Spice up your weekday meals with some tasty online recipes

Published at 12:00, Tuesday, 20 July 2010

Advertising feature. You know what it’s like when you come home from a busy day at work and you’re just too tired to cook? It’s all too tempting to pick up that takeaway menu and phone for some food. Save the money this week and check out the Internet for some delicious online recipes to suit the whole family.

Cooking needn’t be a hassle; get the whole family involved and your evening meal will be ready in no time. Don’t worry if you’re not meat eaters, as there are plenty of tasty vegetarian recipes online to give you some much-needed inspiration.

Even the simplest of meals can be transformed with a few carefully chosen herbs and spices. Have a look through your spice rack and see if you have anything to liven up an otherwise dull midweek meal.

For instance, a lasagne takes just 50 minutes to prepare and is a tasty treat after a busy day in the office. All you’ll need is some minced beef, one packet of Schwartz Lasagne Recipe Mix, milk, tomato puree, lasagne pasta sheets, cheese or white sauce and some grated cheddar cheese.

You’ll find a full list of ingredients online and you can add tasty herbs and spices to add that little something extra to your evening meal. If you love nothing more than an Indian meal, skip the takeaway and make your own. Just add some curry powder to spice up a simple chicken dish.

Taking just one hour and 45 minutes to cook, a beef and apricot curry makes a welcome change from chicken korma. All you’ll need is two tablespoons of oil, 450g of stewing steak, one medium sized onion (chopped), two tablespoons of Schwartz Medium Curry Powder and 450ml of beef stock.

You’ll also need two tablespoons of crunchy peanut butter, a pinch or two of salt to taste, 175g of apricots (chopped) and 75g of creamed coconut (crumbled). For a full recipe or for more cooking ideas, hints and tips, search the Internet for online recipes.

If you’re keen to start a healthy eating plan, you can’t go wrong with a crisp, fresh salad. Perfect in summer with a cool drink, salads are quick and easy to prepare and kind to your diet. Serve on its own by adding chicken, beef or tasty prawns, or enjoy as part of a main meal and add some delicious herbs and spices as you go.

Having a barbecue this summer? Cater for vegetarian guests with some delicious vegetable skewers. Prepare your vegetables in advance and season chunks of courgettes, peppers and onions before grilling. Corn on the cobs with a blob or two of creamy butter also make a perfect barbecue side dish.

If you’re short of time, scan your fridge and see if you have any spare chicken. You can whip up a simple spaghetti Bolognese in minutes, adding Schwartz marjoram or Oregano, Schwartz Garlic Granules, a pinch of Schwartz Nutmeg Ground and Schwartz Ground Black Pepper into the sauce. A family favourite, simply fry some bacon, onion, carrot and celery until softened.

Next, add some beef mince until brown then stir in some mushrooms, tomato puree, tomatoes, sugar, wine or stock and your spices. Finally, cook the mixture, uncovered, for just 30 minutes and season the dish as you wish.

If your fridge is looking decidedly sparse, you may just have enough ingredients left to rustle up a tasty omelette. Grab some cheese, eggs, a drop of milk and a bit of butter, and whip it all up for a quick and easy mid-week meal. Add whatever ingredients you have going to waste and serve with a fresh, green salad.

Alternatively, prepare creamy chicken and mushrooms for the whole family in just 20 minutes. You’ll need one tablespoon of oil, 450g of boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips, one onion (chopped), 100g of mushrooms (sliced), 100g mangetout, two teaspoons of Schwartz Mixed Herbs, one teaspoon of Schwartz Mixed Garlic, 300ml of double cream and salt and pepper to taste.

To prepare, heat the oil in a frying pan and fry your chicken, onion, mushrooms and mangetout for around five to six minutes. Next, place the garlic and herbs into a saucepan and stir in the cream. Finally, simmer for five minutes and season to taste.

Spoon the tasty chicken mixture onto a plate with some cooked pasta and drizzle with the creamy sauce. Ideal for a summer’s day, enjoy this delicious mid-week treat in your garden with a good book and a refreshing glass of wine.

Who said chicken roast dinners are just for Sundays? Have one mid week and prepare some tasty side dishes to accompany it. To make cauliflower and cheese mash, you’ll need 25g of butter, one small onion (finely chopped), one small cauliflower (cut into florets), 17g of potatoes (peeled and diced), 100g of Red Leicester cheese (grated), four tablespoons of milk, one tablespoon of Schwartz Easy Garlic, one tablespoon of Schwartz Parsley Flay Leaf and some salt and black pepper.

A tasty twist to your usual mashed potatoes, this makes a perfect accompaniment to any meal. Simply melt the butter in a saucepan and gently fry the onion for a couple of minutes to soften. Add the cauliflower and potatoes and enough water to cover them both. Next, bring to the boil then reduce to a simmer for ten to 15 minutes, or until tender. To finish, drain and stir in the cheese, milk, garlic and parsley, mash well and season.

Serve your roast beef dinner with a nice red wine, or your chicken with a white wine. Now, put your feet up and enjoy. Have a quick look to see what herbs and spices are lurking in your kitchen cupboards and whip up an evening meal with a difference. You’ll never have to phone in for food again with these simple recipe ideas. Spice up an everyday meal in an instant with some tasty herbs from Schwartz. Get cooking!