Recipes needed

[hammerman]

Ok....my wife works as a care co-ordinator for a company that provides live in care for the elderly and people with disablities such as MS

One thing they do each year is to provide the carers with a "cook book" which is uaully made up by the staff in the office.

Now, bearing in mind that most of the carers are either from Africa or south Africa, the recipes should not be too complex (i hope that doesn't sound to condescending)

I've submitted a few....pasta bake for example which can be copied from the label on the sauce jar.

So i need recipes where fresh, frozen or tinned foods can be combined to make nice meals and can even be frozen for future use.

I've also done a spag bol from scratch....and one using a jar of dolmio. I've done a chicken and tagliatelle in (a jar of) white wine sauce

So not too complicated, not an extensive range of ingredients, nutritious and where any of the ingredients can be left out or substituted.

Answer bank food and drink heros will be acknowledged in the "cookbook"

Many many thanks

Andy

[Jugglering]

This is a very easy recipe and seriously tasty too !

Cheese & Potato Pie

2 large baking potatoes (or equivalent quantity of smaller ones), they need to be the floury sort
1 large white onion
2 large eggs (I use free range)
8 oz mature cheddar (or a range of different cheeses - say Applewood, Gruyere, Cheshire etc), grated
Salt and pepper

Parboil the potatoes in their skins, until just starting to soften. Drain and allow to cool. I keep the skin on for extra fibre but it can be removed if wanted. Finely slice or chop the onion. When the potatoes are cool enough to handle, thickly slice them (1/4") and place one layer (say one third of the quantity) in a greased baking dish. Season with salt and pepper, then add one third of the chopped onion and one third of the grated cheese. Repeat the layers of seasoned potato, onion and cheese until all the ingredients are used up. Beat up the eggs, pour over the potato layers and bake in a preheated oven Gas 6, 200 deg C for about 40 minutes until golden brown.

If people don't like egg, don't add it, the dish will still be great but it will be a bit more crumbly. One could add a pot of plain natural yoghurt and/or some milk to the egg mixture if liked. I also like to sprinkle some cayenne pepper on top for a little bite and colour.

Great served with sweetcorn and petit pois. If wanted, the cooked dish can be frozen (just cut up into individual portions) and either reheated in the oven or in the microwave.

[Eve]

Boil up an oxo cube with potato cubes/slices until potato is cooked then pour in a tin of stewing steak and add corn flour mixed with water to thicken to taste for a gorgeous hot pot.

Can also use corned beef instead of stewing steak and put any veggies in as wanted.

Lovely with some bread and butter.

Sure you could do the same with a chicken oxo and tin of chicken supreme or similar.

[wiggal]

How about just a Chicken Casserole?
From a jar! Some chicken breasts in a bowl, add the sauce and put in the oven! Serve with some veg or rice and sorted!

[hammerman]

Keep em coming.....simple, effective and nutritious.

Thanks so far.

[poohshunny]

Butternut squash soup

Peel, deseed and dice a butternut squash.
Peel and dice 2 onions.
Put in a pan with 2 chicken stock cubes and 2 pints of water.
Boil till squash and onions are cooked.
Blend with hand blender or mash till smooth.
Serve with fresh crusty bread and butter.

This can be frozen too, but I never have to do this in my house as it never lasts that long!

[Eve]

Crack a couple of eggs into a microwaveable jar with some milk, beat then add some cut up bacon if required and some cheese and pop in the microwave for some lovely scrambled eggs with cheese and bacon while you make some toast for it to go on.

Can also do the same in a microwave omelette maker without the milk.

Make some toast, put some tomato paste, cheese and topping on and grill til melted for a quick pizza snack (or just cheese and worcester sauce).

Pop some rice in a microwaveable jug covered with two thirds more water with a stock cube mixed in and tumeric for colour, add herbs. Pop in microwave for 5 mins then stir, top up with water if necessary and pop in some cooked bacon bits, fresh or frozen peas, sweetcorn etc... then back in the microwave for 4 mins for a tasy rice dish.

[poohshunny]

I haven't had dinner yet and my mouth is watering reading these recipes!

[wiggal]

Hammerman, you best keep this one quiet lol!
Tis a family secret of my other halfs they used to have in S.A!

Some chicken breast, or thighs in a big casserole dish, 2 pots of sour cream, 1 jar of Mango chutney and in the over for a couple of hours or until the chicken is cooked!
Also can add some onions, or chopped mushrooms near the end.

Im no good with measurements or times lol, but I know when he cooks this, it is gorgeous!!

Can try different types of Chutney aswell, for spoicey or different flavours :)

[Eve]

Rice in the microwave as above then mix with some canned tuna or salmon and sweetcorn.

For a microwave meatloaf, mix half a pound of mince (for 2) with an egg, breadcrumbs and some tomato ketcup, some onion and herbs and seasoning. Shape into a loaf, spread some tomato ketchup over the top then Microwave for 26-28 mins until cooked through. Leave to stand for 10 mins before serving.

[Eve]

Steam some new potatoes in water in the microwave for 7-8 mins, part way through place a plastic microwaveable plate with holes in on top and steam some cod or salmon for the remaining 4/5 mins.

Get a whole trout, slice down the belly and stuff with mushrooms, onions, peppers etc... then wrap in foil and bake in the oven til done.

Can also be done with salmon steaks with the veggies wrapped around it.

[topogigo]

Mash some new potatoes with butter
Add a large tin of salmon,
4 boiled eggs,
some chopped up gherkins
some very finely chopped spring onions
add enough mayonnaise salt & pepper to taste
and chill

serve it with lettuce and tomatoes
(Dutch recipe)

[luxury]

Hi Hammerman,

Has all dietry requirements been taken into consideration?

The gluten free dairy free diets are required by some, so Oxo cubes may seem harmless but can be awful for those with gluten/wheat intolerance aswell as flours.

The jars can be pretty lethal too depending on the manufacturer.

Sorry to be such a bore, just speaking as someone compromised and requiring care with dietry requirements.

This salmon recipe is a goody though:

Salmon fillets

in a bowl mix lime juice, honey and grain mustard.

Pour over salmon fillets and grill till golden.

Serve with Brown Rice and salad and juices from cooking.

Another easy one is Smoked Mackarel.

Either serve cold, or grilled with new potatoes and salad.

Stir fry chicken?

Chicken with a little garlic, soy, pinch of cumin and coriander and fresh ginger. Or jar of stir fry sauce :)

Add either a pre packed veggie stir fry or prep carrots, broccolli, garlic, onions, beansprouts.... pak choi.... sugar snap peas....
The list of veggies is endless there.

I think your wife sounds a wonderful person btw and glad ladies like her are there for us.

p.s I love rice pudding! and that is always a treat :) xxx

[hammerman]

Thanks luxury....i think these recipes are for the general run of the mill person who can eat virtually anything. We must remember that the tastes of the elderly (one of my wifes clients died last week at 106 !!!) are quite different to the youngsters of today.....they like balanced, often bland food without too many complex flavours. Spicy is also generally out of the question although i will put in a mild curry and a sweet and sour dish too.

Keep em coming