So, with not much notice you want to prepare a filling meal that does not really require you to stick to a method? No, nor do I, but here is an improvised Rice Mess anyway. Tasty (too much in my opinion, feel free to edit what happens below), come to think of it. This is not so much a 'why don't you try this yummy recipe I made just this very evening, my how tasty it is, bet you'll never be able to get it looking as good as I have in this slick photo' kinda blog, this is more of a 'here is the thing I prepared earlier in my scatty way, and how I think I should have done it with the benefit of hindsight'. So, I can tell you're excited, so I won't delay any longer.
Ingredients:
• One of those handy M&S chicken breasts (just one, mind we are in a recession no matter what GB says)
• An Onion (or was it two?)
• Some garlic cloves, peeled and squished
• Two chillies, sliced and diced
• Two sticks of celery, sliced
• A carrot, diced
• Two yellow peppers (the wife wouldn't let me use those nice new red peppers in the veggie draw) cut up
• Basil
• A packet of pre-cooked microwave rice (yes, I cheated)
• Peas
• Cashew nuts
• Dark soy sauce
• And most importantly of all some chili sauce I found in the cupboard (that apparently should live in the fridge)
Method:
Chop everything up (this took me about half an hour, so listen to something good on the radio/iPod). Melt some butter in a frying pan, with a little oil (so the butter doesn't burn, yes, I listen), when it has melted and warmed up a little, add the chicken (after it has been dried on some kitchen paper (someone somewhere said that only dry chicken will brown) cut up with the kitchen scissors because the chopping board is in the dishwasher). Turn the chook over so that it cooks evenly. Next, remember that you wanted to flavour this with some of the chili, and a bit of the garlic. Add this now. Stir. Put the chicken pieces in a bowl. Add the rest of the chili, onion and garlic. Stir it for a bit. Add the carrots, then the celery. Stir for another bit. Add the peppers. Look at it. Realise that there is not much in the way of flavour as of yet. Look in cupboard. Get rice wine, put a little in, enjoy the noise it makes as it sizzles. Now put the chicken back in, add soy sauce, a little of the random chili sauce (not a lot, I put too much in, as I always tend to do). Stir away, remember the basil, tear the leaves up and think that you have forgotten something that your wife said would go in at the same time as the basil, ignore that irritating thought, and serve.
It should be when you bring the dinner through that you (like I) remember that you forgot to put the peas in (those all important wife-appeasing 'greens') and she remembers that you have forgotten to put the cashew nuts in that she likes so much (and indeed you do too). All that is left to do is to sit back and enjoy your meal while your wife picks out the excess of chili (see below). I hope we (when I get a follower that is) have all learned something here tonight.
Bon appetit!
