I can't believe it's NOT Minestrone!!

This is just a recipe of my own. You can basically put whatever veggies you want into it, although, I wouldn't put spinach because that would clash with the beef stock. OR just use vegetable or chicken stock instead of beef if you want to add spinach. I just used whatever veggies I had. So feel free to put in celery, eggplant, parsnip, turnip, sweet potato, zuchinni, etc. You don't need to chop everything perfectly - it's all about the taste.

BTW, so sorry for the lame title :P

Equipment:
- Large pot (cast iron, if you have one)
- Wooden spoon,
- Sharp knife
- Pestle and mortar
- Bowls to put ingredients into (about 4)

Ingredients:

Steps 1, 2, and 3

-2 small or medium sized onions, diced
- 2 spring onions, sliced
- 3 red chilies, sliced
- 4 garlic cloves, crushed (you may adjust to taste)
- Ginger crush (half the amount of garlic)
- 1-2 tbs of extra virgin olive oil
- 5-6 rashers of bacon, cut into chunks
- 2 carrots, cut into cubes
- 4 small-medium sized potatoes, quatred or eigthed
- 1 can of purred tomatoes
- 4-5 large mushrooms, cut however you like
- However many green beans, quatred or thirds
- 1 beef stock cube, or small pot
- Salt and cracked pepper to taste (but keep in mind that this is supposed to be a healthy soup, go easy on the salt, go crazy on the pepper!!)

Step 4

Method:
1. After slicing and dicing, place the onions, spring onions, and chilies into the post over medium heat (don't forget the oil!).
2. After crushing the ginger and garlic together in the mortar, put it in the pot.
3. After slicing the bacon, and after the onions are browned, put them in the pot.
4. After browning, add the carrots, potatoes, mushrooms, and beans.
5. Add the can of pureed tomatoes and then, using the same can, add a can of water.

Step 5

6. Now, prepare the stock in a separate bowl. Using one cube or one small pot of stock, add two cups of boiling water and stir to mix. Now add to the pot.
7. If needed, add more water.
8. Add salt and pepper.
9. Bring to the boil by placing it on high heat. After bringing to the boil, take it back to medium heat and simmer for about an hour or until your liking.
10. ENJOY with small bread rolls and mozerella cheese on top.

Step 6

Step 7, 8, and 9

Charred Tomato & Chicken Tacos

I tried out this recipe last night. Everybody loved it! It was really tasty. 

See the original recipe here:

WebMD Charred Tomato & Chicken Tacos

Here is my version of the recipe to serve 4:

INGREDIENTS:

1. Tomato MEDLEY MIX 400g (you can find it in Woolworths)

2. Olive oil

3. 1kg boneless and skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch chunks

4. Salt and freshly ground pepper

5. 2 small brown onions, finely chopped (about 1.5 cups)

6. 2 teaspoons garlic paste

7. 2 jalapeno peppers seeded and chopped

8. Fresh lime juice (about 2 limes)

9. Half a bunch of coriander chopped

10. 2 white globe onions

11. 8 reduced-fat torillas

12. Pura SourLite cream 

METHOD:

1. Heat a large cast-iron skillet over high heat until very hot. Place tomatoes in the skillet and turn occasionally with tongs until charred on all sides, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a plate to cool slightly. Cut in half crosswise.
2. Add 1 teaspoon of oil to the pan and heat over high heat until the oil is very hot. Add  1/2kg of chicken and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is browned on all sides and no longer pink in the center.Transfer to a plate and set aside. Repeat with the other 1/2kg of chicken.
3. Reduce the heat to medium and add the remaining 1 teaspoon oil. Add onions and cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and jalapeños and cook, stirring, for 1 minute more. Add lime juice and the reserved chicken and tomatoes. Bring to a simmer and stir in coriander and white globe onions. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover to keep warm.
4. Heat up tortilla in the microwave (just follow the instruction on the packet)
5. Spoon filling into warm tortillas, roll up and serve with sour cream.

The awesome thing is, is that per serving there are only 310 calories; 7g of fat; 68mg cholesterol; 35g carbs; over 50g of protein; and 6g of fibre.

You also get your Vitamin C, Selenium, Magnesium, Potassium, and Vitamin A.

Hope you guys like my version. The link is at the top of this post, if you want to look at WebMD's other healthy recipes :)