{Recipe} Homemade sausage (veggie) rolls

It’s hard to beat a homemade sausage roll, especially when it’s half vegetables and I can actually get the kids to eat them without fuss. #winning

A great way to use up veggies that are going floppy in the fridge, or if you have an abundance in the garden.

Sausage rolls fresh from the oven, pictured with our Vintage Rose Tea Towel.

INGREDIENTS

3 sheets ready-made puff pastry
400g sausages (roughly 5-6 sausages)
400g vegetables (onion, carrot, cauliflower, zucchini*, cabbage, celery, etc)
4 tablespoons finely chopped herbs (or 1-2 tablespoons dried herbs)
2 cloves garlic
1 cup breadcrumbs
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 eggs
an extra egg or a little milk, for brushing
sesame seeds, for sprinkling

METHOD

  1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees C and prepare two regular sized oven trays with some baking paper.
  2. Take pastry sheets from the freezer and allow to thaw individually on the bench as you make up the sausage mixture.
  3. Squeeze the sausage from its casing into a large bowl.
  4. Chop your veggies and garlic superfine, grate them, or pop them in a food processor if you have one and chop them down to a course breadcrumb consistency. The finer you can get them, the better consistency your end product will be (and the more likely you are to hide those veggies!) Add the veggies to the sausage mixture.
  5. Add in the herbs, breadcrumbs, sauce, eggs into the same bowl.
  6. Now, it’s time to pull up your sleeves. Get your hands in there and squeeze and mix everything together with your hands until you get everything mixed with an even consistency throughout. Set aside, and wash your hands, we’re almost there.
  7. Once your pastry has thawed to become more workable but still cool, it’s time to roll. Run a knife through the middle of each pastry sheet to form six even rectangles.
  8. Split the mixture evenly between the six pieces and shape into long logs along the centre of each pastry strip. Try and get them nice and even and smooth as this will make them easier to roll.
  9. Pull one side of the strip up to the top of the log and then roll the whole thing over so the pastry overlaps at the bottom. Press gently so the pastry joins. Keep as large sausage rolls, or cut into smaller sausage rolls.
  10. Brush with a little beaten egg or milk and then sprinkle with sesame seeds. Pop in the oven the cook for a good 30 minutes or until golden (larger sausage rolls will need a tad longer in the oven).
  11. Enjoy with your favourite tomato sauce or relish.

NOTES

  • If you’re using zucchini, be sure to grate and then squeeze out any excess liquid
  • Cut sausage rolls into whatever length you like

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{Recipe} Speedy Breakfast Beans

Emma November 19, 2021 No Comments

I’m always up for a savoury breakfast. While the rest of my family reach for cereal, I go for eggs, avocado on toast, or these Speedy Breakfast Beans. With a subtle spice and smokiness and a tomato hit you’ll love, these beans will have you satisfied and ready to conquer the day.

They also work well shared with friends in a brunch scenario. Add some sourdough toast, poached eggs, fresh rocket, and fetta. Bon appetit!

INGREDIENTS

500g ripe tomatoes, chopped roughly
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tbsp pure maple syrup
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
800g canned cannellini beans, drained and rinsed (approx 500g after draining)
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

METHOD

  1. Drain and rinse beans. Set aside.
  2. Put all other ingredients into a medium sized saucepan and bring to the boil. Let the mixture simmer on low and reduce until it because a saucy thickness.
  3. When you’ve reached your desired consistency, stir in the beans gently and allow them to heat through. Take them off the heat – don’t leave them to cook as this will result in a mush.
  4. Serve with rocket and fetta, and a crusty toast if desired.

NOTES

  • If tomatoes aren’t in season or you just don’t have any available at the time of cooking, the equivalent weight in canned diced tomatoes can work.
  • These beans also keep pretty well in the freezer if you wanted to make a bigger batch and keep portions for later. Simply let them thaw in the fridge overnight and then give a good mix, to ensure liquids are mixed well back into the sauce, and gently heat.

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{Recipe} Vietnamese Salad

Born from the frustration of awkwardly wrapping rice paper rolls, I created this salad recipe, which brings the best of this Vietnamese street food into an easy-to-eat form that you can prep ahead of time and enjoy without all the mess!

Enjoy on its own or with grilled or crumbed chicken, a steak or a can of tuna – or whatever protein floats your boat.

Taradale Kitchen Co Vietnamese salad

INGREDIENTS

Iceberg lettuce (or any other lettuce), chopped or torn
Kale or silverbeet, torn or shredded
Carrot, cut into matchsticks on the mandolin slicer
Zucchini, cut into matchsticks on the mandolin slicer
Sliced spring onion, or red onion
Mint leaves
(Optional: add any of your favourites: red capsicum, bean sprouts, avocado)
A handful of peanuts

Dressing:
3 tbsp soy sauce
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons sweet chilli sauce
1 garlic clove, minced
2 tbsp minced coriander
1 tbsp sesame oil

METHOD

  1. Prepare all the salad veggies and these can be mixed up and stored in the fridge until serving time.
  2. Pull all dressing ingredients into a jar and shake until well mixed.
  3. When it’s time to serve your salad, use however much of the salad vegetables you see fit for the amount of people you’re feeding and mix with dressing, the amount to your taste. Sprinkle with peanuts upon serving.

Dressing measurements suitable for a salad to feed 4 people.

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{Recipe} Easy mini pancakes

Mini pancakes, pikelets, drop scones, hot cakes. Whatever you like to call them, they have to be one of the quickest and easiest ways to fill hungry tummies.

You can whip them up in a flash. Let’s get started…

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 cups self raising flour
1 cup milk
2 eggs
2 teaspoons sugar (optional)

METHOD

  1. Put all ingredients in a mixing jug. Use a whisk to combine all the ingredients into a smooth batter.
  2. Heat a frypan to medium heat. Grease with a little butter if needed. Then turn down to medium-low heat.
  3. Cook the mini pancakes in batches (whatever you can fit into your frypan with enough room for flipping). Pour or scoop little portions of batter into the frypan in rounds approx 10cm across.
  4. Flip each pancake when air bubbles start to appear on the surface and cook for another minute.
  5. When ready, set them aside on a plate while you repeat the process in batches until you’ve used up all the batter.
  6. Serve them warm or at room temperature. Enjoy them like a traditional pancake or just lather in butter and jam like a piece of toast.

TIP: Leftover pancakes can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days or so. To freshen them up, pop them in the toaster for a minute!

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{Recipe} Quick herb pesto

Emma September 17, 2021 No Comments

If your herbs are growing quicker than you can use them, or if you bought a whole bunch of coriander at the grocer just for couple of sprigs, or if you just feel like whipping up something delicious in 5 minutes, then this is the recipe for you! Transform your produce into something wonderful that can be used across many meals, or frozen for later.

This recipe is great for coriander, parsley, and rocket, but skies the limit really. And it couldn’t be easier to make.

There are so many ways to use this gorgeous pesto: on grazing boards or platters, stirred through pasta or soup, topping meat or fish, smearing on bread, or even on the base of your pizza.

So let’s get started…

INGREDIENTS

A bunch of coriander/parsley/rocket, washed and dried, stems and all
1 cup shelled walnuts or unsalted cashews
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese (can be omitted if you are vegan)
2 cloves of garlic, minced or chopped finely
1 tsp salt
the juice of 1 lemon
1/2 cup olive oil

METHOD

  1. Put herbs, nuts, parmesan (if using), garlic, lemon juice and salt into a food processor and pulse for a few seconds to combine. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and pulse again, until you get the desired consistency.
  2. With the processor running on low, drizzle in the olive oil and mix it just enough to combine all the ingredients nicely, shouldn’t be any longer than 40-60 seconds.
  3. Use immediately, or store in a sealed jar in the fridge for later use.
  4. You can also freeze portions of this for later – put into ice cube trays if you want little bits at a time, or into cup-sized containers or jars to grab as needed.

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{Recipe} Homemade tomato salsa

Emma September 9, 2021 No Comments

Mexican could be on my menu every week of the year and I’d have no issue with it, as long as this salsa was joining the party!

For too long I thought I enjoyed store-bought salsa, until I tasted the real deal overseas. In a quest to make it at home, I landed here. A stunning salsa that takes tacos to the next level and is perfectly paired with original tortilla chips as a starter.

INGREDIENTS

1 tin diced tomatoes
1/4 cup minced fresh coriander
1 sml red onion, finely diced
1 clove garlic, minced or chopped finely
1 tbsp pickled jalepeno, finely chopped (add more if you like more heat)
the juice of 1/2 lime
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp sugar
1/4-1/2 tsp cumin, to taste

METHOD

  1. Put all ingredients together into bowl and stir to combine. If you prefer a thinner consistency, put it all into a food processor and pulse until you get a desired consistency.
  2. Taste test and adjust seasonings if required.
  3. Serve and enjoy!

NOTES

  • You can use finely diced fresh tomatoes if you prefer when they are in season but I actually find the tinned variety add a good amount of “sauciness”
  • For this recipe I love the tubes of minced herbs available in the fruit & veg section of the supermarket.

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Home-made Granola

{Recipe} Home-made granola

Emma September 2, 2021 No Comments

We always have a version of this home-made granola in our pantry. I say “a version” because you really can shape the ingredients to your personal taste or dietary requirements. It’s brilliant with yoghurt for breakfast, and enjoyed just as much after dinner with some stewed fruit and custard for a quick dessert!

Mix it up by adding your favourite dried fruit after baking, or experiment with different spices like cardamon and nutmeg. The options are endless.

INGREDIENTS

3 cups rolled oats
3 cups unsweetened coconut flakes
1 cup raw pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds
1/2 cup sesame seeds
2 tablespoons chia seeds
1 1/2 cup raw almonds (sliced almonds if you prefer)
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 cup honey
2 tablespoons coconut oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

METHOD

  1. Preheat your oven to 150 degrees C. Line an extra large baking tray, or two regular-sized baking trays (choose trays with sides if you can, for ease of stirring later).
  2. Pop the oats, coconut, nuts, seeds, spices and salt into a large mixing bowl and toss to combine.
  3. In a small saucepan, heat the coconut oil, honey and vanilla until easily pourable. Mix the three together to combine.
  4. Pour the liquid into the bowl with dry ingredients and stir until everything is coated evenly and mixed.
  5. Spread the mixture out evenly across the baking trays and bake for about 25 minutes, stirring halfway through the baking process. Keep an eye on it. You’ll be looking to achieve a golden-brown, crisp granola.
  6. Remove from the oven and let it cool on the trays to room temperature
  7. Transfer granola into an air-tight container and store at room temperature.

Suggestions:

  • Mix through your favourite chopped dried fruit after the granola has cooled.
  • Substitute ground cloves for ground cardamon or ground nutmeg for a different flavour

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