Papa's Spicy Chicken Livers

Spicy Chicken Livers

My grandaughter's comment when she saw me cooking chicken livers was "eeeuuuwww". I guess chicken livers are not everyone's favourite, but if you do like this dish, this makes a superb starter. Serve with toast cut into quarters.

You need

250grams chicken livers (fresh is better) cut into small pieces

1 Onion (Chopped)

1/2 Teaspoon crushed garlic

2 Green Chillies (deseeded and chopped)

1 Tablespoon Olive Oil

1 Tablespoon Butter

2 Tablespoon Papa's Curry Mix (Hot)

1/4 Cup White Wine

1 Large tomato (finely chopped)

1 Tablespoon tomato paste

1/4 Cup Fresh Cream (Optional)

Here's how:

Saute the onion, chilli and garlic  in Olive Oil and butter until golden brown. Add the Papa's Curry mix and tomato and mix well. Add the livers and cook over high heat, for about 3 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in tomato paste, and add the wine. Cook for 7 minutes. For a creamier taste, stir in 1/4 cup of fresh cream.  Serve with buttered toast cut into quarters.

Curried Shrimp Penne Pasta - Fabulous

I love pasta dishes and finally got round to testing this recipe with our seafood curry mix. It has a wonderful creamy taste and is fabulous served with a green salad.

You need:

1 Onion (finely chopped)
3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1/4 Cup Water
1/2 Cube Chicken Stock
3 Tablespoons Papa's Seafood Curry Mix
300 grams Penne Rigate pasta 
1/2 410gram tin chopped tomatoes
500 grams shrimp (thawed and deveined)
3/4 Cup Fresh Cream
Beurre Manie (equal amount of plain flour and butter mixed together to form a paste)

Here's How:

Cook the pasta until al dente. (Add 1/2 cube chicken stock to the pasta whilst cooking).  Rinse the pasta under running cold water and drain. Set aside. Saute the onion  in oil until soft. Add 3 Tablespoons Papa's Seafood Curry Mix, 1/4 cup water and the chopped tomatoes. Mix well and simmer for about 30 seconds. Add the shrimp and stir. Cover the pot and cook for about 5 minutes, until shrimp is cooked. Remove from heat and stir in 3/4 cup fresh cream. Now thicken the sauce. Make a beurre manie, using 4 Teaspoons plain flour and 4 teaspoons butter, blending together with a spoon to form a smooth paste. Return the shrimp sauce to heat and add the beurre manie, stirring continuously until mixture thickens. (Add a little cream if too thick). Place the pasta in a large serving bowl, add the sauce and mix well. Sprinkle with finely chopped parsley. Serve with Parmesan cheese and a green salad. Serves 4

Chicken Salad - In a creamy curried dressing - With apologies to Constance Fry

This salad is loosely based on Constance Fry's Coronation Chicken Salad which she invented for Queen Elizabeth's Coronation luncheon in 1953.  The creamy curry dressing has a delightful flavour, and of course my version is made with our Papa's Curry Mix. This recipe serves 4 to 6. (Six small starter salads or a more substantial salad for 4)

You need:

500grams chicken fillet cut into bite size pieces

1/2 cube chicken stock

2 bay leaves

1 small carrot cut into chunks

Sprig of thyme and parsley

Here's How

Place chicken in a saucepan with bay leaves, carrot, thyme and parsley. Add just enough water to cover the chicken and half a cube of chicken stock. Poach until chicken is cooked. Drain and set aside. (Remove the flavouring ingredients, thyme,carrot, parsley, etc.)

The Dressing

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

1 Teaspoon Brown Sugar

3 Teaspoons Papa's Curry Mix (Mild)

1 Small Onion (finely chopped)

1/2 Tin Yellow Cling Peaches (Pureed)

(If you don't have a blender, then use 80ml Purity Baby Food - Pureed Peaches)

1/2 (125ml) Cup Miracle Whip Mayonnaise

80ml Fresh Cream (Whipped)

Here's How

Saute the onion in Olive oil until soft. Add curry mix, pureed peaches and brown sugar and mix well. Simmer gently for about 30 seconds. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Place mayonnaise in a seperate bowl, add the cooled mixture to mayonnaise and mix well. Fold in the whipped cream. Add the dressing to cooked chicken and mix. The chicken mixture  can be served on a bed of mixed salad leaves, and/or savoury rice. Ideal for starters. (Get creative and add finely sliced red pepper, cherry tomatoes etc. to your salad leaves). 

Savoury Rice - Goes well with Seafood

Instead of serving plain white rice, why not try a savoury rice. This goes extremely well with seafood.

You need :

1 Tablespoon Oil
1 Teaspoon Butter
1 to 2 Tablespoons Tumeric, (Use 2 if  you want the rice to be a deeper yellow)
1/2 teaspoon crushed garlic
1 Cube Chicken Stock
1/4 Cup finely chopped Onion
3 Spring Onions finely chopped
1/4 Cup Green Pepper ( finely chopped)
1/4 Cup Grated Carrot

Here's How:

Cook the rice, (add a cube of chicken stock to the water and 1 or 2 Tablespoons tumeric). Drain rice and set aside. ( I usually steam my rice for about 5 minutes, after cooking, to make it fluffy. Leave the rice in the colander, place  a little water in  the pot used for cooking the rice, and place on the stove. Put the colander on top of the pot and cover. Steam.)  Heat the Oil and butter, add garlic, onion, spring onion, green pepper and grated carrot. Saute until onion is soft. Add this mixture to the rice and mix well. Add salt to taste. (ps. My grandkids love this rice, try it on the kiddies in your family).

Pavlova - Quick, Easy and looks great!

Thanks to the Aussies, (or was it the Kiwis?, the debate rages on), for inventing this scrumptious desert. Apparently named after Anna Pavlova, the brilliant russian ballerina, pavlova is easy to prepare, ( at least, the way I do it), and a mouth watering finish to any meal. I was never very good at doing the meringue thing, so I buy the readymade pavlova meringue casing from a cake shop or Spar. You will note a piece of my pavlova is missing in the second photo, and that's because my husband thought I had finished the photo shoot, and ate a piece of the prop, so I had to improvise with a spoon. It turned out pretty good anyway. This dessert is best prepared just before serving, ( or at least a half hour before serving).

You need:

1 Pavlova Casing (Or the one you have made, you clever person)

1 large punnet fresh strawberries

1/4 cup Castor Sugar

1 410gram tin mixed fruit or 1 cup of diced fresh fruit of choice

1 small tin Cling peaches

300ml fresh cream

Bit of mint for decoration

Here's how:

Rinse strawberries and cut in half lenthways. Place in a bowl and sprinkle 1/4 cup castor sugar over strawberries. Cover and place in the fridge for about 30 minutes. Drain the mixed fruit and dice the peaches, (reserve a few peaches for decoration). Place the mixed fruit, peaches and strawberries, (reserve about 6 halves for decoration), in the meringue casing. Whip the cream until stiff. Spoon the cream on top of the fruit and decorate with reserved strawberries and peaches. Add a sprig of mint and voila' , a delicious desert.

"A rose by any other name"..........Making a tomato Rose

I am not sure who should be credited for making a "tomato rose" but whoever it was, thanks for being so creative. A tomato rose set on top of a cold salad or on lettuce leaves in the middle of a starter platter, adds a pretty decorative touch.

Here's How

Use a sharp knife, and carefully peel the skin from the tomato. Twist the tomato skin around a finger and shape into a rose. There you have it.

Papa's Curried Chicken Puffs

It's Saturday morning and "Nanny" is doing a spot of babysitting. My grandsons loved the idea of making chicken puffs and after a delightful mess and half of the filling missing, we managed to make these tasty titbits. The puffs are ideal for a quick snack or perhaps a starter platter. They should be eaten soon after they come out of the oven.

You Need :

1/2 Onion (finely chopped)
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1/2 Cup Water
1 Small tomato (chopped)
2 Potatoes (Diced)
2 Tablespoons Papa's Mild Curry Mix
200 grams chicken fillet (diced)
1 400gram Today Ready Rolled Puff Pastry
Grated Cheese

Here's How

Saute the onion in oil until soft. Add Papa's Curry Mix and 1/2 cup water. Mix well. Add the chicken, tomato and potato and cook until potato is soft. Salt to taste. Cut out small rounds of pastry. Fill half of the round with a little of the chicken filling and a sprinkling of cheese. Fold over and press the edges together. Use a fork to pattern the edges. Place on a lightly greased baking tray and brush with a little egg mixed with milk. Bake at 200 degrees until golden brown. Puff pastry is always best eaten straight from the oven. Try these melt in the mouth puffs, they are good.

"AYOBA" - My Photo for the Day

"The final Kick-Off Tonight" Well done South Africa on a fabulously hosted Word Cup!!!!!

Papa's Prawn Curry - With our new Seafood Mix

Papa's Prawn Curry

                             

                                                               
 You need:

1/4 Cup Olive Oil
1 Tablespoon butter
25grams Papa's All In One Seafood Curry Mix
1 Onion (finely chopped)
1 410gram tin chopped tomatoes
1/2 (125ml) Water
1 Kilo Peeled deveined medium pink prawns
4 Medium Pink Prawn in Shell

 Here's How:

Heat the oil and butter in a saucepan. Add the 4 Pink Prawns and saute until golden. Remove from heat and set aside. Add the onion, and saute until soft. Add 25 grams Papa's Seafood Curry Mix and 1 cup water. Add tomatoes and mix well. Add the prawns. Cover and simmer for about 10 minutes. Serves 4.  Serve on a bed of fluffy white rice and top with a Pink Prawn on each portion. French loaf goes well with this.

Papa's Pasta Salad - Made with Risoni

Papa's Pasta Summer Salads - With curried creamy dressing

You need:-

3 250ml cups uncooked pasta,
pasta rice (risoni) or Conchigliette (small pasta shells)

4 sticks celery (finely chopped)
3 Peach halves , (finely chopped) , (tinned peaches are fine)
1/2 cup sultanas

How to :-

Cook the pasta as per manufacturer instruction. Drain the pasta and rinse with cold water. Place pasta in a bowl and add celery, peaches and sultanas. Add the dressing and mix well. Serve at room temperature. Excellent with cold meats or a braai.


The Dressing

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1 Teaspoon Brown Sugar
1 Small Onion (finely chopped)
3 Teaspoons Papas Curry Mix (Mild)
1 80ml Purity Baby Food - Pureed Peaches
1/2 cup (125ml) Miracle Whip Mayonnaise
80ml Fresh Cream (Whipped)

Fry the onion in the olive oil until soft. Add Papas curry mix, pureed peaches and brown sugar. Mix well and simmer for 30 seconds. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Place mayonnaise in a bowl. Add cooled mixture and stir well. Fold in the whipped cream.

Pytt-I-Panna (Swedish Potato Hash)

This dish is perfect for left-over potatoes. A family member who is Swedish, told me that Swedes eat pytt-i-panna with a fried egg on top.We had this at his house recently, minus the egg and it was absolutely delicious! This also brings back memories of snow covered mountains, exquisite scenery and the marvellous hospitality of the Austrian  people. I recall eating a similar meal, whilst on holiday in Kitzbuhel. (Served with a bit of gluwein, (german hot spiced wine), ok, maybe more than a little bit, on the side. Very comforting in cold weather. In fact, I think the photo I have added was taken that particular night. Not sure whether I was extolling the virtues of pytt-i pana, or the Gluwein, (probably the latter by the look on my face).



 Here is my version:-


1 Small Onion (finely chopped)
6 Potatoes (diced)
5 Rashers Bacon (diced)
3 to 4 German sausages (sliced)
A little dried Parsley.


Dice the potatoes and pre-cook. Add chopped bacon to a saucepan and saute until crisp. Drain off bacon fat, leaving a tablespoon of the bacon fat in the pan. Add onions and saute until soft. Add the cooked potates and German sausage.Mix in. At this stage, I prefer to transfer the mixture to a flat tray and bake in the oven at 180 degrees until the potatoes turn golden brown.(Turn frequently during cooking). Even better, place on the skottelbraai and crisp. Perfect to serve at a braai! Have it for breakfast with the egg on top! Be sure to walk this off the next day!

Steak and Mushroom Pie

You Need:
3 Tablespoons Oil
800 g to 1 kg stewing steak (cubed)
1 Medium Onion (finely chopped)
25 grams Papas Stew Mix
4 large brown mushrooms (cut into chunks)
2 Tablespoons Tomato Paste
1 Ripe Tomato (skinned & chopped)
400g Today Ready Rolled Puff
Pastry ( Or your own pastry}

What to do:-

Brown meat in small batches. Set aside. Saute onion in oil  until soft. Add browned meat, mushrooms tomato and tomato paste. Add papa's stew mix and 2 cups water.Mix well. Cover an simmer until meat is tender. Stir occasionally whilst cooking and add more water if necessary. Place the filling in individual pie dishes or a larger single pie dish.Cut pastry to the shape of the dish and place on top of filling.Shape the edges of pastry and prick with a fork.Brush pastry with egg mixed with a little milk .Bake in the oven at 180 degrees , until pastry is golden brown  Serve with a creamy mash, honey glazed carrots and peas.Serves 4 to 6

Cauliflower Soup - Slightly curried

If you enjoy cauliflower soup this one is for you!

You need:-

3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
2 Teaspoons Papa's Curry Mix (Mild)
1 small Onion (finely chopped)
1 leek (finely sliced)
700grams cauliflower florets
1 cup coconut milk
1 litre chicken stock ( Add 1and a half cubes to 1 litre water)

Here's How

Saute the onion and leek in oil in a saucepan until soft. Add 2 teaspoons of Papa's Curry Mix and mix well. Add the chicken stock and the cauliflower and stir. Cover and simmer until cauliflower is really soft. Remove from heat and allow to cool a little. Place the mixture in a blender, (2 cups at a time) and blend until smooth. Return mixture to saucepan and place on the stove on low heat. Add 1 cup coconut milk,(full cream milk can be used if your prefer), and heat through. Serve immediately with a little grated cheese on top, croutons or chunky buttered bread.

Bouquet Garni

Bouquet Garni


All of you experienced cooks will know exactly what a Bouquet Garni is. I recall the first time I cooked a recipe with this as a requirement, I had no idea what it was and had to look it up.  For all of you who do not know, here it is : a bundle of fresh herbs tied together with a piece of string which is then placed in the stew or dish that you are cooking. Bay leaf, Thyme and Parsley are used, however I add lemon thyme, rosemary and basil to mine. (Fresh herbs can also be tied up in cheesecloth to facilitate easy removal after cooking.I prefer to use the bundle and then remove any stalks left in the pot after cooking.)

Papa's Oxtail Stew - "You're gonna luv this"

I have just been down to the bottom of the garden to feed the birds and man is it cold. Brrrrrrr. The oxtail stew I made last night would be more than welcome today, however it was so good there was none left.  A few good friends, a fire, a bottle of the good old grape and an oxtail stew on a chilly night. Great!! Here is my recipe :-






























Papa's Oxtail Stew

Ingredients

35 grams Papas All In One Stew Mix
1/4 cup Olive Oil
2 kilos oxtail
4 rashers bacon (chopped)
1 large onion (finely chopped)
Half 410g tin chopped tomatoes or two ripe tomatoes, skinned and chopped
1 leek (finely sliced)
2 carrots cut into chunks
1 tin butter beans (drained)
1 and a quarter cup red wine ( I use Robertsons Ruby Cabernet,excellent for stews and to serve with your meal)
Water as needed
Bouquet Garni ( a bunch of herbs tied with a piece of string. Make your own using, bay leaf, rosemary and parsley. I add Basil and Lemon Thyme as well.)
6 small pickling onions ( peeled, leave whole)

What you need to do:-

For the benefit of local people, I buy my oxtail from Richdens Superspar in Hillcrest. Excellent!
Trim the oxtail of all fat. In a large pot, brown oxtail on all sides in small batches then set aside. Add chopped bacon to pot and saute until crisp. Remove excess bacon fat with a spoon. Add oil, onion and leek and saute until soft. Add 1 cup of red wine and mix well. Add the oxtail and the tomato and enough water to just cover the oxtail. Give the mixture a good stir. Throw in the bouquet garni and cover with lid. The oxtail must be cooked on low heat for a few hours so allow to simmer gently.Cooking times may vary. Check every hour, and give the oxtail a good stir. Simmer until oxtail is almost tender,( usually takes about 2 hours), add pickling onions, carrots , butter beans and Papa's Stew Mix. Stir the mixture I usually add more wine at this stage, a quarter cup, however this is optional. Simmer until the carrots are soft. During the last 20 minutes of cooking, check the mixture frequently, If too thick, add more water sparingly and thin to the desired consistency. Serve with baby potates in a parsley butter. ( Heat butter in microwave, add chopped parsley.Coat potatoes). You might prefer to serve with mash or rice.  A french loaf goes well with oxtail too.

Bring out the wine and enjoy!!!

Butternut Soup - "With a tiny bite"

Looking for a starter for a sit down meal? This butternut soup is superb and is quick and easy to prepare. You can buy butternut already cut up,chicken stock is easy to make and "Woolies" have a choice of the most divine croutons. A tip with chicken stock - Make up your chicken stock with less cubes or powder than the manufacturers instructions. I find that it's just too salty,so I use 1 and a half cubes to 1 litre of water. Swirl a little cream and sprinkle a little parsley on top of the soup for an appetising  look.If you want a really creamy taste to this soup use pouring cream instead of coconut milk.

Ingredients

2 Tablespoons Oil

1 Onion (finely chopped)

1/2 cup celery (chopped)

1 kilo butternut cut into chunks

1 litre chicken stock (use 1and a half cubes of chicken stock to 1 litre water so liquid is not too salty)

1cup (250ml) coconut milk or pouring cream

2 Tablespoons Papa's All in One Curry Mix

Here's How

Saute Onion, celery and butternut for a few minutes. Add 1 litre chicken stock and 2 tablespoons Papas curry mix. Stir well. Cover and simmer until butternut is soft. Remove from heat an allow to cool for a while. Place mixture in a blender, (2cups at a time). Blend until smooth. A hand blender can be used too. (if  you don't have one of these,use a masher, mash really well, then use a whisk to smooth).  Return soup to saucepan and stir in coconut milk. Heat through. Cream can be used instead of coconut milk if preferred. Serve with a swirl of cream and croutons. Serves 6 -8

Curried Clam Chowder - For Seafood soup fans

This clam chowder is scrumptious. A marvellous starter for a seafood evening or simply eaten as a light meal with fresh chunky buttered bread. Bon appetit!



You Need:-

3 Teaspoons Papa's All In One Curry Mix (I use the mild for this recipe)
5 Rashers streaky bacon (Cut into small pieces)
1 Medium Onion (finely chopped)
2 Cups Diced Potatoes (250ml cup), less potato of you prefer
1 280 gram tin Clams in Brine (Do not drain)
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup plain flour
1 cup (250ml) chicken stock
3 cups (750ml) full cream milk

How to do it


Saute the bacon in a saucepan until crisp. Remove bacon and place on a paper towel. Discard bacon fat. Reduce heat and melt butter in the same saucepan. Add onion and saute until soft. Remove from heat. Add Papa's Curry Mix and flour and mix well. Add 1 Cup of Chicken stock and 1 cup of full cream milk. Mix well, return to heat. Add 2 more cups of milk and bring to the boil, stirring continously until mixture thickens. Add diced potatoes, bacon and the tinned clams and the brine. Mix well and cook the mixture until potatoes are soft.If you find that the mixture is too thick for your liking,add a little more milk sparingly to thin. Stir mixture occasionally. Serves 6.
Serve the chowder with crackers or chunky bread. 

Skinning Tomatoes

Handy tomato tip - Nothing worse than fishing out a bit of tomato skin from your food so:-

I prefer to skin fresh tomatoes when
adding them to a stew, curry etc.(The riper the better)
Soak tomatoes in very hot water for
a few minutes and then peel. The
skin comes off easily.

Papas Chicken Curry Pie

This chicken pie is really lekker served with potato wedges and a sweet chili sauce on the side. Double up on your mixture if you need to make a bigger pie. Despite what's said about having cold salads with hot dishes, I enjoy a french salad  with this pie.

Papas Chicken Curry Pie
Ingredients

3 Tablespoons Oil
25grams (1/2 Pkt) Papas All In One Curry Mix
1 Cup Water
1 Small Onion (finely chopped)
2 Medium Potatoes (Diced)
600 grams chicken fillet (cut into small pieces)
1/2 310gram tin chopped tomatoes or two ripe tomatoes (skinned and chopped)
400gram Roll of Today Ready Rolled Puff pastry (or your own puff pastry)

Here's How

Fry onion in oil until soft. Add chicken and brown.Add Papas Curry Mix and 1/2 cup water.Mix well.Add diced potatoes and tomatoes.Cook,stirring occasionally until potatoes are soft.Check consistency of mixture whilst cooking and add more water if necessary.Add salt to taste. Place chicken mixture in a suitable pie dish. You can place the mixture in individual pie dishes if you wish. Place pastry on top of filling. Trim and shape pastry. Press sides of pastry with a fork. Prick pastry and brush with mixture of beaten egg and milk. Bake at 200 degrees for 20 minutes or until pastry is golden brown. Serve with wedges and a sweet chili sauce,(I like Wellingtons), on the side.