Sausage Risoni
Sausage Risoni
- · Use macaroni instead of risoni.
- · Store leftover parsley wrapped in damp paper towel in the crisper.
- · Add spices such as ground cumin or fennel.
Serves 4
Preparation: 15 minutes
Cooking: 15 minutes
Ingredients:
- · 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- · 1 leek, pale section only, halved lengthwise, thinly sliced
- · 2 cloves garlic, crushed
- · 1 cup risoni
- · 400g butternut pumpkin, peeled, cut into 2cm cubes
- · 2 cups hot chicken stock
- · 1/3 cup silvered almonds
- · 6 beef chipolata sausages
- · 50g baby spinach leaves
- · ½ cup shredded parmesan
- · ½ cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
Method:
- Heat half oil in a medium saucepan over moderate heat. Add leek and garlic; cok and stir for 6-7 minutes or until the leek softens.
- Increase heat to high. Add risoni and pumpkin; cook and stir for 2 minutes.
- Add stock and ½ cup water to risoni. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, for 8 minutes. Remove from heat. Stand (don’t lift lid) for 5 minutes.
- Add a sausage, spinach, half the parmesan and all the parsley to pasta; toss gently. Spoon onto plates; sprinkle with almonds and parmesan.
Beware - Thieves Target Airports
Pickpockets and thieves frequent most large airports: New York’s JFK, Chicago’s O’ Hare and Miami’s International are among the hardest hit. Pickpockets are common at ticket counters, phone booths, newsstands, rest rooms and cart rental stands – places where you open your purse. At O’ Hare and other airports, “nuisance crimes” are a problem: Someone offers to carry your belongings or get you a cab quickly, then demands a large payment.
Thieves work in groups. One or two create a distraction; another steals from you. To create a distraction, they:
- Ask you to read the departure board for them “because I forgot my glasses.”
- Point out money on the ground and ask if it is yours.
- Drop a suitcase on the escalator or point out a spot on the back of your jacket or blouse to get your attention. Seattle airport officials report the “escalator bump followed by a profuse apology.” Passengers appreciate the concern until they find their wallet is missing.
- Target mothers struggling with luggage and children. A St. Louis woman reported their suitcase strap was entangled in her stroller. While she bent over to help, they stole her wallet.
“Trust me” is another scam. Police at Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix warn of thieves who engage a traveler in friendly conversation, then ask you to watch his or her belongings while he goes to the “newsstand” or “rest room.” The thief hopes you will then trust him to watch your belongings. When you return, your belongings are gone.
Protect yourself. You have to be vigilant when you are in a crowded place.
· Carry as few credit cards and as little cash as possible. Use traveler’s checks even if you are only traveling for a day or two.
· Carry your purse close to your body in front of you.
· Carry tickets in an outside compartment of your bag or briefcase to avoid having to open them; carry money for phone calls, cart rentals, tips and sundries in a pocket.
· Never take your eyes off any of your belongings. If someone bumps into you or seems overly friendly, be cautious.
· Tag belongings with your name, business address and phone number; most thieves prefer property that is not easily identifiable.
· Keep passport, credit card and traveler’s check numbers in a safe place to facilitate cancellation if your purse is stolen.
· Make sure you know where the airport security personnel are located so that when something goes wrong and you need their help, you can go directly to them in no time.
Roast Lamb
Roast Lamb
- · It’s cheaper to buy a leg of lamb as part of a portioned pack. Some butchers have specials on legs – buy extra when on special, then freeze.
- · As a guide, roast a leg of lamb (bone in) for 25-30 minutes per 500g for medium.
- · To make gravy, place 4 tablespoons gravy powder in a heatproof jug; stir in 2 cups boiling water until sauce thickens.
Serves 6
Preparation: 15 minutes
Cooking: 1 hour 40 minutes
Ingredients:
- · 500g kumara, unpeeled, halved lengthwise, thickly sliced
- · 12 uniformly sized chat (baby) potatoes, halved
- · 3 medium carrots, quartered lengthwise
- · ½ cup of vegetable or rice bran oil
- · 2 medium red onions, halved, cut into thick wedges
- · 2 heads garlic, halved crosswise
- · 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- · 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- · 2kg leg lamb
- · 2 cups frozen peas
- · 1 lemon, zest finely grated
- · 1/3 cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
- · 2 tablespoons finely chopped oregano
- · Gravy, to serve
Method
- Preheat oven to 220°C/200°C fan forced. Place kumara, potato and carrot in a large roasting pan. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons oil and season with salt; toss to coat. Roast for 20 minutes. Add onion and garlic to pan.
- Reduce oven to 200°C/180°C fan forced. Combine remaining oil, sugar and vinegar in a medium jug. Place lamb on vegies in pan. Using a large, sharp knife, score top of lamb at 1cm intervals. Drizzle with oil mixture.
- Roast lamb, basting occasionally with pan juices and turning vegies, for 1 hour 15 minutes for medium-rare or until cooked to your liking. Transfer lamb to a large plate. Cover with foil; rest for 10 minutes. Add peas to pan; roast for 5 minutes or until vegies are tender.
- Combine zest and herbs in a small bowl; sprinkle over lamb. Serve sliced, with vegies and gravy.
Sausage & Ricotta Calzone
Sausage & Ricotta Calzone
- · For a bit of spice, you can use 2 chorizo sausages.
- · Use cumin seeds in muffins such as kumara or carrot.
Serves 4
Preparation: 20 minutes
Cooking: 35 minutes
Ingredients:
- · 1 quantity Pizza Dough (recipe follows)
- · 2 thick beef sausages
- · 200g Swiss brown or button mushrooms, sliced
- · 100g fresh ricotta, crumbled
- · 2/3 cup shredded tasty cheese
- · 4 green onions, thinly sliced
- · 1/3 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
- · 1/3 cup tomato paste
- · 2 teaspoons cumin seeds
Method:
- Preheat oven to 210°C/190°C fan forced. Line a large baking tray with baking paper. Prepare dough as recipe directs. Quarter dough and shape into balls. Cover with plastic food wrap rest in a warm place for 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, heat a large frying pan over moderate heat. Cook and turn sausages for 8-10 minutes or until browned and cooked. Cool slightly. Quarter lengthwise, then slice thinly. Place in a large bowl. Cook and stir mushrooms for 3 minutes or until tender. Add to sausage with cheese, onion and parsley; mix to combine.
- For each calzone, roll a piece of dough on a lightly floured surface to an 18cm round. Spread with 1 tablespoon tomato paste. Spread a quarter of sausage mixture on half of round; fold other half over to enclose filling and shape a semi-circle. Using a fork, press edges to seal; brush edge with water. Place calzones on prepared tray; sprinkle tops with cumin. Bake for 15-18 minutes or until golden.
The Warning Signs of Online Free Credit Report Scam
The US government has authorized a law that grants all citizens to acquire a yearly credit report for free some years back. This law expresses that you can obtain your credit history as there is an alarming growth on identity theft cases online lately. This costless credit report can be accessed online anytime you want. It will show you various reports by entirely three of the well-known and respected credit reporting agencies. Though, as a teaser, you will not be able to see your credit score instantly.
Because there is no cost on getting your annual credit report, it made this law instant famous. But it also attracts so many identity thieves and con artists online that have emerged to create their own scam web sites offering free credit report. They have generated easy income through this law which defeats its purpose of protecting you. As of this time, there are hundreds of websites offering help on getting free credit report. If you are confused which one is really legitimate and truthful, you might want to check the site with your local Better Business Bureau. Better yet, you can ask for some recommended sites from your financial consultant or even close friends.
How can you spot a scam site? Here are the most common warning signs to remember. If the site charges you for a small amount just to get the credit report, then that is surely a warning sign that you will get scammed. Another thing, when you are asked to fill out confidential information through the website such as your credit card or Social Security number; that is also another warning sign that it is a scam. If you fall prey into this scheme, virtually anybody can use your money and identity online that eventually will destroy your credit.
Furthermore, these scam sites most likely, are purposely given domain names that are so much alike with the legit ones to mislead you. But you can spot the fake ones by noticing some typo errors on the domain names themselves or through the contents. Examples of such typo errors are misspelled domain names, some incorrect spellings of content words and misplaced punctuation marks. The law provides that you are entitled to get one yearly free credit report. You should remember that. Do not give in to pay any amount of money even if it is a very small amount when you want to get your online free credit report through a site. There is a clever way used by online thieves to get around with this. On their site, they will tell you that they will ask for your payment information (a.k.a. credit card details) just for verification purposes and that they will not charge you at all. Do not fall into this trap. Also, whenever you receive an email which is some sort of a sales letter, make sure that you read the small print really cautiously prior to making any reply. There are scam sites that give you no choice but to give your credit card information in exchange for the free credit report.
You must remember that getting your free credit report can be done either through mail, phone or online. Just to be on safe side, try to get in touch with the three top national credit reports authorized agencies such as Trans Union, Equifax, and Experian. These three agencies can assist you in keeping track of your credit.
Sausages With Skordalia
Sausages With Skordalia
- · Skordalia is a traditional Greek creamy garlic and potato puree. Delicious with grilled pork chops or firm white fish.
Serves 4
Preparation: 20 minutes + 10 to cool
Cooking: 25 minutes
Ingredients:
- · 3 large (600g) potatoes, unpeeled
- · 2/3 cup soft fresh breadcrumbs
- · 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- · ¼ cup lemon juice
- · 2 cloves garlic, crushed
- · 8 thick pork sausages
- · 2 large ripe tomatoes, halved
- · 50g baby spinach leaves, to serve
- · Lemon wedges, to serve
Method:
- Place potato in a medium saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring to the boil. Cook for 12-15 minutes or until tender. Drain. Cool 10 minutes. Peel. Place potatoes in a large bowl. Mash until almost smooth.
- Using the back of a spoon, press mashed potato through a sieve into a large bowl. Process breadcrumbs, oil, juice and garlic until well combined. Add bread mixture to mashed potato and stir until well combined. Season with salt.
- Meanwhile, heat a large frying pan over moderate heat. Cook and turn sausages for 8-10 minutes or until browned and cooked. Transfer to a plate. Cover with foil; rest for 5 minutes.
- Add tomato, cut-side down, to pan. Cook for 4-5 minutes or until tender. 5 spoon skordalia onto plates. Top with spinach, tomato and sausage. Serve with lemon wedges.
Pizza Dough
Pizza Dough
- · If mixture fails to bubble after 5 minutes, restart using a fresh packet.
Makes enough for 4 individual pizzas
Preparation: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
- · 1 cup lukewarm water
- · 2 teaspoons (7g sachet) dried yeast
- · 2 ½ cups plain flour
- · 2 tablespoons olive oil
Method:
- Place water, yeast and a pinch each of salt and sugar in a large jug. Using a fork, stir to combine. Cover; stand in a warm place for 5 minutes or until bubbles appear at surface.
- 2. Sift flour into a large bowl. Add yeast mixture and oil and mix to a soft dough. Turn onto a lightly floured surface. Knead for 5 minutes or until smooth.
Chicken Pho
Chicken Pho
· You can stretch this soup to serve 6.
- · Pho is a traditional Vietnamese soup. For a truly authentic flavour, add 2-3 whole star anise to stock. Star anise is a dried spice with an aniseed flavour – it’s available from some greengrocers, Asian groceries and specialty spice stores.
Serves 4
Preparation: 15 minutes
Cooking: 35 minutes
Ingredients:
- · 8 chicken drumsticks, skin removed
- · 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- · 4cm piece fresh ginger, cut into matchsticks
- · 1 cinnamon stick
- · 1/3 cup soy sauce
- · 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- · 250g packet Thai-style rice noodles
- · 1 bunch choy sum, trimmed, chopped
- · 100g bean sprouts, rinsed
- · ¼ bunch coriander, sprigs picked
- · ½ cup basil leaves, torn
- · 3 green onions, thinly sliced
- · 1 fresh long red chilli, thinly sliced
- · Lemon wedges, to serve
- Place chicken, garlic, ginger and cinnamon in a large saucepan. Add 2 litres (8cups) cold water; place over high heat; simmer, covered, for 25 minutes or until chicken is cooked. Cool slightly.
- Using tongs, discard cinnamon then transfer chicken to a large heatproof bowl. Cool chicken; remove meat from bones. Discard bones; shred meat roughly.
- Bring stock to a simmer over low heat. Add sauces and noodles. Cook and stir for 3-4 minutes or until noodles soften. Remove from heat; stir in choy sum and chicken. Season with salt.
- Place soup in a large serving bowls; top with sprouts, herbs, onion and chilli. Serve at once with lemon wedges.
Make Your Own Stock
- Place drumsticks in a large saucepan with chopped onion, celery (no leaves) and carrot. Cover with cold water and bring to the boil. Boil for 30 minutes, using a large metal spoon to skim surface of stock, removing scum (fat). Cool completely (remove fat from surface again if necessary). Place in containers; label, date, then freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in fridge overnight. Use stock in sauces, soup and casseroles.
Salmon, Rocket & Basil Tart
Salmon, Rocket & Basil Tart
- Pie is best eaten soon after baking.
- · Use puff pastry if you like. Watch carefully during baking; using a skewer, pierce any bubbles caused by steam.
Serves 6
Preparation: 15 minutes
Cooking: 1 hour
Ingredients:
- · 2 sheets frozen shortcrust pastry, just thawed
- · 60g baby rocket or spinach leaves, chopped, plus extra, to serve
- · 415g can pink salmon, flaked
- · ½ cup shredded basil
- · ¼ cup drained pimento-stuffed green olives, sliced
- · 6 eggs
- · 1½ cups cream
- · 270g fresh ricotta, crumbled
Method:
- Preheat oven with a baking tray on lower-middle shelf, to 200°C/180°C fan forced. Line base and sides of a 23cm springform pan with pastry.
- Line pastry with baking paper. Fill with dried beans or pie weights. Place pan on preheated tray; bake for 10 minutes. Remove paper and weights; bake for 5 minutes more or until pastry is golden. Reduce oven to 180°C/160°C.
- Scatter rocket, salmon, basil and olives in pastry case. Whisk eggs with cream and ricotta in a large jug; season with salt and black pepper. Pour evenly over filling.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes or until filling is set. Cool slightly; remove pan ring. Serve with extra rocket.
Protect Your Credit from Identity Theft
You must know that identity theft cases on online shopping are getting worse. Online scammers and identity thieves are all over the internet. What they do is they make their own websites that are very much alike to the original and widely recognized shopping sites in terms of site name and content. That way, they can mislead you and eventually dupe you to put your personal information on their fake sites. Identity theft also happens when you are not on the internet. That means your personal information can still be stolen even if you are at home, say, you have not tear down your bank account statements or any important bank documents containing your PIN and credit card details; you just throw it away somewhere. Upon receipt of anything that prints out your PIN, password or Social Security number, you should shred it or better yet, burn it. This way, nobody can just steal your personal information.
Furthermore, if you are robbed or your wallet containing your credit card or ATM card is lost or stolen, you would also be a victim of identity theft if no immediate action is done. The first thing you do is call right away your financial institution who issued your credit card or ATM card and have them cancelled and replaced all those lost or stolen cards. You will have to have your debit account closed or changed. Next, you have to report this case to the police and file a fraud report about this on your credit report.
Every time you give out your private information through online or over the phone, you are also risking yourself to identity theft. Prior to typing in your credit card information on a shopping site, be sure to double check the correct URL of the website to make sure you are on the right website and not a fake one. Most often than not, this is way overlooked by some people. Because of this, many identity thieves are taking advantage out of this negligence. Whenever you find something like this online, inform the original website about the fake site so that no further swindling can be done to the online buyers. Not only are you doing yourself a favor but also to other would-be victims. In a way, you also are protecting your credit from identity theft.
If you have a gut feeling that you may be an identity thief victim, first thing to do is to obtain a truthful and impartial credit report. Go over it thoroughly and try to look for suspicious or fraudulent transactions. In case you will discover newly-opened accounts or unfamiliar activities that are surely not made by you, get in touch with the respective companies and acquire a copy of the signatures created by the identity thief. If you discover these fraudulent activities quickly, then your credit report will be kept safe and secure. As much as possible, every activity you do should be documented and review your credit report regularly for accuracy.
