Poor Man's Fillet Mignon

1 lb. mince
1/2 lb. sausage meat
2 cups white bread crumbs
2 eggs
Mixed herbs - 1 teaspoon
1 dessertspoon Soy Sauce
1 large onion grated
1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley
1/4 teaspoon each of Tarragon, Oragano [sic], onion salt, and Garlic salt
For a change I sometimes add some crushed pineapple

Method: Combine all ingredients as for hamburgers. Rolling in flour, make patties about 3" wide and 1" thick, then wrap around with a piece of bacon and secure with tooth picks. Cooking in a frypan. Heat a little oil and sear both sides of patty to seal in juices and then reduce heat. Don't forget to keep turning them so they don't burn and they'll take approx. 1/2 hour to cook. 5 minutes before serving heat a large tin of mushrooms in butter sauce. To serve, remove toothpicks, place on dinner plates and cover with mushrooms. I usually serve with hot veges, but they are just as nice with salads.

Source: contributed by Joy in More Favourite Recipes from our Quartermaster Marj Dennes in aid of Blue Lake Ladies Pipe Band (Mount Gambier, S.A.: 1981), p.7.

Asparagus Parmesan

Asparagus -- fresh, frozen or canned (reserve some liquid)

1 cup crushed Sao biscuits

1/2 cup melted margarine or butter

1 tablespoon margarine or butter extra

1/2 teaspoon season-all (optional)

1 teaspoon onion powder

1/4 teaspoon dry mustard

Sprinkling pepper

1 chicken cube

1&1/2 cups milk

2 dessertspoons cornflour

1 can sliced champignons (reserve some liquid)

Parmesan cheese

Method: If using fresh asparagus break off stalks as far down as they snap off easily, wash well. Cook approx. 10 minutes or until tender, drain. Melt margarine and combine with crushed biscuit crumbs and spread evenly over base of shallow baking dish.

Melt butter (or margarine) stir in onion powder, season-all, dry mustard, pepper, cornflour, cook until bubbly. Remove from heat, add milk (and a little of each of reserved asparagus and champignon liquid), mixing well. Add chicken cube, cook over low heat stirring until thickened. Stir in mushrooms. Place asparagus over biscuit crumbs and pour over sauce. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake in moderate oven.

This dish can be made ahead, refrigerated and cooked just before serving.

Source: The Adelaide Children's Hospital Recipe Book 1982 (Adelaide: 1982), p.31.