Season's Greetings from the Feed Your Inner Cooks

Thank you for reading our recipe blog and we wish you and your families a Wonderfully Tasty and Happy Christmas 


May your cooking taste as wonderful as Belinda Jeffery's 

May your Christmas Day be as calm and effortless as Donna Hay  

May your guests' smiles be as beaming as Maggie Beer's

May you look as fabulous and unflustered as Nigella 

May the calories go to your darling Sister's (or skinny friend's) hips 

          and ...

May someone else wash up!   (anyone except Jamie Oliver - he spills stuff on the floor during his cooking videos)

Good Health,    

                       Contented Tummies

                                           Much Laughter

                                                          and   Safe Travelling

                      

We look forward to sharing more recipes with you in 2013 

                      Best Wishes 

                     The Feed Your Inner Cooks

  

                      PS - no doggie was hurt in the taking of this photo 
                           - just embarrassed and bemused.

Roasted Eggplant and Cumin Spiced Mince

I found this Margaret Fulton recipe that includes roasted eggplant, so it has a different flavour to most mince recipes.  It can be quite flexible  - depending on what  vegetables are in your fridge and what type of mince you select to cook. I have made a few alterations to the original.

You could serve this on a large platter as a one-dish meal because the vegetables are cooked with the mince and the salad is incorporated into the presentation of the dish. 

Because it does not need to be served piping hot, it could be a good option for a summer dinner as an alternative to a salad dish.

Serves 5 -6 people depending on how hungry they are

Preparation time  -  20 minutes including charring the eggplants        

Cooking              -  20 minutes

Ingredients

2 medium eggplants    or    8-10 finger eggplants (Note – See below  -  must be charred prior)

              or  -   if you are really pressed for time - Delis sell charred eggplants in bottles

2 onions – finely chopped

Small amount of Extra Virgin Olive Oil

500g lean mince.  Either beef or lamb would work well with these flavours

1 teaspoon ground cumin

Pinch of ground chillies (this amount is mild/moderate)  Adjust to your preference.

1 x 400g tin of crushed tomatoes

1 x 400g tin of chick peas or lentils   -  very well rinsed and drained

¼ head of cauliflower – chopped into small florets

Good handful of green beans - sliced

2 tablespoons Tahini paste

½ to 1 cup of Low fat Greek yoghurt   (1 tablespoon of this is used with eggplant)    (Refer below) 

1 clove garlic – crushed

¼ - 1/3 cup pine nuts – toasted  (NB - need to be toasted prior to sprinkling on completed dish)

Small amount of parsley – very finely sliced

Small amount of mint – very finely sliced

Salt and pepper – taste at the end and adjust to your taste preference  (I did not need to use salt)

Lettuce leaves

Cucumber - sliced

sliced fresh tomatoes or halved cherry tomatoes.

Serving Options:   shake of paprika, 

                            fresh mint leaves, 

                            few fresh pomegranate seeds, 

                            lemon wedges

Method

Eggplants

Heat chargrill to high.  Place eggplants whole on the grill and turn regularly for about 10-15 minutes.  (Caution -can be smoky).  Skin will go crisp and brown, inside will be tender when pierced with a knife.   Allow to cool slightly so you can touch them.  Halve lengthways and scoop soft flesh into a bowl. Slice eggplant skin finely – keep separate – sliced eggplant skin will be added prior to final serving.

Mash eggplant flesh with a drizzle of olive oil, 1 tablespoon each of tahini and the yoghurt.  Reserve.

Mince

In a large frypan – gently fry onions til soft.

Increase heat and add mince. Cook, breaking up any lumps. Stir well.

Add cumin, chilli and garlic. Mix through.

Stir in the vegetables, tinned tomatoes and lentils and cook until cauliflower is tender. 

Adjust seasonings if necessary.  Stir in the chopped parsley.

Yoghurt dressing

In a small side dish serving bowl, mix ½ cup yoghurt, 1 tablespoon tahini and some chopped mint.

If you want a larger amount of yoghurt dressing – use the full 1 cup.  I find ½ cup is quite enough.

Serving the yoghurt dressing separately allows everyone to moderate their fat intake.

Assembly

Spread the lettuce leaves on the base of a serving platter – this meal is good for sharing at table

-        Or   -  serve on individual plates if preferred

Dollop the eggplant flesh mixture over most of the lettuce.  (Allow space around edge for adding the cucumber and tomatoes later)

Pour the mince/tomato mix over these layers.

Sprinkle with the finely sliced eggplant skin.

Spoon over some of the yoghurt dressing.    I serve the remainder in a side bowl.

Scatter over the pine-nuts, mint and paprika.

Place the slices of cucumber and tomato around the edge of the platter.

Finally, it looks and tastes wonderful with a final sprinkling of pomegranate seeds - (which I put on after the photo!)

Serve lemon wedges in a side bowl.

Enjoy!     Colleen

David's Naughty Nuts

These moreish sweet, salty macadamias are always a treat.  No two batches ever quite taste exactly the same, but are always delicious. Thanks to Belinda Jeffery,  you too will be a star when you produce these "can't stop at one" nut snacks.

These nuts are named in honour of our neighbour David, who was not shy - when the first bowl emptied, he then pleaded for the hidden stash.



Ingredients

1 - 2 tablespoons Macadamia Oil (or light olive oil)
280g Australian macadamias
1/2 cup castor sugar
1  1/2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons freshly ground cumin seeds
3/4  teaspoon freshly ground coriander seeds
1 tablespoon castor sugar  -  extra
1 teaspoon salt flakes

Method

Line a large baking tray with baking paper.
Heat oil in a large frypan, when warm tip in the nuts, shake the pan to coat the nuts.
Reduce heat to low and sprinkle 1/2 cup of sugar over the nuts.
Stir constantly until caramelised to form a darkish toffee (don't worry if some nuts are darker than others).
Mix the spices and salt, add to nuts and toss about to coat.
Spread evenly on the prepared tray trying to keep the nuts as separate as possible.  Cool and then sprinkle with the salt flakes.

Tip
Try to freshly grind the spices, use a mortar and pestle or electric spice grinder, the results will be worth the extra effort.



Mama Marmalade

Chicken Marbella Chorizo

Chicken Marbella Chorizo

This baked chicken dish is simple and delicious.  Overnight marinating really helps bring out the flavours. This is a very popular traditional recipe, and this version was found in Charlotte Wood’s book “Love and Hunger”.  I made a few additions and modifications but have also included the original ingredient amounts –  so you can adjust to your preference. The method involves a few steps but it is still easy to prepare and cook in a hurry.  Hope you enjoy!

trimming fat from chicken thigh fillets - allow 5 -10 minutes

Marinade Preparation: 10 minutes.         
Leave to marinade:    at least 8 hours, preferably overnight.

Cooking Preparation:  20 minutes (including potatoes).           

Baking:  25 – 30 minutes.

             Serves 6    - will depend on how many thigh fillets allowed per person

Ingredients

For Marinade

8 chicken thigh fillets   (approx. 0.8 – 1.0 kg). Add a couple more if you have hungry folks. Please be fussy and remove as much fat from the thigh fillets as you possibly can - remember: fat is fat. 

3 cloves of garlic – peeled and crushed    (originally- 1 head of garlic – which would be very pungent)

¼ cup dried oregano leaves    – bit less is fine     – I used the Greek Oregano leaves from dried stems

1/3 cup red wine vinegar                            (originally ½ cup)

1/4 - 1/3 cup Good Australian Olive Oil     (originally ½ cup. I use 1/4 cup)

1 cup pitted prunes  - I suggest cutting the pitted prunes in half if very large  –  easier to eat later. (I ran out of prunes and substituted a few halved dried figs – was delicious - will always include the figs in future)

¾ cup pitted green olives   - have used black olives – was fine, though green are preferable, I think.  (original recipe used 1 cup olives). Best flavour is from olives you pit yourself - if possible.

¼ cup capers-drained (originally was ½ cup but I think that would be too strong and salty –up to you)

6 fresh Bay Leaves – crush them a little in your hand to release the aroma (used dried if none fresh)

For adding later during the cooking stage

1 chorizo sausage – sliced in thin rounds

1 teaspoon Smoked Paprika

Potatoes – cut into quarters, part-cooked – I used 4 medium -  but add a couple more to extend meal

1 red onion (preferably) – peeled and sliced

Salt (probably won’t need) and Pepper to taste

¼ cup  brown sugar  - may not need the full amount

½ cup  dry White Wine  or substitute Chicken stock if you don't use wine

Parsley – good handful including stems if they are soft – chopped (save some for final flourish)

Method     Chicken Chorizo Marbella

              

This marinade step can be done the night before – only takes five minutes or so – easy

I like adding my marinade ingredients to a big freezer bag (which I later place inside a mixing bowl in case of leaks – never happened yet but …. ).  Then I can splodge it about and massage into the meat – which I try to do whenever I remember as I open the fridge during the marinading process. Not essential but makes me feel very ‘Nigella’.  

If you prefer marinading using a covered glass bowl etc –that’s fine.

Combine all the marinade ingredients – garlic, oregano, vinegar, olive oil, prunes, figs, olives, capers and bay leaves.  Squish them all together in the bag to combine well before adding the meat. 

Add the chicken thigh fillets.  Squish again to evenly cover meat with marinade.

Marinate in the fridge preferably overnight (massage whenever / if -  you remember) 

Method – the cooking stage

You will need a large frypan and

an oven-proof dish / tray -  large enough for the chicken, potatoes and marinade to bake 

- or 2 smaller dishes would be fine

Preheat oven to 200 o Celsius

Check you have the potatoes quartered and part- cooked – they will continue baking in the tray later

Using a large frypan -  brown the chorizo rounds. Should not need oil as the chorizo will release fat.

Remove the chorizo and set aside.

Take chicken pieces from the marinade and brown on both sides in the frypan.  It could spit a little due to the liquid coating.

Arrange browned chicken pieces in the ovenproof tray.

Sprinkle the paprika into the leftover frypan juices and mix in well.

Brown the prepared potato quarters and the sliced onion in the frypan residue til golden.

Remove from heat and toss in half of the chopped parsley.  Mix through.

Add this fried onion potato mix to the tray of chicken.

Spoon the remaining marinade over the chicken.

Mix in some pepper if desired.  I did not need to add any extra salt.

Scatter the chorizo pieces around the chicken.

Sprinkle the brown sugar over the chicken and veg.  (You may not need the whole ¼ cup).

Gently pour the white wine around the chicken pieces in the tray.

Bake for 20 – 30 minutes at 200 o C.  (will depend on your oven) – til chicken is cooked.

Remove from oven and sprinkle with remaining chopped parsley (will help counteract that garlic).  Remove the bay leaves prior to serving.

Serve with your choice of

steamed green vegetables, carrots etc

salads

Chunks of crusty bread

Lemon wedges 
                                                                                                                                 

Enjoy!             Colleen

Indian Spice Rubbed Lamb / Chicken / Beef

Indian Spice Rubbed Lamb

This is a super tasty spice rub mix, perfect to keep in a bottle in the pantry or mix as needed. I have included the measurements for an immediate dinner use and also a larger amount to prepare and save for later. 

It is fragrant and the heat can be controlled by you – if you like it mild – reduce the cayenne pepper, or add more if you like a bit of heat. The amount I have mentioned, I think, makes it flavoursome but not too hot.

It is based on a Nigella recipe and I have used it to spice up lamb chops, lamb steaks, butterflied chicken breast fillets and beef steaks.

Once you have made the rub mixture, it is patted onto the meat and you  cook your steak / chops in the usual way.  The rub cooks to a delicious crust and is a quick way to jazz up a mid-week dinner with almost no effort.  

I have also dusted the spice rub onto raw chops, popped them in a freezer bag, defrosted and cooked them a week later and they were equally good.   Let me know how you cooked this!

Nigella recommends to avoid cooking the chops on too high a heat – you don’t want burnt spices and smoke – patient cooking will reward you with aromatic smells wafting from your kitchen. Yum.

And … if you don’t have time to make the spice rub, Nigella says

3 teaspoons of Madras Curry powder (which is a mild, fragrant turmeric mixture)combined with ½  teaspoon of salt will also work …

Indian Spice Rub  for the meat of your preference (as a guide – this is enough for 8 lamb chops - using about 1/2 teaspoon of mix per chop - approx)

1 teaspoon ground coriander

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon ground ginger

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

¼ teaspoon ground cloves

¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper -   this makes it mild/medium.  Adjust to your preference

½  teaspoon salt  OR   1 teaspoon Sea Salt flakes  -  Nigella uses much more, but I think this is plenty.

Your choice of meat -   eg   8 lamb chops (trim off the fat)  OR  12 small lamb cutlets (trim off the fat)

Tiny splash of oil for cooking

Combine all the spices and salt in a wide shallow bowl. 

Dust the meat pieces with the spice mixture and pat into the meat.

Warm a small amount of oil in a frypan and cook the meat as usual.

Chops will be burnished with a coating of the dusted spice rub.

Serve with lots of steamed veges or salads and maybe a small dollop of yoghurt mixed with mint.

And    …

Indian Spice Rub – Pantry Ready Quantity    to have ready in a bottle (just be sure to name it!)

I have included the teaspoon and the tablespoon measurements – use whichever you prefer

                               4 Teaspoons = 1 tablespoon using Australian Metric system

10 teaspoons ground coriander   = 2 ½ tablespoons

10 teaspoons ground cumin         = 2 ½ tablespoons

10 teaspoons ground ginger         = 2 ½ tablespoons

5 teaspoons ground cinnamon    =  1 ¼ tablespoons

2 ½  teaspoons ground cloves

2 ½  teaspoons cayenne pepper -   this makes it mild/medium.  Adjust to your preference

5 teaspoons  salt  OR   10 teaspoons Sea Salt flakes    OR  1 ¼ tablespoons salt 

OR   2 ½ tablespoon Sea Salt flakes  -   Nigella uses much more than this, but I think this is plenty.

Measure spices into separate bowls (refer Tips and Hints)

Combine all the spices and salt in a bowl. 

Pour into an airtight bottle, label and store in a dark pantry.

Shake the bottle well prior to using to evenly distribute the spice and salt mix.

Tips and Hints:

When making large quantities of spice mix:

Get all your spices out prior to starting.  Check you have enough of everything for this quantity.

Write down the name and amount of each spice – ie if you decide to mix using the tablespoon measurements provided – write down eg 2 ½ tablespoons cumin etc etc.

Cross off as you go. 

Because you will need the 1/2 teaspoon, the  1 teaspoon and the 1 tablespoon spoons – keep them on different areas of your bench  or even place them on a piece of paper detailing ¼ , ½  etc etc.

Measure the spices into individual bowls during the measuring process.

Only combine them at the end when you are confident the amounts are correct.

It is much easier to re-measure the ginger from a single bowl than after it has been tossed all together.

I know it sounds pedantic – but  I have learnt from experience  (!!!)– someone will interrupt you with a question halfway through or the phone will ring  …  and some days  …  counting 1, 2 , 3  is really, really, really hard.

This method really only takes a minute to set up but it will save you – it is shattering to realise you picked up the wrong spoon and the combination then is totally out of whack. 

So, do whatever works best for you – and every time you reach for the bottle of your fragrant spice mixture to rub onto the meat, enjoy the aromas and ......   smile!   – dinner is almost ready!

Enjoy – Colleen

Alaskan Nachos

Alaskan Nachos

This cool dip has been a family favourite for years.  

Although we never ate it in Alaska! There is something 

completely addictive about the classic combination of 

refried beans, fresh tomato, shallots, and lemony lime 

avocado topped with the cold, oozy sour cream spiked 

with chilli.  Half the pleasure is in the family battle to 

scoop up your favourite layers with the crunchy corn chips.  

It is great to share if the family is craving something a little 
‘bad’ and it is a great way to get the troops to the weekend table 
and share the events and dramas of the day.  

There is a good serving of 3 different vegetables with the option of using low fat sour cream and beans.

If you are searching for a crowd-pleasing ‘bring a plate’ dish  – this is perfect.  It can be made in advance and just needs to be topped with the sour cream layer prior to serving.  

The dip will be cleaned up in record time by all ages! 

Ingredients

1  tin Refried Beans  (approx. 400 grams)

2  large avocadoes – skinned, pitted and mashed  to a medium consistency (not runny)    
with
Juice of 1 lemon or 1 lime – your preference (put juice in a jug, add slowly – may not need all the juice)

3 medium tomatoes – very finely diced. 

It is important to squeeze out as much juice as possible from the diced tomatoes. I use a clean “Chux cloth” and squeeze firmly but not so hard that you only have pulp - you still want small pieces of tomato flesh.  
If you add excessively oozy tomato juice to the dish it will make it soggy later.

1 long stalk of green shallot – very, very finely sliced into thin slivers.  (Or, could use fresh chives)

1 tub of Thickened Light Sour Cream.  Regular is too runny.  (I think a tub is approx. 180 -200 ml??)

Chilli powder  (start with ¼ teaspoon and adjust to your taste)      And for chilli fans - chopped fresh chilli

Parsley – finely chopped – approx. - leaves from 1 -2 stems  or Fresh Coriander leaves

Packet of Corn Chips.  These scoop up the mix, so buy good quality strong chips – not thin or crumbly

Method

Use a serving plate about dinner plate width with approx. 2cm lip. 

Dip can be made a few hours ahead of serving. Keep the sour cream layer separate until ready to serve.

Spoon the Refried Beans onto plate but not right to the edge (this makes scooping easier later). 

Press down but don’t press this layer down heavily. It is easier for scooping if beans are not flattened but have a bit of lightness so they can be scooped up with the other layers.

Then the Avocado mashed with the lemon or lime juice is spooned over beans, allow edge of beans to show

Scatter the squeezed diced tomato and finely sliced shallot slivers together over the avocado

Mix Chilli Powder through the Sour Cream (use amount preferred - to your taste preference).  
Don’t layer  onto dip yet.  Keep in a separate container. Chill until ready to serve.

Keep the plate of dip (loosely covered) and the prepared sour cream - in the fridge until ready to serve. 


Just before serving: 

spoon over the Sour Cream mixture

then sprinkle with parsley and shake of chilli (if desired). 

Non-spicy Option – a shake of paprika instead

Serve with corn chips around edge of plate or serve corn chips in a separate bowl if you prefer.

                                                                           Enjoy     –     Colleen

Would love your feedback about any of our recipes! 
Just go to the blog page and post in the 'comments'  section linked to that recipe and let us know - cheers!

Asian chicken, cucumber, coriander and chilli salad

This is the perfect dish to impress family and friends over the summer months when you are asked to bring a dish to share.  Could even be tasty enough to include in a Christmas lunch with seafood and Asian inspired buffet.

Ingredients

600g chicken breast
200ml coconut milk
3 tbsp grated palm sugar
3 tbsp fish sauce
2 telegraph cucumbers (any cucumber will work)
2 long red chillies, sliced thinly on the diagonal
1 bunch of picked coriander leaves
2 green spring onions, sliced thinly on the diagonal
1 lime juiced
1/3 cup roasted salted peanuts roughly chopped

Method

Combine coconut milk, palm sugar and fish sauce in a wide shallow pan.  Add chicken to the cold liquid and bring to a gentle simmer.  Cook for 15 - 20 minutes turning the chicken breasts for even poaching.  Leave immersed in liquid for 30 minutes.  You can leave in placing liquid overnight if you have started this the day prior.
Remove chicken to a board and with two forks shred the meat.
Return poaching liquid to the stove, bring to the boil and then simmer for 10 minutes or until slightly reduced.  Set aside to cool.
Using a vegetable peeler cut the cucumber into long thin ribbons place on a platter then add the shredded chicken.  Top with chilli, coriander and green spring onions.
Take 1/3 cup of the cooled reserved poaching liquid and add the lime juice.  Drizzle over the salad.
Toss gently to combine and sprinkle peanuts over the the salad.

Tips n Hints

Looks great if you can source a banana leaf to line the platter.
Like Fast Ed advised from Better Homes and Gardens, rub some oil onto your fingers before chopping the chilli, to prevent the burning sensation on your fingers.

Mama Marmalade 

Buttery Apples

  This is such an easy recipe to make.

Buttery Apples

Especially good for those nights when 

big brown eyes look forlornly at you, 

hopeful of scoffing a yummy dessert. 

(Still hot but Wilbur and his fork are 

hovering again!)

Stephanie Alexander’s original recipe 

called for more butter and sugar than I 

have listed, but if you want to add more …

It’s not necessary to only use the freshest, 

crispest apples. If you find a couple of sad 

apples (but I am not suggesting fossilised 

school bag relics) be sure to include them 

in the mixture as this is a good way to avoid 

waste and gain happy calories. 

I have also packed a container of the Buttery 

Apples in ‘weekend away’ food supplies and 

it is perfect with a slurp of custard, or eaten as 

part of a holiday breakfast indulgence.

Ingredients

6 – 7 medium sized eating apples. Peeled, cored and chopped into medium chunks.

      Pieces will shrink in size during cooking

               I use mainly Granny Smith and a couple of sad reds

100 gram butter.     (Could reduce to 80 gram if watching butter intake).

3 - 3 ½  tablespoons brown sugar – level, not heaped. Use  3 ½ if only using less sweet Granny Smiths

2  teaspoons Pure Vanilla Paste. Or substitute 2 Teaspoons Pure Vanilla Extract.     Or use vanilla pod. 

1  cinnamon quill (remove prior to serving)   Or ½  teaspoon ground cinnamon. (More if you adore it)

¼  teaspoon ground cloves.  (Omit if not keen on cloves)

Method

You will be using the stove-top and a wide-based frypan with a lid, preferably a toughened glass lid.

Melt the butter and sugar together over a gentle heat.  Stir gently to combine.

Add the apple chunks and spices.  Mix gently to coat with the butter.

Cover pan with lid and simmer gently for 10 minutes.  Keep an eye on them, stir gently if catching.

Remove the lid and stir gently to coat the softened apple pieces with the sauce. 

Don’t squish the apple pieces – they need to retain their chunkiness.

Increase the heat slightly and allow the sauce to thicken.  It will start to turn golden and caramelly.

You need to watch the sauce and avoid it burning. Gentle heat and gentle, occasional stir to coat.

When ready the apple chunks are soft and coated with an oozy thickened golden sauce.

Options

Re-warm if needed. Serve hot or cool with ice-cream, cream or custard. 

Or add to pancakes, crepes or even muesli.

                                                                                                                               

 Enjoy – Colleen

Sticky Lemongrass Soy Chicken Bites

Sticky Lemongrass Soy Chicken Bites

      These tasty morsels can be served as an 

        appetizer or part of an easy meal with rice 

        or fried rice and lots of Asian greens.                                     

        Marinating can be done the night 

        before needed. The original recipe was in 

        Feast Magazine but it used 400 ml of Fish 

        Sauce. I have reduced and altered to part 

        substitute Low Salt soy sauce.  I hope you 

        enjoy my version – please alter quantities 

        to suit your preference.

  Ingredients  

      1 kg chicken nibblets – various names - sold as chicken wings with wing tip removed   – yields approx 24

      (Side-note:  If you are planning on later making a soup etc, buy 1 ½ kg of the whole wings and remove  tips to reserve to add in to a soup or for a homemade stock).

      PS I have tried recipe with drumsticks, but does not seem as juicy – though could be worth trying.

     Ingredients for My Marinade

   100 ml Fish Sauce

   100 ml Low Salt Soy Sauce –  Low Salt version is important otherwise this will be way too salty

   200 gram castor sugar

   2 stalks lemongrass – white section only - finely sliced.  Peel away the rough tough green outer layers.

   3 cloves garlic – crushed

   ½ - 1 teaspoon ground white pepper.  White pepper has more oomph – this gives it spicy kick

   ½  teaspoon chilli flakes –  (amount not very hot)  Omit if you are not a chilli fan. Or increase if you are a fan.

  Method

  Use a large plastic freezer bag and mix all the marinade ingredients in the bag.

  Place the plastic bag into a rectangular flat baking style dish – hold opening up and add the chicken pieces into the bag.

  Moosh the chicken and squish the marinade into all the chicken pieces.

  Allow the bag to flatten out in the tray, and tie up the top of the bag (I use a peg). 

  Chill in the fridge overnight (min 4 hours) and turn and moosh around as often as you open fridge.

  When ready to cook  - Preheat oven 200 Celsius Fan forced    (need to allow warming up time).

  Prepare 2 medium – large oven trays.  Trays need to have a lip to hold any dripped marinade / fat, but not too deep a tray or they won’t brown.  A tray about 2 cm deep is fine.

  Will need at least two layers of foil in each tray

  And also an oiled rack for each tray to support the chicken pieces. I don’t like the chicken pieces sitting in the rendered chicken fat.  I prefer to let the fat drain off by using the rack.

  Remove chicken pieces from the plastic bag and the marinade mix.

  Place marinated chicken pieces on rack.  

  Reserve the unused marinade in a small saucepan.  (will be needed later).

  Allow pieces to sit on rack and drop some of marinade onto first layer of foil   (say 2 - 3 minutes)

You can either –

  Lift the chicken rack off the tray, remove this oozed layer of foil and return chicken rack to sit above clean foil in tray.   OR

  mop up (paper towel etc) and remove some of the excess that has dripped onto the foil layer

Because of high cooking temp – this marinade would have ugh - smoked/ burnt)

– this step helps reduce burning smell within oven due to marinade sugar content

Place prepared trays of marinated chicken pieces in oven

While the chicken pieces are baking in the oven:

Boil marinade in saucepan 5 mins.  (If it goes too too thick add a dash of water and stir well)

Then gently simmer to thicken slightly so some can be used for basting and rest as a sauce.

Pour the basting portion (about 1/4 - 1/3 cup) into a cup / dish for basting.

The remaining boiled marinade can be used as an accompanying sauce.         

SEE note below

Baste chicken pieces with left over marinade every ten minutes during the cooking process.

This helps glossy end result. Keep an eye on them so they don’t char severely.  Maybe turn the trays.

Bake 35 – 40 minutes.  Depends on your oven.

Options

Serve with steamed rice or fried rice and also a

-        Selection of chopped tomato and cucumber – refreshing

-        Sprinkle of chopped coriander

-        Lots of steamed mixed Asian greens

TIPS / HINTS

Because the marinade has been in contact with raw chicken, it is important to boil the marinade for 5 minutes to ensure it is safe to use as a sauce. 

I specify separating the basting portion from the sauce portion as your basting brush will be in contact with semi-raw chicken when you are basting and by dunking your brush back into your basting portion you could re-introduce raw chicken specks to your baste and risk contamination.

Keeping the sauce separate ensures it has been thoroughly cooked and will be safe to use as a sauce.

                              Enjoy -   Colleen

Kaffir Lime & Pepper Marinated Beef Salad

Tried this Cambodian inspired dish from Delicious magazine.

Wonderful fresh clean flavours with a bit of "zing" to clean the palate. The quantities are for 4-6 servings, however it only fed 3 of my ravenous brood!!

 Ingredients 

• 500g sirloin steak                                                     
• 100ml lime juice (freshly squeezed, of course!)
• 2 kaffir lime leaves, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup grated palm sugar
• 1 lemon grass stem (inner core only) grated
• 3 finely chopped garlic cloves
• 1 small red chilli finely chopped
• 2 tbs fish sauce
• 2 eschalots, thinly sliced
• 2tbs peanuts, roasted, chopped
• 1 tbs sunflower oil
• 1 bunch radish, thinly sliced
• 1 cup beans sprouts, ends trimmed
• 1 bunch mint, leaves picked
• 1/2 bunch basil, leaves picked
• 1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce

Method

Place beef in freezer for 20 minutes until firm. Very thinly slice and set aside.

Meanwhile, place lime juice, kaffir lime leaves, palm sugar, lemongrass, garlic and 1 tsp ground black pepper in a bowl and stir to combine. Pour half the dressing over the beef, then cover and set aside to marinate at room temperature for 30 minutes.

Combine the remaining dressing with chilli, fish sauce, eschalot, half the peanuts and 2 tbs water. Set aside

Heat chargrill pan over high heat. Drain beef and pat dry with paper towel, then toss with oil. In batches cook beef for 1 minute on each side or until cooked through.

Toss beef with radish, bean sprouts, mint, basil and remaining dressing to combine, then transfer to serving plates. Garnish with remaining peanuts and serve.

Yum!

Cutlets



Pizza Dough

This pizza dough differs from others because it does not require a long rising time, but still makes a delicious base.

Ingredients

1 kg strong baker's flour or 000 flour
10 g salt 
10 g sugar 
20 g dry yeast or 40 g fresh yeast 
660 mls cold water 

Method

Place all the dry ingredients in a large bowl. 

Make a well in the centre. 

Slowly add only 600ml of the water into the well-never add warm water, it activates the yeast too quickly

Gently incorporate the wet and dry ingredients by gently moving the water into the 
flour mixture.  This will take 3-4 minutes. 

The remaining 50-60 ml of water is only added if required, depends on the nature 

of the flour. 

Place dough on a floured benchtop. 

Kneading the dough develops the gluten strains in the flour. 

If 1 kg of dough is too difficult to manage, divide in half and work in

 two batches. 

Press down and away from your body turning the ball of dough

clockwise. 

After 10 minutes you should have a smooth ball.

Don't skimp on the kneading time, use it as a meditative time or 

take out the frustrations of your day as you push the dough around.

It should have a smooth skin and 

feel like plastic.  Add extra flour if needed.

Divide the dough into individual balls for pizza.  

1kg of mixture can make eight 200g pizzas.  

Create round balls by using the palms of your hands to cup the dough.  

Cover with plastic wrap and a tea towel  to stop a crust forming. 

Let them rise for 10 - 15 minutes. 
Using a rolling pin, evenly roll out each of the balls of dough.

Place on a preheated pizza stone or pizza tray and add favourite

toppings.

Cook in a preheated oven 200 degrees for 15 -20 minutes until base

 is crisp and topping golden.

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Mama Marmalade