Hamburger & Barley Soup

Prep time: 5 minsCooking time: 2hrs Another simple but tasty recipe that feeds the entire family. There's nothing more to say. Best served with some fresh, crusty bread. INGREDIENTS: 500g minced beef1 brown onion, chopped1 clove garlic, minced1 green pepper, finely chopped2 stalks celery, finely chopped1 large carrot, finely chopped1L beef stock1 28 oz can …

Vegetarian Stir-Fry

Prep time: 5 minsCooking time: 30 mins This is a simple but tasty stir-fry, whose ingredients can be substituted with whatever takes your fancy. I roasted the broccoli, because I wanted a fresh meal with different textures and tastes. The sauce was simply poured over every individual serving. The method is a little unconventional, but …

Pan-Fried Burgers & Potato Wedges

Prep time: 15 minsCooking time: 1hr I love a good burger. And as much as I love BBQ, there's something special about cooking meat in its own juices. This is a simple recipe with homemade oven potato wedges. Serve with a fresh salad. Feeds 7 mouths. INGREDIENTS: Burgers 🍔 (makes approx. 8) 800g minced beef1/2 …

Lemon Chicken Casserole

Prep time: 10 minsCooking time: 50 mins This is a modified recipe of something I found online - an amalgamation of various recipes in fact. It all starts with a marinade for the chicken, which can be done well in advance (at least 1hr). I'd never made this dish before today. But in my search …

Spaghetti BPG (bacon, peas, & garlic)

Prep time: 5 minsCooking time: 20-25 mins This recipe is a no brainer. It's delicious and easy to make. The trick lies with cooking the garlic correctly. The aim is to produce a slightly thickened garlic and oil/fat reduction, which simmers while the pasta cooks. With this method, the garlic doesn't burn and you get …

Franks & Beans Casserole (2.0)

Prep time: 10 minsCooking time: 45 mins This is a super lazy recipe. There's definitely nothing gourmet about it. But it's a childhood favourite, and the next generation seems to like it. Because my pantry is stocked with canned beans, and I found some hotdogs in the freezer, I thought I'd throw them together for …

Managing Food: Isolation Strategy

We're living through an unusual time. Our local grocery stores are struggling to stock their shelves, while governments assure us about the uninterrupted food supply chain. Whatever the truth, regular trips to the supermarket, butcher, or green grocer are not being recommended. Social distancing measures, and the general fear of falling ill, remind us about …

Monthly Planning: 10 Easy Tips

Photo by Bich Tran on Pexels.com OVERVIEW: This takes practice. And patience. After a number of years of trial-and-error, I'm now in the habit of printing off a monthly calendar for the fridge. Together with my wife and kids, we spit-ball food/meal ideas for the coming week or two, to help focus our grocery and …

Johnny Cake (a.k.a. Cornbread)

Prep time: 10 minsCooking time: 30 mins Did somebody say, 'Breakfast for dinner'? I grew up on this stuff, almost every Sunday morning. It's super easy to make and hard to get to wrong. Best served with crispy bacon. But because I decided to make it for dinner, I added a homemade bean recipe as …

Oatmeal with Blueberries & Cinnamon

Prep time: 2 minsCooking time: 5 mins This is a basic recipe for a filling and quick family breakfast. The picture doesn't look too appetising, but there is plenty of flavour packed into this healthy dish. It's oatmeal after all, what do you expect? Bonus: Oats are cheap and quick to cook. And they fill …