Sunday 26 February 2012

Warm me up Curry - Spicy sweet potato and coconut


 
There's nothing like a nice spicy curry to warm you up when you get home in the evening. You don't have to run down to the local Chinese or Indian to get a curry, here is a recipe that is absolutely delicious and takes less than 20 mins to make. Save money and eat at home!!



You will need


  • 1 tbsp sunflower oil
  • 2 tsp of curry paste
  • 2 large chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
  • 2 sweet potatoes - peeled and   cut into bite-size pieces
  • 4 tbsp red lentils (if you don't have these handy you can leave them out)
  • 300ml chicken stock
  • 1 can of coconut milk
  • 175g bag of frozen peas
2 Simple steps to prepare

1. Heat the oil in a deep frying pan or wok, stir in the curry paste and fry for 1 minute. Add the chicken, sweet potatoes and lentils and stir until coated in paste, then pour in the stock and coconut milk. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 15 minutes.

2. Tip in the peas, bring back to the boil and simmer for a further 4-5 minutes. Season to taste before serving.


TIP: If your cooking for a few people of feeling extra peckish throw on some boil in the bag rice or heat up some naan bread to accompany the dish.

Add some chopped chili or dried chili flakes for extra spice!

Need more help.. watch this Video


The lazy chef on Twitter


Saturday 25 February 2012

Hey followers, 


Here is a recipe for chocolate chip cookies, they are the tastiest cookies ever, perfect with a cup of tea when you get home from the library!! 

You Will Need


125g/4oz butter

50g/2oz brown sugar
1 egg, beaten
150g/5oz self-raising flour
125g/4oz plain dark chocolate and milk chocolate, finely chopped

Method

Preheat the oven to 180C (350F - Gas 4).
Lightly grease a baking sheet.
Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
Beat the egg, sift in the flour, and then add the chocolate pieces and mix thoroughly.
Put 25 teaspoonfuls of the mixture, slightly apart, on the baking sheet and bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes until golden brown.(you don't need to make the mixture into biscuit shapes, leave the mixture in a small pile and they will flatten in the over)
Leave the cookies on a baking sheet for 1 minute, then transfer onto a wire rack and leave to cool.

Sunday 19 February 2012

Pan Cake Tuesday = Cake Week

So this Tuesday is Pancake Tuesday, I say why only have one day of sweet things, you might as well make a week out of it. Keep an eye on the blog for some tasty treats!! I'm going to start off with a Banoffee Pie!


Banoffee Pie


  • Toffee
  • 1 tin of condensed milk

  • Base
  • 350g of digestives or biscuits of your choice
  • 150g of butter, melted
  • 1 (284ml) pot of double cream
  • 3 bananas, sliced


Method


Monday 13 February 2012

Fine Dining In Cork

Despite being pro cooking your own food, I am going to give ye a few recommendations for restaurants, it being Valentines this week and all, maybe you would like to treat you significant/insignificant other! These are just some that I have visited and have been really inpressed but if you have any more suggestions please leave a comment.

Isaacs

You can always rely on the food in Isaacs being top quality and absolulty mouth watering, it caters for the fussy eaters to the adventurous. Its a popular spot so I would recommend booking ahead, especially if your going to go there on valentines.
monday – Saturday

Coffee: 10am – 12.30pm
Lunch: 12.30pm – 2.30pm
Dinner: 6pm – 10 pm

                                                48 MacCurtain Street, Cork City
                                                     Tel: +353 (0)21 450 3805


Luigi Malones

Absolutley love this place, their food is always delicious and they give massive portions so you wont be leaving the place hungry. They have a well stocked bar as well if your going to be hitting the sauce over dinner. Its pretty big inside so you could chance walking in off the street but you can find the number below incase you would prefer to play it safe.

Emmet Place, Cork
 t: +353 21 427 88 77
    
Liberty Grill

I'm sure everyone is aware at this stage that liberty grill is just the bomb. Their food is extermely good quality and is never short on flavor. They are big into their gourmet burgers so if that tickles your fancy your on to a winner. Their wont be a crum left on your plate. Definitely book this if you plan on going their for valentines. They also do an epic breakfast menu if you don't make it there valentines night!
                                                   
                                                      32 Washington Street  Cork, Co. Cork
                                                       021 427 1049


 Tony's Bistro

They don't do evening meals but they do a cracking all day breakfast, its not all they do, there are other options on the menu but its what it is famous for. Its particularly tasty if you've had one too many the night before and bowl of dried cardboard cereal just wont fill the gap. Its next to mad for those of ye who dont know where it is. Yum!

Saturday 11 February 2012

Valentines Dinner

With Valentines day falling this week I am going to give you a recipe that wont fail to impress, whether its the guy or the girl doing the cooking this looks like you made a serious amount of effort when it actually couldn't be easier!

So while all the couples are off enjoying their romantic dinner there's speed dating in the Old Bar UCC for the singletons! 





Spicy Pasta

You will need

  • Olive Oil
  • 4 Fresh, Ripe tomatoes, peeled and roughly chopped (or use one tin of chopped tomatoes)
  • 2 cloves of garlic, crushed
  • 1 tsp of dried rosemary
  • sugar
  • 1 length of Chorizo sausage
  • Dried Chili Flakes
  • 100 mls of cream
  • Some grated cheese - preferably Parmesan
  • Penne or spaghetti pasta (quantity of your choice)
Method
  1. Heat the olive oil in a saucepan and add the chopped tomatoes, garlic and rosemary. season with salt, pepper and add a pinch of sugar. cook for about 5 mins until the tomatoes soften.
  2. Add the chorizo to the pan and the chili flakes, then add the cream, allow to simmer with the lid off until the mixture has reduced. This should take about 15 mins, don't forget to stir frequently.
  3. remove from heat and season to taste, adding more chili, salt pepper if needed.
  4. Meanwhile cook the pasta in a large pan of salted boiling water, this should take about 10 mins to cook.
  5. Once cooked, drain and combine with the sauce and serve.



To really impress throw some garlic bread in the oven and serve with it.

Come back tomorrow for more meal and dessert recipes!





Friday 10 February 2012

Looking for a recipe?

Hey ladies and gents,


Here are some great sites if you looking for some more easy recipes...

For the cream cheese lovers...
http://www.philadelphia.co.uk




For those seeking inspiration...




For the health conscious...


For the bakers out there...

Thursday 9 February 2012

Easy Vol au Vents

Hey Guys,


Today I'm going to give ye a really easy to prepare recipe for Vol au Vents, their really tasty and couldn't be easier to make, they are great if you just want to make something quick and easy for dinner and their a great idea if your making dinner for a big group of people.


As this is the lazy chef, we are going to take the east way out and but those froze vol au vent cases, they are available in most shops so you wont even have to go to the supermarket to pick them up.

You will need

  • Frozen Vol au Vent Cases
  • A glass of milk (for brushing the frozen cases, this will give them a lovely golden glow when they come out of the oven)
  • 1 Packet of rashers.
  • Half an onion
  • 5 Mushrooms
  • 5 Tablespoons of Philadelphia (low fat or full fat, Your choice)
Method
  1. Pre heat the oven to 200 Degrees.
  2. Remove as many of the Vol Au Vent cases you need.
  3. Brush or dip the top of the cases with milk.
  4. Place in the oven for 15 mins.
While they are cooking, make your filling.

  1. Chop the onions mushrooms and rashers.
  2. Place all the chopper ingredients in an oiled frying pan.
  3. Fry for 4-5 minutes until the rashers are cooked and the onions and mushrooms have softened.
  4. Add the Philadelphia and stir until melted and fully combined with the other ingredients
  5. Season to taste
  6. Remove the cases from the oven and spoon the contents of the frying pan into the hollow spaces of the vol au vent cases
Hey Presto, Dinner Time.