Super easy, kid-friendly sausage casserole

This is one of the easiest casseroles I know ... it's yummy comfort food, perfect for winter and the kids will love it!
 
8 sausages - get the cheap Coles or Woolies ones
Olive oil
1 diced onion
1 tin beans (approx 400g), I usually use canelli or red kidney beans but any kind is fine
1 tin tomatoes with some kind of herbs in them (approx 400g), I used the Aldi ones
3 tbs Gravox, the traditional one is best but I've also used the chicken one and it was fine
Water

Put the sausages in a pot of water and bring to the boil. Simmer for a few minutes then drain.
When the sausages have cooled a little peel the skins off them and slice them on the diagional into pieces that are about 1cm thick.
Rinse the saucepan, add some olive oil and diced onion. Fry until the onion is soft.
Return sliced sausages to pan, add tinned tomatoes (and all the juice) and drained beans.
Bring to a simmer then add approxinately 2 cups of water and about three tablespoons on Gravox.
Simmer until the sauce thickens, you may need to add a little more Gravox.
Season to taste. You may also need to add a little sugar, depending how sweet the tomatoes you used are.

Ideally serve with green veggies and mash or bread. We have also had it with pasta and cous cous.    

Parsnip soup

I love parsnips. I got a couple of massive ones in our Harvest Hub bag this week and so today I 'invented' this soup. It was a massive success - it is thick, creamy and full of flavour. Perfect for a winter day.

Ingredients;
1 stick celery including leaves
2 huge peeled parsnips (this was probably equal to about 6 or 8 normal sized ones, they were seriously massive)
1 brown onion
knob of butter
1 Continental Chicken Stock PotRoughly 3 cups water (depending on evaporation & how thick you want it)
1 x 375ml can of 'Light and Creamy' Carnation Milk


Roughly chop celery, parsnips and onion.
Melt knob of butter in a large pot.
Add veggies and cook until fragrant and slightly browned.
Add stock pot and water. Simmer until veggies are cooked.
Add Carnation Milk and simmer for a further 3 minutes or so.
Remove from heat for a few minutes to allow to cool slightly and then blend using a stick blender.

Tuna, Cheese and Tomato Rice Bake - Recipe

This recipe, courtesy of my Auntie Lea, is super fast, easy and cheap. Plus it is made of things you almost always have in the cupboard and my whole family loves it.

2/3 of a 425g tin of tuna (roughly, add however much works for you)
1 onion
1 tsp diced capsicum
1 tbs butter or margarine
1 420g tin diced tomatoes
1 1/2 cups water
pepper
grated tasty cheese (about one big handful)
1/2 cup uncooked rice

Combine all ingredients except cheese in a  bowl. Put half of the mixture into a flat casserole/dish, spread out and top with half the cheese. Repeat with remaining mixture and top with the rest of the cheese. Put into a moderate oven and bake for 45min or until the liquid is gone and the rice cooked.

You could also add:
1 teaspoon of curry powder
frozen peas
frozen corn
Other diced veggies
leek or shallots
a sprinkle of chilli
More cheese
use salmon instead of tuna

YUM!!