Saturday, January 1, 2011

New Year's Day - Breakfast of Champions, Light Crab Lunch

How does that saying go......start the year as you intend to continue??......well this had better not be how we continue our food year....unless of course the meaning is 'trying something different', yes, that well do, trying something a little different.

Found this recipe, submitted by TexasBaker, while cruising the Nigella Lawson 'Express' site, changed a few minor things and the presentation to treat the Darling to something yummy to celebrate New Year.

The Darling is not a fan of scrambled eggs, so changed to a fried egg each, not a fan of tortillas either, so used a slice each of a nice hard bread.......so with a few alterations, this is what we had.

1 largish potato, grated but not squeezed out
2 Tablespoons finely chopped onion
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1/2 large or 1 small chorizo sausage
2 eggs
1/3 Cup grated colby cheese
1 Tablespoon mashed avocado (just for me- yep Darling not a fan)
2 teaspoons Greek Yoghurt or sour cream if you prefer
2 teaspoons sweet Chilli Sauce
2 slices of bread, lightly toasted

Heat oil over medium heat in a heavy based frypan, add potato and onion, stir occasionally as it cooks, this will stick like billy oh, but just keep scraping those lovely brown crispy bits of potato up and stir them through.
Add sliced chorizo to pan and crisp, still stirring occasionally
Scoot everything to one side and fry 2 eggs in the oils in the pan.
Toast your bread lightly, if you are an avocado lover, spread avocado over unbuttered toast, top with grated cheese and place under griller to melt.
Top melted cheese with 1 teaspoon each of Greek Yoghurt, and the sweet Chilli Sauce
Continue layering with the crispy browned potato and onion mix, then chorizo slices and top with your softly fried egg.

No Pic.......but it got a big thumbs up from the Darling........now what healthy salad will we have for lunch???

TexasBaker's Recipe:-

CHORIZO, POTATO AND EGG BURRITOS

These are so good, and can be made in advance and heated for 1 minute in the microwave on a busy morning. I love these with sour cream and left over guacamole. Salsa would not hurt either.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup shredded potatoes
  • ¼ cup diced onions
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 links chorizo sausage
  • 6 Eggs
  • 4 burrito size tortillas
  • Shredded cheese, cheddar, jack or Colby

Method

  1. Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the oil. Cook the potato and onion until cooked through. Add the chorizo and cook for 8 minutes, or until hot and steamy.
  2. Scramble the eggs in a separate bowl and pour over the sausage mixture. Cook the eggs, stirring constantly, until they reach your desired level of doneness.
  3. Warm the tortillas in the microwave.
  4. Place a layer of cheese in the center followed by the egg and chorizo mixture.
  5. Wrap into a burrito and eat.
Serves: AS REQUIRED

Recipe posted by TexasBaker  ON NIGELLA SITE


CRAB AND AVOCADO SALAD with JAPANESE DRESSING
another recipe inspired by Nigella Lawson and her 'Express' T.V.  Show.


After such a heavy breakfast, we definitely needed a light lunch, this Crab and Avocado Salad fitted the bill perfectly, based on a Nigella Lawson recipe, halved the ingredients and used finely shredded Chinese Cabbage as a bed instead of the Rocket.  

Ingredients and Method I used:
Place in a screw top jar:
1 tablespoon Mirin
1/4 teaspoon wasabi paste
1/2 tablespoon rice vinegar
2 drops sesame oil
good pinch Maldon sea salt

Shake well and divide into two separate bowls

Finely slice a scant 2 cups Chinese Cabbage,
add to one bowl containing half the dressing, 
toss well, plate onto 2 serving plates.

De-seed and finely slice half a long red chilli
add to second bowl containing dressing
add 1/2 cup shredded Fresh Crab Meat
add a good squirt of Lime Juice and toss well
Press crab into any mould - I used a 1/4 cup measure - and invert onto salad

Top Crab with some finely sliced green onion
Using a melon baller, scoop rounds of Avocado around Crab onto salad.  Enjoy!
Simple, Fast, Easy, Low on the Calories and very enjoyable....will certainly be repeating this one.
The melon baller is a tip from Nigella Lawson and I have used it a lot over the last few days, no more squidgy peeling of Avocados and if there is a little bit that needs to be missed, easily done.