Will I be able to review Jamie Oliver’s 30 Minute Meals, Part 2?
November 18, 2010 in Uncategorized
I am still busy experimenting and cooking food from Jamie’s 30 minute meals, and I am enjoying myself thoroughly!!
Some of you might not know that I was asked to review a book by Aletta from Food24. I received this beautiful book from Kalahari.net. I thought that the only objective way to judge the book will be to cook some of the meals from it. If you have missed my first attempt you can go here!
The second meal I made from Jamie’s 30 minute meals was the meal that features on Page 96 and on the menu was Mustard Chicken, Quick Dauphinoise, Greens and a Black Forest Affogato. I did not make the Affogato but It was still a lovely meal. The mustard chicken was much enjoyed by my family.
This time around I managed to make the meal in 45 minutes. I really find that Jamie’s tips and most importantly the fact that I am more organized following the steps in the book enabled me to cook a whole meal in less time than I have ever done before. The only reason why I could not do this in 30 minutes was the fact that neither my family nor I eat chicken unless it is well cooked. I could not cook the chicken well enough in less time.
A couple of days later I tried another chicken meal. This time around the meal consisted of ‘Piri Piri’ Chicken, Dressed Potatoes, Rocket Salad and Quick Portuguese Tarts. It was a hit with the fam!!
Here is the recipe for the Quick Portuguese Tarts:
1 x 375g pack of pre-rolled puff pastry
Ground cinnamon
125g crème fraîche
1 egg
5ml vanilla paste or vanilla extract
75ml golden caster sugar (I used white caster sugar)
1 orange
Pre-heat the oven to 200ºC and grease 6 holes of a muffin tin (small).
Dust a clean surface with flour. Unroll the sheet of pastry, cut it in half and save 1 half in the fridge for another day.
Sprinkle some cinnamon over the dough and then roll the dough into a swissroll shape and cut into 6 rounds. Put these into the holes of the muffin tin and use your thumb to stretch and mould the pastry into the holes, so that the bottom is flat and the pastry comes up to the top.
Bake in the oven for 8 to 10 minutes. Take out and press the pastry back to make room for the filling.
Mix the crème fraîche, egg, vanilla, 15ml of the caster sugar and the zest of the orange together. Spoon this into the tart cases and bake for another 8 minutes.
Squeeze out the orange juice and put this with the remaining caster sugar into a small saucepan. Heat and stir until all the sugar has dissolved and pours over each tart when it is removed from the oven. Put aside to set and serve at room temperature.
I would recommend rather just rolling out the pastry and lining the muffin pans with the dough.
This meal took me 60 minutes to finish, but as I have said it was thoroughly enjoyed and I received a lot of compliments for the food.
Unfortunately I am not going to share the recipe for the Piri Piri chicken with you. If you want this you will have to buy the book which is available at Kalahari.net for R280.00.
I will post my final review soon!! In the mean time enjoy the kitchen and have fun!
Hopestar said on November 18, 2010
I was interested in these books not being much of a cook myself. I wonder though, if it takes JO 30 minutes, it will take me more than double the time. I wish someone would come up with a truly simple cookbook but with good little tips and tricks:)
*hugs*
x x x x
Sous-Chef said on November 18, 2010
The peri peri chicken looks wonderful.
snuamah said on November 18, 2010
That looks yummy,thanks for sharing this with us.
*hugs*
anotherdayinparadise said on November 18, 2010
Yummy pics, PPD. You must have lots of fun and good food at your house. xx
bronnie.l said on November 19, 2010
the food except the custard tarts looks DIVINE! i am very partial to pastei de natas and the ingredients and the finished product don’t look completely right to me!
oooh i saw gado gado on the menu today. i KNEW i’d eaten it somewhere before when i saw it on your quiz!
Zabwan said on November 19, 2010
Lovely review, Pink – the meals look gorgeous! So here’s another one for my wish list, sigh…
Have a good weekend xxx
sharonsmit said on November 19, 2010
Ai nee ek kort die boek, basta met die ander boeke!! As mens daaraan dink, ‘n maaltyd met sy-disse en pudding neem nie sommer net 60min om klaar te maak nie! Dis steeds ‘n wenner!
Jy het my convince!! Lekker naweek vir julle, hoop dit raak nie te koud nie!! x
leaineskitchen said on November 19, 2010
Ha ha sneaky – a very good way to get people to buy the book
And thanks to you it is now firmly on my list – very well done 
half-pint said on November 20, 2010
Your mustard chicken looks scrumptious! My chicken must also be well cooked with no pink spots anywhere otherwise I don’t eat it.
Did you receive the recipes?
sideview said on November 20, 2010
i have to try these tarts!
Lisaman said on November 21, 2010
I just love portuguese tarts. I will try out your recipe!!
shellbell said on November 21, 2010
Hello lovely lady
Looong time no see. I have been off for a very long time. Lots of new things happening in my life, but it is so good to see you are still here and as fabulous as ever. x
Trakie said on November 21, 2010
Lucky, lucky fam!!
snuamah said on November 21, 2010
Dear, enjoy the evening.
*hugs*
snuamah said on November 21, 2010
Dear, enjoy the evening.
*hugs*
DeeCee said on November 21, 2010
as usual, this is where my post dinner snack resistance may be worn down!
You are enjoying this book, right?!
I’m going to have to find it and perve through the pages…
Lovely stuff
Colonialist said on November 21, 2010
*meerkat gets evil glint in eye after studying preparation times* Can’t you sue our Jamie for millions for false advertising?
tandy.sinclair said on November 22, 2010
being organized and clean in the kitchen makes a huge difference
pinkpolkadot said on November 23, 2010
This book is actually very good, with excellent tips and some recipes are marked with a sign and then you can see a video of some relly helpful techniques on Jamie’s web site!!
pinkpolkadot said on November 23, 2010
It was VERY nice!! Did you see Jan’s peri peri chicken – scrumptious!
pinkpolkadot said on November 23, 2010
My pleasure!
pinkpolkadot said on November 23, 2010
Thanks, if only I had more time!
pinkpolkadot said on November 23, 2010
It is definitley not traditional pastei de natas, this!
pinkpolkadot said on November 23, 2010
…so many recipes, so little time!
pinkpolkadot said on November 23, 2010
Jy sal nie spyt wees as jy hierdie boek aanskaf nie!!
pinkpolkadot said on November 23, 2010
It is an excellent book!
pinkpolkadot said on November 23, 2010
I will check, now, thanks, Halfy!
pinkpolkadot said on November 23, 2010
Very nice although definitely not traditional!
pinkpolkadot said on November 23, 2010
so nice to see you again!!
pinkpolkadot said on November 23, 2010
Thanks, Kelkie!
pinkpolkadot said on November 23, 2010
Hugs back, lydia!
pinkpolkadot said on November 23, 2010
I looooove the book – wish I had more time!
pinkpolkadot said on November 23, 2010
LOL, wish I could!!
pinkpolkadot said on November 23, 2010
It really does!
Tolstoy said on November 28, 2010
being organized … maybe this is where I go wrong …
pinkpolkadot said on December 7, 2010
LOL…me too, then!