Prawn and Noodle Salad

200-300g shelled raw prawns, cooked quickly in a hot wok with garlic and chilli.

Salad: red onion, carrot, red capsicum, cucumber, tomato, coriander, mango, spring onion, lettuce.

Rice vermicilli.

Dressing: oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, lime juice, sugar.

Result: 4.5. Great for a hot night.

Preparation: lots of chopping, but still quick and easy.

Pumpkin pasta sauce

Butternut pumpkin pieces, boiled in pasta water, and lifted out. Mash.
Saute red capsicum and red onion and add cinzano and chicken stock. Add pumpkin, english spinach, basil, passata and sour cream.

Serve with pasta.

Result: 4

Preparation: very quick and easy

Whole BBQ Chicken

1.4kg chicken. Marinade: lemon juice, smoky paprika, cayenne pepper, cumin, coriander powder, salt, pepper, oregano, garlic. Refrigerate for 4 hours.

Cook on BBQ grill with lid down, in fish rack, at about 180 degrees, for 40 mins.

Serve with salad, bread and sauce.

Result: 3.5. Would be heading for 5 if chicken was more moist and less spicy, and a nice sauce was made. Would be great for a party.

Preparation: very easy, but needs to be done ahead.

Baked meatballs with spinach & pumpkin salad

Meatballs: lean mince, mixed with chopped dill, tomato sauce, salt & pepper, milk and farex (rice cereal).

Cut pumpkin into cubes. Put in oven dish with quartered onion and rosemary and rub all with olive oil.

Bake pumpkin and meatballs at 180 degrees fan bake (moderately hot) for about 25 mins.

Salad: spinach leaves, diced feta, bit of basil. Stir in hot pumpkin mix and a little extra oil.

Result: 4.5

Preparation: quick and easy, especially as meatballs are baked.

Christmas Entree

Asparagus spears, blanched for 1 1/2 mins, then run under cold water. Wrap in threes in a slice of proscuitto.

Frittata with zucchini, capsicum, caramelized onion, basil, topped with feta and cheese.

Smoked salmon on large mini-toasts spread with cream cheese, lemon juice, chopped capers and dill mixture, and topped with sprig of dill.

Serve on small plate scattered with rocket and add a couple of olives.

Result: 6. Yummo.

Preparation: frittata takes some time, but not too much effort. About 2 hours all up.

Mango & Chicken Salad

Mango in slices.
Chicken breast, grilled and sliced.
Lettuce, roughly chopped.
Vermicilli, cooked.
Cucumber, chopped.
Cashews.

Dressing: Chilli, fresh lime juice, white vinegar, soy, sugar, fish sauce.

Result: 4

Preparation: quick and easy.

Chicken Burgers

Chicken breast, marinated briefly in lime juice, chipotle chilli powder and cumin powder. Cook in non-stick frypan.
Serve in burgers or sandwiches with caramelised red onion, shredded lettuce, grated cheese, sliced tomato and egg mayonnaise.

Result: 4.5

Preparation: minimal. Can be done in under 20 mins.

Salmon Mornay

Tin of salmon, big bones and skin removed.
Steep 1 1/2 cups milk (heat it up first) with quartered onion, bay leaf and peppercorns. Leave for 1/2 an hour. Strain off milk.
Make white sauce with butter and flour and thicken.
Add salmon and a bit of parmesan.
Serve with rice and steamed veges.

Result: 4

Preparation: White sauce requires attention, but can easily be done in advance. Otherwise quick and easy.

Panang Lamb Curry

Tablespoon of panang curry paste from tin.
Tiny can coconut milk.
4 cubes home-made chicken stock.
Diced lamb (slow-cook preferable)
Large cubes of pumpkin.
Coriander - stems chopped up and leaves chopped separately.
Onion, finely sliced.
Red capsicum, sliced.
Bok choy, washed.
Snow peas, topped & tailed.

Fry curry paste in coconut cream and fry onion and lamb in this. Add pumpkin, coconut milk, coriander stems and chicken stock. Cook slowly for about an hour. Before serving, add remaining veges and coriander leaves. Serve with rice.

Result: 4

Preparation: quick and easy, especially if meat cooked earlier in the day.

Pumpkin & Basil stir fry

Butternut pumpkin, sliced thinly and microwaved for 2 mins.
Green beans, chopped and microwaved for 1 min.
Beef strips. Red onion. Thai basil. Spring onion, in sticks, garlic, chopped chilli.

Sauce: oyster sauce, light soy, sugar.

Serve with rice.

Result: 4.5

Preparation: about 20 mins.

Pork Larb Salad

Soak thinly sliced red onion in hot water for several hours.
Julienne zucchini, carrot and cabbage. Fry lightly.
Fry minced pork with chopped chilli and chopped spring onion.
Finely chop fresh mint and thai basil.
Cook rice noodles well and drain and rinse in cold water.

Dressing: rice vinegar, sesame oil, canola oil, soy sauce, peanut butter, fresh lime juice, sugar.

Could also use chopped peanuts and cucumber.

Result: 5. Would be even better with a couple of prawns.

Preparation: dead easy and very quick.

Chicken Rendang

Packet of Chicken Rendang mix. Chopped chicken thigh fillets. Cook according to packet, adding some bok choy towards end. Serve with cabbage fried with sesame oil.

Result: 4.5 - super yummy, but a bit oily! Would be great with potato cooked in it too.

Preparation: easy

Zucchini Frittata

Grate 3 zucchini and squeeze out moisture. Finely slice a red onion.

Caramelise the onion in non-stick pan. Remove and then cook zucchini in pan until soft. Probably best to drain / squeeze zucchini here (though still works if not). Pour & mix in 6 beaten eggs, salt + pepper and chopped fresh basil. Spread onion on top and crumbled over feta and grated mozzarella. Cook slowly until egg is mostly cooked. Finish off under griller. Leave to cool before cutting.

Result: 4.5. Great for finger food.

Preparation: very easy, but takes a little time to cook.

Also amazing done with carrot, mushroom and capsicum instead of zucchini, and topped with grilled pumpkin slices and fried ham and onion, and feta and tasty cheese.

Pumpkin and Feta Pizza

Mr Pitta pizza bases - one each may be enough as it's quite filling.
Tomato passata
Mozzarella
Feta
Pumpkin, in 1cm cubes, roasted at 195 degrees on fan for 15 mins
Asparagus, zapped for 2 mins
Caramelised onion
Fresh basil, chopped
Rocket + spinach on top after baking.

Bake at 195 degrees on fan, directly onto the oven rack, for 10 mins.

Result: 5. YUMMO.

Preparation: easy, and can be done partly in advance.

Pasta Amatriciata

Saute bacon pieces, sliced onion, sliced mushrooms. Add tinned tomatoes and cook for about 5 mins. Add fresh basil, asparagus, baby spinach and chilli. Serve with pasta and parmesan cheese.

Result: 4 - quite tasty
Preparation: ready in the time it took to boil the water and cook the pasta - about 15 mins.

Quick Tofu & Chicken Stock soup

Cam's special chicken stock, watered down in a saucepan.
Soft tofu in big blocks, fried lightly.
Spinach leaves, washed.
Rice noodles, boiled according to packet and drained.

Place noodles, spinach and tofu in individual bowls, top with stock. Add dark soy and sesame oil to taste.

Result: 3 - nothing special, but good for recovering from gastro ...

Preparation: super quick - done in about 20 mins.

Thai Coleslaw

Grilled chicken breast, chopped.
Chinese cabbage, finely sliced.
Red papaya, diced.
Cucumber, sliced.
Carrot, julienned.
Red capsicum, finely sliced.
Red onion, very finely sliced.
Crushed peanuts.
Fresh mint and coriander.
Dressing: rice vinegar, light soy, lime juice, fish sauce (tiny bit), jar chilli, crushed garlic, palm sugar.

Serve with rice.

Result: 4 (4.5 for a hot night).

Preparation: lots of chopping, but only the chicken to cook.

Tuna and Cannellini Bean Salad

Tin of tuna - Sirena tuna in springwater.
Red onion, finely sliced and soaked in hot water.
Tin cannellini beans.
Green beans, cooked in microwave for 2 mins.
Kalamata olives.
Tomatoes, roughly chopped.
Capsicum, roughly chopped.
Cucumber, roughly chopped.

Dress with a light vinaigrette.

Serve on a bed of lettuce with buttered bread.

Result: 4.5

Preparation: quick and easy, and minimal cooking. Great for a hot day.

World's Greatest Rissoles

Lamb mince and pork mince, of the fatty variety, about 700g total.
Grated onion.
Dried oregano.
1 egg.
Squirt tomato sauce.
Splash worstershire sauce.
Tsp cornflour.
Pinch salt.

Mix with hands. Shape into patties and refrigerate for several hours before cooking on a BBQ.

Result: 4 (5 in the rissole category)

Preparation: easy and quick

Cheesy polenta with Salsa

Best made with Caesar salad, so bacon fat is available to fry the polenta :-)

Cook polenta, leave to cool and then fry. Serve with salsa of red and green capsicum, cucumber, tomato, spring onion, red onion, avocado, lime juice, rice vinegar, coriander, sugar, dash tabasco.

Result: 5 for the salsa. Only part of a dinner.

Preparation: lots of chopping, but no cooking.

Caesar Salad and Asparagus and Goat's Cheese Salad

Caesar Salad: Cos lettuce, fried bacon, parmesan cheese, poached eggs, light dressing: olive oil, tiny bit of red wine vinegar, pepper, sugar, worstershire sauce.

Asparagus salad: char asparagus in frypan (or blanch), very lightly fry one side of goat's cheese (collect scrapings from spatula), put on fancy lettuce. Dressing: olive oil, red wine vinegar, little bit of sugar.

Serve with buttered bread.

Result: 5

Preparation: dead easy, and little heat in kitchen.

Mediterranean Sausages and Vegetables

Pork & fennel sausages, cooked.
Eggplant, charred in non-stick pan. Zucchini chopped. Red and green capsicum fried with chopped red onion and mushrooms. Tin of tomatoes, splash of passata, cinzano. Bit of oregano, smoked paprika, fennel seeds, chilli.

Cook rice and spread in small baking dish. Top with tomato stuff. Top with grated mozzarella. Grill for 5 mins.

Result: 4.5

Preparation: quick and easy

Snags & Rice & Salad

just what it says ... pork & fennel sausages from fancy butcher (sausage shop) at market. Brown rice. Cos lettuce salad and tomato, cucumber + olive salad. Caramelised onion.

Result: 4

Preparation: what preparation? allow 30 mins to cook snags.

Chicken Bake

Leftover roast or BBQ chicken pieces
Broccoli, capsicum, leek, mushrooms, spinach, all cooked.
White sauce with cheese and a bit of seeded mustard.
Pasta.

Mix up and bake for half an hour at 160 fan bake.

Result: 3

Preparation: easy but time-consuming, huge mess ... good way to use up chicken though, and portable.

Lamb casserole

Diced lamb, sliced onion - browned in frypan.

Add to casserole dish: meat, onion, diced sweet potato, diced zucchini, diced carrot. Bayleaf, cinnamon stick, powdered coriander, cumin, turmeric, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, preserved lemon.

Pour over chicken stock ice cubes melted in boiling water plus a bit of passata plus a bit of salt.

Cook for about 1 1/2 hours at 160 degrees. Take lid off towards end to thicken a bit.

Result: 3.5

Preparation: really quick, but need to do ahead

Asparagus and Pumpkin Pasta

Asparagus, blanched for 2 mins.
Pumpkin, sliced very thinly and fried gently to cook.
Diced tomato.
Sliced marinated (or fresh) capsicum.
Sliced red onion.
Fresh basil.

Fry onion and add cinzano and chicken stock and 1/3 of basil. Add some water too. Add rest of ingredients except asparagus and cook for a few minutes, then add sour cream. Finally add asparagus. Serve with pasta and parmesan.'

Result: 4.5

Preparation: minimal washing up, quick and easy. Well under half an hour.

Roast Chicken with Smen

Fresh chicken, size 17 (or maybe smaller).

Chopped lemon inside. Melt ghee and add olive oil, cumin, coriander, turmeric, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, oregano, powdered ginger. Smear over chicken. Wrap tightly in gladwrap. Put in fridge for 2 hours.

Roast in oven on fan grill 180 with probe on 83. Approx 1 hr to cook.

Serve with salad or rice or cous cous.

Result: 5

Preparation: a bit messy in the ghee handling (which can be done at lunchtime) but minimal work all up.

Lamb Pizza

Minced lamb, red onion, garlic, parsley, cayenne pepper, allspice. Fry this up all together.

Pizza base - Mr Pitta. Lamb mix on base, top with steamed spinach, roasted & peeled red capsicum, grilled zucchini, mushrooms, topped with feta. Bake for 15 mins at 200 fan bake. Squeeze over lemon juice.

Result: 4

Preparation: lots of different messy bits!

Salad Nicoise

(kind of from the red AWW book)

Lettuce, tin of tuna, olives, basil, capers, hard boiled eggs, green beans (blanched), asparagus (blanched), tomato, red onion.

Dressing: olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, sugar.

Serve with crusty bread.

Result: 4.5

Preparation: a bit to chop but little to cook. Good for a hot night.

Thai beef salad

not a particularly authentic salad, but what we had in the house ...

Marinate beef strips in red curry paste, lime juice and dark soy, for a few hours.
Shredded lettuce, sliced capsicum, halved cherry tomatoes, julienned cucumber, sliced spring onion. Fry chopped peanuts and then meat. Dressing: lime juice, light soy, sweet chilli, sesame oil, palm sugar.

Result: 4.5

Preparation: quick and do-ahead

Mango Chicken

2 mangoes, diced chicken thighs, red capsicum, red onion, fresh kaffir lime, lime juice, coconut milk, tsp penang curry paste, spring onion. Serve with rice and microwaved green veges. Would be good with fresh coriander too.

Result: 5

Preparation: less than half an hour

Asparagus Omelette

4 eggs, lightly beaten with a bit of water.
Fresh asparagus, steamed for 2 mins in microwave.
Chopped tomato and spring onion. Grated cheese.

Result: 3

Preparation: well under half an hour

Sang Choi Bao with Chicken

Chicken mince, add dry sherry and dark soy, leave to marinate a few minutes.
Finely dice mushrooms, spring onion and ginger (and water chestnuts if there are any). Fry up the lot and add a bit of light soy and some sesame oil. Thicken with cornflour. Serve with steamed bok choy, rice and lettuce leaves, and plum sauce warmed with a bit of soy.

Result: 5 - YUMMO

Preparation: in less than half an hour!!!

Baked Vegetables

Baked fennel (boiled first)
Whole sweet potatoes, scrubbed, salted and baked
Scallopped potatoes (rub dish with garlic, thinly slice potatoes and onion, heat milk in saucepan with grated nutmeg, pour over spuds, top with grated cheese)
Crusty bread

Result: 3

Preparation: quick and easy, but need to allow at least an hour for the sweet potato to cook.

Lamb Kebab Plate

Start with roast lamb leftovers. Chop into large cubes and fry lightly to brown and heat through. Serve with brown rice, shredded lettuce, tomato and tzatsiki.

Result: 4.5

Preparation: about 5 minutes!

Lamb Roast with Tzatsiki

Marinate 1.2kg boned lamb leg in garlic, oregano and lemon juice. Roll and tie. Par-boil veges. Place on oven griller tray on a rack. Poke in meat probe. Bake (from cold) in oven at 180 degrees on fan-grill for approx 1 hr, with meat probe set to 65 degrees, turning 3 times. Rest for 10 minutes before cutting. Serve with tzatsiki (yoghurt, lemon juice, cucumber).

Result: 5 - sensational

Preparation: easy, and most of the work is done earlier in the day.

(also great done with the bone still in - cook to 70 degrees)

Ham and Asparagus Pasta Sauce

Ham, asparagus, mushrooms, onion, chicken stock, sour cream, cinzano, pepper, cayenne pepper, parsley.

Result: 4 - especially with asparagus in season

Preparation: in less time than it took to cook pasta!

Asparagus pasta sauce

Boil water for pasta & cook asparagus for 2 mins, then rinse in cold water to stop cooking.

Fry up onion, mushroom and capsicum. Add Cinzano and chicken stock and salt and pepper. Add spinach and sour cream. Near end, add asparagus. Serve with pasta and parmesan.

Result: 3

Preparation: very quick

Moussaka

Lamb mince, passata, onion, rosemary, capsicum, cooked in frypan.
Thinly sliced potatoes, cooked in microwave.
Eggplant, thinly sliced and cooked in grill.
Spinach leaves, washed.

Stack up in baking dish and top with cheese. Bake for about 40 mins.

Result: 4.5

Preparation: lots of different bits but fairly quick.

Note: can also be done quicker by using frozen spinach and frying the eggplant in the pan first. Add a white sauce of sour cream, grated cheese and water for extra yumminess.

Warm Brown Rice Salad

Cook brown rice in rice cooker.

Fry up: cacciatore salami (like a sausage) diced, red capsicum, sweet yellow pepper, mushrooms, eggplant (grilled in grill), red onion. Squirt of lemon juice + parsley to serve.

Result: 4.5 - very satisfying

Preparation: very quick, just make sure rice is on 1 hr 40 in advance.

Spaghetti with avocado and chicken

(recipe from Il Gambero) - "Spaghetti Gambero"

Onion, diced chicken, garlic, spring onion, pesto (or basil), avocado, passata + sour cream. Serve with spaghetti.

Result: 4.5

Preparation: takes about as long as it takes to boil the pasta

Lamb Roast

Lamb roast approx 1kg. Poke in garlic and rosemary. Rub with olive oil. Boil potato, sweet potato, carrot for about 20 mins. Put all in oven dish. Bake at about 220 degrees (on fan) for 15 mins then on fan grill for another 35 mins at 180. Use the meat probe in the oven (or follow the instructions in the oven book for about 1 hr on fan grill 170, from cold). Turn every 15 mins or so. Meat probe to 70 degrees. Make gravy with cinzano in juices and chicken stock, passata, salt, pepper and worstershire sauce, thickened with flour. Try not to eat too much ...

Result: 5

Preparation: easy

Spag bol with Polenta

Spag bol sauce, leftover from another day. Polenta (pref 3 min variety), cooked then cooled and fried in pieces. Serve with parmesan.

Result: 3

Preparation: quick and easy especially with 3 min polenta

Baked Fish in Coconut and Thai Spices

Fish - e.g. Ocean Trout

Curry sauce: red curry paste, red onion minced, garlic, ginger, coriander (incl roots + stems), fish sauce, kecap manis, fresh kaffir lime leaf. Rub sauce over fish in baking dish, leave for 1/2 hour. Pour over half tin coconut milk. Bake at 180, 30 mins.

Result: 4 (but fussy to eat)

Preparation: really easy, need fresh fish.

Spag Bol with Veges

Minced beef, onion, capsicum, eggplant, carrot, zucchini, sweet potato, all diced. Fry up and add tinned tomatoes, passata, chicken stock, sugar, salt & pepper. Serve with pasta and parmesan.

Result: 3.5 (not very exciting but very filling)

Preparation: easy, especially if veges chopped beforehand. Sauce needs to cook for a bit.

Basil Tofu

Tofu cubes, lightly fried, onion, spring onion, carrot, broccoli, capsicum, fresh coriander, fresh basil, stir fried. Sauce with sweet chilli, soy, oyster and lime juice. Thicken with cornflour. Serve with rice or rice noodles.

Result: 3

Preparation: quick - all done in under half an hour, as long as rice is turned on beforehand, or noodles are done.

Nachos

Corn chips, cheese, beef + bean sauce (without tinned tomatoes), guacamole, sour cream, salsa of tomato, spring onion, lime juice and coriander. Melt cheese in oven then top with meat, then guacamole, salsa and sour cream in stripes.

Result: 4.5

Preparation: dead easy

Quick Chicken Soup

Start with leftover chicken stock from white-cooked chicken. Add cubes of potato, chopped capsicum, spring onion, mushrooms and leftover cooked chicken. Add soy, sesame oil, fresh coriander and star anise.

Result: 4

Preparation: extremely quick

Birthday Lunch for 20

Nibbles:
Dips & flat bread
Vine leaves (in tin - Royal Fields brand)
Olives

Mains:
Pastizzi (frozen, a bit unsuccessful because stuck together)
Pizza - bases from Aroma, with eggplant, zucchini, capsicum, red onion, mushroom, olives, salami, ham, mozarella, parmesan, feta. Need to be sure they are really well cooked.
Chicken drumsticks - Marrakesh style roast chicken from Middle Eastern book - mostly fresh coriander paste, served with yoghurt & mint sauce (YUM YUM).
Potato salad
Roast pumpkin, capsicum, rosemary, feta, spinach, rocket & pine nut salad (YUM YUM)
Curried eggs
Breadsticks

Desserts:
Pavlova
Ravani (orange syrup cake)
Baklava from Abla's
Chocolate slice
Strawberries

Quick lamb tagine

Diced lamb, onion, garlic, cumin, coriander, turmeric, cayenne pepper, cinnamon. Lightly fry onion, garlic, lamb, in red saucepan, add spices, chicken stock cubes, little bit of water, then carrot, capsicum (red & green). Put lid on, cook for 1 1/2 hours. Serve with yoghurt, chopped coriander and cous cous.

Result: 3.5

Preparation: really easy, and reheats well in saucepan next day.

Pork with Leeks

Recipe from Greek cooking course.

Cook pork in simmering water in frypan until water all evaporated. Add chopped & washed leek, olive oil and oregano. Cook (stir-fry) until leek is very soft. Add salt, pepper and lemon juice before serving. Serve with rice and corn (and anything else).

Result: 3.5 - very tasty.

Preparation: really easy, but leek needs to be stirred.

Chinese-style Rainbow Trout

1 rainbow trout (about $6)

Julienned carrots in oven tray, lie fish on top. Top fish with ginger, spring onion, crushed garlic, coriander. Pour over light soy, tiny bit of dark soy, sesame oil, dry sherry. Bake for 30 mins at 180, no fan. Tight fitting alfoil on fish. Serve with veges and rice.

Result: 4.5

Preparation: really really easy.

Meatballs and Veg

Make meatballs: mince, breadcrumbs, egg, tomato sauce, rosemary, smoked tabasco. Put in fridge for a while.

Cook meatballs in non-stick pan. Serve with veges - broccoli, green beans, corn, boiled potatoes. Serve with plum sauce.

Result: 3

Preparation: veges are easy, meatballs a little fiddly.

Chicken and veges with lemon sauce

Make lemon sauce: chicken stock cubes, lemon juice, dry sherry, sugar, salt, cook to dissolve sugar. Add cornflour slurry.

Serve with pan-fried chicken and random vegetables.

Result: 3.5. Sauce really lifts a dull meal.

Preparation: Very quick.

Fried Rice

Cook rice in rice cooker well in advance (2 hours) and leave to cool and dry, spread out, turning occasionally.

Fry up finely diced onion, chicken, capsicum, mushrooms, zucchini, tofu, puffy tofu, omelette, bacon, and remove.

Fry rice, adding oil. When separate and slightly crispy, add other ingredients and continue heating through. Add sesame oil and soy sauce and fresh coriander.

Result: 4.5

Preparation: easy, though lots of chopping.

Eggs Florentine

Poached eggs
Thick toast
Wilted spinach
Balsamic reduction (balsamic vinegar and brown sugar)
Black pepper

(good served with salad and one of Sally's pasties)

Result: 5 for brekky or lunch, 4 for dinner because a bit simple

Preparation: quick! Be careful with the poached eggs and try not to make balsamic toffee.

Lamb Chop Casserole

Lamb chops (floured & fried)
Carrot, onion, garlic, finely diced, fried.
Desiree potatoes, scalloped, laid in casserole.
Layer of carrot + onion.
Chops.
Rest of carrot + onion.
Rest of spuds.
Then in frying pan, deglaze with Cinzano, then add cup of chicken stock, tin tomatoes, red wine vinegar, capsicum, worstershire sauce, rosemary.

Cook on 140, fan off, for 4 hours.

Result: 4.5

Preparation: kind of fiddly, but easy, and hard to reheat so make on day of serving.

Mexican Mince

Beef mince, red kidney beans, finely diced onion, diced capsicum, garlic, tin tomatoes, chicken stock cube, cumin, salt, tomato paste. (and some sort of chilli either in dish or in sauce).

Serve with burritos, lettuce, tomato, cheese, avocado, sour cream and coriander.

Result: 4

Preparation: extremely quick - under half an hour to serving.

Fettucine Steak

(credits to the Paragon in Goulburn for the recipe)

Fettucine. Rump steak in piece or strips - fry up first. Sauce of onion, spring onion, capsicum, mushroom, fresh tomato, zucchini strips, passata, sour cream, soy sauce, cinzano.

Result: 3.5 - extremely satisfying

Preparation: quick and easy - in about time taken to boil pasta. Can chop up veges etc beforehand.

Quick Chicken Soup

(see previous recipe for white-cooked chicken)

Save cooking water from cooking of chicken (or use chicken stock). Add leftover chicken (shredded), spring onion, ginger, peppercorns. Swirl through egg. Add a few noodles (broken into short pieces)

Result: 3.5

Preparation: very quick and easy, and uses up leftovers.

White-cooked Chicken

(credits to Chau for the recipe) (see also Ken Hom)

Take size 12 chicken. Put in pot of cold water with knob of ginger, 3 tsp salt. Bring to boil, high simmer for 20mins with lid on. Turn off. Leave until cool (all day).

Serve with: sauce of hot oil poured onto spring onion and shredded, with a bit of soy and sesame oil added. Serve with greens.

Result: 5

Preparation: very very easy! Just need to be ready in advance.

Capsicum, sweet potato and feta pasta

Roast at 200 degrees for about half an hour:
red capsicum, sweet potato pieces, onion, garlic
Puree and serve on pasta with feta.

Result: 4

Preparation: very easy!

Salami Pasta

Tinned tomatoes, salami, olives, onion, capsicum, zucchini (or eggplant), mushrooms, chicken stock cube, sugar. Serve with gnocchi.

Result: 4

Preparation: extremely quick and easy

Beef Pepper Curry

From Charmaine's Complete Asian Cookbook

Make with whole spices for cumin and coriander, then crush in mortar & pestle. Even better the next day.

Result: 5

Preparation: set aside an afternoon, preferably the day before you want to eat it!

Chicken Parma

Chicken schnitzel from butcher (crumbed), tomato pasta sauce, grilled eggplant slices, grated tasty cheese. Assemble & grill. Serve with mashed potato or sweet potato.

Result: 4 - very satisfying

Preparation: quick and easy, especially if tomato sauce is already made.

Sweet & Sour Chicken or Pork

Chicken or pork pieces, marinate in soy sauce, dry sherry and cornflour for 15 mins.

Onion, green capsicum, mushrooms, green beans, tin of pineapple, fresh tomato.

Sauce with passata, pineapple juice and brown vinegar. Thicken with cornflour.

Result: 4.5

Preparation: Surprisingly quick and easy. Can be done in under 30 mins.

Rockling with roast vegetable salad

Rockling from M & C Seafoods. Rub with coriander seeds, cumin seeds, sesame seeds, garlic, lemon juice, chilli flakes, olive oil mashed in mortar & pestle. Leave on fish for 1/2 hour. Bake at 180C fan for 10 mins in Corningware dish, uncovered.

Serve with roasted vegetable salad (eggplant, zucchini, capsicum, tomato, lettuce mix, olives, pine nuts. Dressing of balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, olive oil.

Result: 4

Preparation: easy and quick.

Cauliflower and Fennel with Cheese Sauce

Cauliflower, washed, broken into florets, steamed for 8 mins.
Fennel, cut in quarters, boiled for 15 mins.

Place in separate baking dishes.

Cheese sauce (simple white sauce + grated tasty cheese + parmesan cheese + grated fresh nutmeg).

Top with parsley mixed with breadcrumbs and grated cheese. Bake for about 25 mins.

Result: 4 (but not as a main meal ... much better as an accompaniment to steak) - about 3 as a main meal.

Preparation: easy, but lots of dishes.

Meat Lasagna

Bolognese sauce (best with beef & pork)
Ricotta + tasty cheese + parmesan + milk (white sauce)
Spinach leaves, washed
Lasagne sheets (barilla l'uovo is best)

Result: 4.5

Preparation: a few different things to prepare, but can make a huge amount of it at once.

Chicken & Vegetable Soup

200g soup mix (beans & barley), diced chicken breast, finely diced onion, leek, diced carrot, diced celery, diced potato, chicken stock. Soak soup mix for several hours. Fry onion, carrot, celery and leek in olive oil. Add all the rest. Cook for an hour or so.

Result: 4 - very hearty

Preparation: lots of chopping, but easy.

Pad Thai

Chicken, rice noodles, peanuts, tofu, eggs, green beans, onion, garlic, chilli, bean sprouts. Eggs added after onion fried to coat the wok. Fish sauce, white vinegar, sugar, tamirind, sauce cooked separately for a bit. Splash all with lime juice.

Result: 4

Preparation: easy, but a wok and a pot.

Pad See Ew

Rice noodles - 'Mekong' brand from shop in Preston market. Microwave for 40 seconds.

Tofu, onion, capsicum, mushrooms, broccoli, choy sum. White pepper, kecap manis, dark soy, sherry, lime juice.

Result: 3.5

Preparation: super quick

Lamb backstrap & pumpkin salad

Rub lamb with: (in mortar & pestle) cumin seeds, coriander seeds, garlic, crushed chilli, cinnamon, olive oil. Leave for 2+ hours. Seal in frypan, finish in oven.

Roast pumpkin in small cubes. Mix with fetta, spinach leaves and pinenuts, with olive oil and red wine vinegar dressing.

Result: 4.5

Preparation: ridiculously quick and easy. Make sure lamb is done in advance.

Pizza

Mr Pitta bases, passata, eggplant (thinly sliced, fried in non-stick pan), capsicum, mushroom, artichoke, salami, onion, olives, fetta, parmesan. Cook at 200 degrees (fan bake) for about 12 minutes.

Result: 4

Preparation: quick and easy, not much washing up.

Chicken and Leek bake

Chicken breast, mushrooms, leek, celery (fry up together)
Broccoli, green beans (steam over pasta)
Pasta (cooked for 10 mins)
White sauce with cheese and seeded mustard
Bake for 1/2 hour

Result: 4

Preparation: a bit fiddling for white sauce, but rest quick and easy. Prepare ahead.

Bean Soup

Cam's take on Harira (Middle Eastern soup)

Peppers, celery, onion, garlic, cumin, cayenne pepper, powdered ginger, chicken stock, preserved lemon, mint, chickpeas, kidney beans, red lentils, yellow lentils, cup of passata. Served with yoghurt.

Result: 4

Preparation: very easy.

Chicken and Plum Sauce

Chicken, broccoli, carrot, leek, capsicum, mushroom, soy sauce, plum sauce, dry sherry, block rice noodles.

Stir fry.

Result: 3 (or 3.5 if Cam makes it)

Preparation: really quick.

Pasta with spinach, chicken and ricotta

Chicken, onion, spinach, capsicum, mushrooms, tinned tomatoes, fresh ricotta, pasta.

Result: 2 (a bit wet from the spinach)
Preparation: easy, but spinach is a bit fiddly.

Penang Fish or Lamb Curry

Tin of penang curry paste. Light coconut milk. Pumpkin, zucchini, green beans, dory fillets, sugar. Follow instructions on tin. Or with lamb instead of fish.

Result: 4
Preparation: about 6 minutes prep, 20 mins to cook.

Corned beef

Buy piece of corned beef (~1.5kg) from butcher. Put in big saucepan with onion studded with cloves, carrot, celery, bay leaves, brown sugar and vinegar. Bring to boil and simmer very slowly for 1 hour per kg. Cool in water if needed. Serve with mashed potato or roasted veges and white sauce with mustard.

Result: 3 (4 if not overcooked)
Preparation: dead easy, but needs to be supervised to keep it at a low simmer

Lamb with preserved lemon

Diced lamb, onion, garlic, preserved lemon, cumin, coriander, cayenne pepper, turmeric, cinnamon, lemon juice, pepper, cube chicken stock. Cook. Serve with veges and burritos heated in frypan. Also good with pumpkin.

Result: 4
Preparation: very quick and easy. About 20mins cooking time.

Pumpkin and Parsnip soup

based on a recipe from Charmaine's vegetarian book

simmer parsnip peel with parsley and spring onion green bits for 30 mins, strain.

Fry up rest of spring onion and add chicken stock cubes and salt and pepper. Cook parsnip and pumpkin then puree. Add a bit of yoghurt.

Result: 2 - high in veges but a bit runny.
Preparation: pretty easy

Steak Sandwich Burritos

Rump steak, small pieces, pounded
Caramelised onion
Cheese, tomato, lettuce
Mango chutney
Burritos

Result: 3

Preparation: dead easy

Zucchini and Potato Pancakes

From Charmaine's Vegetarian cookbook:
- 1 zucchini, grated, skin on
- 1 potato, grated
- 1 onion, grated
- 2 eggs, beaten
- salt + pepper
- 1 cup wholemeal flour

Mix & fry small pancakes till brown.

Result: 3 (not as a whole meal!)

Preparation: remarkably easy and successful for good vege content

John Dory with Fennel

From David & Kim:

Wrap in foil:
- finely sliced fennel on base
- topped with sliced lemon and orange
- top with John Dory fillet
- squirt of olive oil and Cinzano
- dill & star-anise
- bake 8-10mins at 180 degrees

Served with rosemary potatoes.

Result: 4.5

Preparation: really quick and easy, once fresh fish is obtained.

Baked Lamb Shanks

Lamb shanks, rubbed with rosemary, salt, pepper and olive oil, cooked at 190 degrees for about an hour, over a dish of chopped veges - carrot, potato, pumpkin, brussels sprouts, red capsicum, onion, garlic. Serve with mint jelly (or not).

Result: 2 - looks great and smells great and veges are excellent, but the meat needs to be chewed off the giant bone like a caveman. Lots of sinewy bits and layers of fat.

Preparation: about 10 minutes, including chopping the veges!!!

Honeyed sweet potato & chick peas

Thickly sliced sweet potato, placed on base of frypan. Add water, honey and butter. Cook until water is all gone.

Serve with a tomato & chickpea curry with whole coriander seeds, cumin seeeds, chicken stock cube, and spinach. Also good with paneer.

Result: 5

Preparation: really easy, especially the sweet potato!

Coulbiouc

From Huey - a Russian salmon dish

Cook basmati rice and hard-boiled eggs. Steam a piece of salmon. Mix all together with dill and lemon. Cook in puff pastry. Serve with fennel.

Result: 4

Preparation: easy and spectacular.

Pad-See Ew Tofu

Firm tofu, sliced & lightly fried
Savoy cabbage
Onion
Spring onion
Fresh rice noodles
Egg omelette
Red capsicum
Light soy, chicken stock cube, kecap manis, white pepper, dry sherry

Result: 3 (on flavour, 2 on appearance as noodles were not well done)

Preparation: quick and easy, but noodles will probably be a disaster again.

Curry Laksa

Homemade chicken stock, coconut milk, curry paste, curry powder, lime juice, tamarind, soy sauce, chopped chilli, finely diced onion, ginger, cauliflower, green beans, tofu, puffy tofu, hard-boiled egg, bean shoots, hokkien noodles, rice noodles.

Result: 3
Preparation: quick and easy (cook hard-boiled egg first)

Spinach & cheese pastry

From Moroccan book: super tasty silverbeet cooked with ricotta & pine nuts & onion. Wrapped in puff pastry and baked.
Result: 4 (5 for lunch next day!)
Preparation: very easy! bit messy with pastry.

Fajitas

Rump steak, sliced, marinated in ancho chilli powder, cumin, salt and lime juice.
Chicken breast, sliced, marinated in chipotle chilli powder, cumin, salt and lime juice.

To accompany:
- home brand burritos
- sour cream
- special green tomatillo sauce (for chicken, if available!)
- grated cheese
- shredded lettuce
- diced tomato
- avocado

Result: 3 (if cooked on slow hotplate), 5 on BBQ, great for kids
Preparation: takes time to cut up, but quick to cook. Marinate 1 hr in advance.

Satay Beef

Home-made satay sauce (mortar & pestle peanuts) with fish sauce, chilli, kecap manis, lime juice, water. Served with stir-fried beef and veges and rice or noodles.
Result: 3
Preparation: a bit of a hassle to prepare satay sauce. Rest is quick and easy.

Meat Pie

Pie filling:
mince beef, passata, soy sauce, chicken stock, onions, mushrooms, pepper, tin of tomatoes (consider leaving out), cornflour to give sticky gravy.

Cooked in small casserole dishes with puff pastry only on the top, baked for 20mins in moderately hot oven. Cook fennel in oven at same time.

Result: 3
Preparation: 2 (first time), 5 (repeat performance from freezer)

Pork, pears and fennel

Pork fillet cooked in a sour-cream sauce with pears, fennel, fennel seeds, black pepper, seeded mustard, Cinzano, chicken stock cooked in the sauce, served with pasta and veges.
Result: 5
Preparation: 3

Chilli with Chorizo and Polenta

Cam's home-made Chilli with chuck steak and chorizo (cooked in advance, taken from the freezer) served with fried polenta, with green beans.
Result: 5
Preparation: 3 (polenta is a hassle)

Risotto with Chorizo and Brussels Sprouts

Risotto with Chorizo sausage, brussels sprouts, onion, homemade chicken stock, Cinzano.
Result: 4
Preparation: 3

Meatloaf & haloumi veges

Meatloaf - mince, breadcrumbs, egg, tomato sauce, cooked for 45 mins in moderate oven.
Veges - pumpkin, sweet potato, zucchini, capsicum, garlic and onion, cooked for 45 mins in moderate oven, then sliced haloumi put on top and cooked for 5 mins more.
Result: 3
Preparation: 3 for meatloaf, 4 for veges

Chicken & lemon tagine

Chicken marylands cooked in oven with chicken stock, preserved lemon, green olives, moroccan spices, sauce thickened with cous cous, served with roasted vegetables (including brussels sprouts) and flat bread.
Result: 5
Preparation: 4

Lamb Kebabs

Charmaine's lamb kebabs, with capsicum, onion and mushrooms, served with roti.
Result: 3
Preparation: 4