Feed the Family in a Jiffy

Time, precious time is one commodity that seems to disappear in the blink of an eye.

We, however, can work smart in the kitchen and prepare delicious home-cooked meals and treats in a jiffy, saving a ton of time to spend quality time with our families.

I've worked most of my adult life if one excludes the first couple of months when I took care of my sons until they were old enough for the creche.

Now that I am in 'retirement' - what does that word mean??? - I run our one little BnB, so, time still is precious, in fact even more so!

I do enjoy cooking and making meals from scratch - pre-cooked, boxed meals just ain't for me! A takeaway now and then is ok for the hectic days, but I have learnt how to speed things up.

I need the right tools, so the microwave, the pressure cooker, and my Kenwood food mixer have become my best friends.

I will share a couple of secrets with you.

Hasselback Potatoes

This dish takes at least an hour and a half in the oven, but when in a hurry, I use the microwave and the oven grill and the potatoes are ready for serving in around 30 minutes.

Slice the potatoes thinly, not all the way through of course, and place them in a covered dish, adding about 4 tablespoons of water and precook in the microwave - approximately 15 minutes for 4 medium/large potatoes. *Check with a fork if they are cooked. Drain the water.
Approx 100g Melted butter or Olive Oil mixed with about 3 tablespoons Mushroom or Brown Onion soup powder is brushed on top of the potatoes, and placed under the oven grill till a nice golden brown.

Delicious served with Meatballs, mashed Potatoes, and fresh veggies of choice.

Spicy Curry in a Hurry

Of course, the quickest is my Cheat Beans Curry.

1 diced onion is sauteed in oil & Jeera seeds, a couple of diced Tomatoes, and all my favourite curry spices and salt are added.
Now for the big cheat - don't tell anyone ;) - a couple of cans of any, or all of the following is added - Beans, Chick Peas, or Lentils - whatever is in the pantry. Heat through and voila, you have a meal ready in no time. Can be eaten with cooked rice, or with bread.

Pressure Cooker Beef Curry

The method is similar to the beans curry, except cubes of Beef are added after all the spices are in. My pressure cooker has a sautee function, making it really easy, and fewer dishes. Once the meat has been added, I add a small amount of water, seal with the lid, place on the meat setting, and within 45 minutes from start to scratch, your Beef curry will be ready.
Cooking this on the stove will take at least 2 hours, plus you will constantly have to check that it doesn't dry out and burn!

Pressure Cooker Vegetable Soup

Nothing could be easier, nor more comforting during winter, as we are experiencing at present!

Add approx 1 cup split Peas, dried Lentils, or even Mungh Beans in the pressure cooker, cover with boiling water, and add salt to taste.
Place the following vegetables into your food processor (or grate it by hand if you don't have one - hubby can do this job!) - 1 Onion, 1-2 Potatoes, 2 Carrots, a Handful of green Beans, or Spinach, Parsley, Leeks, Mushrooms etc, whatever you have in the refrigerator. The first 3 are a must for me though.
Set your pressure cooker to the Soup function, and again, approx 45 minutes later, you can serve a steaming bowl of soup to your family.

Breakfast French Toast for Him & Her

Slices of bread dipped in beaten eggs, fried on both sides in Olive Oil. Hubby gets a sprinkling of grated Cheese on top, while my sweet tooth insists on Cinnamon Sugar and Maple Syrup, a gift from my nephew in Minnesota.

Homemade Bread is way easier than many think, although one has to wait for the bread to prove, it really is the best.

Yogurt Bread in a jiffy

So, I make what really is like an Irish Soda bread from time to time when I'm REALLY time-strapped!

Mix together 500ml Natural Yogurt & 5ml Baking Soda.
Add 800ml Flour and 5ml Salt
Spoon into sprayed bread tin and bake at 180°C for approx 40 min. I often add grated cheese on top.

To end, we all enjoy a little sweet treat now and then, but baking a cake in the oven takes a long time.

1-minute Chocolate Microwave Cake in a mug

Beat together 2 eggs, 150ml Sugar, 100ml Oil & a dash of Vanilla Essence till frothy.
Add 200ml Self-Raising Flour & 3 tablespoons Cocoa, plus a little Milk to get the right consistency.
Spoon into two tea cups that have been sprayed well with cooking spray and bake on high for 1 minute, check if it springs back when lightly pressing on top with a finger. If not, cook another half a minute, no longer, or the sponge cake will be dry.
Serve with whipped cream.

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