Quick Asian-inspired Cucumber Salad (GF)

5 baby cucumbers (qukes) or 1-2 lebanese cucumbers, sliced finely
1 bunch asparagus, chopped and lightly steamed (remove woody ends)
1 carrot, grated
1/2 red onion, finely sliced
1/4 cup chopped cashews, lightly toasted
1/2-1 finely sliced green chilli
handful of chopped coriander or parsley

dressing
around 1 tab maple syrup
juice of 1/2 small lemon
2 tspns fish sauce
black pepper

mix all ingredients together well and serve (can chill if desired)

BBQ Pork Rice Paper Rolls (GF)

I just made these for dinner and they were sooooo delicious! i was shocked to find nothing left at the end of the meal! i wanted to record what i put on the pork so I didn't forget ;)

1 pork fillet
3-4 chopped garlic cloves
juice of half a lemon
ground black pepper
around 2 tabs fish sauce
1 tab brown sugar
around 1+ tspn five spice powder

mix all ingredients and marinade from 30 mins to overnight
BBQ fillet until cooked to your preference
let rest 5 minutes then slice

1/2 cup raw peanuts
1/2 bottle gluten free hoisin sauce (we used Ayams brand)
around 1 tspn sesame oil
rice paper
1/2 packet rice vermicelli
1 large cucumber, julienned
1 carrot, grated (optional, i don't like this but my family do)
shredded lettuce
fresh coriander
fresh vietnamese mint leaves
fresh mint leaves

dry fry the peanut over a medium heat. let cool then rub the skins off and chop coarsely
place in a small bowl, add hoisin sauce and sesame oil and mix well

dip 2 rice papers into a bowl of boiling water (obviously don't let small children do this part!)
place on a plate and top with small amounts of each filling inlcuding the sauce mix, fold the bottom side over, fold the ends in and then tightly roll up. eat :)

NB usually you woud have a dipping sauce with the rolls, but we find this the easiest way to eat them with children :)

video on how to roll ;)

Lentil, Vegie & Feta Salad

a brand new recipe from the weightwatchers satisfaction plan, this looks utterly delicious!

this quantity serves 1

1/2 cup canned brown lentils
2 tabs canned baby beets, chopped
1/2 lebanese cucumber, diced
3 cherry tomatoes, halved
1 tabs red onion, finely diced
1 tab balsalmic dressing (i will have to check this for gluten and substitute if necessary)
30g reduced fat feta
small handful baby rocket leaves

combine
serve with multigrain roll. can also add chicken breast or shaved ham



(quantity for 6
2 cans brown lentils, drained
1 can baby beets, chopped
2 lebanese cucumbers, diced
1 punnet cherry tomatoes, halved
1 red onion, finely diced
6 tab balsalmic dressing (i will have to check this for gluten and substitute if necessary)
180g reduced fat feta
1 packet baby rocket leaves

A Feast for Friday!

some how or other i went from entirely uninspired to make dinner (was thinking beans on toast) to cooking this feast... not sure how that happened but was pretty good lol

Menu:
Butter Chicken (TMX recipe)
Daal with pumpkin & spinach
basmati rice
raita
tomato & cucumber sambal
bananas with coconut (is that a sambal too?)
pappadums
tomato relish
brinjal pickle
click here to see what each dish looked like :)


and more details...
Butter Chicken (TMX recipe) I'm not sure about the success of this recipe. i don't think it was like the butter chicken we're used to but it's been so long since we've had indian out i can't remember!! lol i didn't have cream so i used a mix of sour cream and evaporated milk and made it too runny. I also only had 50g of cashews so subbed in 100g of almonds. i did add some tomato paste as i was worried my tomatoes weren't ripe and tasty enough. i'll probably make it again but i'll have to try a takeaway version and see if i can adapt this one ;)
Daal with pumpkin & spinach This is very simple :) melt some ghee, gently fry some garlic, black mustard seeds and garam masala. pour in water / stock. add in red lentils and diced pumpkin. when lentils are cooked add in spinach and coconut milk and allow spinach to wilt before serving.
basmati rice
raita
tomato & cucumber sambal
bananas with coconut (is that a sambal too?)
pappadums we just microwave ours - they are so much nicer not done in oil!!
tomato relish mum's recipe :) will track it down (i think it's on eb) and repost here
brinjal pickle