Archive for » April 1st, 2008«

Mushroom Topped Steak with Creamy Polenta
This is a great quick and easy meal tastes great and is on the table in about 35-40 Min’s. I have listed liquid amounts as used by the brand of quick cooking polenta I buy so please adjust and prepare according to you packet instructions. I buy 2 minute quick cooking polenta so cooking times will vary if you can not get quick cooking polenta.

                                                                                                                                                                      Ingredients

4 Large flat mushrooms, sliced thickly (like a portobello)
200g Swiss brown mushrooms, sliced
1 Teaspoon garlic powder
40-50g Butter
4 Steak Fillets (I like thick cut steaks but thin is fine too.)
11/2 Cups Water
11/2 Cups milk
11/2 Cups quick cooking polenta
1 Teaspoon chicken stock
200g mascarpone cheese
1 Cup Parmesan cheese, finely grated
100g Baby spinach leaves
5 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
8 Tablespoons dry red wine
1/2 Teaspoon sugar
1/2 Teaspoon beef stock
Pepper to taste

Method

1. Melt butter in a pan, add mushrooms and garlic, cook until mushrooms soften and are browned slightly. Add wine, balsamic vinegar, sugar and beef stock, stir to combine and add pepper to taste

2. Meanwhile combine water, milk and chicken stock in a saucepan, bring to the boil, gradually stir in polenta. Reduce heat, stir until polenta thickens, add cheeses and stir to combine, stir in spinach. (I usually cook my steaks while making polenta and let them rest while I stir in the cheeses and spinach, but it will keep warm over a low heat stir occasionally to prevent bottom from burning.)

3. season steaks with salt and pepper. Heat a small amount of oil in a pan and cook steaks until desired doneness. Cooking times will vary depending on the thickness of the steaks.

To Serve: Place a few spoonfuls of polenta on a plate top with steak and mound steak with mushrooms, drizzled with balsamic sauce.

All photos taken by me unless otherwise stated.

Lamb Chops With Deviled Bananas
I am in a recipezaar swap again so be prepared for a few members recipes being posted this month. I have made 2 so far and both were really good. This one I was not sure of, the combination of flavours sounded a bit weired and I was not sure how it would pair with the lamb. It was awesome all my family loved it and I will definitely be making this again. If you want to read all the reviews for this recipe please click here. I did use french trimmed lamb chops as this is what I had on hand but it would not matter what chops you used.

Ingredients

6 Large lamb chops, trim the fat(or any cheap cut of lamb)

MIX

1 Teaspoon curry(or more if you like curry)(I used more)
1 Pinch mustard
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 Tablespoon tomato sauce
1 Tablespoon brown sugar
4 Bananas, sliced

Method

1. Brush mixture lightly on both sides of meat, and fry in a butter-oil mixture for 7 minutes each side, medium to low heat, until done.

2. If it starts to stick, you can add a little water to the pan, as the chops don’t have to be fried, just cooked.

3. Remove chops, add a little more butter, and add 4 large sliced bananas with any leftover marinade.

4. Sprinkle with a little brown sugar and cinnamon.

5. Toss around till hot and coated with mixture, spoon over chops.

6. Serve with Mashed Potatoes and green veg.

7. And bread to mop up the sauce.

I served mine with orange sweet potato and some plantains more of a savoury banana.

All photos taken by me unless otherwise stated.