Name of Recipe: Yorkshire puddings - as per Jamie Oliver 30 minute meals book
Number of People: makes 12
Ingredients:
just under 1 mug of plain flour
1 mug of milk
1 egg

(I did one cup - not sure what Jamie classes as a mug but one cup worked well, the flour was probably pretty much a cup too)

Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 220°, place a 12 hole shallow bun tin (I used a muffin tin) on the top shelf of the oven.
2. Put it all in the bowl and blitz. Did speed 6 for about 30 seconds I think, then scraped down sides/mixed (was a little flour on the side/top of blade) and did another 10 seconds.
3. Quickly and confidently (copied from Jamie) remove the bun tin from the oven and close the door. In one quick movement, back and forth, drizzle a little olive oil in each compartment, then do the same with the batter until each one is half full. Place in the top of the oven, close the door and do not open for 14 minutes, until golden and risen.

He does mention any leftover mixture can be used for pancakes, I had none so think my yorkies were bigger than his mini yorkies - ie my muffin tin was larger or his mug is more than a cup, but it made the twelve fine.
I just did this all as quickly as I could, lol, and they came out great.

Photos:



Tips/Hints:

Squisito Cabretto from Meat on the Menu


This is a goat, white wine and tomato stew.
Thought it was nice. Nice flavour to the sauce and the meat was very tender.
I did add a clove of garlic at the beginning (find it hard not to, lol) and added some carrots for the last 10 mins. Served with rice.

OK so where did we get to on the chat about food vacuum pack machines?
I am definitely going to get one.
So what brands has everyone got and what do they think of them?
Does anyone know if the Deals Direct one is any good?
Also where was it that people were saying to get the cheap bags from?
Thanks.

The one thing with the TMX is I wonder how many basic skills my kids will learn (they are nearly 9, 7 and 3) and how they will cope in the real (non tmx world) when they leave home.
Do you tell your kids how to do things without a tmx when you cook?
Mine are pretty pathetic (the soul is there, but not the strength or perseverence, lol)
They also struggle with the tmx in two ways - closing the lid (not sure if ours is particularly hard as the consultant mentioned it on delivery or they are just wimpy) and also height - how do your kids use it and see over, I can only just when it's on the bench.

Name of Recipe:Super quick curry
Number of People:2
Ingredients:

1 pork fillet cubed (around 200g I guess)
1/2 an onion
1 clove of garlic
EVOO
2 tbsp curry paste (I used Patak's Rogan Josh, use any favourite curry paste or one made in the tmx)
1/2 tin of tomatoes
a little water.

Preparation:
chop garlic and onion and saute for 2mins 30 sec in EVOO - 100° sp 1
Add meat and saute 1 min 100° reverse sp 1
add curry paste, tomatoes and a little water
cook 16 mins 100° reverse sp 1.

Photos:
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Tips/Hints:
Served with rice done in the rice cooker so all ready in around 20 mins. Was really nice.
I've still been doing this sort of quick curry for dd3 and myself for lunch (she asks for curry and rice for lunch several times a week) the old way on the stovetop, this was much easier than the usual method, less messy and tasted better (I guess adding the garlic and onion).

Chicken works just as well and could easily double the quantities to make a family sized meal. I just do little curries for dd3 and I to share for lunch. I often put spinach or capsicum in when I make it.

members' comments

JD - Gotta love this one Zan, thanks for posting it.  Used my homemade Madras curry powder for the first time (only 1 tsp though.

Yvette - DH loved it but no one else liked it the Rogan Josh was quite strong might be nicer with a different paste.

Name of Recipe:Salsa for nachos
Number of People:5 as a side
Ingredients:
300g tomatoes
1 spring onion
1 capsicum (or mixed capsicum to equiv of 1 whole - I did green and red)
bunch of parsley
20g olive oil
juice of one lime
see note re chili/tabasco

Preparation:
Put tomatoes, spring onion, capsicum, parsley in TMX and chop 8 sec sp 5 (or however long for the consistency you want).
Add olive oil and lime juice and mix 10 sec, sp 1.

I like my salsa spicer so added 1/2 teaspoon of tabasco and mixed through - in future will add 1/2 to 1 chili at the beginning.

Photos:


Tips/Hints:
Adapted from a recipe on taste.com.au

Made the EDC Rock Cakes today (well assisted dd2 it was her choice of recipe to make).
These were really yummy. Light and fluffy inside, great texture, great taste, though I wouldn't dust with icing sugar in future.

Name of Recipe:Croquettes - Chicken or Tuna or Salmon
Number of People: Makes 12 large - so depends on what you are serving them with. Would also make 20 or so small ones for finger foods.
Ingredients:
300g potatoes – peeled and cut into chunks
15g butter
parsley
1 clove garlic
½ small onion or 2 spring onion
½ courgette
300g cooked chicken/tuna/salmon
sm can corn (optional)
40 g cheese (parmesan or cheddar grated)
2 tbsp tomato sauce
salt and pepper
breadcrumbs, flour, egg

Preparation:
Make breadcrumbs if needed and set aside. (use 2-3 slices of bread)

Cook potatoes (If doing in tmx – add 650ml water, put potatoes in steaming basket and cook for 25mins  on varoma temperature – you could steam some chicken at the same time).
Mash potatoes with the butter (insert butterfly, 20 sec, spd 3).
Set aside.

Add garlic, onion, herbs and courgette and chop 5 sec sp 6
Add oil and sauté 3 mins 100° sp 1

Add the potatoes, chicken (or whatever), corn, tomato sauce, cheese and salt and pepper.
Mix together. 1 min reverse spd 2

Shape into croquettes
Dip in flour, then egg then breadcrumbs.

Cook in a frying pan until browned.

Photos:


Tips/Hints:
I used to make these with tinned tuna or salmon when the girls were younger. I imagine you could use ham as well or any cooked meat.

These ones didn't have sweetcorn as I didn't have any.

members' comments

KerrynN - We had these with salmon and DH and I thought they were very tasty!  I ran out of breadcrumbs so for the last one used some of the Italian crumbs (from the EDC) I had in the freezer - that one was my favourite!
The kids weren't all that rapt so I think given the amount of time that went into preparing them I wouldn't do them again for the kids for a while. I found the mixture a little wet and wondered whether less butter with the mash or adding some breadcrumbs to the mixture would have helped?

Zan - Kerryn, either less butter or added breadcrumbs would work.

JD - I made these using tuna - the recipe made 8 good sized patties.  I have frozen 4 of them uncooked. I started the recipe earlier in the day ie the mashed potato then refrigerated it until I had been to the shop to get other ingredients. Continued with the recipe when I returned and the mixture was solid and perfect so perhaps this is the secret - let the potato go cold before proceeding with the recipe and preferably make the patties or croquettes in advance and refrigerate before cooking later.
I loved them Zan, comfort food at its best for a hot day - thank you.

johnro - Thanks Zan for the post and reminding me how delicious these type of patties with a potato base were.  Made these for lunch using chicken with chookies KFC coating.

maddy - these were yummy, thanks Zan! 
Like Judy, I cooked the potato earlier and on your suggestion, steamed 400g chicken thighs at the same time.
Mashed the potato, removed and then shredded the chicken by roughly chopping in chunks, then giving 3 quick bursts on turbo.
I added 1 tsp curry powder to the breadcrumbs too. Everyone enjoyed them and they're quite filling too!