CHEESY VEGETABLE CHOWDER

I can’t decide if this is a chowder or a minestrone soup with lots of cheese.  For some strange reason it reminds me of a soup Mum used to make with grated onion, carrot, celery and chicken noodle soup which she covered with water and when cooked added some milk to – don’t think there was ever a recipe for it, but it was one of my favorites especially when I was sick.

PRAWNS WITH TOMATO SALSA

I’m a great believer in having as much cooking as possible done before the visitors arrive.  This recipe was printed as part of  ‘Do-ahead Dinner Party” menu and is a great idea.  An easy to make overnight marinade, then a quick grill while the visitors are having a drink ………and ……… entree is served.

 

TAPAS SELECTION

This selection of Tapas delicacies was published in the Herald Sun in about 2002.  Of course they are much more common now, but this selection are fairly simple to make and as the accompanying article says are ideal “taken with a glass of sherry, beer or wine”.

DILL SALMON LOAF with Piquant Yoghurt Sauce

With Christmas on the horizon I’m starting to look for recipes that will work on the big day. I think this salmon loaf would make a great starter.  You could make it the day before and serve it cold with the yoghurt sauce and a light salad.

MINESTRONE WITH BACON

This is another of my minestrone soup recipes.  It differs from the other one in just a few small ways.  It has potato, cabbage and Haricot beans and also less pasta, but the same rule applies about making it up to the marked area before adding the pasta. Either version works really well.

 

CLASSIC MINESTRONE

I’m deviating from Mum’s recipes this week because I made a pot of this minestrone soup for my family last Sunday and everyone said I should add the recipe to the collection.  I always make it the day before up to the marked area, then reheat it the next day and add the pasta.  If you add the pasta too early it can get a bit gluggy.