Sunday, August 21, 2011

Chicken with Chorizo and Cannellini Beans


This is such a fantastic midweek meal - simple and delicious with very little preparation. Nigella recommends using any available cold cut of meat and I agree. If the chorizo is too fatty for you I would substitute with a nice trim, smoky piece of bacon.

INGREDIENTS
- 2 chicken breasts
- Approx. 125g of spincah leaves / rocket
- 1-2 teaspoons olive oil (not extra-virgin)
- 100g chorizo, sliced then chopped (I just buy one sausage from the deli counter)
- 410g tin cannellini beans, drained
- 1 cup of frozen peas
- A little chicken stock (1/4 - 1/2 cup)
- smoked sweet paprika for sprinkling

METHOD
- If you have the time, marinate the chicken breasts for at least half an hour in a little stock with a tablespoon of paprika. I also throw in a table spoon of the chopped chorizo, just to instill that smoky flavour in the chicken. Sometimes I put in a little herb I have growing on my windowsill, such as parsley or rosemary.

- Cook the chicken breasts on a griddle or in a frypan, approx 5 minutes each side.

- While the chicken is cooking, heat the oil in a frying pan, throw in the chopped chorizo, add the drained cannellini beans, frozen peas and, stirring, warm everything through, moistening with a couple of tablespoons or so of the chicken stock - or more if you want this soupier.

- Arrange the spinach/rocket in 2 x bowls and tip the beans and chorizo mix on top, allowing the greens to wilt a little.

- place cooked chicken on top and sprinkle each chicken breast with a little paprika.

Adapted from: http://www.nigella.com/recipes/view/chicken-with-chorizo-and-cannellini-beans-187

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Cocopure


I'm really excited about cocopure. My neighbour gave it to me as a gift in return for looking after her apartment while she was away recently. I dipped into it straight away, and I think I've found my new favourite thing!

Cocopure has the consistency of nutella, and is generally considered as a mix of raw coconut oil and cocoa. It has a sweet bite, but has no added sugar! I find it especially satisfying on a nice piece of seeded toast, in the afternoons when I am having that chocolate / sweet thing craving.

My trainer Joe even approves! (And he can be a tough customer...)

You can buy it online, and also at health food stores (I go to 'Health Nuts' in the small shopping centre underneath the Coca Cola sign in Kings Cross.)

You can visit the website here.