CURRIED CHICKEN MUFFINS (

A wonderful recipe from Burke’s Backyard. Curried Chicken Muffins – tastes good in lunch boxes or picnic. “The muffins’ taste was quite unusual but very yummy”. “These are sooo delicious!”
makes 12

Ingredients:
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
3 medium onions, thickly sliced (I used only 2 onions and I think it was quite enough!)
3 chicken thigh fillets, chopped (200 grams)
2 tablespoons curry paste (I use Vindaloo) – try tandoori curry powder instead of paste
1 cup natural yoghurt
2.25 cups SR
.5 cup vegetable oil, extra
2 eggs, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons fresh coriander leaves, chopped (cilantro) – more if liked
1 scant tsp of salt (opt)

  • Preheat oven to 190 C (FF?). Grease a 12 hole muffin tin with butter and oil. (Make sure to grease the top of the tin well so any mix won’t stick as they rise).
  • Heat oil in a pan and cook the onion rings over a medium heat, stirring often. Cook but DON’T brown them: adding a splash of water helps (you want them to stay white looking for effect – so they say). Takes 5-10 minutes.
  • Put the onions aside. 3/4 will be used for presentation, chop the other 1/4.
  • Heat the pan again and add a little bit of oil and the chicken.
  • Stir until it begins to turn white and then add the curry paste. Cook slightly, adding a splash of water to speed up the process.
  • Cook for a further minute then remove from the heat and stir in the yoghurt. Let it cool slightly.
  • Sift flour into a large bowl from a good height to aerate it well.
  • Add the chopped onions, lemon juice, eggs, vegetable oil, cooled curried chicken and chopped coriander and mix well.
  • Spoon mixture into the greased muffin tin and push the onion rigs on top by gently pressing in.
  • Bake in preheated oven for 15-20 minutes until risen and golden. Allow to cool completely.

 

EASY ONE-PAN SALMON & LEMON PASTA

Make dinner easy on yourself with this scrumptious salmon pasta
Serves 4

1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 lemon, zested, juiced
325g spaghetti, broken in half
1 cup frozen peas
1 punnet dill, sprigs picked
300g hot smoked salmon, skin removed, flaked – try using other fish with smoked paprika
60g baby spinach leaves
30cm non-stick frypan

1. Heat 1T oil in pan over medium heat. Add garlic & lemon zest. Cook for 1 minute til fragrant.

2. Add 3c water & the pasta and bring to boil. Reduce to low heat. Simmer, uncovered, for 10 mins, adding peas in the last 2 minutes –  or until pasta is almost tender and water almost evaporated.

3.  Add lemon juice, dill, salmon, spinach and remaining oil. Toss over low heat for 5 minutes or until heated through. Season with freshly ground black pepper.