11th Birthday Cake

My little girl turns 11 years old today.

She is growing up too fast. Some days, she's a giggly cheeky little monkey, some days she has a teenage-type strop. But I love her. More.

And I love her style. She designed her birthday cake herself - three layers with flowers in her favourite colour blue. Inside is a chocolate brownie cake, the only cake she really likes. (Although only the top layer, the rest is Nigella's chocolate cake, which never fails me).

I improvised with the flowers, trying to cover the mess I made of the icing - glace icing on chocolate cake doesn't really work! The roses were made by following this tutorial - so simple to do.

She shared her party with her friend Katie (favourite colour - purple), born on the same day, and they've known each other since nursery. This is their last week at primary school together. It's the end of an era.

11th Birthday Cake

Happy birthday my beautiful girl.

I love you.

Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes - Recipe

 In this sweltering weather (all three days of it), cake isn't the top priority. But Summer Fete Bake Off beckoned and duty must be done. These strawberry shortcake cupcakes were inspired by ChocolateWithGrace and are a perfect summer bake. Sweet strawberries with a light creamy icing and fluffy cake inside are delicious with a cup of tea or a cheeky Pimms...



Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes

Makes 12
Prep Time: 20 mins plus 10 mins
Cook Time: 15-20 mins

Ingredients:

For the Cupcakes:

115 g butter
200 g golden caster sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
195 g plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
115 ml milk (or cream)

For the Buttercream:

115 g butter
350 g icing sugar
1 tbsp milk (or cream)
Red food colouring

For the strawberry filling:

12-15 strawberries
2 tsp white caster sugar

Method:

Heat the oven to 180 C and line a muffin tin with 12 cases.

For the cupcakes:

Beat together the butter and sugar for 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat until smooth.

Sieve in the flour and baking powder and beat again until thoroughly mixed, then add in the milk/cream and keep mixing until very smooth.

Spoon the mixture into the cupcake cases, about 2/3 full. Bake for about 15 minutes, until a skewer comes out clean.

Allow to cool. If you wish, you can gently chop off the risen dome in the centre for a smoother finish.

For the buttercream:

Beat the butter for several minutes until very smooth. Sieve in the icing sugar, beating further, then add the milk/cream and keep beating until very smooth. Add a drop or so of red food colouring until you get a soft pink colour.

Using a small  palette knife or spatula, spread a small amount of buttercream over each cupcake, scraping off any excess. This gives a smooth crumb coat and prevents any strawberry juices from seeping into the cupcake.

Using a small flower nozzle, pipe the icing in a circle, starting around halfway in, and working out to the edge, then back in, but do not fill in the centre - this gives a sort of basket shape, leaving space to fill in with strawberries.

For the strawberry filling:

It's best to prepare the filling just before serving, a few hours at the most. Dice the strawberries into half centimetre pieces and spread in a flat layer on a plate. Sprinkle with the sugar and allow to infuse for about 15 minutes, and they start to release their juices. Then carefully spoon a teaspoon or so into the centre of your prepared cupcakes.

Happy Summer!



Boxcar, Marylebone - Soft Launch Preview

Last week I was lucky enough to be invited to the exclusive preview party of Boxcar in Marylebone. It's an exciting new venue which multi-tasks like the best of them. Not only is it a restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, it also doubles as a deli, a butcher's and, just for me, a cocktail bar.

Specializing in prime cuts of meat sourced ethically, independently and locally (I believe Cornwall is local enough when it comes to meat, I can't remember seeing any cows grazing in Hyde Park recently), the menu is short but specific. A mighty good burger, the finest steak and chips, and veggie burgers to end all veggie burgers. Pork pies and in-house barbecue sauce are an absolute must-try - just try not to get the gravy all over your new white shirt...

Fitted out in sections, dark inky tiling with copper trim gives the venue a clean and contemporary look. No stainless steel or blood-stained aprons, the downstairs Butcher's counter offers advice on your meat purchases, the cuts, the cooking, and even a butchery masterclass, if you are so inclined.

Outdoor seating at the front is at the moment taken up by a rather large (and beefy looking) bull, but for summer, there will also be outdoor dining, for enjoying a cocktail or two. Which, by the way, are worth popping in for. If you prefer, there's independent spirits and wines on offer too, making Boxcar pretty much a local corner shop with bells on.

Located just at the back of Marble Arch, this new concept in eating out (or cooking at home, if you prefer) is the perfect stop-off after a hard day's graft in the office, or in the shops. For a short time, Boxcar are offering 50% off their menu, so I recommend trying it now!

Boxcar Butcher & Grill

23 New Quebec Street
London
W1H 7SD

Photos courtesy of PalmPR

Baby Shower Cupcakes

Today we say goodbye (for now) to a friend and colleague going off on maternity leave. I made her Naked Wedding Cake a couple of years ago, and these are sort of linked. Rose flavoured cupcakes. The rose petals were also on her wedding cake. The storks were simply made following ThenIBecameAMum's tutorial.

She doesn't know if she's having a girl or a boy, though I suspect a girl. I don't know why...

Good luck with everything, Roya! Looking forward to seeing what the stork delivers <3

Confirmation Cake

For my friends' beautiful daughters.

Inside are three layers of Rachel Allen's chocolate mousse cake - wheat-free so my friend could eat some of her daughter's cake! Crumb-coated in chocolate buttercream icing. All fondant cracks hidden by flowers and pearls :)

Congratulations to Isabelle and Anastasia.

Piri Piri Chicken - Recipe

This is a fail-safe dish to serve at a dinner party. Impressive, yet relatively simple, and very tasty. It was somewhat of a prophesy that I decided to serve Piri Piri Chicken on the night Portugal won Eurovision for the first time. We love to get together with friends and watch the show whilst criticising and laughing with/at our European friends. Europe: for fabulous food, amazing costumes, and somewhat dubious music...

 

An advantage of this dish is that you can make it in advance, and then just stick it in the oven 45 minutes before you are ready to eat. It doesn't matter if it stays in a bit longer, in case you forget about it whilst downing Strawberry Daiquiris, and Prosecco, and enjoying some lighter European snacks such as olives and Padron peppers.

 

Have a go and let me know if you think this Piri Piri Chicken is a winner...

 

 

(Please excuse the rather drunken photography)

 

Piri Piri Chicken

Piri Piri Chicken


Prep Time: 15 mins plus marinating
Cook Time: 25 mins plus 45 mins

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

2 peppers (red or yellow)
50 ml olive or rapeseed oil
4 red chillies, roughly chopped
4 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
2 tsp dried oregano
2 tsp paprika
1 tsp chilli flakes
2 lemons, juice only
2 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 tsp sugar
Salt and pepper, to taste
8 chicken thighs

Method:

Firstly, prepare the peppers. Heat the oven to 190 C. Slice the peppers into thirds and drizzle generously with oil. Roast for about 25 minutes.

Meanwhile, prepare the marinade. Using a blender (or a mortar and pestle if you wish to be more authentic), blend the oil, red chillies, garlic, oregano, paprika and chilli flakes to a smooth paste. Then add in the lemon juice, red wine vinegar, sugar, and salt and pepper if you wish.
When the peppers are roasted, you can remove the skin if it comes off easily but I usually leave it on. Roughly chop the peppers and add them to the blended mixture, then blitz it all again until smooth.

Place the chicken thighs in an oven-proof dish and pour over the marinade. Allow to infuse for as long as you wish - an hour is enough, but overnight is even better.

The chicken takes about 45 minutes in the oven at 190 C, so allow enough time for it to cook through. Turn it twice during cooking (if you remember) finishing with the skin side up so it get's nice and crispy before you serve with fries, salad, and/or crusty bread.

Beano Birthday Cake

 12 years old.

 

Beano fan.

 

Happy Birthday to my boy.

 

Xx

 

 

I welcome comments on the state of Dennis. Was someone drinking Prosecco whilst making fondant figures?!!

 

 

 

Chicken Breasts with Chilli, Lime and Hoisin - Recipe

Another surprisingly easy recipe... A Thai-Chinese fusion, using whatever I could find in the fridge and store cupboard. I'm so glad I keep buying spices...

Chicken with Chilli, Lime and Hoisin

Marinading Time: as long as you wish! But anything from 30 minutes to overnight

Prep Time: 20-30 mins

Cook Time: 20-30 mins

Serves 2

Ingredients:

2 chicken breasts

2 garlic cloves, crushed

4 tsp light brown sugar

juice 2 limes

1 tbsp soy sauce

1 tbsp chilli bean paste/sauce

2 tbsp hoisin sauce

120 ml chicken stock or water

On the side:

4 stems broccoli

1 small onion, chopped

dash of soy

Method:

To prepare the chicken, use a sharp knife to cut deep slashes in a diamond pattern. Mix the garlic, sugar, lime juice, soy and chilli bean sauce together in a bowl. Place the chicken in a dish and pour over the marinade mixture. Leave to marinade as long as you can. 

Once you are ready to cook, heat some vegetable oil in a frying pan. Remove the chicken from the marinade and fry for about 5 minutes on each side, making sure it is cooked through. Once cooked, add the remaining marinade, along with the hoisin sauce and stock/water, and simmer for a few minutes.

Meanwhile stir-fry the broccoli and onions together in another pan. Once softened, add a dash of soy sauce.

Serve together with the sauce from the chicken drizzled over the top. With rice and freshly chopped coriander.

See more fantastic blogger recipes at #RecipeOfTheWeek:

Carrot Cake with Orange Frosting - Recipe

I wasn't going to blog about this, because I thought it was a bit of a disaster when I made it. But the reactions I got from Himself (not a cake fan) and when I took it to work was so good, I thought I should try and remember how I did it! It's a good carrot cake!

When I whisked up the mascarpone, it went all curdled (due to the orange zest I guess), so I kept adding icing sugar until it came back together. It was still really runny, but I wanted to get it done, and we had a visitor, so with him watching, the disaster unfolded...

It was so runny it just seeped down through the cake. I mean, it looks fine in this photo, right? But 5 minutes later it was all over the cake stand! I kept re-loading it for a while but it didn't let up.

Had to cut a slice to try it, obviously, and even then the frosting cascaded down the centre!

So it didn't look good... But it tasted amazing. Which is why I needed to share it. Perhaps the whole drizzle effect kept it moist and fresh for longer! The frosting eventually hardened, so it was more presentable, and everyone loved it. 

The recipe is taken and adapted from Rhubarb&Rose's Decorated.

Carrot Cake

Prep Time: 20-30 mins

Cook Time: 50-60 mins

Serves 10-12

Ingredients:

 

For the cake:

 

100 g pecans, roughly chopped (you can pre-roast them if you wish - 5-10 mins in the oven)

320 g golden caster sugar

180 ml rapeseed oil

3 eggs

225 g plain flour

1.5 tsp baking powder

1.5 tsp bicarbonate of soda

3 tsp ground cinnamon

6-7 carrots, peeled and grated

Zest of half an orange (save the other half for the frosting)

 

 For the frosting:

 

1 tub mascarpone (~250 g)

Zest of half an orange

100 g icing sugar (plus more as needed)

 

Method:

Line a 18 cm cake tin and heat the oven to 170 C.

Beat together the sugar, oil and eggs, until pale.

Sift in the flour, baking powder, bicarb of soda, cinnamon and a pinch of salt, and beat until combined. Next, fold in the grated carrot, orange zest and chopped pecans.

Pour into the cake tin and bake in the oven for about 50-60 minutes - check towards the end with a skewer, it should come out clean.

Allow to cool, then turn out on to a wire rack.

For the frosting, beat the mascarpone with the orange zest in a mixture until smooth. Add the icing sugar and continue to beat. If it curdles, keep adding more icing sugar until it comes back together and is a runny consistency. If it becomes smooth and thickens, well done - that's how it should be!

Slice the cake in half horizontally, and then pour some of the frosting on top of the bottom half. Place the top half back on and then pour the frosting over the top and let it drizzle down. It may seep, just keep and eye on it and re-apply it if needed. If your frosting is nice and thick then just smooth it over the top as you wish.

Decorate with any leftover pecan nuts, if you wish.



Have you had any major cake disasters, which you managed to salvage?

Easy Mexican Beef Wraps - Recipe

Making a meal out of nothing seems to be a specialty in our house. Although Himself had cooked for the kids, there wasn't much left for our dinner. He'd cooked a huge batch of bolognese, ready to freeze in batches, so there was that, but it didn't appeal somehow, late on a Tuesday evening.

So I delved into the fridge to find what else was hanging around - some tortillas, cream (almost past its best), half a lime, bits of vegetables... so I thought I'd take some of his cooked mince meat and turn it Mexican. With spices from the store cupboard, and less than half an hour, here's how to make a delicious, quick, spicy, Mexican beef wrap:

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15-20 minutes

Serves 2

Ingredients:

300g mince meat 

1 small onion, chopped

half a pepper, chopped

1 clove garlic, crushed

1 fresh green chilli, chopped

1 tsp dried oregano 

1 tsp hot paprika

1 tsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp dried chilli flakes

1-2 tbsp tomato passata

2 tortillas

To Serve:

1-2 dollops of soured cream (squeeze half a lime into 100ml cream)

Fresh coriander

Method:

Saute the mince beef until it is brown and cooked all over. Set aside.

In a clean pan, saute the onion and pepper for a few minutes until soft, then add in the garlic and chilli, and fry for one more minute. Then add back in the cooked meat.

Stir in the herbs and spices, and then add in the passata. Allow to cook down for up to 10 minutes, adding a little more passata if necessary, not letting it dry out. 

Warm the tortillas, then spoon the mixture in the centre. Add a dollop of sour cream, then fold and wrap the tortilla. Serve with another dollop of soured cream and fresh coriander.

Buen provecho!

Tredwells, Covent Garden - Restaurant Review.

Lunch date with Himself. It's not often we get to eat out together, sans bambinos, and when we do it tends to be a rushed lunch. This time we made a bit of an effort and met outside Leicester Square tube station. We had a gift voucher for Tredwells, and I'd booked the Star Deal through Bookatable, three courses and a dessert cocktail for £29 each. I checked via email beforehand and got a prompt and positive response. But we still had to get back for the school run...

When you want to try somewhere fancy, or even just famous (not always the same thing!), these star deals are a good way of doing it on the cheap. Obviously you don't get the full menu (though you can still have that if you are willing to pay more), and for a quick (ish) lunch in Covent Garden, it works well. 

We were seated upstairs in the mezzanine, overlooking the outside space, and Dishoom across the road. We watched as the queue there grew and grew, with someone offering aperitifs while they waited, whilst we sipped on our (non-alcoholic) drinks. Watching this clock too:

Tredwells is owned by Michelin starred chef and MasterChef presenter Marcus Wareing. He doesn't actually cook here, I'm assuming, but his name is enough to draw people in. Situated right in the heart of Theatreland and Seven Dials, and named after the Butler in Agatha Christie's The Seven Dials Mystery, it has a handsome, dark-tiled interior, with a laid back eclectic atmosphere, and superbly attentive yet unintrusive staff. The Star Deal menu offered four starters, four mains, and four desserts, with one of each incurring a supplement and sides were extra too. Essentially British dishes, each with some flamboyance. Below each dish is a recommended wine specific to that dish. If only it hadn't been lunch time...

Music Bread

We ordered music bread (also extra), doused with lemon and balsamic, which was an excellent start. Thin, crispy and infused with the sweetness of balsamic vinegar and a touch of lemon juice. Beautifully presented, I suspect it was named for the attempts to look like sheet music...!

Pork Belly and Ham Hock Raviolo, carmelised celeriac and mustard

Chargrilled Tardivo Radicchio, Sairass ricotta, nestle pesto

Starters were presented MasterChef style. Things I'd never heard of mixed with unrecognisable components. My pork belly raviolo was actually delicious, tender pulled pork inside a pasta square with sweet caramelised sauce and just a hint of a tang. Himself ordered the radicchio, not really knowing what it was.. he wasn't overly impressed! The nettle was slightly overpowering the rest of the dish, the radishes (I assume that's what they were) al dente and rather chewy, the ricotta quite bland. The salted slices of 'bread' were lovely though.

Chargrilled Lamb Chop, slow cooked shoulder, broad beans, mint

Slow cooked Sea Bream, lyonnaise leeks, parsley

Main courses appeared small, but actually were just enough when you're having three courses - as long has you have triple cooked chips on the side. The chips were very crispy and some were hollow inside, missing that fluffiness you expect. My sea bream was delicious, light and healthy, with green all over it. Himself was somewhat disappointed with the size of his lamb chops and complained that one was cut in half - turned out that was the shoulder part. Both were overcooked, he thought, not red in the middle as promised. The broad beans and mint sauce saved the dish though. You can't beat mint sauce.

Salted caramel soft serve, honeycomb

Orange blossom panna cotta, yoghurt mousse, almond cakes

Desserts are not usually our thing - I make them, but don't often eat them. As the portions so far were just-enough, (and dessert is included in the offer!) we went for a salted caramel ice cream with honeycomb and a chocolate mousse with orange blossom panna cotta. Rich and decadent, the mouse was not only pretty but scrumptious too, and the salted caramel - well, you cannot go wrong with that flavour. A perfect ending. 

Mini espresso martini

Finally a mini Espresso Martini each, and then back out to Covent Garden's tempting shops and home in time for the school run.

There are so many places to eat in Covent Garden, and although I may not return here (though maybe for the ice cream), it was a relaxed and reasonably priced lunch. For an evening meal I believe you can also avail of the Star Deal menu, pre- or post-theatre, so it's worth a visit for the prestige and the presentation. 

Tredwells

4A Upper St Martin's Lane, WC2H 9NY

020 3764 0840

Bookatable Star Deal: £29 per person for 3 courses and a dessert cocktail

Actual bill £77.

Thai-spiced Salmon Fishcakes - Recipe

This recipe was torn out of a newspaper many years ago and has been splattered numerous times and it's faded from much use over time. I almost know it by heart, as I've made them so many times, but I like to keep referring to it, just in case I miss out any crucial ingredient! I've blogged it before, but it's been a while, so I thought it was time for a revival.

These are delicious. Not like the rubbery fishcakes you may order in a Thai restaurant, they are fluffy, flavoursome and fishy, served with the obligatory sweet chilli sauce.

Please make them. You will thank me.

Again, apologies for the poor photograph. Prosecco-fuelled hunger.

Thai-spiced Salmon Fishcakes

Prep Time: 30-40 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Serves 4 as a starter

Ingredients:

Oil for frying

5 spring onions, finely sliced

2.5 cm fresh ginger, finely chopped

1 clove garlic, crushed

Zest and juice of 1 lime

2 x 170 g tins salmon, drained (you can also use crab, or a mixture)

85 g mashed potato

Handful of fresh coriander, chopped

A few drops of Tabasco (optional)

Plain flour

1 egg, beaten

Dry breadcrumbs

To garnish: lime wedges, salad, fresh coriander, spring onions

Method:

Firstly, boil and mash the potatoes, I used about 4 medium sized ones.

Heat one tablespoon of oil in a large frying pan or wok and sauté the spring onions for 1-2 minutes until they begin to soften.

Add the garlic and ginger and cook for about 1 minute more. Add the lime juice to the pan and quickly remove from the heat.

Place the tinned fish in a bowl with the mashed potato. Add the onion mixture, lime zest and coriander, Tabasco (if using) and season with salt and pepper.

Flour your hands and shape into 8 Fishcakes, or 12 smaller ones. Dust with flour, then roll in the beaten egg, and coat with the breadcrumbs.

Heat a little more oil and try the Fishcakes for about 2 minutes on each side, until golden brown.

Serve with a little salad, sprinkled with spring onions and coriander, and sweet chilli sauce. 

Check out #recipeoftheweek by A Mummy Too blog

Godiva's Atelier Easter Egg

'Atelier' is a French term for 'workshop' or 'studio', where a principal professional artist works together with students or apprentices to produce a piece of fine or visual art. This week, at the five Godiva Chocolate stores around London, executive chocolatiers Jean Apostolou and Ilse Wilmots made an appearance at each store to handcraft the delicate white chocolate butterflies as finishing touches to this year's Godiva Atelier Easter Egg. 

Standing 66 cm high (that's a small child), weighing about 13 kg (again, about two newborn babies) and with enough chocolate for about 70 people, this spectacular showpiece is actually on sale for a mere £1000!

Do you know enough people to club together to share one??!!

Godiva's Atelier Egg

See one of these five exclusive giant chocolate eggs at Godiva stores at Harrods, Selfridges, Regent Street, Covent Garden Market (below) or St Pancras International Station.

Me, I'm going to enjoy these, slightly smaller ones...

TWID - That's What I Do - Eating to Opera in Battersea - Restaurant Review

This was different. As I get older, I'm starting to admit to liking things I would never have dared to acknowledge in my twenties/thirties ... jazz with dinner, going to bed early, gin...

And now, Opera. I don't know anything about it. But after spending an evening at TWID in Battersea, I'm a convert. A gentle approach, with dinner and cocktails - not just sitting, watching and listening to a dramatic story told in song onstage. Okay, it was still dramatic, and, at times, slightly intrusive, but there were interludes where we could carry on with the dinner and cocktails and catch up on non-cultural gossip.

Booth

Interior

About a 10 minute walk from Clapham Junction, away from the buzzing Northcote Road bars, towards Battersea, lies a newly opened, refurbished, revamped theatre style eatery. With intimate velvet-curtained balcony booths as tables, all overlooking one table for 8 which doubles as a stage, for a full view of the singing Opera sensation who keeps us entertained and intrigued with Russian numbers, Italian numbers and even a couple of more familiar arias. Maintaining eye contact with each of the patrons, this tenor showed true passion for his talent and no sign of any reticence whilst we were eating...

Senor Tenor

Every evening a different Soprano/Tenor takes to the stage/table. As you enter, you may be serenaded immediately, if not then he will certainly come to your table at some point to bring the aria up close and personal. 4 sets with a 25 minute interval between each. Not to be taken too seriously, but with a certain amount of respect. This performer raises the roof and makes each of us patrons feel special.

Signature cocktails to start, of course. I can recommend the Rossini, strawberry with rose water and Prosecco, and the Elderflower Spritz, both light and fizzy. TWID also serve a range of traditional cocktails and will happily make up any requested.

Rossini

To the food. Sharing platters - my favourite. Influenced by French cuisine but with a splash of international flavours. Lovely Luca, the manager, recommended each dish and he was tremendously proud of the food, eager for us to try everything.

First, scallops with crispy kale, raspberries and hazelnuts. Unusual combination but it worked superbly, the soft scallops set off beautifully with the crisp greens and the slightly acidic fruit.

  

Scallops

Grilled aubergine, stuffed with goat's cheese and walnuts - again the nuts unexpected, but bringing out the full flavours of the aubergine and the cheese.

Aubergine with goat's cheese and walnuts

Beautifully tender lamb cutlets served with heritage beets and parsnip were exceptional, the vegetables perfectly roasted and tossed in some slightly exotic oils. Delicious.

Lamb cutlets

For round two, some sushi, some duck and some crab. The sushi was highly recommended by Luca, and it was indeed sublime. A terrine of sorts, with hints of wasabi and a tiny dot of soy sauce was all that it needed. 

Sushi

The duck dish was also delightful, fat-free duck breasts served with turmeric spiced pickled cauliflower with an added sweetness of raisins and apples.  

Duck

Lastly, the crab, a soft grated dish with apples, fennel and basil. Most dishes were served with shaved parnips crisps, which gave everything an extra crunch. 

For desserts, we still felt light and not quite over-stuffed so we were recommended to sample the range of vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free and sugar-free desserts. Not exactly my idea of dessert, they were made from various fruits, with nuts and were probably designed to complement the light sharing dishes. Strawberry cheesecake, carrot cake,chocolate cake and mango cheesecake - I found them lacking in distinctive flavour and quite stodgy, so not quite my cup of tea. Instead we went back and ordered a  fluffy salted caramel cake and a traditional baklava... much better. However, as indulgent as that seems, for special dietary requirements, this place certainly delivers.

Salted Caramel Cake

Gluten-, sugar- and dairy-free Strawberry Cheesecake

This is a cosy, intimate, and yet interactive restaurant. Go along with an open mind, and get all your chatting done in between sets! It would be a fun work-do for example, or a destination romantic venue for couples. At weekends, once the Opera stops, a DJ set starts, so really it is an entire evening of culture, fantastic food and the chance to party the night away.

Interior

TWID
228 York Road, Battersea, London, SW11 3SJ
020 7223 2125
@TWIDbar

Meal for two with wine: ~£80



Thanks to CrispMedia for the (good) images.

Kids In the Kitchen #3 - Cooking Chinese - Recipe

This beauty plopped through my letterbox this morning from Lee Kum Kee. Always a delight to receive a little freebie (hence the name, AnnieThing For Food!).

So what to make for lunch? Continuing with my effort to get kids cooking, and get my Kids In The Kitchen more, a really simple recipe card along with a quality packet of Oyster Sauce, and whatever I could find in the fridge, my 10-year-old and I rustled up Braised Chicken with Spring Onions in Oyster Sauce in less than half an hour for today's lunch.

 

She painstakingly cut up 2 two chicken breasts with a scissors, and placed it in a bowl with the Oyster Sauce, and a dash of sesame oil. While she was doing this, I put some spaghetti on, chopped up some spring onions and carrots into long thin strips. The onion chopping caused her to reach for a clothes peg to put on her nose, to stop the tears... all good fun.

 

Once everything was prepped, the sunflower oil was heated in my #SchoolOfWok wok, and the onions and carrots quickly sautéed. The marinated chicken was then added and stir-fried for about 2 minutes, then 2 tablespoons of water added in and fried for a couple minutes more until the chicken was cooked.

 

To serve, plonk the spaghetti/noodles/rice in a bowl, top with the cooked chicken and garnish with sliced spring onions. Eat with chopsticks.

 

'Let's have this for lunch every day, Mummy!'

 

 

Success.