FINYS FABULOUS FOODS AND FINDS

This is a baked Hawaiian chicken with mustard, honey and pepper strips.  I originally made it without bacon, however the addition of bacon has given it more flavour.  I have served it with broccoli and Falafel balls which I made from a packet mix.  Falafel balls CAN be made from scratch, however on this particular occasion, I did not have spare time to make them, so used the packet.  Of course home made is always far nicer! I have also added sliced part cooked potato slices to the top, and this is also optional.  It is baked as against fried, making it a healthier option. Preparation Time: 20 minutes Cooking Time: 60 minutes Makes: 3 servings Ingredients 3 rashers shortcut bacon (optional) ½ chicken cut to serving size 1 tblsp butter ½ small green pepper 125 g can crushed pineapple, drained 3 tsp mustard 3 tsp honey 3 tsp rum or sherry Paprika Sliced potato (optional) Instructions: Cut the bacon and fry it for a few minutes -I like bac...

This is a rich, very yummy tasting family pie, which is easy to make, and cannot fail! Pies are so much nicer when home made as against buying them, and particularly as you know what is going in them. You could use this as a buffet style meal where everyone helps themselves, or you could cut it into squares and serve. I served this pie with some rocket, spinach leaves, lettuce and mini tomatoes. Preparation Time : 20 minutes Cooking Time: 60 minutes Serves: 4-6 servings Ingredients 1 sheet Puff pastry 1 onion, chopped 1 potato, sliced thin (optional) 4 short cut bacon rashers, diced 250g pack frozen chopped spinach 5 eggs or 4 extra large 300 ml cream ½ cup grated cheese 100 g Australian style feta Cooking oil spray Instructions Preheat the oven to 170°C or 150° if it is a fan forced oven.  Spray a 20 cm pie dish with the oil.  Defrost the pastry and put it into the dish, bringing it up the sides - use 1 ½ sheets if you prefer thicker pastry....

Pizza is not normally something you associate with breakfast however, as I love eggs, bacon and pizza, I decided to make one as a brunch. I don't have a cooked breakfast each morning but sometimes when I do, I like to try something different. I have tried bacon and eggs in many different forms, and they are a combination that never fails to please the pallete, and it can be served either as a savoury meal, or by adding maple syrup which goes wonderfully with these two magic ingredients. When you make these you can use Turkish bread rolls as these make a nice breakfast meal, though you could also use a large ordinary roll, or even a pizza base.  However I think for breakfast I would prefer as I have made it - with the Turkish roll. It is a quick recipe, easy and once again any beginner cannot fail with this one.  For those of you who do not like cooking, this is a quick, easy recipe which does not require a lot of work. You could possibly even use tomato sauce if yo...

Potato salad is another one of my favourites. Yes, I know, my lovelies, I have a lot of favourites - probably because I eat to live, and not live to eat! I tend to make potato salad in the hotter months as it is a cold meal or accompaniment, and have always wanted to try one that would be good for the colder months, and indeed during winter. This recipe hit all the right buttons, and I was able to have my potato salad in winter! Potato salad is something that is easy to make as you can put whatever you like in it.  I tend to make the same one over the over in summer, as it is so good, and do not often vary it.  However, that recipe is for another day when it warms up here in Australia! This is a simple, yet very tasty main meal or serve it as a side to a main meal.  For vegetarians, the bacon could be omitted and a bit of salt added for flavour.  I do not add salt to meals generally if I am putting bacon in them, as bacon has so much salt on it's own. ...

BRUNCH - is something that gets eaten a little later than breakfast! Or supposedly so.  Sometimes I make a big breakfast and I usually have this a bit later than my normal uncooked breakfast, as then I do not need to have lunch as well. Well, my lovelies, here is a recipe that is great for a Sunday morning, and it will save you making lunch for everyone.  I love breakfasts as eggs are one of my favourite foods (along with bacon and Nestle Sweetened Condensed milk). Sadly, I can no longer eat the Sweetened Condensed milk as there is just too much sugar in it, so I now concentrate more on savoury dishes, as well as a few sweets with no added sugar. But this article is not about sweets or my sugar levels!  It is about a brunch pie!  In this one I have teamed my two favourites - eggs and bacon and turned them into a rustic egg, bacon and cheese pie. Each week, the consensus is different about whether eggs are bad for your cholesterol levels or not.  Curren...

This toasted sandwich is packed with sauteed, slightly sweetened cinnamon apples and peanut butter.  Once again I am using peanut butter in a recipe as well as bacon.  Bacon is one of the most versatile foods as you can cook it with either sweet or savoury, and there is so much you can do with this product. Although this is slightly messy to eat, this toasted sandwich will please both children and adults alike. It is quick to make and could even be eaten as a breakfast or a brunch for the whole family. Preparation Time: 10 minutes Cooking Time: 8 minutes Makes: 2 sandwiches Ingredients 2 small apples 2 tbsp butter 1½ tsp cinnamon 8 pieces short cut bacon 2 tsp brown sugar or coconut sugar ¼ cup water ½ tsp vanilla 4 slices bread -preferably wholemeal 5 tbsp peanut butter Method Brown the bacon in a fry-pan or in the microwave.  I did this in the microwave between sheets of paper towel.  I always like to use "short cut" bacon as this has v...

HASH BROWNS - most of us like these potato treats, and I often make them for my grandson who stays on weekends. These are unusual hash browns as they have bacon and cheese in them as against a "normal" hash brown which has only potato in it. They are very tasty, and I also made a fried egg with them.  Once again, that versatile ingredient, pure Maple Syrup, would also go well on top of the egg. Preparation Time: 10 minutes Cooking Time: 25 minutes Makes: 2-3 servings Ingredients 2 medium potatoes 1 cup diced bacon 1 cup grated tasty cheese Bit olive oil Method Chop the bacon into small pieces and fry for about 10 minutes, depending on how crisp you like your bacon. While this is cooking, peel your potatoes (you can use them unpeeled as well).  I used a hand grater as it was quicker for two potatoes assembling a machine. Place the grated potato in a clean tea towel and squeeze out all the liquid - I keep a tea towel just for this and other cooking purp...