Pumpkin and oat biscuits

Ingredients:
1 cup pumpkin, cooked and mashed
2 egg whites, beaten until frothy
1 cup brown sugar, lightly packed
1 1/2 cups plain flour
1 tsp bicarbonate soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground cloves
3 cups rolled oats
1 cup raisins

Method: Preheat oven to 180°C. Line a baking tray with baking paper and set aside. In a bowl add the flour, bicarbonate soda, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, oats and raisins. Mix well to combine. In a separate bowl, using a spoon, mix the egg whites and pumpkin. Pour the pumpkin mix into the dry ingredients and stir to combine. Drop tablespoonfuls onto the tray with 3cm between each. Bake for 20-25 minutes.

Green bean curry

http://norecipes.com/blog/green-bean-curry-recipe/

Easy prep. Uses lots of beans. Even better next day.

Result: 4
Preparation: easy if beans are ready

karen's slow cooked lamb with potato and barley

From karen martini feasting p8, made with bbq lamb chops.

Result: 7
Preparation: straightforward, and cooks in oven for an hour.

zucchini and pumpkin stir fry

Zucchini, thinly sliced
Pumpkin,thinly sliced and microwaved for 3 mins
Tofu cubes, fried
Egg, made into omelette and chopped small
Red onion, thinly sliced
Garlic, crushed
Thai basil

Caramelise onion. Add garlic and zucchini. May need to add water to steam zucchini a bit. Add rest. Sauce with oyster, kecap manis and sweet chilli. Serve with rice.

Result: 4, more with homegrown zucchini
Preparation: quick and easy

Spicy beetroot relish

Also try Stephanie's buttered beetroot.

http://www.abc.net.au/tasmania/stories/s2176016.htm

Result: 5. Great on sambos and with curry.
Preparation: very easy. Takes a while to cook.

Fennel and Saffron Soup

One large fennel, diced into medium size pieces discard the core. Two waxy potatoes (Royal Blue), peeled and diced, a bit smaller than the fennel. 400g diced chicken thigh. Onion and garlic (4 or 5 cloves).

Sweat the onion, garlic and fennel. Should use olive oil but the first time we used gee which was very tasty.

Add chicken to brown. Add salt and plenty of pepper. Add potatoes and about 700ml of chicken stock. Add some saffron to the stock, a good pinch (1/4 tsp). Simmer for 40 minutes or so.

Serve with lots of chopped fennel fronds on top.

Result: Outstanding. Very tasty although it looks pale and simple. Would be excellent dinner party fare.

Ricotta Pie

adapted from Play School ...

300g fresh ricotta cheese
2 tbsp grated parmesan
3 eggs
fresh spinach (lots)
parsley, finely chopped
sage (2-3 leaves), finely chopped
nutmeg, tiny bit
cracked pepper

Cook spinach for 2 mins in microwave. Drain and squeeze out most of the water. Beat eggs lightly in large bowl. Add all the other ingredients and beat with a whisk until fairly smooth. Oil a pie dish. Pour in mixture. Cook for about 35 mins at 160 fan bake.

Result: 5. Like a frittata, but much easier. Tastier than quiche.
Preparation: Dead easy, about 10 mins.