Wednesday cook offf...........

[rachjordan]

Hi all,

Right every week normally on a Tuesday but this week a weds my sister, her boyf and I have a cook off night. This is where one person cooks a completely new dish and we all mark it out of 10. We have a �15 budget and it has to be served by 7.30pm which allows an hour and a half cooking time. Now I was going to cook jollof rice but I think a south african dish might take too long to cook within an hour and a half.

I think I am a good cook but I am really struggling to think of anything new and exciting - can anyone help. My sister doesn't like mushrooms or brocoli and matt doesn't like seafood apart from cod!

I was thinking Moussaka or something similar where I will win!

I need suggestions can anybody help!!

[Dingoeater]

Given that it's forecast to be chilly on Wednesday how about one of the classic casseroles? Beef bourguignon or Irish stew or a poule au pot will certainly see you well beneath your budget . Or perhaps a casserole of chicken, leek and chickpeas finished off on the stove top with tarragon dumplings?

[Champagne]

Ooh! Ooh! I have some really cheap, easy 'n tasty dishes for you to try!

No. 1 (and this is spankin' gorgeous)
- Fresh spaghetti
- Streaky Bacon
- Spring onion
- Creme Fraiche
- Fresh parmesan
Slice the bacon and fry in a pan until the bacon just starts to go crispy. Slice the spring onion at angles and add to the pan. Cook on a low heat. Cook the spaghetti (if it's fresh it'll only take 2 mins) until Al-dente. At the very last minute add the creme fraiche to the frying pan and stir until piping hot. Serve the spaghetti and top with the bacon/spring onion sauce. Top with parmesan and serve.

Delicious!

[Champagne]

Option 2 (this is a Jamie Oliver recipe that we tried for the first time last night)

- Farfalle, Penne or Fusilli pasta
- Pancetta (about 8 slices)
- Pine nuts
- Savoy cabbage
- Fresh clove of garlic
- Mozzarella
- Fresh parmesan

Cook the pasta, allowing for 10 minutes cooking time for the other ingredients.

Put some olive oil in a frying pan, slice the pancetta and add to the pan. Finely slice the garlic clove and add to the pan. Add a handful of pine nuts. Fry until the pancetta is crispy. Cut off around a quarter of the Savoy cabbage (cutting off the stalks, but keeping the outside green leaves). Finely slice the cabbage and add to the pan. Stir, then add a knob of butter and put a lid on the pan, reduce the heat and allow the ingredients to 'steam'. Once the butter has melted stir again. Grate the parmesan (you�ll need quite a bit!), and dice mozzarella approx. into 1cm squares. Remove the lid and add the cheeses, keeping a bit of the parmesan aside for garnish. Stir. Drain off the pasta, retaining a small amount of the starchy pasta stock. Add the pasta to the pan with the other ingredients and stir again. Add a little bit of the pasta stock, and stir gently so that the cheese goes stringy and the parmesan starts to melt, creating a creamy coloured sauce. Serve the pasta on a warm plate and garnish with the remaining parmesan.

[rachjordan]

Thanks for the suggestions, I am going for the Jamie Oliver one mmmmmmm.

WIll let you know hoe I get on with the Casserole in 3 weeks time!

Thanks x