MADE IT: Bill Granger's Paella

When you watch Bill Granger cooking live, you can't help but fall for his Aussie charm and the fact he always presents himself as a lovely genuine bloke. My mum, the woman who probably (no I lie this is more a fact) owns a million recipes and hundreds of cookbooks, maintains if she met Bill, she'd really like to have him as her mate. And that's the sort of food his cooking easy. Easy food, shared with family and friends to be appreciated and enjoyed. What's not to like?

I was feeling adventurous this week and considering I'd never made one before, well not from complete scratch I decided to make Bill's Paella, from his Everyday Cookbook. Bill never fails to come up trumps with great achievable recipes. If you're going to give this book a go, I can guarantee that you will love Bill's Sticky Chicken with probably the best Asian salad I think I've ever made at home. Its beyond worth a make!!!

Anyway back to my fiesta feast of Paella. I adapted the recipe slightly, to meet the needs of mine and my boyfriend's shall we say, healthy appetites? I added a chicken breast and bought 100g of mussels from Tesco to add a little more protein and flavour. Hand on heart, thanks to Bill, I never thought Paella would be this easy.

Everything I need and a few little extras!

What a veritable feast! This dish pretty much has all my favourite things in it so it was bound to be a winner. I tend to only use Napolina tinned tomatoes. Ok, probably just me being a food snob, but regardless of cost they really do taste better. Only substitute here was having to used smoked paprika instead of sweet. Oh well.

Crisping the chorizo and adding some chicken

I defy anyone who when preparing chorizo can't help but to slip a few slices in your mouth. Bad me I know but the aroma of spicy pork sausage can sometimes prove hard to resist. I browned and crisped the chorizo in what seems like a lot of oil, but the rice base soon soaks it up, so no sleep lost there.

Simmer simmer!

Few mins passed and I seperated my crisp chorizo and chicken mix; it pained me to stop eating bits of sausage! Shallots and garlic were fried together for a few mins, before adding all my delightful spices, the arborio rice (coat in the oil and juices mmm!) and then the chopped tomato and stock. Cover and stir occasionally letting the rice soak up all those lovely goodies in the pan.

A few minutes later...

Give it a few minutes and the pan looked like this, and slightly more promising in the paella stakes. Perfect colour and taste not bad too! Fling in the cooked chicken, chorizo, prawns and mussels, along with some green beans and another ten minutes covered on the hob.

I sense a fiesta coming on!

I gave it the occasional stir to stop it catching on the bottom of the pan; generally on a whole keep your eye on your grub, in the blink of an eye that last bit of sauce or moisture from a dish can vanish, and this lot would be hard to get down your screech without a bit of help from a nice tomato based paprikary sauce.

Finito!

And there we have it! Not much too it but packed full of authentic Spanish flavour. The great thing about this dish, is you can change it to suit you. Don't like shellfish? Whip em out? Pescatarian? Chuck out the chicken and chorizo. Possibilities are endless but all in all a great weekday treat, all washed down  with a bottle of Dino Pinot Grigio; deeeeeeeeeeeeeelish

MADE IT: Cook Yourself Thin Chicken Katsu Curry

Isn't that a complete oxymoron I hear you cry? A HEALTHY curry? Well, in the interest of my wellbeing how could I refuse? I was sat catching up on Cook Yourself Thin on 4oD when I came across this saucy little number for Chicken Katsu Curry when Gizzi Erskine was tackling Zoe - the busy professional in the latest ep.

If someone were to at least mutter the word Curry at me I get excited, so I simply had to give this one a try. The low fat part? Instead of being deep fried in a crispy batter, each chicken breast is smothered in egg yolk, seasoned flour and cornflakes. Yes my friends. Cornflakes. As bizarro as it sounds it was bloody delicious; its got me thinking that maybe cornflake coatings for meat are the way forward!

Zoe, featured in the show along with this recipe, was addicted to her favourite curry which comprised of deep fried crispy chicken slathered in an archetypal takeout curry sauce. She ate it most lunchtimes, portioned with rice, eating at her desk. The curse of all offices, the deskside munching. Goddess Gizzi found a solution to Zoe's naughty nibble of choice and I decided to give it a whirl.

Chicken Katsu Curry

Easy and bloody delish. Ok, so the preparation for the sauce took some time and a little effort, but nothing a foodie can't handle! I served the dish with plain white rice and slapped a bit of Pak Choi on the side so I got my five a day. So there we have it, you literally can have your curry and eat it and boy does it taste every inch its full fat rival!

WATCH IT: Julie and Julia

When it comes to cooking sometimes a tv programme just doesn't cut the mustard (sorry, pun intended!) I've been a Nora Ephron addict for years, and Julie and Julia is no exception. Based on two true stories this film is centred around two women and their two loves of all things food.

Centred on Julie Powell, a woman disgruntled with her day to day depressing job whose brainchild (sorry again, intended pun) is to create a blog, recording her plight cooking all 524 recipes from renowned chef Julia Child's cookbook in a single year.

Everything about this film is joyous. Whether you are watching Julia Child and her husband Paul eat their way around France or Julie Powell struggling with the Lobster Thermidor you can't help but fall in love with their stories and their united passion for cooking.

The story follows two stories, flicking from Julia's muched loved days in Paris, learnt cooking and creating her cookbooks, and Julie's desperation to find a purpose in life and her career, by doing the only thing she knows best, to cook.  It's hard not find a soft foodie spot in your heart for the characters portrayed by Amy Adams and the irrepressible Meryl Streep, who as Child is nothing but faultless. You'll find yourself in utter buttery coated food heaven with this ones my friends!

The best part of this update? I picked up a copy of the DVD with Julia Child cookbook for the bargainous price of £7 in Tesco. A steal. Not only do I own a heartwarming story that tantalises my tastebuds and makes me, let's face it, downright ravenous, I now am the proud owner of 30 of Julia's best recipes from Mastering the Art of French Cooking. (available in full hardback version, see right) Hoorah! Now I get my chance to perfect the art of Boeuf Bourguignon et La Tarte des Demoiselles Tatin. Bliss!

If you're like me and you love your grub and nothing more than a film with a happy ending then this will be right up your cooking street. If you want to find out more about the film then check out the trailer below. Guaranteed winner!!

WATCH IT: Cook Yourself Thin

Hoorah! Now we can have our cake and eat it courteousy of Gizzi Erskine! Cook Yourself Thin returns for a new series this coming Monday on Channel 4 at 2.55pm and I personally can't wait. Sure dieting is trying but not trying to be tasty enough. The solution?? Gizzi and her tasty recipes. Cakes on a diet? Yes you can my friend!

Gizzi is best known for her role as one of the presenters on the original CYT series for Channel 4, and a prominent face on Sky One's Taste. She takes the reigns on her own for the new series to bring us the latest way to diet. We can't wait to sample some of the tasty treats promised for us in this new series.

Chicken Tikka? Skinny Chow Mein and Sticky Toffee pudding? Gizzi is bang on the money with this one. What's better is some of the recipes are available now at Channel 4 so why not get a head start with your guilt free cooking?

If you're from the rare breed of individual who can munch without guilt, then why not treat yourself to Gizzi's Kitchen Magic, (right) a book of pure delight from the kitchen's most glamorous cook!

FAVOURITE READ: Mexican Food Made Simple - Thomasina Miers

Here's what my nose is stuck right in at the minute. I'm a great lover of Mexican food and I’d wasted too many restless nights dreaming of owning my very own Mexican bible and low and behold, here it is!

My culinary prayers were answered this month with the release of Thomasina Miers’ ‘Mexican Food Made Simple’ waltzed onto my bookshelf.

Since purchasing this title from the new godess of Mexican eating I've tested a few of the recipes and hand on heart can assure you they don't disappoint. I've mastered the art of dry roasting for my salsas and now know how to make THE best guacamole; no comparison with the nasty shop bought alternatives. The night when my mexican medley was served was a night of happy eating from me and my boyfriend. Nothing quite beats the satisfaction of fresh tasting mexican flavours, made at home. The time has come my friends.

This book is pure cooking magic. Far from greasy Tex-Mex alternatives, this book goes back to traditional Mexican roots, compiling of refreshing soups and in season alternatives to firm favourites such as burritos and the sometimes troublesome to make tacos. Love your tortilla chips? Fear not as Tommi Miers has got it covered, with recipes ranging from traditional tomato salsa to some more adventurous alternatives. If that sounds too hot to handle then wash it down with a thirst quenching margarita or a baked cheesecake featured in the final chapters of this book. This quite simply is a must buy and to be frank a real investment.

MADE IT: Chicken Terrine Cold plate

There's no two ways about it. When the weather is scorching hot, salad is quite simply the only thing I fancy. Great for diets, sadly not mine. This was last night's offering. A freshly made picnic terrine made from streaky pancetta and a lovely medley of chicken, flavoured with Dijon and a sprinkling of Pistachios for the filling. It seems like a culinary mountain to climb, but with a loaf tin and a bit of patience this is a truely yummy picniccy treat.

Yesterday's dinner, homemade terrine with a watercress and rocket salad medley, coleslaw, pork pie and gherkin

The recipe for the Chicken Terrine comes curteousy of firm food favourite Marks and Spencer, from their own book, Picnics & Outdoor Eating I bought the book on a whim, and quite frankly for £5 think it's an absolute steal!

 
Finishing it all off with a dollop of Chilli Jam and a glass of red. Yum!