Chicken breast with pistachio and marmalade stuffing

2 large chicken breasts (I used 3 medium ones)
2 rashers of bacon - diced finely
1 medium red onion - diced
1 tblspn pistachio's - chopped
1 tblspn thyme
1/4 cup orange marmalade
1/4 cup bread crumbs
olive oil
toothpicks (for securing chicken closed)

Blind Pimple Remedies

I get blind pimples on my chin quite often. Lately I have been experimenting with various natural remedies for this no-headed monster.  The following are methods that I have had various succeses with in enabling the blind pimple to form a head, thus being able to clear quicker.

Passionfruit and Mandarin Cordial

2 cups water
1 cup sugar (or an equivalent amount of an organic sugar alternative, such as agave)
1 cup passionfruit pulp
1 medium madarin
Juice of 1 lime (or lemon)

Combine water, sugar and lime juice in saucepan and bring to the boil. Add passionfruit pulp and chopped up mandarin pieces and bring to the boil again.

Reduce heat and let sit for as long as possible.  The longer it sit the better the flavour will be.

You can remove the seeds and chunks of fruit whichever way you please. I just scooped out the bigger pieces with a slotted spoon, then when transferring to a bottle, poured it through a sieve.

Belated birthday package

It was meant to arrive last Tuesday. I guess a week late isn't too bad!

Full of yummy organic goodies courtesy of www.giveorganic.com.au

Potato and carrot soup with roast garlic

4 large potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
3 large carrots, cut into chuncks
3 heads of garlic, separated
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tspn cracked black pepper
1 medium onion, peeled and sliced
2 cups water
2 cups vegetable stock

Pre-heat oven to 120c. Place garlic, oil and pepper in a small baking dish and cover. Bake for about 2 hours, or until garlic is soft.

Place a small amount of oil in a large pot, heat, add onions and fry until soft. Add potato and carrots and coat in onion mixture. Add water and stock. Cover, bring to the boil, simmer until vegetables are soft. Stir through garlic flesh.

Blend in blender until smooth. Cream can be added just before serving if you like.

Creamy Pesto Penne

2 tbs butter
200g mushrooms
200g semi-dried tomatoes
2 cloves garlic - minced
500g penne pasta
2 tbs flour
2 tbs butter
3/4 cup vegetable stock
3/4 cup milk
2 tbs pesto

1. Place pasta in boiling water.

2. While pasta is cooking, saute sliced mushrooms and minced garlic in 2 tbs butter. Once cooked put aside and cover to keep warm.

3. Melt the second lot of butter, and add 2 tbs flour. Stir continuously for 1 minute.

4. Add stock and milk to mix and stir until thickened.

5. Stir in mushrooms and tomatoes.

6. Stir in pesto and salt and pepper to taste.

7. Add warm mix to cooked pasta.

ANZACS

1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup coconut
125g butter
2 tbs honey
1 tbs water
1/4 tsp bi-carb

Combine flour, sugar, coconut and oats in mixing bowl. Melt butter together with honey and water in wither microwave or on stove top. Once melted, mix in bi-carb. Combine wet ingredients with dry ingredients. Place tablespoon size lumps of mixture onto baking tray and bake on moderate for 30-40 minutes until golden brown.

Yummy!