Wise Food Alert!

Moroccan Chicken to die for!

I tried my hand at this style of chicken dish the other day. Our friend Laurien had given us a lovely little supply of Saffron so we wanted to utilise it to the best of our ability. My handsome Chef did not have a recipe at his fingertips and told me to 'wing it'! So, here is exactly what I did and to my credit (I am sooooo humble) it really was one of my finest creations! He is soooooo proud of me!




A word of caution - when handling raw chicken please please please make sure to wash your hands and work space thoroughly even if you have kids hanging off your apron strings! (had to put that in there to keep the Chef happy!).

Ingredients

1 tsp Paprika, Cumin, Cinnamon, Cayenne, Coriander & Saffron.
2 teaspoons Fresh ginger (grated)
2 tablespoons Honey
Grated zest of one lemon
Juice of one lemon
Olive oil,
Salt & Pepper
Carrots (4 medium)
Onions (2 medium)
Garlic (at least one bulb - yes the whole bulb, not one teeny little clove)

Cilantro (a bunch)

Chicken Stock (2 cups)

Crushed tomatoes (1 can)

Mixed beans (2 cans)

Kalamata Olives (as many as you like - pitted)

Whole Chicken (any size you like) I decided to use my favourite pot/dutch oven because I can prepare everything then just walk away for an hour while it cooks!

Start by preparing all your vegetables (peel onions/garlic,carrots etc.) Rub the chicken down with salt/pepper and throw some of the garlic cloves and lemon zest and freshly grated ginger into the cavity.

Place the raw chicken into the pot and throw in the onions, carrots and garlic. Pour in olive oil and rub into the chicken.

Get all your dried spices and start sprinkling it all over the bird. I mixed all mine into one bowl and sifted it over the bird so it looked a little dusty but well covered.

Put the chicken into a really hot oven for 20 mins. until it has started to turn nice and brown.

Pull it out then pour in the beans, the chicken stock and the can of tomatoes. It is OK if the tomatoes smother the chicken. Place the lid on the pot and put it back in to oven at 180 C for 45 mins (this depends on the size of the chicken).

Go off and have a lovely glass of crisp white wine - our favourite 'house' wine after 15 years is still the Fiano di Avellino. Just unbelievably fantastic, year, after year, after year.

After the time has elapsed and you are half way through the bottle of wine, take the dish out and give it a good mix! Add in the olives, drizzle the honey over the top and a knob of butter would not hurt for finishing touches!

Let it cook a few more minutes (if you think it needs it) and then take it out of the oven and let it rest for ten minutes while you heat a loaf of crusty bread, whip up some salad and oven another bottle of wine!

Seriously, it looks this good, and it tastes way better! The beans give it plenty of 'filling' so you will not be hungry for a week!

Happy dining fellow food lovers,

That is all the WiseWords I have for today!

WiseMóna

Wise Food Alert!

Blueberry Bliss!


Folks around here do not make Blueberry Pie like they do back in the good ole USA, and as it is one of my darlings very favourite desserts ever (besides Pecan Pie, Cherry Pie, Ice cream, Fudge, etc.) I decided that it was high time I made an effort to make this tasty treat!

Please keep in mind that whilst I really have developed a serious love for cooking, a baker I am not and have no love for baking either! However, knowing that my handsome hubby, a few of my siblings and my dearest darling Mum would be chomping at the bit for a nibble of whatever I threw at them, encouraged me to give it a whirl!





Ireland does not have great conditions (too much rain, lots of boggy marsh land, not enough sun) for blueberry growing so most of them come from Spain and Holland. However, we have a similar berry here called a Billberry, which is almost identical expect much much smaller and they grow wild on the heather bushes in some local bogs around here.

Armed with a recipe given to us by some very good American friends of ours I tried my hand at this task and got rave reviews from all, including a very happy Chef!


WiseBluePie

1 cup sugar (unrefined brown)
3 tablespoons of cornstarch/cornflour
1/8 teaspoon of salt
1/4 cup of water
5 or 6 cups of blueberries
1 sweet apple (peeled)
1 tablespoon of butter
1/2 lemon (juiced)

1 nine (9) inch shortbread pie crust (blind baked)

Get a decent size pot and mix together the sugar, salt and cornflour. Add the water and 3 cups of blueberries. Chop the apple into small pieces and add to the mixture. Keep stirring all the time and make sure this does not burn. Once the mixture has come to a boil and is clear - not cloudy, then remove from the heat and stir in butter and lemon juice. Set aside to cool. Although tempting it is not advisable to taste the goopy mixture at this time as it is very very hot and you will most likely burn your mouth. Trust me, it tastes great!

Once cooled spread the pie mixture into the pre baked pie crust then add a layer of the remaining blueberries, finishing with a layer of the pie mixture.

Leave the pie in a cool place to set for a while (fridge is fine too) then enjoy with some whipped cream and a nice cup of tea!

Probably the nicest pie you will every have!


That is all the WiseWords I have for today!

WiseMóna

It is that time of year!

Almost every single person that I know has a grrrrrrreat coleslaw recipe. This recipe is for those of you that don't! I cannot call it gourmet at all - it is just good!

Many many (many) years ago, shortly after I landed my talons in my handsome Chef, we went to visit an Uncle of mine north of Cincinnati, Ohio. We were given a lovely tour of his cattle farm and shown several of his gorgeous antique cars and trucks, then retired to his very comfy home for a BBQ that his Wife had slaved over all afternoon.




She had made a coleslaw that the Chef and I really loved and was kind enough to share the details with us that evening. Over the years, we have made this (quite possibly more than a thousand times) and God only knows what the original recipe was - but this is how we make it today and the result is finger licking good!

Wise Sesame Coleslaw

1 head of white cabbage
1 can of mandarin oranges
4 green onions
1 carrot
2 ounces peanuts (toasted -hazelnuts or macadamia's OK)
2 tablespoons sesame seeds (toasted)
1 tablespoon sunflower seeds (toasted)
2 packages chicken flavour ramen noodles (instant noodles)
A little bit of butter
Mayonnaise (you decide the amount)

It is fairly simple from here.

Shred cabbage, carrot and thinly slice green onion. Toast all nuts and seeds.
Take flavour packets out of ramen noodles and mix into mayonnaise. This is your dressing so
be as liberal or sparing as you like. (Just taste is as you make it).

Smash up the ramen noodles a little and pan fry them in the butter until they look a little
brown, then let them cool. Drain the mandarin oranges then add all ingredients together right before you serve the coleslaw saving a few of the seeds to sprinkle on top!

Obviously if you make your own mayonnaise this will take on a whole new identity - and if you want to give it a little zip, I would suggest adding a teaspoon of Franks Red Hot Sauce to the mayonnaise. In addition to this - we usually add a grilled chicken breast for a fast and tasty summer dinner!

That is all the WiseWords I have for today!
Happy Summer!

WiseMóna

Rice Pudding for Jack!

My little man has become quite the connoisseur of food - I am sure this comes as no surprise to many of you, considering he is being led down the path of fine foods by his excellent palated older Sister, and food lover parents. One of his very favourite things in the whole world, is sticky rice pudding. We had a rotten rainy day today (still had quite a bit of sunshine too) and when he came home from school he started begging for his favourite treat. So, of course, being the indulgent mother that I am, I caved in fast and he and I made a yummy batch!

What you need:

· 3 1/2 cups skim milk
· 1 cinnamon stick (use a big one from your local Mexican/Brazilian market)
· 1 vanilla bean, halved lengthwise, seeds scraped out
· 1 teaspoon salt
· 1 1/4 cups uncooked jasmine rice, rinsed and drained
· 3/4 cup sugar (I use unrefined brown)
· 1 1/4 cups heavy whipping cream
· 1 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest

How to make it:

In a large saucepan, combine milk, cinnamon, vanilla seeds and pod and salt. Bring to a boil on medium heat. Add rice, return to a boil, stirring so that the rice does not stick. Reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until all liquid has been absorbed by the rice and rice is tender, 25 to 30 minutes. Do not let mixture brown or burn. (If this happens - throw it out to the cat or dog - can't save burnt milk).

Remove rice from heat and immediately stir in sugar until dissolved. Mix in some whipped cream and lemon zest into cooled rice pudding. Yummy yum!

Now, one would think that would be enough to keep a Chef happy as an offering for dessert, but of course he had a better idea!

He takes the cold rice pudding and makes little rice balls out of them, rolling them in toasted coconut flakes (that all of you have laying around your pantry) then he does the unthinkable!

He deep fries them! Aaaaaaagh. This man is addicted to the fryer. However, after I finished ranting and raving I did taste a bite of this tempting dessert. He drizzled a little bit of freshly whipped cream and a blackberry honey we got at the market last week and yes, I have to admit, it tasted divine. That is what you get for making dessert around here - someone else showing up and stealing your idea and making something quite ordinary into something oh - so - NOT ordinary!

That is all the WiseWords I have for today!

WiseMóna

Henrietta and the first egg!

Easter Sunday 2009

What a treat for the children yesterday, when they went out in the afternoon to give the hens a little snack they found the first egg, first of many to come we hope!

They have been with us a little over 3 weeks and we were eggspecting our first egg sometime late April - so this was truly a wonderful treat - on Easter Sunday.

So, no interest in the Easter Bunny here today - just lots of attention on the hens!

That is all the WiseWords I have for today,

WiseMóna

When love comes to town!

My eldest sister Tracy and her family (living in Alsace, France) have come to visit us for a few weeks. It is always really lovely to get all the children together because they are now old enough to know each other and play fairly well together - for the most part.

As you can see, after they have all been fed, and had enough to drink - they usually play a few (strange) games.

Some of them stay clear away from the pandemonium going on but engage us long enough for a quick click......................

The older ones try to lead by example, but may end up coming across bossy????

In the end, way too much fun was had by all - and I am left with the evidence to tell the story!

That is all the WiseWords I have for today!

WiseMóna

Wise Movie Review

Practical Magic. An oldie but a goodie.
OK, it is 10 years old so maybe not exactly that old.

Many would say an outright chick flick and I would agree with that. However, the Chef tolerated the movie because a young and perky Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock are the main characters.

The movie is a cute story about 2 sisters that dabble a little in witchcraft and get in a little trouble for killing Nicole Kidmans abusive ex boyfriend. And wouldn't you know the lovely, talented and oh, so fine Mr. Aidan Quinn comes to the rescue of Sandra Bullock and there is (of course) a happy ending!

Winter is here, more movies and books to watch to while away these wintry & wet evenings by the fire!

That is all the WiseWords for today,

WiseMóna

Can you hear this? Can you see this? Can you smell this? Can you feel this?

I know most of you are insanely jealous that not only did I steal Chef far away from you all, but now, here I have plopped him right slap in the countryside on the west coast of Ireland. Where he most likely will never stray from ever again.

Things are different here. The Internet, is still not in every ones homes and many of the locals just use dial up because broadband is not available. Can you all imagine life without the Internet?

I have had a break from it over the last few weeks whilst packing up and moving, and imagine my horror when I was told that the line quality in our home was to poor to service us with broadband. I was fit to be tied and shrieked like a banshee at the poor girl from Eircom who was told to phone me with this message.

After freaking out for a few days, my younger brother Kenneth put me in touch with a company called IRISH BROADBAND and they came out today to install a WIRELESS receiver on our rooftop so we could get back to business.

Now, to complete the picture, I thought it only fitting to share with the movie clip above of how I have been spending the last few evenings whilst tapping the keys on my hot little laptop!

We bought our first load of turf (Irish Fuel - look it up) and have not looked back!

That is all the WiseWords I have for tonight,

WiseMóna

Mi Casa es Su Casa!

Welcome Home..........................Welcome!
Come on in and close the door. This is the view from my kitchen window.

We moved into our new home, just a little over a week ago. It only took a few days to start feeling like home.

Rory has already hooked up with the boy next door. His name is Evan, he goes to the same school as her and is .................wait for it......................a whole year older than her!!! He is equally enthralled with her.
There was a present waiting for us in our back yard when we moved in. Good ole Uncle Arthur Guinness. Sorry folks, it was empty.
Although this house is enormous, (6 bedrooms), would you know that the children only want to be in the smallest most cramped space they can find, and spend hours there quite happily.

It feels right. Actually, Chef himself made the comment just after a few days how surprised he was at feeling like he was coming home to the same 'home' we had on Craig Avenue.
That should give most of you warm and fond memories of fireplaces, food, the occassional glass (or bottle) of wine and millions of hours of fun and friendship.

It is good to be home, now - who is coming to visit??

That is all the WiseWords I have for today,
WiseMóna