Easy Meals for Time Poor People

Mashed Potatoes with Cream & Garlic

3 good sized potatoes washed, peeled and chopped into chunks

1 tablespoon of margarine / butter

About 2 tablespoons of cream

(more or less - judge according to how thick you like your mashed potato)

1 heaped teaspoon of crushed garlic

Salt and pepper to taste

Cook potatoes in boiling water until soft then mash up roughly

Add margarine / butter, mash through more

Add cream, garlic, salt & pepper and mash thoroughly until all lumps are gone

Meatloaf with cheese

1 kg of premium mince

1 large carrot, peeled and grated

1 large brown onion, peeled and diced finely

2 eggs

3 cups of dried breadcrumbs

4 tablespoons each of tomato sauce, soy sauce and worcestershire sauce

5 tablespoons of sweet chilli sauce

4 teaspoons of curry powder

2 teaspoons of Italian herbs

1 1/2 cups of grated tasty cheese

Mix all ingredients except the cheese together thoroughly in a large bowl

Put half the meat mixture into a greased or non stickoven proof baking dish or tray and even out

Spread the grated cheese across, then cover with the remainder of the meat mixture

Cook in a moderate oven (about 180 degrees) for approximately 45 - 50 minutes

Monte Carlo Biscuits

185 grams (6 ozs) soft butter or margarine

1/2 a cup of white sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon of vanilla essence

1 & 1/4 cups of SR flour

3/4 cups of plain flour

1/2 a cup of desiccated coconut

Baking paper

Large oven tray

Filling:

60 grams (2 ozs) of softened butter or margarine

3/4 of a cup of icing sugar

1/2 a teaspoon of milk

Strawberry or Raspberry jam

Cream margarine/butter and sugar until light and fluffy

Add egg and vanilla, mix through throughly

Sift flours and stir through with coconut

Roll the mixture into small balls, place onto a tray covered with baking paper

Press twice with a fork in opposite directions to flatten

Bake approximately 15 minutes in a moderate oven (180 - 200 degrees)

For filling:

Mix margarine/butter, icing sugar and milk together thoroughly

until there are no lumps

Spead a little of the margarine/butter mixture on a single biscuit

Top with a little strawberry/raspberry jam then with another biscuit

Mushroom Garlic Sauce

6 large button mushrooms, peeled and roughly sliced

1 flat teaspoon of crushed garlic

1/2 a cup of beef stock

1/4 of a cup of full cream

Blend the mushrooms & garlic together thoroughly

using either a stick blender or food processor

Add the beef stock & cream and blend well

Very nice served over red meat with baked veges