Mexican Tomato Soup, Chilli Nachos, Veggie and Feta Sprinkles

Meal 103 - November 30th - Mexican Tomato Soup, Chilli Nachos, Veggie and Feta Sprinkles

You'd be forgiven for thinking that I've taken my foot off the gas in my 15 minute meal challenge as it has been a while since I posted anything. And you'd kind of be right, as circumstances have been dictating my schedule recently. Today's Mexican tomato soup was supposed to be the first of three meals this weekend, as I looked to take advantage of a rare weekend at home. Unfortunately things did not go quite according to plan...

Mexican Chicken, Wicked Mole Sauce, Rice and Veg

Meal 102 - November 27th - Mexican Chicken, Wicked Mole Sauce, Rice and Veg

There's an episode of Friends where Rachel attempts to make a trifle. Unfortunately, in the recipe book she is working from, two pages have got stuck together and so her trifle ends up being half shepherds pie, with alternating layers of beef, peas and gravy and custard and jam. Hilarity obviously ensues. Today I found myself in Waitrose buying ingredients which included cumin, spring onion, peanut butter, garlic, chocolate, banana, lemon and cocoa powder. I thought nothing of it, assuming they would not all be for the same recipe.

Baked Whole Trout, Jersey Royals, Peas and Mustard Sauce

Meal 101 - November 25th - Baked Whole Trout, Jersey Royals, Peas and Mustard Sauce

The half marathon went well thanks, a solid 1h 38. To achieve that I'd had to consume a mouthwatering cocktail of pasta, porridge, bananas, lucozade and energy gels (not all at the same time obviously) and followed that up with a post race burger and big fry up the following morning. It was time to get back to eating some normal food, and after a 15 minute meal-less weekend, time to return to the challenge. My book is starting to look rather battered and there aren't many recipes that are yet to be crossed off the list but I'd had my eye on this trout recipe for a while and with the day off work, knew we could get to the fishmongers to buy some good quality fish.

Salsa Verde Tuna, Sicilian Tomato & Pasta Salad

Meal 100 - November 21st - Salsa Verde Tuna, Sicilian Tomato & Pasta Salad

So I've made it to a hundred. There have been times over the last few months where I thought I wouldn't get to this point but I've definitely got back on track. Circumstance (Sunday's half marathon) dictated that this landmark would be marked with a pasta dish and although it's a chapter where appearances have sometimes been deceptive, this one looked like it had all the individual components to make my dream come true. Fresh tuna is after all one of the most amazing ingredients on the planet and, accompanied by a zingy salsa and some fresh, colourful Mediterranean inspired salad, I couldn't really see what could go wrong. Famous last words?

Chicken Cacciatore, Spaghetti and Smoky Tomato Sauce

Meal 99 - November 19th - Chicken Cacciatore, Spaghetti and Smoky Tomato Sauce

Thick and fast these 15 minute meals are coming now. If I'm not cooking them I'm writing about them and if I'm not writing about them... well... I should be. I seem to constantly be about three posts behind where I actually am - I'm writing this about a week after I cooked it. But I guess that's what happens when it gets to the point where I have to pretty much cook a meal every other day in order to complete the challenge. I hope Lolz isn't expecting a crazy New Years Eve - on December 31st I'll be cooking my way through whatever is still left to do and so our midnight champagne may well be accompanied by some steak medallions or camembert parcels or one of the other 20 meals I have yet to cook...

Beef Stroganoff, Fluffy Rice, Red Onion and Parsley Pickle

Meal 98 - November 17th - Beef Stroganoff, Fluffy Rice, Red Onion and Parsley Pickle

After all my Saturday exertions, Sunday was a predictably quiet day. I was hoping (and felt that I fully deserved) to spend the entire day in my pyjamas, but sadly Lolz foiled this plan by insisting that I go out and do the shopping. On my list was a couple of lovely sirloin steaks - normally a surefire way to ensure a good mark from Lolz (the crazy Korean fried rice and steak meal was the first 15 minute meal with sirloin steak that scored less than a 9).

Butterflied Sardines, Tuscan Bread Salad

Meal 97 - November 15th - Butterflied Sardines, Tuscan Bread Salad

It's Friday today. Most people will be looking forward to a nice relaxing weekend, but not me. I have a cold, I have to get up at 5:45 tomorrow morning to go to work, and I need to fit in a decent run. This doesn't really have any bearing on tonight's 15 minute meal, I just felt the need to vent a little bit. But anyway, in spite of everything I have to look forward to tomorrow (or perhaps because of - I sure as hell won't want to do any cooking then) I decided to make it a 15 minute meal Friday, and we had butterflied sardines and Tuscan bread salad on the menu.

Thai Chicken Laksa, Mildly Spiced Noodle Squash Broth

Meal 96 - November 12th - Thai Chicken Laksa, Mildly Spiced Noodle Squash Broth

Unlike many others, I can't help but feel the title of this meal is selling it short a bit - no sizzling or mighty or flashy or killer or crackin', just mildly spiced. It's almost apologetic. But to be honest everything about this dish looked appealing to me. The chicken in particular looked reminiscent of a certain sticky kicking chicken, and the soup, although not something I'd normally have on a weeknight, looked chunky and flavourful enough to just about fill me up. Plus the soup we'd had last week proved to be a massive winner.

Minestrone, Poached Chicken & Salsa Verde

Meal 95 - November 7th - Minestrone, Poached Chicken & Salsa Verde

Being a man with a rather healthy appetite, I wouldn't normally consider making soup as an evening meal. I need carbs, calories and dollop of saturated fat. Flavoured water doesn't cut it. But, Lolz had a cold and it was a pretty grim night, and to be honest, this looked like it had a bit more about it than your average can of Baxter's... "souped up" you could say... so I thought I'd give it a go.

Pesto Spaghetti, Lemon Steamed Fish

Meal 94 - November 5th - Pesto Spaghetti, Lemon Steamed Fish

I have a dream. It's not quite as profound as Martin Luther King's. To be honest it's not even as profound as Abba's. I dream simply that one day Lolz will give a pasta dish a 9/10. I'm not that greedy - I don't need a 10 - just a score which elevates one of these dishes above the level of mediocrity. I'd even take an 8 to be honest. But I'm running out of time and recipes - just four pasta dishes separate me from now and the end of the year.

Seared Asian Tuna, Coconut Rice & Jiggy Jiggy Greens

Meal 93 - November 3rd - Seared Asian Tuna, Coconut Rice & Jiggy Jiggy Greens

I've been feeling a bit like the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest lately - seriously lacking in the points department. It's not quite been "nul points", and I don't know if it's because Lolz has been getting annoyed with all the washing up or if the meals just genuinely haven't been that good as earlier in the year or if I'm just off my game, but the scores really have been weak. I've not had a 9 since September. I've not had a 10 since the summer (which to be fair sounds like longer ago than it actually was). Anyway I'm due a good score and these Asian themed meals have mostly been good so perhaps today is the day I'll get my mojo back.