Thursday, November 27, 2014

Creamy Tarragon Chicken Bake

Ingredients
  •     2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  •     1 tbsp rice flour (we used Doves Farm)
  •     300ml soya milk (we used So Good)
  •     4 chicken breasts, skin removed
  •     2 red onions, cut into wedges
  •     250g punnet cherry tomatoes, halved
  •     250g asparagus spears, blanched
  •     1 tsp caster sugar
  •     1 tbsp white wine vinegar
  •     150ml vegetable stock (we used Kallo yeast-free vegetable stock)
  •     3 tbsp chopped tarragon
    • 4 tbsp gluten-free breadcrumbs (we used Sainsbury's 'Free From' English muffins)
    • 1 tbsp grated dairy and lactose-free cheese (we used Cheezly)
     
Prep: 20 mins Cook: 30 mins
Servings :
Serves 4 


Ingredients
  1.     Mix half the oil and flour in a saucepan (off the heat), then blend in the soya milk (it must be well blended before heating). Bring the sauce slowly to the boil, whisking constantly, then simmer for 1 min. Remove from the heat, cover with greaseproof paper and set aside.
  2.     Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Heat remaining oil in a frying pan, add the chicken, then fry for 2-3 mins or until brown (it won’t be cooked through). Transfer to an ovenproof gratin dish. Add the onions to the pan and fry for 2-3 mins. Spoon over the chicken, then top with the tomatoes and asparagus. Set aside while you prepare the sauce.
  3.     Put the sugar and vinegar into the pan. Stir over medium heat until the sugar is a dark caramel colour, then add the stock. Bring to the boil and simmer for 1 min. Whisk into the milky sauce until blended, season, then add the tarragon. Spoon sauce over the chicken and veg, sprinkle with crumbs and cheese, then bake for 20 mins or until cooked through.

Dried fruit energy nuggets

Ingredients

    50g soft dried apricots
    100g soft dried dates
    50g dried cherries
    2 tsp coconut oil
    1 tbsp toasted sesame seed


 Prep: 10 mins No cook
Makes : 6

Give your energy levels a real boost with these nutritionally-balanced healthy fruit bites



Directions :
 
Whizz apricots with dates and cherries in a food processor until very finely chopped. Tip into a bowl and use your hands to work in coconut oil. Shape the mix into walnut-sized balls, then roll in sesame seeds. Store in an airtight container until you need a quick energy fix.

Bean & Sausage Hotpot

Ingredients
  •     8 large sausages (course-cut ones like Toulouse or Cumberland are ideal)
  •     ¼ quantity tomato sauce (see 'Goes well with')
  •     3 x 400g/14oz cans butter beans
  •     1 tbsp black treacle or muscovado sugar
  •     1 tsp English mustard

Cooking time
Prep: 5 mins Cook: 40 mins

Serves : 4


Directions

  1.  In a large casserole, fry the sausages until brown all over – about 10 mins.
      
  2.   Add the tomato sauce, stirring well, then stir in the beans, treacle or sugar and mustard. Bring to the simmer, cover and cook for 30 mins. Great served with crusty bread or rice.

Thanksgiving Reciepe

Good Eats Roast Turkey


Ingredients
1 (14 to 16 pound) frozen young turkey
 

For the brine:
1 cup kosher salt
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 gallon vegetable stock
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
1 1/2 teaspoons allspice berries
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped candied ginger
1 gallon heavily iced water
 

For the aromatics:
1 red apple, sliced
1/2 onion, sliced
1 cinnamon stick
1 cup water
4 sprigs rosemary
6 leaves sage

Canola oil


Directions
 
2 to 3 days before roasting:

Begin thawing the turkey in the refrigerator or in a cooler kept at 38 degrees F.

Combine the vegetable stock, salt, brown sugar, peppercorns, allspice berries, and candied ginger in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Stir occasionally to dissolve solids and bring to a boil. Then remove the brine from the heat, cool to room temperature, and refrigerate.

Early on the day or the night before you'd like to eat:

Combine the brine, water and ice in the 5-gallon bucket. Place the thawed turkey (with innards removed) breast side down in brine. If necessary, weigh down the bird to ensure it is fully immersed, cover, and refrigerate or set in cool area for 8 to 16 hours, turning the bird once half way through brining.

Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F. Remove the bird from brine and rinse inside and out with cold water. Discard the brine.

Place the bird on roasting rack inside a half sheet pan and pat dry with paper towels.

Combine the apple, onion, cinnamon stick, and 1 cup of water in a microwave safe dish and microwave on high for 5 minutes. Add steeped aromatics to the turkey's cavity along with the rosemary and sage. Tuck the wings underneath the bird and coat the skin liberally with canola oil.

Roast the turkey on lowest level of the oven at 500 degrees F for 30 minutes. Insert a probe thermometer into thickest part of the breast and reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Set the thermometer alarm (if available) to 161 degrees F. A 14 to 16 pound bird should require a total of 2 to 2 1/2 hours of roasting. Let the turkey rest, loosely covered with foil or a large mixing bowl for 15 minutes before carving.
 

Dark Chocolate Bacon Cupcakes

  • Ingredients
  •     12 slices bacon
  •     2 cups all-purpose flour
  •     3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  •     2 cups white sugar
  •     2 teaspoons baking soda
  •     1 teaspoon baking powder
  •     1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  •     2 eggs
  •     1 cup cold, strong, brewed coffee
  •     1 cup buttermilk
  •     1/2 cup vegetable oil
  •     1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder, for dusting


    PREP 15 mins   COOK 25 mins
    READY IN 40 mins


    Directions


    1.     Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until evenly brown. Drain, crumble and set aside.
    2.     In a large bowl, stir together the flour, 3/4 cup cocoa powder, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Make a well in the center and pour in the eggs, coffee, buttermilk and oil. Stir just until blended. Mix in 3/4 of the bacon, reserving the rest for garnish. Spoon the batter into the prepared cups, dividing evenly.
    3.     Bake in the preheated oven until the tops spring back when lightly pressed, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool in the pan set over a wire rack. When cool, arrange the cupcakes on a serving platter. Frost with your favorite chocolate frosting and sprinkle reserved bacon crumbles on top. Dust with additional cocoa powder.