Tuesday, 8 July 2014

Chicken Potato Hash





Tea , dinner or what ever you call it supper, perhaps there are times when you can feel unspired but a little reflection and just going with what feels right can work wonders. And if the most staple basic of cupboard , freezer, fridge ingredients can lead to a momentous feast.

"What's  for tea mum ?" said J the hungry teen

"Chicken Potato

Ingredients

Enough chicken breasts for 3

1 1/2 teaspoon dry tarragon or fresh

1 tea spoon mixed herbs

1 clove of garlic (optional ) crushed

2 tea spoons of dry vegetable bouillon


First cook your salad potatoes for 10 minutes just so they are par boiled, then slice the potatoes



Heat oil in frying pan until sizzling; add potatoes, onion and garlic. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, 12-14 minutes or until potatoes are browned. Remove from pan keep warm. 

Place chicken in same skillet. Cook over medium-high heat, turning once, 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned and no longer pink. Remove chicken from pan. Keep warm. 

Place potato mixture and chicken back in the pan .  Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, 6-9 minutes next add tarragon ,mixed herbs and dry vegetable bullion. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, 1-3 minutes or until heated through. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. 




Serve with garlic bread 






"Garlic bread it's the future"said J the full teen - though I am sure someone else said that !


Mexican Beef & Tenderstem® Fajitas But With Minced Beef

The other day it was Mexican night I announced In the household, not that we were going to grow bandit moustaches and wear Mexicans hands and strike up a mariachi band.

"Hurrah said J" the optimistic teen

"It contain beefs " said I ( Mrs Ninjacat )

"You know I am not keen on that sort of beef "Said J the now slightly disgruntled teen.

"I will rethink the recipe" said I the slightly disgruntled Mrs Ninja cat



For the beef & Tenderstem® filling:
3 tbsp olive oil
3 cloves garlic, crushed
2-3 tsp ground cumin
1-2 tsp paprika
a pinch or two of chilli powder, to taste (optional)
1 tsp caster sugar
2 rump steaks, about 500-600g total ( I used minced beef instead)
300g Tenderstem®, each stem cut into 3 pieces
1 onion, thinly sliced
1 red pepper, sliced
1 yellow pepper, sliced

For the guacamole: ( just me and Mr T had this )

2 ripe avocados
1-2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 tbsp sour cream
Juice ½ lime
Salt & freshly ground black pepper

For the salsa: ( the teen was ok with this big hurrah )
150g cherry tomatoes, finely chopped
1 small bunch coriander, leaves & fine stalks finely chopped
Juice of 1 lime
1 red chilli, deseeded & finely chopped (optional)
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 tsp caster sugar

To serve:
a handful of grated cheddar cheese
2-3 tbsp sour cream
6-8 tortilla wraps, warmed in the microwave or oven ( we used cripsy baskets instead for a change)


"I like this and the broccoli makes it  " said the happier J ( not longer a disgruntled teen)









Disclosure this is part of a Tenderstem broccoli challenge and I received shopping vouchers to my ingredients)








Do-it-yourself wraps that kids adore, this is a great recipe for relaxed weekend family feasting. Featuring a Mexican mildly spiced steak & Tenderstem® stir fry filling, with salsa, guacamole & cheese to add to taste. If you are short of time, feel free to substitute ready made guacamole and salsa in place of the recipe, and up the quantities of spices for old kids and brave eaters!
1. Mix the olive oil, garlic, cumin, paprika, chilli and sugar in a small bowl. Use half to brush over both sides of the steaks. Add the Tenderstem®, onion, red and yellow peppers to a mixing bowl and stir through the other half of the marinade. Set aside for 15 minutes whilst you make the guacamole and salsa.

2. Make the guacamole by peeling the avocados, scooping out the flesh and mashing with a fork in a small bowl. Stir through the garlic, sour cream and lime juice. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

3. Make the salsa by mixing the tomatoes, coriander, lime juice, chilli (if using) garlic and sugar.

4. When you are ready to eat, place a large frying pan over a high heat. When it is hot, add a drizzle of olive oil and let it get hot for a few seconds before adding both steaks. Cook for 2-4 minutes on each side, depending on how well done you like your steak. Set aside on a plate and cover loosely with foil to keep warm.

5. Add the vegetables to the frying pan, season with a little salt and pepper to taste and stir fry over a high heat for around 5 minutes until they are cooked but still with plenty of bite. Turn off the heat.

6. Slice the steaks thinly across the grain and return to the pan, stirring briefly to mix together before tipping into a warmed serving dish. Serve the filling, salsa, guacamole, cheese and sour cream in separate bowls at the table for everyone to build their own wrap.

Why not try it with...
You can replace the beef with pork tenderloin strips, or chicken breast strips - stir frying these first in the frying pan and making sure they are cooked all the way through before setting aside on a plate whilst you cook the vegetables.



No one likes a sad bunny #depression

No one likes a sad bunny.

Not literally that no one likes a sad bunny but depression.


I thought the other day "We can't all be Stephen Fry" where he seems to get the understanding but then I realised it's bringing depression into the public area, and I adore Stephen Fry he is a witty and intelligent fellow and we all handle depression in our own way.


Then there was Bill Oddie who said that celebrities were making mental illness fashionable , everyone is entitled to their opinion for all the people that will agree there will be those who don't.

This is where I say "My name is Claire and I have depression "


Depression 

"I don't except you to understand."


"I don't except you to care."



"I have low self esteem & self confidence  "



"I am weirding you out "

"Weirding out that situation where I try to explain myself, the more I do , the worse I dig my hole"

"Friends walking away , is hard to handle "


"Knowing I am liked and have friends helps me"


"When my world is rocked feeling out of control like friends walking away or me  worrying about the littlest thing"

"You can't handle my depression , you've problems of your own"

"Knowing I will be ok "


I am learning to have empathy with people in a smiler boat or those who have similar problems.

Remember you can help friends and family with depression.

Disclosure "I realised I should have used the phrase black dog but whilst the black dog is the universally know figure for depression I am much more at home with a sad bunny it fits my humour"

Monday, 7 July 2014

Black And White Positive Negative

I thought that a foray into black and white wouldn't be good really for me at the minute being a rather down ( depressed ) you would have thought I would what to surround myself in myriads of colours. Tripping my self on a light fantastic rainbow but no I am dabbling with black and white and it is not to jump in any bandwagon, it is something I have dabbled with from time to time.


I think with back and white you can see the crispness of architecture and the lines of past formalities and coming from a conservation background ( though ) I have never worked in this field I hold a dear love of architecture, and I do hold a university qualification in this field.


Ordinarily one might take a picture in colour and then alter in pic monkey but I decided to shot some pictures in raw black and white with my Panasonic, I will get out later this week and have a go with the Nikon.


I am grateful and respectful that have helped and taught me in the ways of photography, the thing you see I know what know what I am doing , not all the technical gubbins there is always more to learn I feel and you never stop learning. I feel what I do , I feel it, I see it , I take the shot there will be the obvious feet shot if I am on my iPhone but I compose myself and that is leading to inner calm.


People say I am good at photography ?! I am awfully modest I do what I do because I love it and I won't ever stop loving it. Not being one for emotion and trying to quantify why has gone off recently I am finding my way.

Black and white is the positive negative , I do so hope you will stay with me for the long haul.






The lodge of a long forgotten manor.
The village church in black and white

I love lanes they draw you on!

The river gentles flows.