Lemon spaghetti with tuna & broccoli

Lemon spaghetti with tuna & broccoli

Cooking time
Prep:5 mins
Cook:10 mins
Skill level:   Easy Servings    

Serves for 4

15 minutes is all you need to whip up this fresh, 

light and healthy fish pasta with olives, capers and greens

Ingredients
350g spaghetti
250g broccoli, cut into small florets
2 shallots, finely chopped
85g pitted green olives, halved
2 tbsp capers, drained
198g can tuna in oil
zest and juice 1 lemon
1 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for drizzling

Method

Boil the spaghetti in salted water for 6 mins. Add the broccoli and boil for 4 mins more or until both are just tender.
Meanwhile, mix the shallots, olives, capers, tuna and lemon zest and juice in a roomy serving bowl. Drain the pasta and broccoli, add to the bowl and toss really well with the olive oil and lots of black pepper. Serve with a little extra olive oil drizzled over.

Recipe from Good Food magazine

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Recipe: Mushroom-Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

For the Filling:

1 medium white onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced 2 cups crimini mushrooms, cleaned and chopped 1/2 cup white wine 1/2 tablespoon olive oil 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary and/or thyme Salt and pepper to taste

For the Sauce:

1 cup plain tomato sauce
1 clove garlic, minced 1/2 tablespoon olive oil 1/2 cup white wine

For the Assembly:

1 small head cabbage (8-10 full leaves)

For the Filling:

1 medium white onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced 2 cups crimini mushrooms, cleaned and chopped 1/2 cup white wine 1/2 tablespoon olive oil 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary and/or thyme Salt and pepper to taste
For the Sauce:

1 cup plain tomato sauce
1 clove garlic, minced 1/2 tablespoon olive oil 1/2 cup white wine

For the Assembly:

1 small head cabbage (8-10 full leaves)

What to Do:

1. From the head of cabbage, gently pull off 8 to 10 of the large outer leaves. Make sure to keep the leaves fully intact.
2. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add the cabbage leaves. Reduce the heat to a simmer and let cook for about 3 to 5 minutes so that the leaves are soft, but not falling apart. Drain, and set aside.

3. Now it's time to make the filling. In a saucepan over medium heat, warm the olive oil. Once hot, add the onion and garlic. Sautée until onion begins to soften and become transparent.

Add the chopped mushrooms, salt, and pepper. Cover and cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes.

Add the wine and continue to cook (uncovered) until all the liquid has evaporated.

Stir in the rosemary and/or thyme and remove the whole mixture from the heat. Set the pan aside to cool.

4. When the mixture has cooled, place it in a food processor and mix until as broken down as possible. Set aside for assembly. (Note: If you don't have a food processor, just try to chop up the mixture a bit more.)

5. Now it's time to make the sauce. In a separate saucepan over medium heat, warm olive oil. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds.

Add the tomato sauce and stir.

Reduce the heat to low, and add the wine. Let simmer so the mixture begins to thicken, about 10 minutes.
 
6. Now it's time to fill the rolls: Lay the cabbage leave out on a flat surface. Take about 1 tablespoon of the mushroom mixture and place about 1-2 inches from one edge of each leaf. Fold in the sides, and roll up the leaves with the filling (as you would a burrito), forming a compact stuffed cabbage leaf. Continue with the remainder of the leaves until the mushroom mixture runs out. 

7. Place each roll, seam-side down, into the saucepan with the tomato sauce. Use a spoon to drizzle some of the sauce over the top of the rolls. Cover, and let the rolls simmer in the tomato sauce for about10 minutes, or until heated through. Serve and enjoy!
 

Have you ever tackled cabbage rolls? What's your favorite filling? Share with us in the comments below.

Greatist.com

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How to Have a Happy Family

1. Balancing work and home life

It’s not easy balancing your work and home life, but how you manage it can make quite a difference to your relationship with your family. Having a balance between work and home – being able to work in a way which fits around family commitments and isn't restricted to the 9 to 5 – boosts self-esteem as you're not always worrying about neglecting your responsibilities in any area, making you feel more in control of your life. Your family will be happier to see more of you, and you'll have a life away from home.

Balancing your work and home life

2. Look after yourself

Parents often spend all their time looking after everyone else in the family and forget about themselves. If you don’t look after yourself, you can end up feeling miserable and resentful, and you won’t be able to give your children the support they need. Admit to yourself that you actually have feelings and needs of your own. It’s not selfish to treat yourself once in a while! It doesn't have to be expensive - but putting aside some time to do just what YOU want to do, even if it's only 10 minutes a day - is so important.

3. Discipline

Rather than thinking of discipline as a punishment, you should use it as a way of teaching your children how to meet their needs without hurting or offending anyone. While you may be angry, it can help to keep calm and teach your child how he or she could have handled the situation differently, and how he or she can go about it differently next time. This way is both more positive and more constructive.

4.Setting Boundaries

We often use boundaries to protect children from harm or danger. But it is important that you try to explain why boundaries are there, rather than issuing orders – for instance, if you pull them away from an open fire explain why. Children may be reluctant to follow instructions if parents command them. However, an explanation as to why the instructions are important will help your child understand, and therefore cooperate.

5. Communication

 

Using time with your family to  make a meal

Communication is important – during both the good and the tough times. Children often find it hard to put their feelings into words and just knowing that their parents are listening can be enough. Talk about yourself – not just about your problems but about your daily life. If they feel included in the things you do they are more likely to see the value of including you in the things they do.

6. Quality Time

Try to organise some time together as a family a few times a week – perhaps three meals a week you could sit down to eat as a family. This will give you all a chance to connect and talk about the important issues, as well as the more fun topics. Ask your children to help you with the chores or to run errands. They may protest but they will feel included in your life rather than being an outsider.

7. Joint Decisions

With older children, it is normal for them to test the limits of boundaries to see what they can get away with. You may need to adapt boundaries as children grow into teens – it can even help to involve your child in the negotiation of new boundaries. Too many restrictions will be hard to keep on top of, so it is a good idea to work out which boundaries are really important to you, such as the ones for your children’s safety, and which boundaries are not worth fighting about. With fewer restrictions, your children will appreciate that the boundaries you do set are serious.

8. Comforting

It is important for a family to be there for each other through the hard times, as well as the good times. If there is a family tragedy, or a family member has a problem, pulling together can really help. Your children will need your help at this time, and it is important to be open and communicate with them. They will need reassurance and explanation, and will react differently depending on their ages. It can also help to talk to someone impartial.

9. Be flexible

More than anything, children just want to spend time with their parents. It can be lots of fun to make time for an impromptu game or an unscheduled trip to the park, as well as being something that you and your children will remember fondly. It’s good to have a routine, but it’s not the end of the world if it’s interrupted from time to time for spontaneous fun and games. For busy families, it can be useful to schedule in a few hours every now and then for a lazy afternoon together.

10. Spend quality time with your partner

It can be difficult to find time for you and your partner once you have children, but it is important to make time for each other. After all, children learn about relationships from their parents. Make sure you communicate with them frequently about all the day to day matters, as well as just things you enjoy talking about. Try to organise time that you can spend with each other, whether it’s going out for a meal, or just relaxing in front of the TV together.

 Familylives.org.uk

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