Thursday February 16, 2012

Dinner for 4

Bacon Wrapped Pork with Jezebel Sauce

Stir Fried Asparagus, Broccoli, Sugar Snap Peas and Capsicum

Smashed Potatoes

Berries with Cheesecake Cream

So it is not technically a Friday night dinner but my parents are in town this week visiting and I am going out of town Friday so I moved dinner to Thursday this week.  It was a little simpler as it was not the big late night festivities we usually have.  Kids have school and adults have work the next day.  I made the bacon wrapped pork with jezebel sauce again.  It is pretty simple to do and very tasty.  This time I pared it with some brighter sides.  The veggies are just stir fried with a little minced garlic in a hot wok with a little sesame oil.  I add just a splash of soy and lemon juice just as they about to come off the heat to season them and brighten the flavours.  The smashed potatoes are pretty simple too.  Just boil some small potatoes until tender.  Place on a lightly oiled  baking sheet and press.  I use a drinking glass.  Drizzle with a little more olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. (You can also add rosemary, thyme or garlic depending on what you plan to serve them along side)  Bake in 210C oven until crispy, about 25 minutes. 

Dessert was the berries with cheesecake cream again, but it is the first time I have served it to my parents.

Sources for the menu: Bacon Wrapped Pork with Jezebel Sauce was adapted from a Cuisine for Two magazine , Stir Fried Vegetables & Smashed Potatoes are both made without following any recipe and Berries and Cheesecake Cream is a recipe by Matt Tebbutt  that I found in the Jamie Magazine 2011/12 Yearbook.

Tuesday February 14, 2012

Dinner for 4

Heart Shaped Cheese Pizza

Yes I am that mum.  My valentine was out of town today so no romantic dinner for two at home instead it was home made heart shaped pizza for myself and my three children.

  

The kids loved it.  Pizza dough made with my bread maker topped with pizza sauce and mozzarella cheese.  

 

Friday February 10, 2012

Dinner for 2

Vietnamese Spring Rolls with Nuoc Cham

Pho Bo (Beef and Noodle Soup)

Went for Vietnamese this week.  Only myself and my Husband tonight so I kept it simple. A starter and main course no dessert or extras.  Shared some Spring Rolls with our son.

Like any spring roll these ones take some time to make but I am getting pretty good at rolling and folding items of this type and can do it in a timely manner.  The sauce that went with the spring rolls was very tasty.  I love homemade dipping sauces, they always have a crisper, fresher taste profile.  I did find my spring rolls didn't come out as crisp as I would have liked.  Perhaps my oil wasn't hot enough.  

I have never had Pho so I am not exactly sure how it is suppose to taste authentically.  The recipe I used called for making your own beef broth.  I used store bought and added the spices and cooked it down for a while but I found it was lacking some body and depth.  I think the next time I will try to make my own broth or jazz up the store bought even more.  The meat was beautiful, so tender.  Definitely going to try this again.

Sources for the menu: Spring rolls and sauce Good Taste Magazine (from Australia) and Good Taste Magazine   Pho Bo Good Taste Magazine as well.