Turkey chilli con carne

1 butternut squash  approx 1kg
Olive oil
2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp paprika 
2 red onion
2 carrots
2 peppers
1 bunch coriander 
2 cloves garlic chopped finely 
2 red chillies chopped finely
1 tbsp honey
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
500 g cooked chicken or turkey
2 400g tins chopped tomatoes 
1 400g tin butter beans
3 limes

1)Heat oven at 180 degree c
2)Pick off the coriander leaves and pop in bowl of cold water 
3)Chop the stalks and put to one side
4)Peel onions and carrots dressed peppers and chop
5)Heat olive oil in large ovenproof casserole dish and add the onions, carrots and peppers on medium heat for 5 mins until starting to soften 
6)add the coriander, garlic and chillies with the remaining cumin and paprika cook for 15 mins stirring regularly 
7)While this is cooking cut squash, remove seeds and cut into wedges
8)Pop in a roasting tin, splash with oil and 1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp paprika, salt and pepper put to one side
9)Stir the honey and Worcestershire11) sauce into the casserole dish and cook for 2 mins then add your cooked meat
10)Stir in the tomatoes and 2 tins water stirring really well
11)Add the casserole to the oven and the squash tray into the oven for 1 hour 15 mins
12)Meanwhile drain the butter beans and dry with paper towel then fry in tbsp oil until they start to burst - put to one sid
13)When the casserole and squash are done remove from oven
14)Add the beans and the squash, adding extra boiling water if needed
15)Season with salt and pepper, the juice of the limes and the coriander leaves. 

Serve with rice or jacket potatoes add sides of salsa, tortillas and guacamole. Ummmmmm!

✔️top tip: serve with extra sliced chilli on the top for an extra kick

Check out on Instagram #dawndishesTurkey chilli

Nigella's Lemon pavlova 🍋

My sister invited the family round for a meal and I offered to take a pud. I wanted to make something easy and not too heavy but at the same time big enough to feed everyone!

This was perfect and went down a treat and tastes so yummy! 

Serves 8-12

6 egg whites
375g caster sugar
2 1/2 tsps cornflour
2 unwaxed lemons
50g flaked almonds
300ml double cream
1 325g jar lemon curd

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas mark 4/350°F and line a baking tray with baking parchment. Beat the egg whites well until peaks form, it's important that the peaks are there or the mixture won't thicken later!
2. Beat in the sugar a spoonful at a time until the meringue is stiff and shiny. 
3. Sprinkle the cornflour over the meringue, then grate in the zest of 1 lemon and add 2 tsps of lemon juice.
4. Gently fold until everything is mixed in. Mound onto the lined baking tray in a fat circle approx 10inches in diameter, smoothing the sides and the top with a knife
5. Place in the oven, then immediately turn the temperature down to 150°C/gas mark 2/300°F, and cook for 1 hour.
6. Turn off the oven and leave the pavlova inside with the door completely open to cool. This will stop it cracking too quickly. When ready to eat, turn the pavlova onto a large flat plate or board with the underside uppermost. 
7. Toast the flaked almonds in a dry pan over a medium to high heat for a min or so until they have started to colour. 
Shake the pan at regular intervals and don’t let them burn. When they’re done, remove to a cold plate so that they don’t carry on cooking.
8. Whip the cream until thick and set it aside. Don't over whip, you want to be able to spread it easily. 
9. Put the lemon curd into a bowl and beat it with a wooden spoon to loosen. Taste the lemon curd and add some lemon zest and a splash of juice if it’s too sweet.
10. Lightly spread the lemon curd on top of the meringue base and top with the whipped cream, peaking it rather as if it were a meringue topping. Sprinkle with the zest of the remaining lemon – followed by the flaked almonds and serve. 
11. Don't be put off if the meringue cracks, it doesn't affect the soft gooey taste, ummmmmm!! 

✔️top tip: make the meringue a day ahead and store in a airtight container

Check it out on Instagram #dawndishes
lemon pavalova 🍋

Friday 'finishing off the fridge' dinner!

When it gets to the end of the week and there's not much left in the fridge, you can always find something to have with pasta!

Serves 3 
*2 cooked chicken breasts chopped into small pieces🍗
*400g tin chopped tomatoes 
*100g Philadelphia with chives (or plain)
*1 red chilli finely chopped 🌶
*2 handfuls of spinach
*450g pasta
*handful chopped cherry tomatoes 🍅

1)Bring a pan of water to the boil and cook the pasta in accordance with the instructions 
2)Meanwhile, heat the tomatoes on a low heat and add the chilli simmer on a low heat for 5 mins 
3)Stir in the Philadelphia and mix well into the sauce
4)Add the chicken and warm through for 2 mins
5)Add the spinach and let it wilt down
6)Drain the pasta, and stir in the tomato and chicken sauce
7)Serve topped with the chopped tomatoes 🍅 🍴

✔️top tip: add peppers,onions and/or mushrooms instead of spinach.

Check it out on Instagram #dawndishes

Friday 'finishing off the fridge' dinner!

Spiced Cauliflower Soup

It's the weekend! Yay!

Because it's so cold and miserable out there I decided to make some warming homemade soup to cheer me and the family up! Don't let the colour put you off, it tastes so good (much better than it looks) 😂
It's also so easy to make, it bubbles along on its own giving you some chill time.

Serves 4

•2oz butter
•1 onion
•1 garlic clove finely chopped
•1 tsp ground cumin
•1 tsp ground coriander
•800g cauliflower florets, roughly chopped
•1 litre chicken stock •1/2 tsp chilli salt

1)heat the butter in a deep pan on a medium heat.
2)Add the onion and garlic and fry for 2-3 minutes, or until softened.
3)Add the ground cumin and ground coriander and fry for a further 1-2 minutes stirring well
4)Add the chopped cauliflower and chicken stock.
5)Bring the mixture to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 10 mins, or until the cauliflower is tender. 6)Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.
7)Carefully pour the soup mixture into a food processor and blend to a purée (or use a hand blender in the saucepan).
8)Return soup to the pan season with chilli salt and generous sprinkle of black pepper and warm through for 1-2 minutes.

Yummy!
✔️top tip: replace chicken stock with vegetable for a vegetarian dish, and a swirl of double cream just before you serve if you're feeling naughty 😁👍

Check it out on Instagram #dawndishes

Spiced cauliflower soup

Cheese free beef lasagne

This is a fabulous dish and you really don't miss the cheese as it's so tasty and light. Ummm!

Serves 4
•500g beef mince •1 onion
•2 carrots
•1 handfuls of cauliflower florets •1 handful of broccoli •1 handful sliced green beans
•400g tin chopped tomatoes •500ml beef stock
•lasagne sheets
•1 tbsp tomato purée •1tbsp dried oregano •salt and pepper to season
1)fry the onion until softened
2)add the the mince and fry until browned
3)add the veg and cook for another 5 mins
4)add the tomatoes, purée and stock and bring to the boil
5)add the oregano, salt and pepper and simmer for 30 mins
6)in an ovenproof dish put a layer of the mince mixture in the bottom of the dish
7)then cover with 1 layer of lasagne sheets
8) put a layer of the mince mixture on top
9)put a final layer of lasagne sheets and mince mixture on the top
10)cover with foil and bake in the oven for 30 mins at 180c

Serve with salad or garlic bread. ✔️top tip substitute the beef stock for chicken for a lighter flavour. Sprinkle the top with grated cheese for a treat 👍😀

Check it out on Instagram! #dawndishes
cheese free lasagne

Salmon and prawns with Philadelphia

Looking for some midweek food inspiration? This is such a simple quick dish. 

Ingredients

2 salmon fillets
75g prawns
Philadelphia (other brands are available!)
Lemon
Seasoning

Prep your salmon by covering it with lemon juice and a good dollop of philadelphia (I used the one with added chives) salt and pepper and a slice of lemon, cover in foil and pop it in the oven 180c for 25 mins.

The Philadelphia will have started to melt and it tastes delicious! Serve with boiled potatoes and vegetables.

Top tip, if you're feeling healthy skip the Philadelphia and just use a sprinkling of lemon juice and a teaspoon of low fat spread. It won't take as long to cook so check after 15 mins.

Check it out on Instagram #dawndishes 
Instagram Salmon with prawns and Philadelphia

Tuesday treat!

One pot creamy chicken and bacon pasta 

A yummy treat for a Tuesday night tea. So quick and easy to prepare. Try it for yourselves

Serves 4

1 tbsp veg oil 
6 rashers bacon sliced 
2 chicken breasts
1 tsp chilli salt 
2 finely sliced onions
2 garlic cloves chopped finely
1 red chilli chopped finely seeds removed 
150g spinach
2 handfuls of broccoli florets 
1 litre milk
450g pasta
200g grated Parmesan cheese

1)In a large flameproof pot cook heat the oil and the bacon until crispy. 

2)Add chicken and season with salt, cook until no pink showing, then remove the chicken. 

3)Add onion, chilli and garlic and cook until softened. 

4)add spinach and cook until wilted

5)Add milk and bring to boil.

6)Add pasta and broccoli into boiling mixture and cover. 

7)Cook pasta on medium heat until milk thickens and pasta is cooked (about 10 minutes). (Thicken sauce with a small amount of cornflour mixed with cold water if too runny)

8)add back in the chicken and stir in the parmesan. 

Eat on its own or with garlic bread or salad. Enjoy! 

✔️top tip remove chilli if you don't like it too hot and substitute the chilli salt with sea salt. Change broccoli for peppers or green beans 👍

Check it out on Instagram one pot chicken and bacon pasta #dawndishes

Saturday afternoon baking!

Banana loaf 🍌

I've been baking this cake since finding the recipe in my daughters' Barbie cookbook nearly 15 years ago! It's so simple and you can never have just 1 slice!

 #barbie #baking #cookbook #banana #bananaloaf #saturdaykitchen #recipe #fooodlover #instafood #comfortfood #foodie  #dawndishes

•100g softened butter
•2 beaten eggs
•Oil For Greasing
•200g flour
•100g soft brown sugar, plus a little extra for topping •zest of 1/2 lemon
•1tsp baking powder
•3 ripe mashed 🍌 bananas •2 tsp runny honey 🍯
1)Heat oven to 180c
2)grease and line a loaf tin with parchment paper using the oil
3)cream the butter and sugar in a large bowl until fluffy
4)add the lemon zest and slowly beat in the eggs
5)sift in the flour and baking powder and mix well
6)add the mashed banana and give it a final good mix
7)spoon into the tin and pop in the oven for 50 mins but check after 40 and if it looks cooked bring it out sooner and test with a skewer in the middle- if dry you're done!
8)top with the honey and a sprinkle of brown sugar and cook for another 5-10 mins.
Remove from tin but leave paper on and leave to cool on a wire rack for as long as you can! It smells and tastes yummy

Gorgeous with a cup of tea! ☕️ ✔️top tip: add 50g apricots,cranberries or chopped nuts to the mix at the same time as the bananas

Check it out on Instagram below:

Barbie banana loaf