Delicious meals with minimum ingredients.

[upndown]

Hi Kathy and anyone having trouble finding a recipe.

Go to one of the recipe lists on 55 or 98. Then press Ctrl and F. This will fetch up fetch up a box at the bottom of the screen.

Type say CHICKEN and all the recipes with chicken in the title will have the word highlighted in GREEN.
Or say type PASTA and all the recipes with pasta in the title will have the word highlighted in GREEN

Thanks to Upndown for pointing me in the right direction.

You're welcome - wish I'd thought of it before! wonder if it'd be an idea to copy your post and put it in ur lovely red text at the top of pages 55 and 98?? I'd do it myself but only the author of the post can edit the original can't they? Xx

 

[upndown]

Oh, wow!! Thanks, Doreen and Upndown! Brilliant! Should make everyone's life easier. Great to hear from you too, Doreen. Was wondering how you were. I'm off work this morning while the water board try to locate a leak. Sounds like it's going to be pricey because, just our luck, it's on our land so we're responsible! The trouble is, they're snowed under with work at the moment so the water just continues to gush underground! Lisa (another Mini's member) told me there is a relief fund for the water loss, which made me feel a bit better about things but the water board say it's only for half of the cost and it had already reached over one thousand pounds about three weeks ago!! On top of that, we're apparently not covered for the pipe work. Makes me really worried, cos we haven't got that sort of money! Anyway, we'll have to wait and see but now they're saying they can't come out for another week!! Oh, well - sorry to fill you with doom and gloom. Just hoping you are well and glad to see you back on the scene, so to speak. xx

Oh gosh Kathy - what a nuisance for u - could u suggest that they only charge u up to the point u reported the problem? They may only be able to estimate it but might be worth asking - hope they sort it out very soon. Let us know what happens xx

 

[upndown]

Lol. Yes, it's really easy and sometimes I throw in cooked chicken and mushrooms too. I suppose you could add whatever takes your fancy. The thing I usually hate about making risotto is having to add one ladleful of liquid at a time and waiting for it to be absorbed so that's another reason I love this one.

Mmmmm yes chicken, mushrooms but maybe a red sweet pepper? Xx

 

[chocko1]

Mmm, I know - the possibilities are endless!

Think they may be doing that already, Linda (upndown) because they've now said that, once it's fixed, they'll wait for 3 months, then work out our average usage. Think that's what they meant anyway - I'd better check properly. They've been going on about so many things and, obviously, we're really worried, that sometimes things are a bit unclear!

Kathy xx

 

[chocko1]

Thanks to the lovely person who added a rep comment. It's so kind of you but I'm afraid I can't say 'thanks' personally because I don't know who it is.

Kathy x

 

[chocko1]

ROAST CHICKEN AND CAULIFLOWER RISOTTO - Serves 4

1.5 Syns per serving

500g small cauliflower florets
500g skinless chicken breast
1 tbsp. olive oil - 6 Syns
4 shallots, finely chopped
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
200g Arborio rice
2 courgettes, diced
1 litre hot reduced-salt chicken stock
100g rocket

Pre-heat the oven to 200C/Gas 6.
Put the chicken in a large ovenproof dish and spray with Frylight. Roast for about 25 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.
Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large, non-stick frying pan. Add the shallot and garlic and gently cook until the shallot softens.
Add the rice and stir to coat, then cook for 2 more minutes.
Add the courgette, then add the stock, a little at a time, stirring until all the liquid is absorbed, before adding some more.
Meanwhile, cook the cauliflower florets in a pan until just tender.
When all the stock is absorbed and the rice is al dente, remove from the heat and stir through the rocket.
Thinly slice the chicken, drain the cauli and add them both to the risotto. Season with black pepper.

Lovely sprinkled with freshly grated Parmesan (taken from your HEX). I sometimes top it off with crispy bacon pieces, along with the cheese, which makes it even more yummy!

I have tried this without the olive oil but it really doesn't work as well.

 

[upndown]

Mmm, I know - the possibilities are endless!

Think they may be doing that already, Linda (upndown) because they've now said that, once it's fixed, they'll wait for 3 months, then work out our average usage. Think that's what they meant anyway - I'd better check properly. They've been going on about so many things and, obviously, we're really worried, that sometimes things are a bit unclear!

Kathy xx

Hope it's sorted soon xx

 

[Nanny Doreen]

You're welcome - wish I'd thought of it before! wonder if it'd be an idea to copy your post and put it in ur lovely red text at the top of pages 55 and 98?? I'd do it myself but only the author of the post can edit the original can't they? Xx

Done it upndown, was a good idea.

 

[upndown]

Done it upndown, was a good idea.

Well done and thank you - esp when you have dental problems!!xx

 

[chocko1]

The Water Leak Saga - Long story short! The engineers came this morning and, after digging small part of the drive up, said the responsibility isn't ours after all!!! They have, however, said we may have to fill a 'Loss of Metered Water' form in, which we don't really understand, if the loss isn't down to us anymore. Still, feeling so much better than we have for the last few weeks, thank goodness! Thanks to everyone for their concern.

Kathy xx

 

[sookie]

The Water Leak Saga - Long story short! The engineers came this morning and, after digging small part of the drive up, said the responsibility isn't ours after all!!! They have, however, said we may have to fill a 'Loss of Metered Water' form in, which we don't really understand, if the loss isn't down to us anymore. Still, feeling so much better than we have for the last few weeks, thank goodness! Thanks to everyone for their concern. Kathy xx

Great news xx

 

[cloudy6]

Thank goodness for that Kathy, a weight off your mind before Christmas. X

 

[Nanny Doreen]

So glad that is sorted. It was such a worry for you especially just before Christmas

 

[chocko1]

Thanks to everyone! We're off to Liverpool tomorrow, to see Status Quo in concert. Chas and Dave are backing them too. (Apologies to any 'youngsters' who may not have heard of C+D. Just showing my age now! ) We're staying overnight in a central hotel afterwards and will enjoy everything so much more now the water issue is more or less sorted!

Great to be able to rely on my Mini's friends, when I have any worries, or just want a good, old moan! xx

 

[chocko1]

SPICY CHORIZO PASTA BAKE - Serves 4

Approx. 2.5 Syns per serving, if using the cheese and breadcrumbs as part HEX's

150g diced chorizo - approx. 10 Syns
Approx. 300-400g pasta shapes
1 large onion, finely diced
2 x 400g chopped tomatoes
Tomato puree
Finely chopped fresh basil
2 slices of bread, processed into breadcrumbs
A generous amount of mature Cheddar, grated
Chilli powder

Fry the chorizo in a large, non-stick frying pan, until the oils run.
Add the chopped onion (best to have softened it in the microwave first, in a splash of water) and fry for a few minutes.
Pour in the chopped tomatoes, as much puree as you like and the fresh basil.
Add in as much chilli powder as you like.
Gently simmer the mixture for approx. 15 mins, stirring from time to time and keeping an eye on it, making sure it doesn't dry out. Add some water, if necessary.
Pre-heat the oven to 180C/Gas 4 and put a large casserole dish in to warm up.
Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to pack instructions, drain and rinse with boiling water.
Add the drained and rinsed pasta to the tomato mixture and stir gently.
Tip the mixture into the warmed casserole dish.
Top evenly with the breadcrumbs and then the grated cheese.
Put into the oven for about 15 minutes or until the top is crisp and golden.

Lovely served on warmed plates with a generous side salad.

This is a take on a recipe by a man called Harry Roberts and is delicious!

 

[sookie]

Chicken and chorizo my favourite... Actually that should just say chorizo... Ha ha ha x

 

[upndown]

Thanks to everyone! We're off to Liverpool tomorrow, to see Status Quo in concert. Chas and Dave are backing them too. (Apologies to any 'youngsters' who may not have heard of C+D. Just showing my age now! ) We're staying overnight in a central hotel afterwards and will enjoy everything so much more now the water issue is more or less sorted!

Great to be able to rely on my Mini's friends, when I have any worries, or just want a good, old moan! xx

enjoy ur trip and the concert - as u say easy to do - now ur mind is settled about the pipe! Xx

 

[chocko1]

Status Quo were brilliant but, not so, the hotel! It was gorgeous but the noise from a wedding reception just below our room was shocking! The floor actually vibrated with the sound and it went on until gone one o'clock. We were greeted by guests being sick, right by the entrance and the language we heard actually inside the hotel, from other wedding guests, was absolutely foul! All this, in a 4 star hotel! Shocking!! Looking forward to a good night's sleep in my own bed, tonight!

Rant over! x

 

[cloudy6]

Thanks to everyone! We're off to Liverpool tomorrow, to see Status Quo in concert. Chas and Dave are backing them too. (Apologies to any 'youngsters' who may not have heard of C+D. Just showing my age now! ) We're staying overnight in a central hotel afterwards and will enjoy everything so much more now the water issue is more or less sorted!

Great to be able to rely on my Mini's friends, when I have any worries, or just want a good, old moan! xx

Ooh have fun! You'll be rocking all over the hall , we've seen them before and its a great evening. It made me laugh to see Chas n Dave popping up there, everywhere I go I seem to find posters advertising them, they obviously keep very busy.
So good to know the water situation isn't go to be anywhere near as bad as you feared. Enjoy your weekend x

 

[cloudy6]

Status Quo were brilliant but, not so, the hotel! It was gorgeous but the noise from a wedding reception just below our room was shocking! The floor actually vibrated with the sound and it went on until gone one o'clock. We were greeted by guests being sick, right by the entrance and the language we heard actually inside the hotel, from other wedding guests, was absolutely foul! All this, in a 4 star hotel! Shocking!! Looking forward to a good night's sleep in my own bed, tonight!

Rant over! x

Oops Mrs Slow here has only just replied saying have a good time! duh. The hotel part sounds awful. Did you complain? I guess there may not have been other rooms available to move you too but you certainly shouldn't have had to pay full room charges for that kind of experience. Fair enough, people were celebrating but you had as much right to expect a relaxing night away as they did to be enjoying themselves in a much louder way!

On another note... the Chorizo pasta bake is definitely on the cards here as soon as I can get hold of some more chorizo, it sounds delicious and something we'll all enjoy. Many thanks for another great recipe xx