Sausages with winter veg mash

Ingredients

• 4 sausages, regular or reduced-fat
• 2 parsnips
• 2 or 3 medium potatoes
• 175g Brussels sprouts
• 4 tbsp milk
• 1 tbsp wholegrain mustard
•  
  Cooking time: Prep: 8 mins Cook: 12 mins - 15 mins  
   
  Skill level:Easy 

  Servings:Serves 2

  Method

  1. Grill the sausages for 10-12 mins, turning frequently. Meanwhile, peel and roughly chop the parsnips and potatoes, then cook in boiling salted water for about 10 mins. Shred sprouts, add to the pan for the last 2-3 mins and cook until all the vegetables are tender.
  2. Drain and mash the vegetables, then beat in the milk and mustard with salt and pepper. Serve with the sausages.

Two-Meat Pizza with Wheat Crust Recipe

Ingredients

• CRUST:
• 1 package (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast
• 1-1/2 cups warm water (110° to 115°)
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 1-1/4 cups whole wheat flour
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1-3/4 to 2 cups all-purpose flour
• TOPPINGS:
• 1 can (15 ounces) pizza sauce
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1/4 cup sliced ripe olives
• 1/2 pound bulk Italian sausage, cooked and drained
• 4 ounces Canadian bacon, chopped
• 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
•  
  TOTAL TIME: Prep: 30 min. Bake: 25 min.

  MAKES: 4 servings

   

  Directions

  1. In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in water; add oil. Combine the whole wheat flour, sugar and salt; add to yeast mixture and stir until smooth. Stir in enough all-purpose flour to form a soft dough.
  2. Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl; turn once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 15-20 minutes.
  3. Punch dough down. Pat dough onto the bottom and 1 in. up the sides of a greased 14-in. pizza pan.
  4. Combine pizza sauce and sugar; spread over crust. Sprinkle with mushrooms, onion and olives. Layer with sausage, Canadian bacon and cheese. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until golden and cheese is melted. Yield: 8 slices.

Ladybug Appetizers Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 2 tablespoons sour cream
• Black paste food coloring
• 1/2 teaspoon minced chives
• 1/8 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1/8 teaspoon minced fresh parsley
• 36 butter-flavored crackers
• 18 cherry tomatoes, quartered
• 18 large pitted ripe olives
• 72 fresh chive pieces (about 1-1/2 inches long)
•  
  TOTAL TIME: Prep/Total Time: 30 min.

  MAKES: 12 servings

  Directions

  1. In a small bowl, beat cream cheese and sour cream until smooth. Remove 1 tablespoon to a small bowl and tint black. Place tinted cream cheese mixture in a small plastic bag; set aside.
  2. Add the chives, garlic salt and parsley to the remaining cream cheese mixture. Spread over crackers. Arrange two tomato quarters on each for the ladybug wings.
  3. For heads, halve the olives widthwise; place one half on each cracker. Insert two chives into olives for antennae. Use tinted cream cheese mixture to pipe spots onto wings. Yield: 3 dozen.

   

Berry cheesecake in a glass

Ingredients

• 150g punnet blackberries
• 1 tbsp golden caster sugar
• 1 lemon, finely grated zest and juice
• 4 gingernut biscuits, crushed
• knob of butter, melted
• 2 tbsp icing sugar
• ½ x 250g tub mascarpone or ricotta
  

  Cooking time:Ready in 15-20 mins

  Skill level:Easy
  
  Servings:Serves 2 
• 
  

  Method

  1. Toss the blackberries, caster sugar and 1 tbsp of the lemon juice in a small pan. Heat gently for 3-4 mins or until the berries start to burst. Leave to cool.
  2. Meanwhile, mix together the crushed biscuits and melted butter. Spoon into 2 glasses. Gently fold the rest of the lemon juice, the lemon zest and icing sugar into the mascarpone or ricotta. Divide the lemony cheese between the glasses, then spoon over the blackberries and their syrupy juices.

Tia Maria cheesecake

Ingredients

For the biscuit crust

• 85g hot melted butter, plus extra butter for greasing
• 14 plain chocolate digestive biscuits, finely crushed

For the cheesecake

• 3 x 300g packs full-fat Philadelphia cheese
• 200g golden caster sugar
• 4 tbsp plain flour
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp Tia Maria
• 3 large eggs
• 285ml carton soured cream

For the topping

• 142ml carton soured cream
• 2 tbsp Tia Maria
• cocoa, for dusting
• 8 Ferrero Rocher chocolates, unwrapped

• Cooking time

  Prep: 30 mins Cook: 35 mins Plus cooling
  Skill level:Easy

  Servings:Serves 16 

  Method

  1. Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Line the base of a 25cm springform tin with baking parchment. Blend butter and biscuit crumbs. Press onto the base of the tin, bake for 10 mins, then cool.
  2. Increase the oven temperature to 240C/fan 200C/gas 9. Beat the cheese and sugar with an electric whisk until smooth, then whisk in the flour, vanilla, 2 tbsp Tia Maria, eggs and 285ml soured cream.
  3. Grease sides of the cake tin with butter. Pour in the mixture and smooth. Bake for 10 mins, then turn oven down to 110C/fan 90C/ gas ¼ for 25 mins. Turn off the oven, then open the door and leave to cool inside the oven for 2 hrs. Don’t worry if it cracks a little.
  4. Mix 142ml soured cream and Tia Maria, then smooth on top of the cheesecake.

   

   

  
  

  
  

  
  
   

Italian Chicken Wraps Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 package (16 ounces) frozen stir-fry vegetable blend
• 2 packages (6 ounces each) ready-to-use grilled chicken breast strips
• 1/2 cup fat-free Italian salad dressing
• 3 tablespoons shredded Parmesan cheese
• 6 flour tortillas (8 inches), room temperature
•  
  TOTAL TIME: Prep/Total Time: 25 min.

  MAKES: 6 servings

   

  Directions

  In a large saucepan, cook vegetables according to package directions; drain. Stir in the chicken, salad dressing and cheese; heat through. Spoon about 3/4 cup down the center of each tortilla; roll up tightly. Yield: 6 servings.

Curried Turkey Tacos Recipe

Ingredients

• 1-1/4 pounds ground turkey
• 1-1/2 teaspoons dried minced onion
• 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 cup salsa
• 2 teaspoons taco seasoning
• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon curry powder
• 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded Mexican cheese blend, divided
• 12 taco shells, warmed
• Shredded lettuce
• Sour cream and additional salsa, optional
•  
  TOTAL TIME: Prep/Total Time: 15 min.

  MAKES: 6 servings

  Directions

  1. In a large skillet, cook turkey and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the beans, salsa, taco seasoning and curry powder; heat through. Stir in 1 cup cheese.
  2. Spoon into taco shells. Sprinkle with remaining cheese; top with lettuce. Serve with sour cream and salsa if desired. Yield: 12 tacos.