Honey-Sesame Chicken w/ Spring Onions on a Bed of Steamed Rice

Ingredients:

3 chicken breasts, boneless, skinless cut into cubes
3 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp rice vinegar
5 tbsp honey
2 tbsp sesame oil
1 small piece ginger, ground
1 clove of garlic, minced
1 tbsp cornstarch
2 sprigs of spring onion (Scallions), chopped to large pieces
1 tbsp sesame seeds, roasted
salt & pepper
1 cup short grain rice

Method:

Start by seasoning the chicken with salt and pepper.
In a bowl, mix together the soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, and cornstarch. set it aside.
In a pan put some oil, saute the chicken over medium heat for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until it's cooked all through.
Add the mixture to the cooked chicken while on the stove, mix for a minute, then add the chopped spring onions and stir. Remove from heat.
Sprinkle with roasted sesame seeds.
Serve over a bed of steamed rice.

Enjoy!

My Twist on Spinach Salad

Ingredients:

1 Packet of baby Spinach
1 can Beetroot, round slices
1 red onion
2 Avocados, ripe
1/2 cup of frozen edamame, beans only
Handful of parsley, roughly chopped
Toasted shredded almonds
2 tbsp lemon juice
1/4 cup white vinegar

Dressing:

1/4 tsp Honey
1/4 tsp Dijon Mustard
1 tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
2 tbsp Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper

Method:

- Clean and wash the baby spinach
- Cut beetroot rounds into halves, discard the liquid
- Cut the red onion into thin slices, julienned, then place in a bowl and pour the vinegar on top of it. set it side until assembling the salad.
- Cut the avocado into cubes and cover them with lemon juice to avoid them going brown
- In a big bowl arrange the salad ingredients by starting with the spinach leaves on the bottom, topped with the beetroot.
- Add the onions without the vinegar.
- Add the avocado, then the frozen edamame.
top the salad with the chopped parsley and toasted almonds.
- Add the dressing when serving and mix.

Homemade Guacamole Dip .. with a Tip!

Ingredients:


4 Ripe Avocados ( Reserve 1 avocado, chopped to add towards the end for chunkiness)
2 tbsp Sour Cream 
3 tbsp Lemon Juice + 1 tbsp Lime Juice (Optional)
Few drops of Tabasco Sauce (Optional)
2&1/2 Ripe Tomatoes, Seeded & Chopped (Reserve 1 tomato, chopped to add later for chunkiness)
Handful of Chopped Spring Onions
Handful of Finely Chopped Coriander
Sea Salt to taste
1 Fresh Red Chili (Mild), Seeded & Finely Chopped


Method:


- In a food processor, throw in 3 avocados, 1 tomato, and the red chili and pulse.
- Add the spring onions & coriander and pulse again.
- Add the sour cream and a good pinch of salt and taste. Pulse for the last time.
- Remove the mixture from the food processor and add the remaining chopped avocados & tomatoes for chunkiness.  
- Season with more sea salt and lemon & lime juice until you reach the desired taste.
- Add the Tabasco and mix well.
- Serve with Tortilla chips or homemade pita chips.


Tip 1: To keep the guacamole bright green and avoiding that bad browning from oxidizing, keep one of the avocado seeds in the dip and add enough lemon or lime juice.


Tip 2: To keep the guacamole in the fridge for a few days without it changing color and oxidizing, put it in a Tupperware and put a direct cling wrap (plastic wrap) on the guacamole dip and let it stick to it to block air and then close it with the lid.


Enjoy!

Homemade Beetroot Dip ..

This Bright Pink Dip has lovely flavor, easy to make and full of healthy goodness!

Ingredients:

2 Large Beetroot, peeled

1 clove of garlic, minced

1&1/2 Sour Cream container or Yogurt

1 tbsp fresh mint, chopped

1 tbsp apple vinegar

2 tbsp Olive Oil

1&1/2 Lemon Juice - or more according to taste

Method:

Boil the beetroot until tender.

Wash under cold water.

Grate the beetroot into a sieve on a bowl to drain all the water. Leave it for 5 minutes to drain well.

In another bowl, combine the garlic, mint and beetroot.

Add the sour cream, olive oil, vinegar & lemon juice and taste until you reach the desired taste and flavor. (I like it sour)

Stir well and combine. could be refrigerated for a couple of days and the flavors intensifies because of the lemons.

Serve with triangles of oven baked pita bread ! Yum!

Nigella's Ritzy Chicken Strips.. An Easy Lunch or Dinner..

This practically took minutes to prepare and a few more minutes to cook. But needs a couple of days for it to be ready, so prepare them a day in advance. If you have kids, they will love this recipe and grownups do too! I tried this Nigella Lawson easy breezy recipe accompanied by homemade Honey Mustard Sauce.. tastes sooo good!

Ingredients:

2 Packets of boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 cup buttermilk (Leban) - I prefer KDD because it's think and creamy
20 pieces of Ritz cracker crushed to form bread crumbs


Method:


. Put the chicken breasts into a freezer bag flat.
. Bash them gently with a rolling pin until the chicken is quite thin.
. Once done, take them out of the bag and slice them.
. In a bowl, place the butter milk and chicken and leave then in the fridge to marinade for 24 hours atleast.
. When ready to cook, prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper and preheat the oven.
. Take the bread crumbs and place them in a shallow dish to coat the chicken.
. Take the chicken out of the fridge, take each piece, shake off the excess buttermilk and dip them in the crumbs.
. Coat them well and lay them on the baking sheet, bake for 15 to 20 minutes until golden brown. and Voila !!!!

Dinner is served! ... or lunch ;)

Earthy .. Lovely .. Cream of Eggplant Soup.

Ingredients:


Couple of eggplants, grilled, peeled, & cut into cubes.
1 Onion roughly chopped
1 Potato roughly chopped - preferably small pieces so it cooks faster
1/2 cup KDD cream - or Creme Fraiche if available
1 tbsp Flour
a little bit of butter
Olive Oil
2 cups Chicken stock
Salt & Pepper
1 tsp Ground caraway
a little bit of Nutmeg
Finely chopped parsley for garnish


Method:


- In a medium size pot, start off with the olive oil and butter and let the butter melt.
- Add the chopped onions and the salt to help it sweat and soften.
- In goes the garlic and pepper and mix well.
- While stirring, add the flour and mix well so it doesn't burn at the bottom of the pot.
- Add the chopped potato and mix all together well, then add the caraway.
- Add the chopped eggplants to the mixture and stir for 3 minutes then add the chicken stock.
- Leave the mixture to simmer for 30 minutes and bring it to a boil.
- Transfer the mixture to a blender and ladle in half of the soup so it doesn't fill up the blender.
- Transfer the bended soup into a new pot and ladle the rest to blend.
- Add the other blended amount of mixture into the new pot and put it on the stove again.
- Add the cream and mix.
- Add the nutmeg and a little bit more caraway for taste.
- Finely pour into a soup dish and garnish with finely chopped parsley. 




P.S. Salt should be added in moderation because the chicken stalk is already salted.

Zucchini, Yellow Squash & Potato Gratin

A new recipe.. I had a craving for Zucchini & Summer squash, it's healthy & tasty.. So I decided to browse through my recipes in search for a nice recipe that combines both of those ingredients. 
I came across many recipes but this particular one caught my attention because it included potatoes.
I tried it as a side dish for lunch, next to grilled chicken and a crisp green salad. It turned out lovely and delish!!

Ingredients:


1 packet of KDD cream or 1 cup of heavy cream
1/2 cup breadcrumbs 
2 Potatoes, sliced
4 Small Zucchini (Courgette), thinly sliced
1 large summer squash sliced
3 tbsp Butter 
2 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced
1 small onion, sliced
Salt & Black Pepper
1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese
1/4 cup Mozzarella Cheese


Method:


Prepare the oven by reheating at 400 degrees. Set aside until needed.
On the stove, medium heat, in a large skillet, melt the butter.
Add all the vegetables to the butter, saute & stir.
Add the salt & Pepper according to taste.
Cook the veggies until tender while stirring slowly and carefully.
Add the cream and cook for 5-7 minutes until it thickens.
Once cooked, remove from the stove and place in a Pyrex or a baking dish.
Sprinkle the breadcrumbs on top of the mixture and the Parmesan & Mozzarella cheese.
Bake this dish for 25 minutes to cook, then turn on the broiler for 5 minutes until it gets golden on top.


Enjoy !!

Cabbage Salad .. My Way!

Ingredients:

1 Cucumber, peeled, sliced

1 thinly sliced red onion (Shallot)

Finely Sliced green cabbage

Finely Slicded red cabbage

I shredded carrot

I green onion (Scallions) thinly sliced

2 tbsp chopped coriander (cilantro)

1/2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds

Dressing:

4 tbsp yogurt

2 tbsp lemon juice

1/2 tbsp shredded ginger

1 tbsp mayonnaise

Salt & Pepper

1 tbsp vinegar

1 tsp honey

1 tsp pomegranate molasses

1 tsp soy sauce

Method:

1- combine all the vegetables in a large serving bowl.

2- mix the dressing ingredients.

3- pour dressing on salad and serve immediately.

Green Curry Chicken (Thai) - Recipe # 2

This is another recipe for my favorite Thai dish, Green Curry Chicken. It's a more easier version than recipe # 1 and takes less time.

I enjoy doing this when I'm in a hurry and need to serve fast lunch or dinner, yet a good & filling meal.

Ingredients:

1 jar of Thai Choice Green Curry

2 tbsp cooking oil

2 cans of coconut milk

2 stems of fresh lemon grass - found in TSC or Lulu Hyper Market

6 chicken breasts, boneless, skinless, cut into cubes

4 pieces Thai eggplant cut into large cubes - found in Lulu Hyper Market

2 medium white potatoes cut into cubes

1 cup of fresh button mushrooms cut in half

1 green bell pepper chopped into chunks

4 baby corns chopped into chunks

1 small red chili

Salt according to taste

Brown sugar to minimize spiciness

1 tbsp fish sauce - found in TSC

Fresh basil leaves

Coriander for garnish

Method:

Start out by drizzling 2 tbsp of oil in a pan or wok over medium heat.

Add the ready made green curry paste and stir-fry it for one minute.

Add the coconut milk and stir to combine, then add the lemon grass and stir.

Add the fish sauce and leave to simmer for another 5 minutes.

Add in the chicken and let it cook for 5 minutes then add the rest of the vegetables.

To reduce the curry's spicy flavor, add in brown sugar according to taste, I would start by 2 tbsp and taste, add more if needed.

Add salt as needed, then add the basil leaves

Leave to cook for 20-30 minutes.

Garnish with coriander and serve with steamed rice.

Enjoy!

Oktoberfest Bavarian Potato Salad - Recipe Trial # 1

After my visit to Munich, Germany last year,I fell in love with the city and with Germany all over again, for many different reasons. The food, the atmosphere, the people and my wonderful travelling partner :)
The food was just terrific, one of the special things I have tried was their Bavarian Potato Salad. I fell in love with it immediately, such a hearty and lovely dish, accompanied by grilled chicken and your favorite beverage :P

I'm trying out several recipes to find the perfect one, this is my first trial, it turned out nice and light, in terms of the dressing. I give it a 4 star.. but that's only in my book, try it out and see what you think.. Enjoy !

Ingredients:

3-4 Medium white potatoes
1/3 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil EVOO
1/3 cup white Vinegar
1/2 Vegetable or Chicken Stock
3 tbsp finely chopped onions
Salt & Pepper
Dash of Sugar
3/4 cup diced cucumbers
1/2 tbsp Dijon Mustard
1 tbsp finely Chopped Chives - I bought a fresh plant from TSC
2 tbsp Relish

Method:

1- In a large pot filled with water and some salt, boil the unpeeled potatoes until tender.

2- Once done, drain the potatoes, peel them and chop them, then place in a large bowl.

3- In a separate smaller bowl, combine all of the following ingredients: Oil, Vinegar, Onion, S&P, Stock, Sugar, Mustard, Cucumber & Relish. The mix it well to form the dressing.

4- Pour the dressing over the peeled and chopped potatoes and gently mix them together.

5- Garnish the salad with chives.

Fried Calamari with mixed greens

Serves 4


Ingredients:

2 teaspoons oil
500g calamari rings
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 tablespoons fish sauce
1 tablespoon sweet chilli sauce
1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
1 tablespoon water
12 cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cucumber, seeded and sliced
1 red onion, sliced
1/4 cup small mint leaves
1/4 cup coriander leaves
3 onions (shallots), sliced
1 tablespoon thinly sliced lemongrass
radicchio leaves, to serve


Method:

In a wok, heat the oil. Stir-fry the calamari for 1 minute.

Add the lemon juice, sauces and water. Stir-fry for 2 minutes, until calamari is cooked and tender.

Transfer the calamari with sauce to a bowl and toss through remaining ingredients.

Serve on a bed of radicchio leaves.


Enjoy..

Oriental Salad ~ Chinese

Ingredients:

capellini pasta, cooked, drained
4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves, grilled, thinly sliced
2 carrots, thinly sliced
1 cup mushrooms, sliced
1/2 cup bean sprouts
1/4 cup red peppers, finely chopped
1/2 cup oriental sesame dressing
2 green onions, sliced


Method:

Toss all ingredients except dressing and onions in large bowl. Add dressing; mix lightly.

Sprinkle with the green onions.

Enjoy...

Chicken with Ginger and Soy Sauce

Serves 4


Ingredients:

1/3 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
5 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
2/3 cup fresh cilantro, chopped, plus sprigs for garnish
1 piece fresh ginger (about 2 inches long), peeled and cut into thin strips
5 scallions, thinly sliced on the diagonal
1 Tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 Teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 Teaspoon ground pepper
4 chicken drumsticks and 4 thighs, skin removed
2 medium carrots, thinly sliced crosswise
1 Tablespoon cornstarch
cooked white rice, for serving


Method:

- In a pot, stir together soy sauce, sugar, garlic, cilantro, ginger, 1/2 cup scallions, vinegar, coriander, and pepper.

- Add chicken and carrots; toss to coat. Cover, and cook on low until chicken is tender, about 2 hours .

- Using a large spoon, skim off and discard any fat from surface of cooking liquid.

- In a 2-cup glass measuring cup, whisk cornstarch with 1 tablespoon water. Ladle 1 cup cooking liquid into measuring cup; whisk to combine. Pour into a small saucepan, and bring to a boil; cook until thickened, about 1 minute.

- With the heat turned off, stir in cornstarch mixture. Serve chicken with white rice, and garnish with cilantro sprigs and remaining 1/2 cup scallions.


Tip:

Could be done in a slow cooker for approx. 6 hours instead of 2.


Enjoy...

Angel Hair Pasta with Basil & Tomatoes

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon olive oil
5-6 Roma tomatoes, chopped
3 tabelspoons balsamic vinegar
salt & pepper to taste
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
1/2 lb angel hair pasta


Method:

- In a large skillet, saute the garlic in olive oil until lightly browned. Leave on a side.

- Place tomatoes, salt & pepper, basil and balsamic vinegar in a bowl and set aside for 10 minutes, stirring occassionally.

- Boil water for pasta.

- Just before you put the pasta in the water, drain tomatoes and reserve the juice .

- Put the angel hair pasta in the water to cook for the recommended amount of time.

- Heat your garlic skillet and toss drained tomatoes briefly just to heat. They should retain their shape.

- The pasta should finish cooking within 5 minutes; at the same time the tomatoes are ready.

- Toss the pasta and tomato mixture together and serve with freshly grated parmesan cheese.

Low-fat Caesar Salad ~ Diet

Ingredients:

1 head of lettuce, washed and Dried
1 cup low-fat mayonnaise (I prefer Hellman's)
1/4 cup vinegar
1/4 cup sugar substitute (equal or sweet'n low)
1/4 cup water
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon mustard
garlic croutons


Method:

Wash and thoroughly dry the Romaine lettuce.

Cut the lettuce in pieces and set aside.

Place all ingredients in plastic bowl and beat together.

Add lettuce leaves, tossing to coat thoroughly.

Arrange on two dinner plates and garnish with garlic croutons.


Enjoy...

Low-fat Chicken Quesadilla ~ Diet

Serves 4


Ingredients:

8 corn tortillas
6 ounces low-fat monterey jack cheese
8 ounces chicken breasts, cubed
1 ripe avocado, diced small
1 cup green chilies, drained
4 tablespoons chopped cilantro leaves
4 ounces non-fat sour cream


Method:

- Heat a griddle over medium-high heat.

- When the griddle is hot, place 1 tortilla on the griddle and sprinkle 1/8 of the cheese on tortilla.

- Top with 1/4 of the chicken mixture, 1/4 of the avocado, 1/4 of the green chiles, and 1/4 of the cilantro, and another 1/8 of the cheese. Top with another tortilla.

- When cheese begins to melt, flip with wide spatula and continue cooking until cheese is melted.

- Remove from griddle to cutting board. Cut into 4 pieces. Repeat process 3 more times.

- Serve with fat-free sour cream on the side.

Tuna & Potato Salad

Serves 6


Ingredients:

500g small potatoes
olive oil for coating
250g cherry tomatoes
200g green beans, topped and tailed
200g tuna in olive oil, drained
1 large bunch of basil

For the dressing:

2 shallots, finely diced
3 tablespoons white vinegar
2 tablespoons grainy mustard
sea salt
freshly ground black pepper
7 tabelspoons extra virgin olive oil


Method:

- Gently cook the potatoes in their skins in a pan of simmering water for 20 minutes.
- Heat the oven to 200°C.
- Lightly brush a baking tray with olive oil.
- Toss the cherry tomatoes in the oil to coat them and roast in the hot oven for 10 minutes.
- Put the dressing ingredients, except the oil, into a jar with a tight fitting lid and shake until well blended. Then add the olive oil and shake vigorously again.
- Drain the potatoes, cut them in half and place in a salad bowl.
- Pour the dressing over and toss to coat the warm potatoes. Plunge the green beans into boiling water and cook for 2 minutes. Drain well and add, warm, to the potatoes.
- Flake and add the tuna along with the tomatoes straight from the oven, and gently mix.
- Tear up the basil, scatter it over the Tuna Salad and serve at once.

Enjoy...

BBQ Salmon with Creamy Dill ~ Diet

Serves 4-6


Ingredients:

1 salmon fillet
fat-free or low-fat mayonnaise
dill
lemon juice
salt and pepper


Method:

- Lay salmon filet on large piece of tin foil (shiny side of foil facing up).

- Sprinkle salmon with lemon juice.

- Spread enough mayonnaise over salmon to cover the filet.

- Season with salt and pepper.

- Season with enough dill to cover the filet.

- Make a "tent" around the salmon with the foil.

- BBQ on medium heat until salmon is cooked to your liking.

Lemon Chicken and Broccoli Stir-Fry

Serves 4


Ingredients:

3 Tablespoons soy sauce
2 Tablespoons vinegar
2 Tablespoons honey
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 Teaspoon crushed red pepper
1&1/2 Pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices
2 Tablespoons oil
1&1/2 Pounds broccoli, stems peeled and sliced 1/4 inch thick, florets separated
1 small lemon, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise, seeds removed
2 Teaspoons cornstarch, dissolved in 1 tablespoon water
2 Tablespoons toasted sesame seeds


Method:

- In a large bowl, whisk together soy sauce, 3 tablespoons water, vinegar, honey, garlic, and crushed red pepper.

- Pour half the mixture into another bowl; reserve.

- Place chicken in remaining mixture; let marinate 15 minutes.

- In a skillet, heat 1/2 tablespoon oil over high heat. Add half the chicken; cook, tossing often, until brown and cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes.

- Transfer chicken to a plate. Repeat with another 1/2 tablespoon oil and remaining chicken. Wipe skillet with a paper towel.

- Heat remaining tablespoon oil in skillet over medium-high heat. Cook broccoli and lemon, tossing often, until broccoli is bright green, about 3 minutes.

- Add 1/2 cup water; cook until broccoli is tender and lemon is translucent, about 6 minutes.

- Add reserved marinade, cornstarch mixture, chicken, and any accumulated juices from plate.

- Bring to a boil; cook, stirring until thickened, 1 minute. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.


Enjoy...

Healthy Vegetable Soup ~ Diet

Serves 8


Ingredients:

3 medium zucchini, sliced
2 medium carrots, sliced
10 mushrooms, sliced
1 medium onion, sliced
1 potato, peeled,cut into 1-inch pieces
3 cans vegetable broth
3 cups canned crushed tomatoes, with added puree
1 can stewed tomatoes
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
additional chopped fresh parsley


Method:

- Combine zucchini, carrots, mushrooms, onion and potato in heavy large Dutch oven.

- Add vegetable broth, crushed tomatoes, stewed tomatoes, 3 tablespoons parsley, cilantro, garlic, basil and oregano.

- Bring mixture to boil.

- Reduce heat, cover and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 30 minutes.

- Strain cooking liquid into large saucepan; reserve vegetables.

- Place 3 cups vegetables in blender. Add 1/4 cup cooking liquid. Puree until smooth.

- Stir puree into remaining cooking liquid in saucepan. Return remaining vegetables to cooking liquid.

- Season to taste with salt and pepper. Bring soup to simmer. Ladle into bowls. Sprinkle with additional parsley.



Tip:

Can be prepared 5 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate.