FINYS FABULOUS FOODS AND FINDS

This is a family meal, and a good way to get children to eat vegetables, as they are hidden!  If need be, cut them up very small so they do not actually see them.  This is healthy, as it has tuna in it which is rich in Omega 3's. The taste of this meal is extra delicious, and quite easy to make with only 30 minutes of cooking time.  It can also be heated up easily in the microwave if you are making it for less people than five - I generally only cook for about 2 people but had visitors when I made this meal. I generally use John West large tins of tuna in spring-water, however tuna in brine will also be OK - I do not use much salt in cooking due to high cholesterol problem! Preparation Time: 25 minutes Cooking Time: 30 minutes Makes: 5 servings Ingredients 50 g butter 1 medium onion, sliced thinly ¼ cup plain flour 2 cups milk 150 g baby spinach leaves 425 g can tuna in spring-water, drained 2 tbsp lemon juice Mushrooms (optional) POTATO AND CELE...

Turkey is a very low fat mince, is extremely cheap to use, and best of all, it has a lovely taste.  It is also very versatile, and I often cook using this mince. It is also an excellent source of protein and good if you are on a low fat diet. You can buy it at all supermarkets nowadays, and I usually buy 500 g, use half and have some always in the freezer. Often when I cannot think what to make for an evening meal, we have turkey balls with spaghetti, which is both easy to make, quick and delicious.  Having them on hand in the freezer is great for an emergency when I don't feel like being creative, or thinking about what to cook! In this instance I made the turkey into a "meatloaf" and as I was having one of my grandchildren here for dinner, I also minced some carrot, and a few other vegetables, which he could not taste.  He is not a good eater, and that is how we get him to eat vegetables - by hiding them in certain foods. I wanted some sort of sauce with this,...

Salads are a favourite of mine, my lovelies!  However I do perhaps say many things are my favourites, as I love to eat. Which reminds me, do you eat to live, or live to eat?  Guess which one I am! Although this is a salad, I will sometimes have just a salad as my main meal as it is healthy and if you eat enough, quite filling. In this instance however, I  have eaten it with leftovers I had from my chicken filled with apricots , and the two meals married very well together. If you want to be really healthy, cut out the chorizo and make it vegetarian! Chorizo is a Spnash type pork sausage, and is not the healthiest of foods, as it is so processed, however once in a while I think Chorizo is fine, and it IS delicious. You could also use bacon instead of the Chorizo - well that is just as unhealthy and also very good.  I always use Short Cut bacon as this cut has little fat on it - so you see, even if you do eat bacon, you can buy one that is healthier! Pr...

These small pumpkin pies are an ideal snack and could be eaten hot or cold.  They are therefore also great for lunch boxes instead of buying, spending money and getting food with chemicals in it. I usually make my own pastry for the same reason, however once again I was in a hurry and decided to use a frozen one.  When I use this type of pastry I always roll it out, as I like pastry to be nice and thin, and not take over the whole meal.  The bought pastries are always way too thick for me to cook with, and although I do not like buying processed ingredients, sometimes, my lovelies, it has to be done! You can cut everything up as large or as small as you like, and it works every time!  Basic beginners: attention - this recipe is also for YOU to impress someone. Team it with many other dishes as an accompaniment, or I generally eat them on their own with a salad, for lunch, or dinner.  They are also good when you just feel like "something" to snack on as th...

Lovely ladies and men - Do you ever get tired of having plain salads with tomatoes and lettuce, and similar ingredients?  I certainly do and am therefore always looking for great combinations that are both easy to make, as well as healthy, and this recipe ticks both those boxes. This recipe also gives you sliced beetroot, or you could always increase quantities to keep more of this healthy snacks or accompaniments. I used a green apple (a Granny Smith which I believe is only available in Australia) as these, although slightly sweet, are the most tart apples we can buy.  This goes very well with the slightly sweet vegetable, beetroot. Although it takes longer to make, I usually always make my own beetroot as I find the tins or jars of these are just too sweet, and my recipe included no added sugar whatsoever! This is probably a European salad, or possibly even Israeli, and it turns out a bright pink, though I didn't put in a lot of mayonnaise. You could serve it as a ...

Pizza is a favourite in my household.  I no longer buy pizza bases as I used to, as it is quite easy to make this, and once again, I know what has gone into it, and there are fewer chemicals if home made. The other thing about making your own bases is that you can have them as thick or as thin as YOU like it. There is one other huge benefit - my grandchildren do not like vegetables, but you can grate vegetables into this base, and they will not even taste it.  I call this "hidden vegetables", and it is a great way to get people who do not eat vegetables to at least eat carrot. I generally always put grated carrot in my base, however this is, of course an optional extra. You can put whatever you want on the toppings, and in this case, some of the visitors did not like certain items, so I had to make a different one for everyone! The ingredients in the toppings are therefore suggestions only, and can be varied to suit. Preparation Time: 45 minutes plus standing t...

This is a healthy alternative to fried fritters, and a very good way to get children, and adults to eat vegetables.  I have used fresh chickpeas and corn on the cob instead of tins, as they have a much nicer taste and no additives.  Chickpeas need to be soaked before cooking, and sweet corn can be cooked in the microwave, and the corn shredded off with a sharp knife. Once you have used fresh corn, you will never go back to the tins of it! I have served these fingers with rocket, sour cream, and some mango chutney, however they could be served with any salad or even chips baked in the oven. All the flavours went well together in this recipe to make a delicious meal! I originally made it as a vegetarian meal, however, at the last moment decided I wanted to add some bacon with it.  For those who are not vegetarians, this complemented the flavours of the vegetables. Preparation Time: 45 minutes Cooking Time: 15 minutes plus cooking fresh ingredients if requ...

This is a great vegetarian menu which is also once again a meal that is ideal for children who do not like vegetables.  It is also a great snack for the whole family. I am not that keen on the taste of parsnip on it's own however this is a very good way to eat parsnips, as the distinct, strong flavour seems to disappear in this recipe. I served it with my peanut noodles and celery slices It is a quick, easy meal to make, and would also be a tasty addition to a buffet  dinner, as it can be served either hot or at room temperature. Preparation Time: 20 minutes Cooking Time: 20 minutes Makes: 12 fingers Ingredients 2 tsp olive oil ½ cup firmly packed, grated zucchini ½cup firmly packed, grated carrot ½ cup firmly packed, grated parsnip 2 spring onions, finely chopped 3 eggs, lightly whisked 60g grated cheese (I used Jarlsberg, but any tasty cheese will do) 3 tbsp finely chopped parsley 1 tbsp plain flour Instructions: Preheat the oven to 180°C or sli...

This is not a difficult dish to make, and is worth every minute you put into it.  The chicken is baked in the oven, then sliced and it is nice and moist. Not only is this a distinctive meal, but it is another recipe that will also impress your visitors, as it looks so stunning and difficult to make.  Be a "Master chef" with this meal! You can serve this sliced with any roast vegetables, and it makes a tasty and professional looking meal. Carve it at the table to make it even more impressive looking. Preparation Time: 15 minutes Cooking Time: 35 minutes Makes: 2-3 servings Ingredients 40 g unsalted butter 1-2 shallots 2 garlic cloves, chopped finely 100g white button mushrooms, finely chopped 1 tbsp chopped parsley ½ tbsp chopped thyme leaves or dried thyme 2  x 180g chicken breasts, or 1 large one 1-2 tbsp olive oil Roast vegetables, to serve (optional) Method Chop all the ingredients and preheat your oven to 200°C/180° fan forced. Melt half ...