Spaghetti a la Chittara

Dad found this recipe once in some Italian pasta cookbook - it isn't really called Spaghetti a la Chittara, it has a much much longer name, but that's what we call it (because I think the chittara bit is really just... pasta).
Anyways, it's simple and delicious!

You need:
500g pork mince
1 or 2 tins diced tomatoes
1tsp minced chilli (or to taste)
1 large or 2 small onions
3tbsp tomato paste
spaghetti

Dice the onions and saute in a little olive oil. Add the mince and cook until browned and the lumps have come out. Then add the rest of the ingredients and simmer for 15-20 mins until it's well cooked.
Serve with regular spaghetti pasta and some fresh parmesan or romano cheese if you like it.
I think the more onion in it, the better, so experiment! I would normally use 2 largish onions, not just one, but it's up to you really. As for the tinned tomatoes, start with 1 tin, you may need a 2nd one if the mixture is too dry.
Oh! My idea of a tablespoon, for the tomato paste, well my tablespoons are rather... erm... large. 3 gobs of it will do fine. :p

So easy, but really delicious! It is one of our family favourites, although I haven't made it in a LONG time... I think it will be on the books this week or next. :)

Sang Choy Bow

My friend Mon asked me for recipe ideas tonight and this is what I came up with, and possibly will make it tomorrow. It is from the CSIRO cookbook however I will be changing a couple of things.

1 iceberg lettuce
2tbsp oyster sauce
1tbsp soy sauce
1tsp sesame oil
1tbsp cornflour
1/2 small red chilli or 1/2 tsp minced chilli (or not if you don't like chilli)
1 beaten egg
2tbsp olive oil
8 shiitake mushrooms (or regular button mushrooms as I will be using)
2 cloves garlic/2tsp minced garlic
2cm of ginger /2tsp minced ginger
400g minced/ground pork
6 water chestnuts finely chopped which I will not be putting in
50g dried rice noodles, soaked in water then chopped
2.5tbsp hoisin sauce
4 spring onions, finely diced.


Carefully cut whole leaves of the lettuce and rinse, trim them to be cup shaped.
Mix oyster sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, cornflour, chilli and egg in a bowl.
Heat oil in frying pan, high heat, add mushrooms, garlic, ginger and cook for a minute, stirring. Add pork and cook, stir well to break up mince lumps. Cook 8-10 mins. Drain off excess liquid.
Return to heat then add chestnuts and noodles and cook 4 mins. Stir in the sauce mixture and cook another 10 mins until sauce thickens. Allow it to cool a little.

Place lettuce leaves on serving plates and divide meat between them. Drizzle hoisin sauce over the top and sprinkle with spring onions.
Serve with steamed greens.

I think I'll be putting the spring onions in the mixture when I'm cooking as I don't really like them raw.

Fortunately I won't have to do much shopping tomorrow, I'll just need to get lettuce, meat, mushrooms and spring onions.