Meal 77 - September 14th - Chicken Tikka, Lentil, Spinach and Naan Salad
To be honest I'm not sure whether my cooking has really improved over the course of this year but I have certainly learned a few things. One is to cook the "Jamie Oliver way": multitasking, battling the clock, showing a little flamboyance but complete disregard for whoever will be doing the washing up. I have also become very well acquainted with my local supermarket - things like tikka paste, lentils, cashew nuts - I can find them with my eyes closed. If only Supermarket Sweep hadn't ended back in 2007 - I'd have been nailed on for the jackpot. Although that would have meant interacting with Dale Winton.
Showing posts with label puy lentils. Show all posts
Showing posts with label puy lentils. Show all posts
30 Apr 2013
Beef Kofta Curry, Fluffy Rice, Beans and Peas
Meal 40 - April 30th - Beef Kofta Curry, Fluffy Rice, Beans and Peas
Now here's a thrilling statistic: according to the Office for National Statistics around 92 percent of UK households own a microwave. Lolz and I are one of the 8 ish percent who rely on more traditional cooking techniques. Therefore, these 15 minute meals are about as fast as it gets when we are looking for a speedy dinner. As I got to Waitrose on my way home from a crazy day at work I was torn between doing a 15 minute meal or taking advantage of their curry themed dinner for two for £10 deal. I wasn't exactly overflowing with enthusiasm but, given that our lack of a microwave meant that "ready meals" would take longer to cook than the Jamie alternative I decided to opt for the former.
Now here's a thrilling statistic: according to the Office for National Statistics around 92 percent of UK households own a microwave. Lolz and I are one of the 8 ish percent who rely on more traditional cooking techniques. Therefore, these 15 minute meals are about as fast as it gets when we are looking for a speedy dinner. As I got to Waitrose on my way home from a crazy day at work I was torn between doing a 15 minute meal or taking advantage of their curry themed dinner for two for £10 deal. I wasn't exactly overflowing with enthusiasm but, given that our lack of a microwave meant that "ready meals" would take longer to cook than the Jamie alternative I decided to opt for the former.
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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