Kaja's Corner

Ok so if you haven’t had a chance to check out the television mini series Jamie Oliver’s “30 Minute Meals” now is the time.  Or you can buy his new book, of the same title, that inspired the show.  I love Jamie Oliver recipes so I might be biased.  I made a few of the dishes and they were all a hit at the dinner table.  id I had to choose, and it’s hard, my favorite so far would have to be the Moroccan lamb accompanied by couscous stuffed sweet red peppers a dessert and even a refreshing drink.  In fact all of the meals come with at least one side and a yummy dessert that are really simple and easy to follow.  I was able to make them in about the same amount of time.  I will say though, that the best way to make a 30 minute meal or any excitable meal work for you is to come to the table prepared. It’s an absolute must!   

I cook just about every day unless we are eating leftovers from the night before or having the occasional takeaway.  However, I have to admit, cooking is also a big hobby of mine and so I am constantly looking for new ways to improve and expand my skills.  Jamie’s 30 minute meals does just the trick.  I have loads of spices and ingredients you probably wouldn’t find in most ordinary home kitchens that I’ve built up over time so I am always eager to put them to work.  In addition to having a collection of special ingredients like Chinese five spice (which Jamie uses on a salmon and noodle dish) I find it best, as an everyday cook, to have a stock of core ingredients that are found in most dishes.  Shopping can be the bit that takes the most time if you have to start from scratch for each meal.  If you are a busy person like most it might even be helpful to plan a weekly menu ahead of time and buy the food online from your favorite supermarket.  If you have room in your cupboard by more than one for hard to find items or things like chicken stock cubes that are in so many recipe’s.  I noticed that Jamie had core ingredients that were used throughout the television series as well.  His favorite ingredient being those little red chilli peppers.  He seemed to put them in almost every meal though, I must admit that it was a bit redundant and surely an easy way to mock his show in a sketch comedy.  But you certainly can’t fault him for consistency!  

I also loved how, during the show, he’d say things like “I use oregano but you can use thyme or whatever herb you fancy,” or “I use cod but feel free to use whatever white fish you like” that way you don’t have to drive yourself mad trying to find exact ingredients.  Which brings me to my next most important tip as a cook “don’t be afraid to improvise.”  In fact, for Jamie’s Moroccan lamb dish it called for rack of lamb but, when my local butcher didn’t have it I substituted with a nice piece of lamb loin on the bone.   It is just as tender and cheaper as well!  

Check out a sneak preview of some of the recipe’s in the book there are also links to watch the show as well:

http://www.channel4.com/food/on-tv/jamie-oliver/jamie-s-30-minute-meals/

Here is a list of ingredients in no particular order that I find useful to have stocked in the kitchen as a starter for a variety of meals:

eggs

milk

single cream (last a really long time in the refrigerator before opened)

plain yoghurt

butter

sugar

scallions

red and yellow onions  

potatoes 

lemon & limes 

chilli peppers (choose your heat)

garlic (pureed garlic in the tube works well too)

Herbs: thyme, rosemary, basil, parsley

fresh herbs would be great but dried last longer just add more and brown them in the pan before use to get a similar flavor

stock cubes (chicken and beef vegetable)

Worcester sauce

ketchup

mustard, english & grain 

honey

red wine vinegar

chopped tomato in the can

Salt grinder

Peppermill

Olive oil

Vegetable oil

Dried pasta; spaghetti, penne

rice

flour

Paprika

cinammon 

nutmeg