Saturday 31 January 2015

Hoisin Chicken Noodles

Hoisin Chicken Noodles ~ Simple Food


There are many different kinds of noodle available and all of them are pretty much suitable for this dish.

I like to buy fresh noodles but you have to use them more or less straight away, although you can buy dried noodles which last for ages the next best thing to fresh in my opinion is “straight to wok” noodles which come packed with a good few months expiry date.

Hoisin Chicken Noodles

Serves 2             Time 40 minutes plus prep.

Hoisin Chicken Noodles ~ Simple FoodYou will need

150 Gm - Fresh or “straight to wok” Noodles
2 - 3 Chicken Thighs (skinned, Boned and chopped)
2 tablespoons – Hoisin Sauce
A little Olive Oil
½ teaspoon – Soft Brown Sugar
1 tablespoon – Chinese Rice Wine
1 tablespoon – Light Soy Sauce
1 bunch - Spring Onions (shredded)
1 – Large Carrot (shredded or Very thinly sliced)

Mix the Hoisin, soft brown sugar, soy sauce and wine in a bowl.

Hoisin Chicken Noodles ~ Simple Food


Then add the chicken, mix well and leave for about 20 minutes.

Hoisin Chicken Noodles ~ Simple Food


Heat a little oil in a wok or large pan and add the chicken with a slotted spoon leaving most of the marinade in the bowl.

Hoisin Chicken Noodles ~ Simple Food
Hoisin Chicken Noodles ~ Simple Food








Cook the chicken for about 10 minutes.

Hoisin Chicken Noodles ~ Simple Food


When the chicken is cooked put it back into the bowl with the marinade.

Hoisin Chicken Noodles ~ Simple Food


Now put the carrot, spring onions (saving some for garnish) and mushrooms into the wok and stir fry for 3 – 5 minutes.

Hoisin Chicken Noodles ~ Simple Food
Hoisin Chicken Noodles ~ Simple Food








Add the noodles while the vegetables are frying.

Hoisin Chicken Noodles ~ Simple Food
Hoisin Chicken Noodles ~ Simple Food









Now add the chicken and marinade. 

Hoisin Chicken Noodles ~ Simple Food

Cook for a further 5 minutes then serve garnished with a few shredded spring onions.

Hoisin Chicken Noodles ~ Simple Food


Saturday 24 January 2015

Roasted Pepper & Prawn Spaghetti

Roasted Pepper & Prawn Spaghetti ~ Simple Food


In this particular dish I have prepared the spaghetti in my favourite way with butter and freshly ground black pepper.

I have also used my Free Flow Frozen Basil but if you are using fresh just put it in nearer the end of the process.


Roasted Pepper & Prawn Spaghetti

Roasted Pepper & Prawn Spaghetti ~ Simple FoodYou will need

150 Gm - Spaghetti
180 Gm – Raw King Prawns
100 Gm - Butter
Freshly Ground Black Pepper
2 – Medium Red Peppers
1 – Medium Green Pepper
 2 cloves - Garlic (finely chopped)
1 - 400Gm Can Chopped Tomatoes
1 tablespoon - Basil
1 – Thumb size piece Ginger (finely chopped)

The Spaghetti

Cook the spaghetti to your preference.

Roasted Pepper & Prawn Spaghetti ~ Simple Food
Roasted Pepper & Prawn Spaghetti ~ Simple Food








Then pour it into a sieve and rinse with boiling water.

Roasted Pepper & Prawn Spaghetti ~ Simple Food


Now put about 50 Gm of butter and a few good turns of black pepper on top.

Roasted Pepper & Prawn Spaghetti ~ Simple Food


Toss the spaghetti as the butter melts to give it a good coating.

Roasted Pepper & Prawn Spaghetti ~ Simple Food


Cook the prawns in the rest of the butter for a few minutes on both sides until they are pink then set them aside.

Roasted Pepper & Prawn Spaghetti ~ Simple Food
Roasted Pepper & Prawn Spaghetti ~ Simple Food








Cut each pepper into 4, put them in a baking tray and drizzle with a little olive oil then roast them in a 180°c oven for 20 minutes.

Roasted Pepper & Prawn Spaghetti ~ Simple Food


Cook the garlic, ginger and basil for a couple of minutes in a little olive oil.

Roasted Pepper & Prawn Spaghetti ~ Simple Food


Add the tomatoes, mix well and simmer for 10 – 15 minutes until cooked down.

Roasted Pepper & Prawn Spaghetti ~ Simple Food
Roasted Pepper & Prawn Spaghetti ~ Simple Food








When the peppers are ready let them cool a little then roughly chop them save a couple to slice for garnish.

Roasted Pepper & Prawn Spaghetti ~ Simple Food
Roasted Pepper & Prawn Spaghetti ~ Simple Food








Add the peppers and prawns to the tomatoes and simmer for another 5 minutes.

Roasted Pepper & Prawn Spaghetti ~ Simple Food



Now mix well with spaghetti and serve.

Roasted Pepper & Prawn Spaghetti ~ Simple Food

Wednesday 21 January 2015

Make the most of your Chicken



Make the most of your Chicken ~ Simple Food


4 dinners, 4 – 5 lunches and some chicken stock.

That’s what I can get out of just one chicken, you could too all you need is a chicken and a few of your favourite vegetables.

I’m not going to tell you what to use that’s up to you, so there will be no ingredients list.

Make the most of your Chicken

First of all roast your chicken as you normally would, I like to do mine low and slow.

Make the most of your Chicken ~ Simple Food


For instance:- with a chicken that would normally be roasted at 180°c for 1 ½ hours I would roast for 2 ½ hours at about 110°c turning up the heat uncovered for the last 30 minutes, I find this method makes for more succulent tender meat.

Now once I have roasted my chicken and it has cooled I cut the four pieces off that I need for my 4 dinners, 2 legs and 2 breasts.

Make the most of your Chicken ~ Simple Food


I am now left with the carcass complete with wings.

Make the most of your Chicken ~ Simple Food


This goes into a pan and covered with water and brought to the boil.

Make the most of your Chicken ~ Simple Food


While that’s happening onions and celery go in.

Make the most of your Chicken ~ Simple Food
Make the most of your Chicken ~ Simple Food








Once it is boiling turn the heat down and simmer on a low heat for about 1 ½ hours.

Make the most of your Chicken ~ Simple Food


Now gather up a selection of your favourite vegetables and chop them to a suitable size.

Make the most of your Chicken ~ Simple Food


Take the chicken complete with bones out of the stock and place into a separate bowl.

Make the most of your Chicken ~ Simple Food


Pour the stock into another pan then melt some butter and add some herbs then simmer for a couple of minutes.

Make the most of your Chicken ~ Simple Food


Now add the vegetables and sweat them off for 5 minutes.

Make the most of your Chicken ~ Simple Food


After 5 minutes add a little of the stock.

Make the most of your Chicken ~ Simple Food


Then simmer for another 10 minutes.

Make the most of your Chicken ~ Simple Food


Add the rest of the stock and bring to the boil.

Make the most of your Chicken ~ Simple Food


While that’s coming to the boil the carcass should be cool enough to separate the chicken from the bones, discard the carcass a drop the chicken into the stock and don't forget to season in fact at this point I normally drop in a couple of veg stock cubes

Make the most of your Chicken ~ Simple Food


 Simmer for about an hour and then with a slotted spoon divide the vegetables and chicken into cartons for the freezer.

Make the most of your Chicken ~ Simple Food


Now cover with stock.

Make the most of your Chicken ~ Simple Food


You should have some stock left over so strain it through a sieve into cartons for the freezer.

Make the most of your Chicken ~ Simple Food



The stew has no thickener in it so therefore is in a very versatile state, I normally thaw it out a carton at a time and have it for lunch with some crusty bread but you could also add some corn flour to thicken, make some herby dumplings and put it in the oven for 20 minutes.

Make the most of your Chicken ~ Simple Food