Friday, October 31, 2008

Stir Fried Pork With Vegetables

Ingredients
250g Pork Fillet (thinly sliced)
1 Teaspoon Sugar
1 Tablespoon Light Soy Sauce
1 Teaspoon Sherry
1 Teaspoon Cornflour (mixed with 1 1/2 teaspoons cold water)
1 Carrot (cut into slices diagonally)
1 Green Pepper (de seeded and chopped into bite size chunks)
175g Mixed Salad Leaves (shredded)
1 Spring Onion (cut to the same size as everything else)
1/2 Teaspoon Dried Ginger
1 Teaspoon Salt
3 Tablespoons Vegetable or Pork Stock (water will do)
4 Tablespoons Olive Oil

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
2 Mixing Bowls
1 Slotted Spoon
1 Wok
1 Spatula

The Good Bit
  1. In one of the mixing bowls mix together the pork strips, 1/2 of the sugar, 1/2 the soy sauce, the sherry, corn flour and water mixture, mix well and set aside in the fridge whilst you prepare the rest.
  2. Get the oil warm in the wok then drop in the pork and stir fry over a high heat for a minute to seal in the flavours then remove with the slotted spoon. Chuck in the vegetables and ginger and stir fry for 2 minutes.
  3. Add in the salt, the rest of the sugar and soy sauce along with the stock, bring to the boil, stirring well then serve.
Serves 4

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Chinese Style Pork

Ingredients
250g Pork (leg/shoulder is good for this)
1 Small Red pepper (cored, seeded and chopped to bite size chunks)
1 Small Green Pepper (cored, seeded and chopped to bite size chunks)
125g Can Bamboo Shoots (drained and sliced if not already sliced in the can)
1 Spring Onion (chopped to bite size chunks again)
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 Tablespoon Soy Sauce
1 Tablespoon Sweet Chilli Sauce
1 Teaspoon Sherry
A Good Splash of Oil (olive or vegetable)
Sesame Oil (optional)

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Large Pan
1 Wok
1 Spatula

The Good Bit
  1. Drop the pork in the pan and cover with boiling water, cover and simmer gently for 20 minutes. take off the heat and leave for 2 hours.
  2. Take the pork from the water and if you have used a leg or shoulder, trim off any fat then cut into small thin strips, the same size as you have done the peppers
  3. Heat a good splash of olive oil in the wok and stir fry the onion, peppers and bamboo for about 1 minute, then throw in the rest of the ingredients and mix well, frying for another minute.
  4. Sprinkle with the sesame oil before serving.
Serves 4

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Pork in Coconut Milk

Ingredients
750g Pork
2 Onions (quartered)
4 Red chillies
25g Mixed nuts
1 Teaspoon Thai Fish Sauce (or 1/2 teaspoon shrimp paste)
250ml Water
200ml Coconut Milk
1 Tablespoon Sugar
1 Lemon (juiced)
A Splash of Oil
Fresh Coconut Slices to garnish
Fresh Coriander (chopped to garnish)

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Zester
1 Blender/Food Processor
1 Frying Pan
1 Spatula
1 Ladle

The Good Bit
  1. Put the onion, nuts, chillies, fish sauce and 1 tablespoon of water into the blender and blend until you have a paste, once this is scoop into the frying pan with a splash of oil and heat for 4 minutes over a low heat, then add the pork and cook until evenly coloured and coated with the paste.
  2. Pour in the water and add a pinch of salt, cover and cook for for 30 minutes. At this stage add in 200ml (1/2 a 400ml can) of coconut milk, leave the lid off now and simmer for a further 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  3. Finally drop in the sugar and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, give it a good stir then ladle into bowls, to be fancy you can garnish with strips of fresh coconut, a sprinkle of chopped coriander leaves and for a touch of red, a couple of thin strips of red chilli,
Serves 4

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Fried Rice With Pork

Ingredients
150g Pork Fillets (sliced into bite size pieces)
3 Tablespoons Light Soy Sauce
1 Onion (sliced)
1 Clove Garlic (crushed)
2 Eggs (beaten)
1 Tablespoon Tomato Purée
1 Tablespoon Sugar
750g Rice (cooked already maybe from the day before)
A Splash of Oil
1/4 Cucumber (Thinly sliced)
1 Lemon (cut into wedges)
2 Tablespoons Fresh Coriander (roughly chopped)
1 Red Chilli (de seeded and thinly chopped) OPTIONAL


Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Garlic Press
1 Frying Pan/Wok
1 Spatula

The Good Bit
  1. It is a good idea to have all your vegetables ready and everything at hand near the cooker for this recipe as you have to move fairly fast. Heat the oil in the frying pan and add the garlic, stir frying for 1 minute, add the pork and 1 teaspoon of soy sauce and stir fry over a medium heat for about 5 minutes.
  2. Drop the eggs in and really stir now (you don't want an omelette!!) for 2 minutes then add the tomato purée, sugar and the rest of the soy sauce along with the onion, keep stirring for 1 minute.
  3. Now add the rice and cook for a further 5 minutes to insure all the rice is warmed through, stir very well, serve onto plates and top with the cucumber slices, chopped coriander and if you are using a chilli, sprinkle some of that on too!
Serves 4

Monday, October 27, 2008

Pork and Cider

Ingredients
2 Apples (cut into 8 wedges)
4 Pork Chops
2 Sprigs Fresh Sage
200ml Crème Fraiche
200ml Dry Cider
1 Tablespoon Redcurrant Jelly
A Splash of Oil
Vegetables (to serve, so your choice)

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Frying Pan
1 Plate (for the chops)
Tin Foil

The Good Bit
  1. Heat the oil in the pan then toss in the apples, cook for 3-4 minutes each side until golden, take out and set aside. Next drop in the chops, season with salt and pepper, cooking until bottom is golden before turning to brown the other side.
  2. Add in the sage and cider, bring to a low boil and simmer for 15 minutes. When the pork is cooked through, remove from the pan and cover with tin foil.
  3. Stir in the redcurrant jelly until it is all dissolved then spoon in the crème fraiche and apples, heat through and season to taste.
  4. Serve a pork chop per plate, if there are any juices remaining add them to the cider sauce, pour this and the apples over the chops and serve with vegetables.
Serves 4

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Meatballs With Cheese

Ingredients
450g Minced Pork
8 Spring Onions Thinly chopped)
4 Cloves Garlic (thinly chopped)
2 Red Chillies (de seeded and thinly chopped)
300g Pasta
2 400g Cans Chopped Tomatoes
4 Tablespoons Parmesan (grated)
1 Teaspoon Dried Thyme (or 2 teaspoons fresh)
200ml Red Wine
2 Bay Leaves
A Splash of Oil
A Pinch of Sugar
Salt and Pepper to Season

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Mixing Bowl
1 Wooden Spoon
1 Large Pan
1 Large Pan (2/3rds full with boiling salted water)

The Good Bit
  1. Mix the mince, onion, garlic, chilli, parmesan, thyme and a good sprinkle of salt and pepper together, then shape into 24 small balls. Heat the oil in the pan and place in the balls and cook for 3-4 minutes until browned evenly, then pop in the red wine for and boil hard for 2 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile cook your pasta to packet instructions, usually about 8-10 minutes. When the red wine has had it's 2 minutes, reduce the heat and pour in the tomatoes along with the bay leaves, the sugar and some more salt and pepper, bring back to the boil and simmer for 10 minutes.
  3. Drain your pasta, then spoon in a little of the sauce from the other pan, swirl round well to coat the pasta then serve and top off with the meatballs and the rest of the sauce.
Serves 4

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Pork and Apple

Ingredients
4 Pork Fillets (about 2cm thick)
1 1/2 Teaspoons Black Pepper
1/2 Teaspoon Paprika
2 Apples ((cored and cut into 4 slices widthways)
1 Lemon (juiced and zested)
300g Cabbage (shredded)
1 Clove Garlic
150ml Vegetable Stock
200ml Crème Fraiche
Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper for Seasoning

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
Plastic Food Bags
1 Frying Pan
1 Spatula

The Good Bit
  1. Warm your grill up to high, whilst you are waiting for that to warm up, place each of the fillets in the plastic bag and squash with your palm until they are about 6mm thick.
  2. In the mixing bowl, mix together the pepper, paprika, lemon rind, 1 teaspoon of lemon juice and 3 tablespoons of oil, place the pork in your dish and drizzle over the sauce, turn and drizzle over a little more sauce, grill for 5 minutes, then turn, add in the apple slices and and drizzle over any remainder sauce and grill for a final 5 minutes.
  3. In the frying pan heat a dash of oil and then throw in the cabbage and garlic, cover and cook for 5 minutes, then pour in the stock and creme fraiche, stir well bring to the boil and season.
  4. Mount the cabbage onto your plate, top with the pork fillet then decorate with the apple.
Serves 4

Friday, October 24, 2008

Thai Pork and Lime

Ingredients
600g Pork (cut into strips)
4 Tablespoons Light Soy Sauce
1 Teaspoon Pepper
20 Cloves Garlic (thinly chopped)
30 Small Green Chillies (chopped thinly, DE SEED IF YOU WANT THIS TO BE MILDER)
8 Tablespoons Lime Juice
8 Tablespoons Thai Fish Sauce
2 Tablespoons Light Brown Sugar
30g Fresh Mint Leaves (Finely chopped)

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
2 Mixing Bowls
1 Wok
1 Spatula

The Good Bit
  1. Mix the pork, soy sauce and pepper in a bowl, then add the pork mixture and cook for about 7-8 minutes until the pork is well cooked.
  2. Place the pork in the other mixing bowl now and stir in the rest of the ingredients, now this takes some mixing so mix well for a couple of minutes than either leave in the mixing bowl to serve or transfer to a serving dish and let people get there own.
Serves 4

Sweet and Sour Pork

Ingredients
500g Pork (cut into bite size cubes)
1/2 Teaspoon 5 Spice Powder
2 Tablespoon Sherry
1 Egg
3 Tablespoons Cornflour
Vegetable Oil for deep frying.
2 Tablespoons Groundnut Oil
1 Clove Garlic (crushed)
1 Onion (roughly chopped)
1 Green Pepper (cored and de seeded)
250g Can Pineapple Chunks (keep the juice, DO NOT USE PINEAPPLE IN SYRUP)
3 Tablespoons White Wine Vinegar
50g Sugar
4 Tablespoons Tomato Ketchup
Salt and Pepper

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Wok (for deep frying)
1 Large Frying Pan
1 Sauce Pan
1 Mixing Bowl
1 Wooded Spoon
1 Spatula
1 Garlic Press
Kitchen Paper

The Good Bit
  1. Boil a Sauce pan of water and add the pork until it changes colour, drain and dry the pork on the kitchen paper
  2. Mix the sherry, egg, cornflour, 5 spice and a sprinkle of salt and pepper together, dip in the pork until it's coated all over, then in the wok (or chip pan) heat a good amount of oil up to 190c 375f (a cube of bread should take 30 seconds to brown) Deep fry the pork until it browns all over, remove and set aside on kitchen paper.
  3. In the frying pan, heat the groundnut oil, fry the garlic until it is brown then add the onion and pepper for 1 minute, then stir in the pineapple juice, vinegar, ketchup and sugar, heat and keep stirring until it has thickened than add the pineapple and pork, heat well and serve.
Serves 4

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Sausage and Mash

Ingredients
8 Sausages (choose thick ones, flavoured if you like)
2 Onions (cut into wedges)
1Kg Potatoes (peeled and quartered)
75g Butter
1 Tablespoon Wholegrain Mustard
3 Teaspoons English Mustard (you can try Dijon or other varieties, just be carefull of over powering the taste)
1 Clove Garlic (crushed)
Parsley (roughly chopped, optional)

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Griddle
1 Large Pan (2/3 rds full, boiling salted water)
1 Potato Masher
1 Garlic Press

The Good Bit
  1. Dry fry the sausages in the griddle pan for about 4 minutes then add the onion wedges and cook for a further 6 minutes, keep an eye on the sausage and turn occasionally to brown evenly, try to only turn the onion once or twice to caramelise it in strips to give a lovely effect.
  2. Boil the potatoes for 10-12 minutes until you can stick a fork in them and they break easily. Drain the pan and then mash the potatoes with the butter, when it's well mashed add in the mustards and garlic and a little drizzle of oil and mash again until you have a smooth mixture, you can even add a little chopped parsley at this point for extra flavour, Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  3. Serve a helping of mash with a couple of sausages and top off with a couple of onion wedges.
Serves 4

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Spicy Ribs

Ingredients
1kg Pork Ribs (cut into 5cm strips)
A Splash of Oil
1/2 Teaspoon Chilli Powder
1inch Fresh Ginger (finely chopped)
1 Clove Garlic (thinly sliced)
Salt
for the sauce
4 Tablespoons Honey (clear)
4 Tablespoons Wine Vinegar
2 Tablespoons Light Soy Sauce
2 Tablespoons Sherry
150g Tomato Purée
1 Teaspoon Chilli Powder
2 Cloves Garlic (crushed)

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Mixing Bowl
1 Garlic Press
1 Frying Pan

The Good Bit
  1. Mix the sauce ingredients together in the bowl and set aside then sprinkle the ribs with salt.
  2. Heat a good splash of oil in the frying pan and add the chilli powder, garlic and ginger and stir fry for 30 seconds, add the ribs and cook until golden brown, then reduce the heat and cook for a further 10 minutes.
  3. Add the sauce to the pan, stir well, cover and cook for 25-30 minutes then serve.
Serves 4

Monday, October 20, 2008

Piri Piri Pork

Ingredients
500g Pork Fillet
2 Lemons
1 Bottle Piri Piri Sauce
Oil
Stir Fried Vegetables or Chips to Serve
Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Pastry Brush
Cocktail Sticks

The Good Bit
  1. Pre heat your grill to high and soak your cocktail sticks in water, slice the lemons as thin as you can then cut discs from the fillets the same diameter as the lemon and about 1cm thick.
  2. Brush each of the discs of pork with a little of the sauce then place a slice of lemon on top of each, pin the lemon on with a cocktail stick then brush lightly with oil, grill for 4-5 minutes on each side.
  3. Serve with stir fried vegetables or chips and another splash of the piri piri sauce.
Serves 4

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Sunday Roast Chicken

Ingredients
1 Chicken
300ml Vegetable or Chicken Stock (if you are doing carrots, peas or any vegetables, then use the water from that pan once the vegetables are cooked for a really excellent flavour)
Vegetables of Your Choice (boiled in unsalted water)
6 Medium Potatoes (quartered)
Oil

Equipment
2 Roasting Tins
2 Large Pans
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board

The Good Bit
  1. OK now before I start here, there are many ways to make this meal, I'll cover the ones I like and throw in suggestions. Pre heat your oven to 160c/325f gas 3.
  2. Weigh your bird! then work out the cooking time with this simple formula (don't worry!!) 30minutes for the first 1lb in weight then after every pound add another 15 minutes so a 1lb bird would take 30minutes, a 2lb bird 45minutes, 3lb 60minutes, 4lb 1hr15 and so on.
  3. Wash the bird, place it on the roasting tin and place in the oven for the desired time!
  4. Now for the vegetables, i like roast potatoes (quartered) with this meal so i chuck them in the other tin, drizzle with oil, sprinkle with sea salt and put in the oven when the chicken has 45 minutes left, you can also do this with carrots and parsnips.
  5. I love carrot with this meal and peas, so i cook them in pans of unsalted water until they are tender, sliced carrots take 10-15 minutes, peas only take 5-10 minutes.
  6. For the gravy, this is a thin one, I pour some of the carrot juice and some of the pea juice into the roasting tin, stir it in well and ladle it over the meal, if you want to make it slightly thicker add a tablespoon of flour and fry until the flour has begun to brown then add the carrot/pea juice or stock.
Serves 4

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Lemon and Lime Chicken

Ingredients
4 Chicken Breasts (chopped into chunks)
1 Red Pepper (cored, de seeded and sliced)
1 Green Pepper (cored, de seeded and sliced)
1 Onion (sliced)
1 Lime (jested and juiced)
1 Teaspoon Chilli Powder
250g Long Grain Rice
1/2 Lemon
A Splash of Oil

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Large Frying Pan/Wok
1 Large Pan (2/3rds full with boiling salted water or chicken/vegetable stock)
1 Spatula
1 Zester

The Good Bit
  1. In the large frying pan heat gently the onion, chicken, peppers, chilli powder, lime zest and juice, stirring occasionally until the chicken is cooked through and the vegetables are tender, 10-15 minutes. Season to taste.
  2. Meanwhile in the large pan boil either the water or stock and squeeze in the juice of half a lemon and then drop in the used lemon half, stir in the turmeric and then add in the rice and cook to packet instructions, usually 10 minutes, this should be ready about the same time as the chicken.
  3. Serve the rice in a ring with the chicken inside.
Serves 4

Friday, October 17, 2008

Summer Sundays Chicken

Ingredients
4 Chicken Breast
1 Lettuce (divided into leaves)
375g New Potatoes (cooked/from a can)
8 Tomatoes (skinned sliced, don't worry about skinning if you are not sure)
1 Onion (cut into wedges)
175g Asparagus (boiled in salted water until tender then refreshed under a cold tap)
A Handful Fresh Parsley (chopped)
175g Melted Butter (unsalted is best)
2 Eggs (split and keep just the yolks)
1 Teaspoon Dijon Mustard
1 Lemon (juiced)

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Blender (or mixing bowl and balloon whisk)
1 Griddle
1 Pan (2/3rds full with boiling salted water)

The Good Bit
  1. A couple of things to do first, if the potatoes need cooking, get them on for about 10 minutes in the boiling slated water, check with a fork, when they are done there should be very little resistance to the fork going all the way through. Do the same with the asparagus, that only takes a couple of minutes though, set both aside and allow to cool, or for speed run under cold water.
  2. Next griddle the onion wedges turning once so they char on two sides, set aside and griddle the chicken, that should take about 10 minutes on both sides.
  3. Whilst the chicken is doing plate up, start with the lettuce leaves, then decorate with the tomato slices, new potatoes asparagus and onion wedges.
  4. In the blender mix in the egg yolk, mustard and 4 tablespoons of lemon juice then pour in gradually the butter until you have a smooth sauce, this can be warmed up gently using a bain marie (pour the sauce into a bowl and stand in a saucepan of warm water.
  5. Finally when the chicken is done, lay on top of the salad sprinkle over some of the chopped parsley and drizzle over the hollandaise sauce.
Serves 4

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Chicken Satay

Ingredients
4 Chicken Breasts
1 400g Can Coconut Milk
2 Teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce
8 Tablespoons Crunchy Peanut Butter
2 Lemons
2 Carrots (cut into ribbons using a potato peeler)
1/2 Cucumber (cut into ribbons using a potato peeler)
50g Dry Roasted Peanuts
4 Warm Nan Breads
Tabasco Sauce (optional)

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Potato Peeler
1 Mixing Bowl
1 Wooden Spoon
1 Rolling Pin (or something heavy)
1 Plastic Food Bag
1 Shallow Dish
8 Bamboo Skewers

The Good Bit
  1. Pre heat your grill to high. Place each of the breasts in the food bag and bat them out as thin as possible with the rolling pin, take out and cut in half lengthways.
  2. In the mixing bowl, mix together the coconut, peanut butter and Worcestershire sauce (Tabasco as well if using) then pour into the shallow dish. Toss in the chicken strips, coating well them thread each one onto a skewer and cook under the grill until well browned all over.
  3. Heat the remaining satay sauce with a dash of water and squeeze in the juice from 1 of the lemons. Warm your nans to the packet instructions.
  4. To serve, on each nan pile some of the carrot and cucumber ribbons with a splash of lemon juice from the other lemon, place on top 2 chicken skewers and drizzle over some of the peanut sauce.
Serves 4

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Lemon Chicken

Ingredients
4 Chicken Breasts
1 Tablespoon Sherry
1 Egg (beaten)
4 Tablespoons Flour
2 Tablespoon Water
250ml Water
1 Tablespoon Caster Sugar
1 Lemon
1 Tablespoon Cornflour
1 Teaspoon Salt
Oil
Lemon Slices to Garnish
250g Rice (or serve with whatever you fancy)

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Small Frying Pan
1 Large Frying Pan
1 Mixing Bowl
1 Small Mixing Bowl
1 Zester
Kitchen Paper
Slotted Spoon
1 Large Pan 2/3rds full with boiling salted water if you are having rice.

The Good Bit
  1. Start by heating a splash of oil in the little pan, add in 250ml of water, the sugar, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, the cornflour, salt and 1 teaspoon of lemon rind, bring to the boil and stir until smooth, remove from the heat.
  2. Cut the chicken into strips about 1cm across, drop in the mixing bowl along with the sherry and a sprinkle of salt and pepper, leave for 30 minutes.
  3. When you are ready to start cooking the meal, if you are having rice, put that on now. then make a batter from the egg, flour and 2 tablespoons of water, dip each chicken strip in it then fry in a shallow amount of oil in the large frying pan/wok, when they are all golden and crispy pull out and drain on a piece of kitchen paper.
  4. serve on a bed of rice with the lemon sauce drizzled over the top.
Serves 4

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Chicken in Cider

Ingredients
4 Chicken Breasts
2 Tablespoons Flour
2 Small Onions
400ml Cider
3 Large Peppers (cored and de seeded then chopped to small chunks)
2 Tablespoons Single Cream
Salt and Pepper
A Splash of Oil
Parsley (chopped for garnishing)

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Large Frying Pan
1 Plastic Food Bag

The Good Bit
  1. Put the flour in the food bag, season with salt and pepper then fry off the chicken breasts in the frying pan until golden all over. remove and set aside.
  2. Add the onions to the frying pan and a little more oil if needed, fry over a gentle heat until they are clear and soft then remove and put with the chicken.
  3. take the left over seasoned flour and stir fry for 1 minute before adding the cider, season and bring to the boil.
  4. Return the chicken and onion to the pan and add the chopped peppers, reduce the heat to a gentle simmer and cook for 15-20 minutes (make sure the chicken is cooked through and the peppers are soft)
  5. Remove from the heat and stir in the cream, serve immediately and garnish with the parsley.
Serves 4

Monday, October 13, 2008

Moroccan Chicken

Ingredients
A Knob Of Butter
A Splash of Oil
4 Chicken Breasts
1 Onion (thinly chopped)
1 Teaspoon Crushed Black Peppercorns
2 Teaspoons Paprika
1 Teaspoon Cumin Seeds
1 inch Cinnamon
1 Tablespoon Fresh Coriander (roughly chopped)
1 Lemon (juiced)

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Frying Pan
1 Sieve

The Good Bit
  1. Heat the oil in the frying pan and drop in the butter, when the butter begins to bubble add in the chicken and fry until evenly browned all over, then remove.
  2. Next fry off the onion until it goes clear and soft then add in the spices and the chicken pieces, top the pan up with water until you just cover the chicken, cover the pan and simmer for 1 hour.
  3. Remove the chicken and keep warm then boil the juices hard until reduced by half, strain through the sieve then stir in the coriander and lemon juice, season with salt and pepper and pour over the chicken to serve.
Serves 4

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Basque Chicken

Ingredients
4 Chicken Breasts
175g Bacon (cut the rind off and bin)
4 Onions (thinly chopped)
3 Cloves Garlic (crushed)
2 Green Peppers (seeded and diced)
1 400g Can Chopped Tomatoes
150ml Chicken Stock
A Good Splash of Oil
1/4 Teaspoon Dried Marjoram
Salt and Pepper
Parsley (chopped, to serve)

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Large Frying Pan/Wok
1 Spatula
1 Wooden Spoon
1 Slotted Spoon
1 Garlic Press

The Good Bit
  1. In a Splash of Oil fry the diced bacon until it is just cooked then remove, now fry the chicken breast, if you need to add a splash more il do, until the breasts are evenly golden all over, remove and set aside with the bacon, keep warm if possible.
  2. Next fry the onion, garlic and marjoram gently over a low heat for about 10 minutes until the onion is golden too, then add the tomatoes and stock and bring to a gentle simmer.
  3. Now add the chicken and bacon back in and stir well, cover and leave for 45 minutes. Remove the chicken to a serving dish and boil the sauce until it coats the back of a wooden spoon, adjust the seasoning and serve with a topping of chopped fresh parsley.
Serves 4

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Flavoured Chicken and Sweet Mash

Ingredients
4 Chicken Breasts
1 Onion (thinly chopped)
100ml Sherry
1 Tablespoon Light Soy Sauce
1 Inch Fresh Root Ginger (thinly chopped)
Pinch of Cumin
Pinch of Coriander
1 Teaspoon Dried Mixed Herbs (always useful to have in your spice rack)
for the mash
2 Sweet Potatoes
2 Tablespoons Fromage Frais
Salt and Pepper

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Mixing Bowl
1 Grill Pan
1 Masher
1 Large Pan 2/3rds full boiling salted water

The Good Bit
  1. Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl, excluding the mash ingredients, drop the chicken in, set aside and leave for at least 2 hours, preferably over night to get the flavour in the chicken, for speed if you only have 2 hours score the chicken breast lightly with your knife.
  2. Grill the chicken under a medium grill for 20 minutes, turning once half way through, meanwhile boil your potatoes in the large pan for 20 minutes.
  3. Drain the large pan, mash the potatoes and drop in the fromage frais, season and mix well (add a bit of butter if you want to be really naughty). Serve a scoop of mash with a breast on top and finish off with a sprig of parsley.
Serves 4

Friday, October 10, 2008

Chicken with Coconut Milk

Ingredients
4 Chicken Breasts (cut into strips)
6 Cardamom Pods
6 Cloves
2 Inch Cinnamon Stick
1 Onion (finely chopped)
1 Inch Ginger (chopped)
3 Green Chillies (de seeded and thinly sliced)
4 Tablespoons Lemon Juice
1 Teaspoon Turmeric
200ml Coconut Milk
1 Red Pepper (thinly sliced to garnish)
Oil

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Blender
1 Frying Pan
1 Spatula

The Good Bit
  1. Quickly fry the chicken off in the pan in a splash of oil until it begins to brown, remove and set aside. Add a splash more oil to the pan and fry the cardamom cloves and cinnamon for 1 minute.
  2. Turn down the heat and add the onion and cook for 5 minutes, whilst this is doing, blend the garlic, ginger, chillies and lemon juice into a smooth paste, add into the frying pan along with the turmeric and cook for another 5 minutes.
  3. Pour in the coconut milk, season and bring to the boil, add in the chicken and simmer for 15 minutes.
  4. Serve when done, with a garnish of red pepper strips, these can ever be raw or quickly fried.
Serves 4

Cheesy Chicken

Ingredients
150g Mozzarella (drained and cut into 8 even chunks)
8 Boneless Chicken Thighs
1 1/2 Teaspoons Dried Rosemary
1/4 Teaspoon Chilli Flakes
1 Tablespoon Flour
700g Potatoes (cubed)
25g Butter
1 Leek (cut into 1/2 cm discs)
2 Tablespoons Milk

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Mixing Bowl
1 Oven Proof Dish
1 Large Pan (with boiling salted water in)
1 Small Frying Pan
1 Masher
Wooden Cocktail Sticks

The Good Bit
  1. Mix the rosemary, chilli and a pinch of salt and pepper in the bowl and toss in the cheese.
  2. Sprinkle each of the chicken pieces with some flour then place a chunk of cheese on each piece, fold the chicken over the cheese and secure with a cocktail stick, getting the ends folded in to if possible. Brush with oil and grill for 20 minutes under a high grill, turning occasionally until cooked through.
  3. Cook the potatoes in the pan of boiling salted water for about 15 minutes, fry the leek in the butter for about 5 minutes, whilst that is doing mash the potatoes with the milk, then tip in the leek and butter and mix well, season with salt and pepper.
  4. Serve a dollop of mash topped with 2 pieces of chicken
Serves 4

Coriander and Lime Chicken

Ingredients
4 Chicken Breasts
6 Cloves Garlic (thinly chopped)
4 Tablespoons Fresh Coriander
2 Teaspoons Black peppercorns
2 Teaspoons Sugar
2 Limes (juiced)
2 Tablespoons Thai Fish Sauce (most supermarkets sell this)
1 Tablespoon Light Soy Sauce
A Splash of oil

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Mixing Bowl
1 Griddle Pan

The Good Bit
  1. Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl and then chuck in the chicken, marinate for 1-2 hours (do not leave over night, 2 hours is plenty)
  2. Dry griddle the chicken breasts for 7-8 minutes on each side until they are well coloured and have that burnt strip. Serve hot or cold, this goes lovely with pasta or a baguette.
Serves 4

Spicy Roast Chicken With a Twist

Ingredients
250g Cherry Tomatoes (halved)
5 Cloves Garlic (finely chopped)
2 Tablespoons Fresh Tarragon
1 Teaspoon Chilli Flakes
4 Chicken Breasts
Olive Oil
250g Rice (cooked)

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Mixing Bowl
1 Oven Proof Dish
1 Pan 2/3rds full with boiling salted water

The Good Bit
  1. Pre heat the oven to 230c gas 8, in the bowl mix the tomatoes with 1 tablespoon of tarragon, a good splash of olive oil, the garlic and chilli flakes.
  2. Place the chicken on the oven proof dish and pour over the tomato mixture, spreading the tomatoes around the side of the dish, bake for 30-35 minutes until the chicken is done.
  3. 15 minutes before the end of cooking put your rice on.
Serves 4

Chilli Chicken Burgers

Ingredients
500g Minced Chicken (or turkey)
2 Cloves Garlic (crushed)
1 Red Chilli (seeded and chopped thinly)
1 Tablespoon Fresh Mint or 1/2 Teaspoon Dried
2 Tablespoon Fresh Coriander or Parsley
2 Teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce
Burger buns, Lettuce, Tomato for serving

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Mixing Bowl

The Good Bit
  1. Mix all the ingredients together then shape into 4 even sized burgers, brush with a little oil or melted butter and grill for 5 minutes on each side.
Serves 4

Cajun Chicken Salad

Ingredients
4 Chicken Breasts (sliced in half to make 8 thin breasts) or 12 Mini Fillets
1 Lime (juiced)
5 Tablespoons Flour
1 Tablespoon Cajun Seasoning
1 Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
Pinch of Salt
2 Oranges (peeled and sliced)
120g Bag of Spinach or Rocket Leaves
1 Small Red Onion (thinly sliced into rings)

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Oven Proof Dish
1 Mixing Bowl
1 Plate

The Good Bit
  1. Pre heat your oven to 220c 425f or gas 7, toss the chicken into the lime juice whilst you measure out into the mixing bowl the flour, Cajun seasoning, cayenne pepper and the pinch of salt, give it a good mix then sprinkle it out onto the plate.
  2. Lift each slice of chicken out of the lime juice and press down onto the seasoned flour, coat both sides then place on the oven proof dish. place in the oven for 20-25 minutes.
  3. Mix the salad leaves with the onion and orange slices plus any juice that came out of the oranges then serve onto 4 plates and top with the crispy chicken. Enjoy.
Serves 4

Chicken Jalfrezi

Ingredients
675g Chicken Breast (cubed)
1 Teaspoon Cumin Seeds
1 Onion (finely chopped)
1 Green+1 Red pepper (cubed)
1 Clove Garlic (crushed)
1 Inch Ginger (finely chopped)
1 Tablespoon Curry Paste
1 Teaspoon Ground Cumin
1 Teaspoon Ground Coriander
1/4 Teaspoon Chilli Powder
1 400g Can Chopped Tomatoes
250g Rice (cooked)
A Splash of Oil

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Large Frying Pan
1 Large Pan 2/3rds full boiling salted water

The Good Bit
  1. In the frying pan add the oil, and fry the cumin seeds for a couple of minutes until they splutter then add the onion peppers garlic and ginger, fry for 6-8 minutes.
  2. Add in the curry paste and fry for another 2 minutes before adding the chilli powder, coriander, cumin, a pinch of salt and 1 tablespoon of water, fry this lot for 2 minutes.
  3. Put the rice on at this point. Chuck the chicken into the mix and fry for 5 minutes until it begins to colour then pour in the tomatoes stir well and cover and leave to cook for 15 minutes.
  4. Serve with rice.
Serves 4

Chicken Chop Suey

Ingredients
125g Chicken (chopped into chunks)
1 Onion (chopped thinly)
1 Carrot (julienne/grated)
1 Green Pepper (julienne/grated)
125g Bean Sprouts
1 Egg (split, white is all we need)
1 Teaspoon Sherry
1 Tablespoon Light Soy Sauce
2-3 Tablespoons Chinese stock (or water)
2 Teaspoons Cornflour
1/2 Teaspoon Sugar
Pinch of Salt
Splash of Oil

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Small Glass
1 Mixing Bowl
1 Wok
1 Spatula

The Good Bit
  1. Mix the cornflour into a paste in the glass with 3 teaspoons of water, then in the mixing bowl in this order mix in the chicken, a pinch of salt, 1/4 of the egg white and the paste you have just made.
  2. Stir fry the chicken in a splash of oil until it is no longer pink, it should be white all over, take out of the wok and set aside. Add all the vegetables apart from the bean sprouts and cook for about 2 minutes then add the bean sprouts and fry off rapidly for a few seconds.
  3. Now add back in the chicken, another pinch of salt, the sugar, soy sauce and sherry mix this well then add in the stock or water, give it a good stir then serve, for authenticity you can sprinkle over a dash of sesame oil if you like.
Serves 4

Kung Po Chicken

Ingredients
250g Chicken Breast (chopped into chunks)
1 Egg (split and only the white used)
1 Green Pepper (cored, seeded and chopped into chunks)
1 Spring Onion (chopped diagonally into inch long chunks)
1 Fresh Ginger (grated or thinly sliced)
4 Dried Chillies or 1 teaspoon chilli powder (take the seeds out and cut thinly)
2 Tablespoons Yellow Bean Sauce
1 Teaspoon Sherry
125g Nuts (not salted, peanuts, walnuts, cashew or almond)
250g Rice (cooked)
A Splash of Oil

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Small Bowl
1 Wok
1 Spatula
1 Large Pan 2/3rds full boiling salted water (for the rice)

The Good Bit
  1. Get the rice on first then in the bowl mix in in this order the chicken, a pinch of salt, 1/3rd of the egg white and the cornflour.
  2. Heat the chicken then in the wok until it browns, take out and set aside. Now stir fry the spring onion, ginger, chilli and pepper for about 1 minute then put the chicken back in along with the yellow bean sauce and sherry, stir well and cook for a further minute, lastly just before you serve up, chuck in the nuts.
Serves 4

Chicken + Pineapple

Ingredients
150g Cooked Chicken (sliced into chunks)
1 Onion (thinly chopped)
1 Spring Onion (sliced diagonally into inch long pieces)
1inch Fresh Ginger (sliced as thin as possible or grated)
1 Carrot (grated)
1 125g Can Pineapple
2 Tablespoons of Syrup (from the can)
1 Tablespoon Cornflour
1 Tablespoon Red Wine Vinegar
A Good Splash of Oil

Equipment
1 SHARP Knife
1 Chopping Board
1 Wok
1 Spatula

The Good Bit
  1. Fry the onion in the oil until it has gone clear, add the ginger, spring onion and carrot and stir fry for another minute.
  2. Add in the chicken, pineapple, vinegar and pineapple syrup with a pinch of salt and mix till well blended.
  3. Sprinkle in the cornflour and stir in until the mixture has thickened then serve, you can serve with a black bean sauce or rice if desired. This also goes well with duck!
Serves 4