Cream Cheese Butter Bean Bake

It's nearly here!! Christmas that is. It seems that for the past few years, we have not been home (Perth) for Christmas. It was Europe in 2009, and hubby's home country (KL) in 2010. For 2011, we will be having a quiet one with our extended family and friends in Perth. It will probably be the least prepared Christmas for us given both of us will be working through it.

I stumble across this idea by looking food apps. I took the butter bean bake idea and themed it with some chives and onion cream cheese topped with bread crumbs. I think it is a good idea to theme it with a roast dish, or even some pan fried chicken. I am always on the lookout for good side recipes and I do think this will help.

Cream Cheese Butter Bean Bake (serves 4)
1 can of butter beans slightly mashed with fork
50 grams cream cheese
1 sprig of rosemary chopped leaves
1 cup of bread crumbs fresh if you have any
few tablespoon of milk
seasoning

Mash butter beans with milk if needed. Mix cream cheese through the butter beans. Season. Place in an oven proof dish. Sprinkle breadcrumbs and rosemary over it and spray it with oil. Bake for 20 minutes.

Spicy Bean Mash

It's seriously difficult to photograph a chunk of meat. To me anyway! I tried the top approach, the left side, right side, half dish..and it still looks..

like a chunk of meat.

How in the world did Donna Hay make a piece of meat looks so good? grrrrrrrrrrrr

I spied this Donna Hay Spicy Bean Mash with a simple pork cutlet. It looks so simple but so hearty!

It's the bean mash that won my heart in this meal though. Who would have thought? It's almost like a dip, but good enough to be served as a side.. Ahhh...

Spicy Bean Mash (Serves 4)
2 tins of Cannelloni Beans or white beans drained
1/2 lemon juiced
2-3 tsp of cumin
1/2 tsp of chili powder
1/2 tsp of paprika
1 clove of garlic minced

Microwave beans for 1 min. Add all ingredients and mash with fork. Serve as a side dish with grilled meat and beans.