Spicy mushroom nachos


We have reached the end of the #JoinTheBlendTrend series and I thought I would finish up with a dish that reminds me of fun times with friends, feasting and general merriment. I actually remember the last time I ate nachos at a Mexican restaurant with friends – it was a rainy Cape Town evening a very, very long time ago (note to self: arrange a Mexican dinner soon!). Luckily nachos are pretty easy to whip up and enjoy at home and I am sure you will enjoy these ones!

Continue reading “Spicy mushroom nachos”

Spaghetti bolognese

Spaghetti bolognese with mushrooms and parmesan

There are probably as many variations of this dish as there are families who enjoy it. Or perhaps even more! I love making this dish but dear husband is usually the Spag Bol King in our house and even he and I have our own different ways of preparing it. Bottom line though – it does not matter who the chef is, spaghetti bolognese is a firm favourite on the menu, and one thing is always the same – we both love to pile in the mushrooms!

Continue reading “Spaghetti bolognese”

Ginger, mushroom and chicken stir fry

Quick stir fry with mushrooms, chicken and ginger.

This week I am diving deep into my recipe collection. All the way back to the 90’s in fact – they seem like forever ago! Today’s dish is adapted from a stir fry recipe I made in my high school Home Economics class, nearly 20 years ago. I even have the original (rather yellowed) handout from that class, on it a handwritten recipe that was copied on the old “rolio machine”, which then made its way from a school ring binder all the way to my current recipe book shelf.

Continue reading “Ginger, mushroom and chicken stir fry”

Mushroom moussaka

Mmm-moussaka! Mushrooms, mince and melty cheese, what’s not to love? Even the most staunch anti-auberginers (those poor berated brinjals) will be tempted by this dish.

This is my latest recipe in the #JoinTheBlendTrend series, and the amazing thing about it is that you would never guess that the filling is 50% mince and 50% mushrooms. Thanks to their flavour and texture the mushrooms blend perfectly with the mince, lowering the calorie content of the dish while stretching it into more portions and giving it a fantastic flavour. This moussaka is very delicately flavoured with cinnamon and nutmeg and I would gladly tuck into a bowl of it any day!

Continue reading “Mushroom moussaka”

Cheesy mushroom and pork enchiladas

This recipe went down a treat when I made it at home. Even my Little Miss (who finds the teensiest smidge of black pepper in any meal unbearably exotic) enjoyed it! These rich enchiladas are flavoured with Mexican inspired spices, topped with a double layer of sauce and baked to cheesy perfection in the oven. Get in my belly! As part of the #JoinTheBlendTrend series this recipe is also about blendability and that fabulous ingredient: mushrooms!

Continue reading “Cheesy mushroom and pork enchiladas”

Beef and mushroom stroganoff

Do you know how a song can evoke a particular memory, or how a specific scent can transport you straight back to a moment in your past? Well, this dish will always take me back to a certain time. It was at the end of last year shortly after my son was born. He was a few weeks old and we were so in love with our sweet newborn but completely exhausted from lack of sleep and the general upheaval that comes with the territory. One afternoon, an angel in the form of one the moms from my daughter’s play school arrived at our door with a bag of rice, chocolate biscuits and a tupperware full of tasty beef stroganoff. It was a very welcome delivery at that particular time and this dish will always remind me of that day!

Continue reading “Beef and mushroom stroganoff”

Beef and portabellini burgers with brie

Beef and portabellini mushroom burgers with brie cheese

Years ago I remember watching a television interview with nutritionist, Michael Pollan who said that you could eat as much junk food as you wanted, as long as you made it yourself. I think the idea was that the time and effort involved would deter people from doing it too often! While I do enjoy the odd take-away I much prefer to make those types of meals myself anyway – they taste so much better when home made and do not have to take hours to put together. Burgers would definitely fall into that category, but in my humble burger-loving opinion I am not sure that today’s recipe could be considered junk food at all.

Continue reading “Beef and portabellini burgers with brie”

Creamy chicken and mushroom pot pies

I am very excited to announce a delicious new series starting on the blog today! If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook then you probably would have seen the teaser I posted last week. In the series I will be sharing a collection of recipes highlighting the versatility and blendability of one of my favourite fresh ingredients, the marvellous mushroom.

Continue reading “Creamy chicken and mushroom pot pies”