Happy Chinese New Year heralds in the Year of the Dragon

Hi R

Happy Chinese New Year.

In China, the New Year is known as "Spring Festival" so we were asked to dress in bright colours in order to attract wealth  when we went to a magnificent dinner party hosted by a chinese friend, to herald in the Year of the Dragon.

龍 Dragon

辰 Chen

February 5, 2000

January 23, 2012

February 10, 2024

 

Our hostess cooked a magnificent dinner but we brought a few pre dinner nibbles / finger food.  Here is the recipe for my Asian Chicken Bites, which everyone seemed to enjoy. Usually I would serve them with a dipping sauce but decided just a squeeze of lemon juice was all that was needed.

Happy healthy wealthy chinese new year to all.

Clara

Asian Chicken Bites
These tasty little chicken balls are ideal for party / finger food. I hope the dragon likes them!
500g minced chicken
2/3 cup fresh breadcrumbs
1 tbsp ginger finely grated

1 to 2 garlic cloves finely chopped
1 birdseye chilli finely chopped and/or 1 tbsp sweet chilli sauce
2 spring onions finely chopped or 1 onion
1/4 bunch coriander finely chopped
1 egg white, beaten (you can use the whole egg if desired)
Soy sauce to taste
squeeze of lemon juice
Vegetable oil

Combine all ingredients then roll into small balls, (using damp hands to assist this process.) Pan fry in oil until golden, or for a lighter dish, arrange chicken in a baking dish, on baking paper and cook in a hot to moderate oven for approx 20 minutes until turning golden. (For best results start with a hot oven and turn down a little after 10 minutes) Makes approx 30 bite sized balls. Serve with a squeeze of lemon and garnish with coriander or mint.



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In Australia, we do things to Pizzas that no self respecting Italian would do - with delicious results

Hi R
Thought I would continue to warm you up by showing you more of our magnificent coast line and to share a wonderful meal we had there.  You could substitute the seafood for left over ham if you have any left, and garnish with capers or olives etc.  In Australia, we do things to Pizzas that no self respecting Italian would do -  with simply delicious results!
Clara

Nambucca Nosh

John's OK delicious Pizza served at sunset

Star ingredients but you could substitute
with that ham if there is any left

Secret is having a thin base -
this one is a commercial wholemeal version

Spread some tomato pizza sauce

Add the seafood (and if you wish some salami slices - hmmmm)

Add red onion slices and artichoke hearts

Finish with a slurp of sweet chilli sauce and a
light sprinkling of mozzarella cheese
Bake in a moderate to hot oven for 10 to 15 minutes.

Enjoy, with the sunset at Nambucca Heads

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Koftas make great party food

Hi R
In the first week of November we have a special horse race, called the Melbourne Cup where the whole nation stops to pick a winner.  Once this event is over, it's time to make plans for Christmas which of course involves food. 

These koftas make great party food for the silly season or even for a birthday party, a BBQ or a family meal. This recipe is for OJ who is turning one next week, and is having a party. He loves spicy foods (like his nonna and eats amazing things like avocados!)
Nonna Clara

A kofte is a Middle Eastern and South Asian meatball. In the simplest form, koftas consist of balls of minced or ground meat—usually beef or lamb mixed with spices and/or onions. The meat is often mixed with other ingredients such as rice or bulger. They can be BBQ'd, grilled, fried, steamed, poached, baked or marinated, and may be served with a rich spicy sauce or a yoghut sacce. In Arab countries, kufta or kefta is usually shaped into cigar-shaped cylinders.

Kofte with mint yoghurt dressing is great party food

Meatballs / kofte with mint yoghurt dressing
Makes approx 16
For the mint yoghurt sauce combine
1/2 cup thick natural yoghurt (greek)
2 tbsp mint, finely chopped
Juice of 1/2 lemon

For the meatballs750g / 1 1/2lb good quality lamb mince o(r a mixture of lamb and beef)1 cup fine fresh breadcrumbs
1 onion, finely chopped or processed
1 tsp fennel seeds, dry-roasted, finely ground (or ground fennel)
1 tbsp cumin seeds, dry-roasted, finely ground (or ground cumin)
1/4 cup finely chopped mint and/or combination of mint and parsley
1 tbsp lemon zest
1 egg white
salt and pepper
Oil
Combine ingredients; season to taste. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours if possible to allow flavours to mingle and make mixture easier to handle.

Mould the meat mixture into small sausage shapes and skewer with metal or wooden
kebab sticks (soaked in water for 20 mins).
Spray with a little oil and cook on BBQ for 5 to 8 minutes, turning once.

Drizzle with yoghurt sauce or serve sauce separately. Serve with toasted pita bread and
lemon wedges.

Variation - Moroccan Kefters - Substitute fennel for paprika,
and instead of 1/2 cup mint, use a combination of chopped coriander,
mint and flat-leafed parsley.
Season with black or cayenne pepper and serve with Moroccan bread.
Variation 2- Alternatively form into balls or patties, BBQ or cook in the oven and call them spicy meatballs.

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Crostini or Bruschette? Is bocconcini the same as mozzarella?

The differences are fuzzy

Hi there
Some vital questions!
Qu 1 - Crostini or Bruschette? Is crostini a small bruschette?
Qu 2 - What is bocconcini - is it the same as mozzarella?



 Qu 1 - Give up? Yes, crostini is smaller and is served as an aperitivo but the correct answer is that crostini is usually made with white bread instead of sourdough but the difference is fuzzy.
The Italians simply grill a half-inch slice of ciabatta, rub it with a cut clove of garlic, drizzle it with oil, and season it with salt and pepper.


My favourite method, being an 'ovenphile' is to preheat oven to 160°C/ 320 F. Line an oven tray with baking paper and bake slices which have been sprayed on both sides with olive oil, for about 8-10 minutes or until golden and crisp. While hot, rub with garlic. Add prepared topping of your choice. For approx 12 crostini, here a few favourites but you can use your imagination and personal taste to create the perfect Italian aperitivo, whether it be a crostini or bruschette.


tapenade with goat's cheese
Intense flavours offset with
goat's cheese and basil


mixed herb crostini
Any mixture of soft herbs like fennel tops, basil, parsley, mint, chervil or thyme leaves, with cherry tomatoes and parmesan over the top.

cannellini beans with garlic Coarse puree with rosemary oil

prosciutto, figs, and mint
Drape piece of prosciutto over hot crostini and squash a piece of fig on top

blue cheese with pear
Salty, sharp blue cheese combined with sweet, juicy pear is sublime.

buffalo mozzarella and chilli
Torn mozzarella, sprinkled with chopped chilli, drizzled with olive oil and finished with basil.

I'm just a baby!



 







Qu 2 - What is bocconcini - is it the same as mozzarella?
Bocconcini are Italian cheese balls about the size of cherry tomatoes. They are actually a fresh type of mozzarella. small, semi-soft, white and rindless, unripened, usually made from a combination of water buffalo and cow's milk. Bocconcini are packaged in whey or water, have a spongy texture and absorb flavours.

There are endless possibilities.
For full recipes and more - http://fitinyourjeanscuisine.blogspot.com/
 Clara

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Spicy chicken cakes with Asian dipping sauce a versatile winner

Hi there

Yesterday's baby shower was a huge success - more finger food - I love it!!
Versatile little morsals, chicken cakes can served hot or cold, are great finger food, perfect for picnics, a starter served on a bed of rocket or spinach (dressed with a little of the dipping sauce) or as a main for lunch with a salad.

For a different spin, form mixture into small balls and serve as finger food using tooth picks to serve or pile mixture into a loaf tin and slice to serve.


Clara






Spicy Asian Chicken Cakes
Chicken mince – half kilo / 3/4 c breadcrumbs
1 onion or 2 Spring onions - chopped
Grated rind of 1/2 lemon or lime (no pith)
2 tbsp sweet chilli sauce
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp fish sauce (optional)
1 egg, beatenfinger
1-2 cloves garlic & 2 tsp chopped ginger
Coriander leaves and stems – 2-4 tbsp chopped
Salt & freshly ground black pepper


Spoon mixture into an egg ring to make a round shape - place on oven paper spray with oil. Cook in preheated oven (medium to high) for about 20 mins.


Can be reheated before serving with a dipping sauce of equal amounts of fish Sauce, sweet chilli sauce and lime juice – add choppedClick on 'comment' at bottom of page to have your say or email clara@babyboomerconnections.com.au
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Finger food fine for baby shower - melon wrapped in proscuitto

Hi R
I'm working on a fingerfood menu for the Baby Shower.

A hugely popular antipasto in Italy, this melon and prosciutto recipe is simple, sophisticated (and healthy). Any type of melon can be used, but the most popular is by far cantaloupe or rock melon. Here is Australia, as an endearment, we shorten everything we like, so they are named 'rockies'.  
Makes a great first course as well as antipasto or finger food.  (Don't forget the toothpicks).

Serves 8-12


Ingredients
•1 whole (ripe) melon such as cantaloupe
• 125 g / 1/4 lb very thinly sliced prosciutto crudo (cured ham)


Prepare the melon by slicing it in half and scooping out the seeds.
For an appetiser slice each half into approximately six slices and remove the peel from each slice.
Next, gently wrap a single slice of prosciutto around each piece of melon and arrange on your serving dish.
Can be sprinkled with basil leaves and served with crusty bread.


For a party appetiser, cube the melon and wrap each piece completely with prosciutto, then stab with a toothpick to keep the meat neatly wrapped.

This versatile dish can be served without seasoning which is my preference / sprinkled with a fine balsamic vinegar and/or served with a thin slice of parmesan.
For other fun finger food ideas for the baby shower - go to http://fitinyourjeans.blogspot.com/


Appetito grande!   Clara




The last Baby Shower  I attended  - 8 pregnant women!!!!!

 

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Avocados provide fab food for finger food baby shower menu

Hi R

Special request from my daughter to design a finger food menu for her baby shower  - tasty, healthy but low cal, of course, since the hostess and usually friends are feeling round enough. 

 Perfect for - http://fitinyourjeanscuisine.blogspot.com/ 


It's interesting how Baby Showers have become such an event - and can actually be a heap of fun, with everyone excited about the new baby;  advice, memories of similar days, and old wives' remedies flowing much faster than the champagne.  And of course debates re demand feeding V having a life etc.  Wonderful female camaraderie
Clara xx

Avocado Dip  - au naturale

Fingerfood and appetizers would be perfect. 
Avocado Dip

2 avocados – chopped or mashed
1/2 lebanese cucumber, sliced lengthways, deseeded, then chopped finely
2 tsp lemon juice
1/4 cup Greek yoghurt
Sea salt and cracked pepper


Chopped Mint or basil  (or both) added at the end
Serve with vegetable sticks and /or Lebanese bread toasted – Lebanese cucumber, carrot, celery, capsicum.

Or do what we do - simply scoop from the flesh of the avo with a cracker - (my favourite being 'Salt and Vinegar Rice crackers')


Re Avos - Don't be like me in the past - thinking that they contained oils and therefore avoiding them when in fact they are great for maintaining a healthy weight since fats are vital for good health. (Avocados contain fat, 60% is monounsaturated, 20% is polyunsaturated, and only 20% is saturated.)Avocados are a wonderful fruit containing a mass of vital nutrients needed for a healthy growing baby and Mums.    Low in sugar, contain fibre, salt free, they contain per 100g-11% of the RDI of vitamin A, 11% of Thiamin, 19% of Riboflavin, 21% of niacin, 42% of vitamin C and 13% of magnesium, to name a few.





Helps lower cholesterol, great source of dietary fibre.  Not only is it a fantastic antioxidant and brilliant for your skin, when consumed prior to or during alcohol, inhibits the ability of alcohol to cause fatty liver. So next time you're having a glass of wine try eating home-made avocado dip with veggie sticks.

Eat more avos, girls, and feed them to your babies. 
Clara


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