LoveBites Thai Beef Salad

Thai Beef Salad is one of my all time favourite dishes. There are so many variations with this salad that I always seem to do it a different way. When I went to my LoveBites Asian Inspired Beef Salad original post recently, I realised that I don't really make my Thai Beef Salad's like this anymore.
So it's time for an update: a new recipe, something easier to follow and quicker to make = perfect LoveBites standards!

Feeds 2

 Ingredients

• 300g Rump Steak
• 2Tbspns Soya Sauce
• 1Tbspn Fish Sauce
• 1/3Cup Sweet Chilli Sauce
• 1 Clove Garlic, crushed
• 1 Red Chilli, de-seeded and diced
• Juice of1/2 a Lime, other 1/2 slice into wedges
• Handful of fresh Coriander, roughly chopped (save some leaves for garnish)
• 1/2 Red and Yellow Capsicum, sliced thinly
• 1/2 Cucumber, peeled lengthwise
• 1/2 Large Red Onion sliced thinly (can also use x2 Spring Onions sliced thinly)
• x2 Packets individually packed Vermicelli Noodles (optional)
• 1 Cup Sugar snap Peas sliced (optional)

Method

• Combine Soya, Sweet Thai Chilli, Fish sauce, 1/2 the fresh Chilli, and 1/2 the lime juice in a small mixing bowl or jar
• Crush the garlic and press into the beef in a dish and pour over half the sauce mixture, set aside
• Chop the salad ingredients and combine in a large bowl, boil the jug
• Place the noodles in a bowl of boiled water, cover and set aside
• Sear the steak for approximately 2 minutes per side, remove from the pan and once slightly cooled, slice in 1cm thick slices
• Drain the noodles and combine with the salad, mixing well with your hands
• Scoop into individual bowls or plates, arrange the steak slices on top and sprinkle with the remainder sauce, lime slices and garnish with the rest of the coriander.

The picture used for this recipe did not have noodles. If you are not using noodles I would recommend using more herbs and rip them up in your hands so they are still quite large rather than dicing them. Capsicums (peppers) can be any colour, orange was used for this pic.

I also made a bit of a dressing to go with this version : combine soya and fish sauces, sweet chilli, lime, coriander and chilli and pour over the dish. This recipe is a great backbone so make it as you so desire!

LoveBites Chocolate Chippie Cookies

I made this recipe in abundance in my college and university years. It makes the yummiest shortbready like cookies and not to mention the best cookie dough (EVER) so needless to say I would have to make

more than twice the recipe!

These cookies are the best 'milk and cookie' cookies and delicious dunked in hot chocolate, tea or coffee. They can have anything added to them, rasins, cornflakes, M&Ms, and still taste mouth-watering. Use this recipe as a good base for all cookie creations its super quick and fail safe! 

INGREDIENTS

• 125g Butter
• 1/2cup Sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2tspn Vanilla Essence
• 11/2cups Flour
• 1tspn Baking Powder
• 1/2cup Chocolate Chips

METHOD

1. Heat oven to 180 degrees
2. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy
3. Add the egg and vanilla essence and beat well
4. Sift in the dry ingredients and combine
5. Mix in chocolate chips or desired alternatives
6. Roll into small balls and place onto a greased oven tray
7. Bake for 15 minutes and voila, ready to eat goodness!

LoveBites Asian Baked Salmon

INGREDIENTS

Salmon

• 2 Salmon Fillets (boned and skinned)
• 2 Spring onions, sliced
• 1 Red chilli, de-seeded and sliced
• 1cm cube of fresh ginger, grated
• 1 Tablespoon coriander, chopped
• 2 Tablespoons Teriyaki sauce
• 2 Tablespoons Soya Sauce

Sides

• Seaseme oil
• Pak choi
• Sugar snaps
• Green beans
• Basmati rice
• Chopped coriander to garnish

METHOD

• Place the salmon on a large piece of aluminium foil (big enough to wrap the salmon in afterwards)
• Sprinkle the chilli, onion and coriander over the salmon
• Combine the teriyaki and soya sauce with the ginger and pour over the salmon
• Fold the foil over the salmon and place in the oven for approximately 15-20 minutes
• Whilst the salmon is cooking, cook the rice  stir fry the pak choi and sugar snaps in a small amount of seaseme oil
• Cook the beans with a small amount of water, cover in cling wrap and cook in the microwave for 3 minutes
• The salmon is cooked when the flesh has turned a milky pink
• Combine the veges, rice and salmon on a plate and pour the rest of the marinade over the salmon and rice
• Garnish with a sprinkle of coriander

LoveBites now on Twitter!

Hey Y'all

LoveBites has just joined Twitter and just completed my very first Tweet!
Spread the word and follow me @love__bites  (2 underscores)

Don't forget LoveBites is also on Instagram follow me @love_bites (1 underscore) for some inspiration and foodporn!

Much love

A Roast Chook

It dawned on me recently when my Twin sister called me to inquire about cooking a roast chicken, that I hadn't yet embarked on penning my thoughts on a cooking a classic roast chicken. A roast chick is something everyone should know how to do. They can be simple or as elaborate as you like, and are always best shared especially when you see the smiles on everyone's faces when you pull off a good one! Standard questions were thrown my way from the Twin, 'how long does it take to cook?' and 'what do you stuff it with?' which reminded me of the time about a year and a half ago when I called my Mother with the same questions. I now have the answers and think cooking a roast chicken or any type of roast takes a bit of practice but a roast they will always be a kick-ass meal.

For starters you can stuff the chicken with anything but it always requires something to moisten the meat. A lemon for instance is a great moistener, it provides subtle flavour and nourishment to the meat. And fresh herbs are always a good accompaniment to provide a fresh fragrance to the meat. As for veges, colour is always a key ingredient for me (my Mother taught me well! Thanks Jannie!).

Embark on cooking my beginners Roast Chook and you'll be on your way to flying colours. Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 1 whole chicken
• 1 lemon
• 1 handful of fresh herbs (rosemary, parsley, thyme etc)
• Schwartz Garlic Italian Spices
• Salt and Pepper to garnish
• Olive Oil
• Potatoes, kumara, parsnip, red onion, pumpkin, carrot, garlic cloves

Gravy

• 2 tablespoons of Gravy Granules
• 2 cups boiling water
• Salt and pepper

Method

• Turn the oven on to 180 degrees
• Cooking times may vary depending on the size of your chicken, check the packet information first
• Squirt some olive oil in the bottom of a roasting pan
• Pierce a lemon with a toothpick and place in the microwave for 40 seconds, this will help to enhance the flavour whilst the chicken cooks
• Place the chook in the pan and separate the legs, carefully place the lemon inside the chickens cavity and stuff the fresh herbs in the hole
• Rub over with extra oil, salt and pepper and the garlic Italian spices
• Cover with tin foil and place in the oven breast side up for the allocated time, checking about half way through
• If the chicken takes about an hour and a half place the washed and chopped veges around the chicken after 1/2 an hour, these should take roughly about an hour to cook through
• Throw all veges into the pan (whole garlic cloves and a couple crushed). Ensure you cover the veges with oil, salt and pepper and to make them crunchy check them every 20 minutes and turn the potatoes, kumara and pumpkin around, 
• To check the chicken is cooked through, pierce through the breast with a sharp knife then press down lightly, if the juices are clear then the chicken is cooked
• Remove the veges and set aside, remove the chicken and wrap in foil, set aside whilst you make the gravy

Gravy

• Move the roasting dish onto a low-medium heat on the stove
• Add the gravy granules to the meat juices and stir to combine, add the water as needed
• Continue to stir until gravy is thick, adding more water, granules, or flour to your desired thickness
• Add salt and pepper to taste

Serve this roast with peas, beans, peppers, Yorkshire puddings or any other veges that tickle your fancy.

Enjoy with a nice bottle of wine and great company!

LoveBites Lamb Steaks served with Roast Potato Bites and a Rocket Salad

This recipe brewed from a Sunday afternoon watching Nigelessa Nigella Lawson's new cooking show. This dish caught my eye as it consisted of two of my favourite things : roast spuds and rocket.  With my LoveBites spin on it, this recipe is simple and delicious with an oomph of flavour. A perfect alternative to a summer BBQ or a quick dish to impress.

Ingredients:

• 2 lamb steaks
•  olive oil
• pinch of oregano, chilli flakes, and celery salt
• garlic pepper and salt to taste
•  tablespoon of chopped fresh parsley
• packet of rocket
• 3 medium potatoes cut into cubes
• balsamic vinegar to dress

Method:

• Boil potatoes in a pot until cooked through
• Whilst potatoes are cooking place lamb in a dish and cover with a lug of oil
• Add spices and garlic pepper and salt, mix so lamb is covered in mixture
• Once potatoes are cooked, drain and add to a frying pan of oil and fry until golden over a medium heat, you will need to keep turning the potatoes to ensure they get cispy all over
• Fry the lamb steaks 2-3 minutes each side until browned but still pink in the middle
• Arrange the rocket on a flat platter
• Remove the potatoes from the pan, drain on a paper towel and arrange over the rocket
• Arrange lamb on the platter, scatter chopped parsley
• Dress with balsamic vinegar

Great served with mashed beetroot and feta salad, or slowroasted tomatoes.
Or add chopped cherry tomatoes and fresh red onion and feta to the salad for a Greek mix.

GuestRecipe : Coriander Chicken

My darling mother Jan introduced us to this Family Favourite over ten years ago. Since the day she ate this delicious dinner at a friends dinner party it has been a staple in the Tait Family's diet.

Jannie describes the first of many Tait Family GuestRecipe's as;

 

"This Family Favourite is a versatile recipe. It is a popular meal for the summer served on skewers on a barbecue or stir-fried and served over rice or couscous for a winter warmer.  I would suggest using whatever veges are in season as zucchinis can be a bit expensive in the winter!
This is always a exciting dish that never fails just make sure you check that your visitors like coriander before deciding to cook this family favourite!"
 

 Jannie recommends "always make lots of the sauce as there has been known to be fights if there is not enough! It’s also a good idea to make the sauce at the same time as the marinade or it is double the work (as the ingredients are very similar)".

 

 Serve with pita breads, rice and salad or serve as a one pot dish with stir-fried meat and veg over the rice. 

  

INGREDIENTS

 

Marinade

• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• handful of coriander roughly chopped
• 1/2 cup natural unsweetened yoghurt
• juice and rind of half a large lemon
• 1 tsp of paprika and cumin
• pinch of chili powder and salt

Sauce

• 1 clove of garlic, crushed
• small handful of coriander roughly chopped
• 1/2 cup natural unsweetened yoghurt
• juice of half a lemon
• 1 tspn of paprika
• salt to taste

Chicken Kebabs

• 2 chicken boobs, cut into cubes
• 1 red capsicum, seeded and cubed
• 1 small red onion, quartered and separated
• 1 large zucchini, sliced into 0.5mm slices

METHOD

•  Soak approximately 6 kebab skewers in cold water, set aside
• Make the sauce and the marinade at the same time
• Mix the marinade ingredients in one medium-sized bowl and combine with the chicken, cover and marinate in the fridge for 30 minutes or overnight
• Combine the sauce ingredients in a smaller bowl and mix well, garnish with a few leaves of coriander, set aside
• Thread the chicken, zucchini, pepper and onion onto the skewers
• Grill or BBQ until chicken is cooked through - approx 10-15 minutes (make sure to turn the skewers half way through)
• Serve the kebabs over a bed of basmati rice and with a green salad and drizzled with the sauce!

Variations

• Stir fry the chicken and add the veges
• Serve over a couscous or Bulgar wheat vege medley

(This recipe has been derived from a Simon Holst Yoghurt and Coriander Chicken Kebab recipe from his book Fast and Fantastic Recipes)