Hello, everyone!! I could not wait to write this post because I have tried so many fab new dishes and I knew I wanted to share them with you. I have not really had the time over the last few months due to starting my course and trying to balance everything. However, now I have established more of a routine, I have been cooking more; I have to say I have been loving it! :)
Today I will be sharing a mixture of main meals, sides and desserts. You can look forward to a pudding fail if you read to the end lol... I have found Tik Tok to be the place for discovering new dishes and chefs, their food is all so aesthetic and presented so well compared to when I do mine hehe. Nevertheless, I have found most to be wins!
I hope you guys are living your best life and you get some food inspo from all the dishes I have found and loved :D Enjoy.
1. Cajun Chicken Burger
This was a dish I made a while ago but it was the first burger that I have made that really tasted good. The chicken was moist and the combo of the crispy coleslaw (which I will be including in this post) and the chicken in the brioche bun was perfection. We chose to fry the chicken which I believe helped bring out the flavours and really bring the burger to the next level. We had it as a family and we all enjoyed it and Cajun being one of the my favourite flavours made me like it even more. The skin also was a little crispy which is rare to be able to achieve so that was also a plus. I would for sure try it in the buns they recommend, as sourdough is the best bread!
Tips:
Ensure the chicken skin has a small amount of blackness, that is how you know it is done but also that it has that little crispy touch.
I chose to use sesame buns and I feel that is something different compared to just a plain old bun. It adds more of that crispiness and provides another texture to make the dish that little bit tastier.
Adding something like the coleslaw balances out the rich Cajun flavour and also gives the dish multiple different flavours that go amazingly together.
Keep the rub in a little tub (little rhyme there) and use it on other meats. I would put it on chicken and have it with chips or rice and therefore it is not wasted.
A tasty and scrumptious meal perfect to have at lunch or dinner. Recipe: Cajun Burger
2. Homemade Coleslaw
I have never really been a fan of coleslaw, I am not a fan of mayonnaise so I steered clear of it. However, when I found the burger recipe above, it came with a coleslaw side. I wasn't going to use it, that was until I saw that it was made with yogurt! It then intrigued me so I thought what the hell, it will go well with the burger. Boy was I right! It added the perfect crunch to the burger, balancing the spiciness of the burger with a fresh crunchy texture. It really made me change my mind on the dish and I have had it multiple times since with different meals. It is so versatile and goes with so many different types of flavours and it isn't the usual kind of coleslaw you see as I find them to be too runny and thick; this one has more of a ratio of a lot more veg than yogurt which I much prefer.
Tips:
You can substitute most of the veg. I used white cabbage the first few times then the last couple of times I used red. I can see now after using both why red is the option they choose; it adds more of a sweetness and goes better alongside all of the other textures and flavours.
Using lemon instead of lime makes the dish taste slightly different but still lush. Mum preferred lemon, however I preferred the lime. I would say experiment and see what you prefer.
Be careful on the garlic! It can be hard to grate and sometimes it sticks in clumps and the flavour can be overpowering. I usually only put in 1 small clove as I am not a huge garlic lover.
This side dish is the perfect option if you want to add something to a meal or if your like me, want a more toned down coleslaw. Recipe: Same as above!
3. Sundried Tomato and Chicken Pasta
This may look like a basic pasta dish but it is so much more than that. It is so creamy and the tomatoes add a little spiciness and something a little different. All the flavours melt in your mouth and go so well together; it is one of my favourite dishes I have ever made. A bold statement but so true. I do stand by what I said at the beginning of the post, Tik Tok is the way to go to find bomb recipes! This is where I found this and I have found many more this way. It is a little more complex to make but so worth it because for something so simple, it is super tasty.
Tips:
Be careful if you adjust the recipe for a different amount of people. I only did it for two so there were quite a few ingredient changes, especially with the sundried tomatoes. They are very rich and strong so be sure to work out the correct amounts, otherwise they can overpower the dish.
When cooking the pasta, ensure you have enough water for all of it to cook. I added a little more than required, just because from making it a few times, I noticed if I did not do this it took longer to cook and this is not good as it means I am not eating it hehe.
Adding the cheese is a vital step! The first time I cooked this, this step was removed due to my dad having the dish... he dislikes cheese. However, when making it again for me and the mother, the cheese went back in and there was such a difference! The cheese makes the chicken so melty and sticky, upping the flavour of the dish even more.
I would say one of the best meals and such a go to for me as I love pasta! Recipe: Sundried Tomato Pasta
4. Butter Chicken with Garlic Naan
Another bomb dish and another Tik Tok discovery. It is a mix between a curry as well as butter chicken. The sauce is packed with so much flavour and the garlic naan dipped in, is just on another level. The naans and the garlic rub are all part of the recipe and are made from scratch. It is a long process and of course you have to start early in the day if you want the naans prepped and ready in time for when you cook the butter chicken.
Despite this, I am in love with this dinner! I like spice and there are many in this dish and there is such a balance that everything just goes together perfectly. For the first time, I could not eat it all and this just shows how good it was.
Tips:
Be careful when cooking your naans as they can easily burn! It can be hard to keep an eye on everything so make things easier, mother helped me which I was grateful for. If you are alone, I would say do them first and leave them to keep warm in the oven.
When sizing your naans, ensure you do not make them too thick (unless you like them like that). After having them, we noted that they are quite filling so would definitely make them thinner next time.
Prepare the butter for the garlic rub if you can right before you eat. This is because I noticed that the garlic absorbed the butter and it became too overpowering. I am not a huge fan of garlic so I need the butter to balance it out. However, I feel the rub is needed so make sure you include it!
The perfect hearty meal for an evening, similar to a takeaway just takes longer and is better for you hehe. I found it on Tik Tok but I will link the author's Youtube. Recipes: Butter Chicken - Garlic Naan
5. Dessert Time: Oreo Brownies
Oh yes, Lucy has made a good dessert for once. It was not without failure though. I attempted a mug cake when I had no pudding and lets just say it was utter grim. There I was, eating a spoonful and it was nice and dry... that was before the spoon full of flour I got near the end lol. Now I have confessed, lets move on to the success. This is my first time making these and they were not amazing but still good. The Oreos added something a lil different, that my previous ones didn't have. They had a lovely chocolaty rich flavour but I would do a couple of thing differently. Overall though, a win when it comes to me :) I do find mine never look like the picture though... does anyone else find that?
Tips:
I may have overcooked them because they came out a little hard and crispy. I think I would put them in for five minutes less. It always depends on your oven as it is going to be different from the recipe. The first time is always the test so you know how to cook them next time as it is a fine balance between undercooked and overcooked!
We used unbranded Oreos and they did not have the most oreoy flavour. They were still nice but I would for sure use the actual ones next time. More of a preference than a tip I suppose.
Make sure you break the Oreos evenly so they are throughout the whole mixture. Otherwise you can end up with one brownie full and one with none!
Cut them smaller so they will last longer! Although, that does mean you may be like me and be inclined to have two lol.
A pleasant dessert and one I would recommend. Recipe: Oreo Brownies
The end of the food chats is here! I hope you enjoyed and I would love to know if you try any of these delicious foods and of course we have to give credit to all of the creators of these dishes, I am just here to share the wonderful recipes they have made :) I am blessed to try such amazing food.
I hope you guys are all well and had a good Easter. Spring is here and I cannot wait, it is my fav time of year. As always, stay safe and well. Lucy xoxoxoxo
Me when it comes to amazing food
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