food glorious food

Lemon Chicken

Posted on May 16, 2011June 27, 2011 by bekswhoknits

You know those days when you get home from work, look in the fridge, and inspiration just strikes from nowhere.
Inspiration tonight was Lemon Chicken.

A bit of research online had a few different variations. Some were roasts, some were barbecued, but I really wanted something with a sauce so I could serve it with rice.

So I found a recipe where I had most of the ingredients (bestrecipes.com.au) and set to it.

The chicken thigh was coated in flour which had garlic flakes and lemon pepper mixed into it.
The chicken then went into a hot oiled pan to bubble away.
I put on the rice (1 cup rice to 3 cups water let it boil and then simmer) and some spaghetti for the non-rice eating boyfriend.
After the chicken had been cooking for 10 minutes I added a pint glass of water which had a chicken stock cube, some pepper, some ground ginger, and a pinch of sugar. That boiled away until it reduced and started looking like a sauce.
Whisk together an egg yolk and some lemon juice. I only had bottled lemon juice so about a quarter cup.
That went into the pan with the chicken.

Once that was all cooked I put some bok choy in the microwave.

And done!

Some fresh parsley from the garden and a meal was made.
Definitely a keeper (with rice or spaghetti)

Yum!!!

go to – strawberry, spinach, and feta salad

Posted on May 6, 2011May 6, 2011 by bekswhoknits

And a new sistema container.

It has everything you need for a strawberry, spinach, and feta salad.
A special container for the balsamic and olive oil dressing (equal parts), and room underneath to house some spinach (straight from the packet), some strawberries cut into quarters, and some feta sprinkled over.

Delicious, and super easy just to whack into a container when you’re running late for work.

Also some apologies for not blogging recently. Sometimes life just gets in the way.
It hasn’t boyfriend moving in has definitely taken up a fair chunk of time recently, however things seem to have fallen into place so more writing soon – pinky promise.

Fish and chips

Posted on April 13, 2011 by bekswhoknits

The batter was salt, pepper, beer, mixed dried herbs, and corn flour.
The fish was coated in it and fried.
The chips went in the oven. The potato swirls went in the oven ten minutes later.

Ta-dah!
One very golden meal, straight from the freezer.

go to – chicken fettucine

Posted on April 11, 2011 by bekswhoknits

you know that awkward moment when your boyfriend brings his brother round unexpectantly to pick up something?
And you’re already in your track pants and settled in for the night playing Final Fantasy 7?
And then asks what’s for dinner and you have to improvise with what you have in the cupboard?

So yeah, Friday night my boyfriend’s brother came over for dinner.

Fortunately i had chicken thighs in the freezer which i could defrost.
They (once diced) went into a pan to brown with some onion and garlic.

Fettucine went in another pot to boil away.

Once the chicken was browned, a little white wine went into the pot.
Once that had reduced a tub of long life cream (i can never have fresh cream – it never lasts).

Once that had reduced i remember that i had mushrooms in the fridge, that would have been perfect but really needed to be added with the chicken.

The chicken and the fettucine ended up cooked at the same time (shock horror).
So it was plated up with some grated cheese and some fresh parsley from my garden.

impressive and super easy.
no pics because i was entertaining.
but this is a pic of a similar dish from a little while ago

What’s better than fresh pies? Two day old pies

Posted on March 17, 2011June 27, 2011 by bekswhoknits

So much better.

Something about the mince soaking in the tomato sauce and marinating for a couple of days perhaps?

I kinda don’t know why, but they were good.

Leftovers usually are.

Accompanied by some leftover pasta, and some fresh home-made garlic bread. My baby isn’t kissing anyone else tonight.

Continue reading What’s better than fresh pies? Two day old pies

Last night kinda sucked

Posted on March 16, 2011March 16, 2011 by bekswhoknits

90 minutes in a dentist chair, stress induced migraine, and very little sleep.

but my boy cooks a good brinner
its was a good omellette – nice and squishy

Happy Pie Day

Posted on March 15, 2011March 15, 2011 by bekswhoknits

Cottage pies. Or Shepherds pies. Or Potato pies.
Whatever you call them it’s what I made for Sunday night.

There wasn’t much pastry to go round so I made two with pastry (puff – prebought) and 4 without pastry in little ramekins.
Continue reading Happy Pie Day

Seafood spectacular

Posted on March 14, 2011June 27, 2011 by bekswhoknits

I never used to eat seafood. But I’m so glad I do now.
I never used to eat it because I never really liked the smell and couldn’t handle eating things that could look back at me.

However on my boyfriends love and passion for seafood I was persuaded to give it a try. Oh so glad I did.

Continue reading Seafood spectacular

Passion Pop Wednesday

Posted on March 10, 2011March 10, 2011 by bekswhoknits

I’m thinking of starting a new thing.
Passion Pop Wednesday.
A bit like Champagne Thursday – for any one who has watched Failure to Launch.
I think it might catch on.

Continue reading Passion Pop Wednesday

Good ol packet food

Posted on March 8, 2011 by bekswhoknits

Because my new kitchen is taking a while to save for (must post this before the gig reviews i’m currently drafting show my true priorities), and because i really hate the colour of the cupboards, last weekend we brought some black paint.
The black paint will also be used on some shelves in my spare room (the joys of home ownership being able to do stuff – the con is having to pay for it).
But if you’ve noticed my kitchen from previous posts you’ll have noticed that it’s a hideous dark brown stain, which really doesn’t match my black, grey, and pink theme that i’ve got going.

So my lovely, gorgeous, talented, and good at painting boyfriend has kindly volunteered to paint them for me tonight.
So i felt it was only fair to cook him dinner. And all day i’ve been craving mexican food so i bought one of those Chicken Quesidila packs. They have the corn burrito, salsa, and chicken seasoning all in the pack. All you have to do is cook the chicken with the onion, add capsicum and mushroom, put it in the burrito and then top with cheese and fold over. Bung it in the oven until the cheese melts (and the corn cobs cook).

Some lettuce for crunch, the salsa over the top, and there you go – dinner is served.

And keeping with the lazy, i mean packet theme, i made up a packet sticky date pud. But it wasn’t all that good.
Even a bit of vanilla ice cream didn’t help it. But sticky date pudding has a lot to live up to in my books.

The best sticky date pud i’ve ever had was when i took my boy out for his birthday one time. It was an obscure restaurant in Mt Lawley called LavaStone. You cooked your own meal on a stone (which was good, although over priced for cooking your own food).

But the sticky date pud.

Oh the pud.

I’m only slightly ashamed that my boy went to the loo just as it came out and there wasn’t much left when he came back. We almost bought another one but it was very pricey.
So from now on that’s the sticky date that all future sticky dates have to meet.
And this packet mix just didn’t do it.
That sticky date was perfection. It was nice and dense, with gooey caramel but it didn’t overpower the sweetness of the dates.
I honestly don’t think i can ever go back there because it wouldn’t meet expectations.

But on a completely different note – happy birthday Ross Taylor. A superb New Zealand innings against Pakistan. Almost as enjoying as watching my boyfriend paint cupboards.
No, wait, much more enjoying.