Take 5 ingredients...and it's dinner!

Take 5 Ingredients & it's Dinner! ....

Fasta ...Pasta

Tomato & basil Penne
Serves 4

4 cups of pasta – penne, fussil etc..
400ml passata
1 handful of torn basil leaves
2 tbls of parmesan cheese 
2 handfuls of Petit pois 

Cook pasta in lots of boiling water until al dente 
Meanwhile heat the passata, when simmering add half the basil leaves, parmesan & peas 
Pop the drained pasta into the sauce, stir through.
Transfer to bowls and top with remaining basil leaves & parmesan .

Quickest Carbonara
Serves 4

350g spaghetti
4 rashers (trimmed of fat)diced
Vegetarian option, fresh peas or baby spinach
I always pop the veggies in too!!
2 eggs lightly beaten
1 handful of parmesan cheese 

Fry the bacon in a non stick pan and drain on kitchen paper.
Cook the pasta according to the instructions.
Steam the peas Or baby spinach
When cooked drain and add veggies & the beaten eggs, combine well and add the bacon, sprinkle with parmesan & serve immediately


Spaghetti w bacon & pinenuts

350g pkt spaghetti
4 rashers (trimmed of fat)diced
2 handful of pinenuts
2 handfuls of sunblushed tomatoes
1/2 cup of passata 

Blitz the sunblushed tomatoes, 1 handful of pinenuts & the passata in a mini blender to make a sauce.
Fry the bacon in a non stick pan and drain on kitchen paper.
Toast the remainder of the pinenuts in the oven for  2/3 mins.
Cook the pasta according to the instructions.
While pasta is cooking heat the sauce and stir through the cooked bacon.
Toss the cooked spaghetti through the pasta & serve with toasted pinenuts scattered over each bowl.

Chicken & Chips (donellis version)
Serves 4

4 chicken breasts skin on
3 tablespoons of honey
2 tablespoons of Dijon mustard
4 rooster potatoes cut into thick wedges
Extra Virgin olive oil

Mix the honey & mustard
Pop the potato wedges on a baking tray drizzle with olive oil and cook for 20 mins @ 200
Spread the honey mixture over the chicken and pop on the bbq under the grill for 15 to 20 mins 
(check they are cooked through as the larger the chicken breast the longer it takes to cook )
Serve with potato wedges,  little chilli mayo & a mixed salad



Salmon Parcels
Serves 2

2 Salmon Fillets
1 orange juiced
1 sheet of puff pastry
1 egg beaten with a little milk  

Leave the salmon to marinate in the fresh orange juice for 30 mins.
Meanwhile cut the puff pastry into 2 pieces large enough to make parcels for the salmon
Lay the salmon on the sheet of puff pastry and make a parcel by pulling the ends together and pinching with a fork. 
 Brush with the egg mixture and pop on a lined baking tray for 20 mins @ 180 or until pastry is golden in colour...

Pesto Stuffed Steaks

2 Rib Eye Steaks (3cm thickness)
2 tablespoons of basil pesto
2 tablespoons of fresh parmesan 
4 Rooster potatoes cut into thick wedges
Extra virgin olive oil

Peheat the oven to 200, pop potatoes on a baking tray drizzled with olive oil and cook for 20 mins.
Preheat a heavy frying pan, cut into the side of each steak, to form a deep pocket, 
Spread the pesto in the pockets, press closed and drizzle with olive oil.
Pop steaks on the pan and cook to your taste 
Rare 3 mins each side, Medium 5 to 7 mins each side & well done 10 mins each side.

When cooked leave to stand covered for 5 mins, cut into thick strips, sprinkle with parmesan & serve with potato wedges. 



Tuna & Sweetcorn Cakes
Serves 2

1 Can of Tuna Chunks 400g 
3 tablespoons of mashed potato
1 egg beaten 
3 tablespoons of sweetcorn

Combine drained tuna, sweetcorn, mashed potato & beaten egg.  Shape into cakes.  Dust in a little flour and fry on a non stick pan with a little olive oil for about 4 mins each side until golden brown and heated through.

Serve with a tossed green salad


Honey Lemon Chicken
Serves 4

Marinade

4 tablespoons of lemon juice
3 tablespoons of honey
1 tablespoons of Dijon
4 chicken breasts … whole or cubed..  

Pop all of the marinade ingredients into a bowl.  Stir well to combine all of the ingredients .
Add the cubed chicken stir and coat with the marinade aallow to marinate,  if possible for an hour.. 

Heat oven to 200 (400F) Gas 6) and place in a casserole dish covered for the first 10 mins.. Stir to combine chicken with marinade and cook for a further 15 mins.

This dish is delicious with baked baby potatoes, drizzled with olive oil & seasalt & cooked for 20 mins @ 200 & some steamed broccoli.


Sesame Chill Beef  
Serves 4

500g beef strips
1 red chilli deseeded and finely chopped
2 tbls of oyster sauce
1 tablespoon of sesame seeds

Heat a non stick wok and swirl with a little olive oil,  pop the chilli on the pan for 30 seconds then add the beef strips, cook on a high heat for 1 min the add the oyster sauce, continue to cook until the sauce bubbles, add half the sesame seeds and combine.   Transfer to a serving dish and sprinkle with the remaining sesame seeds

Serve with steamed rice & a green veggie like steamed sugar snap peas.