Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Survivor: Kitchen

Pinterest is one of my biggest time suckers, that and my incredibly amazing ability to procrastinate. I've been pinning on Pinterest for ages now. There's so much inspiration and I have a squillion and one pins, BUT I pretty much never do anything with them. Occasionaly I have a look through them to see what I've pinned.  I mentioned this to Shay last week. We quite often pin each others pins, especially the food ones. More often than not, the "totally bad for you but god they look good" recipes. Shay came up with the brilliant somewhat insane idea that each week we are going to pick a recipe and both of us are going to cook it. Now I'm sure you know by now that cooking/baking is not really either of our strong points. This is going to be a very interesting exercise. I'm going to apologise in advance to the very nice people that have produced these recipes, for all the disasters etc that are going to arise from this experiment.

This inaugural recipe is from Simply Delicious and is Creamy Dijon Chicken.

The original


My version of Creamy Dijon Chicken


Rather than retype the recipe here, you can go over to the actual recipe by clicking on the link above. You'll notice that my attempt doesn't look much like that one. I think that will be a recurring theme over the coming weeks. I didn't let the sauce reduce enough, I was in a hurry and hungry!

My changes to the recipe, that's official changes as opposed to "stuffed it up" changes -
I halved it as I was making it for one, so one for now and one for later, or possibly a late night snack "a la Nigella" when I get the munchies before I go to bed!
I didn't have any leeks, I only had a Spanish onion, I forgot to buy them at the supermarket, because I was completely shocked when I walked into the supermarket which was in the middle of renovations and everything was not where it should be.

Despite the differences, it was ok, I had it with a crisp salad, using whatever I had in the fridge, which wasn't much as most of my salad vegetables had succumbed to my scientific experiment of how long they could survive in the fridge, and had finally died.  (Side note, they don't last as long as you hope they will.)  I concur with Shay that maybe American dijon mustard is not the same as the French dijon mustard we get here, it was very mild.  I stress, this may not necessarily be the fault of the original recipe but I found that the mustard did not shine through and the lemon took over.  As it is, it is an easy,  quick recipe, especially if you flatten the breasts or cut them into bite size pieces so that they cook quickly, great for a mid week meal.  In my mind that's always a winner. I'm forever looking for quick easy meals.  If you're not a huge fan of strong mustard flavour, and I'm one of those people, it's mild enough that the kids should like it.   I'd probably tweak it next time, and either reduce or leave out the lemon.

This one didn't make the cut.

Jeff Shay has spoken. Creamy Dijon Chicken it's time for you to go.

Pop on over to Shay's Kitchen Survivor post at Quilting In My Pyjamas and stay tuned for next week's  burnt exciting offering.

17 comments:

  1. Love this post! I have done two of my pinned recipes I think. But I do like looking at them. Beats actually getting something done.

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  2. I don't know if I should get into this Pinterest thing but I'm pleased to let you two try these recipes out for me. I trust you !!!!

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  3. This is going to be fun!! Go Marg and Shay!!

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  4. It is so addictive. We are all going to need a 12 step program soon. Being a 'cook only because food is required for life' kind of girl I am not tempted to pin any recipes. I do love your concept to trialing new dishes however.

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  5. Probably just as well it was only for one! LOL! Better luck next time-pick a recipe from Taste.com.au-they are brilliant and Australian!

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  6. What a fun idea! Can't wait to see what you'll make next week :)

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  7. Great idea! I don't pin because I don't think I would ever get off the Computer ;-)

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  8. Lol, I'm eating my way through Pinterest these days, although I'll make a mental note not to pin that ;o)

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  9. So glad you are doing this - I could do with a few new recipes and am very grateful you are lending your kitchen and taste buds to test for us! I'm a huge Dijon fan, eat it by the gallon over here (cheap as chips). I use the Maille brand and it is actually very strong/spicy. Grey Poupon might not cut the mustard *snort*

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  10. What a fun idea! Perhaps we should send you some american dijon mustard to see what it's like?

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  11. I may have to try this recipe, sounds like i could get the kids to eat it.... whats on for next week....

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  12. This is possibly the most awesome idea you've had!!!!!!!!! I've actually made several things that I've pinned and they've mostly been great!

    I made shrimp and chorizo bites for an event tomorrow night....total winner!

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  13. You and Shay get up to the craziest things! I am not sure this would have been a recipe I would try. It looks really good, but I am not a fan of mustard. I can't wait to see what the two of you cook up next week!

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  14. Haha. There is a website somewhere that catalogues pinterest disasters. I like to pin but no do too...one day'

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  15. I suspect we have to run across a few winners during this game! This just wasn't one of them!

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  16. So you didn't like it either? I'm glad you both gave it the 'ol college try though. I'm anxious to see what you pick next week!

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  17. You win some, you lose some. Though this one sounded more like a tie. Can't wait to see what you and Shay whip up next.

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