Wednesday 30 June 2010
The Grass is always Greener on the otherside......
There is no cooking challenge. Today is a different challenge. Yesterday, I was going through a bit of a funk but I guess we all get funks I suppose. Sometimes, I just want to go back being a kid and having no stress or worries. It’s been really stressful here and I’m trying desperately to find a job. I mean it almost seems impossible. I haven’t given up, thanks to my husband, family and friends. So whoever has a job, be thankful because the job market is not looking good right now. Being jobless and alone for the majority of the day is really quite depressing. It really annoys me how people think that my life is so wonderful. They have this perception that I have this fabulous life of not working and living in a non stressful life. I laugh and think to myself…the grass is always greener on the otherside. Sure, there is many positive having a lot of free time but there are a lot of negatives as well. Being unemployed, your life is really unstructured. There is so much stress and worries that you wouldn’t imagine that came along with it. I am a type of person that will stay positive in any situation but in reality I’m real; I get sad, I get depressed and I get funks. I ask myself everyday, How am I going to keep it together? Everyday I have to force myself to exercise, be active, eat right, and most importantly feel happy to keep my life together. Cooking the recipes are a challenge, but the job hunt right now is the biggest challenge…. I hope soon that I will overcome it.
Monday 28 June 2010
Summertime!
Yey, Summer is finally here. It was a beautiful, sunny weekend in London. No challenges this weekend because it is very rare that we get weather like this in London. And besides…who likes to cook in hot weather, especially in an small apt?!?! To celebrate the nice weather, we decided to make sure we would spend our time outside as much as possible. On Saturday, my husband and I were invited to go to a Tapas and Wine Festival down around Tower Bridge. I love going to events in London because the city is spread out hence making events much more enjoyable to attend. I know I could just picture this same event in New York City….it would be so cramped and overly crowded. Anyways, we arrived at the festival in the afternoon. Once you walked in, you could pay £2 for 4 tokens to use on wine samples. There were so many stations of wine and food vendors. We had a fabulous time listening to latin music in the sun, tasting wine and eating tapas. It was a perfect day to enjoy the festival.
This weekend was the round two of the World Cup starring the USA vs. Ghana and England vs. Germany matches. On Saturday, we went to a place called Café Kick to watch the USA vs. Ghana game. There were so many people gathered at this venue watching the game. On Sunday, we went to a quiet pub just around the corner where we live called the Queen Bodecia. It was a good spot to end the weekend. Even though both the USA and England lost their game, I still had a good time experiencing watching the World Cup in Europe.
My husband and I decided to end the weekend with a nice picnic at the park. In London, there are many little secret small parks. We tend to walk around the city on the weekends and find many small little parks all over. It’s great to go to one of them when it’s nice out because you get to enjoy the sun with only a couple of people if not by yourself. Well, I hope the weather stays like this for this week/weekend because it was an absolutely perfect weekend.
This weekend was the round two of the World Cup starring the USA vs. Ghana and England vs. Germany matches. On Saturday, we went to a place called Café Kick to watch the USA vs. Ghana game. There were so many people gathered at this venue watching the game. On Sunday, we went to a quiet pub just around the corner where we live called the Queen Bodecia. It was a good spot to end the weekend. Even though both the USA and England lost their game, I still had a good time experiencing watching the World Cup in Europe.
My husband and I decided to end the weekend with a nice picnic at the park. In London, there are many little secret small parks. We tend to walk around the city on the weekends and find many small little parks all over. It’s great to go to one of them when it’s nice out because you get to enjoy the sun with only a couple of people if not by yourself. Well, I hope the weather stays like this for this week/weekend because it was an absolutely perfect weekend.
Thursday 24 June 2010
Bruschetta
There’s no dinner challenge because we had leftovers, so instead I decided to do an appetizer challenge. Growing up I never ever had to eat leftovers. I would be lucky if there was enough dinner to eat on that night! I grew up with a very big family. I am the youngest out of seven siblings. When dinner time came that meant you better hurry up to the table and get your portion or else it’s gone. So I guess growing up I was fortune enough to rarely eat leftovers. I love pasta and the Chicken and Mushroom Fettuccine Alfredo was just as good the night after! To make dinner a little more different, I decided to make the following starter:
Recipe of the day: Homemade Bruschetta
Ingredients/Grocery List: Total Spent – £3.55
4-5 small tomatoes on the vine – £1.99
½ of red onion – £0.19
3 Cloves of Garlic - £0.25
1 Small Baguette – £0.33
2 Tablespoon of Olive Oil (had it already)
2 Tablespoon of chopped Basil – £0.79
1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning (had it already)
½ Tablespoon of Light Pesto Paste (had it already)
2 teaspoon Fresh Ground Pepper (had it already)
1 teaspoon Fresh Ground Salt (had it already)
First, add the oil, italian seasoning, finely minced garlic, pesto paste, salt, pepper and basil together in a bowl and mix it. Now dice the tomatoes and set aside in a different bowl. Then finely chop the red onion place it in bowl with the seasoning in it and mix it together. Now toss the chopped tomatoes in the bowl and mix it all together. ( you can always drain out some of the tomato juice if there's too much before you add it to the bowl). Place it in the fridge for at least 1 hour before serving. You can serve it with toast crackers, or do what I did: I took a small baguette, sliced it into about ½ inch thick pieces and placed them on a cookie sheet. Next spray or brush lightly with olive oil. Place in oven on 200 C for 10 minutes. Then add a the bruschetta on top of the toasted bread.
This recipe always makes a tasty, light appetizer when cooking pasta. You can also make this if you want to bring something over for a dinner party. It’s a great, light snack for the summer. Next time when I make bruschetta, I will be having it with a nice chilled cocktail and soaking up in the sun. Enjoy!
Recipe of the day: Homemade Bruschetta
Ingredients/Grocery List: Total Spent – £3.55
4-5 small tomatoes on the vine – £1.99
½ of red onion – £0.19
3 Cloves of Garlic - £0.25
1 Small Baguette – £0.33
2 Tablespoon of Olive Oil (had it already)
2 Tablespoon of chopped Basil – £0.79
1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning (had it already)
½ Tablespoon of Light Pesto Paste (had it already)
2 teaspoon Fresh Ground Pepper (had it already)
1 teaspoon Fresh Ground Salt (had it already)
First, add the oil, italian seasoning, finely minced garlic, pesto paste, salt, pepper and basil together in a bowl and mix it. Now dice the tomatoes and set aside in a different bowl. Then finely chop the red onion place it in bowl with the seasoning in it and mix it together. Now toss the chopped tomatoes in the bowl and mix it all together. ( you can always drain out some of the tomato juice if there's too much before you add it to the bowl). Place it in the fridge for at least 1 hour before serving. You can serve it with toast crackers, or do what I did: I took a small baguette, sliced it into about ½ inch thick pieces and placed them on a cookie sheet. Next spray or brush lightly with olive oil. Place in oven on 200 C for 10 minutes. Then add a the bruschetta on top of the toasted bread.
This recipe always makes a tasty, light appetizer when cooking pasta. You can also make this if you want to bring something over for a dinner party. It’s a great, light snack for the summer. Next time when I make bruschetta, I will be having it with a nice chilled cocktail and soaking up in the sun. Enjoy!
Tuesday 22 June 2010
Chicken and Mushroom Fetuccine Alfredo
I’m typically not one to cook really fattening foods. I tend to cook healthy and that’s why I like to cook because I actually know what goes in my meals. When I asked my husband what he wanted for dinner, he said “ Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo”. In my head I was thinking “is this guy serious?”…. Come on girls, we all read in the magazines that Fettuccine Alfredo is one of the most fattiest food to eat. I was hesitatant to make this meal, because I only eat Fettuccine Alfredo if I feel like I have lost weight and wanted to gain it back. So you can imagine NEVER! So today’s challenge wasn’t just making sure if the cost was under 10 but also a healthier version that still had the same great taste.
Recipe of the Day: Chicken and Mushroom Fettuccine Alfredo
Ingredients/Grocery List: Total Spent: £9.85
Serving: 4 (I know in a regular recipe it will say 6 … but we’re real people and we can eat!)
1 Package of Boneless Chicken Breast (3 Breast) – £3.49
1 Package of small closed cap mushrooms – £0.86
1 Package of Authentic Italian Pasta or Fettuccine – £1.99
2 Cups Light Heavy Cream - £1.28
1 Cup of Grated Parmesan Cheese - £2.23
¼ cup of unsalted butter – (had it already)
2 dashes of nutmeg – (had it already)
Italian Seasoning – (had it already)
Fresh Ground Pepper – (had it already)
5 gloves of garlic – (had it already)
Olive Oil
First wash and cut the chicken into strips. Add a dollop of olive oil, minced garlic, a few dashes Italian seasoning and fresh ground pepper. Use your hand and mix the ingredients with the chicken. Cook with a large skillet on Medium until cooked and browned. Set aside. Using the same skillet, add a dollop of olive oil to the pan. Add the sliced mushrooms (take out stems first) and cook until tender and done. Set aside and remove the juices. Cook the pasta according to the package. You want to cook it until “al dente”. While the pasta is cooking. In a saucepan or large skillet, heat on low, and add the butter until it melts. Now add two cups of the cream. Using a whisk, mix the butter and cream. Lower the heat to simmer. Now add ½ cup of the parmesan cheese and add the nutmeg and fresh ground pepper. Keep mixing until warm. Throw in the cooked chicken and mushroom. Mix it in the sauce. Cook for 2 minutes. Now cool the sauce, (it should thicken). Drain the Pasta and add the sauce. (only add ½ and keep adding, according to how much pasta you made) It might look like the sauce is runny. (don’t worry it will thicken) Throw in ½ cups of more parmesan cheese. Cook on simmer and keep mixing for about 2 minutes or until the sauce thickens. Dinner is done!
This meal isn’t the healthiest, but I would say it was really good. My husband really enjoyed this meal as well. Getting one or two low fat ingredients makes a big difference. Also, not adding salt or lessen the salt will make a difference to your health too. I tend to not use all low fat ingredients in my meal. You need the taste and the low fat ingredients don’t do the meal justice sometimes. I’m a true believer on the saying, “all in moderation”. I feel that you can live a fuller and happier life if you stick to that motto. Hope you enjoy the meal!
Recipe of the Day: Chicken and Mushroom Fettuccine Alfredo
Ingredients/Grocery List: Total Spent: £9.85
Serving: 4 (I know in a regular recipe it will say 6 … but we’re real people and we can eat!)
1 Package of Boneless Chicken Breast (3 Breast) – £3.49
1 Package of small closed cap mushrooms – £0.86
1 Package of Authentic Italian Pasta or Fettuccine – £1.99
2 Cups Light Heavy Cream - £1.28
1 Cup of Grated Parmesan Cheese - £2.23
¼ cup of unsalted butter – (had it already)
2 dashes of nutmeg – (had it already)
Italian Seasoning – (had it already)
Fresh Ground Pepper – (had it already)
5 gloves of garlic – (had it already)
Olive Oil
First wash and cut the chicken into strips. Add a dollop of olive oil, minced garlic, a few dashes Italian seasoning and fresh ground pepper. Use your hand and mix the ingredients with the chicken. Cook with a large skillet on Medium until cooked and browned. Set aside. Using the same skillet, add a dollop of olive oil to the pan. Add the sliced mushrooms (take out stems first) and cook until tender and done. Set aside and remove the juices. Cook the pasta according to the package. You want to cook it until “al dente”. While the pasta is cooking. In a saucepan or large skillet, heat on low, and add the butter until it melts. Now add two cups of the cream. Using a whisk, mix the butter and cream. Lower the heat to simmer. Now add ½ cup of the parmesan cheese and add the nutmeg and fresh ground pepper. Keep mixing until warm. Throw in the cooked chicken and mushroom. Mix it in the sauce. Cook for 2 minutes. Now cool the sauce, (it should thicken). Drain the Pasta and add the sauce. (only add ½ and keep adding, according to how much pasta you made) It might look like the sauce is runny. (don’t worry it will thicken) Throw in ½ cups of more parmesan cheese. Cook on simmer and keep mixing for about 2 minutes or until the sauce thickens. Dinner is done!
This meal isn’t the healthiest, but I would say it was really good. My husband really enjoyed this meal as well. Getting one or two low fat ingredients makes a big difference. Also, not adding salt or lessen the salt will make a difference to your health too. I tend to not use all low fat ingredients in my meal. You need the taste and the low fat ingredients don’t do the meal justice sometimes. I’m a true believer on the saying, “all in moderation”. I feel that you can live a fuller and happier life if you stick to that motto. Hope you enjoy the meal!
Monday 21 June 2010
I got the blues.....
Well it’s been quite cold and gloomy here in London this weekend. The weather reminds me of September weather in New York. It’s late June and it’s 55 degrees here. Where is the summer? My husband was in a very cranky mood this weekend. He loves the sun shine (well who doesn’t?) and when there is no sunshine, Will is not happy. I wonder since the country is rainy and gloomy majority of the time , if people are more depressed here? I notice that it was really hard for me to motivate Will and myself out of the apartment this weekend. We did manage to meet friends at night. At dinner, they were talking about London in winter. I visited London for only two weeks in the winter time but I was focusing on visiting my husband who I haven’t seen in about a little over a month. So basically it could have been below freezing point and I wouldn’t have noticed. Anyways, they carried on the conversation about London weather and they got me scared. I was complaining about the weather to them and they all stared at me, the winter is worst and you better get use to it. Oh no, what am I going to do? How can it possibly any worse? Hopefully I’ll have a job by then to keep me busy from realizing that the weather here stinks!
Even though the weather stinks here, I will say that there are tons of fun stuff to do in London. On Thursday, I went with a friend to Shakespeare’s Globe to watch Henry IV. I was only in there for 20 minutes before my friend almost fainted! The Globe was small and felt a little claustrophobic but it was really neat to see that it was restored. It made you feel like you were an audience from back from the days. I love the fact that London has so much history.
Even though there aren’t any challenges for this weekend, my husband and I decided to cook breakfast for each other. I cooked Saturday’s breakfast and he cooked breakfast on Sunday. I love when he cooks because it gives me a break. Plus, I love when he makes breakfast…It’s so good!
Even though the weather stinks here, I will say that there are tons of fun stuff to do in London. On Thursday, I went with a friend to Shakespeare’s Globe to watch Henry IV. I was only in there for 20 minutes before my friend almost fainted! The Globe was small and felt a little claustrophobic but it was really neat to see that it was restored. It made you feel like you were an audience from back from the days. I love the fact that London has so much history.
Even though there aren’t any challenges for this weekend, my husband and I decided to cook breakfast for each other. I cooked Saturday’s breakfast and he cooked breakfast on Sunday. I love when he cooks because it gives me a break. Plus, I love when he makes breakfast…It’s so good!
Thursday 17 June 2010
Stuffed Roasted Peppers
Today I forced myself out of the apartment and went to not one but TWO gym classes and boy I’m I beat. I’m not the exercising type, so I was definitely dreading going to the aerobic class. When I arrived at the class, the instructor was so bubbly and already wearing the microphone headset. She popped in a dance mix and began straight away into the routine. At first I couldn’t stop smiling because I couldn’t believe that I was doing these routines, but then I got really into it. It was so much fun and energic! Everyone in the class seemed to have a good time. After 45 minutes of working out, I decide to do the next class. I’m definitely aching, but it was well worth it. Working out really helped me sweat my stress and worries away. Plus, it keeps me busy since I’m still out of a job. These classes makes exercising really fun!
Anyways, Here is a challenge that I truly enjoy cooking:
Recipe of the Day: Stuff Roasted Peppers
Ingredients/Grocery List: Total Spent: £9.34
Serving size: 2
3 Bell Peppers (Red is my fav, but you can use any color) – £2.61
1 400g Lean Beef – £2.50
1 small-medium onion – £0.15
1 package of small closed cap mushroom (15 pieces) - £0.86
3/4 cup of cooked brown rice or white - £0.78 for a pack of 4 boil in a bag
1/2 jar of basil tomato sauce - £0.94
4 cloves of garlic - £0.25
Shredded or sliced Cheddar Cheese – 1.25
Salt
Olive Oil
First cook the rice. In a medium pot, fill water a little over half and boil. Add salt to the water before boiling fully. Cut the top of the bell peppers and remove the seeds. Place the bell peppers in the boil salt water for 5 minutes. In a deep dish pan grease the bottom with butter. Drain the peppers and place it in the pan. Preheat the oven now to 210 C
Filling: In a skillet or wok, place a tablespoon of olive oil and two cloves of minced garlic. On medium heat, add the sliced mushrooms. Cook until tender and set aside in a bowl. In the same skillet, add a dash of olive oil and cook the chopped onion and 2 minced garlic cloves. Cook for 1-2 minutes. Now add the meat and cook until browned. Try to drain the excess oil and juices. Now add the cook rice and mushroom. Cook on medium for 2 minutes. Now add the half a jar of tomato sauce. Mix and cook for 2 minutes. You can add crushed peppers and cayenne peppers to make it spicy. Stuff the peppers with the filling. Place about 1-2 Tablespoon of tomato sauce on each pepper and place in the oven. Cook in the oven for 35 to 40 Minutes. Add the chedder cheese 10 minutes before it’s done.
My husband loves stuffed peppers. He’s always begging me to make this every week. I enjoy this meal as well. FYI: No challenges for the rest of the week and weekend. I’m going to the Shakespeare Globe to watch Henry IV on Thursday and on Friday, I will be watching the USA World Cup footy match. I’m really excited to watch the play because Shakespeare originally held his works there. I’ll take lots and pictures and blog away at the end of the weekend. Hope you all enjoy this recipe and have a great weekend!
Anyways, Here is a challenge that I truly enjoy cooking:
Recipe of the Day: Stuff Roasted Peppers
Ingredients/Grocery List: Total Spent: £9.34
Serving size: 2
3 Bell Peppers (Red is my fav, but you can use any color) – £2.61
1 400g Lean Beef – £2.50
1 small-medium onion – £0.15
1 package of small closed cap mushroom (15 pieces) - £0.86
3/4 cup of cooked brown rice or white - £0.78 for a pack of 4 boil in a bag
1/2 jar of basil tomato sauce - £0.94
4 cloves of garlic - £0.25
Shredded or sliced Cheddar Cheese – 1.25
Salt
Olive Oil
First cook the rice. In a medium pot, fill water a little over half and boil. Add salt to the water before boiling fully. Cut the top of the bell peppers and remove the seeds. Place the bell peppers in the boil salt water for 5 minutes. In a deep dish pan grease the bottom with butter. Drain the peppers and place it in the pan. Preheat the oven now to 210 C
Filling: In a skillet or wok, place a tablespoon of olive oil and two cloves of minced garlic. On medium heat, add the sliced mushrooms. Cook until tender and set aside in a bowl. In the same skillet, add a dash of olive oil and cook the chopped onion and 2 minced garlic cloves. Cook for 1-2 minutes. Now add the meat and cook until browned. Try to drain the excess oil and juices. Now add the cook rice and mushroom. Cook on medium for 2 minutes. Now add the half a jar of tomato sauce. Mix and cook for 2 minutes. You can add crushed peppers and cayenne peppers to make it spicy. Stuff the peppers with the filling. Place about 1-2 Tablespoon of tomato sauce on each pepper and place in the oven. Cook in the oven for 35 to 40 Minutes. Add the chedder cheese 10 minutes before it’s done.
My husband loves stuffed peppers. He’s always begging me to make this every week. I enjoy this meal as well. FYI: No challenges for the rest of the week and weekend. I’m going to the Shakespeare Globe to watch Henry IV on Thursday and on Friday, I will be watching the USA World Cup footy match. I’m really excited to watch the play because Shakespeare originally held his works there. I’ll take lots and pictures and blog away at the end of the weekend. Hope you all enjoy this recipe and have a great weekend!
Monday 14 June 2010
Born in the USA
Sorry I haven’t been doing these cooking challenges more frequently, but I've been really busy trying to find a bigger apartment. Anyway, this weekend was filled with the big hype of the World Cup. Soccer/Football in England is the equivalent of American Football and baseball combined to the US. There was England merchandise everywhere... literally in every single store! Being in London was really exciting this weekend because England was playing the USA on Saturday. I knew about this game months before and had already invited some of our friends to watch it with us at a pub by where we live. On Saturday, we had a group of 3 USA fans, 3 England fans and an Aussie Fan at the pub. The pub was packed with local England fans by 6pm! (the game didn’t start until 7:30!) I started to get little worried that the England fans were going to beat me up, considering I had a huge flashy USA imprinted on my tank top. When the game started, my friend and I started to chant USA, USA. There were also a couple of other USA fans at the pub screaming "GOOOO USA!" which was met by waves of Boos from the England fans. I was surprised at how friendly the banter was between us USA fans and the England fans. It was a lot of fun and I was extremely overjoyed that I had gotten the experience to watch a World Cup football game in a local London pub and cheering USA. It was absolutely PRICELESS!
It’s always great to have a juicy burger once in a while. I haven’t had a real good burger in London so I guess I took matters into my own hands. Sometimes I wonder am I really in London? I tend to still manage to have a American lifestyle while I’m here. I think overtime, I will start to become “British”. With this strong accent…yeah right! I promise I won’t go Madonna on you guys.
To keep in theme with the good US performance, I thought a traditional US BBQ was a must. So I decided to do…
Recipe of the Day : Burgers, Corn on the Cob and French Fries.
Ingredients/Grocery List: Total Spent £9.48
1 Package of 500g Lean Red Meat - £2.50
1 Package of Slice Leicester Cheese - £1.25
1 Package of Whole Wheat Buns - £1.00
1 Lettuce - £0.50
1 Tomato - £0.54
1 Onion - £0.15
1 Package of Frozen French Fries - £1.79
2 Corn - £1.50
3 Cloves of Garlic - £0.25
Unsalted Butter (had it already)
Olive Oil (had it already)
Balsamic Vinegar (had it already)
Fresh Ground Pepper (had it already)
Sea Salt (had it already)
Preheat the oven for 230 C. Butter the Corn and dash fresh pepper and sea salt. Wrap the corn in foil and place in oven for 25-30 minutes. Now cut the onion into rings and try not to separate it. Brush olive oil then dash pepper on each side of the onion. Grill or cook on skillet for 2 minutes. For the Burger: Start by mixing and kneading the meat with your hands. Divide the meat into four balls and then flatten the meat with the palms of your hand. (about inch) Dash fresh pepper, seasalt, and finely minced garlic on each side of the burger. Now add a drop of balsamic vinegar on each side of the burger for a bit more flavor. Cook the burger on medium to low heat. About 10 minutes for well done. Add Cheese a minute before the burger is done to your liking. Slice tomato, wash lettuce for garnish. Serve with French fries or a bag of chips.
Recipe of the Day : Burgers, Corn on the Cob and French Fries.
Ingredients/Grocery List: Total Spent £9.48
1 Package of 500g Lean Red Meat - £2.50
1 Package of Slice Leicester Cheese - £1.25
1 Package of Whole Wheat Buns - £1.00
1 Lettuce - £0.50
1 Tomato - £0.54
1 Onion - £0.15
1 Package of Frozen French Fries - £1.79
2 Corn - £1.50
3 Cloves of Garlic - £0.25
Unsalted Butter (had it already)
Olive Oil (had it already)
Balsamic Vinegar (had it already)
Fresh Ground Pepper (had it already)
Sea Salt (had it already)
Preheat the oven for 230 C. Butter the Corn and dash fresh pepper and sea salt. Wrap the corn in foil and place in oven for 25-30 minutes. Now cut the onion into rings and try not to separate it. Brush olive oil then dash pepper on each side of the onion. Grill or cook on skillet for 2 minutes. For the Burger: Start by mixing and kneading the meat with your hands. Divide the meat into four balls and then flatten the meat with the palms of your hand. (about inch) Dash fresh pepper, seasalt, and finely minced garlic on each side of the burger. Now add a drop of balsamic vinegar on each side of the burger for a bit more flavor. Cook the burger on medium to low heat. About 10 minutes for well done. Add Cheese a minute before the burger is done to your liking. Slice tomato, wash lettuce for garnish. Serve with French fries or a bag of chips.
It’s always great to have a juicy burger once in a while. I haven’t had a real good burger in London so I guess I took matters into my own hands. Sometimes I wonder am I really in London? I tend to still manage to have a American lifestyle while I’m here. I think overtime, I will start to become “British”. With this strong accent…yeah right! I promise I won’t go Madonna on you guys.
Thursday 10 June 2010
MUMBO GUMBO
It’s been pretty rainy and gloomy here in London. I guess it’s a good thing because I have tons of things I need to catch up on. Nothing really exciting happened the last few days that I can think of…..I got my new glasses. I love them…I think I’m going to wear them more often. I always been a contact lens kind of person. It’s nice to have options, nowadays glasses is a accessory trend that can make you look more sophisticated. And of course, it helps to appear smarter…I wonder why glasses have the connotation that if you wear them, than you are smart. Instead of thinking that glasses are really for people who are semi-blind!
Anyways, I didn’t know what to make for dinner today. I asked my husband what he wanted and he said "Chicken Gumbo". So, I came up with this:
Recipe of the Day: Chicken and Sausage Gumbo
Ingredients/Grocery List: Total Spent £8.51
2 Boneless Chicken Breast - £2.50
1 Package of Polish Kabanos (Smoked Sausage) - £1.49
3 Celery Sticks - £1.09
1 Green Pepper - £0.87
1 Medium Onion - £0.13
1 Can of Chopped Tomatoes - £0.87
1 small can of tomato puree - £0.25
2 tablespoon of Flour (had it already)
2 tablespoon of unsalted butter (had it already)
4 Chicken Stock Cubes - £0.63 (or 1 ¼ pint of chicken broth)
1 package of white rice (1 cup) (had it already)
Few springs of Fresh or Dry Thymes - £0.68
3 Bay Leaves (had it already)
Cayenne Pepper (had it already)
Crush Pepper (had it already)
Fresh ground Pepper (had it already)
Heat two tablespoon of olive oil in a medium pot. Add diced chicken breast and cook until it’s slightly browned. Then cut and add the smoked sausages. (cut about ¼" thick) Take a chicken stock cube and crush it over the chicken and sausage. Mix and Cook for three minutes. Now place the chicken and sausage in a bowl set aside. Add 2 tablespoon of unsalted butter. Once melted, add the chopped celery, diced peppers and onions. Add a few grinds of fresh ground peppers. Mix and cook until the veggies start to turn soft. If you like your gumbo spicy, go ahead and add a dash of Cayenne peppers, one tablespoon of hot sauce. (I also add a dash of crushed peppers) Mix for 1 minute and add the flour. Cook for 2 minutes. Now add the chicken broth, ( I desolved 3 stock cubes to a 1 ¼ pint of boiling water) and the bay leaves. Add the can of chopped tomatoes (drain half the juice then add) and a good four tablespoons of the tomato puree. Once it boils again, add the chicken and sausage. Cook on simmer for about 8-10 minutes. Keep mixing occasionally. Serve with cooked white rice. I like to throw green onions on top for garnish.
My husband absolutely loved this meal! I bet you it’s because he’s from St. Louis and they love thier Gumbo! Haha. I am happy I made this challenge because making my husband really happy about my cooking makes me overjoyed. He told me yesterday that is was his favorite meal that I made for the blog challenges so far. So I hope you all enjoy this one.
Anyways, I didn’t know what to make for dinner today. I asked my husband what he wanted and he said "Chicken Gumbo". So, I came up with this:
Recipe of the Day: Chicken and Sausage Gumbo
Ingredients/Grocery List: Total Spent £8.51
2 Boneless Chicken Breast - £2.50
1 Package of Polish Kabanos (Smoked Sausage) - £1.49
3 Celery Sticks - £1.09
1 Green Pepper - £0.87
1 Medium Onion - £0.13
1 Can of Chopped Tomatoes - £0.87
1 small can of tomato puree - £0.25
2 tablespoon of Flour (had it already)
2 tablespoon of unsalted butter (had it already)
4 Chicken Stock Cubes - £0.63 (or 1 ¼ pint of chicken broth)
1 package of white rice (1 cup) (had it already)
Few springs of Fresh or Dry Thymes - £0.68
3 Bay Leaves (had it already)
Cayenne Pepper (had it already)
Crush Pepper (had it already)
Fresh ground Pepper (had it already)
Heat two tablespoon of olive oil in a medium pot. Add diced chicken breast and cook until it’s slightly browned. Then cut and add the smoked sausages. (cut about ¼" thick) Take a chicken stock cube and crush it over the chicken and sausage. Mix and Cook for three minutes. Now place the chicken and sausage in a bowl set aside. Add 2 tablespoon of unsalted butter. Once melted, add the chopped celery, diced peppers and onions. Add a few grinds of fresh ground peppers. Mix and cook until the veggies start to turn soft. If you like your gumbo spicy, go ahead and add a dash of Cayenne peppers, one tablespoon of hot sauce. (I also add a dash of crushed peppers) Mix for 1 minute and add the flour. Cook for 2 minutes. Now add the chicken broth, ( I desolved 3 stock cubes to a 1 ¼ pint of boiling water) and the bay leaves. Add the can of chopped tomatoes (drain half the juice then add) and a good four tablespoons of the tomato puree. Once it boils again, add the chicken and sausage. Cook on simmer for about 8-10 minutes. Keep mixing occasionally. Serve with cooked white rice. I like to throw green onions on top for garnish.
My husband absolutely loved this meal! I bet you it’s because he’s from St. Louis and they love thier Gumbo! Haha. I am happy I made this challenge because making my husband really happy about my cooking makes me overjoyed. He told me yesterday that is was his favorite meal that I made for the blog challenges so far. So I hope you all enjoy this one.
Monday 7 June 2010
Spinach, Tomato and Shrimp...OH MY!
Being away from my family and friends in London, you can imagine how lonely I can get especially since I haven’t had a job to occupy my time. Hanging out with the husband 24/7 is great….but I have to meet new people. Today, I meet up with someone who is my mother-in-law’s friend's son’s girlfriend's sister. WOW. Yea totally random, but I’m glad I did it. She was awesome, super nice and brought me to a really cool lunch place called Abeno Too. Abeno Too is a Japanese Okonomiyaki Restaurant. What’s Okonomiyaki?…I was thinking the same thing before I went. Here’s a link to explain it : http://www.abeno.co.uk/about_okonomiyaki/index.html
After lunch, I went to my favorite pilates/yoga class. It helps me feel really relaxed. So today is Monday, I’m back to schedule and it’s time for my challenge.
Recipe of the Day: Spinach, Tomatoes and Shrimp with Pesto Linguine and Homemade Garlic Bread.
Ingredients/ Grocery List: Total Spent: £8.93
1 package of Cooked Shrimp - £3.49
1 package of spinach - £1.64
2 package of tomatoes on vine - 2 for £2.50
1 package of linguine (cooked 1/2 of the package..had it already)
1 garlic (had it already)
1 light pesto (had it already)
1 baguette - £0.45
1package of basil - £0.85
Parmanean Cheese (Optional) had it already
On Medium Heat, place a good amount of olive oil in a skillet. Add 3 cloves of minced garlic. Wash and add the spinach. Cook until it’s wilted and then add the shrimps. Then after 1 minute, throw in the diced tomatoes. (make sure you drain the juices) Lower the heat after it’s been cooking for about 5 minutes. Cook the linguine according to the package. Then spread a small amount, about 2 tablespoons, of pesto on the linguine.
Homemade Garlic Bread: Cut the baguette in half. Butter the bread, then take drizzle olive oil all over. Sprinkle Italian Seasoning and then spread 4 cloves of minced garlic all over the baguette. Place in Oven at 200 C for 10 minutes.
A very nice meal to end a Monday. Pastas are my favorite to make. They are quick, easy and deliciious. Hope you all enjoy this one!
After lunch, I went to my favorite pilates/yoga class. It helps me feel really relaxed. So today is Monday, I’m back to schedule and it’s time for my challenge.
Recipe of the Day: Spinach, Tomatoes and Shrimp with Pesto Linguine and Homemade Garlic Bread.
Ingredients/ Grocery List: Total Spent: £8.93
1 package of Cooked Shrimp - £3.49
1 package of spinach - £1.64
2 package of tomatoes on vine - 2 for £2.50
1 package of linguine (cooked 1/2 of the package..had it already)
1 garlic (had it already)
1 light pesto (had it already)
1 baguette - £0.45
1package of basil - £0.85
Parmanean Cheese (Optional) had it already
On Medium Heat, place a good amount of olive oil in a skillet. Add 3 cloves of minced garlic. Wash and add the spinach. Cook until it’s wilted and then add the shrimps. Then after 1 minute, throw in the diced tomatoes. (make sure you drain the juices) Lower the heat after it’s been cooking for about 5 minutes. Cook the linguine according to the package. Then spread a small amount, about 2 tablespoons, of pesto on the linguine.
Homemade Garlic Bread: Cut the baguette in half. Butter the bread, then take drizzle olive oil all over. Sprinkle Italian Seasoning and then spread 4 cloves of minced garlic all over the baguette. Place in Oven at 200 C for 10 minutes.
A very nice meal to end a Monday. Pastas are my favorite to make. They are quick, easy and deliciious. Hope you all enjoy this one!
Sunday 6 June 2010
Moroccan Melody Dinner
For the first time, since I moved to London, I finally felt settled in this weekend. On Friday, we went out to dinner at a nice local restaurant. It was decent meal for a decent price. Afterwards, we went to a place called the Big Chill to watch one of Will’s footy mates Dejaying. It was my first time there, and it was just off the famous Brick Lane. London’s weather was beautiful this weekend, so there were tons of people out. I arrived at the Big Chill and it was crowded with people in line to get in. Since we knew the DJ, we skipped the queue and walked right in. The music was upbeat and it was great to see so many British people having a good time. I really enjoyed my Friday night. It felt like I was finally “home”.
Saturday, Will and I got invited to a BBQ at one of Will’s friend's flats. We brought homemade tomato and mozzarella ball pesto salad and an enourmous bowl of fruit salad. I had a really good time and met some really cool people but I must admit, I miss my family BBQs. They are the best!
After a weekend of drinking and eating lots of meat, Will and I wanted to eat healthy. So we came up with……
Recipe of the Day: Veggie Moroccan Melody with Cous Cous and Pita and Hummus
Ingredients/Grocery List: Total Spent: £9.82
1 medium Eggplant - £1.18
4 medium tomatoes - £2.00
1 Yellow Pepper - £0.87
1 Red Pepper - £0.87
1meduim Onion - £0.15
1 can of Chickpeas - £0.69
1 package of Mushrooms - £0.46
1 small jar of Moroccan tagine paste - £1.75
1 Package of Cous Cous ( had it already)
2 Whole Wheat Pita - £0.40
Hummous - £1.45
Olive Oil
In a Saucepan, heat 2 tablespoon of olive oil at a medium temperature. Add the chopped onion. Cook for 2 minutes. Throw in peeled and chopped tomatoes with about 4 tablespoons of the Moroccan paste. Cook for 2 minutes and then lower the heat. Next add the chopped eggplant (or aubergines as they call them here!) and sliced mushrooms. Drain the canned chickpeas and add them to the saucepan. Cut the red and yellow peppers into thin strips and add to the saucepan. Cover and cook under a low heat for about 15 minutes. Stir occasionally. Cook the cous cous according to the package. Toast the pita in the toaster. Dinner is Served.
Saturday, Will and I got invited to a BBQ at one of Will’s friend's flats. We brought homemade tomato and mozzarella ball pesto salad and an enourmous bowl of fruit salad. I had a really good time and met some really cool people but I must admit, I miss my family BBQs. They are the best!
After a weekend of drinking and eating lots of meat, Will and I wanted to eat healthy. So we came up with……
Recipe of the Day: Veggie Moroccan Melody with Cous Cous and Pita and Hummus
Ingredients/Grocery List: Total Spent: £9.82
1 medium Eggplant - £1.18
4 medium tomatoes - £2.00
1 Yellow Pepper - £0.87
1 Red Pepper - £0.87
1meduim Onion - £0.15
1 can of Chickpeas - £0.69
1 package of Mushrooms - £0.46
1 small jar of Moroccan tagine paste - £1.75
1 Package of Cous Cous ( had it already)
2 Whole Wheat Pita - £0.40
Hummous - £1.45
Olive Oil
In a Saucepan, heat 2 tablespoon of olive oil at a medium temperature. Add the chopped onion. Cook for 2 minutes. Throw in peeled and chopped tomatoes with about 4 tablespoons of the Moroccan paste. Cook for 2 minutes and then lower the heat. Next add the chopped eggplant (or aubergines as they call them here!) and sliced mushrooms. Drain the canned chickpeas and add them to the saucepan. Cut the red and yellow peppers into thin strips and add to the saucepan. Cover and cook under a low heat for about 15 minutes. Stir occasionally. Cook the cous cous according to the package. Toast the pita in the toaster. Dinner is Served.
Thursday 3 June 2010
Chicken Fajitas and Homemade Guacamole
So the last couple of days I've had a visitor in town. Since I am home a lot searching for jobs and somewhat playing/pretending to be a house wife, having a visitor is the highlight of my day. I love playing host and it’s a good break from reality. It was surprisingly sunny in London yesterday and the weather is suppose to continue the shine all this week! I wish everyday was like this in London! Today, I’m going to venture out to a new small park and sit down and read a book. It’s rare that it’s this sunny, so I try to take full advantage of it. Now with all the visitors gone, I’m back to schedule. I have to start exercising, eating right and finish my errands that I’ve been delaying since last month!
Recipe of the Day: Chicken Fajitas and Homemade Guacamole
Ingredients/ Grocery List: Total Spent: 10.76 (over by .76p)
2 boneless chicken breast – £2.00
1 Whole Wheat Tortilla – £1.70
1 Red Pepper - £0.87
1 Green Pepper – £0.87
1 Medium Onion£ 0.14
1 package of Fajita Seasoning - £0.65
1 package of Mexican Rice – (had it already)
2 Medium Tomatoes on Vines – £0.56
1 package of shredded Cheddar Cheese (had it already)
Lettuce - £1.00
2 ripe Avocado - £2.67
1 Lime – £0.30
Fresh Ground Pepper
Sea Salt
Olive Oil
Hot Sauce (optional)
Salsa (optional)
First Preheat the oven for 200 C. Wrap 4 whole wheat tortilla shells in foil and place in oven for 10 minutes. Wash and cut the chicken breast into thin strips. On a skillet, place 1 tablespoon of Olive Oil on Medium Heat. Add Chicken and cook until it’s done. Now add the onion, peppers and fajita seasoning. (about ½ the package) If it dries out as it cooks add a tablespoon of water at a time, but make sure it’s not too watery. Cook themixture until the onion and peppers are semi soft. Cook the Mexican Rice according to the instructions onthe package. Dice one medium tomato and chop the lettuce for garnish.
For Guacamole: De-seed and Dice 1 medium size tomato. Peel and take out the pit of the avocados. Take a fork and crush the avocados until it’s a chunky paste. Add fresh ground pepper and salt. Squeeze the juice of one lime into the mashed avocado. Lastly, add the tomatoes and mix gently. Place it in the fridge until you are ready to serve.
Having a Fajita night is always fun. You can talior it to your taste buds. My husband and I enjoy assembling the fajitas. We were so hungry that we forgot to take a picture of the food before we scarfed it down our throats! Although I didn't meet my challenge today, it was a very delicious meal.
Recipe of the Day: Chicken Fajitas and Homemade Guacamole
Ingredients/ Grocery List: Total Spent: 10.76 (over by .76p)
2 boneless chicken breast – £2.00
1 Whole Wheat Tortilla – £1.70
1 Red Pepper - £0.87
1 Green Pepper – £0.87
1 Medium Onion£ 0.14
1 package of Fajita Seasoning - £0.65
1 package of Mexican Rice – (had it already)
2 Medium Tomatoes on Vines – £0.56
1 package of shredded Cheddar Cheese (had it already)
Lettuce - £1.00
2 ripe Avocado - £2.67
1 Lime – £0.30
Fresh Ground Pepper
Sea Salt
Olive Oil
Hot Sauce (optional)
Salsa (optional)
First Preheat the oven for 200 C. Wrap 4 whole wheat tortilla shells in foil and place in oven for 10 minutes. Wash and cut the chicken breast into thin strips. On a skillet, place 1 tablespoon of Olive Oil on Medium Heat. Add Chicken and cook until it’s done. Now add the onion, peppers and fajita seasoning. (about ½ the package) If it dries out as it cooks add a tablespoon of water at a time, but make sure it’s not too watery. Cook themixture until the onion and peppers are semi soft. Cook the Mexican Rice according to the instructions onthe package. Dice one medium tomato and chop the lettuce for garnish.
For Guacamole: De-seed and Dice 1 medium size tomato. Peel and take out the pit of the avocados. Take a fork and crush the avocados until it’s a chunky paste. Add fresh ground pepper and salt. Squeeze the juice of one lime into the mashed avocado. Lastly, add the tomatoes and mix gently. Place it in the fridge until you are ready to serve.
Having a Fajita night is always fun. You can talior it to your taste buds. My husband and I enjoy assembling the fajitas. We were so hungry that we forgot to take a picture of the food before we scarfed it down our throats! Although I didn't meet my challenge today, it was a very delicious meal.
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