Photo source: mosespreciado
Cooking for your family is a wonderful experience but sometimes making menus for weekly meals can become a tiresome task. However, making sure the food you prepare is healthy and delicious is sometimes easier said than done. With so many culinary pitfalls to watch out for, those tried and true staple recipes become all the more important.
Chicken recipes are always a popular favourite with families. As an ingredient chicken is incredibly versatile; it is equally delicious served hot or cold, it can roast, poach, grill or fry making it one of the most popular food choices available as it is healthy and full of protein.
Chicken is considered by many to be a culinary blank canvas. You can add so many flavours to it and prepare it in so many different ways, you could have it every night of the week and never get bored.
For people who find it difficult to incorporate veggies into their meals night after night, chicken is the perfect solution. Toss some diced chicken in a stir fry with broccoli and carrots, skewer some marinated chunks with peppers, onions and courgettes and throw them on the grill or slice some seasoned chicken breasts and top a delicious summer salad. Whatever your meal, the combination of chicken and veg is sure to excite and satisfy your taste buds.
Roast chicken is another delicious dinner option that involves minimal prep time. Stuff and coat your bird with the seasonings of your choice and then throw it in the oven to roast. Serve it with roasted root veggies, fresh salad or potatoes and watch your family devour dinner.
Many people will throw away the chicken carcass once they’ve finished a roast bird but this means missing out on homemade chicken stock which would be a shame. Boil the remains of the chicken on low heat with some herbs and seasoning and in a few short hours you’ll be smelling the incredible aroma of your homemade stock. Throw it in the fridge or the freezer and have your stock on hand for soups, marinades, or a delicious addition to some garlic mashed potatoes.
Cooking can sometimes be a daunting activity for those who aren’t particularly comfortable in the kitchen. For these people chicken is an ideal started food, it’s easy to source and there are so many recipes out there ranging from the simple to the incredibly sophisticated that in any iteration, it is sure to please all types of palates.
With so many options for dinner, it’s important to stick to what you know and what you love. Feed yourself and those you love with the best food and you’re sure to be rewarded with health, happiness and a full stomach.
