Sausage and Lentils

A crock pot dish prepared before church and ready for a lazy Sunday dinner :)

2 medium carrots, sliced
1 clove of garlic, chopped
1/2 onion, diced
1 smoked sausage, sliced (e.g. Kielbasa)
8 oz lentils, soaked in water night before
1 dry bay leaf
3 cups chicken broth

Directions
1. Put everything into the pot and simmer for 2 hrs, or slow cook for a 4-5 hours.

Bacon, Broccoli, and Shells

I haven't tasted this yet, but I made it to take up the ski slope tomorrow, so we'll see!

1 clove of garlic, chopped or sliced
8 oz/200 g shell pasta (medium)
8 oz/250 g broccoli
4 strips of bacon
2 tbsp olive oil
3 tbsp Parmesan or Romano cheese, grated or shaved

Directions:
1. Cut broccoli into small flowerets. Cook in boiling salted water until soft. Drain.
2. Cook the pasta in boiling salted water until al dente. Drain well.
3. Cut strips of bacon into matchsticks and throw into a hot skillet together with garlic.
4. Add broccoli and olive oil and toss for a minute.
5. Add pasta and mix well. Season with salt and pepper (and dried chiles if desired).
6. Serve with cheese.

For the fancy: Use pancetta instead of bacon and orecchiette instead of shells!

Slow Chicken Fast Couscous

Great for 10 min. of prep in the morning and 10 min. of prep before dinner!

2 boneless chicken thighs, cut into large strips
2 medium carrots, sliced
4-5 onion slices
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
10 oz (250 g) couscous
2 cups broth
1 tbsp olive oil
1 handful of fresh coriander

Directions:
1. Put carrots, onions, and blanched chicken in slow cooker.
2. Season with salt and pepper, and cover with 4-5 tbsp of water. Slow-cook for 5 hrs.
3. Bring broth to boil and add couscous and olive oil.
4. Remove from heat and cover for 5 min.
5. Fluff up couscous with fork and add chopped coriander.

Pizza

I started making pizza after we found out our grocery store sells fresh dough. How convenient!

1 small can tomato sauce
1 tbsp mustard
1 handful pepperoni slices
1/2 tomato
3 mushrooms
1 handful grated cheese
1 lb fresh dough

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 180 - 200C.
2. Roll out dough in desired shape and place on baking tin (brushed with oil).
3. Mix tomato sauce with mustard and spread on dough, leaving an edge.
4. Populate with rest of ingredients and finish with cheese.
5. Use brush or finger to spread a layer of oil on pizza edge.
6. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until edges start to brown.

Sweet and Sour Chicken/Pork

1-2 chicken breast or pork chop, diced
1 onion, sliced
1 bell pepper, sliced
1 can pineapple chunks, drained (save juice)
1 tbsp corn starch
2 tbsp (red) vinegar
2 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp ketchup

Directions:
1. Heat oil in wok or skillet and stir-fry meat. (Or deep-fry battered meat if desired) Set aside.
2. Stir-fry onion and bell pepper in wok. Set aside.
3. Mix corn starch and vinegar and pour into wok. Add sugar, ketchup, pineapple juice.
4. Cook until thick. Return meat and vegetables to wok and toss.
5. Add pineapple chunks and toss for 1 more minute.