House full of blokes

We've been gradually improving our patio area at the back of the house. The vision is to create an outdoor living space and the eventual plan is an outdoor kitchen area including a pizza oven, BBQ, gas hob and a stainless steel sink bench.  The pizza oven etc. are still on the to do list - but we've made huge progress on the flow from the kitchen and dining room into the garden.  The herb garden full of lovely soft herbs- basil, coriander, mint, sage and oregano is just outside the kitchen door.  Lovely blue pots with red petunias draw the eye outside from the dining room and onto the patio. The raised bed filled with flowering perennials will provide a lovely contrast to the white painted trellis as they grow and fill the space. The shade sail provides privacy and much needed relief from the fierce Central Otago sun. And it all looks great from the bifold kitchen windows. 

Cupboard love is always alive and well in my home when lasagne is on the menu. This family fave is tasty and filling and always hits the mark - particularly good for feeding a crowd. Serves 6 For the bolognaise sauce 1kg beef mince Olive oil  1 medium onion diced  1 clove garlic crushed 140g tub tomato paste Can tomatoes in juice 1 tsp Italian herb mix 1tsp beef stick powder or 1 stock cube Salt and pepper to season Optional - diced mushroom & capsicum Cook onion and garlic in olive oil in a large pan until soft (5-7 minutes) Increase heat and fry off mince until it is browned and separated (Add mushroom & diced capsicum if using).  Add tomato paste and fry with mince.  Add canned tomatoes (chop if needed) Add herbs and seasoning, mix through and simmer stirring occasionally for 15-20 mins while you make the white sauce.  For the white sauce 50g butter 1/4 cup plain white flour 1 tsp chicken sto...

Pasta is a family staple.  It provides us with some quick, easy, tasty meals.  This dish is light, healthy and delicious.  It keeps really well for a fabulous 'left over' lunch the next day. Ingredients 1 kg skinless chicken breast or thighs flour for dusting (approx 1/2 cup) 1 cup kalamata olives (pitted if you can get them) 1 1/2 cups chicken stock 1 cup white wine 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil (or 1-2tsp dried) 1/4 cup chopped fresh oregano (or 1-2 tsp dried) 200g green beans (chopped into 2-3cm pieces) 2-3 handfuls of spinach leaves 2/3 sour cream pack of pasta of your choice Method Preheat oven to 180C Coat chicken pieces in flour and brown for about 2 minutes on each side in a hot pan with a little olive oil.  Use a pan you can put in the oven or transfer the chicken into an oven proof dish. Put herbs, olives, chicken stock and wine in with the chicken, cover with foil and place in the oven.  Bake for 20 minutes or until chicken is co...

Salmon for dinner always looks and feels like a special occasion meal.  This recipe has a great balance of hot, sweet and sour without taking away from the flavour of the salmon.  The salmon has great eye appeal when it is served with the spring onion, coriander and lemon zest and is great for a family meal or if you want to impress someone. For 4 people Preheat the oven to 200C 4 evenly sized salmon fillets To Coat the Salmon 2 teaspoons soy sauce Juice of 1 lemon 2 teaspoons honey 1 clove garlic crushed 2 Tablespoons finely grated fresh ginger 1/3 cup sweet chilli sauce 1 teaspoon rice wine vinegar (or dry sherry) 1/2 teaspoon paprika 1/2 teaspoon chilli (dry flakes or from a jar or 1 de-seeded chopped fresh chilli) Method Mix all ingredients in a small bowl.  Brush onto the skin side of salmon fillets and place them in an oiled baking dish.  Brush sauce over the salmon and pour any remaining in, over and around the salmon.  Place in ...

Even in households full of blokes there are occasions when a ladies lunch is called for.  The opportunity to be one of @annabellangbein 's free range foodies with an advance copy of 'Annabel Langbein - a free range life', the senior bloke off on a trail ride on his bike and Cromwell being in 'petrol head' heaven with the Highlands motor sport park inaugural meet - gave an excellent excuse for inviting the lovely ladies I work with from Goldfields Primary school for a lunch.  The date was set a few weeks ago - a life with teenagers is busy and within the time frame for being a free range foodie this was the one-and-only weekend that was going to work, but was also a difficult week and some people were unable to attend with family commitments and bereavement, meaning that their time and energy was needed elsewhere.  Special thoughts go to Jac - all our thoughts are with you on your father's passing, we missed you at this event, but we are sure we will have many mo...

Muffins straight from the oven are so enticing and these ones are quick, easy and delicious. They are also dairy free (unless you add milk chocolate chips).  I throw overripe bananas and bananas that come home in kids lunch boxes into the freezer - that means I can whip up a batch of muffins at very short notice.  Ingredients Makes 12 large or 24 mini muffins 3 large bananas 3/4 cup sugar 1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp salt 1 egg 1 1/2 cups flour 1/4 cup oil (I use canola) Method Mash bananas. Add sugar and slightly beaten egg. Add oil. Sift dry ingredients. Mix wet and dry and spoon into muffin tins. Cook 15-20 minutes 190deg.C Variations Add 1/2 cup chocolate chips or nuts to the dry ingredients.  Take a tablespoon of flour out and replace with cocoa powder.  Use soft brown sugar. 

Home made pizzas are just the best, so when lummox number three announced that he was making pizza for lunch - the idea was met with great enthusiasm all round.  He made the dough in the bread maker - but this recipe works just as well made by hand. Home made pizzas are excellent to make with kids and I have often made them when the boys have had friends round.  I roll the dough in individual portions onto baking paper and have all the toppings in little bowls on the dining table.  The kids can choose their own combinations.  Write each child's name on the paper with a marker - so that there are no mix ups when they come out of the oven. Pizza Dough This recipe makes enough dough for 5 dinner plate sized pizzas.  Dough can be rolled thinner for more pizzas or bigger pizzas.  Halving the recipe makes 2 large pizzas. Preheat the oven to 250 C while the dough is rising.  Place pizza stones onto the racks if you have them. Ingredients ...