Crunchy Chicken Nachos with Guacamole

Always a favourite, Nachos can be made on the cheap, but also taste absolutely incredible! From fresh produce to succulent meat, this nachos combination is perfect for the family, and also as a cheeky solo meal!

 

Crunchy Chicken Nachos

Serves 3

 

Ingredients:

1 x bag original salted Doritos or cc's or any corn chips

1 x avocado

1 x Old El Paso Crispy Chicken Seasoning (35g)

2 x chicken breasts

1 x tin Old El Paso Refried Beans

1 x Lime

1 x Chilli (for flavour if you want)

1 x Salsa of your choosing (homemade or bought)

Handful or more of mozzarella cheese

 

 

 

Method:

Preheat oven to 200C

Line a baking tray with baking paper

Spread the corn chips over the baking paper evenly

Slice the chicken into 1cm thick strips

Put chicken strips into a clipseal bag with seasoning and shake until coated
(This is something the kids can help you with, or just an entertaining job for yourself)

Pan fry the chicken in olive oil and cook until crispy
(make sure the heat is on low as you don't want it to burn)

Spread the cooked chicken over the corn chips

Pour the refried beans into a microwaveable container and heat for 30 seconds

Spread evenly over the chicken and corn chips

Pour salsa over the corn chips and top with the cheese (as much or less as you like)

Put nachos into oven and cook until the cheese is nice and crispy (or gooey)

Whilst nachos is in oven, make up your guacamole with the avocado

Chop the avocado and put into a bowl. Use a fork and mash the avocado and add salt, pepper and lime juice

 

 

 

Once the nachos has been cooked, put onto a nice board, the guacamole on the side and enjoy with a nice salty margarita or cold beer!!!

Easy, Creamy Carbonara

Well it has been awhile since I have entered the world of blogging! My apologies to everyone - life has gotten in the way!!! I wanted to post this quick and easy recipe of my family favourite, Carbonara!

 

This recipe is so simple and easy to do! You can cook it in a big batch for lunches or large family dinners, or cook small quantities for fussy eating kids (we all know they exist!)

 

This recipe can be altered and things added or taken out - it is so easy and delicious you will be wishing you made more!

 

 
Easy Creamy Carbonara

Serves 4
Can be Gluten free is the appropriate pasta is bought

 

Ingredients:

3 cups of Pasta (I like the bowties but you can use anything!)

1 cup light cream

1 x chopped brown onion

2 cups sliced mushrooms

2 cup chopped bacon (rashers are fine to use)

Handful of basil leaves

Parmesan Cheese

Salt and Pepper

EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil)

 

 

 

 

Method:

1. Put pasta into a pot of water and bring to the boil until Al Dente (How you like it)

2. Sauté the onions and bacon in EVOO in a pan on medium heat until cooked

3. Once the onions and bacon are cooked, add the mushrooms and basil leaves

4. Pour the cream into the pan and turn heat to low.

5. Sprinkle Salt and Pepper into sauce mix and stir through

6. Pour pasta into bowls and pour sauce on top

7. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese!

 

 

Gluten Intolerance - What it is and how to cook for it!

 

Welcome back my lovely readers to another tantalising post by yours truly! I wanted to go through with you all some of the most common misconceptions about Gluten Intolerance and Coeliac, and how you can avoid them while still cooking ridiculously amazing and delicious food for yourself, friends or family!

 

Over the course of the next week, I will go through Lactose Intolerance, Nut allergies and Vegetarianism so we can all learn what they are and cook some delicious recipes!

 

 

Lets start off with the big one - Gluten Intolerance (or coeliac disease!)

 

Gluten Intolerance (Coeliac)

Currently, 1 in 70 Australians have the Coeliac disease. Over 20% of the population has an intolerance to Gluten and whilst this number is growing, the general food and beverage community is working hard to accommodate this fairly common food intolerance/disease.

 

There are a few misconceptions about the Coeliac Disease which I wanted to point out;1. You Cannot catch Coeliac Disease from someone who has it. It is a generically passed on disease that can be present from birth, or triggered later in life

2. This disease can be very serious if it goes untreated - this can be done at any doctor's office

3. Gluten is not an additive in food as some people would think. It is present in the following foods';

 

 Pasta, Breads, Biscuits, Cake, Muffins, Pastry, Cereal, Beer, Oats, Gravy, Salad Dressings, Most common sauces, Fried food, Processed meats (ie - sausages, hot dogs, patties)

 

For more information regarding the severity and symptoms of Coeliac Disease and the difference between intolerance and the disease, please go to the Coeliac Disease Website! - http://www.coeliac.org.au/coeliac-disease/ 

 

Now for the fun! Lets go through two recipes I absolutely adore! The first one is the famous Sweet Potato Chips. I have been a fan of these for years! They are perfect as an after work/school treat, side to a meal or even in a salad! I cannot get over them! They also go perfectly with the avocado hummus recipe from last week - try them both out!

 

 

 

Sweet Potato Chips

Serves 4Gluten free, vegetarian friendly, lactose free.

 

Ingredients

2 Large Sweet potatoes, peels and chopped into 1cm thick chips

2 tsp Paprika (make sure this is organic paprika)

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Salt and Pepper

 

 

Method:

1. Pre heat oven to 190C fan forced

2. Line a baking tray with baking paper

3. Place sweet potato chips, olive oil and paprika into a snap lock bag and shake until coated (this may need to be done in batches)

4. Space chips out evenly on baking tray (again, may need to be done in batches)

5. Cook for 30 minutes, checking every ten minutes and flipping chips over

6. Once cooked, serve straight away

 

 

Note: This recipe goes great with the Avocado Hummus in the previous blog posts!

 

This recipe I stumbled across accidently. I didn't have a lot of money in the bank and needed to make a dinner for my amazing man and wanted to impress. However as most of us know, finding time to cook, go to work, clean the house/apartment and other bits and pieces is a task! I got this dinner organised in the morning using my very amazing Slow Cooker!

 

This recipe is simple, delicious and takes absolutely no time at all - just put it all in the slow cooker in the morning, and when you get home, cook the rice and serve!

 

 

 

 

Chloe's Slow-cooked Chicken Curry
Serves 4

Gluten Free, Lactose Free

 

Ingredients

8 chicken drumsticks (skin on or off)

2 brown onions (chopped finely)

1 red capsicum (diced into large cubes)

1 long red chilli (sliced finely)

1 handful of parsley

EVOO

Salt and Pepper

4 tsp Cayenne Pepper

1/4 cup White Wine

8 Fresh Roma Tomatoes (roughly chopped)
8 x chat potatoes peeled.

 

Method

1. Put the chicken, oil and spices into a bag and shake until coated

2. Put all the ingredients into the slow cooker

3. Turn slow cooked on low

4. Cook for 8 -9 hours on Low, or 4-5 hours on high until chicken is cooked

5. Once you get home, check the chicken is cooked through and turn slow cooker on high
6. You will need to take the bones out of the curry (this can be done using a fork and tongs)

6. Cook the rice, or gluten free pasta al dente

7. Serve the curry with a spring of parsley on top!

 

 

 

 

Thank you again for reading today - I would love to hear about how you went with these recipes!

 

If you have any further questions regarding any of the posts on this blog, please comment of email
cookingmadesimple.chloe@gmail.com

 

Thanks again and Enjoy! 

Clo xx 

Easy, Cheesy Meatballs!

This one is just a quick recipe for all the lovely people out there trying to work out what to do for dinner tonight! This quick, easy and super delicious recipe takes absolutely no time at all and can be packed full of vegetables for the little minions who don't like their greens!

 

Easy, Cheesy Meatballs!

Serves 4 - 6 peopleGoes perfectly with pasta or vegetables!
 

 

Ingredients:

500g x lean beef mince

1 x Large egg

1 x onion (finely diced)

1 x broccoli head (finely cut up)

1 x capsicum (finely chopped)

1/2 cup x breadcrumbs (this can be left out for the GF people)

1 x tbsp. EVOO

20 x Cubes of cheddar cheese
(this can be any form of cheese, however I found cheddar to be delightful!)
1 x handful of basil leaves (chopped finely)
Salt and Pepper
1 x jar pasta sauce
(or you can use a home-made one!)

 

 

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180C

2. Mix all ingredients together in a bowl so it is well combined

3. Roll mixture into 2cm balls, with the cheese cube in the middle and put to the side

4. Pan fry batches of 6 meatballs on medium heat until browned

5. Place meatballs in oven proof dish

6. Once all meatballs have been put in oven proof dish, pour pasta sauce
all over, covering the meatballs

7. Sprinkle cheese over the top and put into oven for 20 minutes.

8. Check meatballs with knife to ensure mince has cooked through

9. Serve with pasta, vegetables or a salad!

 

 

Enjoy your fabulous long weekend Sydney Siders! I know I will be relaxing at Coogee Beach with my man, and indulging in good food and great wine!

 

C xx

Avocado Hummus with a twist!

This is my new favourite recipe with two of my favourite ingredients... AVOCADO AND CHICKPEAS!

 

These two fabulous ingredients have so many benefits and can accompany any meal or snack you heart desires! I have put a chilli twist in mine for those who like the heat, however it can easily be taken out! I also wanted to share with you some of the benefits of these ingredients!

 

 

The nutritional benefits of hummus can be rooted down from each of its ingredients. For one, chickpeas are very healthy because they do not contain any cholesterol or saturated fats. They are also rich in protein. This makes hummus a favourite among vegetarians. Chickpeas are also known to be effective in preventing build up of cholesterol in the blood vessels. Apart from that, it can maintain correct blood sugar levels!

 

 

"Avocados offer nearly 20 vitamins and minerals in every serving, including potassium (which helps control blood pressure), lutein (which is good for your eyes), and folate (which is crucial for cell repair and during pregnancy). Avocados are a good source of B vitamins, which help you fight off disease and infection. They also give you vitamins C and E, plus natural plant chemicals that may help prevent cancer. Avocados are low in sugar. And they contain fiber, which helps you feel full longer." (Sourced from: http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/all-about-avocados)



 

Now for the fabulous, delicious and ever wonderful recipe! For this one, I use my favourite appliance in my kitchen, The Breville Food Processor! This amazing contraption has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler and easier - and for this recipe it cuts the time in half! You can buy it from any good appliance store, personally I got mine from Harvey Norman!

 

 



 

Avocado Hummus Dip
Makes 3 cups
Gluten Free, Lactose Free & Vegetarian Friendly

 

Ingredients:

4 x Ripe avocados (peeled and de-seeded)

2 x cans of chickpeas (drain out water)
2 x fresh limes

4 x tbsp. EVOO

(Extra Virgin Olive Oil)
1 x tsp Cummin
1 x tbsp. crushed garlic

1 x long red chilli (cut finely)

Salt and Pepper

 

Method:

1. Process the chickpeas with 1 tbsp. of oil until smooth (this may take a few minutes and some scrapping down the sides with a spatula)
2. Add avocado and process until it becomes a smooth, silky texture
3. Add all other ingredients and process until combined
4. Sprinkle chilli flakes and drizzle olive oil into jars or serving bowl
5. EAT!

 

 I hope you enjoyed this fabulous recipe and let me know what you think or any alternatives! As you might start finding out, I am obsessed with beautiful photos, however I am also realistic, so you will see Tupperware containers in my action shots as this is what I store my food in, like any other kitchen :)

Enjoy, C xx