Meal 32 - April 5th - Crispy Polenta Chicken Caesar Salad
I blame Lolz for the fact that this post is 48 hours late. Having told me I would be getting the run of the house on Saturday as she was having a girlie day out with her friends which included going to see the "hit" Spice Girls musical Viva Forever, she went and introduced me to a new iPad game. I won't tell you what this game actually is as work place productivity around the world will be in serious peril once word gets out. Suffice to say it was (and is) extremely addictive and aside for a brief break watching Match of the Day, and a very brief break for dinner, I did very little else. Today we have been out for a birthday brunch with friends which included "freeflowing" prosecco (or, "drink as much as you can" as we decided to interpret it). So apologies if this is in any way incomprehensible.
Showing posts with label pancetta. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pancetta. Show all posts
2 Apr 2013
Grilled Mushroom Sub, Smoky Pancetta, Melted Cheese and Pears
Meal 31 - March 31st - Grilled Mushroom Sub, Smoky Pancetta, Melted Cheese and Pears
I'm a quarter of the way through my challenge and in that time there have been a few hiccups - failing to find the right ingredients, timing issues, nearly setting fire to the kitchen. And now, err, poisoning people. Maybe.
I'm a quarter of the way through my challenge and in that time there have been a few hiccups - failing to find the right ingredients, timing issues, nearly setting fire to the kitchen. And now, err, poisoning people. Maybe.
17 Feb 2013
Smoky Maple Pancetta, Fluffy Corn and Chilli Pancakes
Meal 17 - Feb 17th - Smoky Maple Pancetta, Fluffy Corn and Chilli Pancakes
Today is my birthday (21 if you're interested) but, as explained yesterday, excuses don't fly in this game. Lolz did however allow me to open a few presents before proclaiming loudly that she was getting hungry and ordering me into the kitchen. Incidentally, my presents did include some measuring spoons, an "Antipasti Plank", a serving platter and a lemon squeezing gadget. Definitely a bit of a theme going on...
Anyway, this is my second breakfast of the challenge and at this point I should mention that the title is slightly misleading since my sweetcorn is still sitting patiently in the freezer unopened, as I somehow missed that particular line of the recipe. All the other ingredients did however make it in and the end result was a really nice, healthier twist on the traditional pancakes and bacon dish. The cheese and chilli adds a subtle savoury kick to the pancakes without detracting from their fluffy lightness.
Lolz loved the maple glazed pancetta but felt the coriander was slightly overpowering. She gave the dish 9/10. Difficulty rating 3/10 - tossing pancakes is not my strong point.
All in all an excellent start to my 22nd year!
Today is my birthday (21 if you're interested) but, as explained yesterday, excuses don't fly in this game. Lolz did however allow me to open a few presents before proclaiming loudly that she was getting hungry and ordering me into the kitchen. Incidentally, my presents did include some measuring spoons, an "Antipasti Plank", a serving platter and a lemon squeezing gadget. Definitely a bit of a theme going on...
Anyway, this is my second breakfast of the challenge and at this point I should mention that the title is slightly misleading since my sweetcorn is still sitting patiently in the freezer unopened, as I somehow missed that particular line of the recipe. All the other ingredients did however make it in and the end result was a really nice, healthier twist on the traditional pancakes and bacon dish. The cheese and chilli adds a subtle savoury kick to the pancakes without detracting from their fluffy lightness.
Lolz loved the maple glazed pancetta but felt the coriander was slightly overpowering. She gave the dish 9/10. Difficulty rating 3/10 - tossing pancakes is not my strong point.
All in all an excellent start to my 22nd year!
4 Feb 2013
Spiced Chicken, Bacon, Asparagus and Spinach Lentils
Meal 13 - 3rd Feb 2013 - Spiced Chicken, Bacon, Asparagus and Spinach Lentils
With friends coming over to enjoy the third 15 minute meal of the weekend, the pressure was on to deliver and I had barely finished my spinach smoothie when Lolz ushered me back into the kitchen and back to work. I chose this dish not because of some bizarre spinach infatuation (although we will have got through nearly half a kilo over the course of the weekend) but because it looked like a good, hearty, warming Sunday lunch.
I was quite excited as, although I had been unable to find tinned Puy lentils in any local supermarket and ended up using something called "Bijoux Verts" lentils (which actually turned out to be Puy lentils after all), we had purchased four incredibly plump, juicy looking chicken breasts from our new friends at the butchers. After flattening them out and deliberating somewhat, I decided there was no way all four would fit in our frying pan. Because they were so big, I decided to make do with three breasts and cook the first two and let them rest and then cook the third one, adding the asparagus and pancetta towards the end. It all went pleasingly according to plan and I ended up with a HUGE pot of creamy lentils and spinach (although I'm not sure blitzing the spinach in the processor really adds anything - I think adding whole leaves may have even given it a bit more texture), three suitably golden chicken breasts accompanied by crispy pancetta and some nicely charred asparagus.
The dish was enjoyed by all and the crusty bread was a welcome addition. If Greg Wallace had been dining with us he may have complained that the lentils lacked seasoning or maybe a squeeze of lemon juice or that the chicken would have benefitted from slightly more than a meagre half teaspoon of cayenne pepper (especially for a dish called "Spiced chicken"). Thankfully the only food critic in attendance was Lolz who gave the dish 9/10. She also cooked a lemon souflee which was much more delicious than the picture below suggests...
Difficulty rating 3/10.
With friends coming over to enjoy the third 15 minute meal of the weekend, the pressure was on to deliver and I had barely finished my spinach smoothie when Lolz ushered me back into the kitchen and back to work. I chose this dish not because of some bizarre spinach infatuation (although we will have got through nearly half a kilo over the course of the weekend) but because it looked like a good, hearty, warming Sunday lunch.
I was quite excited as, although I had been unable to find tinned Puy lentils in any local supermarket and ended up using something called "Bijoux Verts" lentils (which actually turned out to be Puy lentils after all), we had purchased four incredibly plump, juicy looking chicken breasts from our new friends at the butchers. After flattening them out and deliberating somewhat, I decided there was no way all four would fit in our frying pan. Because they were so big, I decided to make do with three breasts and cook the first two and let them rest and then cook the third one, adding the asparagus and pancetta towards the end. It all went pleasingly according to plan and I ended up with a HUGE pot of creamy lentils and spinach (although I'm not sure blitzing the spinach in the processor really adds anything - I think adding whole leaves may have even given it a bit more texture), three suitably golden chicken breasts accompanied by crispy pancetta and some nicely charred asparagus.
The dish was enjoyed by all and the crusty bread was a welcome addition. If Greg Wallace had been dining with us he may have complained that the lentils lacked seasoning or maybe a squeeze of lemon juice or that the chicken would have benefitted from slightly more than a meagre half teaspoon of cayenne pepper (especially for a dish called "Spiced chicken"). Thankfully the only food critic in attendance was Lolz who gave the dish 9/10. She also cooked a lemon souflee which was much more delicious than the picture below suggests...
Difficulty rating 3/10.
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