Tis the Season for Jersey Royals: Herb and Garlic Roasted Jersey Royals with Courgettes

The fact that I wanted to roast these little tats induced a look of horror on my gf's face. But, I persisted and once I had proven to her (by way of google) that it was perfectly acceptable to do so, I was allowed to go ahead.

It's a really simple recipe and so easy. Plus, taste-wise, it's something a bit quirky and in my opinion, a refreshing twist to the old roasties.

They also taste a bit different. Because the skins are on, roasted Royals taste a little bit like baked potatoes but because they're dainty, they're look like roast potatoes.

And it is the season, after all...Plus I have it on good authority this season doesn't last long, so let's make the most of our Jersey royals...

Ingredients:

2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
4 bay leaves, finely chopped,
1 sprig of rosemary, leaves only, finely chopped
2 sprigs of thyme, leaves only, finely chopped
rapeseed or sunflower oil
Chicken salt or Oxo chicken flavour granules (wrong, but good-wrong)
1 large courgette, cut into batons
Jersey Royals
pepper

Instructions:

1. par-boil the potatoes for about 10-15 mins and drain.

2. pre-heat oven to 200 degrees.

3. place potatoes in an oven-proof dish (i prefer cast iron)

4. drizzle with the oil and shake.

5. mix up the herbs and garlic and coat the potatoes.

6. season with chicken salt and pepper.

7. roast in the oven for 20 mins and then add the courgettes, shaking them in to coat them.

8. roast for a further 15 mins and then serve.

We had ours alongside lamb cutlets and they were gorgeous! The pictures didn't come out particularly well so I won't be putting them up this time around :-(

Faux Fried Chicken with Panko Crumbs New Orleans Style

I've been trying to perfect my 'faux' fried chicken ever since my gf bought me a bag of panko crumbs (genius little things, you all have to get some). Last night, my third attempt, I got them just right. Inspired by the flavours of New Orleans style-cooking, along with a desire not to deep fry my food (at home anyway), let me present to you my "awesome" faux fried chicken.

Ingredients:

1 x pack of chicken drums and thighs (5-6 pieces is ideal)

1 x mug of panko crumbs

3 x garlic cloves, roughly chopped

1/2 red chilli, roughly chopped

4 sage leaves, roughly chopped,

1 sprig of rosemary, just the leaves

4 small sprigs of thyme, just the leaves

1/2 tsp 'mixed up salt' (a product that may only be available in the states, but ample smoke salt and pepper will work too)

2 tsps Cajun seasoning

A 'glug' of rapeseed or sunflower oil

Instructions:

1. Blend all of the ingredients above in an electric blender, except the chicken. Taste - to check the seasoning and add more as required.

2. Score your chicken drums and thighs, pat dry.

3. Rub them with the panko crumb mixture - they don't have to be evenly coated, and the coating shouldn't be too thick.

4. Place in a well oiled baking tray - I would recommend cast iron.

5. If you can, leave them to rest for about an hour. If you can't, chuck them straight into a pre-heated oven at 180 degrees for about 40 minutes, checking half way through.

As you will see from the pictures, I served with purple sprouting broccoli and sliced potatoes in a cheese sauce - I'm still perfecting this one, but what I would say if you want to try it, because oh my god, it goes really well, serve the potato separately as mash, and just do the broccoli in the cheese sauce (Delia's cheat white sauce with whatever cheese you fancy is another piece of ingenuity!).

Happy faux frying :-)

Re-Discovering Lost Cuts: Roasted Hand of Pork and Creative Ways to Eat the Leftovers

Last weekend, my gf and I were mulling around the farmer's market in Beckenham, and of course were drawn like magnets to a bustling butcher's stall. Here we found a huge joint of 'Pork Hand.' It's sort of leg and shoulder and tastes like a cross between ham and shoulder - gorgeous!

The first night we roasted it (but you need to be prepared to put in the hours with this one as it needs a lot of cooking). It's pretty simple to get it right though and a perfect Sunday dinner:

1. Season the underside with salt and pepper; Sear the skin and rub in ample salt; 
2. Sear the skin in a pan; chuck in on a baking tray, cover and put in the oven at 150 degrees; 
3. Go to the pub; 
4. Check in two hours; remove cover if it needs crisping up; 
5. Go back to the pub; 
6. Return in two hours; rest (the pork not yourself); boil some potatoes for mashing and fresh spring greens; serve with gravy. Yum.

Scoffing the leftovers....

My favourite has been a sort of Southern, pulled pork with kidney beans that I whipped up this morning, so quick and easy it was done by the time I was out of the shower and ready to be packed into little takeaway containers:

1. drain a can of kidney beans but don't rinse. Cover with a little water and add about two teaspoons of fajita mix. Boil.
2. Shred the pork and mix in some Cajun spice.
3. Pack both into separate containers.
4. When lunchtime comes, heat both on a place for 2.30 mins (stirring half way through).
5. Serve with hot sauce, salsa, gauc and sour cream (or eat as it is, whatever you prefer).

So tasty, I'll be having it again tomorrow, that's if I can keep my work colleagues away from it!