Fried Macaroni with Minced Meat

Prep time: 15 mins
Cooking time: 15 mins
Level of difficulty: 2/5

Ingredients

a) Some minced meat - I like minced beef
b) 1 yellow onion, sliced
c) 3 garlic, chopped
d) 2 tablespoons olive oil/vegetable oil
e) 3 tablespoons chilli paste - either buy those ready ones from the markets or make your own by boiling some dried chillies in water to soften them. After that, blend them with a little bit of water and blend till it forms a paste.
f) 3 tablespoons tomato sauce
g) 2 tablespoons chilli sauce
h) 2 whole tomatoes, quartered
i) 1 teaspoon salt
j) 250g macaroni - prepare it by boiling in water that has 1 tablespoon of oil and 1/2 teaspoon salt added in. Once macaroni has soften, drain it in a colander and run it under running water so it doesn't stick together.
k) Some celery, chopped
l) Some coriander/chinese parsley leaves, chopped

Heat up oil in wok. Fry onion and garlic for about 2 mins. Add chilli paste and fry till frangrant. Add minced meat and fry till browned. Add in a bit of water, if needed. Add in tomato sauce, chilli sauce, quartered tomatoes and celery and fry for another 1-2 mins. Lastly, add in salt and macaroni. Make sure the macaroni is coated with the sauce before serving it with the chopped leaves.

Tanty's Ten Minute Chilli Mussels - serves 4-6

Prep time: 30 mins
Cooking time: 15 mins
Level of difficulty: 2.5/5

Ingredients

a) 2kg of green mussles, de-bearded, washed and drained in a colander
b) 1 red onion, sliced finely
c) 6 gloves of garlic, chopped finely
d) 1 can (about 300g) Prego pasta sauce - tomato, garlic and basil flavour or any other pasta sauce that you have
e) 2 whole tomatoes, cut into quarters
f) 4 red chillies, sliced
g) 4 tablespoons chilli paste
h) 4 tablespoons of chilli sauce
i) 2 tablespoons tomato sauce
j) 2 tablespoons sugar
k) 2 teaspoons salt
l) 2 tablespoons butter / vegetable oil
m) 1/2 cup water
n) Mixed herbs
o) 3 stalks spring onion, sliced into 2cm each

Heat up butter/oil in wok. Add in red onion, garlic, sliced red chillies and fry for 1-2 mins. Put in chilli paste and fry till fragrant. Add in pasta sauce, chilli sauce, tomato sauce, quartered tomatoes, water and stir for 1 min. Add in sugar, salt and a dash of mixed herbs, followed by green mussels. Stir mussels around to promote even cooking. Cook two minutes on high heat, before putting the wok cover on. Lower down the heat and continue cooking with lid on and occasionally stirring the mussels. When shells are open the mussels are ready (aboout 5 mins) – serve in large bowl and sprinkle sliced spring onions and mixed herbs.