poussin

Poussin (Cornish hens) make a great and very easy alternative to turkey on Christmas Day or Thanksgiving. Instead of cooking a turkey for hours and hours they take about 45 minutes to an hour. The meat is much more delicate and juicy than turkey, which can be dry and tough, and the bay leaves give them an amazing flavour. The ancient Romans always flavoured their meat simply with bay leaves and I can see why, it’s the perfect flavour and the meat will be subtly perfumed by the bay. Also if you are new to cooking, this recipe is far less daunting and more manageable than a turkey which requires a lot more time and attending to. I really love this recipe and it’s great with my cranberry sauce, roast potatoes, maple roasted root vegetables, brussel sprouts, red cabbage and all the trimmings.

Recipe

Ingredients:
Poussin (1 per person)
A glug of olive oil
Fresh bay leaves (a few per bird)

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jerk chicken

A friend’s husband asked me to make this for dinner, because he hadn’t had jerk chicken for a long time. He’s a chef, and he loved it.

Serves 3.

Ingredients:
6 chicken thighs, bone in, skin off
A couple of limes

Marinade
1 bunch of spring onions
1 tablespoon of fresh chopped ginger
2 garlic cloves
2 red chillies, chopped
A few sprigs of thyme
Half a lime juiced
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons maple syrup or brown sugar
1 heaped teaspoon ground allspice

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