Hello BBers

Please share an easy recipe you love. If you have a story of where your recipe(s) came from, chat away. Feel free to write your recipe in any format you like! I can't wait to try Mara's specialty Rocky Road..... like yesterday.

Here's mine. A perfect 'day off' meal and absolutely wonderful for Winter. You can prep in the morning and put it together at lunchtime for dinner. I made up the recipe after a few dismal failures lol. I have ideas for any leftover cooked stock mixture later...

Beef brisket - the BB easy peasy way.
You'll need:
1 beef brisket that fits into your baking tray with some room.
1L beef stock. 2L if the brisket is BIG.
Worcestershire sauce.
2 onions sliced anyway you like.
Mushrooms sliced thickly - as many as you like.
Oil - any type.
Salt.
Pepper.
A baking tray... the best tasting one I've made was cooked in a cast iron, enameled baking tray but any will do.
Aluminium foil to cover the baking tray.
A frying pan / skillet.
Utensils for pan and tray.
Oven gloves.
Oven & stove top.

To cook:
Pour cold stock & 2 tblsp W sauce into baking tray.
Saute onions in oil in pan & add to baking tray.
Brown mushies as above & add to baking tray.
Sprinkle salt / pepper over brisket.
Brown both sides of brisket in pan then add to baking tray.
Cover whole tray with foil & scrunch under edges.
Spoon stock mixture over brisket to coat.
NB: The stock mixture needs to come up to around half way on side of brisket. Add more stock if needed.
Slow cook in warm oven c110C for about 2h.
Check.
Turn brisket.
Repeat.
Taste to see if more W sauce is needed.
Rest meat for 15 mins.
Slice and serve.

Note: IF you want a pulled beef effect then you can cook longer until beef is falling apart. Add to sliders, Turkish bread.

If this isn't easy for you, sorry! I have a great Boscaiola coming up later that is super easy, promise.

EM

Hi ecomama

Thanks for starting this thread, we really value contributions like this which help foster community and great connections! And of course great food!

I'm not much of a cook, but I'll pass this one along to more talented hands who can do it justice!

A recipe I'd like to share is whipped coffee (a little laborious but will make mornings a little more joyous!)

(rough measurements but this works best for me)
1 tbsp instant coffee and 2 tbsp sugar ( can adjust to taste)
2 tbsp hot water

Mix it with a whisk or beater until it becomes whipped and peaky or mix a little less for a more syrupy in texture, whatever you prefer.

Add to milk or put on top of ice cream/pancakes, so good!

Oh YUM Tay, sounds delicious. I'm definitely trying that tomorrow morning lol. My next recipe for Boscaiola IS easy lol.

Thanks Matchy69! Your jams and pickles sound wonderful. Probably not 'easy' lol but they'd be great to share!
That reminds me of a Berry Crumble I loved making way back.... I'll try to find that.
It's great for any excess produce, so right up our alleys Matchy :-)

My Boscaoila is coming up. Easy peasy.

Happy creating!
EM

BB Boscaiola

You will need:
1 packet pasta - I use fettuccine but any is fine.
1 tin Carnation Skim Milk.
Bacon - as much as you want.
Mushies - as many as you want.
1 onion.
Grated cheese to top.
Olive oil.
Salt.
Pepper - I use lemon pepper but any will do.

To cook:
Shred bacon, slice onions and fry in olive oil.
Boil pasta.
Pour milk over pasta and warm.
Combine all ingredients together.
Top with cheese and serve.

This is a great almost all cupboard ingredients recipe.

EM

Hi all i will start off with an easy recipe i do with grapes that are in the fridge that my son hasn't eaten.

Toss the grapes in a little olive oil and salt and pepper.Place on tray and cook for 30minutes in the oven at 180 degrees.(160 degrees fan forced)

Great on crackers with cheese or i like to have them with ice cream.

Yum Mark!

I think I'd like those on crackers with cheese too. I must try that one.

That reminds me of a delicious recipe for camembert cheese.

BB Baked camembert
You'll need:
1 wheel camembert
honey
garlic cloves
Pita chips or crackers.

Just
Slice garlic cloves.
Push into cheese.
Place cheese on baking tray and cover with alfoil.
Bake until you can see cheese coming out of garlic holes.
Take out of oven and pour honey over the lot.

NB: For this recipe I like to make 'pita chips' out of Lebanese bread. Just separate the 2 layers of bread, cut into triangles, spray with a little olive oil and bake.

EM

Hi all,

Some great recipes so far, I hope you find my rocky road recipe easy. I make it at Easter and Christmas and give it to people for gifts. Everyone loves it and it's easy to make.

Rocky Road

400g Milk chocolate, broken into pieces (not sure if I can mention the brand I use but it's in purple pkts ;-) it's a bit of juggling because they keep reducing the size of the blocks)

200g Dark chocolate, broken into pieces (I buy Old Gold)

205g Marshmallows, halved

240g Scorched Almonds (I buy the other major chocolate company brand. Don't waste money on more expensive brands because from my experience the more expensive the chocolate the less it blends with the other ingredients. I found that out the hard way)

100g Red glace cherries, coarsely chopped

150g Cherry ripe, chopped into 0.5cm pieces

1/3 cup shredded coconut, toasted

Method

1. Toast coconut in a pan on the stove, remove as soon as it turns golden in colour.

2. Grease a 20cm x 30cm lamington pan; line base and two long sides with baking paper.

3. Place dark chocolate pieces in a medium heatproof bowl. Place bowl over a small pan of simmering water. When dark chocolate has started to soften add milk chocolate, stir until smooth. Sometimes you can turn the stove off. The water will remain hot enough to melt the chocolate.

4. Combine marshmallows, scorched almonds, cherries and cherry ripe pieces in a medium bowl; mix well. Working quickly, stir in warm chocolate mixture; spoon into prepared pan, pressing down slightly. Sprinkle top with shredded coconut. Cover; refrigerate for several hours, or until set. I usually refrigerate overnight.

5. Chop Rocky Road into pieces before serving.

6. ENJOY!

Mara

Here we go i will bring out one of my jam recipes.This one is really easy and taste great and have given it to people who are really fussy.

Pumpkin Jam

1.5kg pumpkin diced and sliced.

1.5kg sugar

1/2 cup water

2 Lemons juiced and rind grated.

Place pumpkin in water and bring to boil and cook to soft.

Drain and mash or puree.

Add lemon juice and rind and sugar to mashed pumpkin.

Bring to boil stifting.

Boil for about 20 minutes until some sets on saucer.

Bottle and seal.

The method i use to check if the jam will set is to put a saucer in the frezzer and then put a little jam on it and put in frezzer for a few minutes and check.I take the jam of the hot plate while i check and put it back on if i need to cook it a bit longer.

Hey everyone!

Great recipes, thankyou!

Mara - It's not Easter or Christmas but I'm making that Rocky Road asap lol, it's time for a "Happy unBirthday" at our house :-)

Mark - what a fantastic recipe for pumpkin. I read it to one of my children (who likes pumpkin recipes of ALL sorts) and they're going to try it.

Happy cooking and jamming lol.
EM

Hi Sleepy21!

I'm sure we all have a favourite vegetable soup to share, here's mine!

BB Roasted pumpkin soup:
Any type of pumpkin - any amount.
Fresh garlic cloves
Olive oil.
Water
Salt / pepper to taste.
Yep that's it.

You would benefit from a blender for huge amounts of pumpkin but a potato masher does the job.

Directions:
* Deseed pumpkin. Peel if you want to but I like to leave the skin on.
* Chop into pieces approx. 2cm "square".
* Peel whole garlic cloves and leave whole. Trim butt end off.
* In a baking tray, toss pumpkin in olive oil.
* Bake for 15 mins, turn when edges are brown.
* Add whole garlic cloves tossed in olive oil.
* Bake until garlic is soft and mushy.
* Remove from oven and cool until you're ready for next step (NB OIL CAN BE VERY HOT)
* Blend / mash all ingredients adding water till a thick consistency is formed.

You can now leave it in a pot on the stove till you're ready to reheat for a meal.
Add salt & pepper to taste.

Spicing it up...… some of my friends have added a shake of chilli powder but I think it's perfect as is lol.

Creamier ….. some prefer to add cream instead of water.

Extra veg ….. a tin of creamed corn or plain corn kernels really adds a different texture and gives a yummy chewiness.

CRUSTY Bread is great with this recipe.

Happy soup making.
EM

EM

Matchy69 said:I will put more jam recipes on later.I have over 60 ones I make from common ones to more unusal ones.

LOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!

I think we've hit a gold mine here Mark. Thankyou!

What a veritable TREASURE you are lol.

We'd love to hear more whenever you're ready, no pressure whatsoever though. Please remember that!

EM

thanks mark and EM,

Em lovely recipe just what i needed right now, I'm keen to experiment but a lot of recipes for soups are complicated unnecssarily and messy to clean up! this one is perfection

Hi Sleepy21, totally my pleasure. I hope you love the Pumpkin soup like we do. You'll be shocked at the depth of flavor with so few ingredients.

I agree, so many recipes are ridiculous lol.

I have 2 more soups that are pretty easy. Variations are usually at the bottom of my recipes, so go with your instincts :-)

BB Tomato and zucchini soup - SO YUM.
1 kg zucchini - ended and sliced evenly but don't be fussy lol.
800g tin of tomatoes - any type.
Onion flakes - as many as you wish.
Salt / pepper to taste.

I would make this much and freeze excess for later. PERFECT freezer recipe.

Method:
* Boil up zucchini and onion flakes. Can be made in a slow cooker too.
* Add entire contents of tinned tomatoes at any point.
* Blend to a consistency you like.
* Season to taste.
* Eat!

Variations:
I love to add barley to the mix when cooking.
Some of my friends add chilli flakes.
I've added a touch of chicken stock sometimes, depends on my mood really.

EM

Thank you EM, I love your recipes, I'm excited to try the soups!

Thank you for posting and being here.

Hi everyone, we would LOVE to try out anyone else's good 'ole faves from the boiler. You need to hold onto your belt buckles for the easiest recipe of all time coming up, besides Vegemite on toast.

Mara - we loved your Rocky Road, left out the cherries and nuts, and it was still delicious! Thankyou!

Sleepy21 - totally my pleasure and I'm sure everyone else's too. I love to think of full happy tummies!

Tay100 - congratulations on another semester down! SO nice to cook for yourself in your copious leisure time lol. Donna Hay YEAH - love her. My food looks more like the Jamie Oliver version of a rustic "get it on the table in the pot I cooked it in to save washing up" kitchen. LOLOLOL.

Happy Winter everyone!

BB vege soup (we can have as many versions of vege soup as we can muster!)
Any amount of any vegetables chopped any way you choose :-)
1 packet of sweet potato noodles - cheap and nutritious!
1L vegetable stock.

Method
* Boil veg and stock.
* Add noodles about 20m before serving.
* Eat!

NB: Sweet potato noodles are awesome! Great for gluten free & FODMAP peeps too.
They SWELL so fat and taste quite juicy in a soup. They're found in the noodle section of our 2 major supermarkets.

Thermos meals
If you want to put this soup in a thermos for the day(s) then don't add noodles to pot. Just snap a few noodles and put in bottom of thermos and add hot soup on top. Remember to heat your thermos up with hot water for 5-10m before emptying and putting hot soup in. I just heat up a bowl of the soup in the microwave, instead of heating it all up again.

Happy souping!
EM

Glad you and your family enjoyed the rocky road Em.

It was a pleasure to share with you all.

Cheers

Mara

Here' my Lemon Butter recipe.

Ingredients.

5 lemons juiced and Zest

5 eggs

150g caster sugar

60g butter soften and diced

In a bowl combine eggs,sugar and lemon juice.Place bowl on saucepan wth water simmering in it.(make sure bowl does not touch water as it will crack the bowl)Whisk ingredients thicken about 10 mins.

Rrmove bowl from saucepan.Add butter and whisk until butter has melted.Add lemon zest and mix in.

Put in jars and store in fridge.

WOW, sounds like a great recipe Matchy69! I LOVE Lemon butter.

We discovered a Bush Lemon growing in our garden during our archaeological dig I'm calling it lol. Removing huge swathes of lantana. THERE It was! A bush lemon growing from the graft of my kaffir lime tree lol. I told the gardener to leave them both growing. I have always wanted a lemon tree and now magically I have one lol.

So lemons - check.
Eggs - happy chook eggs from our girls, check.

Gotta get the rest and make this.

Matchy, do you think this would go okay with limes for a lime butter? I'm not using kaffir limes - no juice. But we have a Tahitian lime with ripe limes on it right now. I think maybe the limes could be too strong of a flavor, but lemons are too and lemon butter is yummy.

What do you think?

EM

EMI just found this thread.

Do you know when the 4 ingredient books were popular. .? Well I thought they were too hard and I needed one ingredient cook book.

thanks.

Matchy69 said:Hi Em yes you can make a lime butter.Not sure if the recipe would be exactly the same but you can try it thats what i usually do.I think lime would be nice.

Hi Matchy, I think it might be nice too.... will let you know results if we test that theory lol. I really love Rose's Lime Marmalade.

We got some juicy lemons from our Church Food Pantry yesterday so now we may have enough to try the lemon butter.... if only the neighbor's Meyer lemon tree hung over our fence like it used to :-(

Are you gonna help me out with this recalcitrant new member to our thread? lololol.

Maybe we could push for a 2 ingredient recipe streak?

I'm THINKING! Made one the other night.... coming up.

EM

quirkywords said:

EMI just found this thread.

Do you know when the 4 ingredient books were popular. .? Well I thought they were too hard and I needed one ingredient cook book.

thanks.

Lololol but I don't know whether to laugh or cry hahaha.

Maybe because I have PTSD that I think everything is a challenge to gear up for lol.

Okay so 4 is too much - can we barter for 3 or 2 ingredients? and perhaps if water is not counted?

If water is out then the BB pumpkin soup above just has pumpkin and oil. 2 ingredients.

I think the piece de resistance could be my next one.....

EM

smallwolf said:Making own pasta or pizza base makes for good therapy

SO GOOD smallwolf, yessirreee.

Add kneading bread, so fun watching it rise then punching it down and watching it rise again (don't like the yeasty smell lol) and then rolling, rolling, rolling it. Love that.

EM