Peanut Chicken Skewers

I recently had some friends over for dinner and I made some delicious Peanut Chicken skewers from Jamie Oliver. The recipe can be found here. The skewers are very flavoursome and have a lovely Thai/ Asian taste.

These are best marinated in advance so that you can get a real depth of flavour, so marinate in the morning so they are ready for dinner! 

Recipe: (makes 6 large skewers)

- 3 Chicken breasts

- 3 tbsp crunchy peanut butter (Whole earth is good!)

- Good handful of coriander or parsley

- 1 small chili (depending on how spicy you like it)

- Thumb size piece of Ginger

- 1 Garlic clove

- Glug of Soy sauce

- 2 Limes, zest and juice

To make:

- Put the peanut butter, chilli, coriander, ginger, soy sauce, garlic and lime in to a food processor and whizz until combined. Add a little water if the mixture seems too thick.

- Chop the chicken breasts in to reasonably large chunks in a bowl and then add the peanut mixture. Rub in the marinade with your hands to make sure all the chicken is covered. Leave to marinate in the fridge for several hours, or overnight.

- Take the marinated chicken out of the fridge and pierce them on to skewers

- Preheat the grill to high, and then grill them for about 25 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and peanut sauce has gone golden and slightly crispy.

- Serve with salad and roasted potatoes. Enjoy!

The chicken marinating.

Here are the chicken skewers part way through grilling.

Here are some close ups of the chicken once it has been taken off the skewers!

Enjoy!

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Aubergine 'Chips'

I was having a search on the internet for some cooking inspiration and I came across these wonderful Aubergine Chips! They looked so crisp and also a good accompaniment to the Peanut Chicken and salad I was making for dinner.

These Aubergine chips are so easy to make, and also really healthy! You just have to dip them in egg, then Parmesan bread crumbs and bake for about 15 mins in a hot oven! I seasoned my breadcrumb mixture with some Chili flakes and Paprika, but you could try any mix of spices.

Recipe:

- 1 Aubergine

- 1-2 eggs, Whisked (depends on how much aubergine you have)

- 1 Cup of dried bread crumbs

- Good grating of Parmesan cheese

- 1 tsp Chili flakes

- 1 tsp Paprika

- Salt and Pepper

To make:

- Preheat oven to about 180c

- Mix the breadcrumbs with the chili flakes, paprika, Parmesan cheese and salt and pepper

- Then Cut the Aubergine in to 'chip' like shapes

- Dip the Aubergine chips in to the whisked egg first, then in to the bread crumb mixture and then place them straight on to an oiled baking tray. Repeat until all are coated.

-Bake in the oven for about 15 minutes, but keep an eye on them so the bread crumbs dont burn towards the end of baking.

- Serve them with salad, or just with a tomato dip!

The whisked egg and the bread crumb mixture.

The Aubergine ready to go in the oven!

A close up of the Aubergine chips!

Hope you enjoy this recipe! 

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Valenica with my Chicas'!

I have been very lucky and have just returned from several days in Valencia with my wonderful Keebles! Laura is out in Valencia for her year abroad and Sarah has gone out to stay with her for a while! So I jumped on the plane with them and went to see what spanish life out there is like! 

Whilst over there I had some delicious things cooked for me by Laura, also Tapas and fabulous Manchego cheese (one of my favourites!)

We visited Mercado Central, which is supposedly the biggest indoor market in Spain! This was very exciting for me.. with Iberian ham, dried fruits, Olives, Cheese and many other delights on every corner it was hard to resist!

Here you can see the market in all its glory!

Below, this man sold me some lovely dried figs.

Below are the beautiful Laura and Sarah, looking lovely in the sun!

Above is me on Laura's favourite bridge, which was very old and Romanesque!

Sarah and I managed to make it to the top of the Cathedral tower, after a very winding and claustrophobic climb!

Below, I am having a well deserved breather at the top!

The Keebs and I went out for Tapas in a lovely spanish restaurant  and had some celebratory Spanish red wine, along with an autumnal salad, anchovies on little toastadas, Goats cheese samosas and Beef Carpaccio! It was delicious and so cheap! (If only London had places like that!)

Cheers to Valencia!

And below is our Autumnal artichoke salad, I didn't manage to photograph the rest as I was too hungry hehe!

Above, Sarah and I,

Below, Laura and Sarah looking lovely!

Below are Laura and I!

After our Tapas, we went to the Andalusian festival they had on in the City. It was a sea of women in traditional Flamenco dresses, Iberian Ham, Cheese and Tapas!

 Whilst Laura was at her lectures, Sarah and I did a spot of shopping along with some breaks for coffee- very important!

Above is Sarah with her Coffee, and the lovely cups it came in!

I had a wonderful time in Valencia, it is a lovely Spanish city with some scrumptious delights!

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Chocolate Biscuit Cake

It has been a very long time since I last did a post! So I have decided that it is about time I got back on my baking wagon! I have been cooking some wonderful things over Easter but I didn't manage to photograph it before I devoured them!

I was recently at Rosie's house (one of my very best friends!) and we decided to do a bit of baking, and we were reminded of Chocolate biscuit fridge cake, who one of our best friends Flo, used to make!

Chocolate biscuit cake is utterly delicious and is very quick and easy to whip up as it doesn't need baking as you set it in the fridge. Another very important factor to note is that it is a favourite of Prince William, who had it as part of his wedding cake- great choice by him!

Heres the recipe: (photos below!)

(makes about 12 big squares, 24 mini bites)

-125g butter

-250g Digestive biscuits (or your choice of biscuit!)

-200g Chocolate (I used 100g of dark and 100g of Milk)

-2 tbsp Golden syrup

-Extras to add: Chocolate bars/marshmallows/nuts/raisins..

How to make:

-Crush up the biscuits in a large bowel with the end of a rolling pin.

-Melt the Chocolate, Butter and Golden syrup in a pan over a medium-low heat and stir until melted.

-Stir in the Chocolate mixture to the biscuits and mix until fully coated and combined. Then add any extras you fancy.

-Pour the mixture in to a suitably sized tin and pop it in the fridge for a few hours, (or the freezer if you cant wait!)

-Then cut it in to squares of your preferred size and enjoy! 

YUM.

The very simple ingredients.

Chocolate biscuit mixture pressed in to tin!

Chocolate biscuit cake cut and ready for eating!

Close up of the inside.

This is Rosie's and my Rolo Chocolate biscuit cake that we made before,

Mmmmm!

Enjoy!

More recipes to follow before too long... X