Category: Main Courses

Jovina cooks: Easy fish fillets

kaitiscotland2 Comments
Photo by Deane Bayas on Pexels.com

Parmesan Crusted Fish Fillets

Ingredients

1 lb grouper or other white fish fillets, about 1 lb

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon paprika

3/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking spray

Directions

Coat a 13×9 inch baking dish with the cooking spray. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Combine the mayonnaise, mustard and paprika in a small bowl.

Cut the fish into serving pieces,. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place the fish in the baking dish. Spread half the mayonnaise mixture over the fillets. Sprinkle half the cheese over the fish and press it into the fish. Turn the fish over and spread with the remaining mayonnaise and cheese.

Bake the fish for 15-20 minutes. Serve with green beans or other green vegetable and butter.

My comment: Another trick you can use with mayonnaise is to put it on meat that you are going to barbeque. Apparently it stops the meat from sticking to the grill but does not affect the taste of the meat. This tip is from India Knight of The Times.

Gail’s Easy Chicken Curry

kaitiscotland1 Comment
Photo by Mumtahina Tanni on Pexels.com

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Equal Measures: Coconut Curry Chicken! Every once in awhile you cross paths with someone who offers a product to enhance a food blog. Antonio @seasonalityspices offered me a free sample of handcrafted organic Indian Curry. Instantly, I knew the dish I would prepare. One bite of mild and spicy chicken, enhanced with the creamy flavor of organic coconut, is all it took to turn ordinary chicken into a flavorful obsession. Don’t mind if I do. Thanks, Antonio.

COCONUT CURRY CHICKEN

Ingredients:

1 cup water

1 1/4 cup sweet rice – not for low carbers!

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon vegetable oil or preferably butter

1 pound chicken tenders, cut into bite-size pieces

1/2 cup yellow onion, chopped

2 teaspoons curry powder

3/4 teaspoon sea salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

13.5-ounce can organic coconut milk

2 tablespoons tomato paste

1 cup sun-dried tomatoes in olive oil, chopped

Cilantro, for garnish aka Coriander

Instructions:

Combine water, sweet rice, and olive oil. Cook in a rice cooker according to directions. (Package rice may be substituted on a stovetop.) In a large skillet, warm vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Sauté chicken and onion until chicken is no longer pink and onions are transparent. Sprinkle chicken mixture with curry powder, sea salt, and black pepper. Stir in organic coconut milk and tomato paste. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer and cook 5 minutes or until thickened. Add sun-dried tomatoes. Cook 2-3 minutes longer. Serve with sticky rice. Garnish with fresh cilantro.

My comments: Of course for low carbers don’t use rice rice, use cauliflower rice or any non-starchy vegetable accompaniment.

Thank you very much Gail for this easy, tasty recipe. There are more at snapshotsincursive: interesting stories about everyday moments.

Craving Zone: Tuscan Chicken

kaitiscotland3 Comments

This is a delicious American Italian recipe

Prep time is 10 minutes

Cooking time is 30 minutes

Serves 4

Ingredients for chicken

200g boneless chicken breast

half teaspoon each of salt, black pepper and garlic powder

1 tablespoon of olive oil and 2 of butter for grilling

1 tablespoon of chopped garlic

for the creamy sauce:

1 tablespoon butter

1 tablespoon chopped garlic

1 teaspoon of green chillies chopped

half a litre of double cream

1 chicken stock cube or small amount of chicken stock

half a teaspoon of chilli flakes

1 teaspoon mixed herbs

For vegetables:

7 medium mushrooms

5 tablespoons boiled spinach chopped

half a cup of tomato chopped

(or use what you have in the fridge!)

to garnish:

half a cup of mozzarella cheese grated

quarter cup of parmesan cheese grated

1 teaspoon oregano

To make:

season the chicken with salt, black pepper and garlic powder.

Saute each side in olive oil and butter mixture with chopped garlic till cooked. Set aside.

Saute the chopped garlic and green chillies in the same pan.

Then add the cream and mixed herbs, chicken stock cube or liquid, and chilli flakes and simmer gently till it thickens.

Now add back in the chicken pieces, juices that they have been sitting in, and chopped vegetables till they are tender.

Sprinkle oregano, mozzarella and parmesan till just melted and serve immediately with salad, cauliflower rice or on its own.

Low carb store: Aubergine bake

kaitiscotland5 Comments

AUBERGINE BAKE

INGREDIENTS
2 shallots, peeled & chopped
100g mushrooms, sliced
2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
2 large tomatoes, thinly sliced
1 aubergine
1 tin chopped tomatoes (400g)
2 tbsp fresh basil leaves, torn
Sea salt & black pepper
3 tbsp olive oil
1 mozzarella ball, roughly chopped
100g strong cheddar, grated

CREATE IT
1. Heat 1tbsp of olive oil in a large frying pan and soften the shallots over medium heat.
2. Add the mushroom and cook until beginning to soften (use more oil if needed).
3. Add the garlic and cook for a further 1 minute.
4. Drain most of the liquid from the tinned tomatoes and add to the pan with a pinch of salt and pepper, keep on a low heat whilst you cook the aubergine.
5. Slice the aubergine into rounds about 1/2cm thick and use the remaining olive oil to brush each side.
6. Cook the aubergine in batches in a hot griddle pan to soften and colour, turning half way through (2-3 minutes each side). Place on a plate to uselater.
7. Take an oven dish and add a layer of the tomato sauce to just cover the base.
8. Layer half the aubergine on the sauce and top with the tomato slices.
9. Scatter the chopped mozzarella on the tomatoes.
10. Use the remaining aubergine to add another layer.
11. Stir the basil through the remaining tomato sauce and pour over the aubergine.
12. Top with the grated cheddar cheese.
13. Place in a pre-heated oven on medium heat for 30-40 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbling.
14. Serve with a fresh green salad.

Jovina cooks Italian: Shrimp Saltibocca

kaitiscotland2 Comments

My comment: this dish can also be cooked on the barbeque as long as you oil the shrimp first.

Shrimp Wrapped in Prosciutto di Parma (Saltibocca)
2 servings
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
12 fresh sage leaves
12 large shrimp, peeled, deveined, and tails removed
6 pieces Prosciutto di Parma, sliced very thin
Coarsely ground fresh black pepper
Directions

Cut each piece of prosciutto in half, lengthwise. Place a sage leaf on each shrimp. Wrap one Proscuitto half around each shrimp. Refrigerate for a few hours if you have time.

Heat a stovetop grill. Coat the pan with olive oil. Place the wrapped shrimp on the grill and cook for about 4 minutes on each side. The prosciutto will get crispy. Sprinkle with the black pepper and remove to a serving plate.

Emma Porter: Cheesy bread pizza base

kaitiscotland5 Comments

Emma has more recipes at http://www.thelowcarbkitchen.co.uk and is the co-author with Dr David Cavans of “Type 2 Diabetes Low Carb Recipes” which is available at bookshops and Amazon.

As promised this is Emma’s recipe for a cheesy bread recipe that can be eaten on its own or used as a pizza base. You can watch her make this on the PHC conference 2020 on You tube.  The recipe is at the end of the video and also here.

Ingredients:

180g grated mozzarella (150g for the dough and 30g to put on the top at the end)

3 garlic cloves

75g ground almonds

3 tablespoons Greek Yoghurt

Some fresh parsley

one teaspoon garlic powder (optional)

olive oil

salt

butter

one teaspoon baking powder

 Method: 

Preheat your oven to 180 degrees

Fry the finely chopped garlic cloves in olive oil.

Then add the 150g mozzarella gradually to melt it a bit.

Take it off the heat and start making your dough.

Add a little salt, 3/4 of the parsley, yoghurt, one teaspoon garlic powder (optional for more garlicky tasting base) and  baking powder. Mix thoroughly.

Now add in your almonds, and beaten egg and form the dough.

Form a ball then roll this out on a sheet of greaseproof paper or baking parchment or silicone liner.

Form into a rectangle, oval or circle according to your plans.

Bake for only 5 minutes.

Now take out and add the rest of the cheese and parsley for the cheesy bread.

If this is your aim put it back in the oven for another 5 minutes. Then take it out and eat.

If you would like to make a pizza,  don’t add the extra cheese topping after 5 minutes. Keep the dough in the oven for the full ten minutes. Once it is fully cooked, add the toppings such as cheese, THEN passata or tomato puree, more  cheese and then whatever you fancy/have available such as  mushrooms, ham, prawns, or peppers and then put it back in the oven for 5 minutes. Passata directly on the base can make the pizza a bit soggy in the middle.

You are then ready for your pizza or cheesy bread.

 

 

 

Public Health Collaboration conference online a great success

kaitiscotland5 Comments

The Public Health collaboration online conference 2020  was very successful.  The videos are available on You Tube for free making the conference even more accessible for everyone who needs advice on what to eat to stay healthy.

If you are able to contribute to the PHC fund to keep up our good work please do so. Sam Feltham has suggested £2.00.  This is via the PHC site.

This year there were contributions from mainly the UK but also the USA.

Visitors to this site will be very pleased to know that keeping your weight in the normal range, keeping your blood sugars tightly controlled, keeping your vitamin D levels up, and keeping fit from activity and exercise, are all important factors in having a good result if you are unfortunate enough to be affected by Covid-19. We have been promoting these factors in our book and website for several years now, mainly with the view to making life more enjoyable, especially for people with diabetes, now and in the future. The reduction in the severity  to the effects of   coronavirus is a side effect of these healthy living practices.

Several talks went into the factors and reasons for this, but in a nutshell, if you are in a pro-inflammatory state already, you will have a much more pronounced cytokine inflammatory response to the virus than is useful for clearing the virus, and you end up with inflammed lung tissue which leaks fluid thereby impairing your blood oxygen levels.

A talk that I found particularly apt was the talk from a GP who had had a heart attack at the age of 44 despite a lack of risk factors except for massive stress. He gives a list of self care practices that helped him. I would also include playing with your animals. Emma and I are cat lovers and can vouch for this!

My talk is about VR Fitness, which was the only talk this year which was specifically exercise related. The Oculus Quest has only been out a year and has been sold out since shortly after New Year. I was fortunate enough to buy one in anticipation of my imminent retirement, and it has been great as an exercise tool over the long, cold, dark winter and more useful than I had ever anticipated over the lockdown as a social tool.

There were several very professional cooking and baking demonstrations on the conference this year, and indeed, this could not have otherwise happened on a traditional stage format.  We had low carb “rice”, bread, pancakes and pizza demonstrations which may well help you if you prefer to see how it is done step by step or if you want to broaden your repertoire.

I was particularly taken with the pizza base idea from Emma Porter and I will follow up with this in a later post.  The whole video is available from the PHC  site which takes you to all the videos on You Tube.

 

 

 

Jovina cooks South African: Piri-piri chicken and cucumber sambal

kaitiscotland1 Comment

Piri-Piri Chicken with Piri-Piri Sauce
Piri-Piri (sometimes spelled peri-peri) is Swahili for ‘pepper pepper’, or ‘strong pepper’ and refers to an African-style chili sauce. Piri-Piri Chicken is marinated in a hot chile pepper marinade, then grilled. This dish evolved in Angola and Mozambique (once Portuguese colonies) after Portuguese explorers and settlers brought American chili peppers to Africa.
The most basic piri-piri marinade recipe calls for just oil, cayenne pepper or minced fresh hot chile peppers, and salt. Many piri-piri recipes add an acidic liquid (usually lemon or lime juice, or vinegar, or possibly wine or liquor) which adds a tang and tenderizes the chicken. More elaborate versions also include additional flavorings and spices.
This recipe makes quite a bit and since I cook for two most days, I cut the recipe in half. This dish is delicious and the chicken turns out quite tender and juicy. The sauce has a bit of a kick but not overly spicy.
6-8 servings
Ingredients
4 lb chicken cut into parts or 4 lbs of your favorite chicken parts, about 8 pieces.
Peri Peri Marinade
3 red chilies (reduce for less heat or remove seeds), finely chopped or use 2 tablespoons red chili paste
1 green chili, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped
1 small red onion, finely chopped
1 red bell pepper, finely chopped
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon of sea salt
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro or parsley
3 tablespoons vegetable oil or olive oil
Peri Peri Sauce
3 tablespoons reserved marinade
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons sugar
Directions
Combine all marinade ingredients in a bowl large enough to hold all the chicken parts and blend well.

Reserve 3 tablespoons of the marinade in a small storage container and the coat the chicken with the remaining marinade. Cover and refrigerate 4 hours to overnight.

Heat an outdoor grill or stovetop grill pan.
For the Piri-Piri Sauce
Add reserved marinade, water, and sugar to a small saucepan and bring to boil. Cook for 2 minutes, remove from the heat and keep warm.
To cook the chicken
Place chicken bone side down on the grill. Cook for 10 minutes. Turn chicken over and cook for 25-30 minutes. Turn chicken over once more and grill for another 5 minutes. Remove the chicken to a serving platter and drizzle the sauce over the grilled chicken.

African Cucumber Sambal
Ingredients
2 medium garlic cloves, minced
1 shallot, minced
1/2 green chili (jalapeno pepper), minced
1 teaspoon sugar or natural sweetener (honey, agave nectar, etc.)
1 (2-inch) piece of ginger, peeled and grated
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
2 mint leaves, minced
1 large cucumber, peeled, seeded, quartered and thinly sliced
Directions
Combine all of the ingredients in a mixing bowl. Stir and toss well to cover.

Cover and let sit at room temperature for at least 1 hour before serving.
The Sambal will store up to 4 days refrigerated in a tightly covered container.

 

Jovina cooks Russian: Beef Stroganoff

kaitiscotland3 Comments

Beef Stroganoff
Serves 4 (or servings for 2 in parenthesis)
Ingredients
1 (1/2) pound filet mignon or mignon tips (cut into 2 inches long and 1/4 inch wide)
3 ( 1 1/2) tablespoons butter
1 ( 1/2) sweet onion, finely chopped
1/2 ( 1/4) cup beef broth
1 (1/2) tablespoons Dijon mustard
1/4 ( 2 T) cup heavy cream
1/2 ( 1/4) cup sour cream
2 ( 1 ) teaspoons flour
2 (1) tablespoons minced fresh dill
2 (1) tablespoons minced parsley
Salt and freshly grounded black pepper

Directions

Heat a large non-stick skillet over high heat and sear meat on all sides, for about a minute. Work in small batches so the meat does not give off any liquid. Remove to a plate.

Add the butter and onions and saute until tender.

Blend broth, flour, mustard, heavy cream, and sour cream together. Lower heat, add the liquid mixture, and simmer, without boiling until sauce thickens about 5 minutes.
Return meat to the sauce and heat, without boiling until meat is warmed through. Season to taste with salt and pepper; stir in dill and parsley.

Beef Stroganoff is traditionally served with noodles. Rice  is also used and low carbers can make cauliflower rice as an option.

Jovina cooks: Moroccan spiced chicken

kaitiscotland5 Comments

Spices are very important in Moroccan cuisine. Common spices include cinnamon, cumin, turmeric, ginger, paprika, coriander, saffron, mace, cloves, fennel, anise, nutmeg, cayenne pepper, fenugreek, caraway, black pepper, and sesame seeds. Twenty-seven spices are combined for the famous Moroccan spice mixture called “ras el hanout”.
Due to its location on the Mediterranean Sea, the country is rich in natural resources and meals are usually built around seafood, lamb or poultry. The Moroccan national dish is a tagine or stew named for a special pot that is used for cooking. Common ingredients include chicken or lamb, almonds, hard-boiled eggs, prunes, lemons, tomatoes, and other vegetables. The tajine, like other Moroccan dishes, is known for its distinctive flavoring, which comes from spices that may include saffron, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, ginger, and ground red pepper. Give this Moroccan inspired recipe a try.
Moroccan Spiced Chicken
Ingredients
1 tablespoon chili paste (harissa or sambal oelek)
1/2 tablespoon smoked paprika
1/2 tablespoon ground turmeric
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon cardamom
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
1 orange, zested, then cut into segments
2 tablespoons oil
4 bone-in chicken thighs
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 small onion, diced
1/2 cup diced cherry tomatoes
1/2 cup chicken stock
1/2 cup green olives
1/4 cup chopped preserved lemon

 

This is traditionally served with couscous.

Directions
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Heat a wide, deep braising pan over medium-high heat.
In a small bowl, combine the chili paste, paprika, turmeric, cumin, ginger, cinnamon, coriander, allspice, cardamom, cayenne, orange zest, and 1 tablespoon oil. Stir to form a paste.
Season the chicken with salt and pepper; rub half of the spice mixture on both sides of the chicken thighs.

Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil to the heated pan. Sear the chicken skin-side down until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Turn and brown the other side. Remove the chicken to a plate.

Add the garlic, onion and remaining spice mixture to the same pan, using a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Reduce the heat to medium and cook until the onions are softened and lightly browned, about 5 minutes.

Return the chicken to the pan along with the tomatoes, chicken stock, olives, preserved lemon, and sliced oranges. Cover the pan and place it in the oven to braise for about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Uncover and continue to braise until the chicken is tender, another 15 to 20 minutes.