowl, and peel eggs under cold running water.

3

Add spring onions to bowl. Blitz 3 seconds/Speed 7.

4

Add eggs, mayonnaise, salt and pepper. Blitz 3 seconds/Speed 4.

Notes

*Fills approx. 4 sandwiches. **You can change this up by adding 1 teaspoon Keens Curry Powder for Curried Egg Sandwiches, mustard, paprika, grated cheese, or veg like carrots or celery in with the spring onions.

November 17, 2016 By
0
Main Meal/ Thermomix

Moist Burger Patties

These are a super moist melt-in-your-mouth burger patty with hidden veggies and LSA! They go realllly well with brioche buns (I know you can make them yourself, but I LOVE the ones from Aldi!)

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Add Parmesan to bowl.

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Blitz 7 seconds/Speed 9.

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Add celery, carrot, onion and garlic to bowl.

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Blitz 5 seconds/Speed 7.

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Add mince, LSA , egg and salt.

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Mix 30 seconds/Speed 3/Reverse.

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Shape into burger patties, and pan fry on high heat or BBQ.

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Moist Burger Patties

Print Recipe
Serves: 6-7

Ingredients

  • 70 grams Parmesan cheese
  • 1 x stick of celery (cut in pieces)
  • 1 x carrot (cut in pieces)
  • 1 x small onion (or 1/2 large onion)
  • 1 x garlic clove
  • 500 grams beef mince
  • 40 grams LSA
  • 1 x egg
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions

1

Add Parmesan to bowl. Blitz 7 seconds/Speed 9.

2

Add celery, carrot, onion and garlic to bowl. Blitz 5 seconds/Speed 7.

3

Add mince, LSA , egg and salt. Mix 30 seconds/Speed 3/Reverse.

4

Shape into burger patties, and pan fry on high heat or BBQ.

Notes

You can substitute the LSA for almond meal or breadcrumbs.

October 17, 2016 By
2
Main Meal/ Non Thermomix

Slow Cooked Kangaroo Ragu

I love a good pasta ragu! This Kangaroo ragu is amazing as the slow cooking breaks down the lean meat resulting in a very healthy and delicious pasta sauce! It has a ‘wild game’ flavour which gives the sauce a very rich meaty depth of flavour (you either love it or hate it!) – and I just looove it!!!

Kangaroo is one of my favourite red meats! It is super lean and high in protein. Because it is really lean meat with little to no fat, it is best served rare to medium rare – which is my favourite ‘degree of doneness’ for meat…well… I am known to order my steak ‘blue’ too!

Kangaroo meat is readily available at some butchers, Coles/Woolworths.

I haven’t tried this in the Thermomix – I figure I need to justify the existence of my other kitchen appliances, like my slow cooker! Plus, I like to leave it slow cooking for most of the day, which frees up my Thermomix for other things! If you don’t have a slow cooker, you can also use a big pot on the stove.

Some recipes cook and brown the vegetables and meat on a frying pan before putting it in the slow cooker – but I like shortcuts, so just chuck everything straight into the slow cooker! The longer the better, resulting in the meat just falling apart and making a beautiful delicious sauce!

You can also use this recipe for any other game meat i.e. venison, or even beef to make a delicious and hearty slow cooked ragu served with pasta (or mash!)

kang

Add all ingredients into slow cooker…
kang1
 
…stir together  and cook on high for 4 to 8 hours…the longer the better (if using a pot on stovetop, bring to the boil then cook on low to medium heat).
 
kan2
 
(after 8 hours…)
kan3
 
Using tongs, remove kangaroo pieces from the mixture, discard the bay leaves…
kang3
 
…and shred the kangaroo meat with a fork.
kang5
Pour the remaining sauce into a saucepan and bring the sauce to a boil. Reduce the sauce on low to medium heat.
 
kang6
 
Once the sauce thickens, add the shredded kangaroo meat…
kang7
…and stir through. 
 
kang9
Stir through cooked pasta, season with salt and pepper, and serve.
 
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Slow Cooked Kangaroo Ragu

Print Recipe
Cooking Time: 4 hours (min)

Ingredients

  • 500 grams Kangaroo steak (diced)
  • 2 x 400 gram cans diced tomato
  • 500 grams beef stock
  • 1 onion (diced)
  • 2 carrots (diced)
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
  • 4 bay leaves
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Cooked pasta (500 gram pack)

Instructions

1

Add all ingredients into slow cooker, stir together, and cook on high for 4 to 8 hours...the longer the better (if using a pot on stovetop, bring to the boil then cook on low to medium heat).

2

Using tongs, remove kangaroo pieces from the mixture, discard the bay leaves, and shred the kangaroo meat with a fork.

3

Pour the remaining sauce into a saucepan and bring the sauce to a boil. Reduce the sauce on low to medium heat.

4

Once the sauce thickens, add the shredded kangaroo meat, and stir through.

5

Stir through cooked pasta, season with salt and pepper, and serve.

July 6, 2016 By
1
Main Meal/ Steaming/ Thermomix

Taiwanese Rice Balls

This is my mum’s recipe for Taiwanese Rice Balls! These are soooo much easier than it looks and look AMAZE-BALLS!!!

These are great to eat with baby cos lettuce leaves as a healthy main meal, can also be served as an impressive entree, a cocktail style party food, and can also make for a very impressive lunchbox meal! 

Water chestnuts can be bought from Coles/Woolies – usually in a 230 gram tin. I have put 100 grams in the list of ingredients which is approximately half of the tin (and freeze the other half for the next time you make these).

Fish paste can be bought from your local Chinese grocery shop – scroll down to the bottom of this page for a photo of the fish paste used. You can also make your own with certain types of fish – here is a good Thermomix recipe to make your own fish paste (Steps 1 to 3 and use 330 grams for this recipe).

These rice balls taste like very moist Chinese meat balls usually served with noodle soup, with a little bit of crunch from the water chestnuts, and added texture from the rice coating. They are delicious served warm but also taste fantastic at room temp or cold from the fridge. They are great served with a dipping sauce i.e sweet chilli sauce.

 
 
Soak rice in water for a minimum 1 hour
 
Strain rice and lightly pat dry with a paper towel
 
 
 Add water chestnuts and garlic in bowl
 
Blitz 3 seconds/Speed 5
 
 Add pork mince, fish paste and soy sauce
Mix 50 seconds/Speed 9
 
Roll mince mixture into teaspoon sized balls…
 
…and roll these balls in the rice. 
 
 
Place rice balls in the two levels of the Varoma steaming tray. 
 
 
Wash bowl and fill with 1200 grams water
 
Place Varoma steaming tray into position and
Steam – 20 minutes/Varoma/Speed 4
  
 
 
 
 
Serving suggestion with cos lettuce
 
Fish Paste

Taiwanese Rice Balls

Print Recipe

Ingredients

  • 100 grams long grain rice (i.e basmati, jasmine)
  • 100 grams water chestnuts
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 500 grams pork mince
  • 330 grams fish paste (1 packet)
  • 50 grams soy sauce

Instructions

1

Soak rice in water for a minimum 1 hour. Strain rice and lightly pat dry with a paper towel.

2

Add water chestnuts and garlic in bowl - blitz 3 seconds/Speed 5.

3

Add pork mince, fish paste and soy sauce - mix 50 seconds/Speed 9.

4

Roll mince mixture into teaspoon sized balls, and roll these balls in the rice. Place rice balls in the two levels of the Varoma steaming tray.

5

Wash bowl and fill with 1200 grams water. Place Varoma steaming tray into position - steam 20 minutes/Varoma/Speed 4.

June 5, 2016 By
0
Main Meal/ Non Thermomix/ Snacks/ Thermomix

Lunchbox and Snack Ideas

This page is full of lunchbox ideas and snacks for the whole family! For younger kids, check out my list for Finger Food Ideas for Babies and Toddlers.

*NF = Nut Free
*GF = Gluten Free 
*EF = Egg Free
*DF = Dairy Free
*RSF = Refined Sugar Free
NOTE: The recipes are easily modified to suit food intolerance’s/allergies
ie. Sunflower/Pepita Seeds instead of nuts, GF flour instead of normal flour and quinoa flakes instead of oats (to make GF), 1 egg = 1 tbsp Chia seeds + 3 tbsp water, different types of milk depending on intolerance/allergy

BLISS BALLS:
(Fridge or freezer)

SLICES/BARS/BROWNIES:
(Freezes and defrosts well)

MUFFINS/CUPCAKES:

(Freezes and defrosts well)

COOKIES/BISCUITS:
(Freezes and defrosts well)

BREAD/LOAF/CAKE:
(Freezes and defrosts well)

SWEETS:
(Keeps in fridge for a few weeks)

WITH A SPOON:
(Keeps in fridge for a few days)

PANCAKES:

(Freezes and defrosts well)

SAVOURY:

(Freezes and defrosts well)

 

May 29, 2016 By
0
Main Meal/ Non Thermomix

Cheat’s Chicken Curry Laksa

This is the ONLY Malaysian dish in my repertoire!! I’m Chinese/Malaysian born in Malaysia, and moved over to Australia when I was 3 (so I identify myself Australian), however will always come back to my heritage and culture! This is what I consider true comfort food! And my meat and 3 veg loving husband also loves this as this is soooo tasty!!!

This is the recipe that everyone in my family uses for our laksa hit! We have tried A LOT of different curry laksa pastes (including homemade) but the Osha Curry Laksa Paste wins hands down as THE BEST curry laksa paste!!! You can get them in 1 kg or 180 gram bottles – this recipe uses half a 180 gram bottle per batch. I haven’t seen this in Coles/Woolies but buy it from my local Chinese grocery shop. You can also get Chinese fish cakes/balls at your local Chinese grocery shop to add to the soup.

The storebought roast chicken is a trick my sister-in-law taught us, it adds a depth of flavour and the whole chicken is used! One x roast chicken actually gives me 2 x meals – I usually buy a roast chicken for a quick and easy lunch with salad and rolls, and the leftover bits of chicken and bones is then used in this laksa!

This is one of my few regularly cooked non-Thermomix dishes! I am all for the Thermomix if it makes things quicker and easier, however this is just so easy on the stovetop – why change a good thing, right?!!?

I love this for lunch or dinner, and it feeds a crowd!!! This is also great to freeze in portions if you want a quick heat up mid-week meal!

Ingredients
 
Place chicken bones, water and chicken stock in a large pot

 Bring to the boil, the reduce to low heat…

 
…and place pot lid on. Cook for a minimum 1 hour (the longer the better!)
When ready to serve, prepare noodles as per instructions on the packet. Place noodles in bowl with shredded roast chicken and (optional) bean sprouts/vegies

Pour the stock mixture through a sieve into a medium to large pot to catch the bones

 

 Place chicken stock back onto stove…

…and add coconut milk, Osha Curry Laksa Paste, and (optional) fish cakes/balls, and bring soup to the boil.

 

Serve over noodles and enjoy!

Cheat's Chicken Curry Laksa

Print Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 x roast chicken (deboned, with meat and bones set aside separately)
  • 1 litre chicken stock
  • 1 litre water
  • 400 grams coconut milk
  • 90 grams 'Osha' Curry Laksa Paste (half of a 180gm glass jar)
  • Noodles of your choice

Instructions

1

Place chicken bones, water and chicken stock in a large pot. Bring to the boil, then reduce to low heat and place pot lid on. Cook for a minimum 1 hour (the longer the better!)

2

When ready to serve, prepare noodles as per instructions on the packet. Place noodles in bowl with shredded roast chicken and (optional) bean sprouts/vegies.

3

Pour the stock mixture through a sieve into a medium to large pot to catch the bones. Place chicken stock back onto stove and add coconut milk, Osha Curry Laksa Paste, and (optional) fish cakes/balls, and bring soup to the boil.

4

Serve over noodles and enjoy!

Notes

Optional Bean sprouts/vegies of choice Fish cakes/balls Top with spring onion or coriander

May 24, 2016 By
0
Main Meal/ Non Thermomix

Pan Fried Brussel Sprouts

If you’ve never tried brussel sprouts, or have always grown up thinking it was the grossest vegetable in the planet, this recipe will make you into a No. 1 brussel sprouts lover!
My husband never used to be a huge vegetable fan besides the usual peas and carrots, however this is his favourite vegetable dish (probably due to the bacon and butter)! He always requests this especially when brussel sprouts are in season in the colder months of the year. I have been making this for years, another ‘non-Thermomix’ dish, as I just love the crispy fried goodness of the garlic, onion and bacon with the brussel sprouts! I make this to go with dinner, but I have also made a double batch of this as a side dish for big family dinners or lunches.

 
Cut brussel sprouts in half
 
 
Place brussel sprouts and 1 tablespoon salt in a pot of water. Place over high heat until the water boils.
 
Once the water is brought to boiling point, strain the brussel sprouts…
 
and place on a paper towel to further absorb the water.
  
 
In a frying pan (medium to high heat), fry the olive oil, butter, and garlic until browned.
 
Add red onion and bacon and fry until browned.
 
 
Add brussel sprouts…
 
 and fry until browned, add salt and pepper to season.
 
 

Pan Fried Brussel Sprouts

Print Recipe

Ingredients

  • 300 - 400 grams brussel sprouts (washed and cut in half, remove outer leaves if browned/yellowy)
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1 red onion (diced)
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 3 rashers of bacon (diced)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • Salt and pepper to season

Instructions

1

Place brussel sprouts and 1 tablespoon salt in a pot of water. Place over high heat until the water boils.

2

Once the water is brought to boiling point, strain the brussel sprouts and place on a paper towel.

3

In a frying pan (medium to high heat), fry the olive oil, butter, and garlic until browned.

4

Add red onion and bacon and fry until browned.

5

Add brussel sprouts and fry until browned, add salt and pepper to season.

May 4, 2016 By
0
Baking/ Main Meal/ Thermomix

Hash Brown Quiche

Thought I would make something savoury for a change!!

The boys/husband loooove this, super tasty and pretty much hits the spot with potato, eggs, bacon and cheese! Great for breakfast, lunch or dinner with a fresh garden salad. 

 
Preheat oven to 180 degrees and grease roasting pan/quiche pan
 
 
Add potato to bowl
 
 
 Blitz 2-3 seconds/Speed 5
 
Place blitzed potato in steaming basket and press/squeeze out excess liquid by hand
 
(easiest to do this in the sink!)
 
Add onion and bacon to bowl
 
 Blitz 3 seconds/Speed 5
 
Add set aside potato and butter – cook 6 minutes/100 degrees/Speed 4/reverse (MC off, basket on top of hole to avoid splatter)
 
 
Place mixture in roasting pan/quiche pan
 
Give your bowl a quick rinse with cold tap water (to cool down the bowl) and give a quick shake of your bowl to get rid of excess water (no need to do a ‘serious’ wash and dry!)
 
 
Add cream, milk, eggs, salt and pepper to bowl
 
 Mix 4 seconds/Speed 4
 
Pour on top of potato mixture
 
Sprinkle with tasty cheese and bake for 20 – 25 minutes or until golden
 
Leave to cool for at least 5 minutes before cutting (or else it’ll be too sloppy)
 
Hash Brown Quiche

Hash Brown Quiche

Print Recipe
Cooking Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients

  • 600 grams potato (approx. 4 medium potatoes) - quartered
  • 1 x brown onion
  • 200 grams bacon
  • 80 grams butter
  • 180 grams cream
  • 40 grams milk
  • 3 x eggs
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Tasty cheese to top

Instructions

1

Preheat oven to 180 degrees and grease roasting pan/quiche pan.

2

Add potato to bowl - blitz 2-3 seconds/Speed 5.

3

Place blitzed potato in steaming basket and press/squeeze out excess liquid by hand.

4

Add onion and bacon to bowl - blitz 3 seconds/Speed 5.

5

Add set aside potato and butter - cook 8 minutes/100 degrees/Speed 4/reverse (MC off, basket on top of hole to avoid splatter) - place mixture in roasting pan/quiche pan.

6

Give your bowl a quick rinse with cold tap water (to cool down the bowl) and give a quick shake of your bowl to get rid of excess water (no need to do a 'serious' wash and dry!).

7

Add cream, milk, eggs, salt and pepper to bowl - mix 4 seconds/Speed 4 - pour on top of potato mixture.

8

Sprinkle with tasty cheese and bake for 20 - 25 minutes or until golden.

April 11, 2016 By
0