Chicken it’s what’s for dinner!

Chicken marinated in Tandoori spices with pulao (pilaf)

I marinated chicken drumsticks in a marinade of yogurt, garam masala, cumin powder, coriander powder, chili powder, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and just a little bit of store bought Tandoori masala for the aroma and the golden orange color.

I let it sit in the fridge in a glass dish overnight, covered. The next day I baked the chicken at 450 F for approximately 35 minutes turning the pieces over once in between. I made sure to spoon all the marinade onto the chicken before cooking it.

Easy right? And tastes delicious with rice, indian flatbread (chapati, naan, roti, etc) or a cucumber salad.

 

Soy Ginger halibut steaks, lemon pepper shrimp and corn on the cob

Lots of ginger, some garlic, lemon, olive oil and soy sauce together made a yummy marinade for the halibut steaks.
After marinating for an hour I baked them for 15 minutes. To accompany I baked shrimps marinated in lemon, chili powder, olive oil and pepper.

Work In Progress

Finally felt like picking up a paintbrush yesterday and have made an ambitious plan to paint every day till I complete the series – a work in progress. Not sure where its going yet, but here’s the first of hopefully many installments to come.
How did I so soon forget how cathartic it is to pick up a paint brush, listen to music and paint? Even if it’s a small little canvas like my amateur effort here!

Channeling my inner Giada de Laurentiis

Since I’ve been in Hong Kong, I have missed my date with the food network every so often. Today for some reason I was feeling like cooking some simple, comfort food but something that has the easy elegance of the Barefoot Contessa or Giada! (You have to know American Food Network to know these fabulous cooks). So I channeled my inner Giada De Laurentiis and tried to whip up a modified recipe of her marinara sauce.
I used diced onions, garlic, baby carrots, celery, and vine ripened tomatoes. In a little olive oil I sautéed the onions and garlic, then threw in the rest of the veggies. After everything was softened and cooked through I blended it all in a blender but left it a little chunky, for a rustic texture.
Then I added some minced fresh basil, salt and pepper to the sauce.
Next I boiled some organic whole wheat pasta al dente. I used a little pasta water to reduce the thickness of my marinara.
Finally I tossed my drained pasta with the sauce and topped it with a few chili flakes for a little bite.
A variation for no vegetarians – add some grilled chicken.

Fast (healthy) food

Fast food can be so-good-for-you delicious. Our quick meal today was hummus pita pocket sandwiches.
What you need: hummus, halved pita bread, fresh sweet basil leaves, olives and thinly sliced tomatoes.
Toast the pita bread, open the ‘pocket’ and layer in hummus, basil leaves and slices of the tomatoes. You can also add slices of the olives if you like. I preferred them on the side. I used marinated olives, but other olives would work too.
For a variation I sometimes add sliced red onion and feta cheese, or shredded cucumbers, but they weren’t in the fridge today!
So easy, yummy and hits the spot.

Macaroni for lunch!

My son’s request for lunch today was simple: “pasta and chicken please!”
I looked into the fridge and pantry and literally threw this easy macaroni together.
I used macaroni pasta, diced chicken tenders, finely chopped green pepper, grated tomato, olive oil and my go to ingredient – smashed up garlic. Salt & pepper of course.
In a hot skillet I added some olive oil, to it I added the garlic, let it brown a little. Then the remaining ingredients.
I boiled the pasta and added it to the skillet where all the other ingredients were simmering for 10 minutes. Tossed everything together and lunch was ready in minutes.
Verdict from my son: “it’s good Mama, would be better without the green pepper”. I’m raising a food critic!

Craft time with Aji (grandma)

Recently my parents visited us. Of course it rained their entire visit. We had to come up with creative play time among other things.

My mother did a fun craft activity with my son that made for a few creative afternoons. Grandma and grandson cut out shapes from colored paper (we used origami paper). They then glued the pieces onto a sheet that was number coded with the colored pieces of paper. This was highly interactive and fun for my son. He enjoyed finding the corresponding numbers and seeing the shapes fit the drawing. What 4 year old doesn’t enjoy messing with glue and scissors! (We used kids scissors!)

They did a few others, sharing one with fish here in addition to the one above.

Mama’s walnut banana bread

Going to a friends place for dinner today. Decided to bake her something homemade with my mum’s help (it’s mum’s recipe).
We used 4 organic brown eggs, 2 and 1/2 cups organic self rising flour, 1 and 1/2 cups raw sugar, 1 cup olive oil, 1 and 1/2 bananas, 1/2 cup chopped walnuts and a teaspoon of vanilla extract.
With a wire whisk we whisked the eggs and sugar together till light and frothy.
Then we whisked in the oil and vanilla extract. Next we blended in the flour till the batter was smooth. Finally added the chopped walnuts and bananas. After a good final mix we poured the batter in a prepared glass dish. We spread a little oil all over the dish and dusted it with flour to prepare for baking.
We baked the cake for 40 minutes at 160 degrees celcius. Yummy smell wafted through the house…it’s delicious!

Easy thai basil chicken

Ever since my trip to Bangkok I’ve been wanting to try my hand at creating the classic Thai basil chicken in a healthier way. Needless to say a healthy low fat Thai Basil chicken ain’t like the original. However I was quite happy with the results!
I started with finely chopped white onion, coarsely chopped basil, smashed garlic cloves, chicken tenders cut into cubes, lemon juice and thai fish sauce. I love some heat so I also topped my dish with Thai red chillies. But I left it for the end so that everyone doesn’t have to eat the spicy chillies if they don’t want to.
I sautéed the garlic and onions in a little grapeseed oil (any vegetable oil or canolla oil will do). Then added the chicken cubes, browned then a bit and added the fish sauce and a little water.
Covered it and cooked for ten minutes, then added the basil and a dash of salt.
As soon as the basil wilted I switched off the stove. Finally after removing some out for myself I added a sprinkle of the chillies.
Yummy on a bed of white rice.
Served i

 

Tilapia and veggies

Today’s lunch: pan fried tilapia marinated in olive oil, lemon, salt, pepper and herbs + sautéed veggies – carrots, zucchini, broccoli and potatoes.