Recipes

We all need a good supply of recipes...here's some of my favourites that I've mentioned on my site!

Baked Pasta with Meatballs
This is a recipe from a free cookbook I got while we were students in Dunedin - produced by Maggi, it's called Easy Meals for First Time Flatters. There's a surprisingly good variety of recipes in here!

Servings : 4-6
Preparation time : 15 minutes
Cooking time :about 45 minutes

200g Penne or Spiral Pasta

Meatballs
500g minced beef
1/4 cup dried breadcrumbs
2 tsp MAGGI Garlic Stock Powder
1 egg, beaten
2 tbsp chopped parsley
1 tbsp olive oil

Sauce
2 tsp olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 pkt MAGGI French Onion Soup Mix (I always just use plain onion)
1 1/2 cups water
400g can tomatoes in juice, chopped
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp MAGGI Garlic Stock Powder
1 tbsp tomato paste
freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 cups grated tasty cheese or mozzarella cheese


Step 1: Add the pasta to a large quantity of boiling salted water and cook for 10 minutes. Drain, then place the pasta in a greased 30cm x 20cm x 5cm ovenproof dish.

Step 2: While the pasta is cooking, prepare the meatballs. Combine all the ingredients, except the oil, and mix thoroughly. Shape into meatballs about 2cm in diameter.

Step 3: Heat I tbsp of olive oil in a frying pan. Add the meatballs and brown over a moderately high heat. Remove from the pan and add the meatballs to the pasta.Wipe out the pan. Preheat oven to 200°C.

Step 4: Prepare sauce. Heat 2 tsp of olive oil in the pan. Add the onion and cook for 2-3 minutes. Combine the soup mix and water, and add to the pan with the tomatoes.

Step 5: Pour the sauce over the meatballs and pasta, then top with the grated cheese.

Step 6: Cook in oven for 20-30 minutes or until the sauce is bubbling and the cheese is golden brown.


Jaffa Muffins
This recipe comes from one of those fundraising cookbooks from my youngest brother's school. I like these books - because the recipes are submitted by families they are usually tried and tested kiwi favs! This is a super fast sweet muffin recipe, takes about 20 mins from start to finish!

2 Cups Self Raising Flour
1/2 Cup Sugar
1/4 tsp Salt
1 Cup Chocolate Chips (I use dark)

1/4 Cup Oil
1 Cup Fanta (or other orange soda)
1 Egg

Preheat oven to 200°C. Mix dry ingredients together.

Whisk oil, fanta and egg together. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients. Mix lightly.

Place into greased muffin tins and bake at 200°C for 15 minutes or until golden brown.