Spicy Chicken Pizza

Friendship Food

Friendship food is food that cheers you up and food that you can share. Pizza is perfect friendship food, definitely not for a Bridget Jones lonely moment.  This pizza is gooey, but much lower in fat and salt then the average pizza, especially lower than those in Pizza chains.  I decided to make my own spicy tomato sauce and added elements that just make pizza perfection.

Ingredients:

450g strong white bread flour, 1tsp salt, 1 tsp, caster sugar, 2 x 7g sachets of super fast action dried yeast, 300ml warm water, 3tbsps oil, 2tbsps garlic granules, 400g passata, 1/2 tbsp mixed herbs, 1/2tbsp oregano, 1/2tbsp basil, 3 chicken breasts (washed, prepared and chopped into small pieces), 1 red pepper (washed, deseeded and chopped into small pieces), 1 red onion (washed and chopped into small pieces), 2tsps paprika, 3tsps cayenne chili pepper,  1tsp black pepper, hot pepper sauce, 250g low fat grated cheddar cheese, 2 spring onions (washed and chopped into small pieces).

Method:

1. Sift flour and salt into a large bowl.
2. Add sugar, yeast, water, garlic granules and oil.
3. Work into a soft dough, if it is too sticky add flour, it is is too dry add water.
4. Knead the dough for 18 minutes on a floured flat surface.
5. Put the dough in a bowl and cover with a wet tea towel.
6. Leave to double in size in a warm place for an hour.
7. During this time fry the chicken in the oil until it is browned and cooked all the way through.
8. Chop up the vegetables and put them to the side.
9. Heat up the passata in a pan and add the herbs and spices. Keep stirring till heated through.
10. After the dough has risen knead again for 2 minutes.
11. Roll out the dough and leave to rise for 10 minutes on a lightly oiled tray.
12. After 10 minutes spread the sauce on the dough.
12. Top the pizza as you like with all of the ingredients except the spring onions and hot pepper sauce.
13. Pre heat the oven to 230 degrees C / Gas mark 6
14. Bake for 17 minutes.
15. Sprinkle on the spring onions and drizzle on the hot pepper sauce.
16. Cook for 5 more minutes.

Coronation Sandwich

Jubilee

I wasn't really up for having a neighbourhood picnic to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. However I was up for making some jubilee inspired food.  Apparently I created one of the best sandwiches ever! It was a pretty epic story.  I lost the recipe so I had to make it up on the spot.  I remembered mayonnaise and curry powder were the main ingredients which accompanied the chicken, the rest was up to me. 



Ingredients:

2 chicken breasts (washed and chopped into small pieces), 1tbsp sunflower oil, a handful of raisins, 2tsps curry powder, 2sps mayonnaise, 1tsp tomato chutney, 2 slices of bread.

Method:

1. Fry the pieces of chicken breasts in the oil until they are browned and cooked all the way through.
2. Mix the chicken pieces in the bowl with the other ingredients.
3. Put the chicken mix in the sandwich and enjoy.

Salmon and Vegetable Cream Cheese

Getting creative

I love bagels and occasionally I get a nice bagel from bagel nash with a few girlfriends.  I was inspired to challenge myself to make a better bagel combination than the classic smoked salmon and cream cheese.  I definitely think they should put my version on the menu.  It's low fat and has a more interesting texture.

Ingredients:

Bagels of your choice ( I chose sesame seed), 50g low fat cream cheese, 2 spring onions (chopped and washed), 1 small carrot (washed and finely chopped), 1 radish (washed peeled and finely chopped), 1/2 tbsp chive, 1 pinch of black pepper.

Method:

1. Cut the bagel in half.

2. Mix all the vegetables in the cream cheese and spread over the bagels.

Raspberry Banana Smoothie

Love Smoothies!

Never say you can't be bothered to eat fruit over a packet of crisps when you have the option to make smoothies.  They are so much more filling and give you a massive energy boost. Plus they are so refreshing, perfect for summer weather.

Ingredients:

A handful of raspberries, 2 dollops of plain yoghurt, 1tbsp flaxseed, 1 medium banana.

Method:

1. Mash it up in a blender and enjoy.
2. If it's too thick for you add more yoghurt or better still eat it with a spoon.

Saffy's Alternative

You can also use milk instead of yoghurt.

Heinz Creamy Chicken Pie

Sick Days

The best ways to recover from sick days involve drinking lots of fluids and eating lots of chicken.  I decided I would make this simple chicken pie to assist in my speedy recovery from a sore throat.  It is packed full of protein and much more fulfilling than Heinz tinned chicken soup.  The recipe was adapted from the back of a soup can. 

Ingredients:

4 washed and prepared diced chicken breasts, 2tbsps olive oil, 2 leeks (washed and chopped), 250g button mushrooms (Washed and chopped), 1 can of Heinz cream of chicken soup, black pepper, 4 - 5 sheets of filo pastry, egg whites from one egg.

Method:

1. Brown chicken in oil.
2. Add the leeks and the mushrooms in the pan and cook until soft.
3. Pour in the soup and season with black pepper. Pre heat the oven to 180 degrees C / Gas mark 5
4. Pour in an oven proof dish and cover with filo pastry sheets, brushing with egg whites per layer.
5. Cover the chicken with the sheets.
6. Bake for 25 minutes until the pastry is golden and crisp.

* Serve with any type of hot sauce to help with a sore throat.

Banana Cinnamon Pancakes

Good Morning World!

My favourite meal of the day is breakfast.  I wanted to practise pancake making so I made some delicious banana cinnamon style pancakes.  Served with a dollop of ice cream, banana and maple syrup these are just gorgeous.  As usual I had to create another healthier option with plain yoghurt and a plain pancake, but I was given enough pleasure in knowing that these went down a treat.  I remember my pancakes used to be disasters, but now I'm flipping my batter like a pro :)

Simple Plain Pancakes

Ingredients:

125g plain flour, pinch of salt, 250ml skimmed milk, 1tbsp melted butter, sunflower oil for frying.

Method:

1. Sift flour into a large bowl.
2. Mix in the pinch of salt.
3. Make a well in the centre and put an egg in it.
4. Also pour a third of the milk into the centre and the melted butter.
5. Combine everything with a wooden spoon or whisk.
6. Add the rest of the milk.
7. Put the mix into a jug or straight into the fridge for 30 minutes.
8. Heat a little oil in the frying pan.
9. Pour in a little batter, flip until the bottom side is golden.
10. The pancake will be done when the other side is golden too.
11. Repeat until all the batter has been used up.  (The more you practise the better you will get.)

Banana Cinnamon Pancakes

Ingredients:

Simple pancake mix (without the salt), 1tsp baking powder, 1tsp ground cinnamon, 6tsp caster sugar, 2 mashed up medium bananas, oil for frying.

Method:

1. Add baking powder, cinnamon and sugar to the simple pancake mix.
2. After leaving it in the fridge for 30 minutes add the banana.
3. Repeat the same pancake making process and serve with your choice of condiments. :)

Prune and Pecan Oat Muffins

Amazing Muffins

These muffins are truly wonderful.  After baking them my kitchen smelt heavenly.  I do believe these are the first muffins I have ever made.  These are very filling, but they are so addictive you will need a lot of will power to stop yourself from stuffing your belly.  The prunes and pecans also add great textures, I can't believe these are not sold elsewhere.  These muffins beat the ones at Starbucks hands down! Where's my crown?

 

I altered this recipe on the back of a packet of prunes.  I significantly reduced the amount of sugar and tweaked some other ingredients to taste.

Ingredients:

350g self raising flour (sieved), 220g brown sugar, 100g porridge oats, 4tsps ground cinnamon, 1tsp bicarbonate of soda, 2 medium eggs (beaten), 300ml buttermilk, 2tsps sunflower oil, 350g prunes (chopped), 150g pecans (crushed).

Method:

1. Rub together the flour, oats, sugar, cinnamon and bicarbonate of soda to make sure everything is combined well.
2. Add the beaten eggs into the flour.
3. Add the buttermilk and sunflour oil. Stir gently.
4. Fold in the prunes and pecans.
5. Preheat the oven at 200 degrees C/ Gas 6.
6. Put 12 muffin cases into a 12 muffin tin holder.
7. Divide the mixture evenly into the muffin cases.
8. Bake for 20 - 25 minutes.
9. Leave to cool for a little bit, but they taste great warm.

Saffy's Top Tip

Place the left over mixture into a small baking tray and even the top with the back of a spoon or knife.  Bake while baking the muffins and make muffin bars!  You can divide these into rectangles and eat them as snacks on the go.