Nigella's Saffron Chicken Pilaf...

 The week before last I was feeling down with the terrible weather we've been having this "Summer" so was flicking through some of my cookbooks looking for something light and Summery to cheer me up, and I came across this...

#1 Saturday Night...means...

...It's "Fake-Away" night...you know what I mean, a "take-away" made by you...or in this case, me...

Another Speedy Supper Risotto...

..using leftover chicken...but not the same as here...or here...We're going with Chicken, Bacon and Mushroom Risotto this time!

Escaping to the Sunny Side...

in terms of food at least...this horrible weather we are having needs something to perk it up a bit so that's why I made some...Chicken, Chorizo and Prawn Paella...


A Paella is a Spanish dish, from the Valencia Region...I guess you might say it's the Spanish equivalent of a risotto...but as I am neither Spanish or Itallian, I wouldn't want to offend either...so let's just say there are three main types of Paella, Valencian, Spanish and mixed...

Mexican Madness #3...Green Rice

...This is another side dish that we'd tried at Wahaca itself...there they serve it in small earthenware pots that look really great next to the Refried Beans and Guacamole...and it's another dish that I've been meaning to make for ages!!! So I'm really pleased to say I have now done just that!!! It takes a wee bit of preparation at the start, but nothing too taxing...

Friday Night Veggie Indian Feast...

...so now I have finally posted all the recipes from last Friday's Veggie Indian Feast...The menu was...

...Although the Torte and ice-cream got bumped to Saturday in the end as we were too full, it was too late and to be honest, I couldn't be bothered to bake the torte on Friday!!! Oh, and the homemade pizzas on Saturday were for the 4 smallish people!!! We had the Pasta Bake, that will be posted later on...


If you missed any of the Indian food posts you can find them here...


1 - Paneer and Spice Fritters
2 - Pea and Potato Samosas
3 - Cucumber and Mint Raita
4 - Saag Paneer
5 - Chickpea Curry
6 - Pilau Rice...this one is just below...


I Don't really have a formal recipe for this, but I will share with you how I cook my Pilau Rice...
Serves: 6 ish...or in this case, 4 and leftovers!!
Prep time: 5 mins plus 30mins soaking time
Cooking time: 5mins ish...
Ok, so I start by rinsing about 12oz of basmati rice in cold water...I rinse a couple of times to get most of the dust and starch out...then to the pan of now wet (but drained) rice I will add about 1/2tsp turmeric, 1tsp garam masala, 1tsp chilli powder, 4 split green cardamom pods, 2 crushed cloves of garlic and about and inch of peeled, grated fresh ginger...give it a stir and leave until about 30  mins before you want to cook it...
About 30 mins before you are going to cook it, add enough cold water to the pan to cover with about 2inches extra water...leave to soak for about 30 mins...
Once 30mins is up add a little salt and bring to the boil...turn down and simmer for about 4 mins, testing after 3mins...we like ours firm, not raw!!! But with a bite to it...there is nothing worse than soggy rice!!! Once cooked to your liking, drain and serve!!
I'm sorry there are no photos to show how great this rice turns out...maybe next time I cook it I will post some!
Oh, one more thing, I also use this rice to make veggie pilau, for that one I stir fry some veg of choice...leeks, broccoli, cauli, peppers, mushrooms, peas...and add drained cooled rice to pan, mix and reheat...for that you only need about 9oz rice to start...that will feed four and give leftovers!!

Golden Balls of Loveliness....

...that title has got you a little curious hasn't it...no it's nothing like that!! It's arancini, that great recipe for leftover risotto...that I had never attempted until the other day!! Here is the result...

What to do with leftover chicken...?

So I got home yesterday and looked in the fridge, knowing that tonight was leftover chicken night...My usual speedy solution is 'Cheats Chicken Pie Filling' which consists of sauteing a chopped onion, adding some garlic, some chopped bacon and cooking for a few minutes...add some chopped mushrooms and the chopped cooked leftover chicken, to this add a tin of condensed soup, your choice of flavour (mushroom, celery and chicken are all good ones to add), add a little milk to thin and cook until the chicken is heated through...either serve with a pastry top or as we do more often than not, with rice of mashed potato...But not last night!!!

A Quick Supper...(Winter Warmers pt2)

Hi, I've just finished my Super Speedy Mushroom Risotto...one of our favourite quick and easy 'working day suppers' (yes, I actually worked today!!). Thought it would fit in with the whole Comfort Food/Winter Warmers theme I seem to have going on right now!

Before I go any further, this is not a "proper" Italian risotto...it is a "Sara Special"...one of my infamous 'tweaked' recipes...so without further ado....

"Sara's Super Speedy Mushroom Risotto"