Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Avocado Chicken

I remember years ago going to a Caribbean restaurant that a friend of my moms owns and having chicken stuffed with avocado and poppy seeds (at least I think it was poppy seeds, also this was way before I was a vegetarian.) for some reason this popped into my head yesterday, so I made it. At least I made my own version of it. I looked online to see if I could find a decent recipe for avocado stuffed chicken, I ended up finding one ok recipe repeated on several different sites. Sometimes the Internet can be useless. I ended up making a sort of chunky guacamole, minus the nachos of course. I went to put poppy seeds in it but I forgot to add it, you can add it if you like. But really after making this I don't really see the point. I'm also not entirely sure if that was really poppy seeds in it the first time I had it. Adam really enjoyed this, hopefully you will to. Also I forgot to take pictures while I was making it so I plan on making this again soon. The only one I managed to snap was after I had put it on the plate with some pasta, odd pairing I know.

You will need for 1
1 skinless chicken breast flattened
1 ripe avocado diced
1/3 cup tomato diced
1/2 green onion
squeeze of lime or lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste
Oil
Pinch of Sage

1) In a bowl combine the avocados, tomato, green onion, lime juice and salt and pepper. Gently mix.
2) Place the mixture on one end of the flattened chicken breast. Roll into a cigar shape.
3) Place on a pan, lightly salt and pepper the top of the chicken, add a pinch of sage and a slight drizzle of oil.
4) Place in a pre-heated oven (350 degrees) for 15 to 20 minutes depending on the size of the chicken breast.
5) Done!

Notes
1) You can get you chicken flattened at the market or you can do it at home. Place the chicken in a plastic sandwhich bag or place it between two piece of wax paper, hit the chicken with a meat tenderizer ( or a rolling pin like I did).
2) Instead of a flattened piece of chicken you can use a piece that had been butterflied. You can also do this at home. Cut the chicken breast in half width ways, making sure to stop before you cut all the way through.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Roti and Curry

So before go on about my latest food experience, I just wanted to say that I completed my cheese challenge. I had wanted to blog everyday about it but I didn't. Either work or my own laziness got in the way.

Roti and Curry is the one dish that up until recently I have only had when my mother would cook it. I don't know why, it isn't very hard to make. But with that said  I have always disliked paying for Guyanese/ Indian food when I could just as well go home and have my mom make it for me. I was having a curry craving Saturday night, so I decided that I would try and make it for myself.....and Adam. Adam.....the boy who hate curry, who cringes every time someone even says the word. I have made it my mission to make him a convert... wish me luck.

I also must say that although it looks very unappealing (something along the lines of body fluids, gross I know) it taste very good. I made this curry with chicken and potatoes. But you can just as easily add whatever you want. Curried egg anyone?

You will need for the Curry
2 medium sized potato ( or 1 large) diced
1 whole onion
4 cloves garlic
1 5cm piece ginger cut into two pieces
2 chicken drumsticks
2 chicken thighs
2 cups water
3 tablespoons curry powder
1 tablespoon coriander
oil- to cook with
Salt and pepper to taste

1) Place 1/2 onion, 2 garlic cloves and 1 piece of ginger into a food processor and chop. If you do not have a food processor  mince the above ingredients. Place in a mixing bowl. Add 1 tablespoon curry powder, stir to combine. Place the chicken pieces in the mixing bowl and stir to coat the chicken in the curry and onion mixture. Let sit for 30 mins.

2) In the food processor place the rest of the ginger, garlic and onion, chop. Heat a pot with a little oil. Add the chopped onion mixture. Saute for 3-4 minutes.
3) Add the coriander and 2 tablespoons curry powder. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring often.

4) Add the chicken pieces and the potatoes. Stir to coat them with the curry mixture.  Cook for 5 minutes

5) Add the 2 cups water and salt and pepper. Stir, cover and cook for 15 minutes stirring occasionally

6) Uncover and cook until the liquid is thickened. About 15-20 minutes, stir occasionally.
 Done


Roti
Saturday night I made Roti for the first time. It didn't really work out. So I called my mom and she told me how she makes it. I made it today and......it came out! I was very pleased with myself.

You will need
1 1/2 cup flour
1 tsp oil
1/3 cup warm water
pinch salt

1) In a bowl place the flour and salt, pour in the oil.
2) Pour half of the water and mix with your hands. The dough should be slightly sticky but all the flour should be incorporated. If not add more water. Do not knead, squeeze the dough. Let rest for 15 minutes
3) Cut the dough into 4 pieces. Once rolled, push the center into itself. This is very hard to explain, hopefully the pictures below will give you a better idea.

  Roll out into a circle. Pour over 1 tsp oil and rub over dough. Cut one corner of the dough. Roll the dough together.




4) Let the dough rest for 30 minutes
5) Roll the dough out.
6) Heat a pan or a tava( roti pan), lightly oil. Place the roti on the pan and cook for 2 minutes, you will know when it is cooked when the dough starts to bubble and browns slightly. Flip over and cook a further minute.

7) Carefully remove the roti from the pan and clap right away. But clap I mean take the roti in you hand and clap it to let the air out. If you don't so this it will dry out, be careful it is hot.
8) Enjoy!!!!

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Cheese Challenge Day 3 and 4

Yesterday was easy, I went to work and came home. No temptations. Today on the other hand.....not so easy. Once again I went to work and came home, when I got home I started to make dinner. I roasted sweet potatoes last night I was originally going to make this sweet potato salad with dried cranberries and sunflower seeds. But when I got home Adam was home from work. Someone he works with called him and asked if he could take his shift. Because of this I decided that today would be a good day to use of the wonton wrappers in the fridge. So I made ravioli. I pureed the sweet potato with about a tablespoon of water and a pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. I would of liked to have finished them off with some sage butter and Parmesan cheese. But of course I can not eat cheese until Sunday, I also didn't have any sage in the house. So I ended up making a basil butter( melted butter with lightly cooked basil) and eating it that way. I have high hopes that tomorrow will be easy. I'm working in the afternoon/evening and since I try to bring food with me to work I won't be tempted to buy something. Lets just hope I don't give into temptation.

Until tomorrow,
Dana

Monday, October 18, 2010

Natalie's Cheese Challenge

K, so my friend Natalie has challenged me to not eat any cheese for a week. Which sounds easy but when your me and love cheese it is very hard. I started yesterday and decided that I would track my week via my blog. Yesterday wasn't that bad, I was pretty busy. Adam and I got some furniture that was left at my moms house delivered. Today was sort of harder. We went to the super market....the one with the amazing cheese selection. I had originally made a list of stuff to get which included 3 kinds of cheese. All of which I couldn't buy. On the up side of that it did save us some money.

My other challenge so far has been that a lot of the recipes that I wanted to make this week/ try have cheese in them. Example my ravioli, which I still need to show everyone. They are sooooo good, I think what I might do is make a cheeseless version. We got a pumpkin today so I may make a pumpkin ravioli. But we shall see.

Anyway, day 1 and 2 for my cheese challenge have been successful.....hopefully tomorrow is to.

Dana