Marie Cookpad

  I have this small book by Donna Hay. It is entitled Small Essentials, Chicken.  Yep, it is filled with chicken recipes. 60 of them to be exact.  I love Donna Hay cookbooks and recipes.   Not that I have many of them. I don't.  She is like the Martha Stewart of Australia, except a lot younger.  She has an impeccable eye for flavours, and presentations, decorating, etc.   We are having a sunny hot day here in Chester as I write this. I didn't really feel like heating up the kitchen overly much, but I had taken out some chicken to cook.   I wanted something light and quick and fresh.  I have a lot of work on today for that other site I write for, but still wanted something new for here.   This was a recipe I had flagged for a long time now.  Tender chicken breast slices, coated with cashew nuts and fried in olive oil until golden brown on both sides  . . .   Served hot atop crisp baby gem leaves.  Baby Gem are like tin...

  I've never been one much for going out on New Years Eve.  I'm pretty much a stay at home, have a few nibbles, watch the ball drop on the telly kind of a gal.  I suppose that comes from years of having a huge family and not being able to afford tickets to go out and a baby sitter!   I never minded much and as my children got older it got to be more fun. We would have a nibble buffet of finger foods, and watch some great things on the telly, or play a few board games, and then watch Dick Clark's Rockin New Year's Eve!   Because my ex was a Military Policeman, he used to have to work on New Years Eve anyways, so it was pretty much me and the children on our own celebrating!    We all had our favourite nibbles.  I would out a variety of crisps and cheese snacks, cheese and crackers, pickles . . .   Pretzels,  mini pizzas, dips and other nibbles and mocktails, of course!   These Sweet & Spicy Pepitas are really tasty.  They go...