15th - The Hangover Cure

This was made as Jace had went out the night before and needed his belly filling with some good hearty food. Just a quick 10 minute job and I ate breakfast for once also.

Ingredients:

• Double yolked egg
• Smoked back bacon (3)
• Seeded Bread (2 slices)
• Tomato Ketchup
• Cup of Coffee (made to your desire)
• Glass of apple and mango juice

Method:

1. Fry the egg (starting from a low heat baste the oil over the egg so that you get no crusty bits)
2. Grill the Bacon (cut of fat before if you’re fussy like me)
3. Then make a sandwich with plenty tomato ketchup.
4. Cup of Coffee and a Glass of Juice to finish.

Photographs

The layered sandwich phases

This was quick and easy to make, did its purpose and made Jace feel better. Also because it was fast it allowed me to get more of that blasted Chapter 1 completed.

Ease:          (9/10)

Look:         (7/10)

Taste:         (10/10)

Overall:       (26/30)

Laura xo

14th Bacon and Pea Pasta with Crème Fraiche

This was an alteration on one of Jamie Oliver’s dishes and was absolutely  amazing to say the least. I’d never had crème fraiche before so was a bit dubious but Jace said it was really good and I’m glad I listened .

Ingredients

• Pasta (enough for 2)
• Frozen Peas (74 haha just joking 2 small handfuls)
• Smoked Back Bacon (3 rashers)
• Chilli (1 small chilli)
• Crème Fraiche (250-300g)
• Cheese (50g grated)
• Garlic (1 clove finely chopped)
• Chicken Stock Cube
• Butter (a knob)
• Olive Oil (splash)

Method

1. Cook Pasta
2. Add olive oil and butter to a pan. Heat until butter is melted
3. Add peas, garlic, chilli and bacon to the pan
4. Cook until bacon is fully ready
5. Add crème fraiche
6. Stir until sauce is simmering
7. Add cooked pasta
8. Serve with garlic ciabatta and garnish with parsley.

Photographs

 The mixture in the pan

The Final Product Close Up

My Now Favourite EVER pasta dish

This was quick, easy and tasted sooo good could have kept on eating it if there had been more (and we had generous servings). Will definitely be using Crème Fraiche again, so if anyone has any recipes that use it please let me know.

Easy:      (9/10)

Look:     (8/10)

Taste:     (10/10)

Overall:  (27/30)

13th: Turkey escalopes with a orange,grapefruit and coating with Rice and Green Vegetables

So thought I’d try a different meat tonight, kinda wish I hadn’t so if anyone has any NICE recipes that use turkey please let me know.

Ingredients

• Oranges (3)
• Pink Grapefruit
• Turkey breast steaks (2)
• Ginger (1 thumb chopped)
• Chilli (chopped finely)
• Garlic (clove chopped)
• Corn flour
• Rice (for 2)
• Broccoli
• Green beans
• Honey (1 tsp)
• Olive Oil (1 tbs)
• Salt and Pepper to taste

Method

1. Add the juice of 2 oranges, ½ grapefruit, olive oil, garlic, salt, chilli, ginger and honey, mix together and add 2 tbs onto each turkey breast to marinate.
2. Add the rest of the mixture into a small pan
3. Add the segments of one orange and the other half of the grapefruit.
4. Grill the turkey breasts.
5. Cook the sauce, adding corn flour to thicken.
6. Cook the rice and the vegetables.
7. Serve with sauce poured over the turkey.

Photographs

Bit of a nightmare meal, did not like the corn flour in it as it went a too thick and the sauce also looked stewy – but that could just be my fussyness. Jace really enjoyed it so I suppose it really does depend on your taste.

Ease of Recipe:   (5/10)

Look:                    (8/10)

Taste:                   (7/10 - Jace) (4/10 - Laura)

Overall:                (18.5/30)

Laura xo

Days 13-15 Introduction

So the past few days have been an absolute nightmare....handed in my 5000 word Chapter 1 draft this morning, with all my appendices and COSHH forms etc, it is 46 pages long!!!!

Anyway don't worry I have still been cooking just not had the chance to post here as I have a funny feeling my degree is what should come first (and if I didn't think this my mum would be having words).

So here are a list of the meals that I will be posting up in due course throughout the evening.

13th: Turkey escalopes with a orange,grapefruit and coating with Rice and Green Vegetables
14th: Bacon and Pea Pasta with Creme Fraiche (A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!)
15th: The Hangover Cure Sandwich and Generally Good Breakfast Meal

So I will get them all posted plus tonight's before I get started on my critical appraisal = 2000-4000 words long and it is not helping that Science Direct has been down for the past week :( . So no doubt you might get a couple more days of non posts before my hand in on Friday! Then you will have me all to yourself!

Laura xo

Macaroni and Cheese - Day 12 - 12.01.12

As you may have been able to tell I have been stressed up to my eyeballs with all this Uni stuff :(. That is why I have decided on a simple, easy and always satisfying macaroni and cheese.

Recipe for 2
Ingredients

• Pasta (enough for 2)
• Garlic (2 cloves finely chopped)
• Butter/margarine (2tbs)
• Plain Flour (2tbs)
• Milk (enough to thicken mixture)
• Cheese (2 handfuls grated)
• Spontaneous Combustion Hot Sauce (4 drops - literally any more will blow you away)

Method

1. Put the pasta on to cook.
2. While the pasta is cooking melt the butter in a pan.
3. Add the garlic and simmer for 2 minutes
4. Add the flour and mix well.
5. Add the milk slowly constantly mixing. You will find that after the milk is added the mixture will look very watery, but as you mix it will thicken out. 
6. Once at a good consistency add the cheese.
7. Allow the cheese to melt and add the hot sauce.
8. Once the pasta is cooked, strain and add to the sauce.
9. Plate up.
10. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Photographs

 Cheese - one of my all time favourite foods.

 The cheese sauce :)

The final product...not the greatest looking but amazing all the same.

An upclose version nom nom 

I would usually add a tsp of wholegrain mustard but did not have any at the time. I love this meal, one of my favourites....even Jace - the non pasta fan - enjoyed it.

Ease of Recipe:   (9/10)

Taste:                   (10/10) yum yum

Look:                    (7/10)

Overall:                (26/30)

So that was last nights meal.... Tonight's meal will be up tomorrow due to me needing my bed.... 8 hours of essay writing takes its toll on you.

Laura xo

Between my study and having to head off for work at Tonik Ive not had a chance to post tonights recipe :( I will post it as soon as I can tho. A quick Mac and cheese tonight :) Laura xo

Spicy Tomato Meatballs with Fusilli - Day 11 - 11.01.12

Wow I am shattered this revision is taking its toll on me :( early night tonight I think. Anyway this meal was done especially for people who wanted more variety than chicken (you know who you are - :) ).


Recipe for 2

Ingredients for meatballs

• Lean steak mince (400g)
• Onion (1 small extremely finely chopped)
• Parsley (small amount finely chopped)
• Egg 
• Garlic (1 clove minced)
• Dried Chilli Flakes (2 pinches)
• Salt and Pepper

Ingredients for Pasta and Sauce

• Fusilli Pasta (enough for 2)
• Onion (small, chopped)
• Chilli (chopped)
• Garlic (1 clove)
• Tomatoes (2 chopped into 8ths)
• Tomato passata (1 small carton - 500g)
• Salt

Method

1. Mix all the meatball ingredients together by hand.
2. Roll the mixture into golf ball sized balls
3. Seal in frying pan.
4. To a separate pot add olive oil, onion, garlic and chilli's and cook for 5 minutes.
5. Add tomato passata, meatballs and chopped tomatoes.
6. Simmer for 20 minutes until meatballs are cooked through.
7. While this is happening cook the fusilli pasta.
8. Plate up pasta, meatballs and sauce and serve.

Photographs

Mince mix with egg - Jace's strange photography ideas haha :) 

Mince made into meatballs

Meatball in sauce

Final Product

This was a nice alternative to chicken and filled me up :) I can definitely say since doing this blog it has improved my diet - no more pizza or waffles. 

Ease of Recipe:   (8/10)

Taste:                   (7/10)

Look:                    (7/10)

Overall:              (22/30)

Laura xo

Day 10's meal - Chilli Chicken with fried Potatoes and Babycorn

So I was right to be stressing out about that exam I found it extremely difficult :( so if Forensics isn't the right career for me how about recipe blogging? You could all donate money to me :D ...I wish haha.


Anyway here is yesterdays recipe so you can feast your eyes on.

Recipe for 2

Ingredients

• Chicken (2 breasts)
• Potatoes (4 medium sliced and partially cooked)
• Onion 
• Chilli (2)
• Tomatoes (2)
• Babycorn (8)
• Olive Oil
• Garlic (2 cloves)
• Lemon 
• Honey (1tbs)
• Salt and Pepper

Method

1. Pre - heat oven to 200 degrees Celsius
2. Make marinade by finely chopping 1 chilli and 1 clove of garlic, and adding to the honey, juice of lemon and 4tbs of olive oil.
3. Pour the mixture over the chicken and put in the fridge for at least 15 minutes.
4. Line oven proof dish with tinfoil (enough to wrap chicken)
5. Place chicken and 1 tomato (in quarters) into dish and cover.
6. Cook in oven for approx 40 minutes.
7. Add olive oil to the pan
8. Add the onion, rest of the garlic and chilli ( finely chopped)
9. Then add the potatoes and babycorn.
10. Cook for approx 20 mins on low heat or until potatoes are browned on both sides.
11. Add the rest of the tomato to the pan (cut in 8ths)
12. Cook for a final 5 minutes.
13. Serve chicken and potatoes together, pour remainder of marinade and juices from the tinfoil over the chicken.

Photographs

Chicken and marinade ready to be cooked.

 The tinfoil present 

Jace loves an arty farty photo

Potatoes and babycorn

 The final product

Nice meal...as you might of been able to tell I love chicken, will try to mix the meals up now and again but I'm not the greatest fan of other meats - let me know if you have any recipes that could change my view on that.

Ease of Recipe:   (7/10)

Taste:                   (8/10)

Look:                    (8/10)

Overall:              (23/30)

Laura xo

DNA Technologies Stress - Day 10

So in double figures today woop - I am going to have to upload tonights mel tomorrow night once this beast of an exam is through with ahhhh :S


Tonight Jace and I made and had - Chilli Chicken with fried Vegetables - so you will get to see this tasty recipe tomorrow night.


Wish me luck!


Laura xo

Dromdonin Chicken - Day 9 - 09/01/12

Yet again went for one of my mum's good old recipes - nice and easy to make and a good hearty meal to fill you up. I have been battling with revision all day so was actually nice to take a bit of time off to make this meal.

Recipe for 3

Ingredients

• Chicken (2 breasts)
• Condensed Chicken Soup
• Milk (enough to fill the tin nearly to the top)
• Cream (to fill up the rest of the tin of milk)
• Mayonnaise (3tbs)
• Broccoli (Average size from shop)
• Potatoes (enough to cover top of dish)
• Parsley (handful)
• Cheese (enough to cover dish)
• Salt and Pepper to taste

Method

1. Pre-heat oven to 200 degrees Celsius
2. Slice the potatoes length ways and par boil. 
3. Split broccoli into florets and boil/steam for 5 minutes.
4. Cook and dice the chicken. 
5. Finely chop the parsley. 
6. Mix the Chicken Soup, Milk, Cream and mayonnaise together.
7. Cover the bottom of an oven proof dish with half the soup mix.
8. Place the broccoli evenly on top of the soup.
9. Place the chicken evenly on top of the broccoli.
10. Create a layer on top of it all with the potato slices.
11. Add the parsley to the rest of the chicken soup, mix and pour on top of the potatoes.
12. Cover and cook for 30 minutes.
13. Remove from oven and cover with cheese and bake uncovered for 10 - 15 minutes.
14. Plate up and enjoy!

Photographs

 My amazing herb chopping board and knife from Jamie Oliver's range

  

The soup, broccoli and chicken layered.

The potatoes layered on top

The rest of the soup and parsley mix poured over

 The cheese on top

 The final product

Ready to serve with parsley for decoration

This was a great meal - easy to make and tasted really good. Jace even went for seconds and told me to say thanks to my mum (so if you're reading this mum). Now I am full to the brim and feel like I should go for a cat nap but the revision will win - oh the joys.

Ease of Recipe:   (8/10)

Taste:                   (9/10)

Look:                    (7/10)

Overall:              (24/30)

Hopefully if you make this you will enjoy it as much as we did (and also the rest of my family do).

Laura xo