ZAR- RECIPE - Something yummy for the weekend!

There is no better way to get flavour into your food than with spices (and herbs) - it is "free" flavour in terms of calories.    If you don't like your food too hot, there are plenty of other spices to play around with but learn to embrace it, it will make a big difference in your life.
 
This is so easy and the best thing about it is that it freezes really well into individual portions.   It is worth making up the whole recipe and freezing each portion.   Then there's something healthy in the house to defrost for dinner.
 
Harissa Chicken
 
1 tsp olive oil
1.5 tbsp grated fresh ginger (or from the jar)
1.5 tbsp ground cumin
1.5 tbsp ground coriander
1.25 tsp mild curry powder
0.75 tsp smoked paprika
0.5 tsp ground cloves
1.5 tsp ground cinnamon
1.5 tsp ground turmeric
1.5 tsp caster sugar
1 tbsp harissa (available in delis or good supermarkets)
1 tsp sundried tomato paste
2 red onions peeled, halved and thinly sliced
3 garlic cloves, grated
3 bay leaves, fresh or dried
6 chicken thighs, skin on, on the bone
 
Serve with lemon wedges and a salad including coriander leaves.

In a bowl, combine all the ingredients except the chicken.
If freezing straight away, put each chicken thigh portion in a ziplock bag and spoon on one-sixth of the onion mix. Close up and freeze.
If cooking straight away, place the chicken portions in an ovenproof dish and spoon on the onion mix. Cook in a pre-heated oven (190 degrees) for 40 mins.
If cooking in individual portion it will probably take about 30 mins.
I recommend cooking the chicken with the skin on and the taking it off when it's on the plate - it really makes it even more succulent.
Carbs 7g, Protein 58g, Fat 22g per serve - this is high in fat but it's worth using thighs for this and eating low fat for the rest of the day! Of course if you want to, use chicken breast.
Enjoy!

ZAR - 1st yummy healthy recipe for you...

I'm having a couple of girlfriends over for supper on Fri eve, I want something healthy, but easy. I turn to Gordon Ramsay's Healthy Appetite - I love this book. It has so many great healthy, easy ideas and employs the philosophy I love - simple, fresh and delicious. I'm going to make lamb kebabs and serve them with a salad.

For 4 people
500g lean lamb leg steaks (I'm using lamb fillet - you can ask your butcher to recommend a cut)
1 red capsicum (pepper)
1 yellow capsicum (pepper)
8 button mushrooms
8 cherry tomatoes

Herb Paste
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
2 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped/grated
1/2 tsp each dried oregano, mint, thyme, tarragon
1/4 tsp dried rosemary (I'm using fresh because I have some)
dash olive oil
salt and pepper

Cut the lamb into 2.5cm cubes. Combine all ingredients for herb paste in a bowl and mix in the lamb to coat. Cover with cling film and refrigerate overnight (or at least a few hours). You can also freeze the lamb at this point as I am doing. Soak 8 bamboo skewers in water for about half an hour. Cut the peppers in half and core and deseed. Cut into 2.5cm pieces. Thread skewers alternating with lamb and peppers and include 1 tomato and mushroom on each skewer. Preheat bbq or griddle pan. Cook skewers for 2-3 mins each side, leave to rest for a couple of mins and serve.

I'm making a salad with mixed leaves, beetroot, cherry tomatoes, green beans and fetta.

I'm also going to serve mini pavlovas with a mixture of cream and Greek yoghurt and mixed berries for after - yum-o!! A little bit of something naughty once in a while doesn't do anyone any harm......

Enjoy!!

ZAR x