Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Vanessa's Very Easy Pesto Chicken


This really is the easiest recipe ever and great if you are having friends over for supper after work. I can get home and have supper served up and ready to go in half an hour. My mum uses it for dinner parties if she is short of time as very little prep time and only 20 minutes cooking time!

Ingredients (serves 4):
  • 4 chicken breasts (preferably with skin on which can be removed later, it just means the meat stays moist)
  • 1 pot of red pesto
  • 1 small pot of crème fraiche (low fat one works best)
  • 1 tin of chopped tomatoes
  • Basil leaves and black olives to garnish
  • 1 pan, preferably a largish frying pan with a lid (very important) but a casserole pot with a lid works too, as long as it can go on the hob
Brown the chicken breasts in bit of oil or butter, skin side first. You aren’t cooking the chicken, just browning it for colour. Set aside on a plate and wipe the pan with kitchen towel to get rid of any excess fat.

In a separate bowl, mix together the red pesto, creme fraiche and chopped tomatoes. No need to season.


Put the chicken breasts back in the pan, skin side up, and pour in the sauce mixture. Put the lid on and leave on the hob, on a gentle simmering heat (so you can just see little bubbles popping on the surface, but not fast rapid bubbles, as then it will boil into nothing!)

Leave like this for 20 minutes. If you are worried the chicken will stick to the pan, then have a check half way through cooking, but it really shouldn’t.

It really does take 20 minutes for the chicken to cook, as long as you leave it simmering and keep the lid on. Garnish with basil leaves and black olives and best served with new potatoes and green veg.

Friday, November 20, 2009

Great nosh for little dosh......

Not being a regular in London's finest eateries, I have recently been struggling for places to go with clients for a nice lunch but on a budget.  How ironic then, that on the way back from my latest client lunch I stumble across this list in the Evening Standard, detailing some of London's best restaurants and their 'credit crunch' lunch deals!

If you are lining up a client lunch, take a pick from one of these as I'm sure the experience will be great and the company wallet will thank you too!  And don't be afraid to say "how about xxxxxx, its a great venue and they are doing an incredible x courses for a credit friendly £xx.xx". 

This sets the expectation with your guest that you wont be cruising round the a la carte menu! Bon apetit!

Pied a Terre, Charlotte St, W1
Lunch set menu - 5 courses for £29.50

L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon, West St, WC2.
Lunch and pre-theatre set menu - 2 courses for £19

L'Autre Pied, Blandford St, W1
Lunch and pre-theatre set menu - 4 courses for £19.50

Tom Aikens, Elystan St, SW3
Lunch set menu - 2 courses for £23

Club Gascon, West Smithfield, EC1
Lunch set menu - 2 courses for £12.50

Rhodes W1, Cumberland Hotel, W1
Lunch set menu - 2 courses for £19.95

Arbutus, Frith St, W1
Lunch set menu - 3 courses for £16.95

Wild Honey, George St, W1
Lunch set menu - 3 courses for £18.95

Amaya, Motcomb St, SW1
Lunch set menu - 3 courses for £22

Chapter One, Orpington.
3 course Sunday dinner for £24.95

The Quilon, Buckingham Gate, SW1
Lunch set menu - 3 courses for £20
Dinner set menu - 3 courses for £27.50

Umu, Bruton Place, W1
Lunch set menu for £21

Nahm, The Halkin Hotel, SW1
Lunch set menu - 2 courses for £15

The Greenhouse, Hays Mews, W1
Lunch set menu - 2 courses for £29

Foliage, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, SW1
Lunch set menu - 4 courses for £29

Monday, November 16, 2009

A great 'odd jobs' man

Mark Longmore (Kristen's other half) is currently studying to qualify as an Electrician (watch this space...). Meanwhile, he does have some spare time on his hands for odd jobs and so could be the reliable handyman you've been looking for. Mark has helped Stephen with an array of odd jobs already and comes highly recommended. Please find out from Kristen how to get in contact with him!