Crispy chicken, sweet chilli wraps

Every now and then I'm just too exhausted at the end of the day to even think about dinner. When I'm feeling like this it's the worst time to get groceries because I always (without fail) end up staring at the boxes of easy "simply add" meals for something so that dinner will be something easy I don't have to think about.

Recently I ended up in the Mexican section looking at the wrap kits, hoping something would jump out at me. I picked up this box of  "Crispy chicken wraps" from a brand that escapes my memory right now and thought 'That will do', continuing my shopping almost like a zombie.

I was actually really happy with my choice. The wraps come with a packet of sweet chilli sauce, the wraps, and a crumb seasoning for the chicken. It was simple, and fresh with all the salad I added to it. The next time I went to the shops I decided instead of spending all that extra money buying something pre-packed for me I'd just look at the ingredients and work it out. Looking over the back of the box I was surprised that there wasn't really much to it, and that I had actually paid a lot for something so easy.

I've now developed my own version of the crispy chicken wraps and haven't bought the boxed product again. To be honest, I think I like my versions of the wraps more, but I could be a little bias. The crispy part of the chicken is an easy herb and spice mix with breadcrumbs that you simply toss the chicken into, and the rest is really just the fresh ingredients you add to it. You'll honestly be really surprised with just how easy it is!

Crispy chicken, sweet chilli wraps

Makes 6 wraps

2 chicken breasts (skin off)
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper or paprika
1/4 tsp dried oregano or parsley
2/3 cup of breadcrumbs
2 Tbsp oil (I use rice oil, but just use what you normally would for frying)

1 large diced tomato
1 medium red onion / 1/2 large red onion
100g shredded lettuce
80g grated cheese
OR whatever salad your family likes

Lite sour cream
Sweet chilli sauce (or for the kids whatever sauce they like)

6 tortilla wraps - store bought or you can try and make your own using my tortilla wrap recipe


Firstly cut up your chicken into strips. I usually cut my chicken breast in half long ways, and then slice each into strips about 0.5 cm wide. In a small bowl combine your cayenne pepper (or paprika) and oregano (or parsley) with your breadcrumbs, mixing them slightly so that the herbs are blended through the breadcrumbs. Add all the chicken pieces to the bowl and toss them through the breadcrumbs using tongs or your hands. I actually use my hands because I find it easier and it coats the chicken better. Continue tossing until the chicken is coated on all sides.

Put your chicken a side and get started on your salad. This way as soon as you get to cooking the chicken everything else is ready to go. An important thing to remember is to use a different board to what you cut your chicken on as well as using a different or clean knife. You should do this any time you are cutting up meat, but especially with chicken so that you don't contaminate your food. I like to add each salad to a small bowl so that people can make their own wraps at the table, mixing the tomato and onion together into one bowl.

An easy way to shred your lettuce is to lay out all the leaves on top of each other, and then roll them up into a long cylinder before you slice it.

Now, back to the chicken. Add the oil to a large frying pan over a medium heat. You want the oil to be a thin layer over the base of the pan, so add more if you need to. When you can hold your hand over the top of the pan and it is hot you can add your chicken. The hand thing is something I do every time I use a frying pan; it's just something my Mum taught me when testing if it's hot enough yet. Add the chicken in a piece at a time, making sure they are not on top of each other. Don't worry if you are thinking 'I can't get all this chicken in the one pan without them being on top of each other!' - don't worry, depending on the size of your pan you might just need to cook the chicken in batches. Add in as much as you can, putting the rest aside until the chicken in the pan cooks and is removed.

A good rule of thumb when cooking chicken is to wait until there is a white ring of cooked chicken around the entire edge of the chicken. Once you see this you know you can turn it over and cook the other side. When cooked and crispy on both sides remove your chicken to a plate with paper-towel, and get started on your next batch of chicken. Continue the same way as the first batch, making sure that you start with that thin layer of oil on the bottom. Without that oil your chicken will stick and won't get as crispy.


With all your chicken cooked you can now put it in it's own bowl and add it to the collection of salads on the table. It's a lot of fun that way - especially for kids who feel like they are "making their dinner". Of course you don't have to use the salad I have. Picked salads that you know your family will like, even switching the sweet chilli for a BBQ or tomato sauce for the kids and skipping the sour cream.

This recipe is also really great for lunches, as you can easily make the wrap a head of time and have it cold. My suggestion though is if you are making it up before hand avoid onion, as the smell just takes over if not fresh.

Enjoy!

Steph xo

Top five recipes from 2013: A look back at my first year as a blogger

As this is my first post for 2014 I firstly want to say Happy New Year! A big thank you to all of you who read or subscribe to my blog, or follow me on some form of social media. Thanks to you I have had a great year sharing my kitchen and recipes with you.

2013 marked my first year as a blogger, which looking back I can say has been a great experience! I may not have as many followers as some of my favourite bloggers (such as Manila Spoon, Lemony Thyme, Pink Recipe Box or My Mummy Daze) but I still find it humbling that so many of you want to share my cooking adventures with me.

To kick off things in this new year I thought a look back at 2013 was in order! So here are the top recipes you loved from my blog last year ...

Whipped butter icing (or frosting)

I was very happy when I found that my family's whipped butter icing recipe was the most popular recipe last year! This recipe has been past down from my Grandma to my Mum, and now to me. I know my Mum will be very happy to know how much you all loved it. This recipe was originally posted when someone at Mr Steph's work for my icing recipe, so if it wasn't for her it may never have made it up in the first place!

The icing recipe is different to other recipes as it doesn't use milk - simply butter, icing sugar and flavouring. As I have to be especially carefully with how much diary I eat, I also love that you can make it with any kind of spread or margarine. At home I often use Nutex, which is a diary free spread. It can be flavoured with coco or any flavouring you want, as well as any food colouring you desire. It is my Mum's go to for decorating birthday cakes as well, using it over the years to create Kung-Fu Panda, Pocahonas, and even Barbie. My Mum is definitely one talented lady.

View the whipped butter icing recipe
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Creamy garlic sauce

I orginally learnt this garlic sauce recipe in my waitressing days after I begged one of the chegs to show me how she made the garlic sauce I just loved. I was really surprised by the simplicity of it, as I thought it would be a complicated thing to make.

The sauce is just amazing with chicken, steak or seafood. It is the same creamy garlic sauce used in a reef and beef as well.


View the creamy garlic sauce recipe
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Beef pasties

This is actually another one of my Mum's recipes that I adapted over the years (way to go Mum - two recipes in the top five!). Unlike other pasties, this recipe doesn't use the usual vegetables that people sneak into pasties, but instead is primarily beef mince. The great flavour of these pasties comes from the herbs and spices you add, as well as the type of chutney you choose to use. And the best part is they are made with puff pastry (oh, so good!), giving it that delicious crispiness of the pastry. You can also use short-crust pastry, but you'll really be missing out!


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Home made pizza bases

Home made pizza is a regular in our house as we have such busy schedules and honestly home-made is so much better than buying out. The dough is simple to make, and makes lovely fluffy pizza bases. I often make the pizza dough when I first walk in the door from work, quickly throwing it together and leaving it to rise. By the time I come back from doing chores and getting into "house mode" the dough has risen and is ready to roll out.

Although some dough experts may ask "Where is the sugar for the yeast?" with this recipe, I assure you the recipe is correct. I have made these bases for many years now, and they work for me every time!


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Stuffed chicken breast with semi-dried tomatoes, cheese and basil

This stuffed chicken breast recipe is another easy dinner for the family. It was originally created after I went through a phase where I was obsessed semi-dried tomato and I just ate them almost constantly. I love semi-dried over sundried as they are so juicy in comparison. Not content with simply adding them to my pastas and other dishes, I looked at a way to incorporate them with chicken. For those thinking it sounds complicated - it's really not. Instead of baking the chicken breasts whole you simply make a cut in the breast and add the ingredients.

It was inspired by a dish served in my waitressing days: Stuffed chicken breast with camembert cheese (which I also recommend!).


View the stuffed chicken breast with semi-dried tomatoes, cheese and basil recipe
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Well, that was the five most popular recipes from 2013. Again, thanks so much for your support and love over the past year. I have many more recipes to share with you in 2014!

Happy cooking,

Steph xo