A favourite risotto recipe

This is one of our favourite risotto recipes which I wanted to share so you too can enjoy the magnificent flavours.

Don't be scared by the word RISOTTO. Its not one that you are tied to the stove stirring for most of the night. Most of the absorption is done in the oven. Now I will admit, not being made the traditional way, its probably not the most succulent risotto ever but if you're not a fussy Italian, then I'm sure you'll love it all the same.

Enough with the sales pitch, here's whatcha do:

1 tbsp oil
500g chicken breast or thigh (i used breast)
1 onion finely chopped
1 long, red chilli finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
4 kaffir lime leaves (i left whole and removed but you can finely slice and keep in the mix)
1 1/2 cup aborio rice
1/4 cup red curry paste
2 cups chicken stock
1 cup coconut cream
2 tbsp fish sauce
200g green beans

note: missing chicken and onion as I remembered to take this AFTER they were added!

 Preheat oven to 180C
Heat oil in an ovenproof dish and brown off chicken.

Remove chicken and reduce heat slightly on the stove. Add in the chilli, garlic, lime leaves and onion.

Cook stirring contstantly for 2-3mins until onion is soft.

Then add in the curry paste and rice, coating the rice with the paste for a further minute

Return the chicken to the pan along with the stock and another 1/2 cup water. Bring to a simmer then cover and place in the oven for 25mins or until the liquid has almost been absorbed

Remove from the oven and stir in the coconut cream, fish sauce and beans.
Cover and stand for another 10mins

 Then VOILA, you're done!

This recipe serves 4-6 people. Its also great to double up so you can keep extras in the freezer for those lazy nights.

Enjoy, let me know what you think!

Disclaimer: This is not my own recipe but one i found in the local paper so I cannot link up to original source

Three Things Thursday

I had a thought on the way home from work the other day (It's where I do some of my best thinking!) of a new blog post topic called  Three Things on Thursday where I can capture the three things from the past week Im loving!

So to start off we have:

Master A's cool new shoes!

Im not a big name brand person but my friend works at Nike and could give me a good discount, plus I figure his little feet could probably do with decent support. Not to mention they're oh so spunky!

DJ Flumes new album

I watched JJJ One Night Stand on the weekend and he was pretty good. Nice chilled out beats!
I already had his album but it sounds so much better after you've seen them 'live'.

 Tandoori chicken I made from scratch

I found Tandoori paste to always be quite expensive to buy in the shops so I googled one day and decided to make my own.
Its really easy, I make it up the day before so its already to cook when I get home from work.

If you're interested, the recipe is:
1/2 tsp Paprika
1/4 cup lemon juice
5cm piece of ginger
2x gloves garlic, crushed
1x tbspn salt
1x tspn chilli paste
1x tbspn garam Marsala
3x tspn cumin
3x tspn chilli powder
1x tbspn greek yoghurt
2x tbspn oil

Mix it all together.
Again, I don't measure exactly the ingredients but just go by eyesight. Which means each time it tastes a little different. I dont remember it usually being so hot so perhaps if you don't like very spicy food, leave out the paste and/or powder. I also added more yoghurt.
This was enough for 2x large chicken breasts.

So those of my 3 favs of the week!
Let me know if you are 'loving something sick' lately!

Kiwi muffins and a muesli slice

So as part of my weekend to do list, I wanted to make some healthy (ish) treats for our family for the week ahead. Kiwi fruit was out on special so I decided to whip up some Kiwi muffins. I also made one of our favourites-Muesli Slice. I make this instead of buying muesli bars (which are overpriced and can be full of sugar!)

The Muesli slice is a Donna Hay recipe so I'm thinking I cant repeat it here?? However it is found in her 2012 KIDS issue.
Basically its rolled oats, plain flour, any combo of dried fruits (I used apricots, figs and sultanas) and brown sugar (although i left this out). Combine this with melted butter and honey and bake in the oven until golden. Its so versatile because you can add as much or as little dried fruit as you like.
You could probably grate some apple or pear into it as well.

The Kiwi muffins are simple too:

5 Kiwifruit
1 cup SR flour sifted
3/4 cup wholemeal SR flour sifted
1/4 cup caster sugar (i left this out and they still tasted fine)
1 tspn baking powder
3/4 cup milk
75g melted butter
1 egg, lightly beaten,

Preheat oven to 200C.
Cut 3 kiwifruit into four slices each. Coarsely chop the remaining two. Combine dry ingredients. Make a well in the centre and add combined wet ingredients and kiwifruit. Stir gently until combined.
Spoon into muffin trays lined with cases or baking paper. Then add a slice of kiwifruit on top.
Bake for 20mins or until cooked and golden.

Mmmm delicious!

I thought this would make the perfect snack for Master A since he loooves muffins. But he turned his nose up at it!
Oh well, all the more for me and Husby.

Healthy dessert

We all love a scrumptious dessert but what about one that is delicious as well as healthy?! Oh and did I mention very simple?!

Enter the Berry Clafoutis! What is a Clafoutis you ask? Well, actually, I didnt know. But Google told me its a 'french baked cherry dessert with a battered flan top'. So, there ya go!

Anyway, I thought i'd share the recipe with you all.

BERRY CLAFOUTIS

500g frozen berries ( i used raspberries)
4 x eggs
250g thick natural yoghurt or ricotta
1/4 cup honey
150g almond meal
1tsp vanilla
zest of 1 orange

Preheat oven 180C. Arrange berries in the bottom of a flan dish (I just used a casserole dish).

Combine eggs, yoghurt, honey, almond meal, vanilla and zest using a whisk or processor until smooth.

Poor mixture over berries and bake for 30-40mins until golden.

Serve with cream or yoghurt. (Oops sorry about the quality of this pic. It was tastier than it looks here but the only photo I had of the finished product!)

Enjoy!

Mel xx