Brussel Sprouts and Ham

From the Kitchen of Katina
 

  •  4 cups cooked brussel sprouts
  •  1/2 cup spring onions
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 cups ham cut into strips
  • rum flavour (if desired)


SAUCE

  • 2 tblsp butter
  • 2 tblsp plain flour
  • 2 cups stock from cooking sprouts or milk
  • 2 egg yolk



  • 1/4 cup cream
  • 2 tblsp lemon juice
  • salt and pepper
  • to finish - 2 tblsp grated parmesan cheese
  1. Arrange sprouts in a casserole dish
  2. Cook the onions in butter until soft
  3. Stir in the ham
  4. Pour this mixture over the sprouts
  5. Top this sauce made by melting the butter, adding the flour and whisking in the stock over the heat
  6. Cook until thick and smooth
  7. In a small bowl beat 2 yolks with cream and add half a cup of the hot mixture and whisk well
  8. Add to the sauce and whisk until hot
  9. Add lemon juice, salt and pepper
  10. Sprinkle the dish with cheese and pre-heat under a grill or in the oven until cheese has melted

 

Katina's Comments:

I haven't cooked this for years. Just reading the recipe reminds me that I should do it again. I suppose it's the Greek in me - the egg and lemon flavour - but much creamier, with the subtle flavour of the sprouts from the stock. (I use the stock, not milk)

Arni Kalamatas - Lamb Kalamata

From the Kitchen of Katina,

Source:  EROS OUZERI and KAFE
              275 Rundle Street, Adelaide
              Phone: 8223 4022

 

  • 12 lamb fillets - trimmed and all sinew removed
  • 4 cloves of garlic, peeled and finely chopped
  • 2 level tsp salt
  • 2x5cm sprigs of rosemary, leafed and finely chopped
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 3/4 cup retsina or other dry white wine

Mix everything except the fillets together, then roll the lamb through the coat evenly. Refrigerate for at least one hour. 

For the dressing you will need: 

  • 20 pitted kalamata olives
  • the juice of 3 large lemons (120ml)
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 60g sugar
  • 250ml olive oil

 

Puree the olives and lemons to make the tapenade. In another bowl, whisk the other ingredients together until they are emulsified. Then mix in with the tapenade. Also makes an excellent salad dressing. Char-grill or pan-fry your lamb fillets and drizzle with the dressing. Traditionally this dish would be served with polenta or rice and lightly fried spinach.

SERVES FOUR

Katina's Comments:

This is a recipe I found in "The Advertiser". I actually don't bother about the wine in the marinade for the meat. Maybe if I (Dan) cooked the lamb on the Hibachi I would add it, because the heat is more intense and it would be less likely to sweat. The dressing is very special. If you like olives, you'll love it! It can be used with any cut of lamb which is pan-fried, grilled or bar-b-qued. Use the left-over dressing on a green salad - it's yummy.

 

Roast Turkey Breast Roll  & Chicken Breasts with Herbs and Lemon

From the Kitchen of Katina

  • Turkey Breast Roll
  • Oil
  • Salt & pepper

Roast roll by brushing with oil, sprinkle with salt, cover with foil. Bake in 180C oven for 40 minutes per 500g. Remove foil approx. 30 minutes before end of cooking time to allow meat to brown. Test by inserting a skewer, if juices run clear, roll is cooked. 
 

HONEY & ORANGE GLAZE

  • 300ml orange juice
  • 2 tablespoons oil

 

  • 75g honey
  • 1 tablespoon orange rind

Combine all ingredients and brush over roll while cooking. 
 

HERB & LEMON GLAZE

  • 1/2 cup lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons curry powder

 

  • 1/4 cup oil
  • 1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tbsp. Mixed herbs

Combine all ingredients and brush over roll while cooking. 

Katina's Comments:
This recipe comes from the Central Market. I have only used the ''herb and lemon glaze". I don't actually use it as a glaze. I prepare the mixture and pour it over the turkey in the baking dish and baste the roll while it is cooking from time to time. I use this with chicken breasts. It's quick and easy - again there is lots of yummy sauce. It can be served with rice or potatoes because here is so much sauce. It only takes about 30-35 minutes. Preparation time is about 5 minutes.

 

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Pork Fillets

From the Kitchen of Katina

Source: Winsome Paul

Rub oil into the pork fillets. Sprinkle with curry powder. Place in baking dish with a little more oil. Cook at 200C.  Remove the pork fillets when cooked. Add the prepared sauce to the pan. Stir to catch any bits at the bottom. Finally add the cream and heat through. I slice the pork fillets and return them to the pan.
 

SAUCE

  • 1 cup water
  • 1 stock cube
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoons French mustard
  • 2 tablespoons cream
  • 2 teaspoons corn flour
  • 2 teaspoons water

Katina's Comments:
I prepare the sauce using all the ingredients except the cream which I add right at the end. This dish is always popular. The curry powder gives it an interesting flavour. The sauce is delicious and there is plenty of it. When it is presented on a platter covered in this creamy sauce it's a winner every time. What's more, it is so easy to prepare and takes only about 30-40 minutes. I usually serve it with potatoes, carrots and a green vegetable.


Katina and twin brother Jim in serious tasting mood on their 60iest birthday

 

Sausage with Haricot Beans
 

From the Kitchen of Katina

  • 2 cups haricot beans soaked overnight
    • cook in plenty of boiling water for 20 minutes
    • reserve liquid
  • cook 6 sausages in heavy casserole 
    • remove 
    • drain on paper
    • discard fat
  • add 1 onion, garlic
  • add 1 cup reserved liquid
  • 2x400g canned tomatoes
  • 1 tsp dried chilli flakes
    • cook 5 minutes
  • add beans and sausages
  • simmer 15-20 minutes until beans are tender and sauce has thickened

 

Katina's Comments:

A simple dish. It is important to use good quality sausages - preferably continental. You can substitute canned beans but it is always tastier to use 'real' beans.

 

 

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Herbed Veal Chops with Pine Nuts

From the Kitchen of Katina
 

  • olive oil
  • 8 veal chops
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 40 pine nuts
  • 2 tsp parsley
  • 4 tsp basil
  • 2 tsp tarragon
  • 4 tsp grated parmesan cheese
  • freshly ground black pepper

Brush a frying pan with olive oil. On medium heat, cool veal chops on both sides until almost done. Turn off the heat, leaving chops in pan and cover with a lid or foil. 

Finely chop, using a food processor if available, herbs, garlic and pine nuts. Mix together and add parmesan. Return pan to heat and stir in herb mixture. Reheat for about 30 secs and season with freshly ground black pepper.

Serve with steamed broccoli and mashed potato.

Serves 4

Katina's Comments:
I used this recipe but substituted slices of veal. I just love the herb/pine nut combination.

 

Sea Perch Fillets with Fennel and Parmesan Sauce

From the Kitchen of Katina

Source: Angelakis Bros.

  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 1 fennel bulb - sliced
  • 500g sea perch fillets
  • 1/3 cup cream
  • 1/4 cup fish stock or white wine
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tbsp grated parmesan cheese
  • 1 tbsp chopped fresh dill

 

Melt butter in frying pan over medium heat. Add fennel and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Remove and keep warm. Add fish to frying pan and cook over medium heat 2-3 minutes per side or until fish is opaque and beginning to flake when tested. Remove and keep warm. Add cream, stock, salt and pepper to frying pan and bring to the boil. Simmer 1 minute or until sauce thickens. Add fennel, parmesan, dill and fish. Heat through and serve. 

Serves 4

Katina's Comments:
This was delicious - the subtle taste of fennel with cheese and cream.

Tas Kebab - Meat with Pilafe

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: The Home Book of Greek Cookery by Joyce M. Stubbs
 

  • 2 lb. veal or stewing steak
  • 2 oz. butter
  • 2 finely sliced onions
  • 4 very ripe tomatoes
  • 1 good tsp tomato paste
  • 1 wineglass vermouth
  • 1 pint hot water
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • pinch of cinnamon
  • salt and pepper

Melt the onions in the butter, using a heavy saucepan. Add the skinned and pulped tomatoes, cinnamon, sugar and the tomato paste diluted in water. Season with salt and pepper. Cut the meat into small pieces and put into the pan. Stir in the water, cover the pan and cook very slowly for one hour or until the meat is tender. Just before serving, stir in a wineglass of vermouth. Serve with a pilafe
If liked, the rice may be cooked with the meat. In this case more water must be added before throwing in the rice. 

Katina's Comments:
This is a fail-proof recipe. It is simple. Great for winter. I use sherry and add it when I add the water. Cut the meat into fairly big chunks and so it doesn't dry out. You can use plain boiled rice or alternately fry a thinly sliced onion in olive oil, add rice and stir until grains are coated with oil. Then add stock or water. Also serve with a green vegetable of some sort.

 

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Roast Beef in Pepper Crust Rôti de Boeuf en Croûte de Poivres

From the Kitchen of Katina

  • 13/4 lb (800 g) tenderloin (rump roast), about 21/4 inches (6 cm) in diameter, tied with string
  • 1 tsp black peppercorns
  • 1tsp white peppercorns
  • 1tsp green peppercorns in brine
  • 1tsp coarse sea salt
  • 1tsp dried thyme leaves
  • 1/2 tsp peanut (groundnut) oil
  1. Allow meat to stand at room temperature for 1 hour before you cook it.
  2. Preheat the oven to 475F (240C / gas 9). Place in cast-iron or porcelain baking dish or roasting pan large enough for the roast in the oven to preheat.
  3. Combine the 3 types of peppercorns with the coarse salt in a mortar. Grind together, and add the thyme; mix well.
  4. Pat the roast dry and brush it with the oil. Season evenly the ground herbs and spices.
  5. Place a rack in the baking dish so that the meat will be exposed to heat on all sides. Place the meat on the rack and cook for 30 minutes. Turn off the oven, and let the roast rest in the oven for another 10 minutes without opening the oven door.
  6. Slice the roast 1/2 inch (1 cm) thick; the slices will be cooked pink throughout. Arrange on a warm plate and serve with mashed potatoes garnished with thyme.

 

This roast is also delicious served cold. Remove it from the oven after the 10 minutes of resting time and let it cool on a rack so that the meat is not bathed in its own juices - however little there may be. Serve in very thin slices, with salad, fresh onions and olives. 

 

Katina's Comments:
I cook this for special occasions. It is good served cold for a buffet-style meal as explained above.

 

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Fish Pie

From the Kitchen of Katina
 

  • 1kg firm white fish fillets, flathead is ideal
  • 2 cups white wine
  • 1 bunch spinach, cooked with 1 tbsp butter and 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 bunch leeks
  • 150g butter
  • 150g flour
  • 300ml milk
  • 1n tbsp French mustard
  • seasoning
  • mashed potato, made with 6 medium potatoes, butter and milk
  1. Place fish in one layer in a shallow baking tray. Cover with wine and cook at 180C for about 12 minutes or until just firm. Set aside to cool, keeping the liquid.
  2. Wash and chop the spinach, including some stalk. Cook in a covered saucepan with the tablespoon of butter and the chopped garlic. Drain well. Clean the leaks and cut into rings, including a small amount of the green.
  3. Melt 150g butter in a saucepan and soften leaks. Add flour, cook and stir until the roux is well cooked and foaming. Add milk and 300ml of reserved fish liquid. Cook this sauce until thickened, adding mustard and adjusting seasoning.
  4. Break up the fish into large chunks and fold into the white sauce. In an oven-proof casserole, lay the spinach, top with the fish in white sauce and follow with the mashed potato, dotted with a little extra butter.
  5. When ready to serve, reheat the "pie" and even brown the top under the grill. Serve with the sauce separately. Simmer together the remaining fish juice, equal quantities of cream, white wine and some chopped parsley.

 

Katina's Comments:

This is a recipe from Cath Kerry (I think) - courtesy of "The Advertiser". It's worth trying. It can all be prepared beforehand and cooked when required - you can spend more time with your guests.

 

David Zhu's Snapper Wings with Helen's Dipping Sauce

From the Kitchen of Katina
 
 

SNAPPER WINGS

  1. Marinate in crushed coriander, star anise, ground pepper and soy sauce.
  2. Lightly coat in flour.
  3. Fry in olive oil.

DIPPING SAUCE

  1. Finely slice chilli.
  2. Soak in 1/2 cup lemon juice.
  3. Add fish sauce, sesame oil and coriander.

Dan's Comments:Serve David with Helen! Katina's Comments: For those who know how to cook...

 

Frank's Pizza Sauce

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: Clarissa via Frank himself

  • 1 can diced tomato (just flesh, no juice), or peel and chop about 3 tomatoes
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 large pinch oregano
  • 1 large clove chopped garlic
  • salt

Mix and place on a pizza base.

Toppings:
chopped olives, salami 1" square sizes, sprinkle oregano grated mozzarella, slabs of fresh mozzarella, grilled capsicum - no parmesan.

 

Katina's Comments:
This tastes so authentic - Frank is Italian, a superb cook - so try it.

 

Thea Amalia's Roast Chicken

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: Thea Amalia
 
 

  • 1 whole free-range chicken.
  • mustard
  • 2 pieces of kefalogaviera cheese
  • oregano
  • potatoes
  • 2 lemons
  • olive oil
  • salt and pepper

Spread mustard over the chicken. 
Put two pieces of kefalogaviera cheese inside the chicken. 
Sprinkle the chicken with oregano. 
Surround chicken with quartered potatoes in the baking dish. 
Add juice of two lemons, olive oil and salt and pepper. 
Bake 200C for 11/2 hours. Turn over half-way through.

Katina's Comments:
 My aunty Amalia lives in Piraeus and is 82 years old. She is a wonderful cook! You can use another cheese it you like.

 
Thea Amalia serving barbounia(red mullet) 

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Thea Amalia's Tiropita

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: Thea Amalia
 
 

  • 1/2 kilo fetta cheese
  • 2 full tablespoons of fine semolina
  • 200 ml milk
  • 3 lightly beaten eggs
  • pepper
  • filo pastry
  • oil
  • green capsicum

1/2 kilo fetta; Thea Amalia lets it dry out in the refrigerator and then grates it.

Mix 2 full tablespoons of fine semolina together with 200 mls milk in a saucepan. Stir continuously over a low heat. Add more water if it sticks (about 100 ml + or -). Takes about 5 minutes. Remove from stove. Add 3 lightly beaten eggs to semolina mixture. Add this mixture to the fetta. Add pepper to taste.

Lightly oil a round baking dish. Place 6 layers of filo on bottom of dish after brushing each layer with oil. Layer each one cross-wise to the previous one.  Spread fetta/semolina filling on top. If you like you can place chopped green capsicum on top of the cheese filling.

Separate the edges of filo which are overhanging and place each one on top of cheese filling.  Place five more layers on top of filling. Cut off overhanging edges. Brush with oil.

Make parallel cuts in the top layers of pastry approx. 8-10 centimetres apart.

Bake at 200C. Cut into serving portions.

Katina's Comments:
You can have this for lunch or serve it as an entree or whatever.  The semolina gives the pie a creamier taste and takes the edge off the sharpness of the fetta.

 

Thea Amalia's Souzoukakia

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: Thea Amalia

  • 500g lean minced beef
  • 2 slices bread, soaked in water and squeezed dry
  • 1 egg
  • 3-4 cloves garlic
  • cummin to taste.
  • salt and pepper

 

Mix the above ingredients. Roll into small sausage shapes. Shallow fry in olive oil. 

Sauce:
Fresh tomatoes, oil, salt and pepper. 
Bring to boil and simmer 

As souzoukakia are cooked add them to the sauce in the saucepan. The sauce must be on a low simmer. 

This can be served with potatoes, or pasta or rice.  Greek salad. 

Katina's Comments:
Thea Amalia also served the Fava and of course, delicious Greek bread. The souzoukakia can be prepared beforehand and the rest can be finished just before serving.

Monica's Paprika Chicken 

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: Monica  from Fethiye

  • 1 kilo chicken breasts
  • Enough paprika to coat chicken
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 1 egg
  • Some corn flour (?)
  • Cut 1/2 an onion, chop and squeeze the juice into the chicken mixture

 

Mix everything together until chicken pieces are coated.
Shallow fry in olive oil.

Serve with rice, or potatoes and salad. 

Katina's Comments:
Monica was our hostess at a Youth Hostel where we stayed in Fethiye, Turkey. She prepares  home-style food every night for the guests. 4 Euros is all it costs - unbeatable value - really good tucker. I have a couple of her recipes. I haven't made this yet but one day I will.

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Zucchini Pie

From the Kitchen of Katina

Serves 4-6

  • 250 grs grated zucchini
  • 125 grs grated carrot
  • 1 onion finely chopped
  • 1 cup grated cheese (matured/semi-matured)
  • 1 cup SR Flour
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup chopped ham (I used some pastrami as well)
  • Salt and pepper to taste

 

Topping

  • 1/2 cup olive oil (vegetable oil)
  • tomatoes and herbs (basil/mixed)
  1. Mix all ingredients together.  Place into pie dish. 
  2. Arrange sliced tomatoes on top and sprinkle with herbs.
  3. Drizzle a small amount of oil on top.
  4. Bake in moderate oven for 30-35 minutes.

 

Katina's Comments:
Vegetarians can omit the ham. If you like just use zucchini. This dish can be used for lunch, a light meal. Hot or cold it is delicious. Cut it into small squares and use it as part of a buffet.

 

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Tuna and Sweetcorn Mornay

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: Newspaper cutting
 

  • 440g can tuna
  • 60g butter
  • 1 onion
  • 2 tsps chicken stock powder
  • 2 tsps prepared mustard
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 3 tbsps flour
  • 2 cups milk
  • 3 tbsps sour cream
  • 1 can sweetcorn
  • 1/2 cup rice
  • 2 cups fresh breadcrumbs
  • 60g butter, extra

Cook rice in boiling salted water until tender, about 10 minutes. Drain, and then arrange rice over base of an ovenproof dish. Arrange drained and flaked tuna over rice.

Melt butter in a saucepan and add peeled finely chopped onion. Lightly fry until onion is transparent.

Add stock powder, mustard, salt, pepper and flour. Stir until smooth. Cook for one minute. Add milk gradually and stir until smooth. Then stir until sauce boils and thickens. Add sour cream and drained corn. Simmer for one minute.

Remove from heat, pour sauce over tuna, combine breadcrumbs and extra melted butter, and sprinkle on top of sauce. Bake uncovered at 180C for 30 minutes until rich golden brown on top.

Katina's Comments:
Tuna Mornay is not something my Mother made. I like this version - probably the sour cream gives it a special flavour.

 

Taissa's Pork Recipe

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: Taissa
 

  • 11/2 - 2lb pork fillet
  • butter
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 1/4 pint stock
  • 3 tomatoes
  • chopped parsley

Melt 1/3 butter in flameproof dish, add sauces and seasonings for marinade and mix together. 

Put in pork pieces (cut in 2 inch pieces). Leave for 30 minutes to marinate.

Heat rest of butter in a pan. Sauté pork pieces, drained from the marinade, together with onion, until pork changes colour.

Pour in stock. Simmer until tender. Lift out pork onto a serving dish.

Add marinade to pan and reduce till sticky (if too much stock to begin with, tip out or it will be diluted). Add sliced tomatoes and cook for a few minutes.

Katina's Comments:

 

 

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Chicken Tikka

From the Kitchen of Katina

For marinade see Chicken Tikka Marinade

Mix well yoghurt, lemon, ginger, garlic, chilli, gara masala and salt.

Add chicken pieces and mix well.

Leave to marinate at least 12 hours.

Skewer the chicken pieces and cook over coals or under a griller until cooked, dabbing oil or melted butter on the pieces when nearly cooked.

Katina's Comments:


Jim and Igonol at Rawnsley Park
 

 

Chicken Cacciatora

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: Don Dunstan's Cookbook

Quickly cooked chicken dish, never failing in flavour.

SERVES 6
 

  • 2 x 21/4 lb. (1-1.25 kg) chickens
  • 8 tbsp plain flour
  • salt and pepper
  • 1 green capsicum
  • 1 onion
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 4-6 tomatoes
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 glass dry white wine
  • 1 tbsp chopped parsley
  • 6 black olives
  • 6 green olives
  • 1 tbsp chopped basil

Cut the chicken in serving pieces, salt and pepper them, and coat in flour. Fry in a heavy pan in olive oil until golden. Remove to an iron casserole. In the same pan fry diced capsicum, onion, and chopped garlic. When the onion is soft, add peeled tomatoes, bay leaf, salt, pepper, wine. Bring to the boil, stir and add to the chicken in the casserole. Cover and simmer about 30 minutes, or until chicken is tender. Add chopped parsley and basil, stoned olives, and serve.

Katina's Comments:

 

Courgette Pie

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: Nikos & Maria Psilakis; The secret of good health OLIVE OIL, advice on its correct use. Karmanor, under the auspices of "The Greek Academy of Taste"!!!!!!
 

For the filling

  • 1 kg courgettes
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 4 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 medium onion grated
  • 1 green pepper, grated
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped dill or mint
  • 4 eggs
  • 1/2 cup grated cheese
  • 1/2 cup zwieback biscuit crumbs (Dutch rusks)

For the phyllo paste

  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 kg self-raising flour

Grate courgettes the evening before, season with salt, put into a colander and allow them to drain very well. The following day, combine well with the rest of the ingredients and leave aside.

Prepare the dough for the filo: Beat olive oil, milk and salt and slowly add flour until you have soft dough. Divide into 2 balls, one a little bigger than the other one. This you roll out and place on the bottom of an oiled pan leaving 2 cm dough hanging over the sides. Spread courgette mixture on top and cover with another filo, which you make by rolling out the remaining dough. Bring the dough hanging over the outer and inner sides of the pan together and pinch carefully to joint them. Baste with beaten egg, mark pieces with a sharp knife and bake in moderate heat until golden brown, about an hour.

 

This makes a large pie - about 30 cm x 25 cm.

 

Katina's Comments:
Irene
's Filo Pastry which is  available at Gaganis in Adelaide would be perfect for this.

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Pork and Apple Skewers

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source:?

SERVES 6 - 8

  • 24 bamboo skewers
  • 1 lb (500 g) pork tenderloin (fillets), cut into 11/2 inch (4 cm) cubes
  • 2 red apples, cut into 12 wedges each
  • 5 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 2 tbsp lime juice
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro (coriander) leaves
  • 2 kaffir lime leaves, finely shredded
  • 1 tbsp Thai basil
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 clove garlic, finely chopped

Soak skewers in cold water for 10 minutes, then drain. Place pork and apple wedges onto skewers and place in shallow non-metallic dish. In a bowl, combine 3 tablespoons oil, juice, soy sauce, cilantro, lime leaves, basil, salt, pepper and garlic and mix well. Brush over pork and apple, cover dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Drain off marinade.

Preheat a grill pan or barbecue, then brush grill with remaining oil. Grill skewers until pork is tender, 2-3 minutes per side. Remove from grill and serve warm.

Katina's Comments:
 


  

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Sticky Honey Chicken Wings

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: Tried and True Recipes, Belinda Jeffries, Penguin

SERVES 4

  • 1.5 kg chicken wings

marinade

  • 90 ml light olive oil, or peanut oil
  • 90 ml soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup tomato sauce
  • cup honey
  • 3/4 tsp five-spice powder
  • 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh ginger
  • 11/2 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 21/2 tbsp hoisin sauce
  • 11/2 tbsp white wine vinegar

garnish

  • toasted sesame seeds (optional)

Whisk together all marinade ingredients until they are well combined. Put the chicken wings into a container lined with a plastic bag. Pour in the marinade, then knot the bag tightly. Jiggle it around so the wings are thoroughly coated in the marinade. Seal the container tightly and chill it for at least three hours or, better still, overnight. Just remember to turn the wings occasionally so every part of them gets a good soak. Return the wings to cool room temperature before cooking them.

Preheat the oven to 180C. Tip the wings and their marinade into a baking tin that will hold them comfortably. Put them in the oven and cook them, uncovered, for 45 to 60 minutes. (The time varies considerably depending on the size of the wings). Turn them regularly until they have a gorgeous bronze tan and are cooked through. If, once they're cooked, they're not as dark as you would like them, just run them under a hot grill for two to three minutes to caramelize the tops.

When the wings are ready, pile them on a warm serving dish. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds. They're best served warm or at room temperature, with lots and lots of serviettes and a finger bowl filled with a little warm water and lemon slices.

Katina's Comments:

 

Roast Lamb with Red Onions and Tomato

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source:?

Red onions and tomato soften into a juicy sauce for lamb, as they roast together under a drizzle balsamic vinegar.

SERVES 4 (60 minutes)

  • 4 red onions
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 6 roma tomatoes
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • olive oil, extra
  • 4 racks of lamb, 4 cutlets each

 

Preheat oven to 200C. Peel onions, and cut into 1cm thick slices.
Toss with oil and balsamic vinegar in a baking dish. Cut tomatoes in half lengthways, and bake for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat a little extra olive oil in a frypan until hot. Add the racks of lamb and sear for 5 minutes, or until brown. Remove lamb, season well with salt and pepper, and place the lamb amongst the onions and tomatoes. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, depending on the thickness of the meat. Arrange a tumble of the caramelized onion and tomatoes on each plate, and top with 4 cutlets of lamb.

Katina's Comments: 

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Onno's Mussels

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: Onno Bakker (Dutch Men's Weekly???)

Cook them with:

  • leeks
  • carrot
  • onion
  • garlic (a bit)
  • parsley
  • pepper
  • 1 glass white wine

Drain and use juice for ROUX (butter, flour). Add creme fraiche and perhaps a bit of lemon juice. Give everyone a small bowl of his (sic) own for sauce to dip in. Pick the mussels out of the scale (scallop) (shell?) with another "bivalve" as a tool.

EET SMAKELIJK!

Dan's Comments:
Work that one out! I remember it being very nice but.

 

Ricotta Ravioli with Olives and Caper Topping

From the Kitchen of Katina

  • 500 g ravioli (see comments)
  • 750 ml Italian tomato sauce or other bottled sauce
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 small onion
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1/2 cup fresh basil
  • 20 small black olives
  • 1 tbsp capers
  • 1 small yellow, green or red pepper - cut into strips
  • 100g ham cut into small cubes
  • freshly grated parmesan

 

Sauce

  1. Lightly fry garlic and onion in oil until transparent
  2. Add tomato
  3. Fresh basil to taste
  4. Salt and pepper
  5. Simmer until sauce becomes thick

 

Topping

  1. Heat oil in frying pan
  2. Add peppers, ham, and cook until crisp
  3. Add olives, capers and basil (either whole or roughly cut) and  heat through
  4. Add pepper to taste

 

Ricotta

  1. Cook ricotta ravioli in salted, boiling water

To serve

  1. Mix sauce through ricotta ravioli
  2. Top with olive, caper topping
  3. Sprinkle with freshly grated parmesan

 

Katina's Comments:
I buy ravioli from Vari's on Norwood Parade. I used spinach-ricotta ravioli for this recipe. You could also make this with other types of pasta. Vari's make a yummy pumpkin and walnut ravioli.

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Chicken Breasts with Broccoli

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: Jamila

  • 4 breasts, diced or sliced
  • salt and pepper
  • fresh grated ginger
  • 3 green shallots (spring onions)
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 small broccoli
  • 1 large red capsicum
  • 3 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp sherry
  • 4 tbsp oil
  • 1 tbsp flour
  1. Season chicken and coat with flour
  2. Heat oil in a wok
  3. Fry chicken, then remove
  4. Add ginger, shallots, garlic to wok
  5. Add vegetables and stir fry; steam broccoli first
  6. Return chicken to wok
  7. Add soy sauce and sherry

 

Katina's Comments:

 


Pam Furze

 

Roasted Tronçons (Pieces) of Turbot with a Sauce Vierge

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: ?

Serves 4

  • 85 ml (3 fl oz) extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for brushing
  • 1 tsp chopped rosemary
  • 1 tsp chopped thyme
  • 1 bay leave, very finely chopped
  • 1/2 tsp crushed fennel seeds
  • 1 tsp coarsely crushed black peppercorns
  • malden sea-salt flakes
  • 4 x 175-225 g (6-8 oz) tronçons of turbot

 

For the Sauce Vierge:

  • 85 ml (3 fl oz) extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 plum tomato, seeded and cut into small dice
  • 8 black olives, pitted and cut into fine strips
  • 2 small anchovy fillets in oil, drained and diced
  • 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
  • 1 heaped tsp coarsely chopped parsley
  • salt and coarsely ground black pepper
  1. Pre-heat the oven to 230C/450F/Gas Mark 8. Mix together the olive oil, chopped herbs, fennel seeds, crushed peppercorns and 1 tsp of sea salt in a small roasting tin. Add the pieces of turbot and turn them over in the mixture so that they are well coated.
  2. For the sauce, put everything except the chopped parsley and seasoning into a small pan, ready to warm through just before serving.
  3. Heat a heavy-based ovenproof frying pan over a high heat until smoking-hot. Add the tronçons of turbot, dark-side down, to the pan and sear for about 1 minute until the skin has taken on a good colour. Turn them over, transfer the pan to the oven and roast for 8-10 minutes. Just as the fish is ready, place the sauce over a very low heat to warm through.
  4. To serve, lift the pieces of fish onto the centre of 4 warmed plates. Stir the parsley and seasoning into the sauce and spoon it around the fish. Brush the top of each piece of fish with a little more oil and sprinkle with a few sea-salt flakes.

 

Alternative Fish:
Thick fillets of brill, John Dory or sea bass, or fillets of flaky fish such as cod, haddock or hake.

Katina's Comments:
I used king fish. Mulloway would be fine.

I have baked the fish as in the recipe but what I usually do is cook mulloway, flathead (whatever) in a frying pan then serve the fish with the sauce. It can either be served separately or poured over the fish in the pan just before serving.

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Pasta e Piselli

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: ?

  • 2 tsp olive oil
  • 1 onion sliced into rings
  • 2 cups peas
  • 1 litre hot chicken stock
  • 1 cup pasta or broken lasagne
  • handful fresh basil
  • 1 tsp butter
  • 4 slices of proscutto/panetta, cut into strips
  • salt and pepper

Heat olive oil, fry onion till soft. Add 4 slices proscutto and peas, and toss well.

Pour hot chicken broth on top and cook for 10 minutes.

Cook pasta separately. Drain and add to broth and cook 5 minutes.

Add a little butter to each dish to enhance flavour.

Katina's Comments:
Really nice recipe!


Dave McLaren and Pam Lloyd (Jan 04)

 

 

Chicken Masala

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: Ada Salzborn

SERVES 4

  • 750g skinless chicken thigh pieces on the bone
  • 2 tsp turmeric
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 2 tsp minced garlic
  • 2 tsp minced ginger
  • 2 tbsp chopped coriander leaves
  • 1 tbsp chopped mint leaves
  • 1 tsp ground fenugreek
  • 2 tbsp Thai-style sweet chilli sauce
  • 1 tbsp garam masala
  • 1 cup chicken stock
  • 1/2 cup coconut cream
  • coriander leaves and toasted peanuts for garnish

Optional:

  • 1 taramind fruit, peeled and soaked in 2 tbsp hot water, or 1 tbsp lemon juice

Garam Masala:

  • 4 or 5 cardamom pods
  • 2 tsp coriander seeds
  • 2 tsp cumin seeds
  • 1 tsp black peppercorns
  • 1/2 nutmeg, grated
  • 6 or 7 cloves
  • 4 cm cinnamon stick, broken into pieces

 

Put chicken and turmeric in a plastic bag and toss to coat. Lightly fry the chicken in a little olive oil for 2-3 minutes over medium heat to brown, then remove from pan.

In the same pan lightly fry onion, garlic, and ginger in a little more oil for 4-5 minutes.

Add coriander leaves, mint, fenugreek, chilli sauce, garam masala, stock, coconut cream and taramind pulp or lemon juice (if using).

Add chicken and simmer very slowly for 45 minutes.

To make the garam masala: Remove seeds from cardamom pods. Put cardamom seeds and other spices in coffee grinder or mortar and grind to make a powder. Sift through a sieve and regrind any large pieces. Store in an airtight container. (The mixture keeps very well for several weeks).

Serving suggestion: Serve on a bed of rice, garnished with coriander leaves and peanuts.

Leftover potential: This dish is even better the next day. Keeps for 2 or 3 days in the refrigerator. Reheat before serving.

Katina's Comments:

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Arni Stamnas - Lamb and Vegetables Baked in an Unglazed Clay Pot

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: ?

  • 2 pounds boneless leg of lamb, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1/2 -1 tsp minced fresh chilli pepper, or 1/3-1/2 tsp dried red pepper flakes
  • 3 medium onions, sliced
  • 1 bay leaf, crushed
  • 1 tbsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • sea salt
  • 3 medium eggplants, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 3 green bell peppers, seeded and cut into strips
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 medium potatoes, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 cup strained fresh tomato puree or 2 tbsp tomato paste diluted in 1/3 cup warm water

 

In a large bowl, mix the lamb with the olive oil, chilli pepper, onions, bay leaf, oregano and thyme. Cover and set aside for  2-3 hours or overnight in the refrigerator.

Preheat the oven to 425F.

Salt the eggplant and place in a colander to drain for about 30 minutes. Rinse and wipe dry with paper towels.

Add the eggplant, bell peppers, garlic, and potatoes to the marinated lamb along with the tomato puree. Season with salt and place in an unglazed clay pot. Cover and bake for 30 minutes. Reduce the heat to 375F, toss carefully, and bake for another 11/2 to 2 hours, or until the lamb is very tender. Serve immediately.

Katina's Comments:


Christmas 03 with Hopkins and Salzborn

 

Moroccan Fish Tagine

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: ?

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 celery sticks, chopped
  • 1 carrot, chopped
  • 1/4 preserved lemon, finely chopped
  • 4 plum tomatoes, sliced
  • 1 small onion
  • 600 ml fish stock
  • 8 small new potatoes cut lenghtways into quarters
  • 1 kg fish (e.g.. red mullet, perch, kingfish, flathead), filleted
  • 8 black olives
  • 1 tsp fresh coriander
  • 1 tsp fresh mint
  • salt and pepper

 

Charmoula

  • 2 tbsp roughly chopped coriander
  • 3 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 11/2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1/2 red chilli, chopped
  • 1/4 tsp saffron threads
  • 4 tbsp extra virgin oil
  • 11/2 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp salt

 

Put all ingredients for charmoula in food processor and process until  smooth.

Heat oil in large pan, add celery, carrot, onion, fry gently for 5 minutes. Add half preserved lemon, 2 tbsp charmoula, tomatoes and stock. Bring to boil. Simmer for 30 minutes. Add potatoes. Simmer until tender (6-8 minutes).

Preheat grill to high. Brush fillets with oil salt and pepper, cut diagonally in half. Grill skin side up for 6 minutes.

Stir olives, rest of charmoula and remaining preserved lemon into sauce and check seasonings. Put fish into warmed soup bowls.
Spoon over sauce and sprinkle with chopped coriander and mint.

Dan's Comments:
We had this last night (4 April 2003) with Franz and Ada. Had Dave McLaren's bottle of superb Penfolds Bin 128 Shiraz (1987!) with our nibbles and then drank Franz's 1998 Maglieri Shiraz and two thirds of Haselgrove's 1998 Semillon. In the end it was decided that civilization was all about not shitting in one's own nest, and that George W et. al. had not learned this lesson yet....

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Liver Venita (Veniziana)

From the Kitchen of Katina

  • Oil and Butter
  • parsley
  • 2 medium onions
  • 600g lambs fry (liver)
  • flour
  • juice of 1 lemon
  • 4 tbsp water - add more if required
  • salt and pepper

 

Thinly slice liver. Season with salt and pepper. Coat in flour.

Fry onions in oil/butter until clear. Remove.

Add liver and fry until coloured. Add lemon juice and water (or stock), enough to make a nice sauce. Cook until it thickens.

Add chopped parsley and onions.

Katina's Comments:
I serve this with Spinach Rice.


Spinach Rice (Spanankorizo)

From the Kitchen of Katina

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 bunch spinach, finely chopped
  • 1 large onion
  • 3 tomatoes or tomato paste
  • 1 cup rice
  • salt and pepper
  • 1 tsp cumin

 

Heat oil in saucepan. Sauté onion until clear. Add cumin. Add chopped tomatoes. Add chopped spinach and 11/2 cups water. Stir rice. Cover with lid until spinach has wilted. Stir in rice. Reduce heat to low and cook for 15-20 minutes until rice is cooked.

Katina's Comments:
This is nice served with souvlakia and tzatziki also.

 

Pork Fillet Barcelona

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: Jamila

  • 2 pork fillets, each approx. 250 g
  • 1 tsp cinnamon, Aromat or Fondor
  • 1 tsp coarse ground coriander and white peppercorns
  • 2 onions
  • 1 red, 1 green, and 1 yellow pepper
  • 4 tbsp oil
  • Spanish red wine
  • 1 carton (200 ml) fresh cream

 

Trim meat, season all over with cinnamon, Aromat or Fondor, coriander and pepper. Peel onions. Quarter and de-seed the peppers. Cut onions in thin wedges, peppers in strips. Heat oil in an oval ovenproof dish or in the roasting tin, add the pork fillets and fry on all sides until brown. Add the onions and peppers and place the dish in the oven preheated to 225C (gas mark 4). Roast the meat for 20 minutes, then take out and keep hot. Pour red wine and cream on the vegetables and boil the gravy on a high heat to reduce it. Check seasoning and add salt and pepper if necessary.

Cut the pork and return to the dish. Serve with tomato salad, dressed with onion rings, black olives, fresh basil leaves and an oil and vinegar marinade. Rice, potatoes or white bread go well with this dish.

Katina's Comments: 

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Pork Chops with Paprika

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: Jamila

  • 4 pork chops
  • 3 tbsp butter
  • 1 leek, thinly sliced
  • salt and pepper
  • 1 tbsp paprika
  • 1 tbsp tomato sauce or paste
  • 11/4 cup of warm water
  • 1 beef cube
  • 1 bay leaf
  1. Brown chops in butter, set aside.
  2. Add leek and lightly fry. Stir in salt, pepper and paprika, tomato paste and water. Crumble in the cube.
  3. Add bay leaf.
  4. Return the chops to pan and simmer gently, covering it.
  5. Serve with rice and snow peas.

 

Katina's Comments:

 

Veal Pizziaola

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: Australian and New Zealand, Complete Book of Cookery

SERVES 4

  • 2 lb veal steak
  • 2 tbsp oil
  • 11/2 lb tomatoes, skinned and chopped
  • 2-3 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1 tbsp chopped oregano
  • salt and pepper

Cut veal into serving portions. Heat oil in a large frying pan, add veal, tomatoes, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper and simmer over a medium heat. When meat is cooked, take out and keep hot and simmer tomato mixture a little longer. Replace veal in pan with tomatoes to heat through. Serve with the rich sauce poured over the veal steaks.

Katina's Comments:

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Chicken and Green Olive Kebabs

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: Fiona

  • 11/2 tsp cumin
  • 11/2 tsp dried oregano
  • 2 tsp grated lemon rind
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • 21/2 tbsp honey
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1/2 cup oil
  1. Mix all ingredients for marinade.
  2. 900 g chicken cut into large cubes (2 cm).
  3. Marinade chicken overnight preferably.
  4. Thread chicken alternately with green olives on skewers.
  5. Cook on a BBQ or a griddle.

Katina's Comments:

 

 

Swiss Chicken Breasts

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: A Taste for All Seasons, Beverley Sutherland Smith

 

SERVES 6

  • 6 chicken breasts
  • a little plain flour seasoned with salt and pepper
  • 60g butter
  • a tablespoon oil
  • 6 circles of ham
  • extra 30g butter
  • 6 medium mushrooms cut into very thin slices
  • squeeze of lemon juice
  • 6 slices of gruyere cheese (or other cheese)

Dip chicken into seasoned flour. Melt the butter and oil, cook the chicken 2-3 mins on both sided over a medium heat. They should be cooked through as the second stage is re-heating. Place in a shallow oven-proof dish. Top each one with a slice of ham, trimmed about the same size of chicken. Melt the remaining butter and cook mushrooms until softened, with salt & pepper and a squeeze of lemon juice. Spread a little of this on each breast, top with cheese. Pour a thin layer of chicken stock into the base of an oven-proof dish (see comments).  Bake in a mod oven 10-12 min until chicken is heated and cheese has melted.

Katina's Comments:

I usually put a little sherry or white wine in the pan after I have cooked the mushrooms and pour that into the dish.

 

 

 

                           Kate and Ron Shapiro

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Fish with Pine Nuts and Spinach

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: The Sultan's Kitchen, A Turkish Cookbook, Ozcan Ozan

 

SERVES 6

  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup pine nuts
  • 1/4 cup scallions finely chopped (white part only)
  • bunch of spinach (chopped finely if large-leafed - otherwise used small-leaved spinach
  • 4 minced garlic cloves
  • 12 skinless sole or flounder fillets (about 11/2 kilos)
  • salt & pepper
  • 3 tbls butter
  • 2 teas paprika
  • 1 1/2 teas Turkish red pepper or ground pepper
  • 3/4 cup tomato (peeled, seeded and finely chopped tom)
  • 2 tbls lemon
  • 3/4 cup red wine
  • 1 tbls fresh dill
  • 1/4 cup chopped parsley

 

Heat oil in skillet over medium heat, stir in the pinenuts and cook until golden brown stir in the scallions, spinach and garlic. Lower heat, cover the skillet, and cook the mixture for about 4 minutes or until the spinach is wilted. Remove the mixture from the heat and let it cool.

 

This mixture can either be used to stuff flounder/sole fillets (flat fillets) or I keep it warm and place it on dinner plates, then serve the fish on top.

 

If stuffing sole fillets: Season each fish fillet with salt & pepper. Evenly distribute the spinach mixture in the center and fold over the ends of the fillets to enclose it.

 

In the same skillet over medium heat, melt the butter and stir in paprika, Turkish red pepper, tomato, white wine and lemon juice. Season with salt & pepper. Add the fish fillets or stuffed fish to the dish. Sprinkle them with chopped dill. Lower the heat, cover the skillet and simmer for about 8 minutes or until the fish is cooked through. Carefully place the fish on warmed plates, spoon over the sauce around the fish. Sprinkle with parsley.  (If using fish fillets, put spinach mixture on plate, and serve fish on top).

 

I serve this with couscous. It's tastier if you chop some preserved lemon and add it to the couscous and also goes very well with the fish.

 

Katina's Comments:

I used a boneless, fleshy fish.

I don't usually stuff fish with the spinach mixture. I cook the spinach mixture and set it aside. Follow the recipe for the sauce. Add the fish of your choice to the pan. Serve the fish on a bed of spinach mixture. If you wish you can add some prawns or even mussels to make it more special. It is very simple but delicious recipe.

 

Deniz Mahsülleri Güveci - Fish and Shellfish Baked in a Clay Pot

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: The Sultan's Kitchen, A Turkish Cookbook, Ozcan Ozan

SERVES 4 - 6

This dish is served in individual clay pots. If you can't obtain them, use small crocks such as those used for French onion soup. When buying mussels, make sure the shells are tightly closed and discard any whose shells are open.

  • 1 pound squid, cleaned and cut into 1-inch-thick rings
  • 12 medium-sized shrimp, peeled and de-veined
  • 18 mussels in their shells (about 1 pound), scrubbed and beards removed
  • ⅓ cup finely chopped shallots
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 2 fresh or dried bay leaves
  • ⅓ cup finely chopped fresh Italian parsley, plus extra for garnish
  • 3 medium Italian green peppers, peeled, seeded, and chopped (21/2 cups)
  • 3/4 cup white wine
  • 1/2 cup of virgin olive oil
  • 1 pound swordfish, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 pound flounder or sole, cut into 11/2-inch chunks
  • 1/2 tsp Turkish red pepper or ground red pepper
  • 1 tsp fresh oregano
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 tbsp all-purpose all-purpose flour
  • 2 ounces crumbled feta cheese (1/4 cup)
  1. To clean the squid, wash it in cold water, remove the tentacles and the head, peel back and remove the skin from the hood, and rinse it again in cold water. Cut the white flesh into 1-inch rings and set them aside.
  2. To clean the shrimp, remove the head and peel off the legs and hard shell. Using the tip of a small, sharp knife, de-vein the shrimp (remove the dark line just below the surface of the back). Rinse the shrimp and set them aside.
  3. Heat the oven to 350F.
  4. Place the mussels in a large non-reactive pot. Add the shallots, garlic, bay leaves, parsley, green peppers, tomatoes, and white wine. Cover the pot and place it over high heat for about 6   minutes, until the mussels open, stirring occasionally to bring the mussels on the bottom of the pan to the top. Remove the mussels from the steaming broth with a skimmer. Discard the  the bay leaves, and keep the broth warm. When they're cool enough to handle, remove the mussels from their shells and set them aside.
  5. In a heavy large skillet over medium heat, heat the oil. Stir in the swordfish, flounder, squid, shrimp, and steamed mussels. Add the Turkish red pepper and oregano. Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle the seafood with the flour and add the warm mussel broth. Stir everything together gently with a wooden spoon, trying not to break up the pieces of fish. Remove the pot from the heat.
  6. Divide the seafood and broth between 4-6 individual clay pots. Bake them for about 15 minutes, or until the fish is cooked through. Top each pot with crumbed feta cheese and cook under the broiler about 2 minutes, until the cheese has melted and is golden brown. Garnish with parsley and serve.

Katina's Comments:
This is really delicious. As this with the other fish recipe I serve it with couscous - also nice bread is important because there is so much sauce. I wouldn't use swordfish as it is too dry. I again used boneless flathead. I also play around with the seafood - a kilo of mussels, no squid. I just add the feta and leave the dish in the oven, though you can do what they say and put it under the grill. I used 750 grs fish, 1 kilo mussels, 12 large prawns. It's more than enough for 4 people.

Jacob

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Rich Beef and Cabernet Casserole

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: Australian Gourmet Traveller, Winter Recipes, Comfortfood

SERVES 4

  • 1 kg beef chuck or blade steak, cut into 3 cm pieces
  • 150g (1 cup) plain flower, seasoned with salt and cracked pepper
  • 20g butter
  • Olive oil (see stockist note)
  • 250g shallots, quartered
  • 1 carrot, chopped
  • 1 clove of garlic, chopped
  • 2 bacon rashes, rind removed and chopped
  • 250 ml cabernet sauvignon
  • 1 cup beef stock
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 bouquet garni (bay leaf, parsley and thyme tied together)
  • 2 tbsp chopped flat-leaf parsley
  • Creamy mashed potato, to serve

Toss meat in seasoned flour and shake away excess. Heat butter and 2 tbsp oil in a flameproof, heavy greased casserole, add shallot, carrot, garlic and bacon and cook over medium heat for 5-6 minutes or until beginning to colour. Remove from pan.

Add another 1-2 tbsp oil to casserole and cook steak pieces, in batches, until browned. Remove beef from casserole. Deglaze pan with wine, add stock and whisk, scraping any pieces stuck to the base, until liquid comes to boil. Return beef and vegetables to casserole, add tomato paste and bouquet garni and season to taste. Cover and simmer gently, stirring frequently, over low heat, for about 11/2 hours or until tender. Remove bouquet garnri and stir in chopped parsley. Serve with creamy mashed potato.

Katina's Comments:

 


Stuffed Beef Rolls in Tomato Ragu

 

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: Delicious, ABC, November 2003

 

SERVES 4

 

·         12 (80g each) small sirloin steaks

·         25g grated parmesan

·         4 garlic cloves, finely chopped

·         handful of flat-leaf parsley, leaves torn

·         baby rocket leaves, to serve

 

Tomato Ragu

·         1/2 cup (125 ml) olive oil

·         150 ml red wine

·         1 onion, very finely chopped

·         1 celery stalk, very finely chopped

·         2 tbs tomato paste, diluted in 400 ml lukewarm water

·         2 x 400 g cans chopped tomatoes

·         handful of fresh basil leaves, torn

 

Arrange steaks on a chopping board and flatten them with a meat tenderiser (or place a flat wooden spatula over the meat and bash with the palm of your hand). Season with salt and pepper, then sprinkle with the parmesan, garlic and parsley. Roll each steak up tightly and secure well with toothpicks.

 

For the sauce, heat oil over high heat in a large saucepan. When hot, lower heat to medium, add the meat rolls and seal well on both sides. Increase the heat again, add wine and simmer until it has reduced by half. Remove meat and set aside.

 

Add onion and celery to pan and stir well. Cook over high heat for 1 - 2 minutes or until wine has nearly evaporated, then put meat back in pan and. pour over diluted tomato paste and tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper and stir in basil. Reduce heat to low and cover with a lid, but not completely, so some steam can escape. Cook gently for 2 hours, stirring from time to time. Check seasoning. Serve tomato sauce with some cooked pasta, then serve the meat rolls as a main course with rocket.

 

Katina's Comments:

 

Polenta with Fennel and Sausage

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: Australian Gourmet Traveller, Cucina Italiana

SERVES 6

  • olive oil
  • 800g Italian style sausage, casings removed
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 3 slices of prosciutto, finely chopped
  • 1 small bulb of fennel (about 250 g), trimmed and finely chopped
  • 50g tomato paste
  • 400g can Italian chopped tomatoes
  • 2 dried bay leaves
  • 300g instant polenta
  • 150g fontina, grated
  • 60g parmesan, finely grated

Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a heavy-based saucepan, add sausage meat and stir over medium until mixture is crumbled and lightly browned, then remove from pan. Add onion, prosciutto and fennel to pan and cook for 8 minutes, then add tomato paste and stir for 2 minutes. Return sausage meat to pan with tomatoes, bay leaves and 11/2 cups water and simmer for 30 minutes or until sauce is thick, then season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Meanwhile, bring 1 litre water to boil in a heavy-based saucepan, add 11/2 tsp and, whisking continuously, add polenta in a stream until mixture begins to thicken, then stir over low-medium heat for 3 - 4 minutes or until polenta is very thick. Add fontina, season to taste and stir until melted. Transfer polenta to an oiled 28x35cm shallow oven tray and smooth top with a wet spatula, then refrigerate for 20 minutes or until cooled.

Cut polenta into 24 slices, about 4x10cm each, place on an oiled oven tray, scatter with parmesan and grill under a hot grill for 10 - 15 minutes or until heated through and golden.

Serve polenta slices with sausage mixture.

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Linguini with Fresh Salmon, Grilled Asparagus and Toasted Pine Nuts

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: via a newspaper article by Kate Lamont of Lamont's Winery        Restaurant, Swan Valley

SERVES 4

  • 400g fresh salmon, grilled or roasted until barely cooked
  • 250g fresh asparagus, trimmed and grilled, drizzled with some of the olive oil
  • 1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted
  • 15 fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced
  • 500g linguini (uncooked weight), cooked
  • 50ml balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper
  • 100ml fruity olive oil

Mix all ingredients. Allow to stand for half an hour. Serve with crusty bread and salad greens.

Katina's Comments:
I didn't bother waiting for half an hour. It was ready to be eaten right then!

If you want to omit the fish I suggest you add some grilled mushrooms and/or sun-dried tomatoes and some roasted pumpkin. (See Gratin of Pumpkin)

 

Pot-roasted Pork in White Wine with Garlic, Fennel and Rosemary

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: Happy Days with the Naked Chef

Jamie says: This pork recipe takes me about 5 minutes to prepare and get in the oven, so it's nice and quick as well as being unbelievably light, fresh and tasty. Also, pot-roasting the pork s opposed to straight roasting gives you a lovely natural sauce made with the meat juices and the wine.

SERVES 6

  • 1x1.5kg (31/2lb) loin of pork, off the bone and skin removed
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tbsp fennel seeds
  • 2-3 large knobs of butter
  • olive oil
  • 8 cloves of garlic, skin left on
  • 1 handful of fresh rosemary, leaves picked
  • 4 bay leaves
  • 1 fennel bulb, sliced
  • 1/2 a bottle of Chardonnay, your choice

Preheat the oven to 200C (400F, gas 6). With 2 or 3 bits of string, tie up your pork loin - do this any way you like. It doesn't have to be fussy, you just want to keep the meat in a snug shape while it's cooking. Season generously, then roll the meat in fennel seeds until covered. In a casserole pan or roasting tray, fry the meat for a couple of minutes in half the butter and a little olive oil, until nice and golden.

Throw in the garlic, herbs, fennel and wine, then cover the tray loosely with some wet greaseproof paper and place in the oven for 11/4 hours. As the pork loin is off the bone it cooks very quickly. Remove from the oven and allow the meat to rest on a plate. Then, without using more heat, finish off your sauce in the pan, scraping any goodness off the bottom and adding the rest of the butter. Remove any large bits of rosemary stalk if you prefer - but I (Jamie) like to keep it nice and rustic. Correct the seasoning and squash open a couple of the garlic cloves - when cooked they go nice and sweet and ad a lovely taste to the sauce.

Katina's Comments:
 

 

 

 

 

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Mushroom and Potato Frittata

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: 7 Wintertime Recipes, Australian Mushroom Growers Association

Serves 4
Preparation 15 minutes
Cooking 43 minutes

  • 600g unwashed potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 600g sweet potato, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 8 eggs
  • 1/4 cup cream
  • 1 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/2cup freshly grated parmesan
  • 250g cup mushrooms, sliced
  • 200g shaved ham
  • spinach or salad leaves to serve
  1. Preheat oven to 200C. Grease a 28cm x 18cm microwave-safe, heatproof baking dish.
  2. Arrange potatoes and sweet potatoes in prepared dish. Cover with a lid or plastic wrap and microwave for 10 minutes on High or until potatoes are just tender.
  3. Combine eggs, cream, nutmeg and parmesan. Pour half the mixture over potatoes. Bake in oven for 15 minutes or until frittata edges are golden.
  4. Meanwhile, heat a large frying pan over medium high heat. Add mushrooms, cook for 2-3 minutes or until mushrooms are tender and liquid evaporates. Stir through ham. Remove frittata from oven, top with mushroom mixture and poor over remaining egg mixture. Bake for 15 minutes or until frittata is set.
  5. Serve warm sliced frittata with spinach leaves or salad.

Katina's Comments:
The first time I made this I only used the mix of potatoes and grated matured cheese. It was fine and really nice when it is served cold.

 

 

Crayfish (Lobster) with Vanilla Sauce

From the Kitchen of Jane Hiatt,
Occasion: Pre-Christmas dinner 2004, Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island
Lucky gourmands: Syd, Jaime, Jane, Katina and Dan

Source: Australia Vogue, Wine & Food Cookbook (Jean-Luc Lundy)

SERVES 4

  • 2 x 700 crayfish, freshly cooked

vanilla sauce:

  • 60 g shallots, chopped
  • 250 ml white wine
  • 120 ml vinegar
  • 1 vanilla bean
  • 100 g butter

 

garnish:

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 10 g butter
  • 500 g English spinach, before trimming (leaves only)
  • 2 bunches watercress (leaves only)
  • salt and pepper

Remove shells and digestive tracts from warm crayfish and cut flesh of each into six medallions. Set aside in a warm place.

To make sauce: place shallots, wine, vinegar and vanilla bean into a stainless steel saucepan and reduce to 3 tablespoons. Strain and discard solids. Beat butter into reduced essence, adding a small piece at a time.

To prepare garnish: heat oil with butter and toss spinach and watercress with salt and pepper for 3 to 4 minutes until wilted.

To serve: put cooked greens on 4 warm serving plates and arrange 3 crayfish medallions on top. Poor over vanilla sauce.

Jane's Comments:
I used two 1.2k crayfish which were green (alive), killed mercifully by having a sleep in the freezer for 40 minutes. The flavour is so much better than cooked crays. It is easy to bisect each cray with a Chinese cleaver and grill under a hot grill. That way nobody quarrels about their share. The sauce is delicate and sweet.


Rib Loin of Pork

From the Kitchen of Jane Hiatt,
Occasion: another Post-Christmas dinner 2004, Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island
Lucky gourmands: Syd, Jaime, Jane, Katina and Dan

Source: Based on Jamie Oliver's Southern Barbecued Pork Belly, page 24 in the ABC's magazine "Delicious"

SERVES 6-8

  • handful of fresh bay leaves
  • 1 tbs smoked paprika
  • 3 tsp ground cumin
  • 1tsp coriander
  • 2kg rib loin of pork
  • olive oil, plus extra to serve
  • seeded and chopped red chillies and
  • chopped coriander, to serve

Preheat oven to 180C.

Bash bay leaves and 2 teaspoons of rock salt in a pestle and mortar until the leaves disintegrate and salt turns green. Pick out any strands, then add remaining spices and 1 teaspoon of freshly ground pepper.

Rub pork with the spice mix and a little oil. Put it into a snug-fitting roasting pan. Cover the pan tightly with foil and roast the pork for 2 hours. If using a charcoal barbie light it after the pork has had 1 hour in the oven.

After 2 hours, your pork should be tender and flavoured with wonderful spices. Lift it out of the roasting tray with thongs and drop it straight onto the barbie. It will crackle and drop fat onto the coals, so don't worry if you see a few flames. Turn the pork over and move it around the grill now and then for 10-15 minutes to crisp up the surface. Serve in thick slices with fresh chilli, coriander and a few lugs of olive oil.

Katina's Comments:
Jamie used 2kg of pork belly in one piece, skin removed, which is available from selected butcers.

 

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Roasted Goose with Preserved Lemon and Liver Stuffing and Figs and Caramelised Garlic

From the Kitchen of Jane Hiatt,
Occasion: Christmas dinner 2004, Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island
Lucky gourmands: Syd, Jaime, Jane, Katina and Dan

Source: Maggie Beer, "Maggie's Table"

SERVES 4

Maggie's Comments:
Serving goose at Christmas has always been my sentimental favourite, but they're usually a little young for that market, in the Barossa at least. Instead, I find early autumn the ideal time for a plump, mature bird. Oven bags are the perfect medium for this long, slow pot-roasting, where liquid is added continually until the rich meat on the bone is soft to the touch.

  • 5 quorms garlic
  • extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 x 2.5 kg goose
  • 125 ml water

 

  • 50 g unsalted butter
  • 5 large black figs
  • 16 young sage leaves

 

preserved lemon and liver stuffing

  • 4 slices prosciutto
  • 1 small onion
  • 30 g unsalted butter
  • 4 chicken livers
  • 2 pieces preserved lemon
  • 1 tbs freshly chopped thyme
  • 250 g fresh breadcrumbs
  • freshly ground black pepper

Preheat the oven to 200C . Trim the tops from each garlic quorm, then rub the garlic with extra-virgin olive oil and roast for 35-40 minutes until soft and caramelised. Set aside. Increase the oven temperature to 220C.

To make the stuffing, crisp the prosciutto on a baking tray in the oven, then break it into small pieces. Reduce the oven temperature to 180C. Chop the onion finely and fry it gently in the butter until softened. Trim the livers of any connected tissue and gently seal in the same pan, then dice. Mince the preserved lemon and combine with the prosciutto, onion, liver, thyme and breadcrumbs. Season with salt and pepper.

Pack the stuffing into the cavity of the goose, then rub the skin with juice from the preserved lemon jar. (This includes the oil from the lemon rind, which helps crisp the skin and give it a delicious flavour.) Put the goose into an oven bag, then put the sealed bag into a deep baking dish. Poor the water into the dish and cook for 1 hour 20 minutes.

Take the goose out of the oven bag and increase the oven temperature to 230C. Return the goose to the baking dish and roast for a further 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 25 minutes.

Meanwhile, melt the butter in a saucepan until foaming and nut-brown. Cut the figs in half and cook gently in the butter with the sage leaves for 3 minutes. Serve the roasted goose on a large platter with the figs, sage and roasted garlic to the side.

Jane's Comments:
I have asked my butcher at Coromandel Valley to provide me with a goose for the last two years. He has enjoyed the challenge and obliged at Chritmas time. Last year's was particularly wonderful. If you can, ask your butcher to provide the goose liver which you can add to the stuffing. Feel free to experiment with herbs. I used lots of French tarragon instead of sage. At all costs keep the goose fat and use it for special dishes.

Syd's comments:
Sumptuous, rich and fulsome feast; supreme poultry delicacy of bygone days.

Dan's comments:
This great main course followed the fabulous Chilled Cucumber, Avocado and Buttermilk Soup with Bug Salsa, and was followed by

Champagne: Yellowglen
White Wines: Judd's Hill Riesling (Clare Valley)
Devil's Ridge Semillon Sauvignon Blanc (Adelaide Hills)
Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand)
Red Wines: Langi Shiran Sangiovese 2001 (Victoria)
Rockford Rod and Spur Shiraz Cabernet 2000 (BarossaValley)

 

Lamb Steak & Capsicum Souvlakia with Lemon and fresh Oregano

From the Kitchen of Jane Hiatt,
Occasion: Post-Christmas dinner 2004, Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island
Lucky gourmands: Syd, Jaime, Jane, Katina and Dan

Source: Jane own

SERVES 5

  • 1 kg trimmed lamb steak, cut into small cubes
  • 2 large capsicum, cut into small cubes
  • 4 tbs lemon juice
  • 10 tbs oregano, freshly chopped
  • fresh ground black pepper
  • 3-4 bay leaves, chopped fine
  • 6 fat cloves of garlic, chopped fine
  • the zest of 1 lemon
  • 1.5 cup of cold pressed extra-virgin olive oil
  • fresh ground sea salt

Marinate assembled skewers of lamb and capsicum, put in a deep dish with marinade as above. Barbecue on high heat with plentiful marinade. Serve with lemon wedges.

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Prawns Marinated in Coconut Milk, Cumin and Ginger

From the Kitchen of Jane Hiatt,
Occasion: Pre-Christmas dinner 2004, Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island
Lucky gourmands: Syd, Jaime, Jane, Katina and Dan

Source: Jane's own

SERVES: 4

  • 400 g green prawns

Marinade for prawns:

  • 4 cm ginger, finely chopped
  • 6 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 1-2 cups of thick coconut milk
  • 1.5 tbs cumin
  • 2 tbs soy sauce
  • 2 tbs of lemon juice
  • 1 tbs finely chopped lemon rind
  • chopped chilli to taste (optional)

Place all ingredients in a saucepan and heat for 5 minutes to allow flavours to blend. Cool and poor over skewered prawns. Marinate for at least 2 hours.

Barbecue or cook on a griddle.

 

 

Kifta Tagine baked with eggs
As Moroccan as meatballs)

 

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: Bruce Paul, who got it from the newspaper.

 

SERVES 6

Ingredients

For the Kifta:

  • 500g finely minced lamb
  • 1 medium onion
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 3 tbs finely chopped parsley
  • 1/4 teas cayenne pepper
  • S & P
  • Olive oil for frying

 

For the sauce:

  • 2 medium onions, finely chopped
  • 2 tins tomatoes, drained and chopped
  • 1/2 bunch parsley, finely chopped
  • ⅓ bunch coriander, roughly chopped
  • 1 tsp cumin powder
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 teas cayenne pepper
  • S & P
  • Olive oil
  • 500 ml water
  • 6 eggs

Method

To make meatballs - combine all ingredients well and with wet hands form into small walnut-sized balls. Brown all over in oil, drain well and set aside.

 

To make the sauce - in a heavy-based pan, lightly fry the onion and then the garlic in oil until translucent. Add remaining ingredients  (except for eggs and water) and combine well. Add the water and bring to the boil, then lower the heat and simmer uncovered for about 30 minutes, or until the sauce has reduced to a thick gravy.

 

Add the meatballs to the sauce and continue cooking for a further 10 minutes. Then carefully break the eggs into the sauce, cover with lid and cook until they are just set (around 5 minutes).

 

Serve at once straight from the pot, with plenty of Arabic bread to mop up the thick sauce and runny egg yolks. Alternatively accompany with a dish of plain buttered couscous and a dollop of natural yoghurt.

 

Those who enjoy a more piquant dish can add finely chopped fresh chilli to the sauce.

 

Katina's Comments:
Bruce cooked this delicious dish for us. He likes to try out new recipes. He said that he tried cooking it with the eggs and wasn't too keen on it. I haven't tried it with the eggs. He served it with pasta.  The herbs and spices give the dish a special flavour.

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Baked Stuffed Snapper

 

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: Australian Gourmet Traveller 'Food for Friends'

 

SERVES 4 or 5

 

Ingredients

  • 2 cups day-old breadcrumbs
  • 1 teas fennel seeds
  • 2 green onions
  • 1/2 cup black olives
  • ⅓ cup pine nuts, roasted
  • 11/2 cups firmly packed flat-leaf parsley
  • 2 kg fish

 

Method

Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a frying pan and cook breadcrumbs, fennel seeds and green onions, stirring constantly over low-medium heat until golden. Cool. Combine crumb mixture with olives, pinenuts and parsley and season to taste.

 

Pat fish dry with absorbent paper, then place on a large, oiled oven tray. Fill fish cavity with stuffing mixture and sprinkle with flaked sea salt, then bake at 220 for 30-40 minutes.

 

Serve fish with risoni, zucchini, mint and lemon salad and radicchio, pancetta and pecorino salad.

 

 

Roasted Vegetable Moussaka

 

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source:  Food of the World: Greece

 

Ingredients

  • 1 large eggplant
  • salt
  • 2 medium zucchini
  • 2 onions cut into small wedges
  • 2 red peppers, cored, seeded and chopped coarsely
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 5 tbs olive oil
  • 1 tbs chopped fresh thyme
  • pepper
  • 2 eggs beaten
  • 11/4 cups Greek yoghurt
  • 400 g chopped tomatoes
  • 55 grs feta cheese

 

Method

Cut eggplant into slices about 5 mm thick. Put in a colander and sprinkle each layer with salt. Cover with a plate and place a heavy weight on top. Leave about 30 mins.

 

Rinse eggplant slices under cold water, then pat dry with paper towels.

 

Put eggplant, zucchini, onions, peppers and garlic in a roasting tin. Drizzle over the oil toss together, and then sprinkle the thyme and season with s and p. Roast in a preheated oven, 220 C, for 30-35 mins, turning half-way through the cooking, until golden brown and tender.

 

Meanwhile, beat together the eggs, yoghurt, salt, and pepper. When vegs are cooked, reduce the oven temp to 180 C.

 

Put half the vegetables in a layer in a large ovenproof dish. Spoon over the canned chopped tomatoes and their juice then add the remaining vegs. Pour over the yoghurt mixture and crumble over the feta cheese.

 

Bake in the oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until golden brown. Serve hot, warm or cold.

 

Katina's Comments:
I didn't bother with the layering. I just spooned the tomatoes on top of the roasted vegs then the yoghurt mixture. You must use thick, Greek yoghurt. It was a yummy dish. It is a meal on its own or can be a side dish for roast lamb.

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Spinach and Feta Pie

 

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source:  Foods of the World  - Greece

 

SERVES 6

 

 Ingredients

  • 2 tbs olive oil
  • 1 large onion
  • 1 kg fresh spinach/500 g frozen spinach, thawed
  • 4 tbs fresh flat-leaf parsely
  • 2 tbs fresh dill
  • 3 eggs
  • 200 gs feta
  • s & p
  • 225 g filo pastry
  • Note: I add 150 grs ricotta as well

 

To make the filling, heat the oil in a saucepan add the onion and fry for 5-10 mins until softened. Add the fresh or frozen spinach and cook for a couple of minutes until the spinach has wilted. Remove from the heat and cool

 

When the mixture has cooled, add the parsley, dill and eggs. Crumble in the cheese, season with s and p and mix well together.

 

Grease a deep 30 x 20 cm metal baking pan.

 

Cut the pastry sheets in half widthwise. Take a sheet of pastry and cover the remaining sheets with a damp dish towel. Line the pan with the pastry sheet and brush it with oil. Repeat with half the sheets.

 

Spread the spinach and cheese filling over the pastry, then tope with the remaining pastry sheets, brushing each with oil and tucking down the edges. Using a sharp knife, score the top layers of the pastry into squares. Sprinkle with a little bit of water so the top layers stay down.

 

Bake in a preheated over 190 C, for about 40 mins until golden brown. Serve hot or cold.

 

Katina's Comments:
I like this recipe. I don't usually score the top layers and I think it cooks better this way. It is a good party dish.

 

 

Pumpkin and Feta Filo Pie

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: Australian Gourmet Traveller, Winter Recipes

 

Ingredients

  • Olive oil
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 1 teas ground cumin
  • 1/4 teas ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teas dried oregano
  • 1.2 k jap pumpkin, peeled, seeded and chopped
  • 200 g feta cheese
  • 250 g (⅔ cup) canned chickpeas, rinsed and drained
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten
  • 375 g packet filo pastry
  • 120 g melted butter; I use olive oil
  • 1 teas cumin seeds

 

Heat olive oil in a deep frying pan, add onion, spices and oregano and cook over low heat until onion is soft, then add pumpkin and stir over medium heat for 5 minutes. Add 1/2 cup water, cover and cook over medium heat for 10 mins or until pumpkin is soft. Remove from heat and stand, uncovered for 30 mins. Add feta, chickpeas and egg to cooled pumpkin mixture and mix well.

 

You can either proceed as in the Spinach and Feta Pie recipe to make a pie or make rolls as follows:

 

Brush a sheet of filo with butter (or oil), top with another layer of filo and spoon 1/2 cup pumpkin filling along long edge, leaving 2 cm on each side, folding in ends and rolling up pastry over filling, then brush top with butter or oil. Repeat with remaining filo and filling. Form pastry rolls into a large spiral by firmly coiling them around each other on a large pizza pan. Brush top with butter or oil and sprinkle with cumin seeds.

 

Bake at 180 C for 30-40 mins or until pastry is golden. Cool slightly and serve cut into wedges with a bitter leaf salad, passing olives separately.

 

Katina's Comments:
I usually brush the rolls with oil as I am rolling them up. I hope you understand; rather than just on the top as is indicated in the recipe. I also use roasted pumpkin instead of cooking the pumpkin with the onion and spices.

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Spaghetti with Cauliflower strascinato

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: Delicious Magazine (June 2004)

 

Ingredients

  • 400 g spaghetti
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/2 cauliflower, chopped into small florets
  • 3 garlic cloves, finely sliced
  • 3 anchovy fillets, chopped
  • 2 long red chillies, seeds removed, finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup salted capers, rinsed
  • 100 g pitted kalamata olives, chopped
  • 2 tbs finely chopped rosemary
  • 1 bunch flat-leafed parsley, finely chopped
  • 60 g sourdough breadcrumbs, toasted
  • 2 cups (200 g) freshly grated parmesan
  • Lemon wedges to serve

 

Cook the spaghetti in boiling, salted water until al dente, then drain.

 

In a large heavy-based frying pan, heat oil over medium heat, add cauliflower and fry 4-5 minutes or until just starting to colour. Add garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Then added anchovies, chilli, capers, olives and rosemary. Cook, stirring so it won't catch for 4-5 minutes further or until cauliflower starts to become tender, then add half the parsley and all the spaghetti.

 

When pasta is hot, add breadcrumbs, parmesan and remaining parsely. The parsley will start to stick to the bottom of pan, so use a wooden spoon to scrape the bottom. Serve immediately with lemon.

 

Katina's Comments:
This is one of my favourite cauliflower recipes. I don't use as much parmesan and I usually don't add all of it to the pan but keep some for individuals to add to their taste later.
Sometimes I don't add the spaghetti, but use this as a vegetable dish.

I cook chicken pieces quickly in oil in a frying pan. Then add this to the cauliflower mixture to make it into a chicken/cauliflower dish.
It is a very versatile recipe and quite simple!

 

Middle-Eastern Pies

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: Delicious Magazine (May 2002)

 

You'll need 4 x 9 cm pie pans

 

Ingredients

  • 1 medium eggplant
  • 2 tbs olive oil
  • 1 onion
  • 2 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 400 g minced lamb
  • 2 tsp each ground cumin, ginger, paprika
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 tbs tomato paste
  • 400 g chopped tomatoes
  • 100 ml red wine
  • 2 tbs finely chopped preserved lemon rind
  • 125 ml (1/2 cup greek yoghurt)
  • 1 tbs chopped coriander

 

Pastry

  • 2 cups plain flour
  • 125 g unsalted butter
  • 1 egg
  • 1 egg yolk, beaten

 

Cut the eggplant into 1/2 cm dice, sprinkle with salt and set aside for 30 minutes to de-gorge.

 

To make the pastry, place the flour and butter in a food processor and process until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Add egg and 1-2 tbs water and process until the mixture forms a ball. Cover in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

 

Meanwhile, heat oil in a pan over medium heat. Add onion and fry for 1-2 minutes until just softened. Add garlic and lamb. Cook for 5 minutes until lamb has browned. Add spices and cook for 1 minute. Add tomato paste, tomatoes and wine, reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes.

 

Rinse the eggplant and squeeze dry in a tea towel. Heat remaining oil in a separate frying pan over medium-high heat. Add eggplant and fry until golden brown. Drain on a paper towel, then add to lamb and cook over medium-low heat for 10 minutes until thick and pulpy. Cool slightly.

 

Grease pans.

Preheat oven to 180 C.

 

Roll out pastry and divide into 4. Use to line pans, leaving 2 cm overhanging. Spoon 1/4 of mixture into each pan and fold up pastry, pleating as you go. Brush with egg yolk. Place on a baking tray and bake for 25 minutes until golden.

 

Combine lemon rind, yoghurt and coriander, and serve with the pies. (Just use lemon rind if you don't have preserved lemon).


I didn't have pie pans, so I put some baking paper on a baking tray. I made 4 circles of pastry, put the filling in the middle, then folded the sides in. The pastry doesn't cover the filling. I carefully placed them onto the baking tray. It worked! They looked like 'rustic' pies.

 

It's an interesting recipe. The pastry is great. Maybe the filling could be used on its own and it could be served with crusty bread and salad or couscous; who knows!

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Fish with Thai Dressing

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: Women's Weekly per Jill Day

SERVES

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup chopped mint
  • 2 tbs chopped coriander
  • ⅓ cup sweet chilli sauce
  • 1/2 cup lime juice
  • 1 tbsp fish sauce
  • 2 teasp finely chopped lemon grass
  • 1 teasp finely chopped ginger

Mix all ingredients together.
Grill, b-b-q or pan-fry fish.
Serve with Dressing.

Katina's comments:
Rod cooked fish fillets on the b-b-q. Jill made the sauce and served it with the fish and salad. It's delicious. It would also go well with other seafood - prawns or squid.


Lamb's Liver in Red Wine and Orange Sauce (Sikotakia me Salsa)

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: Food of the World, GREECE, the Food and the Lifestyle.
               Susanna Tee.

SERVES 4

Choose lamb's liver for a midweek meal and calf's liver for a special occasion. They are two quite different dishes! Serve with pasta or rice.

  • 2 oranges
  • 8 thin slices lamb's liver
  • 2 tbsp all purpose flour
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 3/4 cup dry red wine
  • 2 tbsp chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, plus extra to garnish
  • 2 tbsp chopped fresh oregano
  • salt and pepper
  1. Using a zester, remove the zest from the oranges. Put the zest in a small saucepan of boiling water, boil for 1 minute, then drain and set aside. Squeeze the juice from the oranges and set aside.
  2. Remove and discard any ducts and membrane from the liver slices. Put the flour and paprika in a plastic bag, add the liver, and shake well to coat each piece.
  3. Heat the oil in a large skillet. Add the liver an d fry over a medium  heat for 4-5 minutes, stirring constantly, until lightly browned all over but still moist in the center. Remove from the skillet with a slotted spoon and place on 4 warmed serving plates.
  4. Add the wine to the skillet, stirring in any glazed bits from the bottom. Boil briskly for 1 minute. Reduce the heat and stir in the orange juice, parsley, oregano, salt and pepper. Heat gently until reduced slightly, then spoon over the liver and garnish with the reserved orange zest and parsley. Serve hot.

Katina's Comments:
This is the nicest recipe I've had. Just delicious!

 

Spezzatino

 

From the Kitchen of Sasha Carruozzo (Premier Mike's  wife)
Source:  Sumptuous - Winter 2007.

Feeds 4 hungry people

  • 2  tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 2 large, ripe tomatoes
  • 1kg diced pork or lamb (needs to be tender)
  • 4 bunches spinach, roughly chopped
  • 11/2 cups stock (chicken or beef)
  • Salt and pepper
  • 4 eggs
  • 4 tablespoons parmesan, grated

 

Put oil in a heavy based pan, add garlic, and when golden add tomatoes. When they are soft add the meat. When the meat has browned add your stock. Once that begins to simmer add the spinach. The juice created should be level with the contents of the pan. If the liquid gets low add more stock. Add salt and pepper to taste. Let it simmer for about 30 minutes or until the meat is cooked.

 

Beat the eggs and then mix in the cheese. Spoon this over the contents of the pan. Place the pan into the oven and turn on the grill. When the cheese has melted it is ready to serve. Great with crusty bread.

 

Katina's Comments:
Bruce made this for us. He used half the ingredients and it was enough and quite delicious.


Fillet of Pork with Sage and Verjuice

 

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source:  Cooking with Verjuice by Maggie Beer

 

SERVES 4

This is almost too easy, and a different way to deglaze with verjuice (says Maggie).

  • 1 x 800g fillet of pork
  • 30 ml extra-virgin olive oil (preferably feral virgin oil of course!)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • sea salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 32 sage leaves
  • 110 ml verjuice
  • 60 g butter

 

Preheat the oven to 190C. Trim the meat, then mix the olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper and brush the meat with it. Press a few of the sage leaves onto the meat, then seal the pork on all sides over gentle heat in a heavy-bases baking dish. Deglaze the pan with verjuice, then roast the meat for 10 minutes. Remove the meat from the oven and allow to rest, covered, for 15 minutes. Increase the oven temperature to 200C.

 

Do the remaining sage leaves with the butter and crisp them in the oven for 9 minutes, then tip them over the resting meat. Carve the pork and serve it with creamy mashed potato.

 

Katina's Comments
The flavour of the verjuice goes right through the meat and it it is such a delicate, special taste. It's the first time I have really appreciated the flavour of verjuice. I've used it with Maggie Beer's chicken with preserved lemon  and rosemary, where you add verjuice at the end, but the flavour5 is not as predominant. Sage works really well with pork.

Moussaka

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: Various

SERVES 6

  • 2 large (4 medium) eggplants, sliced (4mm thick)
  • 3 large potatoes, sliced. (optional)
  • meat sauce
  • bechamel sauce

Meat sauce and bechamel sauce can be prepared first, ready to use when you assemble the moussaka.

Meat Sauce:

  • 1kg minced lamb or beef
  • 2 onions
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 tin tomato puree (400g)
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 tablespoon fresh mint
  • salt and pepper
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

Heat oil in pan. Add meat and cook till brown. Add onion and cook for 2 minutes. Add tomato paste, tomato puree, 1/2-3/4 cup water, cinnamon stick. Simmer for 30 minutes or until thick. Add chopped mint. Remove cinnamon stick.

Bechamel Sauce:
Stefano De Pieri's bechamel sauce for lasagne + eggs and parmesan cheese

  • 150g unsalted butter
  • 1/5 cup plain flour
  • 8 cups hot milk
  • 1 or 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan

Melt butter and add flour. Stir in milk, bit by bit using a wooden spoon. Cook gently for 20 minutes or more, taking care it does not stick to bottom of pan. When it is thick enough add parmesan and eggs. (He also adds nutmeg, but I didn't).

It really takes quite a while but is lighter than the one with more flour and butter. If you make this quantity you can always keep it in the fridge and use it for something else. Otherwise reduce the quantity to suit the size of the dish you are preparing. You end up with about 4 cups of sauce.

Putting the Moussaka together:

Sprinkle eggplant slices with salt and leave for 30 minutes, then rinse and dry on absorbent paper.
Fry potato slices and arrange them on the bottom of a dish. (The potato base layer is optional; you can also have a fried eggplant bottom layer).
Top with ⅓ of meat sauce.
Fry eggplant slices until golden and layer on top of the meat sauce.
Add another layer of meat sauce.
Add another layer of fried eggplant slices.
Followed by another layer of meat sauce and another layer of eggplant slices.
Top with bechamel sauce.

Bake the dish in a moderate oven (180C) until golden brown, about 30 minutes.

Katina's comments:
I usually sprinkle a small amount of breadcrumbs on each layer of meat sauce to soak up some of the juices, especially if I think it is not thick enough. The number of layers depends on the depth of the dish. You need at least two layers of meat sauce. I sometimes make it in smaller dishes rather than one large dish. It depends on the number of people to be served.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Chicken with Beer

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: Don Dunstan's Cookbook

SERVES 4

  • 1 chicken
  • 2 onions
  • 1 pint (625 ml) of light beer
  • 1 cup of cream
  • salt and pepper
  • flour

Gourmets often query this idea - until they taste the dish.

Joint and roll the chicken in seasoned flour. Fry chopped onion in butter, and when soft, brown the chicken in the pan. pour in a pint of light beer, cover and simmer until the chicken is tender. Turn off heat and add a cup of cream.

Katina's Comments:
We have enjoyed this dish, prepared by Jane Hyatt, and I decided I would do it myself. It is so simple and special.

I used only about 500 ml of beer. I removed some of the liquid from the pot after the chicken was cooked and reduced it. Of course, I returned it to the pot and then added the cream. I used about 1/2 cup of cream. The first night I served it with steamed vegetables.

On the second night, I removed the chicken from the bones and shred it into bite-sized pieces and served it with a sort-of risotto. Fry small onion in oil, add mushrooms and parsley, then rice, and finally chicken stock. It was delicious. I think I will remove the meat from the bones when I serve it in future. It is easier to eat. The sauce is delicious and there is lots of it.

 

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Bacon (or Prosciutto) wrapped Mushroom and Chicken Patties

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: see www.oz-mushrooms.com.au

SERVES 4

  • 1 tbs olive oil
  • 300g cup mushrooms, chopped
  • 400g chicken mince
  • 6 green onions, thinly sliced
  • 2 sticks celery, diced
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1 cup fresh wholegrain breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup flat leaf parsley, chopped12 rashes thin bacon (or prosciutto), halved crossways, rind removed
  • Olive oil cooking spray
  • Jacket potato and dressed salad leaves, to serve
  1. Heat oil in a large non-stick frying pan over high heat. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring often, for 8 minutes or until the moisture evaporates. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towel. Set aside to cool for 10 minutes.
  2. Combine the mushrooms, chicken mince, onions, celery, egg, breadcrumbs and parsley in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper, mix well to combine. Shape mixture into 12 patties.
  3. Place one piece of bacon/prosciutto onto a board top with a second piece of bacon/prosciutto to form a cross. Top with a patty and fold bacon/prosciutto to enclose the patty. Secure with tooth picks.
  4. Heat a barbecue plate or non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Spray the patties with oil and cook, in batches for 4 minutes on each side or until just cooked through. Remove toothpicks; serve the patties with jacket potato and salad.

Katina’s Comments:
I used 'prosciutto.

 

Chicken Chasseur

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source:

SERVES 4

  • 1x1.6kg (3lb 8oz) chicken
  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • 60g (21/4oz) butter
  • 2 French shallots, finely chopped
  • 125g (41/2 oz) button mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 tablespoon plain (all purpose) flour
  • 125ml (1/2 cup) white wine
  • 2 tablespoons brandy
  • 2 teaspoons tomato paste (puree)
  • 250ml (1 cup) chicken stock
  • 2 teaspoons chopped tarragon
  • 1 teaspoon chopped parsley

 

CROUTONS

  • 2 slices bread
  • olive oil

 

Joint the chicken into eight pieces by removing both legs and cutting between the joint of the drumstick and the thigh. Cut down either side of the backbone and lift it out. Turn the chicken over and cut through the cartilage down the centre of the breastbone. Cut each breast in half, leaving the wing attached to the top half.

Heat the oil in a frying pan or saucepan and add half the butter. When the foaming subsides, add the chicken and lightly fry in batches on both sides until browned. Lift out onto a plate and keep warm. Pour the excess fat out of the pan.

Melt remaining butter in the pan, add the shallots and cook gently until softened but not browned. Add the mushrooms and cook, covered, over moderate heat for 3 minutes.

Add the flour and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Stir in the white wine, brandy, tomato paste and stock. Bring to the boil, stirring constantly, then reduce the heat and add the tarragon. Season.

Return the chicken to the pan, cover and simmer for 30 minutes, or until the chicken is tender and cooked through. Sprinkle with parsley to serve.

To make the croutons, trim the crust from the bread and cut the bread into moon shapes with a biscuit cutter. Heat the olive oil in a frying pan and fry the bread until golden. Drain the croutons on paper towels and serve hot with the chicken.

Katina's Comments:

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Oven-baked Pumpkin Risotto

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: Paul Gayler & Jacqui Lynas, "Healthy Eating for Your Heart"

SERVES 4

  • 450g (1lb) pumpkin, peeled and cut into 1cm (1/2 in) dice
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 1 garlic clove, crushed
  • Oil-water spray
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 200g (7 oz) risotto rice
  • Zest of 1/2 lemon
  • 700ml (11/4 pints) hot vegetable stock
  • 30g (11/4oz) Parmesan cheese, finely grated

Preheat the oven to 200C/400F

Place the pumpkin, onion and garlic in a non-stick ovenproof casserole dish. Spray the vegetables lightly with the oil-water spray and season lightly with black pepper.

Sprinkle over the rice and lemon zest and stir it all together. Pour over the boiling stock and stir well.

Cover with foil and return to the oven for 25-30 minutes or until the rice is tender and all the stock is absorbed.

Stir in half of the Parmesan, scatter the remainder over the top and serve immediately.

(Per serving: 228 kcals, 3g fat, 2g saturated fat, 0.31g sodium)

Katina's Comments:

 

 

Thea Amalia's Tiropita with sodawater (Feta Cheese Pie)

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: Thea Amalia

SERVES 6

  • 1 packet filo pastry (500g)
  • 1 bottle soda water (375ml)
  • 1 cup olive oil
  • 4 eggs
  1. Oil a baking dish.
  2. Sprinkle crumbled feta liberally over a sheet of filo.
  3. Pleat the filo sheet and place in the dish.
  4. Continue this until the dish is full.
  5. Beat eggs, add soda and oil.
  6. Pour over filo in dish.
  7. Place in 200C oven and cook for 40 minutes until brown.

Katina's Comments:
This pita is really light. Serve it with salad.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Braised Witlof

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: SUMPTUOUS, Regional Food and Wine, Fleurieu Peninsula.
Recipe: Jordan Theodore.

SERVES 4 as an accompaniment

  • 1 witlof (Belgian endive)
  • sea salt
  • 50g pancetta or bacon cut into match sticks
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
  • 1/2 lemon, juiced
  • 90ml rich cream
  • chopped parsley and tarragon

Trim and remove any damaged leaves from the witlof.

Butter a heavy based pot or pan just large enough to hold the witlof and arrange them in a single layer.

Sprinkle with salt to taste and scatter over pancetta or bacon.

Scatter over the butter pieces, cover wit a lid and cook over low heat for 50-60 minutes, turning from time to time until they are tender and coloured on all sides.

Add the lemon juice and cream and swirl the pan to incorporate.

Finish with chopped parsley and tarragon.

Note: This dish can be the basis of a meal in its own right, or serve as a side dish to the Pork shoulder cooked in milk.

Katina's Comments:

 

Pork Shoulder cooked in Milk

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: SUMPTUOUS, Regional Food and Wine, Fleurieu Peninsula.
Recipe: Jordan Theodore.

SERVES 4

  • 2kg piece of pork shoulder
  • 1 tablespoon fennel seeds, lightly crushed
  • salt and pepper
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons butter
  • 11/2 litres milk
  • 3 pieces orange rind
  • 3 pieces lemon rind
  • 1 sprig rosemary
  • 1 sprig sage
  • 1 large cinnamon stick
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 2 bay leaves

Preheat oven to 150C.

Score the skin of the pork and season with fennel, salt and pepper. Heat butter and oil in a pot and brown the pork on all sides. Drain excess fat.

Reduce the heat and add the milk, orange and lemon rind, rosemary, sage, cinnamon stick whole garlic cloves and bay leaves. Bring slowly to the boil, cover with a lid and braise in the oven for 3-31/2 hours, turning occasionally until tender. Remove the lid for the final 20 minutes of cooking to brown the pork. Serve with the reduced milk sauce which will have a lovely herbaceous flavour.

Note: Don't be put off by the scrambled egg-like texture of the sauce. The unctuous melting delicious pork will certainly overcome any reservations.

Katina's Comments:

 

 

 

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Meatballs

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: The Adelaide Magazine

 

MAKES 10 LARGE MEATBALLS

 

  • 1 medium sized onion, finely diced
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 3 cloves of garlic, crushed
  • 1/4 bunch of thyme, leaves only
  • 250g veal mince, 400g pork mince, 200g chicken thigh mince
  • 125g grated parmigiano reggiano
  • 1/4 bunch oregano and basil, leaves only
  • 2 eggs
  • 10g salt
  • 1 cup fresh bread crumbs, soaked in milk
  • 500ml tomato sugo (kind of an Italian tomato sauce)
  • 250ml chicken stock

 

Fry onion in oil, garlic and thyme until transparent.
Put meat in a bowl, add parmigiano, onion, oregano, basil, eggs and salt.

Squeeze excess milk out of breadcrumbs add to mince and mix.
Using wet hands (to avoid sticking), roll meatballs and put on baking tray.

Heat tomato sugo and chicken stock in a separate pot.
Simmer then pour over meatballs.

Cover and bake in 180C oven for 25-30 minutes.
Serve.

 

Katina's Comments:
You can make smaller meatballs if you like. It is very easy.

 

Alvaro and Lucy's Ceviche (with TIGER MILK as a bonus!!)

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: Alvaro & Lucy Barua, Darwin (NT)

SERVES 4

  • 1/2 kg firm white fish fillets, thinly sliced. If fillets are long cut them in half lengthwise, then slice them about 1/2 cm thick.

Note:  the fish can be replaced or combined with mixed sea food, prawns, octopus, calamari.

 

MARINADE

  • Juice 6-8 lemons (enough to cover the fish). When squeezing the lemons make sure that no pulp is in the juice because this can make the taste bitter.
  • Blend together in a blender 1 head of garlic, 1 long red chilli (or more according to taste), ginger, salt and pepper with the lemon juice.
  • Separately in a small frying pan, fry two large cloves of garlic, fry until blackened.

 

Cover fish with marinade and add the two blackened garlic, stir gently.
Allow the fish to marinate overnight or for at least 3 or 4 hours Alvaro marinated it for about 24 hours.

 

TO SERVE

Chop a white onion thinly, and if you like a bit more chilli.  Place 1 or 2 leaves of iceberg lettuce on a plate to form a shell.   Fill with ceviche. Top with thinly sliced onion. Serve with sliced steamed sweet potatoes and sweet corn.

 

 

 

TIGER MILK
If ceviche is finished and there is left over juice.  Keep the juice in the fridge. The juice is then called Tigers milk and can be drunk in shot glasses the morning, after a party.

 

Katina's Comments:

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Fish baked with Tomatoes and Olives

 

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: Recipes from a Greek Island - Susie Jacobs

 

SERVES 6

  • 6 fish steaks about 200 g each or 3 medium-sized fish 600 g each before cleaning, scaled and gutted
  • 350 g onions thinly sliced
  • 4 tbs fruity olive oil
  • 1 teas honey
  • 500 g tomatoes, skinned, seeded and flesh chopped
  • 4-5 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 1 bay leaf crushed
  • Sprigs of fresh thyme or 1/4 spoon dried thyme
  • 2 tbs orange juice
  • 2 tbs ouzo
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 100 g kalamata olives, stoned and roughly chopped
  • 2 tbs capers
  • 40 g fennel tops, finely chopped

 

(I used fillets of mulloway)

 

Wash and prepare your choice of fish and arrange it in a single layer in an oiled baking dish.

 

In a heavy frying pan fry the onions in the oil over low heat until translucent.

 

Add honey, chopped tomato, garlic, bay leaf, thyme, orange juice and ouzo and season with salt and pepper. Cover and simmer until the sauce begins to thicken (about 10 minutes).

 

Stir in the olives, capers and fennel and pour over the fish. Bake in a 180C oven for about 30 minutes. Taste the sauce and add salt carefully, as both the olives and capers are quite salty. Serve with chunks of crusty bread to soak up the sauce.

 

Katina's Comments:
The aniseed flavour from the ouzo and celery tops together with the honey and orange juice create a special flavour in this dish.

 

I fried fresh breadcrumbs (from Italian bread) in  good quality olive oil to which I added a clove of garlic, and browned them. When the fish was cooked I scattered the crunchy breadcrumbs over the fish.

 

 

 

 

Hortopitta (Green Vegetable Pie)

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: Recipes from a Greek Island (Susie Jacobs)

SERVES 6

  • 125 g green beans
  • 4 medium-sized courgettes
  • 125 g spinach, large stalks removed, washed and finely chopped
  • 125 g fetta cheese, well crumbled
  • 125 g parmesan cheese, grated
  • 2 tbs finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
  • 2 tbs finely chopped frech dill
  • 1 tbs finely chopped fresh mint
  • 40 g toasted breadcrumbs or Paximathia , or Dutch Rusks
  • 6 eggs, well beaten
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 1 tbs sesame seeds
  • 1-2 teas fruity olive oil

In a pot of boiling water, blanch the beans and courgettes for about 4 mins or until al dente. ( I steamed them).

Drain and chop them finely. Put the chopped vegetables in a large mixing bowl, and add the finely chopped spinach, parsley, dill and mint. Toss so they are evenly distributed. Mix the breadcrumbs, cheeses and eggs together and season well. Pour over the vegetables and stir until everything is well incorporated.

Oil a baking dish of about 1.2 litres or a loose-bottom cake tin 20 cm in diameter, and turn the vegetable mixture into it, smoothing the top. Sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake in a 180C oven for about 35 minutes, until the pie is golden and springy to the touch. Serve hot or cold, either from the dish or turned out of the cake tin.

Katina's Comments:
This type of pitta was a speciality of the Italianate islands of Corfu and Zakynthos. I splashed some oil on top of the pie before baking it.  I used more fetta and less parmesan. It was very light and the flavours of the herbs blended well with the green vegetables. I used 5-6 Dutch rusks. I was making sure that all the vegetable juices were soaked up by the crumbs. It is quite a substantial dish. Serve with salad.

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Cauliflower Moussaka

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: From The Sultan's Kitchen (a Turkish Cookbook)

SERVES 4-6

  • 1 large cauliflower cut into florets
  • 2 tbs unsalted butter
  • 2 tbs olive oil
  • 3/4 cup diced Spanish onion
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 500 gs ground lean lamb or beef
  • 1 tbs tomato paste
  • 2 medium green peppers, seeded and thinly sliced
  • 11/2 cups tomatoes, peeled, seeded and finely chopped
  • 1/2 teas Turkish red pepper or sweet paprika
  • 2 tbs finely chopped fresh dill
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped Italian parsley
  • 11/2 cups lamb stock or water
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 2 tbs lemon juice

 

Bring a large saucepan of lightly salted water to a boil and blanch the cauliflower florets for 4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon remove the florets from the pan and plunge them into ice-cold water. Drain them well and set them aside.

 

In a heavy medium-size saucepan, melt the butter and heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook for about 2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they are softened but not brown.

 

Add the meat and cook for another 3 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in the tomato paste, then add the cauliflower florets, green peppers, tomatoes, red pepper or paprika, dill, parsley and stock. Season with salt and pepper.

 

Bring the mixture to the boil, then lower the heat, cover the saucepan and simmer for about 45 minutes. Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the lemon juice.

 

Katina's Comments:
It is unusual using cauliflower like that, but it was nice.

 

 

Zucchini and Fetta Omelette

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: This recipe was given to me by a Greek lady who owns (I think) Omega Foods in Adelaide.

I haven't given precise quantities. You can decide that depending on number of serves. Garlic and herbs would also enhance the flavour. I find that the small zucchinis are so sweet that they are nice without embellishment.

  1. Slice the small zucchinis in half.
  2. Heat some olive oil in a frying pan.
  3. Add zucchini and fry until tender.
  4. Add cubed fetta and stir.
  5. Beat eggs and add to vegetables and cook as you would an omelette.

 

If using larger zucchinis, slice into 1 cm slices.

 

I usually finish the omelette off in the oven so that it fluffs up and colours on top.

 

Katina's Comments:
It is especially good with baby zucchinis because they have such a special taste, but I have made it with larger zucchinis.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Zucchini Slice

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source:

  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 500 g zucchini, coarsely grated
  • 1 large onion, finely chopped
  • 150 g smoked streaky bacon, finely chopped (optional)
  • 170 g grated parmesan cheese
  • 150 g Self raising flour
  • 3 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • Salt and pepper
  • 3 large ripe tomatoes, thickly sliced
  1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees.
  2. Brush a 25 cm square tin with a little oil and line with baking paper.
  3. Combine remaining ingredients, including bacon, except tomato and remaining oil.
  4. Pour into prepared tin and smooth top with the back of a spoon.
  5. Cover with tomato slices and dribble over remaining oil.
  6. Bake for about 30 minutes until firm.
  7. Cut into 12-16 pieces and serve warm or cold.

 

This dish can be successfully frozen. Individual pieces can be reheated for a few minutes in a hot oven; the base and exposed edges will become delightfully crisp.

 

Muffins: Instead of a large tin spoon mixture into well-oiled muffin tins. Bake for 20 minutes with or without the tomato on top, and serve with a vegetable soup.

 

Katina's Comments:
Carrot can be added to the mixture. I added mushrooms and it also worked very well.
I add the oil to the mixture before spooning into the tin.
I sprinkle oregano on the tomatoes and drizzle a little extra oil over them.
I use a mild or matured cheese grated

 

 

 Tagine of squid and new potatoes

 

From the Kitchen of Katina
Source: Neil Perry Recipes, goodfood.com.au

 

·         500g squid, cleaned and roughly cut into 3cm squares

·         2tbsp extra virgin olive oil

·         1 Spanish onion, finely chopped

·         450g vine-ripened tomatoes, peeled, deseeded and diced; remove any excess liquid

·         2 tbsp of honey

·         Sea salt

·         Juice of 1 lemon

·         8 new potatoes, steamed until tender

·         2 tbsp coriander leaves

·         1 long red chilli, cut into rounds

Chermoula

·         1 tsp cumin seeds, roasted and crushed

·         3 garlic cloves, peeled

·         1 tbsp saffron water (20ml hot water, not boiling, and 3 saffron threads, soaked)

·         1 tsp ground ginger

·         1/2  tsp paprika

·         1/2  tsp ground turmeric

·         1 tsp cayenne pepper

·         3tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

 

Serves 4

 

TO MAKE THE CHERMOULA, pound all the ingredients into a paste in a mortar, adding the extra virgin oil last.

 

PLACE THE SQUID in a bowl and add the chermoula, leaving the squid to marinade for about 30 minutes.

 

HEAT THE OLIVE OIL over a medium low heat in a tagine or heavy-bottomed straight-sided frying pan.

 

ADD THE ONION and cook for 5 minutes or until soft. Then add the marinated squid and increase the heat to medium-high and cook, stirring for 5 minutes.

 

ADD THE TOMATOES, honey, salt, lemon juice and bring to the boil.

 

REDUCE THE HEAT to a simmer and cook for about 1 hour or until the squid is tender.

 

ADD THE POTATOES and combine until warmed through.

 

DIVIDE THE TAGINE between four plates and sprinkle with the coriander leaves and chilli rounds before serving.

 Navarin of lamb

 

Source: Tess Mallos – food consultant to the Australian Meat Board

 

·         1kg (2 lb) boneless lamb (from shoulder)

·         2 tablespoons butter or oil

·         medium onion, chopped

·         clove garlic, crushed

·         tablespoons flour

·         tablespoons tomato paste

·         cup stock (use beef cube and water)

·         ½ teaspoon sugar

·         1½ teaspoon salt

·         ¼teaspoon pepper

            bouquet garni

·         6-8 small, whole onions

·         turnip sliced

·         12 small whole potatoes

·         cup fresh shelled peas


Trim excess fat from lamb and cut into cubes.
Heat butter or oil in a heavy pan and brown meat on all sides.
Transfer meat into casserole as it browns.
Add onion and garlic to the pan and sauté over lower heat until onion is soft.
Stir in flour and cook until lightly coloured.
Add stock, stirring sauce constantly until it thickens and bubbles.
Stir in tomato paste, sugar, salt and pepper and pour over lamb.
Add bouquet garni.
            Cover and cook in a slow oven 160°C (325°F), for one hour.
Remove bouquet garni and discard.
Add onions, turnip, potatoes and peas to casserole, cover and cook for a further hour or until meat is tender.
Sprinkle with chopped parsley if desired before serving from casserole.
Accompany with fresh, crusty bread.

Serves 4-6.

 

Katina's Comments:

 

 

 

 

 

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Lamb with eggplant and black olive sauce
(
Αρνί με μελιζάνας και σάλτσα μαύρης ελιάς)

 

From the kitchen of Katina
Source: Susanna Tee, Food of the world, Greece

 

Choose firm, juicy Kalamata olives to add to the sauce of this dish.
Pasta would make an ideal accompaniment.

 

Serves 4

 

·         1 eggplant

·         Salt and pepper

·         4-8 lamb chops

·         3 tbsp olive oil

·         1 onion, chopped coarsely

·         1 garlic clove, chopped finely

·         14 oz/400 g canned chopped tomatoes in juice

·         Pinch of sugar

·         16 black olives preferably Kalamata, pitted and chopped coarsely

·         1 tsp chopped fresh herbs such as basil, flat-leaf parsley, or oregano

 

1.      Cut eggplant into ¼-inch/2-cm cubes, put in a colander standing over a large plate, and sprinkle each layer with salt. Cover with a plate and place a heavy weight on top. Leave for 30 minutes.

2.      Preheat the broiler. Rinse the eggplant slices under cold running water, then pat dry with paper towels. Season the lamb chops with pepper.

3.      Place the lamb chops on the broiler pan and cook under medium heat for 10-15 minutes until tender, turning once during the cooking time.

4.      Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a saucepan, add the eggplant, onion, garlic, and fry for 10 minutes, until softened and starting to brown. Add the tomatoes and their juice, the sugar, olives, chopped herbs, salt, and pepper and simmer for 5-10 minutes.

5.      To serve, spoon the sauce onto 4 warmed serving plates and top with the lamb chops.

 

Katina's Comments:

Beetroot risotto

 

From the kitchen of Katina

Source: Delicious Magazine, Aug 2006

 

Serves 6

 

·         3 large beetroots, trimmed

·         4cups chicken stock

·         1 tbs virgin olive oil

·         40 g unsalted butter, plus an extra 70 g chopped

·         2 small red onions, finely chopped

·         2 celery sticks, finely chopped

·         2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

·         2 cups (440 g) carnaroli rice

·         1 cup dry white wine

·         1/3 cup lemon juice

 

Horseradish cream

·         1 cup crème fraiche

·         2tbs finely chopped chives

·         ¼ cup finely grated horseradish root

·         Lemon juice to taste

 

For horseradish cream, combine all ingredients in a small bowl. Season to taste and refrigerate until needed.

 

For risotto, place the beetroot in a large saucepan of water and bring to the boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, until tender (this can take up to an hour). Drain, reserving 3 cups of the cooking liquid. When cool enough to handle, peel beetroot and cut into 1 cm dice. Place the stock and reserved cooking liquid in a pan over medium heat and bring to a simmer.

 

Heat the oil and 40 g butter in a large heavy-based saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook the onion, celery garlic for 5-6 minutes until soft but not coloured. Add rice and stir until grains are coated and slightly translucent. Stir in wine and simmer for 1-2 minutes until evaporated. Add the stock, a cup at a time, stirring constantly, allowing each to be absorbed before adding the next. After 10 minutes, add beetroot, then continue to add stock for 8-10 minutes until rice is al dente and looks like wet porridge. Stir in the extra butter and lemon juice and season to taste.

 

Serve with 6x189 g salmon, ? tbs olive oil, Baby spinach leaves dressed with Bijon vinaigrette. (1/2 cup olive oil, 2 tbs white wine vinegar, 1 tbs Dijon mustard)

 

Preheat oven to 220.

 

Katina's Comments: