Gousto meal 2

Second meal. Second day. I was really looking forward to this meal as it included alot of vegetables! And i am a big veggie lover. This recipe was a ratatouille with parmesan polenta. This took longer than the first meal however that was  expected as it did state 'forty minutes' on the card. It was otherwise quite a simple recipe to follow. Cut up all the veg, grill it and add to fried onion and garlic along with a tomato tin. The polenta wheat thing however tasted very yummy with the addition of the parmesan but was a bit too hard for my liking even though i had cooked it for the amount of time stated. The ratatouille could have done with a little more spice i felt and maybe a little extra kick to it too. Apart from that i have still kept the recipe card but may need to re read through the recipe and add in my own little bits as i usually do.

Gousto meals 1

I cooked it. The first meal from my Gousto box. I chose the 'Melty shroom burger' recipe card which took about 30-35 minuted from start to finish. Now, I am used to having prepared vegetables but i am not used to having it all measured out which definitely made the meal easier and quicker to cook as the salad was literally a 'bung it all in' type. The burger, i had my doubts about- there was no sauce to add inside or layers of cheese, hash brown etc. However when tasting this melted cheese and onion mushroom in a warmed up ciabatta bun it tastes very delicious! Even i was surprised. I thought it would be dry and bready but the cheese melted just right and the mushrooms were really juicy!
The salad was very different and i have kept the recipe card which is proof that i did love it. It consisted of tomatoes/ onions/ capers and basil. The side serving was baked mini potatoes, waxy on the inside and crisp on the outside. yummy!

To new beginnings plus a little taster of GOUSTO.

Another day, another menu to think of! That's how it works for me. I don't consider cooking as a chore, but it is somewhat easier to have somebody set the menu for you. As nagging my other half in regards to what he wants to eat the next day doesn't always work.
What would be better than a set menu, than all the ingredients (measured out) already in your kitchen? As it so happens a voucher came through the post which entitled me to £25 off my first 'Gousto' box. Although i had never heard of it before, i knew what it entailed. I had seen other boxes such as the 'Hello Fresh' box. These are basically fresh organic ingredients delivered to your door according to your chosen menu. However they haven't always been the cheapest option so i had never opted for them.
£25 off did seem like a lot, so i flicked through the webpage and added a few things in my basket. After using the discount code it worked out to £9.99 plus free delivery for three meals for two people. it's not a bad price for three meals for two people and works out to just over £1.50 per meal.
Anyhow i scheduled a delivery date and lo behold it arrived prompt in the morning just as i stepped foot outside the house. After work i sat down to open the box of goodies (always happy to open parcels and post) and out came an ice pack and a 'wool rug' (to keep the goodies fresh) and an assortment of fresh organic fruit and vegetables, herbs, spices and grains. I was pleasantly surprised. Everything was in very good condition. Very cool/cold even though i had opened it several hours after receiving it.

Quick time quesadillas

Quick time quesadillas

Quesadillas are a quick time Mexican snack that can be rustled up fast and easy with leftover bits of cooked chicken. The original quesadilla contains just cheese melted in a tortilla wrap, however recipes are never left alone  (i am not the only one to blame either), and they are changed and adapted to each kitchen. When i cook, if there is a leftover piece of chicken then by all means i will use it. But most of the time i stick to the vegetarian option. I am going to type up a few varieties of my version of a non-authentic quesadilla. My version may just be the laziest one on the internet however the taste clearly opposes that notion.

serves two (as a starter) or one (as a meal)
you will need: a tava (a flat griddle/pancake pan) or a George Foreman grill or anything else which you prefer that crisps up the tortillas

Ingredients:

two tortillas
1 tbsp garlic sauce
1 tbsp barbecue sauce
handful of cheese (whatever you prefer)
sweetcorn
one spring onion sliced
one red chilli deseeded and sliced thin
half a sweet pepper (any colour)-chopped into small cubes
 half a tsp black pepper
1 tsp mixed dried herbs

Method:

1) Heat up your tava/griddle on a medium heat

2)On one tortilla squeeze some garlic sauce and on the other squeeze the bbq sauce  onto one side and spread. Leave aside.

3) Next in a bowl add in your cheese, chilli, pepper, spring onion and sweetcorn (remember you can opt for more or less depending on what you prefer), black pepper and mixed dried herbs. Give it a stir.

4) Now this part you may want to make sure everything is prepared so you can quickly put it all together. Place one tortilla on your tava, sauce side up and sprinkle your cheese mixture evenly around it all. Then slowly lay the other tortilla sauce side down onto the mixture and press gently.

5) Let this cook for approx two minutes on one side or until the underside looks brown and the cheese has melted inside. Then slowly turn the tortilla on the other side so it can crispen up on both sides. Once everything has kind of 'jammed' together and looks golden brown on a few areas, slowly slide it off and using a pizza cutter, slice into four pieces. Serve warm with a salad of your choice .

Options:

As i mentioned before there are many variations to making a queasadilla. For this reason i am going to jot down some other variations too. All of these extra ingredients can all be added to the bowl with the cheese.

Chicken: add in some shredded cooked chicken (leftovers) or cook half a chicken breast with salt, pepper, lemon juice and peri peri powder . Let this cool and shred up before adding in.
Salaami/polony: add in cooked slices of this to your cheese mixture. This gives it an ultra scrummy taste.
Cheese and onion: If you don't have the time to chop up vegetables then a simple cheese and spring onion one tastes very good (esp with a cup of tea)
Cheese: if its just cheese you prefer, why not try mixing some cheese up. Use a mix of cheddar, mozarella and red leicester cheese.
Spiced up: if you like it spicy add in green chillies and cheese only. Or sprinkle in some smoked paprika for a smoky taste?
Pizza: Probably the most famous one for children is the pizza quesadilla. this is one tortilla wrap smothered in pizza sauce and topped with round slices of mozarella cheese and fresh basil scattered on one half. Fold in half and cook the same way.

EXTRAS: If you prefer other ingredients give these a try:
                  olives, feta cheese, spinach, cooked mince meat, tomato slices , avocado

As you can see there are simply many varieties and extras you may add in to adjust it to your taste. If you know a combination which you think is a winner, let me know, i love trying out new flavours!
 happy snacking.x

Chicken squares

Chicken squares

This recipe is a family favourite when it comes to starters. Not only is it  easy to prepare but it also seems as if one has taken a long time preparing it in the kitchen. It’s very simple to make and consists of mainly store cupboard stockups  . You can make a big batch of these and freeze them before coating them in egg. My best way to eat them is straight from the oven without frying them in egg. Addictive.

#Note: Although i have listed ingredients under it's heading there are nonetheless other ingredients too as you go along which is why i suggest reading through the whole recipe before cooking so you don't have to pop over to Asda or Tesco inbetween :)

1) Preheat oven to 180c

2) Grease and line (with greaseproof paper) a deep swiss roll tin (if you do not have this then an eight inch square tin will also do)

Ingredients

2 cups chicken breast cubed into very small pieces/ two cups chicken mince will also do

salt & pepper

1 tbsp crushed garlic

1 tsp green chillies-chopped

a handful of sweetcorn (frozen or tinned is fine)
drop of any oil if you are not using a non-stick pan

3) Cook all of the above in a frying pan with a drop of oil until the water evaporates and it starts to look dry, then pop it into a mixing bowl and  leave it aside to cool.

 Meanwhile.............

4) In a food processor add the following:

3 slices bread

2 tbsp chillies

1  cup milk

Handful chopped coriander

3 eggs

2 tbsp ghee-unsalted butter

salt and pepper

5) Process the above until  it has all mixed together and looks lumpy and runny at the same time.

6) Then add this mixture to the cooled cooked chicken and stir well. Then add in 1 tsp baking powder and stir again till all looks mixed.

7)  Pour into a greased baking tray and pop into oven for about fifteen to twenty minutes on the middle shelf.

8) How to tell if it's done: 
      like a cake if you press it with your finger it should feel spongy and light. Also it will have small brown specks on it, don't worry it is not burnt!

9)  Once done let this cool and then cut into small squares (i can get about 18 squares from a swiss roll tin). Nows the time to  freeze it for later-or quickly taste it warm *licks lips*

10) Just one more step...
       whisk 2 eggs with a handful of coriander and dip each cool chicken square into the egg mixture making sure it is fully coated before shallow frying it on medium heat. Wait till both sides turn a nice golden brown colour and serve warm with lemon wedges on the side. Happy days. x