lasagne

Serves 4

This is a favourite of mine and Ella and is a family crowd pleaser. I love this reduced dairy version as we seem to be able to tolerate ghee and cheese in small doses.


Poppy cooks...

1. In a large pot add
   onion, diced,
   3 cloves of garlic, minced,
   1/2 teaspoon dried basil,
   1 teaspoon dried oregano,
   1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary,
   400g tin diced tomato,
   carrot, diced,
   3 celery stalks, diced,
   1/2 zucchini, diced,
   red capsicum, diced,
   500g mince (beef, pork, chicken, lamb or turkey),
   6 button mushrooms, sliced,
   100g tomato paste,
   1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar,
   1 teaspoon honey,
   1.5 teaspoons celtic sea salt,
   pepper to taste with
   2 tablespoons ghee, cooking on medium heat for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
   
   
2. In a small saucepan add
   750g rice milk,
   3 eggs,
   45g ghee,
   1.5 teaspoon dried onion powder,
   1.5 teaspoon garlic powder,
   0.75 teaspoon honey,
   1.5 teaspoon celtic sea salt and
   55g tapioca flour, stirring with a whisk until it thickens.
   
   
3. Preheat oven to 180ºC.
   
   
4. Grease a large lasagne dish with ghee and cover bottom with some of the bolognese sauce.
   
   
5. Place a layer of
   gluten free lasagne sheets on bottom of dish (I soak mine in water for just a few seconds to stop them curling), cover with half the bolognese sauce and a third of the white sauce.
   
   
6. Place a second layer of lasagne sheets, the remaining bolognese sauce and the second third of white sauce on top.
   
   
7. Place a third layer of lasagne sheets and the remaining third of white sauce on top. Sprinkle some
   grated cheese on top and cook in the oven for 30 minutes.
   
   
8. Allow to rest for 10 minutes before serving.

honey chicken

Serves 2

Poppy cooks...

1. Preheat oven to 200ºC.
   
   
2. In a freezer bag combine
   1 tablespoon tomato paste / sauce,
   2 tablespoons coconut amino sauce,
   2 teaspoons raw honey,
   clove garlic, minced and
   400g chicken (you can use drumsticks, thighs, tenderloins) and leave to marinade for 20 minutes.
   
   
3. Place in an ovenproof dish and bake for 35 minutes for drumsticks, 30 minutes for tenderloins. I love to serve this with green veggies and coconut brown rice.

Sticky ribs

Poppy cooks...

Serves 2

1. Preheat oven to 200ºC.
   
   
2. Cut
   rack of pork ribs into individual ribs and place in a roasting dish (with a lid) lined with foil.
   
   
3. To make the marinade, place in a small pot
   1 teaspoon ginger, grated,
   clove of garlic, minced,
   75ml apple juice,
   50ml white wine vinegar,
   1.25 tablespoons tomato paste,
   2 teaspoons dijon mustard,
   50ml soy sauce and
   4 tablespoons manuka honey, whisking together over medium heat until sauce thickens (approximately 10-15 minutes).
   
   
4. Coat the ribs with marinade, put lid on and place in oven for 10 minutes.
   
   
5. Flip ribs over, place lid back on and in oven for another 10 minutes.
   
   
6. Remove from oven, turn ribs around, and place back in oven without lid for a further 5 minutes.
   
   
7. Flip ribs over, still without lid on and in oven for a final 5 minutes.
   
   
8. We serve these with rice and stir fried greens to make a whole meal.

spinach + ricotta cannelloni

Serves 4-6

Poppy cooks...

1. Place
   360-400g spinach and
   olive oil in a large pot with the lid on over low heat, stirring occasionally until spinach has cooked down. Set aside in a bowl to cool.
   
   
2. Place
   onion, diced in same pot with
   olive oil until onion softens.
   
   
3. Add
   2x 400g tins of diced tomatoes,
   2 cloves garlic, minced,
   bay leaf,
   15g basil and
   zest of 1/2 lemon and bring to a simmer for about 20 minutes.
   
   
4. Squeeze liquid out of spinach, chop, then return to liquid in bowl. Add
   egg, beaten,
   2 teaspoons parmesan cheese, grated,
   250g ricotta.
   
   
5. Preheat oven to 180ºC.
   
   
6. Place
   250g gluten-free cannelloni (approximately 18 tubes) in an oven proof dish and then fill the tubes with the spinach mixture.
   
   
7. Cover the cannelloni with the tomato sauce mixture and slice
   250g mozzarella balls and place on top.
   
   
8. Place in the oven for 40 minutes.

frittata

Serves 24

A great easy dish to get a decent serve of vegetables into your (or your child's) diet. Whilst this is a Thermomix recipe, a food processor would do exactly the same job.

Poppy cooks...

1. Preheat oven to 170ºC and either line two small slice trays with baking paper, or oil two pie dishes (or one of each!).
   
   
2. Place
   onion, chopped and
   2 cloves of garlic, peeled in mixing bowl and chop 3 seconds / speed 7.
   
   
3. Scrape down bowl, add
   splash olive oil and saute 2 minutes / varoma / speed 2.
   
   
4. Add
   2 carrots, chopped,
   zucchini, chopped,
   small sweet potato and chop 5 seconds / speed 5.
   
   
5. Add
   400g corn kernels,
   100g bio cheese, grated,
   1 tablespoon wholegrain mustard,
   180g gluten free self raising flour,
   6 eggs,
   1 teaspoon baking powder,
   celtic sea salt and cracked black pepper and mix 20 seconds / reverse / speed 4.
   
   
6. Pour mixture into slice tins or pie dishes.
   
   
7. Sprinkle
   pepitas and
   sunflower seeds over the top.
   
   
8. Place in oven for 50 minutes or until golden brown.

mushroom + cauliflower penne

Serves 2-3

Poppy cooks...

1. Bring a large pot of water to the boil.
   
   
2. In the meantime, saute
   3 cloves garlic, finely sliced,
   15g thyme in
   1 tablespoon olive oil until golden.
   
   
3. Add
   300g mushrooms, sliced and
   350g cauliflower, riced (i.e. pulsed in a food processor until it turns into fluffy rice), cover with a lid and cook until softened for about 10 minutes.
   
   
4. By this point, the large pot of water should be boiling. Add
   250g brown rice penne and cook according to instructions.
   
   
5. Stir into the mixture
   120g ricotta,
   1 teaspoon celtic sea salt and
   1/2 lemon, juiced.
   
   
6. Drain penne and add to mixture with
   25g parmesan cheese and
   15g flat-leaf parsley, chopped.
   
   
7. Serve with a little extra celtic sea salt, lemon juice, grated parmesan and/or parsley to taste.

mexican bowl

Serves 4

This dish is so quick and easy, and can all be done using just one pan, so less washing up! Feel free to add jalapeños if you like extra heat, or to omit the chilli powder and cumin like I do when cooking this for my toddler. This is quite a light meal, so great for summer. If you would like to bulk it up, then you can try accompanying it with grilled meat, gluten free flat bread or some sweet potato chips.

Poppy cooks...

1. Heat
   1 tablespoon coconut oil in a large pan and saute
   2 garlic cloves, minced.
   
   
2. Add
   1.25 cups quinoa,
   tin diced tomatoes,
   1.25 cups vegetable stock,
   tin black beans, drained and rinsed,
   1.25 cups frozen peas*,
   1/2 teaspoon chilli powder (optional),
   1/2 teaspoon ground cumin (optional),
   celtic sea salt and cracker black pepper to taste; bringing to the boil and reducing to a simmer with a lid on until quinoa cooked.
   
   
3. Serve topped with
   avocado,
   lime wedge and
   coriander.
   

* The more traditional option here is corn, but we are currently eliminating corn from our diet for health reasons. Feel free to google the pros and cons of corn.

braised lamb shanks

Serves 4

Poppy cooks...

1. Heat
   1 tablespoon coconut oil in a large pan (with lid) and brown
   4 lamb shanks, then set aside.
   
   
2. Saute
   leek, cut lengthways in half and sliced,
   2 celery sticks, diced,
   3 carrots, diced and
   6 garlic cloves, sliced until soft.
   
   
3. Add lamb shanks back in with
   2 cups red wine,
   4 cups beef broth,
   10 sprigs thyme,
   4 sprigs of rosemary,
   teaspoon celtic sea salt and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for at least 2.5 hours with the lid on, or until meat falls off the bone.
   
   
4. In the meantime, boil
   2kg sweet potato, peeled and chopped, then drain and mash.
   
   
5. This stage is optional, but I like to remove the lamb shanks, shred the meat and return the meat to the sauce to mix through. If necessary, you can let the sauce reduce with the lid off while shredding the meat and add
   2 teaspoons cornflour to thicken the sauce too.

lentil ragu with cauliflower mash

Serves 4

Poppy cooks...

1. The day before you make this dish, soak
   1/2 cup puy lentils in
   filtered water.
   
   
2. Add to a pan
   onion, finely diced,
   carrot, finely diced,
   celery stick, finely diced,
   2 garlic cloves, minced,
   2 sprigs thyme,
   sprig rosemary,
   bay leaf with
   olive oil on medium heat.
   
   
3. Once the onion is translucent, add drained lentils and
   3 tablespoons tomato paste, cooking for 10 minutes.
   
   
4. Add
   tin crushed tomato,
   1.5 cups filtered water,
   1/2 teaspoon celtic sea salt,
   cracked black pepper, to taste,
   1/4 teaspoon nutmeg,
   pinch of cinnamon, turning heat down and simmering (if ragu looks dry, add more filtered water at any point).
   
   
5. In a large pot, saute
   2 garlic cloves, sliced in
   3 tablespoons olive oil and
   sprig thyme.
   
   
6. Add
   cauliflower, cut into small florets coating in oil for 5 minutes then add
   1/2 cup filtered water and put a lid on pot until cauliflower is soft (add more filtered water if needed at any point).
   
   
7. Add
   1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar to ragu and stir.
   
   
8. Put cauliflower in thermomix with
   1/2 teaspoon celtic sea salt and blend on speed 5, scraping bowl down and mixing as necessary to get an even consistency.
   
   
9. Serve
   handful rocket onto each plate, cauliflower mash next to that, then spoon ragu on top, and finish with
   flax seed oil, drizzled and
   cracked black pepper.

roast potatoes

Poppy bakes...

1. Preheat oven to 190ºC.
   
   
2. Add
   1.5kg Royal Blue potatoes, peeled, chopped, rinsed to a large saucepan.
   
   
3. Cover with
   filtered water and
   pinch of celtic sea salt; and parboil for 8 minutes.
   
   
4. Drain into a colander to steam dry for 3 minutes.
   
   
5. Shake colander to fluff up potatoes and place on a baking tray.
   
   
6. Drizzle
   coconut oil over and season with 
   celtic sea salt and cracked black pepper, toss to coat and roast for 30 minutes. (You can pause before roasting and pop in fridge until ready to cook).
   
   
7. Using a potato masher, squash each potato.
   
   
8. In a small bowl stir together
   3 tablespoons coconut oil,
   bulb of garlic, smashed,
   splash of red wine vinegar and
   bunch of rosemary and pour over potatoes, putting back in the oven for another 40 minutes.

butter chicken

Serves 4

We have nicknamed this dish butter chicken in our household as the consistency of the sauce reminds us of it. It is by no means a traditional butter chicken dish as we can't eat nuts and don't eat dairy in our house - just a little disclaimer so you don't have different expectations of this dish, haha.

Poppy cooks...

1. Cook
   2 cups of basmati rice and set aside.
   
   
2. Saute
   onion, diced in
   coconut oil.
   
   
3. Add
   4 garlic cloves, minced and
   2 teaspoons ginger, grated.
   
   
4. Add
   2 teaspoons garam masala,
   2 teaspoons ground cumin and
   1 teaspoon ground turmeric, stirring until fragrant.
   
   
5. Add
   400ml coconut cream and
   8 tablespoons tomato paste and bring to the boil.
   
   
6. Add
   500g chicken tenderloins, diced until cooked, stirring occasionally.
   
   
7. Add
   broccoli, cut into florets and
   1 cup corn kernels.
   
   
8. Add
   1 teaspoon cornflour and incorporate.
   
   
9. Season with
   2 teaspoons celtic sea salt and cracked black pepper.

As a summer version, omit the broccoli and corn but make a side salad of shredded cabbage, mango, cucumber and coriander. If you have young kids or toddlers, you can also omit the celtic sea salt and it still tastes amazing!

kedgeree

Serves 6

Poppy cooks...

1. Soak
   1 cup puy lentils for at least an hour, then drain.
   
   
2. In a saucepan, boil
   4 eggs with
   2 fillets salmon in a steamer insert above. Once the salmon is cooked through, flake; and once the eggs are cooked, cut into quarters; then set all aside.
   
   
3. Saute
   2 onions, sliced to your desired level of caramelisation, then set aside.
   
   
4. Melt
   2 tablespoons coconut oil in a large pan, then add
   1.5 cups basmati rice, lentils,
   2 bay leaves,
   4 garlic cloves, minced,
   knob of ginger, grated,
   sprinkle of chilli powder to your liking,
   1 teaspoon ground turmeric,
   2 teaspoons ground cumin,
   2 teaspoons ground coriander and stir until fragrant.
   
   
5. Add
   3 cups filtered water and bring to the boil then reduce heat to low and cover, cooking until the rice and lentils are done.
   
   
6. Stir through
   bag spinach, then add fish, eggs, onions and
   bunch parsley, chopped.
   
   
7. Serve with a
   wedge of lemon.

paleo macaroni and cheese

Serves 4

For a non-paleo version that the kids will love, substitute the cauliflower (so, substitute the whole of step 1) for some brown rice pasta.

Poppy cooks…

1. Saute
   1.5 cauliflower, cut into florets in
   2 tablespoons nuttelex,
   1/2 teaspoon celtic sea salt and
   1/4 cup filtered hot water until cauliflower is cooked and lightly caramelised, then set aside and keep warm.
   
   
2. Saute
   2 tablespoons nuttelex,
   3 squash, diced,
   carrot, diced,
   onion, diced,
   3 garlic cloves, minced,
   3/4 teaspoon ground mustard and
   1 teaspoon celtic sea salt.
   
   
3. Add
   165ml tin coconut cream and simmer until the coconut cream is slightly reduced.
   
   
4. Place in a blender and puree until smooth.
   
   
5. Add an
   egg yolk and blend well.
   
   
6. Return sauce to the pan, then add a
   bag of spinach and stir through until spinach is slightly wilted.
   
   
7. Add
   cracked black pepper to taste.
   
   
8. Serve cauliflower florets topped with sauce.

creamy zucchini pasta bake

Serves 4

Poppy cooks…

1. Saute
   zucchini, diced,
   2 carrots, diced,
   handful green beans, chopped,
   1 cup purple cabbage, diced,
   4 garlic cloves, minced,
   pinch of italian herbs (such as marjoram, basil, rosemary, oregano, thyme), celtic sea salt + cracked black pepper in
   olive oil, then set aside.
   
   
   
2. To make sauce heat
   1 tablespoon nuttelex and
   2 tablespoons olive oil in a small saucepan, then add
   4 tablespoons brown rice flour or buckwheat flour and stir with a whisk to form a paste.
   
   
   
3. Slowly add
   2 cups rice milk, followed by
   1/4 cup nutritional yeast flakes,
   1 teaspoon garlic powder,
   1 teaspoon celtic sea salt,
   1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg,
   1 teaspoon rice wine vinegar and
   1 teaspoon dijon mustard, stirring on low heat until it thickens.
   
   
   
4. Cook
   500g buckwheat pasta or brown rice penne in accordance with packet instructions.
   
   
   
5. Drain the pasta then combine in a baking dish with zucchini, 
   1/2 cup semi sun-dried tomatoes, quartered, sauce and sprinkle with
   chives, chopped.
   
   
   
6. Bake in a 180ºC oven for 20 minutes or until it starts to crisp on top.

turkey + vegetable buckwheat pasta

Serves 6

Poppy cooks…

1. Saute
   onion, diced and
   4 garlic cloves, minced in
   olive oil.
   
   
2. Add
   3 carrot, diced,
   2 red capsicum, diced,
   2 zucchini, diced,
   1/2 cup semi sun-dried tomatoes, quartered and sauté until vegetables are softened then set aside. Feel free to add more olive oil if necessary. You can also use any seasonal or left over vegetables you might have.
   
   
3. Cook
   500g turkey mince until browned then add vegetables back in with
   700g passata,
   3 teaspoons dried oregano,
   1/2 teaspoon chilli flakes,
   handful basil leaves, torn,
   celtic sea salt and cracked black pepper, to taste and allow to simmer while cooking the pasta.
   
   
4. Cook
   500g buckwheat spiral pasta according to packet instructions.
   
   
5. Add pasta to sauce, combine, then serve with
   parmesan cheese (optional).

vegetable stir fry with mango tahini sauce

Serves 4

Poppy cooks…

1. Cook
   2 cups jasmine rice in a rice cooker.
   
   
2. Make sauce by blending
   mango,
   1 tablespoon ginger, grated,
   1 tablespoon tahini,
   1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar,
   1 tablespoon tamari sauce and
   1 tablespoon olive oil and set aside.
   
   
3. In a large frying pan or work, heat
   1/2 tablespoon coconut oil then add
   onion, thinly sliced,
   2 garlic cloves, minced,
   3 cups red cabbage, finely sliced,
   2 cups celery, finely sliced,
   2 cups sweet potato, finely sliced and
   2 tablespoons filtered water, stirring until the vegetables are cooked.
   
   
4. Serve rice, topped with vegetables, drizzle mango tahini sauce over the top and sprinkle with
   black sesame seeds.

buckwheat pasta with tomato + avocado pesto

Serves 3

This meal is perfect for when you want some comforting home-cooked food but don't have a lot of time. I usually whip this up in about 10 minutes and it is yum!

Poppy cooks…

1. Cook
   340g buckwheat pasta in accordance with packet instructions.
   
   
2. Blend
   avocado,
   1/2 cup semi sundried tomatoes,
   1/4 cup basil,
   2 garlic cloves,
   1.5 tablespoons lemon juice,
   1/4 teaspoon celtic sea salt and
   1/4 teaspoon chilli flakes.
   
   
3. Once pasta is cooked, toss through pesto and serve!

sweet potato quinoa patties with avocado sauce

Serves 4

Poppy cooks…

1. Make avocado sauce by blending
   1 large avocado,
   1/4 cup olive oil,
   1/4 cup filtered water,
   couple sprigs of coriander,
   2 garlic cloves,
   juice of 1/2 lime and
   celtic sea salt, to taste then place in the fridge.
   
   
2. Boil
   1/2 cup quinoa in
   1 cup filtered water until all the water is absorbed and set aside.
   
   
3. Insert butterfly whisk into thermomix.
   
   
4. Place
   1 medium sweet potato, cut into 1cm pieces,
   pinch of celtic sea salt, and enough
   filtered water to cover the sweet potato and cook for 25 minutes/95ºC/speed 1, placing simmering basket instead of measuring cup onto mixing bowl lid.
   
   
5. Remove butterly whisk, drain water, insert measuring cup and mash for 30 seconds/speed 4.
   
   
6. In a mixing bowl, combine, cooked quinoa, mashed sweet potato,
   1/2 small red onion, diced,
   tin of black beans, drained,
   1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper,
   celtic sea salt and cracked black pepper to taste.
   
   
7. Form patties and bake in a 190ºC oven for 15 minutes.
   
   
8. Flip patties over and bake for a further 15 minutes.
   
   
9. Serve on a
   mesclun salad with the avocado sauce drizzled over the top.

sushi bowl with teriyaki chicken

Serves 5

Poppy cooks…

1. Boil
   1 cup quinoa in
   2 cups filtered water until all the water is absorbed, then set aside.
   
   
2. Blanche
   1 cup frozen edamame beans until done, then set aside.
   
   
3. Finely slice or chop in a thermomix
   1 cup carrot and
   1 cup purple cabbage, then set aside.
   
   
4. Prepare the dressing by whisking together
   1 tablespoon tahini,
   1 tablespoon filtered water,
   2 teaspoons tamari sauce,
   1/2 teaspoon olive oil,
   2 teaspoons rice wine vinegar,
   1/2 teaspoon honey,
   1/4 teaspoon freshly grated ginger, then set aside.
   
   
5. Grill
   500g chicken tenderloins seasoned with
   celtic sea salt and
   cracked black pepper being careful not to overcook.
   
   
6. Shred chicken.
   
   
7. In a saucepan combine
   1/4 cup coconut amino sauce,
   1/4 cup manuka honey,
   1.5 tablespoons orange juice,
   1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar,
   1 teaspoon arrowroot flour,
   2 teaspoons grated ginger,
   garlic clove, minced,
   2 teaspoons olive oil and
   small pinch of chilli flakes over medium heat until it begins to boil, about 2-3 minutes.
   
   
8. Return shredded chicken to the pan with sauce and toss to coat chicken.
   
   
9. Assemble bowls by either combing or layering quinoa, carrot, purple cabbage, shelled edamame,
   avocado, diced, teriyaki chicken and tahini dressing.
   
   
10. Garnish with
    black and white sesame seeds and
    shredded seaweed.