Lentil,chickpea and chilli soup

Got this recipe from here /red-lentil-chickpea-and-chilli-soup tried it out and it's delish!!
One thing I did not have was tinned tomatoes so I adapted and used  pasatta which is a liquidised tomatoes ran through a sieve...I think? Any way worked out great...one thing though it really does make a difference to the texture and look of the soup if you blend it.

Gots Ta Wok the Chicken

Just a wee idea I had. After reading some recipes I had some chopped chicken I needed to use.
Out came my electric wok.....

Ingredients

1lb of chopped chicken breast
Olive oil
Italian Herbs
Easy Garlic

Method

Put the wok on around 3-4 on the thermostat
Put in about a tablespoon olive oil and 1/2 teaspoon easy garlic, wait for the oil just to start sizzling, add the chicken and about a teaspoon of Italian Herbs and some salt & pepper to season.

Now just stir fry it....rest off once cooked add to a marinara or roast garlic sauce with pasta of your choice, or add to a salad or fill a burger bun..easy way to cook chicken!

Roast Garlic Pasta Sauce

Liberated a recipe from this website The Original Recipe .
I use an electric wok for more or less all sauce stews and soups..since I was just back from training and I was starving I thought I'd fry up some chicken strips first with some salt pepper a dash of olive oil and a pinch of dried Italian herbs...I've rested them off. I also got some Mushrooms...on account of the Holy Trinity...Garlic, Mushrooms and Chicken. Little did I know how long peeling garlic cloves would take me and I burnt them, damn things start to sting your fingers after a while too...so anyhoo garlic properly roasted..now I've burnt my tongue tasting the sauce...but hey...not too bad actually...was crying like a baby chopping onions....me a grown man too!!! Hope you try this...




Ingredients
packet chicken strips...oh about 1lb ...two breasts worth..ooohh eeerrr sir!!
1 large onion, chopped
Punnet Large Mushrooms, chopped
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1/4 cup tomato paste
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon hot sauce
2 sliced roasted and pickled in a jar red peppers...my idea!
1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/4 teaspoon dried basil leaves
2 (28-ounce) cans whole Italian plum tomatoes, with their juices
3 whole heads roasted garlic, cloves removed from peels
Directions

In a large saucepan saute the onion and mushrooms  in the olive oil over medium-high heat until soft and lightly golden, 4 to 6 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the tomato paste, salt,balsamic vinegar, hot sauce, crushed red pepper, Italian seasoning, and basil, and cook for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, crushing with your hands as you place them in the pan, and their juices. Stir to combine well and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a slow simmer and cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add the roasted garlic cloves and stir to combine. Continue to simmer for 30 to 45 minutes longer, or until the flavors have come together.
Serve over pasta of choice.

Links to Recipes to try

Stand up beer can chicken I'm intrigued and I really need to try this one
Laksa heard Jamie Oliver ranting about Laksa on his 15 minute meal programme..found this and it sounds like I should try it when I have time

Pork in Cider

Got this from my dear Mum!! OOhhh Bless I hear you say...
Just so you know and I know you know!! The definition of Cider is....an alcoholic drink made from fermented apples.
Not to be confused with sweet cider made usually by crushing apples.

Anyhooo

Ingredients
1lb Pork fillet or steaks
1oz/Tablespoon flour
4oz Mushrooms
1/3 to 1/2 bottle dry cider
1/8 pint single cream or creme fraiche
1oz butter
Garlic clove if you want but not necessary

Method
Dice pork in to small cubes
brown in the butter
add flour stir till mixed in
gradually add the cider stirring in well to make a thick sauce
Add mushrooms
Season to taste with salt & pepper
Simmer covered for an hour
Stir in single cream or creme fraiche just before serving
And serve with rice or pasta.....Mum usually uses spaghetti

Flap Jacks

Got these recipes from my pal at Tai Chi Chuan... separate subject but anyone interested can see my schools website here 5 Winds School of Tai Chi Chuan

Now...I just wanted an energy bar for a snack during training...seen the price and the piddling amount you get and refused to give 'em my money. Went to class slavering over a Mars bar...it was a one off I dont usually eat Mars Bars!! Honest.....

Anyway Recipe Numero One

100g / 4oz Butter or Margarine ( I hate Margarine)
50g /2oz demerara sugar
30mls /2 tbsp Golden Syrup (lubbly jubbly)
125g/5oz Porridge Oats ( ONLY Scottish Porridge will do for this job!!!)
25g/1oz Plain Flour

Method
Melt butter/margarine, sugar and syrup over low heat stirring until dissolved and remove from the heat
Mix in Porridge Oats and flour
Press in to a well greased 20.5cm/8 inch shallow square tin
Bake 15-20 minutes at 180c/350F/Gas mark 4 until Golden Brown...and dont set on fire!!
Mark into bars andleave to cool before removing from the tin.

Healthy Breakfast anyone?

Got this from thr BBC's Good Food site.
I never had field mushrooms so just went for what I could get...I also grilled up some bacon it was magic!! Serves 4 but I adjusted to reduce the serving for myself

Ingredients
4 large field mushrooms

8 tomatoes , halved
1 garlic clove , thinly sliced
2 tsp olive oil
200g bag spinach
4 eggs

Method

Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Put the mushrooms and tomatoes into 4 ovenproof dishes. Divide garlic between the dishes, drizzle over the oil and some seasoning, then bake for 10 mins.
Meanwhile, put the spinach into a large colander, then pour over a kettle of boiling water to wilt it. Squeeze out any excess water, then add the spinach to the dishes. Make a little gap between the vegetables and crack an egg into each dish. Return to the oven and cook for a further 8-10 mins or until the egg is cooked to your liking.

Original recipe from BBC Good Food

Here is one to try

South West Eggs & Veggie Skillet

OK I'm stealing but this sounds great!!!
I think I have to try and adapt this for ingredients you would get from a typical Scottish shop!!! I'll see what I can do

Home Made South Western Mix
 mix together 1 tablespoon smoked paprika, 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 tablespoon garlic powder, 1 tablespoon ground coriander, and 2 teaspoons ground red pepper.  This blend is not only fantastic on vegetables and eggs, but it makes a great rub for chicken, fish or steaks!

And The REST!!!!!!!!!!

1 lb Red Potatoes, cubed

3 Tbsp Water

2 Tbsp Olive Oil

1/2 cup Chopped Onion

1/2 cup Chopped Red or Yellow Bell Pepper

1 cup Fresh or Frozen Corn Kernels

1 Jalapeno Pepper, minced

1 (14.5 Oz) Can Petite Diced Tomatoes, drained (may use southwest flavored

2 tsp Southwest Seasoning *

1 tsp Kosher Salt

4 Large Eggs

Freshly Ground Pepper &/or Paprika, for garnish

Directions:

Place potatoes in a microwave safe dish. Cover and microwave on high for 4 minutes or until tender; drain.

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium/high heat. Add the potatoes, onion, bell pepper, corn, and jalapeño pepper and sauté 5-6 minutes, or until potatoes are browned and vegetables are softened. Add the drained tomatoes and seasonings and continue to cook for 2-3 minutes.

Reduce heat to low. Make 4 cavities in the mixture with a spoon. Break one egg into each cavity. Cover and cook for 8-10 minutes, or until the egg whites are set. Sprinkle with freshly ground pepper and/or paprika.

Avocado blitz!

Avocado Breakfast Shake

• 1 avocado pear
• Milk (semi skimmed cows or goats)
• Agave syrup
• Lime juice

Peel and stone the avocado juice the lime pour 1 1/2 pints milk in to a blender add all the ingredients blitz and add syrup to taste...Blitz n serve put left overs in fridge for later.

I did n't have agave syrup so I used maple syrup instead!!!

Chilli Con Carne

Chilli from a packet and some Chorizio!!

1lb Mince aka ground beef

2 onions

2 tins chopped tomatoes in tomato juice

Packet mild chilli powder

Can kidney beans or black beans if you can get them

Hot Chilli powder to taste

Cumin to taste

Chop onions & chorizio and sweat these of in a pan.

Add mince and brown off

Open the tins and add to the mix, and stir it all in

add the packet mild chilli powder

if the chilli looks dry just add some water

Let it simmer away for as long as you want after 20 minutes or so give a taste....if that's hot enough for you leave it.

If you want extra zing add a cheeky 1/2 teaspoon each of cumin and hot chilli powder till you get it to the level then let simmer for as long as you want.........server with rice or pasta or baked potatoes...or even a tortilla!!!

I sometimes add chopped peppers, mushrooms or sweetcorn too

Hope you like!!

Italian

Joe Dogs’ Marinara Sauce

Standard Size
2 cloves garlic
¼ cup Olive Oil (Virgin-Extra Virgin)
2 Cans chopped tomatoes in tomato juice
½ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon dry mustard
¼ teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons basil
1 cup chicken stock

Melt garlic into olive oil add rest of ingredients cook 30 minutes approx and start cooking a pasta of your choice!!!


This has become an absolute standard for me and I got it from a great Cook Book called Cooking for the Mob by a gansta called Joe Dogs. It forms the base of quite a lot of dishes from the book.


I sometimes cover a steak in Italian herbs and use that as a dry rub, let it sit in the fridge for the herbs to get in to the meat, then grill, rest once the meat is cooked and then cut in to pieces add to pasta and pour over the sauce....also a good dish for carb loading if you are going to the gym the following day and need an energy boast!!


One of my favs...for something different add some chilli powder to taste and a little Cumin...to give a Mexican sting to the cheeks!!