Thursday, October 29, 2015

Spooky Feast!


Create a spooky feast for friends large and small and keep everyone entertained...

Halloween Punch
500ml of Cranberry juice
1.5 litres of lemonade -  Adults sparkling wine 
3 limes juiced 
1 large handful of gummy worms
Mix the lemonade and cranberry in a large bowl pop in a few handfuls of ice stir well and drape the gummy works over the edge of the bowl..
Serves at least 10

Witches Cauldron 
1 round crusty loaf of bread
1 egg beaten
1 cup of poppy seeds
Olive oil 
Slice top off the loaf, then scoop out the soft bread from the middle of the base.
Brush the outside of the loaf with beaten egg and roll the crust and lid of the “Cauldron” with poppy seeds – pop onto a baking tray and bake for 10 mins at 180C...
You can then fill your cauldron with dips of your choice ...
For example Guacamole 
Avocados x 2 – chilli optional – 1 lime juice  -coriander
Combine the avocados, chilli, lime juice and coriander.. Pop into the Cauldron...

Creepy Tortillas – 
8 Tortillas – Halloween cookie cutters 
Spray tortillas with cooking spray – cut out shapes – lay on a baking tray cook at 180 until slightly browned – cool on a wire tray – when cool store in an airtight container..  

Green Curry
Green curry paste 2 tablespoons -  1 can of coconut milk –
4 chicken breasts – 1 courgette – 1 cup of frozen peas – 1 handful of torn basil.
Vegetarian Green Curry 
Butternut squash cubes 2 cups, 1 courgette, frozen peas & a handful of torn basil...
Heat the curry paste on a gentle heat – combine with the coconut milk, bring up to a simmer – add the chicken & courgette bring back 
to a simmer for 15 mins – add the peas & torn basil..
Serve with steamed rice..

White Chocolate Ghosts…..
1 large bar of white chocolate 
4 medium-large, ripe bananas
3 tablespoons desiccated coconut
Handful dark chocolate drops
In a small bowl, gently melt the white chocolate either in the microwave – in short bursts on high or over a pan of simmering water (make sure the bowl isn’t touching the water). Set aside for a moment while you get the bananas ready.
Peel the bananas, cut in half, and push a lolly stick into the middle of each piece. Spread the coconut out in a shallow bowl. Line a large baking tray with baking parchment, and make sure there is room for the tray in the freezer.
Using a pastry brush, coat a banana half in chocolate, letting excess drip away. Sprinkle with plenty of the coconut until coated, then set it on the prepared sheet. Now add two chocolate drops eyes and a one for a mouth..
Freeze the lollies for at least 4 hrs.


Chocolate Dipped Apples
6 Irish eating apples
3 handfuls of  chocolate drops
Sprinkles

Simply melt the chocolate over a pan of simmering water, then spike the apples with wooden skewers or lollipop sticks and twirl them around the chocolate.. then dip in the sprinkles.. Just lovely..


Thursday, October 15, 2015

Super quick healthy brekkies

Oatmeal - Porridge


Oatmeal is a is a great breakfast cereal and helps keep us fuller for longer which certainly helps when we are trying to get through a hectic morning...



Overnight Oats


Overnight oats are simply oats that you soak overnight in liquid,  milk, almond milk or yoghurt they have to be the simplest, quickest brekkie you could ever prepare  – they need at least 4 hours to soak up the liquids..    basic recipe is 1/3 cup of oats to 1/3 or ½ cup of liquid..  

Overnight oat  mixtures ....

½ cup of milk, 1/3 cup of oats, ½ mashed banana ,1 teasp spoon of chopped nuts – combine and leave overnight in the fridge to soak

Apple pie --  try chopped pink lady apples and a sprinkle of cinnamon

Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries also work very well – if fresh arent avaiable get some frozen berries as they will thaw overnight...

Toppings – Sprinkle with Granola, chopped nuts, sprinkle of cinnamon, nutmeg or even a dusting of dark chocolate!



Egg muffins

Beat 6 eggs add 2 handfuls of cheese, chopped mushrooms and tomatoes to mixture – pour into a jug or use a small ladel to pour into a silicon muffin mould, bake at 200 for 15 to 20 minutes or until set.  

When cooled wrap individually and have ready for T delicious for brekkie on the Run.. eat cold or pop in the micro for 20 seconds

Chopped spinach, roast peppers, ham or lean bacon.



Peanut butter and banana smoothie

Blend 1 banana,  2 tbls of peanut butter, 1 cup of almond milk, few ice cubes ...  you could add a scoop of protein powder for an extra protein boost..


Brekkie Quinoa bites

2 cups of cooked quinoa, 2 eggs, 1 cup of spinach,  ½ cup chopped tomatoes, 1 cup of grated cheese.
Mix well, season with salt and pepper.  Scoop into a silacon muffin tin and bake at 200 for 15 mins.


Poached eggs w Avocado

2 slices of wholegrain bread toasted & topped with mashed avocado & poached eggs... 


Egg Scrambles

2 whipped eggs – 1 tablespoon of milk, tomatoes, cooked ham, sprinkle of cheese

Pop into a non stick pan and stir continually on a medium heat until scrambled

Sizzling Stir Fries


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Stir Frying originated in China and is basically a cooking technique in which ingredients are fried in a small amount of very hot oil while being stirred in a wok.  


So What Equipment do you need...  

A sharp knife as ingredients should be cut into uniform pieces..  
A Wok or a non stick pan
A  spatula wooden or heat resistant

Which Oil should I use?

Stir frying involves cooking food at high temperatures therefore its important to choose an oil that has what they call a high smoke point – its the point that the oil starts to break down..   

Oils which have a high smoke point include Peanut Oil which Chinese cooks generally use but you can also use..

Canola oil/Rape seed oil  
Grape seed oil (made from the seeds of grapes after the wines is pressed)  

You can also use Pure Olive oil – (not extra virgin) as Pure olive oil is more refined it can take the high heat for stir – frying.



How do I prepare?

Its essential to have all the ingredients prepared ahead of cooking time.  

Chop vegetables very finely no big chunks as they take too long to cook..

Chop onion, garlic chilli very finely set aside

Use this as your base flavour stir fried in a little peanut oil..

Broccoli, sugar snaps & carrots can be chopped finely and then steamed for 3 mins..

Slice chicken beef into uniform strips


Great basics to have in your cupboard for stir frying!

Soy sauce – made from fermented Soya beans its one of Asia’s most important condiments and is also a base ingredient in many foods.

Oyster sauce – made from dried oysters – use like soy sauce, tasty  and extremely versatile

Hoisin Sauce – delicious aromatic sauce – great in stir-fries or as a dipping sauce. Soy beans and paste...

Sweet chilli sauce – a delicious sweet yet slightly spicy sauce use mixed with rice wine vinegar & lime juice for a salad dressing or in stir fries with a tablespoon of water.

Five spice powders – a blend of cinnamon, star anise, clove fennel & Szechwan pepper sprinkle over chicken & stir fry

U Cant beat Fresh herbs  - Coriander, Basil, Garlic, Chillies, Ginger  - Keep herbs wrapped in the bottom drawer of the fridge –

Garlic, Chillies, Ginger, Lemongrass last for weeks in the bottom drawer of the fridge.

Water Chesnuts
Bamboo Shoots


QUICK  --Honey Soy Chicken Stir Fry

2 cooked chicken breasts shredded
1 pepper finely sliced
Half head of broccoli small florets
1 clove of garlic
Half a white onion finely sliced
2 tbs of soy sauce
1 lemon juiced
1 tbs of honey

Heat oil in wok – pop in the onion and pepper – stir fry add the garlic 3 mins later – add the chicken – steam broccoli for 2 mins – pop into wok with honey, lemon and soy sauce..

Heat through transfer to a dish sprinkle with sesame seeds




Teriyaki Chicken stir fry



1 chicken fillet per person cubed
1 pepper sliced (bite size pieces)
2 scallions sliced diagonally
1 teasp of grated ginger

1 teasp of peanut oil per person

1 teasp of honey per person
1 tbs teriyaki sauce per person
1 teasp of sesame seeds per person

Heat the oil in a wok for about 30 secs… Pop the chicken onto the wok and  stir fry until sealed on all sides takes about 2 mins.   Now add the peppers and cook for about 3 mins. until slightly softened.
Combine the honey & teriyaki sauce in a little bowl pour over the mixture, let it bubble up on the wok and toss with the scallions & ginger.  Just before serving heat the sesame seeds in a non stick pan, to toast them and sprinkle over the chicken when plated..   Serve with either rice or noodles.   



Stir fried Rice Noodles with Broccoli, Prawns
& fresh Coriander

1 bundle of noodles per person …
Measurement about 75g per person
1 clove of garlic crushed
1cm (1/2 inch) fresh ginger grated
1 red chilli sliced thinly
2 teasp peanut oil
2 handfuls of broccoli florets
4 tablespoons of stock or water
Small handful of  prawns per person (if frozen thawed and  patted dry)
1 handful of coriander chopped

Sauce


1 tablespoon sweet chilli sauce
1 tbls soy sauce
1 lime juices & zested
1 teaspof sesame oil

Cook the noodles according to the pack instruction.  
Mix all the sauce ingredients into a small bowl or cup.
 
Heat the oil in a a wok  and stir fry the garlic, ginger & chilli for about 1 min… toss in the broccoli and stock and cook & cover for another minute.  
Now pop in the drained noodles and prawns & coriander. Cook until heated through & serve in bowls topped with sprigs of coriander.  



Thai Veggie Stir Fry


This is a great dish as its so fresh and tasty, it can either be a main course in itself (serves 2) or as part of a selection of dishes.. either served with rice or noodles….

10 baby corn cut in half thru the centre
10 asparagus spears trimmed & cut in half
1 small onion sliced thinly
4 handfuls of beansprouts
1 tablespoon of fresh ginger grated
1 red chilli finely chopped
1 handfulof torn basil
2 tbls of boiling water
1 teasp of soft brown sugar
1 tbls of light soy sauce

Heat the oil a wok or non stick frying pan and stir fry the corn, onion, chilli & ginger for a couple of minutes.. then add the asparagus and continue for another minute before adding the beansprouts.  

Combine the boiling water with the sugar & soy and add to the wok, throw in the basil leaves & serve immediately.

Why not cook some noodles & drizzle with sesame oil …