Take Two

This was one of my favourite dishes growing up. Still is. Thanks mom. Feeds 4-5 people according to memory (I just found the recipe written down on a piece of paper).

• 4-5 diningspoons margarine
• 4-5 diningspoons wheat flour
• 1 litre milk
• 4 portions of cooked macaroni
• 1-2 tin ham, chopped
• 4 eggs
• breadcrumbs

Make a thick sauce using the margarine, wheat flour and milk. Mix in the cooked macaroni and chopped ham. Add the egg yolks. Whisk the eggwhites until stiff, then carefully fold them into the mix. Butter a large fireproof dish and pour everything in. Finish off with a layer of breadcrumbs. Cook at the bottom of the oven at 200 degrees C for about 45 minutes. Enjoy.

I just found this recipe in a letter from my mom and put it online so I can find it again. Mom makes these for Christmas. The recipe makes 100-110 cookies.

• 200g margarine/butter
• 150g sugar
• 150g brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 275g wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 50g chopped almonds
• 100g chopped cooking chocolate

Stir butter and sugar well. Add eggs, sift in flour and baking powder, then stir in the almonds and chocolate. Use a teaspoon to portion onto baking paper. Oven cook until light brown (10-12 minutes) at 200 degrees C.

I had some Halibut that I needed to use, so I thought I’d try mom’s fish dish again, but trade the cod for halibut. Unfortunately I had none of the other ingredients, so I had to improvise again. This time I used:

• 1 medium-sized onion
• 2 small courgettes
• 1/2 red pepper
• 6 pieces of frozen spinnach
• 220g halibut fillets
• 3 dollops of extra thick double cream

I put a little olive oil at the bottom of a clay pot, added the chopped onion, then added a layer of diced halibut fillet. A layer of sliced courgettes and pepper followed before another layer of fish. Then came yet a layer of courgettes and the frozen spinnach, followed lastly by a generous helping of cream.

Put the lid on, then cook on low heat for about 40 minutes. Done. This one was even better than the last; I think the onion and the courgettes really lifted it.

I just cooked this dish that my mom taught me. I did it from memory, so I had to improvise a bit. I forgot to put onions in, but it was nice just the same. This recipe serves 2 people.

• 100g cauliflower
• 100g broccoli
• 1 medium carrot, chopped
• 100g créme fraîche
• 300g white fish, cut into pieces

Pour a little bit of oil at the bottom of a cooking pot (I use a clay pot, but any pot should do). Put alternating layers of vegetables and fish in the pot and finish off with dollops of créme fraîche on top.

Season to taste & serve with boiled rice.

I just made a pineapple smoothie. It was very nice. To make one, you need:

• 1 banana
• 1/2 pineapple
• 1/2 cup of orange juice

Put all of it in a blender, mix for a while and there you have it.

After a hectic week at work it is great to sit down for a nice and quiet breakfast for a change. I used a slice of bread, buttered, with two large slices of ham. On top of that I put majonaise and brie before I topped it off with two fried eggs. Mmmm….

• 100 grams fine brown sugar
• 100 grams butter
• 100 grams self-raising flour
• 2 medium-sized ripe bananas
• 1 egg

Whisk egg & sugar until nice and creamy. Juice the bananas and stir into the mix. Add melted butter, sift in the flour and mix well. Pour mixture into 18 cm (7 inches) round pan and cook in the middle of the oven at 180 degrees C (350 Fahrenheit, Gas mark 4).