Mid-Week Dinner: Chicken a la King (ala Mike)

I really felt like cooking last night, don't ask me why! No idea. I had taken out a pack of chicken to defrost and got my cook on... Chicken a la King (a la Mike) served on a bed of rice with pumpkin and broccoli, drenched in a white sauce.
Sound good? Here's how simple it was making the chicken dish:

Ingredients:
1x Pack of Chicken (4x Thighs & 4x Drumsticks)
1x Packet Knorr Chicken ala King
1/2 Cup Wellington's Sweet Chilli (Hot)
2x Cups Milk (500ml)
1x Large Onion, diced
2t Garlic
1x Punnet of Mushrooms (sliced)

Method:
1. In a large saucepan, brown the Chicken, remove and set aside.
2. De-glaze the pan with white wine.
3. Add 2T Olive Oil and apply heat.
4. Add the Onions and fry until translucent, stirring ever so often.
5. Add the Garlic and Chilli Sauce, fry for a further minute or two, stirring
6. Add the Chicken, Mushrooms and Milk, bringing it up to a simmer.
7. Sprinkle the Knorr Chicken ala King spice into the pan, stir it well into the mixture.
8. Simmer, uncovered for 30 minutes, until the Chicken is cooked.
NOTE: You will need to stir quite often as this mix tends to burn to the bottom of the pan. Add more milk if liquid gets to thick.

Serve the Chicken on a bed of Rice, with a side of Broccoli and Pumpkin. Finger licking good! A quick and really tasty meal, in around 45 minutes.

Mid-Week Dinner: Spaghetti Bolognaise

So yesterday, my colleague (Girlpants) comes over and tells me he needs to make dinner for a friend (Mmmmm!) but wants something quick and easy as he is not culinary proficient... Turns out, I made the same thing for Mel and Leen before popping out to Boyz Night. The feedback was great!!!

Ingredients:
1x Pack on Minced Meat
1x Medium Onion (finely chopped)
1t Crushed Garlic
½ t Salt
1x Tomato Paste (larger tin)
2 cups Hot / Boiling Water
2-3 heaped teaspoons of Brown Sugar
Squirt of Tomato Sauce
1t Sweet Basil (Robertson’s Spice)
½ pack of Spaghetti
Splash of Olive Oil

Method for Mince:
1. Heat a splash of oil in a saucepan
2. Add the onion and sauté until translucent (about 5 minutes)
3. Add the mince and brown for a while (about 10 minutes), adding salt & garlic.
4. While the mince is browning, in another container: add the tomato paste, sugar, basil & tomato sauce into the water and stir / mix.
5. Add to the browned mince and bring to boil.
6. Turn the heat down and simmer for about 15 to 20 minutes, stirring every few minutes.

Method for Spaghetti:
1. Bring a pot of water to the boil – Add salt to the water.
2. Add pasta and cook for around 10-15 minutes, depending on your preference.
3. Drain in a colander.

Add the cooked spaghetti into the mince mixture, stir in and serve. You could easily add some courgettes (zucchini) or mushrooms for colour.

I would serve with a Cabernet Sauvignon (my favourite).