Orange Chicken

Orange Chicken

Friday, May 29, 2020

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I absolutely LOVE this sticky orange chicken! It’s crispy, it’s sticky, it’s sweet - it’s just so good! I made the crispy chicken in the actifry but if you don’t have one then you can fry in oil on the hob instead - I was trying to keep it a little healthier! ☺️

Serves 2

Ingredients:

2 chicken breasts, diced
1 egg, beaten
4 tbsp cornflour
100ml fizzy orange juice
3 tbsp honey
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp rice wine vinegar
1 tsp garlic pepper
1 tsp ground ginger
Mixed peppers, sliced
Onion, sliced

Method:

1. Dip the diced chicken in the beaten egg and coat in cornflour. Put the chicken in the actifry and cook for 30 mins.

2. Fry off the peppers and onions in a little oil, I like mine to have a bit of a bite.

3. Make the sauce - to a saucepan, add orange juice, honey, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, garlic pepper and ground ginger. Bring the mixture to a boil and let it bubble away of 10 minutes until it starts to get syrupy and lightly coats the back of a spoon!

4. Add the chickens to the pan with onions and peppers, pour the orange sauce over & make sure to coat everything!

5. Serve up and enjoy!

Crustless Veggie Quiche

Crustless Veggie Quiche

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Ingredients:

1 cup mixed peppers
1/2 white onion
5 mushrooms
Dash of oil
4 eggs
2 tbsp Greek yogurt
50g cheddar cheese
Salt & pepper
5 Cherry Tomatoes

Method:

1. Fry off vegetables in a dash of oil - season well.

2. Mix together eggs and Greek yogurt in a separate bowl. Add in grated cheese and season well.

3. Grease a quiche pan or round baking dish.

4. Add vegetables and top with your eggy mixture - top with slices of cherry tomato!

5. Cook at 200oC for 30 mins

6. Serve up & enjoy!

Quick and Easy: Creamy Chicken Curry

Quick and Easy: Creamy Chicken Curry

Thursday, April 2, 2020

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This is a great recipe if you are short on time but fancy something tasty and filling! You can swap things about and use up whatever vegetables you have lurking in your fridge! So here you go:

Ingredients

• 2 Chicken Breasts
• Handful of diced onion
• Handful of frozen peas
• Handful of mushrooms
• 3 tsp Medium Curry Powder
• 1 cup BEEF stock (You can use Chicken or Veg too but trust me and use the BEEF!)
• 1 cup double cream

Method 

1. Dice chicken breasts and fry in a little oil until golden.
2. Add onion, peas and mushrooms - fry for 2-3 minutes.
3. Add your curry powder and fry off for a minute or two before adding your beef stock.
4. Bring to the boil and let simmer until it reduces down.
5. Pour in the cream and cook until the sauce thickens.
6. Serve over rice - DELISH! 

Freezer Friendly Meals

Freezer Friendly Meals

Sunday, March 15, 2020

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Freezer Friendly Meals

What a crazy crazy world we live in!

I tend to overthink a lot of things and prepare for the worst - sometimes its not a good thing and at other times it works to my advantage! 

I recently took that Enneagram test thing and I came out as a six - look it up! It sums me up perfectly! 

But anyway,  I am babbling!

The more I have thought about our current situation, the more I kind of am getting my head around what my role in the home is in regards to this - as a mother and as a wife! If you know anything about me, you will know that I am a Stay at Home Mum with THREE children (Still can't believe I am saying that!!) So we have a newborn girl (8 weeks) a toddler (2) and a pre schooler (4) - I am chef, cleaner, entertainer, butt wiper, bottle giver, referee - ok you get it! My job is to basically keep this place running as smoothly as I can! 

So in order to be able to do that, I need to be prepared! I do that by keeping my fridge and freezer as well stocked with ready prepped meals as I can, or simply make meals that are fuss free and family friendly! I am no gourmet chef, thats not to my kids taste! LOL

Anyway! I thought it would be handy and helpful for me to link here all of the recipes on the blog that lend themselves to freezer friendly meals and there is also a new catergory that you can click on to make that a whole lot easier to find! 

So here goes...

• Sweet Potato and Bacon Soup
• Sausage and bean casserole
• Slow Cooker BBQ Meatballs
• Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken
• Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
• Chicken and Broccoli Bake
• Chicken Pot Pie
• Fancy Mac and Cheese
• Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef
• Slow Cooker Honey and Garlic Chicken
• French Bread Pizzas

Store Cupboard Staples - Sausage and Bean Casserole

Store Cupboard Staples - Sausage and Bean Casserole

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Store Cupboard Staples

Sausage and Bean Casserole 

Such a simple lunch/dinner idea with very little fuss and its a hit here with two very picky eaters! 

I love love love comfort food that is quick and handy to make! 

Ingredients

• 5 Sausages of choice, I just used good old Dennys! :)
• 1 tbsp Olive Oil
• Handful of mushrooms, chopped finely
• Handful of onion ( I used frozen because I had it)
• 1 Tbsp Lazy Garlic 
• Big splash of Worchestershire Sauce 
• 200ml Chicken stock 
• 1 Tin (the big'un) Baked Beans

Method

1. Cut sausages in Half and then Half lengthways (Does that make sense?)
2. Fry in oil until browned on both sides then set aside.
3. Cook your mushrooms and onion for approx 5 minutes then add the garlic and splash of Worcestershire sauce.
4. Chuck the sausages back in, add your stock and simmer for about 15 minutes until the liquid disappears.
5. Add your beans and heat through.
6. Serve up and enjoy! 

A Monthly Menu

A Monthly Menu

Friday, April 5, 2019

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Does anyone else find meal planning hard? You want to change things up a bit but you don't know how? Maybe you don't have much time? Fussy eaters? Lack motivation and/or inspiration? I have created a monthly meal plan for Monday - Friday that will hopefully give you some ideas that you can add to your cooking repertoire. I have included some slow cooker recipes but do not worry, there is nothing fancy or complicated, just good old fashioned home cooking that will hopefully please the family.

 Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef - Link here

Fancy Mac and Cheese - Link here

Beef Stirfry - Link here

Chicken Pot Pie - Link here

Creamy garlic chicken spaghetti - Link here

Champ and Sausages: Link here

Homemade Pizza bread: Link here

Chicken and Broccoli Bake: Link here

Meatball Pasta Bake: Link here

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork: Link here

Mango chicken: Link here

Beef Casserole & Yorkshire Puds: Link here

Crispy Honey Chilli Chicken: Link here

Sweet and Sour Pork: Link here to Slow Cooker S&S chicken 

Slow cooker Teriyaki Chicken: Link here

Honey and Garlic Chicken: Link here

Cottage Pie: Link

Slow Cooker BBQ Meatballs: Link here

Sweet Potato and Bacon Soup: Link here

Sweet Chilli Chicken Pasta Bake: Link here

Sweet Chilli Chicken Pasta Bake

Sweet Chilli Chicken Pasta Bake

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I feel like I say that every dish is my favourite, but this one genuinely is up there with the best of them! Creamy Sweet Chilli Penne Pasta - I mean, what is not to love? All with a crunchy breadcrumbs topping - OH YES!

Serves: 4
Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients

2 Chicken breasts

1/2 red pepper

1/2 yellow pepper

1/2 green pepper

1/2 onion

5 Tbsps natural yogurt

2 tbsps double cream

4 tbsps sweet chilli sauce

Breadcrumbs 

Handful of grated cheese 

Method

1. Fry chicken in a little oil until cooked, add in thinly sliced peppers and onions and cook until soft. 

2. In a bowl, combine the natural yogurt, double cream and sweet chilli sauce.

3. Pour over the chicken and vegetables, add a handful of grated cheese and combine.

4. Transfer your beautiful creamy chilli chicken to a baking dish and top with breadcrumbs and a little cheese.

5. Cook in a preheated oven at 180oC for 20-25 minutes.

6. Tuck in and enjoy! 

Sweet Potato and Bacon Soup

Sweet Potato and Bacon Soup

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I just LOVE soup - unfortunately I am the only one in this house who appreciates a big steaming bowl of this winter wonder! It freezes really well too, you know, if you actually have any left!

Serves: 4
Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients

3 Sweet Potatoes, cubed

1 Red onion

2 cloves garlic

1/2 tsp mild chili powder

1/2 tsp smoked paprika

4 bacon rashers

800ml chicken stock

salt and pepper

Method 

1. Chop bacon and fry in a deep bottom saucepan until crispy. Remove from the pan and set aside. 

2. Using the oil in the pan, saute the onions until soft. Add garlic and cook for 2 minutes. Add the chilli powder and paprika and mix in.

3. Add sweet potato and chicken stock. Bring to the boil and reduce the heat.

4. Simmer for 20-25 minutes or until the sweet potatoes are soft. Add 3/4 of your bacon and blend until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.

5. Serve yourself a generous helping and top with some crispy bacon.

Slow Cooker BBQ Meatballs

Slow Cooker BBQ Meatballs

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Ooooohhhh Meatballs! Sticky, BBQy, DELICIOUS Meatballs! Thats what this is right here - and the best bit? Bung it all in the slow cooker and let Suzy work her magic!

Serves: 4
Difficulty: Easy Peasy

Ingredients 

12 Meatballs (I use shop bought)

1/2 Cup Honey

3/4 Cup Ketchup

1/3 Cup Brown Sugar

4 Tbsp Soy Sauce

1 Tbsp Garlic Powder

Method

1. Brown Meatballs in a little oil in a frying pan.

2. Make the sauce by combining the rest of the ingredients.

3. Place the meatballs in the slow cooker and pour sauce over.

4. Cook on high for 2.5 - 3 hours or on low for 5-6 hours.

5. Serve over rice and ENJOY! 

Crispy Honey Chilli Chicken

Crispy Honey Chilli Chicken

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There is nothing I love more than a "fakeaway' because it somehow feels "healthier" and its a good money saver! This recipe is one of my main go-to's when I fancy a takeaway but my thighs beg me not to!

Serves: 2
Difficulty: Takes a bit of work!

Ingredients

2 Chicken Breasts

1 Red Pepper 

1 Yellow Pepper

1 Onion

1 cup Plain Flour

1 cup Milk

1tsp Ground Coriander

1tsp Chili Powder

For the Sauce: 

1/2 Cup Honey

2 Tbsps Soy Sauce

1 Tbsp Water

1 Tbsp Rice Vinegar

Pinch of Chilli Flakes

1 tsp Cornflour

2 tsp Water 

Method 

1. Prep chicken, peppers and onion.

2. Mix the flour in a bowl with the chilli powder and ground coriander. Coat the chicken in the flour mix, add to milk in a separate bowl and back into the flour.

3. Heat vegetable oil in a deep sauce pan until smokin hot and fry chicken in batches for 5-7 minutes until brown and crispy. Set aside as you cook it off.

4. Meanwhile, fry the onions and peppers in a little oil. 

5. Make the sauce by combining the honey, soy sauce, water, rice vinegar and chili flakes in a small saucepan. Once it is bubbling, add your cornflour/water mix and let it thicken slightly. 

6. Add chicken to the peppers and onions and pour sauce over to coat. 

7. Serve over rice and enjoy every single mouthful! 

Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken

Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken

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This was a new one for me but boy oh boy did it deliver!!! I love experimenting with recipes and making them to suit what I have in the cupboards - this is exactly what happened here!

Serves: 4
Difficulty: Easy Peasy

Ingredients

400g chicken breast mini fillets

1/2 cup golden caster sugar

1 cup soy sauce

4 tbsp apple cider vinegar

1 tsp ground ginger

2 tsp lazy garlic

dash of salt and pepper

Method

1. Place chicken in the bottom of the slow cooker

2. Mix the rest of the ingredients in a bowl and pour over chicken.

3. Cook on low for 4 hours.

4. Remove chicken and cut into pieces.

5. If sauce is too "loose" then use a cornflour slurry to thicken, otherwise add chicken back in and cook for a further 30 mins on low. At this point you could also add in peppers and onion! 

6. Serve up over rice and enjoy!