Grapefruit and coconut chicken salad

Another great spring day - Summer is just around the corner! Here we are like busy bees in the garden: we started the herb patch, strawberry flowers are turning into small fruits, the raspberry plants are reviving and the earth of the veggie patch ready to get new seedlings. We already sow cucumber, zucchini, sweet basil, and lettuce in trays. Every day No.1 water his tray of veggies. I really enjoy watching him so excited about the sowing/growing vegetable process.
And you know what? while we were digging the ground, my little paleontologist even found a dinosaur bone. Yes a real one! He said that it would probably be a T-Rex arm. I did not make a picture so I was overwhelmed by the little stars in his eyes... love...

The garden kept us so busy all week end that I had very little time left for the kitchen. After a busy week end in the garden, nothing much was available in the pantry or the fridge. Leftovers of roast chicken, some grapefruits kindly given by a colleague - thanks! - and a need for raw veggies, all in a fresh mix that would suit an 11 month-old. Half an hour later we were all enjoying a fresh grapefruit and coconut chicken salad!

Lentil and ham hock spring salad

What a wonderful spring week we had! This has tickled my taste for salads. But my pantry is still full of winter-ish food like lentils and ham hocks. And veggies like capsicum and tomatoes are not exactly of season yet, so still a bit expensive.

Not a problem, lentils and ham hock gives you a nice end of Winter - early spring salad dinner, and you just need a little bit of capsicum and tomato.
In my native region in France, Alsace, we often eat cured meat like ham hocks (although we don't use this cut of the pork, but rather fillets, belly and shoulder). I love them, they are so flavoursome and require very little preparation as they just need to be boiled up. With a dash of mustard or horseradish, this kind of meat, warn or cold, is delightful! Here in NZ, ham hocks are what you can find at the butchery, although it is very tasty, it has not as much meat as on another cut like fillet or shoulder. And you better don't eat all the ham hock skin and fat, otherwise it is not as healthy - it's just a matter of being reasonable!

And the best? If you have lentil leftovers or cans, then it will take you less than 30 mins to make this nice meal for your family. Enjoy your spare time in spring!

Ingredients (6 servings)

- 2 ham hocks
- 600 g brown lentils, cooked, cold (dry or can)
- 1 large red capsicum
- 2 tomatoes
- 1 shallot
- 1 or 2 tbsp grainy mustard (to taste)
- 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 3 tsp red wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp water
- greens
- salt, white pepper

Preparation (30 mins)

1. Wash the ham hocks under cold water. Then put them in a large pot, cover with water and bring to the boil for 10 mins in order to wash all the impurities.
2. Dice the tomatoes, chop the onion and the capsicum. Mix with the lentils.
3. To make the dressing, mix together the mustard and the oil. Then add the vinegar. If the dressing is a bit too vinegary to your taste, then add a dash of water, but not more oil. Season with salt and pepper. Mix in the salad. You can either this salad on the top of some green leaves or mix them in.
4. Carve thin slices of ham hock to serve with the salad. Or if you prefer dice the ham hocks and mix in the salad.

Bon appetit!

Creamy couscous pudding

Today I want to show No.2 my genuine gratitude for the extra 2 hours of sleep we are all getting since Sunday! MER-CI! Loving daylight savings!!!
I don't write often about my very little one. It's probably because somewhat we don't know each other as much - as compared to his big brother -, yet. But we make progress every day.

I now respond to two very familiar, but distinct and how charming, voices when they say 'Maman'.
My No.2 is very cheeky: he crawls away as soon as he sees me around the corner; and he knows that I can be quite impatient, when it has come to cuddle times!
My No.2 is so charming: since very little, he waved bye-bye at people; a bit more recently, he sent flying kisses to his close circle; he is now kissing maman in exclusivity! I am so in love with my almost one-year-old bubba that I have already forgotten the poor nights of last months and the grumpy week-ends... and all the rest!... not so far from feeling ready to take the next step in my mum-career, which might be the nightmare of another Big Dinosaur...

Let's focus on the present step, and the present has come to me feeding 4 dinosaurs, all at the same menu - very important detail! No. 2 is ready to eat by himself what's in our plates. So I decided to focus even more on healthy meals for the whole family - this doesn't mean no more treaty recipes here, we have some parties upcoming so I need to do a bit of testing/experimentations in the next few weeks -.
In order to thank my very little one (I did not write 'to fill him more and more and to get him asleep longer in the morning), I prepared a healty pudding special for him but also for the whole family! Jackpot!

This couscous pudding is inspired by some French couscous gateau, but creamier, egg-free, just slightly sweet thanks to the addition of sultana and dry apricots. It is smooth, full-filling and health. Not only it is yum, but it is looking great! Don't you think?

I prepared this kind of pudding for my children since they were around 8 months. I prepare 5 to 6 little jars for the whole week (can be kept in sterilised jars in the fridge for up to 5 days), when it has been devored before by some bigger dinosaurs.

Goat cheese, bacon and Rata honey tartines with dried figues

You'll love this classic French and simple dinner. You just need some bread, bacon, and goat cheese. Any real French has goat cheese in his fridge! Then to make those goat cheese tartines look and taste more fancy, just add a little bit of honey - I used Rata Honey kindly offered by Airborne for me to experiment NZ honey -, thyme and dried figues. Serve with green salad with Rata honey dressing and don't forget a glass of Pinot Gris or Chardonnay.

Airborne Rata Honey suited these tartines to perfection: creamy, buttery and slightly salty, it brought a nice balance to the saltiness of the bacon and to the tang of the goat cheese. This honey revealed its whole potential in the dressing while it brings sweetness and softeness in to the sharpness of the mustard and vinegar mix. Nice!

Quick, easy and a touch of fancy - ideal for busy moms and for busy host!

In France, we often prepare such tartines for quick dinners or as a gourmet entry when hosting friends. One may like replacing the goat cheese with blue cheese or cream cheese and sprinkle with some nuts, but my preference goes to the goat cheese.

There are not limits to your creativity to make gourmet tartines! What would be your favourite topping?

Ingredients (3 servings - 2 tartines/serve)

- 6 thick slices of bread*
- 125 g of soft goat cheese (more or less to meet your greediness!)
- 3 slices of bacon, stripped
- 2 tbsp of honey, slightly heated (15-20 secs in the microwave)
- thyme
- 6 dried figues

Dressing:
- 1 tsp French mustard (generous)
- 1 tsp sunflower oil
- 1 tsp red wine vinegar
- 2 tsp white wine vinegar
- 1 tsp Rata honey
- 2 tsp warm water

Preparation (~ 20 mins)

1. Pre-heat the over, grill function, at 210C.
2. Toast the bread under the grill until slightly coloured - takes approx. 4 mins each side.
3. Take the bread out of the oven and crumble the cheese over and sprinkle the bacon strips. Drizzle the heated honey and sprinkle fresh thyme over the cheese..
4. Bake under the grill for 6-7 mins - but check the colouration.
5. Prepare the dressing: brisk together the mustard and the oil until smooth and well combined. Then gradually mix in the vinegar, the honey and the water. It's ready!
6. Serve the tartines on the top of greens and drizzle a little bit more honey.
7. Don't forget the figues! I forgot them on the pictures, but they definitively add a plus to the dish

Bon appétit!

Good to know...

* Here I used home-made cereal bread, but any rustic-ish bread would suit.

Avocado, ricotta and shrimp spaghetti - As quick as lightning!

Back to working days... And I've been quite lazy about shopping this week-end, so I had to deal with what was left in my cupboards and what was left of my time after hours to make dinner.
I quite like this kind of cooking challenge, although it does not necessarily bring up my favorite style of food. But tonight I was very happy with my creation given that it took barely 20 mins off my time watching my little one first adventure, exploring our place and crawling backward #stupidproudmom

Today, on the menu: Avocado, ricotta and shrimp spaghetti - humble, but incredibly quick n' easy! Perfect for busy working moms and daddies willing to give a hand in the kitchen ;) Would also work well for students busy with their dissertation or exam preparations, cook beginners wanting to impress friends, families watching on the budget and starving people looking for a healthier option than fish n' chips... Well, it should work for anybody though!

Lime marinated beef kebab, chickpea and pumpkin casserole

I try to provide a variety of meals to my family. I recently posted a Mexican-style pork chili, a prawn and noodle Thai soup and some French cuisine-inspired dishes. But foremost, I cook like I feel. 

After the chocolate cake topped with chocolate ganache that we shared with our neighbours yesterday, today, I felt like something healthy but flavoursome and spicy but not hot. I also wanted something very quick to cook - Monday is only the first day of the week, it's safer to save some resources for the rest o fthe week. My dinos wanted meat.
So I came up with this North Africa-inspired marinated beef kebab with a chickpea and pumpkin casserole served on couscous. And yes, this took me only 30 minutes or so to make it! And jackpot for busy moms to little bubba, the chickpea and pumpkin casserole can be blended or puréed. Chickpeas are rich in protein and low in fat, so a very healthy option. This recipe also follow proportions as recommended by WW* - so a tasty healthy meal for little and big dinosaurs. Enjoy!

Prawn, ginger and coconut vermicelli soup - Thai inspiration

I quite knew it wouldn't be easy to conciliate children, dinosaurs, work, a passion an obsession for cooking and eating, a healthy and balanced dietary, and a cooking blog. Well I never claimed I would post fabulous recipes everyday, anyway. But what I did not expect was that No.2 would start teething and having poor poor or quasi non-existent nights, the same week I would finally start my blog!
Consequence: As usually, when I am under stress or tired, I compensate with food - Catch 22!
Tonight, I thus chose a rich and comforting, but so easy, Thai-inspired prawn vermicelli soup, a tiny bit spicy (or more just as you like!)

Ingredients (6 servings)

- 36 raw prawns, peeled (tail on)* 

- 300g rice vermicelli (dry)

- 350g of mixed veggies including: strips of red capsicum, broccoli, thin strips of carrots, chopped spinach, chopped green beans*

- 10g chinese black mushroom (dry, also found as dried fungus)

- 165 ml coconut cream

- 1.5 L chicken stock* 

- 40g fresh ginger, crushed

- 1 or 2 tsp red curry paste (to your taste)

Pasta al tuna and cheesy sauce

Just once would not hurt... Today I left work a bit late. So I picked the kids from the creche a bit late, too.
In the car...
"Maman!!!! Can I have a biscuit?"
"No, it will be dinner time by the time we get home." Starting to think about what I could make for dinner

5 minutes later in the car...
"Maman, I'm hungry."
"We'll be home soon." thinking more...

3 minutes later, still in the car...
"Ma-Man, I'm starving!"
"Yep, yep, we'll be home soon." Still no idea of what I could make for dinner... thinking harder...

2 minutes later, still in the car...

"MA-Man!!! I'm staaaaarving!!!!"
Now seriously considering the take-away option, I am asking my 4 years-old: "What would you like to eat for dinner?"
"PIZZA!!!!"
"Mmmm, well, that's not really my idea of a healthy meal and we won't have time to make pizzas."
"No Maman, we'll get from the take-away."
"No honey. What about pasta?"
"Nooooo! PIZZA! I've lots of money in my piggy bank."
"Let me think honey..." At this stage, while I'm driving, I am also thinking very hard of what I could find in my cupboards...

1 minute, 2 minutes, 3 minutes... hah he's finally asleep... Yay!!! I have few minutes to think freely about my express meal for tonight.

6 pm, we are home. Unsurprisingly, the little fairy did not make dinner for us. I open the fridge: I can see a small piece of mozzarella, tasty cheese, bacon, gherkins, olives... well,  not very inspiring...
The pantry: a can of tuna and pasta! Yay! I've got proteins and carbs, I need fibres, vegetables... I find frozen peas and frozen broccoli in the freezer.
Now, I need a sauce! I return to the fridge: no cream, no ricotta, or cream cheese. I return to the pantry. A can of tomatoes? No, we already had tomatoes yesterday... And miracle! I find a can of evaporated milk. What the hell is that? I remember buying from the store while I was doing WW and thinking: "well, there's less fat than in cream and they say it can be used as cream in sweet or savoury dishes. At least, I've got to try once". The very first has come; I'm making 'Pasta al tuna and cheesy sauce'.