Beneath African Skies

Jacket Potatoes with Mince and Sour Cream

This recipe is filling, cheap and delicious.

Allow for at least 1 medium to large potato per person, more for men or bigger appetites.

Ingredients:

4 – 6 medium to large potatoes
250g ground beef
1 small tin tomato paste
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 generous pinch chili powder (optional)
2 cloves garlic, crushed
salt and pepper to taste
1 carton thick, sour cream (plain yoghurt can be substituted for the weight conscious)

Method:

Bake the potatoes in the oven at a moderate to high heat until the potatoes are soft. (The potatoes can be par-boiled to reduce the oven cooking time, thus reducing the cost of electricity).
In the meantime, cook the beef , seasoning, tomato, onion in a pot with a little water until properly cooked.
Remove the potatoes from the oven and split down the middle.
Top each jacket potato on the one side with some cooked meat filling.
Top the other side with a generous helping of sour cream.

Serve with a big, mixed green salad.

Quick Curry

Serve with Rice

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium green or red pepper, cut into strips
1 onion, sliced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tablespoon fresh ginger or 1 teaspoon dried ginger powder
1 – 2 teaspoons red Thai curry paste
500g (1 lb) diced chicken breasts
1 cup chicken stock or soup
1 cup coconut cream or milk
1 tablespoon soy sauce or fish sauce
1 ½ cups cauliflower
2 cups baby spinach or chard
1 tablespoon lime juice

Method:
1.Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add pepper and onion and cook, stirring often, until beginning to soften – about 4 minutes.
2.Add garlic, ginger and curry paste; stir to mix. Add chicken and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
3.Stir in broth, coconut milk, fish sauce (or soy sauce) and brown sugar; bring to a simmer.
4.Add cauliflower, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through and the cauliflower is tender, about 10 minutes.
5.Stir in spinach and lime juice, do not cook long – just until spinach has wilted.
6.Serve immediately, with lime wedges.

Quick and Easy Chicken and Rice Casserole

Ingredients:
1 can cream of chicken soup or chicken/mushroom soup
1 cup water
¾cup uncooked rice
½ teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 boned, skinned chicken breasts
½ teaspoon salt

Method:
1.Preheat oven to 180ºC (375 F)
2.In a serving dish, mix the soup, water, rice and seasoning.
3.Sprinkle the chicken breasts with salt then place on top of the rice mix. Cover with foil (tightly).
4.Bake 45-60 minutes.

Quick Pork Chop Recipe

Ingredients:

6 boneless pork chops
3 potatoes
1 large onion
seasoning to taste
parsley
oregano
1 tsp crushed garlic

Method:

1.Lightly brown pork chops in skillet, Remove and put aside.
2.Peel potatoes and slice into about 8 pieces. Cut onion into slices the same size as potatoes. Place potato slices in a well-greased casserole pan.
3.Place the pork chops on the potatoes and then add a layer of onion slices. Sprinkle with parsley, oregano, black pepper and garlic powder.
4.Cover the dish with aluminum foil, poking holes in foil with a fork. Bake at 350F (180C) degrees for 1 hour or until potatoes are cooked.

Quick Beef and Macaroni Recipe

Quick Beef and Macaroni Recipe

Ingredients:

• 500g ground beef

• 1/2 -1 Chopped onion

• 1-2 Chopped green peppers

• Salt and Pepper to taste

• 1 can tomato sauce

• Cooked macaroni (about 500g before cooking)

• Grated cheese

Method:

1. Brown ground beef; add chopped onions, green peppers, a can of tomato sauce, 1 can water, salt and pepper cook for about 15 minutes.
2. Add cooked macaroni and grated cheese.
3. Serve with some salad or maybe some green beans and you have a quick dinner