butter chicken
I remember vividly when and how I fell in love with Butter Chicken. The month was May, the year 2011 the place a small, ramshackle restaurant in New Delhi, India. I had been in Delhi studying since early March of that year and had months to go before heading back home to Cape Town to finish off my degree. Most of the food I had been exposed to in the city until then had not been to my liking, mainly because I did not at the time have much of a palette for hot and spicy food. One day when my friend and I went out as we often did to get out of the campus, I decided to try out Butter Chicken, which I was assured was the dish with the least heat on the menu. I was immediately hooked. For me it was the creamy texture and how the spices were tempered with yoghurt and tomatoes that made this meal a winner. Fast-forward to 2021, I’ve been enjoying this meal for a decade. The recipe below is my take on this delicious meal and I hope you can use it to switch up your chicken meals once in a while.
Scones, Scones, Scones
This is my recipe for yumminess produced in under an hour. These scones are perfect for a weekend or weekday morning. All you need to do is set your alarm an hour early to make sure that you stay in your family’s good books for an entire week! My scones are light, fluffy and golden. The sugar content ensures that they are sweet enough to enjoy on their own and not too sweet that you can’t add jam and cream. I really like adding ½ a teaspoon of cinnamon for that added bit flavour. You can also add a teaspoon of nutmeg for that additional flavour pop. Go on, give this recipe a try and let me know how popular you become in your home.
Broccoli & Bacon Summer Salad
With Spring coming on fast the kitchen is about to turn from a space of preparing meals that take hours, to quick and easy, light, delicious recipes that don’t leave you feeling heavy. I have a sneaky suspicion that we’re in for a very warm Spring and Summer this year, so I’m working on a catalogue of yummy recipes that you can put together for the days when you are hosting friends and family over a glass of Chardonnay. So this is a recipe for a colourful and veggie-packed Broccoli & Bacon Summer Salad that goes well with any roast of your choice or with some braai (barbeque) meat. One of the things I really love about this recipe is that you get so many good vegetables with just one serving. The veggies also have natural flavours so that you don’t have to season it with anything other than salt and pepper. You have the option of leaving the broccoli raw or steaming it for a couple of minutes. I’ve tried both ways and it really depends on your preference. The raw option does leave the broccoli a bit chewy though so you might want to start off with the steaming option. Also feel free to add or swop out some of the veggies or to replace the feta with parmesan cheese. Remember that recipes are just a guide to help you unleash your inner Home Cook! For a pairing idea, checkout My Mustard & Sesame Seed Roast Chicken or my Sundried Tomato & Ginger Roast Chicken.
