Spaghetti Broccoli

Thin spaghetti 250g serves 4 (not too much)
Broccoli florets (remove main stalk)
Pinch of dry chilli flakes (if desired)
2 cloves of garlic diced very finely
Extra virgin olive oil (i just love Cobram Estate)
Parsley( if desired)
Shake of pepper
Grana Padano Parmesan cheese finely grated


Steam the broccoli in a steamer or in microwave bowl with lid. Not too soft just so a fork settles into the broccoli (6 minutes or so)

Cook the spaghetti til "al dente" in salted (pinch) boiling water ( this should take if thin spaghetti approx 5 - 7 minutes).

In separate fry pan place some olive oil (approx 1/4 cup) and the garlic, chilli, parsley and pepper. Do a very quick heat and slightly cook but not til brown then turn off heat.

Drain pasta and combine with broccoli, oil mixture and some grana padano parmesan.

Tagliatelle alla carbonara

Cooking Time: 10 minutes
Serves 2

1 teaspoon of olive oil
3 slices of pancetta diced up
handful of garden italian parsley chopped up
small shake of garlic (either dried or fresh)
2 eggs beaten in a cup
4 tablespoons of grana padano cheese grated
4 tablespoons of pecorino romano grated
small shake of black pepper finely ground
375g fresh tagliatelle egg pasta


Place a large saucepan on the stove top and fill with water in preparation to boil the pasta.  Add a pinch of salt and set on heat to start to boil.

Prepare in a bowl the eggs with the two cheeses and pepper and set aside.

Place in a fry pan the oil with pancetta, parsley, garlic and heat slowly until browned then turn heat off.

Add the pasta to the boiling water and this should only take 2 minutes to cook perfect.  Drain the water out and add this pasta to the pancetta mix and turn heat on slowly.  Pour the egg and cheese mixture into the pasta/pancetta and stir with a wooden spoon  quickly on a fairly medium heat until for a small amount of time (around 2 minutes) until it is just shiny still.  Do not let it dry out and make sure to keep moving it around while heating it.

Serve immediately.  Very tasty meal idea for people on the go.

Spaghetti with Chilli and Prawns

Spaghetti with Chilli and Prawns

Serves 4

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 10 minutes

1 pack of spaghetti (depending on how many eating)

400g Green Prawns

1 red chilli chopped finely and take out the seeds if you dont like it too hot

a few sprigs of fresh italian parsley finely chopped

1 flat teaspoon of garlic chopped finely

olive oil

salt and pepper if desired

Boil water for the spaghetti in a large saucepan to fit.  Cook for approx 10 minutes.

While your pasta is cooking in a frypan add some olive oil, prawns, garlic, chilli and parsley and cook for approx 5 minutes or until prawns are cooked through. Make sure to stir occasionally. Do not let the chilli burn  this is very important.

When the spaghetti is ready drain the water and then add the frypan ingredients to the cooked pasta and stir through.

Serve with a nice glass of white wine ( Moscato )

Enjoy!