#itmakes2

[itmakes2]

Mmmbop

Raisin French Toast A deliciously simple breakfast meal

Mmmbop - Hanson

Approx. cost: $10 Approx. cooking time: 40 minutes

What you’ll need…

2 slices of raisin bread or brioche 2 eggs 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon ¼ cup of milk 2 tablespoons butter

What to do…

Beat eggs, milk and cinnamon.

Soak bread in mixture.

Melt butter in pan.

Cook bread in butter on each side until golden.

Serve with…

Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar and serve with berries.

[itmakes2]

Wanted You More

Beef Meatballs A quick, tasty meatball dish

Wanted You More - Lady Antebellum

Approx. cost: $18 Approx. cooking time: 50 minutes

What you’ll need…

Meatballs 200g ground beef 50g Parmesan, grated 50g breadcrumb 2 eggs 1 cup of milk ½ bunch flat leaf parsley, chopped ½ teaspoon of salt Pinch of ground pepper

Sauce 1 bottle passata (tomato puree) 1 teaspoon Italian herbs 2 tablespoons of olive oil ½ cup onion, chopped ½ garlic clove, crushed ¼ teaspoon of salt Pinch of ground pepper

What to do…

Sauce

Sauté onion in oil with garlic and herbs.

Add passata, salt and pepper.

Bring to boil and turn down heat to simmer.

Meatballs

Mix beef, Parmesan, breadcrumbs, parsley, herbs, salt, pepper, eggs and milk.

Form into balls.

Add to sauce and turn heat up until sauce begins to simmer.

Turn down heat and cover with lid. Simmer for 20 – 30 minutes.

Serve with…

Pasta and Parmesan.

[itmakes2]

Drops of Jupiter

Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Sage Butter A yummy take on gnocchi

Drops of Jupiter - Train

Approx. cost: $15 Approx. cooking time: 60 minutes

What you’ll need…

Gnocchi 1 sweet potato, cubed and roasted 1 cup of plain flour 1 egg Pinch of nutmeg Pinch of salt Pinch of pepper

Sauce 50g butter 6 sage leaves

What to do…

Pass sweet potato through potato ricer while still warm.

Add flour, lightly beaten egg, salt and pepper to potato and form into dough.

Cut dough into quarters.

Roll out each quarter into 3cm wide logs.

Cut logs into 2cm pieces of gnocchi.

Cook gnocchi in salted boiling water.

Melt butter in frypan.

Add sage leaves to pan and cook for 2 minutes.

Once gnocchi rises to the top of the pot, drain and add to pan.

Toss gnocchi in butter and sage.

Serve with…

Shaved Parmesan.

[itmakes2]

Roll to Me

Pork and Apple Sausage Rolls A delicious, healthy twist on the old sausage roll

Roll to Me - Del Amitri

Approx. cost: $16 Approx. cooking time: 50 minutes

What you’ll need…

1 sheet of puff pastry 100g pork, minced 1 apple, peeled and chopped ¼ cup of cranberries ¼ tablespoon of ground sage or 3 fresh sage leaves, chopped ¼ teaspoon of chili powder (optional) ½ celery stalk, chopped 2 tablespoons of breadcrumbs 1 egg Pinch of salt Pinch of pepper 1 tablespoon of olive oil ¼ leek, chopped

What to do…

Take pastry sheet out 30 mins prior to thaw.

Preheat oven to 180˚C.

Line baking tray with baking paper.

In a pan, sauté leek and celery in oil until transparent.

Add pork and lightly brown.

Add apple, cranberries, sage, chili, salt and pepper.

Remove from heat, place in mixing bowl and allow to cool.

Add breadcrumbs.

Lightly beat egg and mix to combine.

Cut pastry sheet in half.

Form a log of mixture on each half of pastry sheet.

Fold pastry over to form a roll and cut in half.

Place on baking tray with fold on bottom.

Bake for 20 minutes or until golden.

Serve with…

Salad.

Want more recipes with similar ingredients? Check out “Twist and Shout” Pastry twists with Nutella or "Wrapped Up” Chicken Parcels…

[itmakes2]

Sweetest Thing

Polenta and Orange Cupcakes A light, tangy cake dessert

Sweetest Thing - U2

Approx. cost: $12 Approx. cooking time: 50 minutes

What you’ll need…

1 egg ½ cup of instant polenta ½ cup of plain flour ¼ cup of caster sugar 2 teaspoons of baking powder 50g melted butter 2 tablespoons of honey Juice of ½ orange Zest of ½ orange 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract 2 tablespoons of milk Small pinch of salt For icing: Juice of ½ orange Zest of ½ orange 1 cup of icing sugar 2 tablespoons of soft butter

What to do…

Preheat oven to 160 degrees Celsius.

Line cupcake tray with paper cases.

Beat egg and sugar until light and fluffy.

Add salt, vanilla, butter, honey, orange juice and zest, flour, baking powder, polenta and milk.

Mix until well combined.

¾ fill paper cases with mixture.

Bake for 12-15 minutes.

Allow to cool.

For icing

Add all ingredients until combined. Add more icing sugar as needed.

Spread icing over cupcakes.

Sprinkle orange zest on top.

Serve with…

Coffee, tea or hot chocolate.

[itmakes2]

4 Minutes

Pan-fried Minute Steak with Caramelised Onions and Baby Spinach A quick, simple steak dish

4 Minutes - Madonna feat. Justin Timberlake & Timbaland

Approx. cost: $15 Approx. cooking time: 20 minutes

What you’ll need…

4 small pieces of minute steak 1 onion, sliced 1 tablespoon of olive oil ½ bag of baby spinach leaves ¼ teaspoon of chili powder 2 tablespoons of balsamic reduction Pinch of salt Pinch of pepper

What to do…

Sauté onions in olive oil in pan.

Add salt and pepper. Cover with lid.

Cook until onions soften and color.

Add balsamic reduction, meat and chili powder.

Cook meat one minute each side.

Add spinach. Cover with lid and turn off heat.

Serve with…

Rice, salad or mashed potato.

[itmakes2]

Livin’ On A Prayer (Pear)

Poached Wine Pears A mature, fruity dessert

Livin’ On A Prayer - Bon Jovi

Approx. cost: $15 Approx. cooking time: 40 minutes

What you’ll need…

2 glasses of white or red wine 2 pears suitable for cooking (e.g. Beurre Bosc) 1 cinnamon stick 1 star anise 2 tablespoons of sugar ¼ cup of water Zest of ½ lemon Juice of ½ lemon

What to do…

Peel pears and leave whole.

Place water and sugar in pot and stir until sugar is dissolved.

Add wine, pears, cinnamon and star anise. Bring to boil.

Turn heat down and cover with lid.

Simmer pears until tender.

Once tender, remove pears and place in serving bowls.

Add lemon juice and zest to pot.

Reduce liquid to syrup.

Spoon syrup over pears.

Serve with…

Icecream and biscuit crumbs.

[itmakes2]

Baby It’s Cold Outside

Pasta with Beans and Spinach A warming, healthy pasta dish

Baby It’s Cold Outside - Idina Menzel & Michael Bublé

Approx. cost: $15 Approx. cooking time: 40 minutes

What you’ll need…

200g pasta ½ can of beans, drained ½ bunch of basil ½ leek, chopped ½ small garlic clove, crushed ¼ cup of Parmesan cheese 3 tablespoons of olive oil Pinch of salt Ground pepper 1 small chili, chopped (optional)

What to do…

Fill saucepan with water and put on to boil.

Cook pasta (as per packet instructions).

Sauté garlic and leek in pan with 2 tablespoons of olive oil in pan.

Add chili, beans, spinach, basil, salt and pepper. Stir.

Drain pasta once cooked. Keep 1 cup of pasta water aside.

Add pasta, remainder of oil and Parmesan to pan. Add pasta water as required to thin out and create a sauce.

Serve with…

Extra Parmesan.