Tried anything new this week?

[StirlingTheStrong]

I try to give new meals a try every couple of weeks. This week I made a chicken noodle soup (with lots of added veg) and the dc loved it!

Have you tried a new meal this week and did the family enjoy it?

I tried Jamie Oliver's korma last weekend. We all loved it and I am making it again tonight

I wish.

My family seem to like eating the same old boring meals week in week out (well ds and dh do should I say)

Ermm ... a chilli I made for DH and I was too spicy so I stirred some creme fraiche into it and it were lovely! Does that count?

8 year old DD tried cheese omelette today (after a couple of years of refusing omelettes) and declared it to be absolutely gorgeous. So am very pleased with that.

Last Sunday the dcs had roast pork for the first time and they really liked it. Hooray!

This week I'm going to make Nigella's minestrone and persuade the dc have some.

When I make Chilli, I put a dollop of creme fraiche on top for the dc to stir in.

I made Falafels last night and they tasted delicious, lots better than they looked DD (V. fussy diner) even managed to put one to her lips before telling me she didn't like it, which is a good sign!

I made Nigella's Fast Ragu (shown on th eNigella Express prog this week)to have as Spag Bol meal and DH scoffed the lot in double quick time! Me to I have to say. Yummy.

Made the Weight Watcher's Quick Veg curry which was nice - really fresh and light and made a good lunch stuffed into wholemeal pitta breads.

Made notnowbernard's lentil curry - also nice, cheap as chips and easy peasy.

I am making jerk chicken, rice and peas for the first time tomorrow so will let you know how it turns out

Ooh, lovely!@cyteen. I have been trying to make rice & peas for years and it always turns out like coconut-flavoured mush , despite following the strict instructions of various Master Rice & Peas Makers over the years . Let me know how yours turns out.

I too am v interested in the whole idea of rice and peas but have always felt scared to try! Don't know why. Perhaps I fear disappointment ... will watch with interest. Will you report back?

I did Delias mediterranean vegetable lasange, I know it's only lasagne but I'm very proud of now being able to do a proper white sauce. DH loved it!

Ooh, I've done the Med Veg Lasagne before - very tasty isn't it?

I've got a recipe for the chicken with rice and peas. Looks nice but haven't tried it yet. Cyteen, do you use coconut milk in yours?

Have just had Jamie Oliver's sizzling beef and spring onions, with black bean sauce. Quite nice, but the black bean sauce was a bit too sweet, so will maybe try a different brand next time.

Oh, also, last night had JO's cod wrapped in bacon with rosemary. Not so good - the saltiness of the bacon totally overpowered everything else.

Can you tell I've just bought his book?! Sweet potato and chorizo soup next week!

I've done the Sweet Potato & Chorizo soup. It was tasty but was more like a puree, very thick. I would probably add more stock next time.

I did brisket of beef in slo cooker with passata/red wine/herbs/onions/garlic.

I also made a french style custard (well creme patiserre sp?) tart for the first time (for a birthday).

Both were very good.

Thanks for that tip, Stirling. I'm thinking of fishing out the chorizo before whizzing as I'd prefer it as chunks!

Aldi do 5 whole seabass for 7.99. Beautiful. Kids loved it faces and all but a bit of a bother getting out the bones for dd 7yrs. DD1 10 coped fine. Will do again.

Wow, thats good spudsmasher. Shall take a look in the local Aldi.

Stinky, I prefer the chorizo in chunks too.

I will indeed report back Have no idea what I'm doing but picked up my recipe from a man of Guyanese extraction who posts on another board I use. Apparently the rice is cooked in a mixture of chicken stock and coconut milk. The chicken is jerking away in the fridge , the marinade smells totally nuclear!

Am pleased to report that the meal was awesome absolutely delicious and cheap to make as well. I'll post up the recipe if anyone wants it.

Me please. Sounds yummy.

Went to visit parents this weekend and Mum did a lovely gnocchi + gammon + mushroom + cheese thing, but TBH anything with a pack and a half of Boursin melted into it is going to be good.

Jerk chicken marinade

Soy sauce
Garlic
Scotch bonnet chillies
thyme
allspice
fresh grated nutmeg
groundnut oil
onion(s)/shallots
spring onions
salt
black pepper
lime juice
sugar
brown sauce/worcester sauce/cassareep(cassava 'sap')

Whizz it all up in a food processor, then mix together (with white vinegar/cider vinegar if you like it a little more marinade liquid rather than paste) with chicken portions and leave for 1/2 days.

Rice and peas

Cook long grain/basmati by absorption technique, using a mixture of stock and coconut milk (I did 8oz rice in one can of light coconut milk + three quarters of a pint of chicken stock). Fry onion in big wok or similar pan, add the cooked rice and then a can of caribbean mixed peas and beans (I used black eyed beans as that was all I had in), allspice, a bit of chopped chilli, nutmeg, perhaps a little extra coconut and thyme. I added some spring onions towards the end too.

Shall give that one a go Cyteen, it sounds lovely. Did you cook chicken in the pan or in oven?