The Sweet Life

I love chicken! I have it at least twice a week but I tend to get stuck in a routine and cook it the same old way each week. This week I was feeling inspired and wanted to mix it up a bit. I found this recipe and thought it looked delicious so I gave it a whirl...and I am glad I did because it was so good! I literally was so excited about it I dished it up so quickly that I forgot to get a photo once i'd taken it out of the oven, hence the photo dominated by vegetables! Its so easy to make and I didn't need to go out and buy anything special because i had all the ingredients already. It has to be one of the tastiest chicken recipes i have tasted! This recipe feeds 3-4 people.  Ingredients 6-8 chicken thighs (drumsticks would also work) 700g new potatoes (cleaned) 3/4 cup of white wine  1/2 cup of chicken stock 1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard 4 cloves garlic (crushed) 1/2 cup of finely chopped herbs (any herbs e.g. rosemary, parsley, thyme and/or sage) 3 ...

I am always constantly looking for good banana muffin and banana bread recipes as we always have over ripe bananas in the house. This so far has been my favourite banana muffin recipe.  Here are a couple of handy hints when making this recipe: *Grind down the rolled oats in a food processor for a finer consistency. I place the oats in my food processor and pulse it to make it more like a powder consistency before I add it to the mixture.  This produces a muffin that is less like an oatmeal muffin, and more like a moist banana muffin.  *When using wheat flour, it is important to not over-mix your batter.  Over mixing results in dense, thick dough. Ingredients: 3 medium ripe bananas 2 eggs 1 cup rolled oats 1 cup wheat flour (I use wholemeal spelt flour)  1/2 cup raw honey (maple syrup or rice malt syrup) 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract Method 1. P...

This vegetarian dish of eggs poached in a spicy tomato and bell pepper sauce is amazing! If you're serving shakshuka for breakfast, as is traditional, you might want the sauce mildly spicy; on those breakfast-for-dinner days, kick the heat up by adding more red pepper flakes, a pinch of cayenne, or even a few shakes of hot sauce. The recipe yields enough sauce for three people. Serve with slices of toasted crusty bread, for mopping up the sauce or by itself. Ingredients 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 small onion  (diced) 2 cloves garlic  (diced) 1 large red bell pepper (diced) 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon sweet paprika 1/2 teaspoon mild red pepper flakes 1 small jalapeño pepper (seeds and ribs removed, diced) 2 tablespoon tomato paste 1 400g canned chopped tomatoes 1/2 teaspoon salt Fresh black pepper, to taste 3 large eggs 2-4 tablespoons roughly chopped fresh coriander or  parsley Method  1. Heat ...

With the blueberry filling and the cinnamon-spiced oat crumble on top, this easy dessert always disappears quickly! If you happen to have any leftovers, eat them plain for breakfast the next morning. I won’t judge! The crumble will last for at least 6 days if covered and chilled in the refrigerator. This recipe makes 9 square slices.  Ingredients  1 1/2 cups oats 1/2 cup wholemeal  spelt flour  2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 4 tablespoons pure maple syrup 3 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted and cooled slightly) 3- 6 cups frozen blueberries (depending on how thick you want the blueberry filling, you can also use fresh blueberries) 3 tablespoons cornflour  Method 1. Preheat the oven to 180 ℃ and lightly coat a 8" square baking dish with cooking spray. 2. To make the crumble - add the oats, flour, and cinnamon in a small bowl and mix together with a fork. Then add in the maple syrup and butter, stirring with the fork until...

This recipe is one of my new favourites. It’s packed with flavour and so easy to make. I combined a chicken breast, rice, beans, and tomatoes with Mexican spices. It’s so delicious and the best part is, everything cooks in just one pan, even the rice. This one-pot meal is so easy to make and it’s faster than driving to get takeout!  Ingredients 2  skinless chicken breasts (diced into bite sized pieces) 3 tablespoon of olive oil 1/2 of a yellow onion (diced) 1 red capsicum (diced)  1 cup of uncooked extra-long grain brown rice  1 can of diced tomatoes (drained) 1 can of black beans or chili beans (drained and rinsed) 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon of chili powder 1 teaspoon of cumin 2 1/2 cups of chicken stock Handful of grated cheese (optional) Salt and pepper Freshly diced tomatoes Diced spring onions Sour cream and/or  guacamole (optional topping)  Method 1. Sauté the onions in 2 t...

I am continuously looking for banana recipes as we always have over ripe bananas in the fruit bowl towards the end of each week and i hate the thought of throwing them out when i know something delicious can be made from them instead. I really like this recipe, it is no fuss, quick and easy! It also dates amazing and is perfect to curb those sweet cravings.  Ingredients  3 ripe bananas 3 eggs 1/3 cup coconut oil 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 1 - 3 tablespoons cinnamon 1/4 cup walnuts (chopped) + extra to top the loaf (optional) 3 cups oats Method 1. Preheat oven to  180 ℃ . 2. Mash the ripe bananas in a large bowl. 3. Then add in the eggs and coconut oil, mixing thoroughly. 4. Add in oats, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and walnuts, continuously mixing. 5. Pour into a greased bread loaf tin, make sure you grease the tin well as the bottom tends to stick (I use coconut oil or cooking spray). 6. Bake for...

This is my new favourite soup recipe! I made a batch this week for lunches and absolutely love it. Its a hearty soup that's full of flavour and definitely fills you up.  Ingredients 2 tablespoons olive oil  1 medium onion (diced) 2 stalks celery  (diced) 1 medium jalapeno or a few pre cut jalapeno slices from a jar  (diced) 4 cloves garlic  (diced) 2 chicken breasts 6 cups chicken stock/broth 1 can diced tomatoes with chiles 1 teaspoon oregano  ½ tablespoon cumin  The juice of 1 medium lime ½ bunch coriander/cilantro (roughly chopped) Method Shredded chicken 1. Dice the onion, celery, garlic, and jalapeno (scrape the seeds out of the jalapeno before dicing) then cook the onion, celery, jalapeno, and garlic in olive oil over medium heat for about 5 minutes or until tender. 2. Add the chicken breasts (whole), chicken stock, canned tomatoes with chiles, oregano, and cumin to the pot.  3. Bring th...