The other day I found myself with a couple of boneless chicken breasts and some peppers plus a pot of leftover pasta in the refrigerator. I needed to use the peppers and the chicken and I didn't want to have to throw the pasta away and so I decided to throw them all together and make a simple and quick supper for us.
Because of my present eye problems, I did an online grocery shop at the end of last week. I just didn't feel like pushing a grocery cart through a shop with all the poor lighting etc. I don't mind shopping online . . . but this time most of my fresh items arrived with short use by dates. That I DO mind. YES I am one of those annoying people who pick the produce etc. from the back of the row where it is fresher when I am shopping!
We eat a lot of chicken in this house. Here in the UK we are very lucky that chicken is probably one of the most affordable source of protein when it comes to meat of any kind.
It is a well known fact that the less your food is handled before it lands in your grocery cart, the cheaper it will be. This is why more often than not I will buy my chickens whole and then portion them myself when I get home.
This recipe today is really a very simple recipe for roasting bone in chicken breasts that results in moist and tender chicken every time.
It's more of a technique really, which involves making a type of compound butter . . .
The butter melts . . . flavouring and helping to preserve the moistness of the meat . . .
Because it is cooked at a high temperature . . . it cooks a bit faster and the skin cooks up a bit crisper. In short it's delicious. Simple. Delicious. Economical. You can't ask for more than that.
I have been wanting to tell you about two lovely products I was recently sent to try out. I've spent several weeks using them and I can't let another day pass without telling you all about them. Sweet Freedom is a company here in the UK which has developed these fabulous little undulgences which taste fabulous but are actually a lot better for you than you might think. Naturally sweetened with fruit extracts combined with other natural ingredients, their products are naturally lower in calories and low GI, which make them a dieter's dream.
These liquid shots of flavour come in a variety of flavours and a convenient flip top container, which is very handy for carrying with you when you are on the run, at work, etc. They have won Great Taste Awards three years running and no wonder!
WE've been enjoying the Sweet Freedom Porridge/Tea/Baking one as a healthy alternative to using other syrups drizzled over our breakfast oats and pancakes. Low GI, 100% natural, GM & Gluten Free, and at only 13 calories per teaspoon this is a great and healthy alternative. It's delicious and because it's made 100% from fruit, it's naturally better for you than artificial sweetners and sugar. You can find it on the sugar shelf in Asda, Waitrose, Ocado, and Holland & Barrett for approximately £2.99 rrp.
The other product
We spent all afternoon today wandering around Tatton Park. What a gorgeous place that is! The gardens were so beautiful and we walked our not so little butts off! (ok . . . hmm . . . MY not so little butt.)
If I had to pick a flavour I love above all else, I would have a very difficult time doing so. I just love sooooo many flavours.
A lot of what I eat depends on what type of mood I am in, or the weather, or even what's in the refrigerator. I guess you could say I just love food, full stop!
I do have a serious thing for ginger though . . . I love it's warmth and spice . . . that peppery heat, that goes so very well with lots of things . . . tart lemons, sweet fruits and berries, nuts, breads, chicken and pork! Dark Chocolate!! (ohhh . . . I am hungry now! Dang!!)
I do love a good gingerbread and I have some great recipes for quite a variety of them. The ones I've already posted you can find here. I have many, many more, trust me . . . but they will be revealed to you one at a time as time goes by, and according to my cravings. (I am such a glutton and a tease!)
I just adore this particular gingerbread. It's light . . . and moist . . . and mild. Just perfect for those times when I am craving a gingerbread, but not looking for anything too heavy.
There are more almonds in this than there are flour, which makes for a very light cake, and also a very moist cake. It's also chock full of lovely little bits of preserved stem ginger. I use Opies, which I like. If you are so inclined you can even get it steeped in a whiskey syrup. Just sayin is all . . .
Anyways, this cake is lovely. You get a fabulous crunch on top from the flaked almonds, all toasty and nutty, and then brushed with some of the ginger syrup when warm, giving them a bit of sweet heat. Moist cake, with tangy little spicy sweet bits of ginger throughout. All in all . . . F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S!
Trust me. Have I ever lied to you? I thought not!
*Almond Gingerbread*
Serves 8 to 10
Printable Recipe
A gently flavoured gingerbread, moist and topped with the wonderful crunch of flaked almonds and ginger syrup.
3 1/2 ounces butter (7 TBS), softened
5 1/2 ounces dark brown sugar (3/4 cup packed)
4 large free range eggs
2 ounces of stem ginger in syrup, plus 4 TBS of the syrup (2 1/2 knobs)
7 ounces of almond flour (2 cups)
3 ounces self raising flour (3/4 cup)
1 ounce flaked almonds (scant 1/2 cup)
Preheat the oven to 190*C/375*F/ gas mark 5. Butter a 9 inch square baking pan and line with baking parchment. Butter the parchment. Set aside.
Whisk together the butter and brown sugar until light and creamy. Whisk in the eggs, one at a time, whisking well after each one is added.
Finely chop the stem ginger. Add to the butter mixture, along with 2 TBS of syrup. Fold in the ground almonds and flour. Spread in the baking tin, smoothing the top over. Sprinkle over the flaked almonds.
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until the cake is firm to the touch and a knife inserted in the centre comes out clean. (If the almonds begin to brown too much, cover lightly with a sheet of foil.)
Remove from the oven when done. Gently heat the remaining ginger syrup and brush over top of the warm cake. Leave to cool, then cut into slices to serve.
This content (written and photography) is the sole property of The English Kitchen. Any reposting or misuse is not permitted. If you are reading this elsewhere, please know that it is stolen content and you may report it to me at: mariealicejoan at aol dot com Thanks so much for visiting. Do come again!
When I was a child I could hardly wait for Rhubarb Season to roll around. My mom would make us our favourite rhubarb pies. They were so tasty, served warm with vanilla ice cream all melting down into that buttery crust and the sweet/tart juices of that beautiful fruit . . .
Sometimes we like to have breakfast for supper. On the weekends, we might splurge and have a big breakfast on occasion, but more normal than not . . . we have a big breakfast for supper . . . and by that I mean bacon and eggs, or sausage and eggs, or egg chips and beans, egg and chips, or even a full on proper fry up! It makes sense to have something like that for supper instead of breakfast. At least it makes sense to me!
Allergy Awareness Week, April 28th to May 4th, Coeliac Awareness Week, 11th to 17th May 2015
Did you know...?
Happily though, Mrs Crimble’s, the much loved gluten free British bakery brand, is proving that people who are gluten intolerant can still enjoy snacks, cakes and other treats that taste every bit as yummy as the mainstream alternatives. They are also succeeding in making sure that their products are widely available – from supermarkets and convenience stores to department store cafes, airline snack boxes, delicatessens and local fine food stores.
Mrs Crimble’s products enable people with allergies to enjoy products with all of the taste and none of the gluten – ensuring families and friends can enjoy great food together.
* According to a recent survey by the charity, Allergy UK
** According to the NHS Choices Website
Here are a few of the Mrs Crimble's products I enjoy (aside from their Macaroons which are just the best thing ever!).
Mrs Crimble's Chocolate Coated Rice Cakes
Mrs Crimble's new chocolate coated rice cakes are delicious. Made from puffed rice, they are baked and not fried then topped with delicious chocolate. And only 81 calories per slice. A great snack option.
Mrs Crimbles Cheese Crackers
Mrs Crimble's Cheese Crackers come in a variety of flavours, Original, Rosemary and Onion, Tomato and Pesto and Hot Chilli Cheese. There is something for every taste. Crispy, crunchy, baked not fried and deliciously gluten free. Four crackers = 82 calories
Mrs Crimble's Cakes and Biscuits
These come in four different indulgent flavours. Bakewell Slices. Double Chocolate Brownies. Lemon Slices. Country Fruit Slices. Calories Vary.
My favourites are the Country Fruit Slices ( A classic recipe with a moist sponge filled with juicy raisins, cranberries and apricots with a pastry base and topped with sugar) and of course the Lemon Slices (A light moist lemon sponge layered with a tangylemon filling and topped with icing). Both are of course gluten free.
I think it's just wonderful that celiacs and allergy sufferers have these delicious options available for them today. They need never feel deprived. In days gone by it would have been very frustrating to have a person with these dietary concerns in the home, but thankfully more and more products are becoming available for them all the time.
Mrs Crimble’s started over 30 years ago and today their products can be found in all good independent farm shops, health stores, delicatessens and supermarkets such as Sainsbury’s, Asda, Waitrose, Morrisons, Co-op, and Tesco. Mrs Crimble’s can also be found in the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
The company is the Official Free From Sponsor of England Netball, in particular supporting the Back to Netball scheme which encourages female players of all ages to get active and re-introduced to the much loved school sport.
Mrs Crimble’s are Official Gluten Free Partner to Breast Cancer Campaign which involves support of the successful University Fundraising initiatives, donations via promotional packs during October (Breast Cancer Awareness Month) and many other activities.
In response to consumer feedback, Mrs Crimble’s have launched an online shop providing consumers with a convenient location to access the complete range. The website also features Mrs Crimble’s blog and a regularly updated ‘Where to Buy’ tab at www.mrscrimbles.com.
I thought it would be fun today to show you my simple "go to" cupcake recipe that I use all the time when I want to make vanilla cupcakes. They are easy to make, always turn out and delicious. In short . . . they are the perfect vanilla cupcake.
Believe it or not I have only ever been to Ikea once in my whole life. I went with a couple of mates to the one in Warrington a couple of years back. I do have lots of furniture in my house from Ikea, but it was all delivered.
The one time I did go, I had to try their Swedish Meatballs. I had heard so much about them, and they were pretty good, but I have to say . . . they weren't as good as my homemade ones.
This is a mix of trial and error which began with a recipe from the Fannie Farmer Cookbook back in 1979. This was my base and throughout the years I have tweaked the recipe here and there and this is my final version and the one that I use all the time now.
The end result is tender and flavourful meatballs . . . a mix of beef and pork and spices . . . whole wheat bread crumbs . . .
Browned and then simmered in a simple gravy in the oven, which is enriched during the final fifteen minutes of baking with some rich cream . . .
The gravy alone is to die for. And there's plenty of it. Can you ever have too much gravy?
I think not. Mmmmm . . . moist, tender, flavourful meatballs . . . rich creamy gravy . . . served atop a nice pile of buttery noodles.
Of course my husband always has his with potatoes, which works well also. I hope you will give them a go. I would be surprised if you didn't think these were the best Swedish Meatballs ever.
3/4 pound of ground beef (I like to use extra lean)
We are great soup lovers in this house. Homemade soups for the most part. I only ever rarely buy a ready made soup. My mother was a fabulous soup maker. I grew up with wonderful homemade soups. I am not afraid to make my own soup. It's something which I find very easy to do and we often have a bowl of homemade soup and some crusty bread for a simple and easy supper. I was recently sent a lovely vegetable box and some of the new Covent Garden Souper Booster's to try out and spent several days last week experiementing with them to see what I could come up with.
The fruit-packed jams are also ideal straight from the jar and the easy-to-spread texture provides a must-try filling for sponges and cakes, in addition to a lip smacking topping for toast. You can find them at Aldi shops.
Many thanks to Duerr's for sending me this lovely jam. I quite simply adore rhubarb anything!
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