FINYS FABULOUS FOODS AND FINDS

I had family from Interstate, and did not have much in the house, so we decided to make our own pizzas.  These are far healthier than bought ones, and two of the people also had to eat dairy free, so I knew exactly what was in the pizzas. Pizzas are not really difficult to make, nor do they take a long time to make.  I usually make double the dough and freeze it so that I can just take it out of the freezer and make a pizza whenever I feel like it, or whenever I have leftovers! However, in this instance, I had no dough and was in a hurry so used a bought base, which is not as nice as my own! Pizzas are great as they can be made with whatever you have in the pantry, or the fridge, and the following are some suggestions for when you have unexpected visitors, or if you want a very tasty casual meal.  It is also a way to get children to eat vegetables, as they are often "hidden" when cut finely and cooked.  You could also put grated vegetables in the dough which...

This is an interesting mixture of ingredients, and is both sweet and salty. I love food cooked using Hoisin sauce - this is the sauce that is used in Peking Duck which is one of my all time favourite foods.  It has an unusual taste, and goes very well with so many other ingredients, whether they are vegetarian or meat dishes. This meal has a rich and unusual flavour, and could be also served with steamed vegetables.  Cashew nuts could replace the walnuts if need be, however I had walnuts in my fridge so that is what I used in this instance. I served it over potatoes so that I could soak the sauce into the potatoes, and then I dipped fresh home made bread into the left over sauce!  This was delicious and well worth eating a bit less so you can fit this in. And remember, as I always say, my lovelies, do NOT over cook chicken breasts - they become dry and tough when overcooked.  If you JUST cook them so the pink is only just gone, they will be melt in your ...

This chicken roulade (or roll) has a wonderful mixture of smooth cream cheese with bacon and almonds, and a hint of olives. They are a bit fiddly to make, but well worth the effort. The taste is very delicate and the flavours are brilliant mixed together. You need to flatten out the chicken as it is nicer if it is thinner, however this is optional.  I always cut off the bits of fat if there is any on chicken breasts, and I generally use Mt Barker (A West Australian chicken company) as I find their free range chickens are nicer than the cheaper ones. I always emphasize, however, that you never over cook chicken breasts or they become dry - if you just cook them till the pink is gone, they will be tender and delicious. This recipe is suitable at a buffet, as you can slice the chicken into thin slices and serve with any other finger foods. Preparation Time: 20 minutes Cooking Time: 35 minutes Makes: 5 servings Ingredients 2 large or 4 smaller chicken breasts 125 ...

This recipe is very simple, quick to prepare, and also tastes very good. It is a handy "stand-by" in case you have unexpected visitors, and is a great family meal, and always impresses visitors! It is one of those recipes that just keeps improving each time you reheat it, so make double  the quantity, and freeze it, or eat it for several days. You could also add bacon or chorizo, for even more taste, and this would need to be browned first before adding to the rest of the meal. Preparation Time: 15 minutes Cooking Time: 60 minutes Makes: 4-6 servings Ingredients 6 x skinless chicken thighs ½ cup chutney (any) ¼ cup mayonnaise (a good one) ¼ cup tomato sauce Tsp curry Potatoes (optional) Instructions Clean the thighs, and cut them again in half as they are usually large - take off some of the fat, and place the thighs in an ovenproof dish. Add the other ingredients plus a bit of salt and pepper if desired. Mix this until it is smooth, and all mixe...

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...

If you are having visitors and want to impress anyone, then this is a recipe you could make.  With a "professional" look, it almost looks as if it has been bought. When you make food at home, it often is not "even", and has a rustic look that you do not see in bought meals from the supermarket.  This is particularly so when I make pastry as my pastry is rarely even.  However having jagged edges or being uneven to my mind, makes it look more authentic. This recipe is an authentic one, and one you will be praised for serving up to the most discerning guest at your dinner table. Of course, you can make it just for the family as well, which is what I did but either way, it will taste good and look brilliant.  I would term it a recipe that will impress! Although pistachios are expensive you can find small shops that sell things loose rather than having to buy a whole packet, so if you do not usually use pistachios, find one of these shops and just buy the amoun...

I used to be vegetarian, however after many years, I started to eat chicken and other poultry. Now I have reverted to also eating meat occasionally and I also eat and cook with bacon, as this is one of my favourite foods. I tend to have a vegetarian meal at least once a week still and seem to make a lot of chicken dishes, as chicken is so versatile. This recipe is one that I had most of the ingredients in the house and the only thing I had to buy were the bean sprouts, which I always buy fresh. I often keep frozen chicken in the freezer for those times when I do not know what to make for dinner, and as chicken is so very versatile, it is easy to defrost and make all in the one day. For this recipe I have used chicken breasts, which you need to make sure you do not over cook as they become very dry if you over cook them.  So important - only cook chicken strips for a few minutes if you want them to be melt in your mouth fabulous! I also always have cashews in my fridge (...

Chicken parmigiana is one of my favourite ways to do chicken, however it CAN sometimes be fiddly to make. But not now, my lovelies, here is an easy way to make it, AND it is an unusual dish with the addition of Ramen noodles, mushrooms and tomato- so not your ordinary parmigiana!  Parmigiana is generally also put in the oven as well as on the stove top. Ramen noodles are an inexpensive type of noodle and I find they are very versatile. This recipe is very tasty, easy and uses just one pot, making it quicker, and my favourite point of sale - less washing up! I served this with my mini pumpkin pies, and it was all so very "yummy" that I urge you to try it. Preparation Time : 20 minutes Cooking Time: 15 minutes Makes: 4 servings Ingredients 2 boneless chicken breasts (about 600g) 1 small egg beaten Up to ½ cup breadcrumbs 2 tbsp olive oil 500 - 600 g jar spaghetti sauce ¾ cup water 225 g mushrooms, quartered 150 g packet Ramen noodles, broken up ¼ to ½ ...

Hello once again, my lovelies! This chicken can be served for dinner in whole breasts, or to look more spectacular, you can serve them sliced and arranged on a plate for everyone to help themselves! There are many recipes which put fruit, nuts and cheese in the middle of rolled meat, and I really enjoy the chicken ones.  This is the first in my series of fillings for chicken, so keep on the lookout for more.  These really impress visitors, even though they are quite easy to make! A beginner just learning to cook that special meal, would have no problems with this recipe - the hardest part is cutting the pocket in the chicken. In this instance, I have used small chicken breasts as I find these rolled chicken delights are tastier with thinner chicken.  I also mainly buy free range or sometimes organic chicken. I have cooked this on the barbecue, however you could also do it in a pan.  I like that "smokey" flavour of the barbecue, so thought I would try it - I...