Hunters Chicken with Saffron Bean Rice

Image 1 Comment 02/09/2019 the wee caledonian cook

This is a classic dish in the U.K, good British pub food, I was keen to give it a go. Easy One pot cooking and can be slow cooked too. Traditionally its served with roast potatoes, however, having loads of rice to use up in my cupboard this was my preferred choice.

Serves 4

For the Chicken

4 Chicken Breasts

4 Bacon slices (smoked)

3 shallots, diced

2 tsp garlic granules or 2 cloves

1 400g tin chopped tomatoes

1 tbsp tomato puree

juice of 1/2 lemon

1 tsp smoked paprika

1/2 tsp crushed chilli flakes

1 tbsp balsamic vinegar

2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

2 tbsp white wine vinegar

1 tbsp hot sauce

1 tsp mustard powder

1 tsp sugar

80g reduced fat cheddar (healthier option)

For the Rice

150g Wholemeal Log Grain Rice

1 x 400g tin of mixed beans

Pinch of Saffron

300ml Vegetable Stock

75-100g chopped Chorizo

Preheat oven to 180 deg.
Wrap each chicken breast with the bacon slice and secure with a cocktail stick
Put all of the other ingredients for the chicken into an ovenproof casserole dish with a tight lid.
Place the chicken on top of the ingredients, put lid on and cook for about 1-2 hours.
Remove from the oven and remove chicken breasts from the dish, set aside. Using a blender blitz the sauce until smooth.
Place chicken into a dish, cover with the sauce and sprinkle the cheese over the top, place under a hot grill to melt the cheese.
Place the rice, beans, chorizo, stock & saffron into the steam pot and cook on Steam setting for 20 minutes.
Serve. Yummy!

Bacon & Vegetable Quiche

Image Leave a comment 19/08/2018 the wee caledonian cook

Sometimes you want home cooked food without the hassle of trying to decided how to cook it and what temperatures etc to use, this was one of those days for me. Sundays are generally my lazy days, a day for recharging the batteries so to speak. I wanted a good home cooked quiche and decided to let my oven do the rest of the work and thinking. Hotpoint have designed a range of ovens with Automatic Recipe settings, the settings are already pre-programmed to control temperature, function and browning control……amazing, I know….right? Oven Range

I used the quiche setting and it was cooked and evenly browned perfectly due to the Multiflow Technology

I also used the Combination Oven with the Crisperplate to cook crispy potato wedges in just 12 minutes, perfect with a tasty quiche.

Makes 1 quiche

1 ready roll puff pastry

200g smoked bacon – diced

1 leek – sliced

handful of asparagus – chopped

200ml milk

200ml single cream

150g grated Gouda cheese

4 eggs

Salt, Pepper & Paprika to season

Grease a quiche tin and lay pastry in covering base and edges.
Gently fry the smoked bacon until slightly browned, remove from pan. Add to the pan the leek and saute for a few minutes.
Meanwhile blanch the asparagus in a pan of salted boiling water.
In a bowl whisk the eggs with the milk and cream.
Start to layer up the bacon and vegetables on pastry, then some of the cheese
Then pour in the egg/milk mixture and rest of the cheese to top, generously season with salt, pepper and paprika
Place on shelf 3 in oven and select auto recipes, quiche setting. The oven comes up 43 minutes but will sense temerature and auto adjust if necessary.

8. Serve….Yum!

Chicken, Bacon & Spinach cheesy pasta

Image Leave a comment 16/06/2018 the wee caledonian cook

Oh yum….that’s all I’m going to say.

I do love one pot meals, quick and easy cooking, especially on a Friday…..you’ve just finished work, weather is awful outside and you just need some home comforts and home comfort food. This is one of my go to recipes just for that occasion. Serve with a chilled glass of chardonnay and its perfection friday.

Makes 2

100g pasta – I used pasta twists but you can use any type

2 chicken breasts – cut into bite size pieces

200g Smoked Bacon Lardons

100g Spinach

1 white onion – chopped finely

salt & pepper

1 tsp crushed garlic

1 tsp spiced red pepper

low cal spray oil

1 cup milk (about 150ml)

1 large handful of grated cheese (I used cheddar), it is also delicious with parmesan.

Spray a little oil in a pan. Fry off the bacon until slightly crispy, add the onion and fry until golden brown. Remove with a slotted spoon.
Fry the chicken until browned all over.
Add back to the pan the bacon and onion, add the garlic, red pepper, salt & pepper and mix through.
Add in the spinach and mix until slightly wilted
Pour in the milk and bring to the boil, then reduce slightly and simmer until pasta is cooked about 10-12 mins.
Add in the cheese and mix through until melted.
Serve.

Delicious!

Breakfast Tartlets

Image Leave a comment 13/05/2018 the wee caledonian cook

This was a quick throw together breakfast this morning. Being out the night before, we woke quite hungry and a simple bowl of cereal or toast was not going to cut it….lol! It’s amazing sometimes what you can put together when you just take 2 minutes to look in your fridge and cupboards! Using my crisper plate these little tartlets baked in just 8 minutes.

Makes 4

1 Roll of Puff Pastry

4 Chipolata Sausages or Wee willy winkies (cocktails sausages!)

4 tsp tomato pasta with Chilli

4 medium eggs

handful of tomatoes (small) halved

8 rashers of smoked bacon

Salt & pepper to season

Preheat the crisper plate for 2 minutes.
Place bacon and sausages onto plate and cook for about 3 minutes
Meanwhile, cut the pastry into squares and with a sharp knife score a 1cm border around the pastry, like a picture frame. Do not cut all the way through.
Remove the bacon and sausages to a plate and wipe dry the crisper plate
Spoon 1 tsp of tomato paste over the centre of the pastry.
Chop the cooked bacon and sausages into small pieces and place onto the tomato paste, leave room in the middle for the egg later.
Place onto crisper plate and bake for 6 minutes, the edges will start to puff up.
Remove plate and crack the egg into the middle of the pastry, add the tomatoes and season. Bake for a further 2m 30 secs. or until desired egg setting.
Remove and devour! Yummy!

Bacon, Egg & Hashbrown Bake

Image Leave a comment 13/05/2018 the wee caledonian cook

I love breakfast time, my favourite meal of the day. I am always looking for new things to try with my Crisperplate and this little recipe was delicious and baked in just 15 minutes too.

Makes 4 servings.

4 Charlotte potatoes – grated with skin on (more flavour in the skin)

8 slices of smoked bacon – back or rashers either is fine

Cheddar cheese – grated (amount to your preference)

6 green spring onions – chopped

6 large eggs

1/2 cup of milk

1 tbsp flour

salt & pepper to season

Grate potatoes and squeeze out excess water, pat dry and sprinkle the flour over to soak up any water.
Preheat the crisper plate for 2 minutes then evenly lay the grated potatoes onto plate and season. Leave some spaces on the plate as this allows the potatoes to crisp up better. Cook for 6 minutes
Place the bacon onto the potatoes and cook for 3 minutes or longer if your prefer extra crispy bacon.
Meanwhile whisk the eggs with the milk and season
Evenly spread the spring onions and cheese onto the bacon and potatoes then pour over the egg mixture and season.
Bake for about 6 minutes or until desired browness.
Serve. Yummy!

Fluffiest Scottish Pancakes Ever!

Image 1 Comment 21/01/2018 the wee caledonian cook

In our house Sunday is always Brunch as we do like a lay in! So today was Pancakes, Bacon and Maple Syrup…..oh so yummy! If I do say so myself, these are the best and most fluffiest pancakes I’ve ever cooked……a full proof recipe that always works.

Makes 8

250g Self Raising Flour

125g Caster Sugar

2 Beaten eggs

Pinch of salt

Milk to mix – about 50ml

Mix the flour, sugar and salt together in a mixing bowl
Add in the egg and mix well
Slowly bit by bit add in the milk until you get a thick batter. (you don’t want it too runny or they won’t puff up as much)
Preheat some spray oil in a pan on medium to high heat
Using a ladle, spoon some of the mixture into the pan in a circular shape about 1/2 cm thick
When it starts to rise and bubble slightly, you know it’s cooked, then flip to other side. (approx 1-2 mins per side)
Remove and continue. Serve warm. Or cool later with some butter & Jam.

Crisperplate Bacon

Image Leave a comment 21/01/2018 the wee caledonian cook

This Crisperplate is just perfect for Bacon, cooks in only 1 minute per slice, no turning, no oil required, easy cleaning after as its non stick, cooking is quicker if its streaky bacon. Sunday morning is always brunch for us, so we were having pancakes, bacon and maple syrup.

Spinach & Maple Bacon Stuffed Beef Fillet

Image Leave a comment 13/01/2018 the wee caledonian cook

This was a magic little find, I love Maple, I love Bacon and I love them together. The Sweet Beet Company are based in North East of England but the owner Lizzy grew up in Texas and Aberdeen too, which is where her inspiration has come from, you can read her story here Lizzys story. Their flavours are unique and scrumptious, I have the oak smoked apple butter to try too (can’t wait for that one).

I made their tenderloin recipe and oh WOW!…that’s all I can say….delicious…delicious!

Makes for 4

Olive oil

4 smoked bacon slices – chopped

4 finely chopped shallots

1 tsp minced garlic

1/2 jar of maple bacon jam

500ml beef stock

200g baby spinach – finely chopped

800g Beef Fillet

125ml pinot noir red wine

2 tsp dried thyme

2 tbsp butter

Salt & pepper to taste

Heat a large fry pan with the oil on medium heat, add the bacon, shallots and garlic, cook for about 4 mins.
Add 250ml of the beef stock until it evaporates, about 5 mins then add in the spinach and cook until it wilts.
Remove and add to a bowl, then add in the maple bacon jam and mix together, set aside.
Preheat oven to 175 deg
Cut beef fillet horizontally but not right through, open up like a butterfly effect, cover with cling film and pound meat with a mallet or rolling pin until about 1/2 inch thickness. Brush beef with a little olive oil and season with salt & pepper.
Spread the spinach mixture evenly over the beef leaving about 1/2 inch around edges. Roll up like a swiss roll and tie at 2 inch intervals with twine. Brush outside of beef roll with a little oil.
Place beef into a baking tin and bake for about 20-30 minutes. Then increase the oven temperature to 230 deg and cook for about 15-20 mins. Remove and allow to rest. Slice and serve. Oh so delicious!
For the gravy, Combine remaining 250ml beef stock, red wine and thyme and bring to the boil. Cook until reduced (about 10-15 mins). If too thin add in some flour to thicken or cornflour. Remove from heat, add butter, gently season and mix through. Ready to serve.

Crisperplate Cheese & Bacon Quiche

Image Leave a comment 29/05/2017 the wee caledonian cook

I’m just loving my new oven from Hotpoint, it comes with a crisper plate which you preheat then cook directly on, great for crisping up food but also great for those crispy bottoms…..which means….no soggy bottoms!! lol!

I decided to try a quiche, normally you have to preheat your oven then blind bake your pastry, this little crisper plate eliminated all of that……..and in just 14 mins my quiche was baked to perfection with a crispy bottom. The plate is 12.5″ in diameter, so perfect family size too.

Makes 8 slices.

1 roll approx 250 g puff pastry

2-3 leeks – finely sliced

300 ml double cream

4 eggs

300 g grated Gouda cheese

8 slices of smoked bacon – chopped

Salt & pepper

1. Preheat your crisper plate (2mins) or your oven to 180 deg.

2. Fry the bacon on crisper plate for 3 mins (no oil required) OR in a fry pan with a little oil until browned.

3. Remove then lightly fry the leeks on the crisper plate with a knob of butter for 4 mins OR in a fry pan until browned slightly. Remove and put to side with bacon.

4. Beat together the cream and eggs then add in the cheese and mix

5. Lay the pastry over the crisper tray or basking dish if using the oven. (Blind bake pastry for about 10mins if using the oven)

6. Lay in the bacon and leeks evenly then pour in the cheese mixture evenly. Season with salt & pepper.

7. Trim off any ends for an even finish.

8. Cook on Dynamic Crisp setting for 14 mins. OR bake in oven for about 25-30 mins.

9. Serve….Yummy!

Hasselback Cheesy Chicken

Image Leave a comment 09/08/2016 the wee caledonian cook

Hasselback potatoes now has competition! lol! Using up leftovers in my fridge again! Tasty wee dinner treat tonight.

Makes 1

1 x Chicken Breast

1 tbsp Lightest Philadelphia (Cream Cheese)

Small handful of cheddar cheese – grated. I used my favourite, Scottish Galloway!

1 Smoked Bacon Medallion

Pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 180 deg.
Place chicken breast on a baking tray and make slices about 1 inch long and 3/4 way down to base.
Spoon cream cheese into slits, then slice the bacon medallion and place a slice in each slit.
Sprinkle grated cheddar on top and finish with sprinkle of pepper.
Oven bake for 25 mins.

Serve….so Yummy!

Chicken, Leek & Bacon Filo Pie

Image Leave a comment 17/04/2016 the wee caledonian cook

A Healthier and Lighter way for a truly scrumptious pie. Love this combination and love the fewer calories using filo. We do love our pie Sunday’s.

Makes 2 pies

2 Chicken Breasts – cubed

1 Leek – sliced finely

4 lean smoked bacon – sliced

300ml milk

1 Chicken Stock cube

2 tbsp flour

1 tbsp nutmeg

15g butter

Salt & pepper

Brown chicken in a medium heat pan, the remove from pan
In the same pan brown the bacon and remove from pan
Saute the leeks in the same pan and remove
Melt butter in the pan and gently stir in the flour to a smooth paste
Crumble the chicken stock cube into the milk and the slowly add to the pan little at a time stirring until thickened.
Add the chicken, leeks, and bacon, season and add nutmeg then simmer for 15 mins.
Brush the filo sheets with melted butter or a little olive oil.
Spoon the chicken mixture into an oven dish equally then scrunch each filo sheet and add to top of mixture in dish.
Bake in an oven 180 deg for 20-25 mins until golden brown.
Serve with some veg or potatoes….Yummy!

I always know I’ve made a perfect pie when my partner leaves nothing on the plate..lol.!

Homemade Brunch Egg Muffins

Image Leave a comment 07/02/2016 the wee caledonian cook

I simply love quick, easy, tasty comfort food and this is one of my favourite’s, especially on a Sunday morning! Today I decided I deserved a treat and had my Sunday brunch muffins with a glass of Bucks Fizz…..perfect pairing!

The great thing with Muffins is anything goes so you can add any flavour and ingredients you please.

Here are some of my fav’s:-

Makes 8

6 Eggs – beaten

Ground Black Pepper to season

These are the basics, you then add in everything you like…………….

Muffin 1 – Smoked Bacon, tomatoes, spring onion, chopped kale, cheddar cheese

Muffin 2 – Mushrooms, courgettes, tomatoes, spring onion, chopped kale, cheddar cheese

Simply place all your ingredients into a muffin tin, pour over the eggs and season. Bake at 180 deg for about 20-25 mins.

Chicken, Bacon and Leek Stew with creamy mash

Image Leave a comment 04/05/2015 the wee caledonian cook

Serves 2

1 x Chicken Breast – cut into small chunks

4 rashers of smoked Bacon – chopped

1 leek – sliced

50ml chicken stock

150ml milk

salt and pepper to taste

1 tbsp coriander

oil for frying

100 g green beans trimmed and chopped

1 onion – chopped finely

75ml creme fraiche

2 Bay leaves

2-3 potatoes – peeled and cubed

Chicken Stew:-

1. Lightly brown the chicken in a pan, add in the bacon and brown further, add in the onion and brown, add in the leeks and cook for a further few mins.

2. Add salt, pepper to taste.

3. Pour in chicken stock and 100 ml milk and bring to the boil, add in green beans and drop in Bay leaves, then reduce to simmer for approx 30 mins.

4. Add in coriander and 50 ml creme fraiche and cook through for a further 5 mins. If your sauce needs thickened add a little flour (or cornflour) and mix.

Creamy Potatoes:-

1. Bring to the boil the potatoes until soft. Drain and mash.

2. Add in 2 tbsp butter, 50ml milk and 2 tbsp creme fraiche and mash up well until smooth and creamy.

Serve both on plate….yum!

Healthy Bacon and Egg Flower Pots

Image 10 Comments 11/04/2015 the wee caledonian cook

My Bacon and Egg flower pots. – Avg calories per serving 250.

4 Lightly Smoked Turkey Rashers

2 Medium Eggs

2 tomatoes

Handful of kale

1/4 Avocado sliced

Ground Black Pepper to taste

1. Pre-heat oven to 190 deg.

2. Lightly spray a few holes in a muffin tin with spray oil

3. Lightly fry the bacon until slightly browned, approx 4 mins. Place into the muffin tin to make a base.

4. Crack the eggs into the bacon base and sprinkle some cracked black pepper on top to taste.

5. Half the tomatoes and place into one of the muffin spaces to cook.

6. Bake in the oven for approx 15 mins or 10 mins if you like eggs runny.

7. Meanwhile bring large pan of water to boil, add Kale and then simmer for 8 mins, drain.

8. Place Kales on a plate then top with bacon/egg cups, tomatoes and avocado. Yummy!

Morning Bacon and Tomato Frittata

Image Leave a comment 28/03/2015 the wee caledonian cook

Love these variations for Brekkie. 225 Calories per frittata

2 medium eggs – beaten

50ml skimmed milk

1 tomato sliced

2 rashers of reduced fat lean smoked bacon

salt and pepper to taste

tablespoon of chives

1. Mix beaten eggs, milk, sat, pepper and chives together set aside

2. Lightly fry bacon with low fat spray olive oil or teaspoon of olive oil until browned

3. Put bacon into an oven dish, slice tomato and place on top

4. Pour in egg mixture evenly and bake for approx 20 mins at 200 deg.

Yummy filling brekkie 🙂 To make this even more healthy add in some Kale.

Crust Free Bacon and Vegetable Quiche

Image Leave a comment 28/02/2015 the wee caledonian cook

A healthier version of your normal quiche. Even without the pastry this is delicious.

Serves 4 (big portions or 6 average portions) – big portion in pic is fish slice size.

6-8 smoked bacon (chopped)

5 eggs

1 red & green pepper (chopped)

1 onion (chopped)

4 spring onions (chopped)

1 tsp dried garlic or 1/2 clove

1 tsp salt and pepper

100ml skimmed/semi-skimmed milk

50-75g grated cheddar cheese

Garnish with Ground Black pepper

1. Pre-heat oven to 200 deg.

2. Lightly fry bacon in a pan for a few mins, then add in onion and fry for further few mins until lightly browned.

3.Transfer to an lightly greased oven dish.

4. Lightly fry the peppers with garlic for few mins then add to oven dish with bacon and onions.

5. Whisk together eggs, milk, salt and pepper.

6. Grate cheese over oven dish mix then pour in the egg mixture evenly.

7. Top with the spring onions and ground black pepper

8. Bake for approx. 30-35 mins. Let cool for 5 mins then serve. YUM!

Savoury Muffins

Image Leave a comment 31/01/2015 the wee caledonian cook

Experimenting in the Kitchen again today. These were tasty and healthy, what’s not to like? Result!

A. Carrot and Sesame Cups – (95 calories, 5g fat, 0.6g sat fat, 7g carbs, 4g protein)

Makes 12

250g Cauliflower

500g carrots

50g oat bran

3 eggs

1 tsp sea salt

50g sesame seeds

1 tbsp sesame oil

1 tbsp of chilli flakes for extra spice (this is optional, but tastes great!)

1. Roughly chop cauliflower and carrot and blitz in a food processor until fine pieces, tip into a large bowl.

2. Add the oat bran, eggs, salt and sesame seeds and mix through.

3. Lightly oil a muffin tin and spoon the mixture into the cups and pat down flat, spoon a little on top a mould to make a rounded top.

4. Preheat oven on Multilevel or fan to 180 deg and cook for 20-25 mins, leave to cool slightly (a few mins) and serve with some fresh salad for lunch or some rice for dinner.

B. Bacon and Leek Frittata Cups – (cal 115, fat 8g, sat fat 2.3g, carbs 3g, protein 6.4g)

Serves 12

150g new potatoes (or you can use sweet potato)

1 tbsp olive oil

2 leeks

8 rashers bacon

6 eggs

bunch parsley fresh or dried

salt and pepper

1. Wash potatoes, slice or dice finely and boil for 10 mins

2. Finely slice leeks, chop the bacon ans saute them on the olive oil until soft and browned.

3. If sliced potato, arrange on bottom of mould, if diced, mash roughly and press into bottom of mould, spoon in the leek and bacon mixture.

4. Whisk the eggs with the salt & pepper and pour evenly into each cup to fill. Sprinkle a little parsley in top.

5. Preheat oven on Multilevel to Fan to 180 deg and cook for 25 mins. Leave to cool slightly (a few mins), then serve with some fresh salad or rice.

YUM…YUM..

Both of these can be frozen and reheated in an oven for 10 mins.

Lentil and Bacon Soup

Leave a comment 25/11/2014 the wee caledonian cook

I love Lentils, filling, tasty and full of goodness. It has to be the Great Scot lentils though, they are just the best.

Makes approx 6 bowls – per serving about 85 calories.

200g Split Red Lentils (Great Scots)

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 white onion – chopped

3 carrots – chopped

5 celery sticks – chopped

1 small potato – cubed

4/5 smoked back bacon – chopped

2.5 pints water

1 vegetable stock cube (knorr)

1/2 teaspoon dried parsley

salt and pepper to taste

1. pour oil into soup pan and heat through

2. Add in bacon and fry until juice runs, then add in onion and fry for another 2 mins

3. Add in carrot, celery, potatoes and lentils and stir for further 2 mins

4. Add in veg stock cube and parsley then top with water, and season.

5. Bring to the boil and reduce to a simmer for 40 mins.

6. With a hand blender or masher mix until smooth or until desired consistency

7. Serve with some warm crusty bread.

THE WEE CALEDONIAN COOK

DISCOVERING MY INNER CHEF

bacon

Hunters Chicken with Saffron Bean Rice

Bacon & Vegetable Quiche

Chicken, Bacon & Spinach cheesy pasta

Breakfast Tartlets

Bacon, Egg & Hashbrown Bake

Fluffiest Scottish Pancakes Ever!

Crisperplate Bacon

Spinach & Maple Bacon Stuffed Beef Fillet

Crisperplate Cheese & Bacon Quiche

Hasselback Cheesy Chicken

Chicken, Leek & Bacon Filo Pie

Homemade Brunch Egg Muffins

Chicken, Bacon and Leek Stew with creamy mash

Healthy Bacon and Egg Flower Pots

Morning Bacon and Tomato Frittata

Crust Free Bacon and Vegetable Quiche

Savoury Muffins

Lentil and Bacon Soup