As the days begin to shorten and the nights grow colder, our tastebuds start to crave something a little more substantial than a summer leafy salad; suddenly a lamb roast or a hearty soup sounds like just the thing.

Coconut and Coriander Beef Curry

Brown onions in oil. Add cubed round steak and brown well.  Add curry paste, 1 tablespoon coriander and cook for 1 minute. Stir in canned tomatoes, beef stock and coconut milk. Simmer for 45 minutes to 1hr, or until tender & stir in 1 extra tablespoon of coriander. Serve with rice, pappadams and side dishes. Enjoy!

Chicken Cacciatore
Serves 4

Ingredients
4 Medium skinless, boneless chicken breasts
plain (all purpose) flour for dusting
2 tbsp olive oil
2 medium onions, sliced fine
2 anchovy fillets (chopped)
1 450g (16 oz) can diced tomatoes with juice
1/4 cup (4 oz) white Wine
3 tbsp Tomato Paste
1 tsp Sugar
2 tbsp Gourmet Garden Italian Herbs
6 Kalamata Olives pitted and chopped

Heat the oil in a large skillet, dust the chicken breast with the flour and sauté in the oil until golden (about 10 minutes). Remove from the pan and set aside. Add the onion to the pan with the anchovies and 1 tablespoon of water and stir together over the heat for 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, wine, sugar, herbs and 1 cup Water. Bring to the boil and simmer for 15 minutes.  Return the chicken to the pan with the olives and continue to cook for a further 15 minutes until the chicken is cooked and the sauce has reduced.

Pumpkin Soup

Ingredients
800g pumpkin (or firm orange squash) peeled
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 large onion chopped
3 cups chicken or vegetable stock (use less if you want a thicker soup)
1/2 tbsp Gourmet Garden Garlic
1/2 tbsp Gourmet Garden Coriander
1 tsp Gourmet Garden Chilli (optional)
Pepper to taste
Plain yoghurt to serve

Cook onion in oil until golden.  Add pumpkin cut into small chunks (1.5 - 2cm) and chicken or vegetable stock. Cook until pumpkin is tender about 20 minutes.  Add herbs. Cook for another 5 minutes then puree with a food wand or in small batches in a vitamizer or food processor. Return to heat. Serve with garnish of low fat yoghurt or croutons if desired

Note: There are a number of options for this recipe...