Honey Baked Cod + Orange Arugula Salad

Honey baked cod

Ingredients 
4 cod fillets (about 600-700g in total)
2 tsp light soya sauce
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp dark soya sauce
1 tbsp honey

Method
- Pat dry the cod fillets before marinating.
- Marinate the cod and set aside for about 15mins.
- Pre-heat the oven to 200 deg C.
- In a frying pan, add a tbsp of oil and when it's hot, pan fry the cod fillets (skin side down) for about 2mins. Leave the remaining seasoning in the baking dish.
- Transfer the cod fillets into the baking dish (skin side up) and bake for about 10mins until cooked.

Orange Arugula Salad

Ingredients
4 cups arugula leaves (Washed thoroughly and drip dry)
1 orange (Cut into small pieces)
Half a yellow capsicum (Cut into small pieces)
10 cherry tomatoes (halved)
1.5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1.5 tbsp good quality balsamic vinegar

Method
- Place all the vegetables and fruits in the salad bowl.
- Drizzle with olive oil and vinegar.
- Toss and serve.

Roasted Potatoes & Sweet Potatoes

Serves 2

Ingredients
4 small potatoes (I used red and yellow potatoes)
1 mid size sweet potato
1 red onions (cut into bite size)
3 cloves of garlic (rinsed, bruised, leave the skin on)
1 sprig of rosemary leaves (chopped up)
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 tbsp good quality balsamic vinegar
sprinkle of salt
sprinkle of cumin seeds (optional)

Method
- Pre-heat the oven to 200 deg C.
- Washed the potatoes thoroughly and cut into smaller pieces.
- Washed and de-skinned the sweet potatoes, cut into smaller pieces.
- Combine the potatoes, sweet potatoes, garlic and onions in a baking dish.
- In a separate bowl, mix together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, rosemary leaves and cumin seeds.
- Drizzle the dressing over the vegetables and toss to coat well.
- Roast in oven for about 45mins. The potatoes will be blackened because of the balsamic vinegar; they are not burnt.

Tomato-based Baked Pasta with Ham and Mushroom

Serves 2 - 3

Ingredients
300g spaghetti (or any other pasta of your choice)
3-4 slices of ham (cut into smaller pieces)
1 red onion (diced)
50g chestnut mushrooms (diced)
1 canned tomatoes
80g tomato paste
350ml chicken stock
Olive oil
Mozzarella shredded cheese
Salt & pepper

Method
- Preheat oven to 180 degree C.
- In a big boiling pot, cook the pasta according to package instructions. Do not overcook.
- Remove spaghetti from the pot, add 2 tbsp of olive oil and 1 tsp of salt and mix well.
- Fry ham with a dash of olive oil until fragrant. Remove from pan.
- Sauteed the onions in olive oil. Then add the mushrooms and fry until fragrant.
- Add the canned tomatoes, tomato paste and stock. Put to a boil, add the spaghetti and mix well.
- Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Pour the spaghetti into a baking dish, spread the ham pieces on the top and lastly, sparingly sprinkle mozzarella cheese till the surface is covered.
- Bake for 10 minutes till the cheese turns golden brown.

Blueberry Muffins

Makes about 6 - 8. 

Ingredients
1 1/2 cup plain flour
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
1/3 cup milk
1 cup blueberries (washed and pat dry with a kitchen towel)

Method
- Preheat over to 200 degree C. Grease muffin tray / line with muffin liners.
- Combine the dry ingredients, flour, sugar, salt and baking powder in a mixing bowl.
- Pour the vegetable oil into a 1 cup measuring cup; add the egg and enough milk to fill the cup.
- Mix the wet with the dry ingredients.
- Fold in the blueberries and take note not to over mix.
- Fill the muffin cups to almost full and  bake for 20 - 25 minutes in the oven. The muffin is cooked when a toothpick inserted in the centre of the muffin comes out clean. 

Banana Walnut Muffins

Makes about 9.

Ingredients
3 large, very ripe bananas (I use the del monte ones)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 slightly beaten egg (room temperature)
1/3 cup melted butter
1 1/2 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup walnuts (chopped into smaller pieces)

Method
Preheat the oven to 175 degree C. Mix the mashed bananas, sugar, egg and butter together. Set aside. In a separate bowl, mix together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Add the walnuts to the dry mixture. Mix wet and dry ingredients together till just combined, do not over mix. Grease muffin tray / line with muffin liners and fill it up to about 3/4 full. Bake for about 30 minutes. The muffin is cooked when a toothpick inserted in the centre of the muffin comes out clean. 

Oven-roasted Potatoes with Rosemary

Serves 2 

Ingredients
2 large potatoes
Salt
Olive oil
1 sprig of fresh rosemary leaves

Method
- Preheat oven to 220 degree C.
- Thoroughly wash the potatoes and cut into smaller pieces. Do not remove skin.
- Lay the potatoes on a baking dish, drizzle oil, salt and rosemary leaves.
- Give the dish a few quick tosses, so the salt and oil seasoning gets onto the potatoes.
- Bake for about 40mins.
- Serve while hot.

Mango Salsa

Serves 2 - 3


The mango salsa recipes that I have seen so far will use ingredients like cilantro and lime. I couldn't get the former in the supermarket and I already have quite a few lemons and a mint plant at home, so I came up with my own version of mango salsa. This goes well with meat or fish dishes.

Ingredients
1 mid size mango (peeled, cored and cut into smaller pieces)
2-3 red tomatoes (cut into smaller pieces)
1/2 red onion (diced)
8 fresh mint leaves (diced)
Half a lemon

Optional
Cucumber

Method
- In a salad bowl, gently combine and mix all the ingredients.
- Squeeze half a lemon into it. You can add more lemon juice if you like it more sour.
- Chill for about 1-2 hours before serving.
- If stored in fridge (covered), it can keep for about 3 - 4 days.