Heston’s Barbecue Chicken Wings

Noel was on a mission recently to cook chicken wings.  This fascination started when we went to the Loch Festival with our gorjus friends Kelee and Dave.  We had the most devine Buffalo Chicken Wings there and the men have been talking about them ever since.

I love the fact that Noel loves to cook and he spends hours googling and reading recipes. However saying this he has been know to create his own marinades - successfully I might add. He recently came across this recipe for Heston Blumenthal's Barbecue Chicken Wings and talked about making them for a couple of weeks.  I have to admit they sounded good on paper but they were magnificent in real life.

To quote the great man himself Heston said "Chargrilled chicken wings slathered in a rich, sticky sauce has got to be one of the all-time barbecue classics. This recipe will have those wings flying off the barbecue faster than you can make them. A little lime marinade to season and soften the meat, a coating of sauce made from the gutsy, punchy flavours and a sprinkle of sesame seeds for a toasted note and some crunch – and you’re good to go. Especially with a cooling, easy-to-make blue cheese dip on the side."

Heston’s Barbecue Chicken Wings

(Recipe adapted from Waitrose.com)

Serves: 4 – 6

For the barbecue sauce

2 cups chicken stock

100 grams white caster sugar

100 mls rice wine vinegar

200 mls tomato ketchup

1 tablespoon mushroom oyster sauce

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon sesame oil

1 tablespoon Tabasco Pepper Sauce, to taste

2 teaspoon Cayenne pepper

For the cheese dip:

300 grams blue cheese

300 ml soured cream

For the chicken wings:

juice of 4 limes

2 teaspoon salt

4 tablespoon oil

1 kilogram chicken wings

50 grams sesame seeds, toasted

To make the barbecue sauce, place the chicken stock in a pan over medium-high heat and reduce until it is approximately 150 ml. Place another pan over medium heat, add the sugar and cook until a medium caramel is formed. Slowly add the rice wine vinegar while whisking until the caramel has dissolved. Add the remaining sauce ingredients and whisk until well combined. Set aside.

To make the blue cheese sauce, removing any rind from the cheese, chop into small pieces and add to a bowl with the soured cream, and use a hand blender to blitz until smooth if desired. Put into a small container and allow to stand in the fridge.

When ready to cook, place the juice, salt and oil in a bowl, add the wings and toss until well coated. Allow to stand in the fridge for 45 minutes. Once the time has elapsed, place the wings on the preheated barbecue and cook for 20 to 25 minutes, turning them every few minutes until cooked through with no pink meat. Once cooked, transfer the wings to the bowl with the barbecue sauce and toss to thickly coat. Remove and transfer the wings to a clean bowl then sprinkle over the toasted sesame seeds.

Serve in a bowl with the cheese sauce, celery and any remaining barbecue sauce on the side.

(Click here for a printable version of this recipe)

Okonomiyaki お好み焼き - Japanese Vegetarian Pancake

Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き o-konomi-yaki?) is a Japanese savoury pancake containing a variety of ingredients. The name is derived from the word okonomi, meaning "how you like" or "what you like", and yaki meaning "grill".

Okonomiyaki is mainly associated with the Kansai or Hiroshima areas of Japan, but is widely available throughout the country. Toppings and batters tend to vary according to region. Tokyo okonomiyaki is usually smaller than a Hiroshima or Kansai okonomiyaki.

One of Alex's favourite meals is Okonomiyaki. I must admit I love them too.  Either a quick snack or a planned meal they are fantastic. They are jam packed full of goodness and a great way to use up vegetables.

While the traditional Okonomiyaki has cabbage as it's main ingredient and very few others, but you can, in fact, put anything you want into the mix and fry.  Many restaurants offer cooked pork mince, chicken, prawns, bacon, chinese sausage and even noodles - I guess the potential at home is endless.

Okonomiyaki お好み焼き - Japanese Vegetarian Pancake

(Recipe adapted from Okonomiyaki World)

Serves: 2

1 cup plain flour

2/3 cup Water (or Chicken stock)

2 eggs, whisked

Salt

ground white pepper

300 grams green cabbage, cut into strips

1 carrot, peeled and grated

100 grams fresh bean shoots

2 spring onions, thinly sliced diagonally

cooking spray

Kewpie Mayonnaise

Okonomi Sauce or Barbecue Sauce

In a large bowl, whisk together flour and water until smooth. Add in eggs mixing to combine. Season with salt and pepper.

Add cabbage, carrot, bean shoots and ¾ of the onions and mix, but don't over mix.

Spray a non-stick frying pan cooking spray and heat over medium heat. Add half the Okonomiyaki mixture.

Using a spatula flatten and form pancakes until around 1.5cm thick - approximately 30cm across.

After about 3 minutes, flip over pancake and cook for 4 minutes.

Flip pancake again and cook for 3 minutes or until firm and well browned.

Remove to plate and drizzle with Kewpie mayonnaise and Okonomi or Barbecue sauce. Sprinkle with remaining spring onion.

Eat quickly before someone near you takes your portion.

(Click here for a printable version of this recipe)

Chicken, Cranberry and Pistachio Terrine

Once again,  I have tried to recreate a recipe from our favourite place, Green Olive at Red Hill on the Mornington Peninsula.  The description on the menu is Chicken Terrine, Pistachio, Cranberry, Garden Herbs and Farm Made Fruit Chutney.  And it is to die for......

My version is Chicken Terrine, Pistachio, Cranberry, Thyme, Parsley, Mustard and served with Green Olive Farm Made Fruit Chutney.

The verdict.... it was very nice. Compliments from hubby, Noel, and even from daughter Alexandria, who prior to trying it kindly told me "you know I don't like cold meat".

I used chicken breast fillet which I processed myself as I am not a fan of chicken mince. Never have been - to be honest there is just something about it and I do not like the smell of it at all. Therefore I have always processed my own.

This terrine was easier to make than what I thought it would have been.  The flavours worked well together (I guess they have to or Green Olive wouldn't serve it either).    

 

Chicken, Cranberry and Pistachio Terrine

(recipe adapted from taste.com)

 

Serves: 4 - 6

 

cooking spray

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 medium brown onions, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, crushed

1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley

2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh thyme

750g chicken fillets, fat trimmed

140 grams fresh breadcrumbs, made from wholegrain bread

1/2 cup unsalted pistachio nuts , shelled

1/2 cup craisins, reduced sugar

2 eggs

2 tablespoons wholegrain mustard

1 teaspoon salt

freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius.

 

Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium-low heat and cook the onions for 8-10 minutes or until soft. Add the garlic, parsley and thyme and cook for a further 5 minutes or until the onions are very soft. Cool slightly.

 

Place chicken in a food processor and blend until minced.

 

Combine the onion mixture, chicken mince, breadcrumbs, pistachio nuts, eggs, mustard, salt and pepper to taste in a large bowl and use your hands to mix well.

 

Overlap the long sides of a loaf pan with two 50cm lengths of foil by 8cm.  Line with baking paper and spray with cooking spray.

 

Place the chicken mixture into the baking dish and bake in the preheated oven for 50 minutes.

 

Remove from the oven, pull back the foil and then drain off the juices.

 

Re-cover with the foil and then place the terrine in the fridge until cold.

 

Remove the foil and cut into slices and serve with the fruit chutney or relish of your choice.

(Click here for a printable version of this recipe)

Honey Sriracha Chicken Pizza

Saturday night "fakeaway" was blown out of the ball park tonight.

 

We have had quite a few pizzas of late so tonight I needed to find a different topping.  So I sat down with my favourite friend, Google, and proceeded to search for that something different.  And OMG when I found this recipe I knew it was what I was having for dinner.  My tastebuds exploded just reading the recipe.

 

Sriracha Chilli Sauce is quite hot and some people find it rough. It's a sauce that I have only predominantly used in Asian cooking.  The chicken mixture was very interesting - actually not too  sweet and not too spicy.  So to spice it up a little more I added jalapeños to the mix.   The bacon complimented the chicken so did the sweetness of the cherry tomatoes. 

 

Every mouthful was a flavour burst - all combined together was magnificent.

 

Go on.. be adventurous give it a go!

Honey Sriracha Chicken Pizza

(Recipe adapted from tablespoon.com)

Makes: 1 large pizza

1/4 cup honey

2 tablespoons orange marmalade

1 tablespoon soy sauce

2 teaspoons lime juice

2 tablespoons sriracha chilli sauce

1 cup cooked chicken, shredded

cooking spray

1 serve Incredibly Easy Pizza Dough

2 tablespoons tomato paste

1/2 cup grated tasty cheese

4 slices rindless bacon, cooked and chopped finely

10 cherry tomatoes, halved

1/4 cup sliced jalapeños

8 baby Bocconcini balls or 1/4 cup grated mozzerella

In a small saucepan combine the honey, soy sauce, orange marmalade, lime juice, and 2 tablespoons sriracha. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat. Simmer 5 minutes or until slightly thickened. Once the sauce is thickened, remove from the heat and add the chicken. Toss well.

Preheat oven to 220 degrees Celsius or light pizza oven.

Spray a non stick frying pan with cooking spray. Add chicken and cook over medium to high heat until browned and cooked through. Remove from heat.

Spray a pizza tray with cooking spray.

Shape dough onto pizza tray.

Cover the pizza with tomato paste.  Sprinkle with grated tasty cheese. Evenly spread with the chicken mixture.

Top with bacon , tomatoes, jalapeños and Bocconcini (mozzarella) over the top.

 

Cooked for 10 - 15 minutes or until base is crispy and cheese is golden and melted.

 

 

(Click here for a printable version of this recipe)

Chicken Carbonara Pizza

Yes this can only be from a teenager.... Alex hates pizza but adores Chicken Carbonara Pizza! Go figure?  Normally Alex will eat everything else but pizza.  When we said we were having pizza tonight before she could complain I said do you want your Chicken Carbonara Pizza?  The answer was yes!

 

Having said this - it's one of the easiest pizzas to make!  Very few ingredients equals one happy teenager.  So as far as I am concerned it's a win-win.

 

We obviously use a home made pizza base but you could use a pre brought pizza base or pita bread - that's up to you.

 

I guess pizzas are great as you can choose your own toppings - but who can go wrong with juicy tender chicken smothered in everyone's favourite creamy cheesy bacon carbonara?

 

 

Chicken Carbonara Pizza

 

Serves: 2 hungry teenagers (LOL)

 

cooking spray

1 chicken fillet, diced

1 serve of Incredibly Easy Pizza Dough

tomato paste, optional

425 gram tub of LaTina Creamy Carbonara

1/2 cup grated tasty cheese

Preheat oven to 220 degrees Celsius or light pizza oven.

 

Spray a non stick frying pan with cooking spray.  Add chicken and cook over medium to high heat until browned and cooked through.  Remove from heat.

 

Spray a pizza tray with cooking spray. 

 

Shape dough onto pizza tray.

 

Spread with tomato paste if using.

 

Top with cooked diced chicken.,

 

Smother with Creamy Carbonara Sauce.

 

Sprinkle evenly with grated cheese,.

 

Cooked for 10 - 15 minutes or until base is crispy and cheese is golden and melted.

(Click here for a printable version of this recipe)

Incredibly Easy Pizza Dough (or Bread Dough)

Noel is normally the pizza dough maker.  In fact I have to say the patience he has had experimenting with all types of pizza dough recipes has been great - I am sure that he has cursed the fact that we brought him a pizza oven for his birthday!  LOL!

 

Anyways, we tried this recipe the last time we made pizzas and it was really yum as a pizza base. The recipe doubles as bread day also, which I must say is great also.

 

It is a very light pizza base, once cooked.  A little sticky to work with - but Noel swears by the fact that the wetter the dough the better the pizza base.

 

 

Incredibly Easy Pizza Dough (or Bread Dough)

(recipe sourced from Poh's Kitchen)

 

Makes: 4 pizza bases or 2 loaves of bread

 

600 grams plain white flour (best to use good strong baker's flour - higher in protein)

4 teaspoons dried yeast

2 teaspoons sugar

2 teaspoons salt

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

400ml water

Mix one tablespoon of flour, the sugar and yeast with a couple of tablespoons of tepid water and allow to stand for 20 minutes.

 

In a large bowl mix flour, one tablespoon of olive oil and salt.

 

Add yeast mixture and enough water to make up a firm dough and mix well.

 

Cover bowl with damp tea towel and leave in a warm place for an hour.

 

Remove dough to a floured workbench and knead for five or six minutes.

 

Divide dough into 4 and shape onto pizza trays.  Top with your favourite toppings and bake.

 

To make bread:

 

Divide dough into two, knead each into a loaf shape, put in oiled bread tin, cover with damp tea towel and leave in a warm place for an hour.

 

Before baking, sprinkle surface of each loaf with flour.

 

Bake in moderately hot oven (200°C) for about 45 minutes, or until top is golden brown and bottom is light brown. Tap the bottom, it should sound hollow.

(Click here for a printable version of this recipe)

Pork, Artichoke and Spinach Meatloaf

Meatloaf - just an easy dish to prepare and everyone loves it!  But the great thing about meatloaf is that you can honestly use any meat and any flavourings and it is always delicious.

 

Normally when we cook meatloaf we always use beef mince... not sure why?  Just seem to always do.  Well this time was totally different as I had found a recipe for a pork meatloaf that really intrigued me.

 

Pork mixed with spinach, home roasted capsicums, artichoke hearts - what a flavour combination.   The subtle hint of lemon and thyme gave the meatloaf a nice touch but the sticky topping finished the dish off perfectly.

 

As usual we had some beautiful soft bap rolls and accompanied with our favourite Creamy Coleslaw Supreme.

 

Quite simple to make, this dish can be cooked either in the oven or the slow cooker and I am sure your family will enjoy.

 

 

Pork, Artichoke and Spinach Meatloaf

(recipe adapted from Weight Watchers Real Food Slow)

 

Serves: 4

SmartPoints per serve: 8

 

cooking spray

2 red capsicum

500 grams lean pork mince

1 1/2 cups fresh wholegrain breadcrumbs

1 brown onion, finely chopped

300 grams artichoke hearts in brine, drained

100 grams baby spinach, chopped finely

1 teaspoon finely grated lemon rind

1 tablespoon lemon juice

2 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves

salt

freshly ground black pepper

1/4 cup sweet chilli sauce

1 tablespoon tomato sauce

 

Preheat grill.

 

Line a baking tray with foil and spray with cooking spray.

 

Cut capsicum into quarters and deseed.  Place on baking tray skin side up.  Grill until black.  Turn off grill and remove capsicum and place in a plastic bag to sweat.  Allow to cool.  

 

Once cooled remove all the blackened skin from capsicum.  Chopped finely and place in large bowl.

 

Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius.

 

Add mince, breadcrumbs, onion, artichoke, spinach, rind, juice, thyme and 2 tablespoons chilli sauce to capsicum.  Season with salt and pepper.  Mix until well combined.

 

Line baking tray with cooking paper.  Shape mixture onto tray into a 20 cm x 10cm loaf shape.

 

 

Bake in oven for 20 minutes.

 

Combine remaining chilli sauce and tomato sauce in a small jug and spoon over top of meatloaf.

 

 

Return meatloaf to oven and cook for 20 - 25 minutes or until cooked through.

 

To cook in slow cooker:

 

Shape mixture into 20 cm x 10 cm loaf shape in a 4.5 litre slow cooker. 

 

Combine remaining chilli sauce and tomato sauce in a small jug and spoon over top of meatloaf.

 

Cook, covered, on low for 6 hours (3 hours on high).

 

Serve with a salad, if desired.

 

(Click here for a printable version of this recipe)

 

 

 

 

Chicken with Walnut Sage Chilli and Lemon

Work has been so busy of late that my meals this week have been planned with two words in mind... quick and easy.  This recipe covered both quick and easy.

Plain Jane chicken fillets covered in a topping I would never have thought of cooking,  That is until I saw the recipe of course.

The chicken was tender and juicy while the crumble style topping was bursting with flavour.  The nuttiness of the walnuts combined with the garlic and chilli complimented each other with a burst every now and then from the crispy butter soaked sage leaves.

On the table in under an hour with the use of one baking dish and one frying pan.... a recipe perfectly made for mid week cooking.

Chicken with Walnut Sage Chilli and Lemon

(Recipe adapted from WW Eat Well Diabetes Cookbook)

Serves: 4
SmartPoints per serve: 8

700 grams baby potatoes

cooking spray

sea salt

2 teaspoons olive oil

4 x 150 gram lean chicken breast fillets

2 teaspoons reduced fat butter or spread

1/3 cup coarsely chopped walnuts

2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

1/4 cup fresh sage leaves

1 long fresh red chilli, deseeded, thinly sliced

2 tablespoons lemon juice

freshly ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 220 degrees Celsius.

Spread potatoes on a large baking tray and lightly spray with cooking spray.  Sprinkle with sea salt.  Bake, turning once hallway through cooking, for 30 - 40 minutes or until golden and tender.

Meanwhile, heat oil in a large non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat.  Cooked for 5 - 6 minutes each side or until cooked through.  Transfer to a plate.  Cover with foil and set aside to rest for 5 minutes.

Melt butter or spread in the same pan over medium heat.  Cook walnuts, garlic, sage and chilli, stirring for 5 minutes or until walnuts are golden.  Add juice and stir until heated through.  Season with black pepper, to taste.

Top chicken with walnut mixture and serve with baked potatoes and other steamed vegetables of your choice.

(Click here for a printable version of this recipe)

Creamy Slow Cooked Pulled Pork Enchiladas

There are two dishes I really definitely enjoy experimenting with - the first is lasagne and the second is enchiladas.  The potential for flavours is endless.

Lasagne and enchilada fillings can consist of anything... here are a few of our other creations, just to name a fewm, that have been enjoyed in the past.

• Cowboy Lasagne
• Guy Grossi’s Mammas "Tweaked" Classic Italian Lasagne
  
• Ham, Zucchini and Caramelised Onion Lasagne
• Pork Mushroom and Sage Lasagne (one of my favourites)
• Chicken and Corn Lasagne
• Chorizo and Smokey Beef Enchildas
• Beef and Capsicum Enchiladas

This dish was no exception.  The flavours really complimented by a creamy white sauce smothered in cheese.  Yes this will also appear on the comfort food list as it really was so good.

Start by slow cooking the pork in the sauce and once cooled enough, shred and roll in the burrito wraps.  Very simple!  Without including the slow cooking time, this meal will be on the table in under 1 hour.

Strangely enough, there was no taco seasonings were used and you really wouldn't even realise that when you are eating it.  A combination of garlic, chilli and capsicum is the basic flavourings - to be honest it's amazing.

Creamy Slow Cooked Pulled Pork Enchiladas

(Recipe adapted from Weight Watchers Eat Well Diabetes)

Serves: 6

cooking spray

500 grams lean pork neck or shoulder, fat trimmed

1 brown onion, diced

1 green capsicum, chopped

1 garlic clove, crushed

1 small fresh red chilli, thinly sliced

400 gram can diced tomatoes

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

salt

freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup corn kernels

30 grams low fat butter

30 grams plain flour

2 cups skim milk

2 teaspoons dijon mustard

white pepper

6 low fat burrito

100 grams reduced grated fat tasty cheese

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

Lightly spray a frying pan with cooking spray and heat over medium-high heat.  Cook pork, turning, for 5 minutes or until browned all over.  Remove from heat and place pork in slow cooker vessel.

Add onion, capsicum, garlic, chilli, tomatoes and apple cider vinegar.  Season with salt and pepper.

Stir to combine.  

Cook on low for 8 - 10 hours or until pork is tender.  Leave to cool.

Once pork is cool, remove pork from sauce.  Using two forks, coarsely shred he pork apart.  Return pork to the sauce and add corn kernels.  Mix well to combine.

In a heavy based saucepan over medium-heat add butter.  Heat until melted and using a wooden spoon add flour, stirring continuously, until you form a roux.  Remove from heat.  Add milk and using a whisk, stir until roux is dissolved.  

Place saucepan back on stove over heat and bring to the boil, stirring continuously.  Lower heat, add mustard and season with white pepper.  Continue stirring until slightly thickened.  Remove from heat. 

Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius.

Spray a large baking dish with cooking spray.

Take one burrito and lay flat on chopping board or bench.  Top with 1/6 of the pulled pork mixure.  Roll up and place in baking dish.  Repeat with remaining burritos.

Smother the buritto rolls with white sauce.

Sprinkle with grated cheese and smoked paprika.

(Yes I doubled the recipe and made 2 - oops)

Place in oven and cook for 30 - 40 minutes until cooked through and cheese is melted and golden.

Enjoy with a leafy salad, if desired.

(Click here for a printable version of this recipe)

Creamy Pasta with Chicken and Brocollini

We hadn't had pasta for a while, or at least it seemed like it had been a long time.  I thought I would try a diabetes friendly creamy pasta dish.  Sounds to good to be true, right?

OMG it was yummy!  The flavours just burst in your mouth.  Heaven in a bowl - the comfort of a creamy sauce, tender chicken and soft pasta.  

I found the combination of lemon and rosemary really flavoursome - I was a little worried that it would taste more like a dessert with using the lemon but it was balance perfectly.  The chicken was moist and tender and the broccolini was just cooked to perfection.

Overall, this pasta dish was enjoyed by one and all.

Creamy Pasta with Chicken and Broccolini

(Recipe adapted from WW Eat Well Diabetes)

Serves: 4

SmartPoints per serve: 13

250 grams fettuccine pasta

2 bunches broccolini, coarsely chopped

cooking spray

500 grams lean chicken breast fillets, fat trimmed

2 garlic cloves, crushed

2 teaspoons finely grated lemon rind

1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary

salt

freshly ground black pepper

2 teaspoons cornflour

1 teaspoon chicken stock powder

375 ml can evaporated skim milk

Cook fettuccine in a large saucepan of boiling water, following packet instructions, or until just tender.  Add broccolini for last 2 minutes of cooking, drain.

Meanwhile, stray a deep non-stick frying pan over high heat.  Cook chicken, stirring, for 5 minutes or until browned.  Add garlic, lemon rind and rosemary and cook, stirring for 1 minute.  Season with salt and pepper.

In a small jug combine cornflour, stock powder and 2 tablespoons evaporated milk and mix until smooth.

Add remaining milk to the pan with the chicken and bring to the boil.  Gradually stir in the cornflour mixture.  Reduce heat and simmer, stirring, for 2 minutes or until mixture slightly thickens.

Add pasta and broccolini to pan with chicken and toss gently to coat in sauce and pasta is heat ed through.

Serve with a 0 SmartPoint salad and if desired freshly grated parmesan cheese (SP point value depending on quantity).

(Click here for a printable version of this recipe)

Blueberry Coconut and Banana Muffins

I'm pretty sure that these will be the last of the banana muffins for awhile as I have decided due to the lack of interest in eating them (my kids are on a non fruit vigil at the moment I am certain) I've decided to stop buying them for a while.  However saying this everyone at work has been enjoying my recently baked muffins, although I have been told that the Banana Crumble Muffins are still the favourite.

I really enjoyed this combination  - the juiciness of the blueberries combined with the added sweetness and nuttiness of the coconut added perfectly to the subtle undertones of the banana and cinnamon.  Personally I think this one is a winner!

Blueberry, Coconut and Banana Muffins

Makes 12 muffins

Smart Points Per Serve: SP Warning

1 1/2 cups self raising flour

1 cup white sugar
1 cup shredded coconut

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 medium, ripe bananas

1 egg

1/3 cup canola oil
1/3 cup skim milk
1 teaspoon cinnamon

2 teaspoon vanilla extract
250 grams frozen blueberries

Preheat your oven to 190 degrees Celsius and line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.

In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients.

In another bowl, mash the bananas. Add egg, oil, milk, cinnamon and vanilla and mix well.

Combine the dry and wet ingredients and stir until it just comes together

Fill prepared muffin tins evenly.

Bake muffins for 18 to 22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

(Click here for a printable version of this recipe)

Homemade Ranch Dressing

Nothing tastes better than making something at home that you normally buy premade at the shops. This is always the case with dressings, sauces, marinades and flavour mixes. Free from all the preservatives and nasty ingredients hidden by the manufacturer to ensure their product stays edible for what can at times be up the 3 or 4 years. I look at some labels and think to myself that there are more additives in some foods than there is actual real ingredients.

Tonight I decided to make some Ranch Dressing to go with our chicken fillets and salad.  Of course another perfect chance to use some of the wonderfully fresh herbs we have been growing.

This recipe is super easy and seriously you will not believe the difference in taste from it's bottled counterpart.  It will keep well in the fridge in a sealed jar for up to a week - that's if it lasts that long as it honestly tastes so good.

Homemade Ranch Dressing

(Recipe adapted from foodiecrush.com)

Makes: approx. 1 cup

6 tablespoons mayonnaise

6 tablespoons buttermilk

4 tablespoons sour cream

2 teaspoon champagne or white vinegar

2 clove garlic, pressed or finely minced

2 tablespoon chopped chives

2 tablespoon Italian parsley, finely chopped

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

2 teaspoon fresh dill, finely chopped

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

pinch of cayenne pepper

Mix all of the ingredients together in a small bowl.

Add more buttermilk for desired consistency.

Refrigerate until ready to serve.

(Click here for a printable version of this recipe)

(home grown Italian Parsley)

Roast Tarragon Chicken with Creamy Sauce

Sunday is our roast day normally... sometimes it doesn't happen though more so during the winter months when it is Football season. So I try and ensure we have a roast once a week other times of the year.

 

Tonight we had Roast Tarragon Chicken with Creamy Sauce.  I was actually quite worried how this would be received as I am every time I cook a non Traditional roast.  No gravy - a creamy sauce instead.  No stuffing anywhere to be seen. Only lots of tarragon, lemons and roasted vegetables (even these were different to the norm).

 

Saying all of this, the chicken was absolutely tender and full of flavour.  Tarragon adds such a distinctive flavour, it is slightly bittersweet and has an aroma similar to anise.  One of it's most popular uses is in the well known Béarnaise Sauce.  The lemon added acidity but the overall taste was quite balanced.

It was really nice to have different vegetables roasted - all the flavours went well together.  And the creamy sauce.... well what can I say?  It was yum and possibly my new found favourite when it comes to serving with chicken!  Move over gravy.....

Roast Tarragon Chicken with Creamy Sauce

(Recipe sourced from Turn Up The Flavour Cookbook)

 

Serves: 4

SmartPoints per Serve: 9

 

1.2kg whole chicken, fat trimmed

cooking spray

1/2 cup fresh tarragon leaves, plus extra 2 teaspoons chopped for sauce

salt

freshly ground black pepper

1 lemon, halved

500 gram pumpkin, cut into 4 cm pieces

2 zucchini, chopped

1 bunch asparagus, cut into 4 cm lengths

250 grams cherry tomatoes

1/4 cup light thickened cream

3 teaspoons Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest

Preheat oven to 200 degrees Celsius or 180 degrees Celsius fan forced. 

 

Place chicken in a baking dish and spray with cooking spray.  Place 1/3 cup tarragon leaves in the chicken cavity.  Sprinkle chicken with remaining tarragon leaves.  Season with salt and pepper.  Add lemon halves to dish.  Bake for 1 hour or until chicken is cooked through.  Transfer chicken and lemon halves to a plate.  Cover with foil and set aside to rest for 10 minutes.  Reserve cooking juices in pan.

 

Meanwhile, line a large baking tray with baking paper.  Spread pumpkin, zucchini, asparagus and cherry tomatoes on tray.  L:ightly spray with cooking spray and cook with chicken for 40 minutes or until golden and tender.

 

Skim and discard fat from cooking juices.  Drain juices into a small saucepan.  Add cream and mustard and bring to the boil.  Reduce heat and simmer, stirring for 2 minutes or until slightly thickened.    Stir in extra chopped tarragon.

 

Sprinkle chicken with zest and drizzle with juice from the roasted lemon halves.  Serve with vegetables and sauce.

 

(Click here for a printable version of this recipe)

 

 

Chunky Apple Sauce

We had Crumbed Pork Cutlets for dinner and of course, during cooking I realised that I didn't have a jar of Apple Sauce in the house.  It was too late to run down the shops and buy some and to be totally honest the thought of going to the shops for one item NEVER appeals to me especially at night.

Thankfully there were apples sitting in the fruit basket and I decided they would become our Apple Sauce!  Apple Sauce is a really simple and quick sauce to make.  After quickly Googling many recipes it can also be as Plain Jane or as decadent as you wish.

This recipe is a simple one - 4 ingredients plus salt and pepper if you desire (however I didn't use any). As there wasn't a large amount of sugar compared to some recipes it wasn't overly sugary yet it was naturally sweet from the apples.  I also prefer a chunkier style Apple Sauce but you can easily puree it in a food processer to be smooth.

Beats shop brought Apple Sauce any day......

Chunky Apple Sauce

(Recipe sourced from Taste.com)

Makes: 1 1/2 cups

2 medium granny smith apples, peeled, cored, chopped

1 tablespoon caster sugar

1/4 teaspoon mixed spice

1 tablespoon lemon juice

salt, if required

ground white pepper, if required

Place apple, sugar, mixed spice, lemon juice and 1/4 cup cold water in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer, covered, for 10 minutes or until apple is tender.

Season with salt and pepper, if required.

Allow to cool and serve.

If you prefer a smooth apple sauce place mixture in a food processor. Process until smooth.

(Click here for a printable version of this recipe)

Creamy Coleslaw Supreme

One of my favourite side dishes is Coleslaw but have to be perfectly honest I dislike the usual shop brought bottled Coleslaw Dressing as it just tastes so dull (not to mention it's full of preservatives and nasties).

The best Coleslaw is homemade.   Crunchy salad ingredients smothered in a creamy mayonnaise.  Every mouthful exciting the tastebuds and full of flavour.  I add other vegetables into the mix rather than just the normal red and green cabbage - extra bonus adding to the flavour.

I have to admit that I like to dress this salad as close to serving as possible to ensure that it is super crunchy but it does stay crunchy for quite a while if mixed to take to a picnic or to a bbq.  I love it on burgers - in fact I make it nearly every time we have homemade burgers.

Once you have made this coleslaw you will never buy it from the deli again.  And best of all it's very easy to make.

Creamy Coleslaw Supreme

Serves: 6 - 8

3/4 cup low fat mayonnaise

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper

3 tablespoons sugar

1/4 head green cabbage, thinly sliced

1/4 head red cabbage, thinly sliced

4 carrots, peeled and grated

4 spring onions, thinly sliced

1 cup corn kernels

Combine mayonnaise, vinegar, mustard, black pepper, and sugar in a medium bowl and whisk until homogenous. Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt, pepper, sugar, and/or vinegar if desired.  Refrigerate until required.

Combine cabbage, carrot, spring onion and corn in a large bowl.  Mix well.

Pour dressing over cabbage mixture and toss to coat.

(Click here for a printable version of this recipe)

Banana and Double Choc Chip Muffins

When you have over ripe bananas there is no need to bin them... use them!!  In fact the "over riper" they are the better... and looking over at my fruit bowl I could see my bananas had hit that category.  Obviously the only thing to do was to make a batch of muffins...

 

My favourite muffin recipe to date using bananas is Banana Crumble Muffins, which everyone thoroughly enjoyed including work colleagues. This muffin recipe is one of the easiest to follow so I just adapted it to make this latest creation of Banana and Double Choc Chip Muffins.  Why double choc chip?  Because I used a mixture of dark and milk choc chips (actually 2 whole bags of each).

 

As per usual they were moist and light with the added sweetness of the chocolate randomly appearing with every mouthful....

Banana and Double Choc Chip Muffins

 

Makes 12

1 1/2 cups self raising flour

1 cup white sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 medium, ripe bananas

1 egg

1/3 cup canola oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

200 grams dark choc chips
200 grams milk choc chips

 

Preheat your oven to 190 degrees Celsius and line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.

 

In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients.

 

In another bowl, mash the bananas. Add egg, oil and vanilla and mix well.

 

Combine the dry and wet ingredients and stir until it just comes together

 

Fill prepared muffin tins evenly.

 

Bake muffins for 18 to 22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

(Click here for a printable version of this recipe)

Spice Roasted Pumpkin and Ricotta Brushetta

OMG I don't think I have ever mentioned on here that my favourite place to go to enjoy fresh farm produce and wine is Green Olive at Red Hill, right here on the Mornington Peninsula.  Noel and I actually attended a sausage making class there and enjoyed ourselves so much that we often go there just to enjoy their tapas style menu and sit, relaxing, enjoying the views which look over the winery,  the paddocks normally full with sheep grazing and the dam with the ducks waddling about.  (I have added some of our recent photos after the recipe.)

Why is this bruschetta so enjoyable?  To be honest I would never have strayed away from the traditional bruschetta made with tomatoes, red onion and feta until we went to Green Olive.  Roasted Pumpkin with cumin until tender, slightly mashed and served on crusty bread with ricotta.  It makes your taste buds dance - trust me!

Now the chefs at Green Olive actually serve this magnificent treat with Salsa Verde but we did not have this one hand (or the ingredients) so I improvised and drizzled balsamic glaze over the toppings.  It was still very nice (however if you live near the Mornington Peninsula do yourself a flavour and visit Green Olive).

Spice Roasted Pumpkin and Ricotta Brushetta

(recipe adapted from Green Olive)

Serves: 4

250 grams Jap pumpkin, peeled and diced large

cooking spray

2 tablespoons cumin seeds

8 slices crusty bread

olive oil

100 grams rocket leaves

100 grams fresh low fat ricotta

balsamic glaze, to drizzle

Preheat oven to 189 degrees Celsius.

Line a baking sheet with baking paper and spray with cooking spray.  Place pumpkin on baking tray in a single layer. Sprinkle with cumin seeds.  Spray pumpkin with a light layer of cooking spray.  Cook, turning once, for 20 - 25 minutes or until tender.  Remove from oven and allow to cool.

Meanwhile, preheat grill.  Brush with olive oil and place under the grill until lightly toasted.  Turn over and repeat with other side of bread.  Remove from grill.

Mash pumpkin lightly, retaining some shape and texture.

Place bread slices on serving plate or individual plates.

Place the rocket leaves on the bread slices.

Top evenly with pumpkin. 

Sprinkle ricotta randomly over the pumpkin.

Drizzle balsamic glaze over the bruschetta.

Serve immediately.

(Click here for a printable version of this recipe)