icklebabe.com, it's in the blog

This week I have been thinking alot about holidays…. we probably won’t be going on one this year as Big J is way too busy with his new shop (tiny sob). So I have been going through old pictures trying to absorb some much needed  sunlight, whilst looking out of the window at the rain tumbling down the panes… oh rainy february!

I have been lucky enough to go to lots of places but  Kefalonia in  Greece is by far my most favorite place in the whole world! I honestly think if there is such a place as heaven, it HAS to look a bit like this ( the tiny speck underwater to your left is  is big J, snorkeling. Such an action man! I never made it off the beach)…..  

Captain Corelli’s Mandolin was filmed here too…

My favorite description of love comes from this movie :

“Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being “in love” which any of us can convince ourselves we are. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossoms had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two.”
-St. Augustine

 WOW, now thats beautiful genius!

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Sigh…anyway…..Carrying on the Greek theme, I also made a great tray bake this week, based on a Greek chicken Recipe from my new cooking hero Anjam, from her book , Eat right for your body type. I did change the recipe slightly for my taste and what I had in my cupboards but it is largely the same.  Its a great book, (no-body paid me to say this, its just a great book) I hope I am going to start feeling “peepy” (is that even a word I wonder?…) and slender…just like this….That way, at least if we do by chance get to go away, I’ll be ready… fingers crossed!…this body again? and a holiday in heaven? hmm well… I girl can dream can’t she?

The recipe bit…..

Greek Chicken Tray Bake

(easy, healthy and yummy!)

500g of small potatoes, scrubbed but skins on and cut into 4′s

1 large red onion, cut into large wedges

12 asparagus spears

6 fat cloves of garlic, peeled and finely chopped

1/2 a lemon cut into 3 wedges

2 tablespoons of vegetable oil

Salt and lots of ground pepper

4 chicken thigh (boneless and skinless)

2 large chicken breasts (skinless)

sprig of fresh Thyme

1 heaped teaspoon of dried oregano

12 small olives (stone in..they taste better, stone out are easier to eat, choice is yours )

150 ml of chicken stock

a few knobs of butter

1 big cup of frozen peas

A big handful of fresh parsley

Pre-heat the oven at 180oc (350of) gas mark 4.

Toss together the vegetables, garlic, 2 lemon wedges, oil and a little seasoning (remembering the olives and stock have more) and chicken.

Place in a baking dish and tuck in the thyme.Bake for 30 mins basting the chicken occasionally in the pan juices, and tossing the vegetables a little.

Add the olives, the stock, peas and a few knobs of butter. And cook for around 15 mins more. Stir in the parsley and serve.

( note- this makes great leftovers too, I had it for lunch the following day with lots of rocket leaves and goats cheese crumbled on top…delicious!  )  

Come back soon, we’re baking! …. Xxxxx