No pics - BBQs

Hello folks - no pics today, or yesterday, as food was not glamorous, and peeps were hungry.  But, due to lovely weather we ended up with BBQs 2 days running.  Yesterday mostly featured steak and burgers, and tonday tuna in lemon and garlic - with green salad, pasta salad, coleslaw and tomato salad.  The banana and mandarin cake (see last post) was scoffed, and got the thumbs up all round.  Also, slurped were some of the fresh juice lollies I have been experimenting with - this was the pic I regretted not taking - will post some soon :). 3 eggs - Sophie, Clarissa (probably) and Nigella ... whoop whoop .. her second we think!

Banana and mandarin cake

Banana and mandarin cake - more or less from here -http://chichoskitchen.blogspot.com/2011/04/banana-and-raspberry-cake.html but, as raspberries are not in season added mandarin orange segments from a tin instead.  A good idea!

Mongolian beef

Mongolian beef with rice.  Grated thumb size piece of ginger & 2 large cloves of garlic - cooked with about half a cup soy sauce and the same amount of water.  Added splach of rice wine and heated, stirred in spoonful of chili paste and handful of dark brown sugar - simmered for 10 mins.  Steak cut into bite sized pieces and tossed in cornflour.  Veg - carrots, red pepper and mushrooms - steamed.  Fried off beef, added veg and sauce and spring onions - simmered for another couple of minutes. Sprinke with sesame seeds. Nice and a change, but would be better as a small dish with a number of others as the sauce is strong and could benefit from releif from spicy stickiness.  Victim likes Chinese, so slurped it up, but thought it would be better as part of a suite of dishes.  And, it is Great British Beef week, so it was fitting, http://www.nfuonline.com/News/Celebrate-Great-British-Beef-Week/.  3 eggs today - Sophie, Rosemary and Clarissa. 

Fusilli with chicken, asparagus and brocolli

Another dead easy dinner - and stuffed full of vegetables.  As you can see the proportion of veg to pasta is quite high in our version - hence appearance of green mush!  Recipe - such as it is boil pasta (in chicken stock gives you a bit of extra flavour, but could be just water) after 6 minutes add brocolli and chopped asaparagus stem.  After 3 more mins add asparagus tips and fresh edame beans.  2 mins later add chopped sping onion.  Meanwhile brown chicken pieces.  Drain pasta and veg, keeping a little stock back, stir though greek yogurt and a handful of parmesan.  Top with a seriously good grinding of black pepper.  Victim ate a bowl full without complaining, result!  Do you like the new table cloth?  I think I'm having an attack of the twee.  No eggs at all today :(

Moussaka: on a school night!

4 pans - multiple processes - and on a work night.  But yum - tiddly - yum -yum.  Victim approved heartily.  Little does she know that not only did I insist on the consumption of some green beans - but as well as the aubergine and onion I had also snuck in goodly amounts of edame beans, pepper and tomato  :evil grin: That with the courgette and mushroom frittata for lunch and the fresh fruit lolly (banana milkshake today) bring sneaky fruit and veg portions up to 10, or there abouts.  Oh, yes, and the bechamel was made with soya milk - so I think that's at least another half a portion ... snicker.  Chicken news:  I forgot to say Jennifer too did infact turn out to be Jeremy, so he has gone back to the farm.  Egg count today = 3 Sophie, Clarissa and Nigella?).  I'm not 100% sure, but I think we had Nigella's first today.  Sophie and Rosemary lay oval "egg" shaped eggs - Clarissa much more rounded - and today we had an even smaller, lovely little round one, so I think that's Nigella.

1st BBQ of the year & pancakes with blueberry syrup for breakfast

And not particularly exciting - mini burgers with *hot* stir fried veggies - boy, Nando's hot sauce is HOT HOT HOT.  Pancakes and blueberry syrup was for breakfast - yum, chortle, yum.

Chicken paella with brocolli spears

Chicken and veg paella, with some sprouting brocolli steam over the top - simples :)  presentation still rubbish, but tasted good - even made stressed victim smile.

Chicken, green beans and tomato pesto spaghetti

The title says it all - except 12 minutes door to plate!

Banana cake & Omelette/ frittata

Banana cake with chocolate and hazelnut spread frosting - more or less from here http://toastybiscuit.com/2011/03/the-cake-seinfeld-ish-banana-cake-with-nutella-frosting/ .. added a bit of rum to mix, and used yogurt instead of buttermilk.

Braised beef and carrots (and leeks and beans) with rice (was OK, nothing more)

Gently fried up last night's left over pepper salad, added seasonned beaten eggs with chopped wild garlic leaves.  Cooked a bit - topped with basil leaves and grated cheese - finished in the oven.  Probably more of a frittata than an omelette.  delicious!  Victim wasn't interested and went for a tin of ravioli - cold - blah.

Spicy chicken tortillas

OK - Cajun blackened chicken pieces sizzled on a hot griddle, guacamole (avocado, spring onion, lime juice, olive oil, wild garlic and basil leaves chopped, fresh chopped plum tomatoes, salt & pepper), pepper salad (fresh red and orange peppers with spring onion - I was going to griddle them but victim wanted them raw - I think they would be tastier sauteed to take the crunchy edge off and add a bit of garlic and chili) - sour cream, lettuce, jalapenos - all wrapped in a flour tortilla.  I did not include grated cheese for the top - but this would be a delish addition if you were not on the way to a weight loss marathon.  Victim added some chopped gherkins - each to their own, I say!

Potato, onion and bacon bake

Layers of potato, onion and bacon bits - 1 pint chicken (or other) stock with 1 clove of garlic crushed and mixed in poured over the top.  Drizzle of olive oil, season - bake for 1 hour.  Steam brocolli.  Victim loves the spuds, and has to be persuaded to eat the green things.

Malaysian fish curry

When Dee went to Malaysia she foolishly asked if I would like anything bringing back - yummy stuff I said.  Traditional fish head curry mix was what I got!  and some strange tea mix.  The fish head curry (omitting actual heads) is very nice.  Make a paste of garlic and ginger, and a curry paste with the mix in a little water.  Fry curry mix, add ginger and garlic paste and add vegetables (spring onion, red pepper and green beans today).  Simmer until veg is nearly done, then add fish and some coconut milk.  Add chopped tomatoes and red chili, squirt of lime juice - serve.  Yummy stuff indeed, thanks Dee.

Chicken and mushroom stroganoff & Bananas in custard

Chicken, mushroom and leek stroganoff.  Saute leek (or onion) until soft, add chicken and brown a bit, add big glass of white wine and vegetables (mushrooms and orange pepper this time) and chicken stock.  Simmer for 15 minutues.  Take off the heat, add frozen peas and creme fraiche, black pepper and sweet paprika.  Stir in cooked tagliatelli.  Sprinkle with parsley and paprika.  It was nice, but not much to write home about really - decent 8/10.  Victim wanted pudding... and requested banana 'n' custard - so there you go - recipe - banana and custard.  (yuck imho).  Eggs x 2:  Clarissa and Rosemary I think.

Yummy yummy curry, aloo gobi and rice

Yummy yummy curry was a bit too hot in this version, as I added some dried  birdseye chilies, cos I thought it wasn't spicy enough at first taste (damn this cold)!  The aloo gobi was a cheat which I won't do again - it was a bombay potato mix - and had FAR too much turmeric in it - which overpowered the whole dish.  Basmatic and wild rice, always a slightly more interesting mix - and boy did we need the yogurt.  Still struggling with presentation, as is obvious.  Victim not particularly impressed.  The two will be combined and softened into curried soup (about 12 litres?).  Other news - 2 eggs today - looked like Sophie and Clarissa - Nigella and Jennifer too still on ducks.

Stir fried satay noodles

Stir fry of vegetables and noodles in satay sauce.  Stir fry onion, pepper, courgette, mushroon and spinach in garlic and ginger.  Added cooked noodles, satay sauce, soy sauce and rice wine.  Topped with thai basil.  In other news chickens are laying again - 2 eggs yesterday (Sophie and Rosemary probably) - so the other two new ones shouldn't be far behind (Nigella and Jennifer too).

Spring is here

Friends were over from the States, so with 3 visiting parents and 1 brother and his wife, there were 9 for lunch.  Didn't manage to snap any of the food, but this is the kitchen this morning - after 3 loads through the dish washer already!  Fortunately it was a lovely sunny day, so spinach souffle, new potatoes and salads were the right choice.  Pudding was supplied by brother - delicious apple cake (River Cottage, I believe) and rhubard crumble.

Thai red chicken curry

Trying to work on my presentation - but obviously some way to go!  However, was fresh and delish - addition of lime juice in last few seconds essential to add that extra zing.  Also, pic looks like curry is sat in a puddle of pond water.  The pond water is the curry sauce and is the bit which holds the flavour, but like a gravy spreads all over the plate.  Victim gave it 8/10 ... but that's sour grapes cos she prefers green curry (too hot for me often).  Recipe - soften chopped onions in peanut oil (don't use olive oil the flavours clash), stir in 1-2 tbsps thai curry paste (this time I used bought, some brands are good, some less good - home made is fresher, but time consuming - I did add some more crushed garlic and finely chopped red chilli).  Add chicken, just starting cooking process - no real need to brown, just stop it from sticking -  if it starts sticking add half a cup of water over a high heat and use a fish slice to
lift stickings from the bottom of the pan.  Add veg - red pepper, courgette, mushrooms and green beans tonight - could have included carrots, peas, sweetcorn, aubergine, butternut squash, kholrabi etc etc.  Stir in 1 tin coconut milk & rinse tin with about half a s much water - add that too  - add splash of fish sauce.  Simmer, covered, or put in hottish oven for 20+ mins.  Squeeze of fresh lime - jobs a good'un.  Served here with Thai jasmine rice.  Could've added thai basil and/or coriander - but none to hand tonight.

Spanish omelette and salad

Spanish omelette made with Clarissa and Sophie's eggs - delicious.  Boil potatoes, saute onion, pepper, mushroom, bacon (and whatever else is to hand) add boiled potatoes and frozen peas, season.  Whisk eggs, add to mixture fry gently for a couple of minutes, then 20 minutes in the oven, with or without grated cheese on top.  Tomato ketchup is essential.  Victim complained about green things - but will have the 5 a day provided, even if not always consumed.  Clarissa and Sophie have been joined by another 3 bantams - Nigella, Rosemary and Jennifer too - so hopefully there will be lots of eggs coming soon.  They are about 19 weeks old, so should start laying sometime this month.  The jury is out, however, as to whether Jennifer too is infact a hen, and not a cockeral!  Leftovers heated up for breakfast - yum - proper weekend treat.