Infused Water

So the big thing at the moment is infused water, and in Australia it is summer. Summer means bloody hot days where lots of water is required for hydration. We Aussies love beer...and wine...but water is essential in the day to day life of an Aussie.

Plain water can get boring. We can buy mineral water, soda water, tonic water, flavoured water or energy water. But who wants to waste money on those when you can make your own flavoured water?

There are numerous fruits and vegetables you can add to your water, this is my first one and I love it. It tastes so good that I'm drinking more water...and this is good, yeah?!

Ingredients:

• tap water
• ice
• 2 stalks of celery
• 1 apple, quartered and core removed
• ½ lemon, peeled and quartered

Method:

Place all ingredients into a jug and keep in the fridge. I covered my jug with plastic wrap in case the leftover meat smell infuses it - which I don't want. Drink from it during the day. Once the jug is empty, fill it again - these fruits and vegetables will last a second time. Some won't though, i.e. berries. I will eat the fruit and veg at the end of the day after dinner for dessert.

D-E-L-icious  XD

CASH Juice

I made a green juice for breakfast this morning and was surprised how well it tasted. I will make it regularly and I've called it CASH juice because of it's ingredients...

Ingredients:
C is for celery - 4 stalks
A is for apple - 3 green, cores removed, but skin left on
S is for spinach - I used about 2 cups of leaves
H is for herbs - mint in this case, about a bunch

Method:
I added all ingredients to my juicer and  ½ cup of water near the end to swish around and grab some of those important fibres off the inside of the juicer. If the juice is too strong, you could add more cold water once you've poured the concentrated juice into your glass. Add ice and a straw and you're set to go.

D-E-L-icious  XD

Lamb Casserole with Tomato & Rosemary

I threw this together last night with 2 lamb chump chops and staples from the pantry. When you can get lamb on special - this is a very cheap, tasty and easy meal to make. It requires about an hour - two would be better so the lamb falls off the bone, but it was a definite winner with the family. It serves 4 with pasta.

Ingredients:

• 2 lamb chump chops (the larger the better)
• 1 onion, peeled and chopped
• 1 teaspoon crushed garlic
• 2 medium sized potatoes, peeled and diced
• 5 sticks celery, chopped
• 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
• 2 tins chopped tomatoes
• 1 and half teaspoons rosemary (dried or fresh)
• Salt & pepper
• 1 cup water
• 1 tablespoon oil

Method:

1. Heat a large pan with oil and brown the lamb chump chops for about 2mins each side, then remove and place on paper towel
2. To the juices in the pan, add the onions and garlic, stir and cook for 2mins
3. Add the celery, potato and carrot, stir and cook for 2mins
4. Add diced tomato, salt, pepper, rosemary, water and stir well
5. Return the lamb chops to the pan and bring to the boil
6. Once boiling, reduce to a low heat and simmer for at least an hour
7. Serve with pasta, rice or cous cous - there is lots of yummy gravy. D-E-L-icious  XD

Easy Chicken & Bacon Casserole

This is a very easy casserole with only 5 ingredients. I adapted the original recipe from the Chicken Casserole recipe courtesy of the lovely and talented 4 Ingredients ladies, however I added a fifth ingredient for extra oomph! It serves 4 with pasta.

Ingredients:

• 500-600g chicken breast, cut into large pieces
• 400g tin cream of chicken soup
• 5-6 rashers bacon (I used rindless), cut into squares
• 4-5 stalks celery
• Pepper to taste

Method:

1. Pre-heat the oven at 180 degrees celsius
2. In a large casserole dish place the chicken pieces
3. Place on top the bacon pieces and celery
4. Pour over the soup and sprinkle with pepper
5. Cover and cook for 40 minutes or until chicken is cooked
6. Serve over pasta

D-E-L-icious  XD