Melon & Mango Salad

Had to post this...so simple and yet scrumptious...

Take half a honeydew melon, a mango, a cucumber, and a head of romaine lettuce. Chop them all up into bite size pieces and place in a bowl. Take some feta and sprinkle over the salad, then a few almonds (according to taste.)

Toss together, chill and serve...fabulous!

Easy Flavoursome Couscous

Couscous is one of the easiest side dishes to make and so many consider it bland and boring - and I agree if you don't add different and flavourful ingredients to it.

Take this recipe as your basic and add whatever delicious food you have available to it.


You will need:-

1 tsp coconut oil (any oil will do)
1 cup couscous
1 1/2 cups chicken stock
1 bell pepper (chopped into cubes)
1 red onion (chopped finely)
1/2 cup raisins/ sultanas
2 strips of celery (cubed)
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp ground flax*
1 tsp wheatmeal*
1/4 cup flaked almonds


*Optional - As always, I throw this into most of my recipes


Heat oil in a medium to large pan and add the onion, peppers and celery. When these start to soften, add the garlic, herbs and the chicken stock.

Once the liquid starts to bubble, add the couscous and remove the pan from the heat. Stir again and you will see the couscous already taking on all the moisture. Leave to stand for 5 minutes, stir in the almonds and the raisins and serve.

Simple and yet tasty.

Variations on this are so easy - any nut or fruit, coconut(added with the stock), beans, chick peas, vegetables, thie possibilities are endless. Try whatever you like.

Pork & Tomato Casserole

This dish is so easy, it's an extension to a tomato dip that I make, and it is delicious.

You will need:-
For the sauce :

1 can crushed tomatoes
1 can artichoke hearts, sieved and chopped
2 slivers of anchovy, cut these down to 1/4 inch strips
1 clove of chopped garlic (or 1/2 tsp garlic powder)
1 tsp basil
1 tsp oregano
2 tsp grated parmesan

For the chops :

4 pork loin chops
1 bell pepper, cut into small cubes
2 sticks celery, cut into small cubes
2 green onions
olive oil to fry

Set the oven to 375 degrees.

Take all the sauce ingredients and mix them into your casserole dish.
Heat the olive oil until it starts to sizzle, add the pork chops and brown on both sides, add to the casserole dish.
Take the same pan and fry off the onions, peppers and celery until soft and slightly brown. Add to the casserole dish.

Stir all the ingredients and put on the casserole lid. Place in the oven for 1 hour, stirring every 20 minutes.

Serve this with focaccia and couscous. Yum!

Naan Bread

I started making Nan bread when we came to Canada from the UK and couldn't find any decent Naans. We now have curry nights and I go completely over the top with curry, rice, poppadoms, chutneys, bahjis and naan bread. This recipe works well, and I always double it up to freeze a batch.

You will need:-

3 1/2 cups bread flour (all purpose is ok)

1/2 cup yogurt

1 egg

1/4 cup butter

2 tsp. salt

3 tsp. sugar

3/4 cup water

1 2/3 tablespoons dried yeast

In a dish, take 5 talespoons of water, add the yeast and a teaspoon of sugar and stir well. Keep aside for 10-12 minutes. (You will see bubbles on the surface of the mixture which suggests that the yeast is all right).

Now, add in the remaining water, sugar, yogurt, egg, butter and salt. Stir well.

Add the flour to this liquid and make into a smooth, soft, and elastic dough. (It will take about 10-15 minutes).

Take a warm bowl, butter all the sides and the bottom of the bowl then place the dough in the bowl, cover with a cloth and keep in a warm place until the dough doubles in height (about 40 minutes).

Push a finger into the dough. If the impression remains, then it is ready to be baked. Make the dough into 8 equal balls, flatten them into circles with your fingers such that the edges are thicker than the center. Pull one end of the circle so that the dough circle now looks like a tear drop or a balloon in two dimensions. The length is about a handspan and width about a palm.3.

Heat oven to 450F, and on a non-greased baking tray, place the dough. Bake for 5 minutes and then flip, brush on a thin layer of oil and place back in the oven. After another 5 minutes (or until golden brown) they should be ready.

Variations : When the dough has risen, add your favourite Naan ingredients - garlic, poppy seeds, coriander, sultanas, etc..