Grasmere Gingerbread

EASE: 5/5.
Prep time: 8mins. Chopping ginger is the most time consuming. Everything is mixed in one bowl. I used a lamington tray and filled it halfway.Cooking time: 15mins. They recommend 25 which is much too long in my oven - watch carefully.TOTAL: 23mins. Mine came out like a buttery shortbread in texture.
TASTE: 4.5/5. These were wolfed down by everybody - very strong ginger taste and as said above it was like a shortbread in texture which little chewy chunks of glace ginger in each bite.
Would I make it again: Yes. I've already made it again - would double the quantity the next time as it doesn't make much.
recipe: Grasmere gingerbread

Parmesan-crumbed chicken schnitzel with crisp potatoes

EASE: 3.5/5.
Prep time: 15mins. Crumbing the chicken is the most time consuming. I kept the skins on my potatoes so they took no time at all to prep. Thanks to Doris for helping crumb the chicken :).
Cooking time: 20mins. Boiling and then frying potatoes takes around 20mins. The chicken only takes around 6mins to cook.
TOTAL: 35mins.

TASTE: 3/5. Not bad, I didn't follow the recipe to the letter though - I did not use flour or thyme, and I added garlic, parsley and more parmesan. I would copy the recipe the next time around to test it. The 3/5 is more for the potatoes, which were not as tasty as when they are oven roasted.

Would I make it again: Yes. I would stick to the recipe for the chicken the next time around.

Recipe: http://www.gourmettraveller.com.au/parmesancrumbed_chicken_schnitzel_with_crisp_potatoes.htm

Lamb kefte with soft egg and feta

EASE: 4.5/5.
Prep time: 12mins. Making the lamb balls is the most time consuming.
Cooking time:15mins. All ingredients cook in the same pot - little hands on cooking.
TOTAL: 27mins.

TASTE: 5/5. Ryan loved it - full of flavour and he said it looked nice too. I halved the recipe and served it with pita bread. As I couldn't find dried mint (which is bizarre as I have bought it from the supermarket in the past) I substituted dried oregano. I also forgot to add the garlic - so the next time around it should be even tastier than this time.

Would I make it again: YES. Super easy and quick - looks great and was a hit.

Recipe: http://gourmettraveller.com.au/lamb_kefte_with_soft_egg_and_feta.htm

Rigatoni with cabbage and Taleggio

EASE: 3.5/5.
Prep time: 10mins.
Cooking time: 20mins. I ended up with a little too much liquid - so I scooped out 1/2cup before putting into bowls and under grill.
TOTAL: 30mins.

TASTE: 3/5. Ok, but not great. The flavours competed a little and the cabbage and onion made it taste a little sweet. I used double brie instead of taleggio.

Would I make it again: No.

Recipe: http://gourmettraveller.com.au/rigatoni_with_cabbage_and_taleggio.htm

Cinnamon Pear Porridge

EASE: 5/5. Not many ingredients and everything goes in the one pot.
Prep time: 2mins. To chop pears, prepare sugar and chuck everything in the pot.
Cooking time: 10mins. Be careful as mine started to burn on the bottom.
TOTAL: 12mins.

TASTE: 4.5/5. Better than normal for porridge. It was creamier and the cinnamon sugar with the pears was lovely. I did sprinkle 4 tsp of the sugar over each bowl though and I also used 6 pear halves. Makes big bowls for two.

Would I make it again: Yes. Yummy and Ryan cleaned his bowl and mine too.

Recipe: http://www.cuisine.com.au/recipe/cinnamon_pear_and_date_porridge

Dad's Pumpkin Soup

Dad brought over a pumpkin soup he made, and although I was skeptical, it was really yummy - nice and creamy and not overpowering. Good job Daddy.
He has also brought over a couple of his Tiramisu desserts - also very delish. I shall take a pic the next time around.

Cheesy Oregano Chicken Rolls

200g cooked chicken breast, shredded
1 tbs chopped oregano leaves
1/4 cup grated fontina
1/4 cup grated cheddar
2 tbs whole egg mayonnaise
1/4 cup sour cream
1 ciabatta rolls, halved

Place the chicken, oregano, fontina, cheddar, mayonnaise and sour cream in a bowl and mix well. spoon onto one half of each of the rolls and top with remaining halves. Press in sandwich press or place on heated frying pan and weigh down with a plate and can placed on top. Cook until browned and cheese has melted. Serves 2.

EASE: 5/5.
Prep time: 5mins. Shredding chicken is the most time consuming.
Cooking time: 3mins. In a flat sandwich press.
TOTAL: 8mins.

TASTE: 4/5. I used 1/2 a roasted chicken and doubled the mayonnaise and cheeses; I used Gouda as a substitute to Fontina. I also used a combination of dried and fresh oregano. I used mini ciabatta rolls - 2 for each person.

Would I make it again: Yes. Very quick and easy - fairly filling also.

Warm Banana Muffins

EASE: 4.5/5.
Prep time: 8mins. Mashing bananas is the most time consuming.
Cooking time: 20mins.
TOTAL: 28mins.

TASTE: 4/5. My favourite banana muffin recipe so far. I do however add a pinch of nutmeg and cinnamon as well.

Would I make it again: Yes. I have made these whenever I have two black bananas. I don't eat them with custard.

Recipe: http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/8568/warm+banana+muffins+with+custard

Lamb Racks with Rosemary & Garlic Borlotti beans

2x200g lamb racks, trimmed
olive oil, for brushing
sea salt & cracked black pepper
50g butter
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 tbs rosemary leaves
400g can borlotti beans, rinsed & drained

Preheat oven to 180. Heat large non-stick frying pan over high heat. Brush lamb with oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper and cook for 2mins per side or until browned.
Transfer to baking tray and cook in oven for 12mins for medium-rare. Set aside, cover and keep warm.
Heat butter in fryingpn over medium heat. Add garlic and rosemary and cook for 1 minute. Add beans and cook until warmed through.
Slice lamb and serve with beans. Serves 2.

EASE: 5/5. Super quick, minimal prep time.
Prep time: 5mins. To season lamb and prepare ingredients.
Cooking time: 25mins. 5mins to brown lamb. 20mins in oven for medium. 5mins for beans.
TOTAL: 30mins. Awesome.

TASTE: 4.5/5. According to Ryan. The beans were really tasty - I however did double the butter, garlic and rosemary - would use less butter next time but the same amount of rosemary and garlic.

Would I make it again: Yes. Too quick and easy.

Herby Mustard Chicken with Olive Oil Mash

1 cup chopped parsley
1 teaspoons hot English mustard
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tbs chopped rosemary leaves
1/2 cup olive oil
2 tbs white wine vinegar
sea salt & cracked black pepper
8 x 120g chicken thighs

Olive oil mash
1.2kg sebago potatoes, peeled and chopped
1 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

Mash
Boil potatoes for 20mins. Drain and return to pan. Add garlic, oil and salt and mash until smooth.

Combine parsley, mustard, garlic, rosemary, oil, vinegar, salt and pepper. Add chicken and marinate for at least 15mins.
Heat large non-stick pan over medium heat. Cook the chicken for 8mins per side or until cooked through.
Spoon over pan juices and serve with the mash. Serves 4.

EASE: 4/5. Not much hands on prep or work.
Prep time: 25mins. 5mins to prep potatoes and put in pot. 5mins to put chicken in marinade. 15mins minimum for chicken to marinate.
Cooking time: 35mins. 15mins to cook chicken. 20mins to cook and mash potatoes.
TOTAL:1 hour. For best flavour chicken should be left to marinate overnight..

TASTE: 3.5/5. Potatoes were a little dry, probably could have done with more oil, but the subtle garlic and oil flavour was a nice change. The chicken marinade only flavoured the top layer of meat so the layers underneath, whilst moist, were a little bland. The combination of flavours was really nice though.

Would I make it again? Yes. I would let the chicken marinate over night next time and probably add a little more oil to the mash.