RICH OXTAIL SOUP

Warm up this winter with the most delicious free Rich Oxtail Soup… So full of meaty and vegetable flavours… Feel free to add any vegetable you desire!

Ingredients

60ml oil
1kg oxtails
2 onions, chopped
45ml cake flour
2 litres beef stock
6 bay leaves
10ml dried thyme
3 cloves garlic, crushed
10ml sugar
500ml red wine
50ml tomato paste
4 large carrots, peeled & roughly chopped
6 celery sticks, chopped
16 baby potatoes, peeled & halved
80ml freshly chopped parsley (keep a little to garnish)
5ml grated lemon zest

Method
  • Heat some of the oil in a large saucepan and brown the oxtail over a high heat in batches.
  • Reduce the heat and heat some more oil and sauté the onions until golden.
  • Add the flour and stir until the mixture starts to brown.
  • Stir in the beef stock and return the oxtail to the pan, add the garlic, bay leaves, thyme, sugar, red wine, tomato paste and half the carrots and celery.
  • Bring to the boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for about hours.
  • Remove from the heat and set aside to cool, then refrigerate overnight
  • The next day, scrape off the fat that has settled on the surface of the soup and discard.
  • Heat the soup and add the remaining carrots and celery and the potatoes.
  • Bring to the boil, reduce heat and cook for another hour until the meat is “fall off the bone” tender.
  • Add the parsley and lemon zest and season to taste.
  • Remove the oxtail pieces from the soup with a slotted spoon.
  • Pull the meat off the bones and return the meat to the soup and discard the bones.
  • Serve garnished with some fresh parsley.

Serves 4 - 6

THREE CHEESE SCONES

This free Three-Cheese Scone Recipe is quick and easy to make and don’t forget the best part Ohh sooo cheesy with a hint of cayenne pepper! Lovely to serve with a nice cup of tea or coffee. Feel free to add some bacon and sweet corn for an even tastier scone.


Ingredients


1 cup cake flour, unsifted
10ml baking powder, sifted
3 tblsp butter, softened at room tempreature
50g mature cheddar cheese, grated
30g Parmesan cheese, grated
30g gruyere cheese, grated
125ml milk
2 eggs, slightly beaten the milk
5ml cayenne pepper, or a little more if you like it spicy
5ml salt
15ml chives, finely chopped


Method
  • Preheat the oven to 180°C. Make sure the oven rack is high up in the oven.
  • Place softened butter in a large mixing bowl, add the flour and mix together with your finger tips until mixture resembles bread crumbs.
  • In a mixing bowl add eggs and milk and beat slightly.
  • Place all three cheeses, baking powder, cayenne pepper, chopped chives and salt into flour mixture and stir to combine.
  • Add milk and egg mixture and stir in well.
  • Grease a muffin pan and drop spoonfuls of cheese dough into each muffin cup.
  • Bake at 180°C for about 20 minutes or until golden and cooked through.
Makes 12

TIRAMISU

Tiramisu is a heavenly Italian dessert… Made with layers of biscuits, cream cheese, coffee & Kahlua Liqueur Mmm… For those of you who prefer low fat desserts replace the cream cheese with low fat or fat free smooth cottage cheese. Try this quick easy & free Tiramisu Recipe and you will be hooked!


Ingredients


4 tblsp kahlua
200ml strong black coffee or espresso, cooled
250g boudoir biscuits or other sponge finger biscuits
3 egg yolks
7 tblsp castor sugar
460g cream cheese or smooth cottage cheese
100g dark chocolate, grated
a little cocoa powder for dusting
white chocolate shavings for garnishing


Method

  • Line a 24cm square or rectangular dish
  • Combine 3 for the Tablespoons of the Kahlua with the coffee and dip half of the boudoir biscuits into the coffee and place in the lined dish.
  • Using an electric beater whisk the egg yolks with the caster sugar until pale and thick.
  • Mix in the cream cheese or cottage cheese and the remaining Kahlua and whisk slowly until the mixture is pale and smooth.
  • Spread half of the mixture over the biscuits and sprinkle with half of the grated chocolate.
  • Repeat with another layer of biscuits, cheese mixture and grated chocolate.
  • Cover and refrigerate.
  • Serve dusted with cocoa powder & white chocolate shavings.

Serves 4

QUICK THREE-BEAN SALAD

This free Three-Bean Salad Recipe is rich in fibre and is so quick and easy to make! An awesome side dish to serve at a South African braai!


Ingredients


300g green beans, tailed
1 (410g) can baked beans
1 (410g) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
60ml chives, chopped or spring onions
2 Tblsp mayonnaise or plain yoghurt for the healthier option
1 pinch salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 Tblsp white balsamic vinegar


Method
  • Blanch green beans in boiling water until just cooked but still crunchy and rinse in iced water.
  • Mix the baked beans, kidney beans, chives, mayonnaise and balsamic vinegar together.
  • Season and toss through the green beans. 
Serves 6

FILLET WITH CREAMY MUSHROOM SAUCE

This free Fillet with Creamy Mushroom Sauce is great for when entertaining… The mushroom sauce is deliciously creamy!

Ingredients

Creamy Mushroom Sauce:
125g butter
1 onion, chopped
500g button mushrooms, sliced
500ml Ideal low fat evaporated milk
80ml green peppercorns
50ml Dijon mustard
250g cream cheese
Salt

Fillet:
80ml Dijon mustard
50ml Worcestershire sauce
50ml olive oil
12 x 200g fillet steaks

Method
Creamy Mushroom Sauce:
  • In a saucepan melt the butter and sauté the onion and mushrooms until soft.
  • Add the evaporated milk, peppercorns and mustard.
  • Cook until reduced to a creamy sauce.
  • Stir in the cream cheese and season with salt if necessary.

Fillet:
  • Mix the mustard, Worcestershire sauce and oil and brush the steaks with the mixture.
  • Pan fry the steaks to your desire or even better on the braai or BBQ and serve with the mushrooms sauce and chips or baked potato and side salad.

Serves 12

AMARULA MALVA PUDDING

Malva Pudding with a twist… This free Amarula Malva Pudding Recipe is absolutely heavenly! Creamy with a hint of Amarula Liqueur mmm…

Ingredients

Pudding:
500ml cake flour
Pinch of salt
10ml baking powder
80g butter, at room temperature
250ml sugar
2 eggs
45ml apricot jam
15mml white grape vinegar
5ml bicarbonate of soda
1 can Ideal low fat evaporated milk

Sauce:
250ml sugar
10ml vanilla essence
500ml water
160ml fresh cream
100ml Amarula Liqueur
60g butter

Method
Pudding:
  • Preheat the oven to 180°C and grease a large ovenproof dish or 12 ramekins.
  • Sift the cake flour, salt and baking powder together.
  • Cream the butter and sugar together and add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
  • Add the jam and vinegar and stir well.
  • Dissolve the bicarbonate of soda in the evaporated milk.
  • Add the flour and milk mixtures to the creamed sugar mixture and mix well.
  • Pour the mixture into the greased oven dish or into the ramekins and bake for about 30 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.

Sauce:
  • Bring all the sauce ingredients to the boil stirring continuously.
  • Pour over the pudding as soon as it comes out the oven.
  • Serve with vanilla ice cream.

Serves 12

BUTTERNUT GNOCCHI

This scrumptious free Butternut Gnocchi is so easy to make and awesome to serve when entertaining guests. Gnocchi are small dumplings made from potato, semolina, or flour and egg, usually served with a sauce.

Ingredients


Gnocchi:
700g butternut, peeled and diced
olive oil for drizzling
1 medium potato
1 large egg, beaten
1 cup organic flour


Sauce:
125ml butter
1 bunch sage leaves
1 grated pecorina cheese to sprinkle
3ml nutmeg, for serving


Method 


Gnocchi:
  • Preheat oven to 180°C.
  • Place butternut on a roasting tray and drizzle with a little olive oil and roast for 30-40 minutes, or until tender.
  • Boil the potato in its skin until cooked through, allow to cool slightly, then remove skin.
  • Mash butternut and potato together until smooth, add the egg and flour and mix to form a soft dough.
  • Roll teaspoonfuls of mixture on a floured surface to form a small ball and flatten gently by pressing with a fork.
  • Bring a saucepan of water to the boil and cook gnocchi in batches (they are cooked when they float to the surface).
  • Remove with a slotted spoon, set aside and keep warm
Sauce:
  • In a small saucepan melt the butter.
  • Turn up the heat, add sage leaves and cook until crispy and butter has browned.
  • Pour over gnocchi and serve with a sprinkling of pecorino cheese and nutmeg.
Serves 4

LEMON MERINGUE PIE

Lemon Meringue Pie is a biscuit based pie with a sweet & sour filling and a gorgeous meringue topping… Try this easy free Lemon Meringue Pie Recipe to tantalize your taste buds! The sweet & sour flavours of the condensed milk and lemon juice compliment each other and create the most amazing pie!


Ingredients


Crust: 
1 packet tennis biscuit, crushed
90g margarine, melted


Filling:
1 can condensed milk
100ml lemon juice
3 large egg yolks


Topping:
3 large egg whites
4 Tblsp sugar


Method


Crust:
  • Mix the melted margarine with the crushed Tennis biscuits.
  • Line your tart dish with the margarine and Tennis biscuit mixture to form a crust.
Tart filling:
  • In a mixing bowl add the condensed milk, egg yolks and lemon juice and mix well.
  • Pour the filling into crust-lined tart dish.
Topping:
  • Preheat the oven to 140°C.
  • Add 1 tablespoon of sugar to the egg whites and start beating with an electric beater on high for 1 minute.
  • Add another tablespoon of sugar to the egg whites and continue beating for 1 minute again.
  • Add 1 another tablespoon of sugar to the egg whites and beat for a further 1 minute on high.
  • Finally add the last tablespoon of sugar and beat until egg whites are stiff.
  • Place the stiff egg whites over the condensed milk & lemon juice filling to cover the tart dish.
  • Place in preheated oven and bake for about 15 minutes or until the egg whites have turned a golden colour.
  • Remove from oven and allow to cool, once cool refrigerate for an hour before serving.
Serves 8

CHEESY MINCE MACARONI BAKE

Comfort food at its best! This free Cheesy Mince Macaroni Bake Recipe is deliciously cheesy and full of flavour… A pasta dish that the whole family will enjoy!


Ingredients


Mince & Macaroni:
80ml oil
3 onions, chopped
1 clove garlic
2 large carrots, peeled & grated
600g lean beef mince
30ml mixed herbs
salt and pepper
2 tomatoes chopped
250g button mushrooms
30 ml tomato paste
30ml chutney
half packet brown onion soup
125ml water 
80ml red wine or beef stock
500g macaroni, cooked according to packet instructions


Cheese Sauce:
500ml full cream milk
30g butter
30ml cake flour
salt and pepper
500ml grated mature Cheddar cheese
2 eggs, whisked


Topping:
100ml grated mature Cheddar cheese
tomato halves

Method
  • Preheat the oven to 180 °C and grease a large ovenproof dish with spray and cook.
Mince & Macaroni 
  • Heat the oil in a large pan, stir-fry the onions and garlic.
  • Add the mince and cook for about 5 minutes and then add the grated carrots, lower the heat and allow to cook gently with the lid on until the carrots have softened and the mince is done.
  • Add the tomato, mixed herbs, salt and pepper and cook for a few minutes.
  • Mix the tomato paste, chutney, brown onion soup, water and wine together and add to the mince.
  • Simmer on a low heat until the liquid has reduced by half.
  • Add the cooked macaroni and mix. Set aside.
Cheese Sauce 
  • Heat the milk slightly and set aside.
  • Melt the butter in a pan, add the flour and stir.
  • Remove from the heat and stir in the heated milk.
  • Add salt, pepper, cheese and whisked eggs.
  • Add the cheese sauce to the macaroni and mince and mix, pour the pasta into the prepared oven dish and sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top 
  • Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden.
  • Serve hot with some roasted vegetables or a fresh green salad.
Serve 6- 8

CREAMY SWEET CHILLI CHICKEN TORTILLAS

This free Creamy Sweet Chilli Chicken Tortilla Recipe is awesome for when you are looking for something quick and light to eat! Feel free to add some feta cheese and avocado pear for an extra tasty tortilla that the whole family will love!


Ingredients


250g chicken breast fillets 
15 ml oil 
1 onion, thinly sliced 
100ml cream cheese 
100ml mayonnaise 
50ml sweet chilli sauce
4 flour tortillas
1 packet lettuce leaves 
¼ cucumber, seeded and sliced into thin strips 
1 tomato, finely chopped


Method
  • Slice the chicken breasts into strips and season with salt and pepper or cajun chicken rub or barbeque chicken rub.
  • Heat the oil in a large frying pan and gently stir-fry the onion and chicken strips until just done and set aside. Be careful not to overcook, as this will dry the chicken out. 
  • Arrange the lettuce leaves, chicken, cucumber and tomato on one half of each tortilla.
  • Mix the cream cheese, mayonnaise and sweet chilli sauce together and drizzle over the filling.
  • Roll up firmly and heat gently under the grill if desired or serve as is.
  • Serve with lemon or lime wedges.
Serves 4

GIANT CHOCOLATE SMARTIE MUFFINS

This free Giant Chocolate Smartie Muffin Recipe is deliciously chocolaty and colourful great for kids parties!

Ingredients

Muffins:
50ml cocoa powder
50ml milo
50ml boiling water
500ml cake flour
15ml baking powder
150ml brown sugar
50g Albany chocolate, chopped
50g milky bar, chopped
1 egg
300ml ideal low fat evaporated milk
125ml butter

White Chocolate Icing:
125g icing sugar
500ml icing sugar
100ml melted milky bar
Dash of vanilla essence
1 box of Smarties to decorate

Method
Muffins:
  • Preheat the oven to 180°C.
  • Line 12 large muffin tin hollows with large paper cups.
  • Blend the cocoa powder and Milo with the boiling water to make a paste. Leave to cool.
  • Sift the flour and baking powder together and add the sugar and chocolate and mix well.
  • Whisk together the egg, evaporated milk, cocoa paste and melted butter and add this mixture to the dry ingredients. Mix gently taking care not to over mix.
  • Spoon the batter into the paper cups, filling them three quarters of the way.
  • Bake the muffins for about 20 minutes or until done and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
  • Leave to cool and decorate with the white chocolate icing and Smarties.

Icing:
  • Beat the butter with the icing sugar.
  • Add the melted milky bar and vanilla essence. Beat well.

Makes 12 large muffins

PORK STROGANOFF

Looking for something quick and easy to make that the whole family will love… Try this free Pork Stroganoff Recipe… Stroganoff is a rich creamy dish with strips of meat and mushrooms served with rice or pasta. I have substituted half the cream with yoghurt this makes a much lighter stroganoff.


Ingredients


600g trimmed pork fillet cut into strips 
Salt and freshly ground black pepper 
80g leeks finely sliced
60g butter  
20ml olive oil
250g button mushrooms
pinch of cayenne pepper
1 tsp paprika
15ml wholegrain mustard 
125ml cream 
125ml yoghurt
75ml chicken stock 
15ml dry sherry or brandy
Rice to serve
Fresh parsley to garnish


Method
  • Heat a little of the butter and oil and gently fry the pork strips in small batches over high heat. Set aside while making the sauce.
  • Heat the remaining butter and olive oil and fry the mushrooms and leeks for a few minutes.
  • Stir in the cayenne pepper, paprika, mustard, cream, yoghurt, chicken stock and sherry and bring to the boil.
  • Reduce the heat and simmer for about 5 minutes.
  • Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
  • Return the pork strips to the pan and bring the mixture to the boil.
  • Remove from the heat and serve on a bed of rice or pasta with vegetables.
Serves 4

APPLE & MINT RAITA

Raita is a Pakistani/Indian condiment made with yoghurt, seasoned with herbs and spices, you may also add some grated/minced vegetables such as cucumber, onions, and carrots. This free Apple & Mint Raita Recipe is lovely to serve as a side dish with hot curries or as a dip with party snacks. Raita is served chilled and helps to cool the palate when eating spicy dishes. 


Ingredients


2 large Granny Smith apples, peeled and cored
250ml mint leaves, stems removed and washed
pinch of salt
1 clove garlic, peeled
small pinch of green masala 
45ml lemon freshly squeezed lemon juice 
60ml (¼ c) plain yoghurt


Method
  • Put all the ingredients except the yoghurt in a food processor and blend.
  • Stir in the yoghurt, garnish with mint leaves and serve with hot curries, kebabs or party snacks.
Makes 1 cup

BACON & BUTTERNUT PASTA

This free Bacon & Butternut Pasta is incredibly tasty… A pasta dish that the whole family will love! Made with roasted butternut, crispy bacon, pesto and sour cream.


Ingredients


500g butternut, cubed
1 tsp crushed garlic
1 onion, chopped
30ml olive oil
30ml fresh oregano
salt and freshly ground black pepper 
250g bacon, diced
60ml pesto
100ml sour cream
250g penne pasta


Method
  • Preheat the oven to 200 °C.
  • In a large roasting pan, spread the butternut cubes, garlic and onion, drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper and sprinkle the oregano over the top.
  • Roast the vegetables for 10 – 15 minutes or until done.
  • In a saucepan fry the bacon until crispy, add the pesto and sour cream and mix well.
  • Cook the pasta in salted boiling water until al dente, drain and transfer to a large bowl.
  • Combine the butternut and bacon mixtures and spoon on top of the pasta and toss.
Serves 4

VICHYSSOISE

Vichyssoise is a creamy potato and leek soup… This free Vichyssoise Recipe is divine! Can be served lukewarm or cold.


Ingredients


90g butter
250g potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
5 leeks, sliced
500ml water
250ml milk
75ml cream
salt & white pepper to taste
fresh parsley or chives to garnish


Method
  • In a large saucepan melt the butter and gently stir-fry the potatoes and leeks for about 10 minutes, do not brown.
  • Add the water and milk and bring to the boil. 
  • Lower the heat and simmer for about 20 minutes or until the vegetables are soft. 
  • Remove from the heat and cool until lukewarm. 
  • Blend with a handheld blender or in a food processor until smooth. 
  • Add the cream and season with salt and pepper. 
  • Serve lukewarm or cold. 
Serves 6

FROZEN KIWI DAIQUIRI

This lovely free Frozen Kiwi Daiquiri Cocktail Recipe is so quick and easy to make! Made with rum, Triple Sec, fresh kiwi’s, lime juice, sugar and ice.


Ingredients


3 shots white rum
1 shot Triple Sec
1 ½ cups frozen kiwi’s
3 tblsp fresh lime juice
4 tsp sugar
2 cups ice cubes
fresh kiwi slices to garnish


Method
  • Peel and chop the kiwi’s the day before and freeze over night. 
  • Place the frozen kiwi’s into a blender, add the rum, Triple Sec, lime juice, sugar and ice.
  • Blend on high speed until smooth, add sugar more, if needed. Mix again. 
  • Kiwi’s are sour so keep adding sugar, little by little, until you get the taste you like.
  • Pour into glasses, garnish with slices of fresh kiwi if you have some left.
  • Serve immediately and enjoy!
Makes 3 – 4 cocktails