Pork Steaks with Mustard Sauce

This was really yummy. It was a really simple recipe that I made way more difficult. I overcooked the pork (7 minutes on each side!) but it complimented the sauce very nicely. People will think you slaved over the sauce, when all it is pan drippings, mustard, and cream.
Notes:
Don't overcook the pork
Add more mustard (try a more grainy mustard)
More pepper, less salt
Try non smoked pork steaks

Sides:
Mashed new potatoes- add garlic and parsley to make it a bit tastier

Grilled Steak with Roasted Veggies

Dennis grilled a monster piece of rump on the braai while I roasted vegetables in the oven, so I will only be commenting on the vegetables.
Ingredients:
New potatoes (about 6)
5 carrots chopped into coins
A handful of mushrooms
Olive oil
Butter
Fresh parsley chopped
2 cloves of garlic, chopped

Poured olive oil on a baking dish, added veggies and cooked for 20 minutes. Added about 1 TB of butter and some Italian herbs. Definitely put too much oil in the pan, will drizzle the pan slightly next time. 20 minutes needed for fully cooked veggies, may try adding mushrooms towards the end next time.

Chicken with Garlic, Cider and Cream

This dish was very tasty. The sauce was perfect, creamy and tasted like garlic while the cider added a nice bitterness. I'm not sure if blanching is required for the garlic though as the recipe calls for, but it did give them a softer taste and feel. Chicken was juicy in part to having the skin and bones in tact. I don't think I'll ever get chicken breasts again without them, they just taste better!
As I'm starting out cooking again, I have to be brave when it comes to cooking meat. I tend to over cook it out of fear. I need to trust my instincts more in this area.
NOTES:
Don't overcook chicken
Add more garlic
Always use double cream

SIDES:
French Green Beans with Almonds
notes:
Do not over toast the almonds
Melt butter

Would also be tasty with baked sweet potatoes.

First Post

I've been really enjoying cooking since moving to Joburg. There is a great grocery store around the corner with a butchery and I've been using Nigel Slater's The 30 Minute Cook to whip up some really simple recipes. They are fantastic for basic recipes that can be added to or subtracted from. Anyone can make these meals, they are so easy, and I've been finding the ingredients in the kitchen. Each time I do a recipe I think "hmmm, I should add this" or "hmmm this needs more of that" orrrrrrr "BARF." So I'll be keeping track of what I make here as much as possible. I will only list the titles of the dishes I make because I don't need Nigel Slater coming down to South Africa and yelling at me for posting his recipes. Plus I'm lazy. So I'll just list was was used.