The Kilkenny Observer Friday 2 July 2021
43
kilkennyobserver.ie
Dine Me Come
Food & Drink
Learning about wine Part 1
With
Sticky barbecue chicken
PREPARATION AND COOKING TIME Prep:10 mins Cook: 30 mins - 40 mins INGREDIENTS • 8 chicken thighs • 2 tbsp plain flour • 1 tbsp olive oil • 8 rashers streaky bacon , chopped • 400ml stock • 500g bag baby new potatoes , halved • 200g pack full fat soft cheese • 200g broad beans , podded • 200g sweetcorn (frozen, fresh or from a can) • 200g cherry tomatoes , halved METHOD STEP 1 Dust the chicken in the flour and some seasoning. Heat the oil in a lidded pan and brown the chicken, in batches if needed, then transfer to a plate. Throw in the bacon and fry for 5 mins, until crisp. STEP 2 Return the chicken to the pan. Add the stock, cover and simmer for 30 mins, adding the potatoes after 10 mins. STEP 3 Make sure the chicken is cooked and
the potatoes are tender, then stir in the cheese, the rest of the vegetables and some seasoning. Simmer for 5 mins more, uncovered, then serve.
RECIPE TIPS Chicken thighs make a good-value alternative to breasts, however, if you prefer the white breast meat, then swap for 4 skinless breasts, and simmer for just 20 mins with the potatoes.
Barbecued chicken fajita skewers Preparation and cooking time Prep: 30 mins Cook: 10 mins
and mix together. Dice the chicken, then get your child to stir it through the marinade, and set aside.
Easy Makes 6-8 skewers
STEP 2 Prepare the vegetables. Deseeding the peppers and halving the onion is tricky, so do this yourself. Children aged from about seven or above can cut them into chunks using a child-friendly knife.
INGREDIENTS For the fajitas • 2 limes , plus wedges to serve • 1 tsp dried oregano • 1 tsp ground cumin • 1 tsp smoked paprika • 1 tsp olive oil • 2 garlic cloves , crushed or finely grated • 4 chicken breasts • 3 mixed coloured peppers • 1 red onion For the guacamole • 2 ripe avocados • 1 lime • 6 cherry tomatoes , halved
• warmed tortillas , chopped coriander, soured cream or yogurt, plus chilli sauce for the grown-ups, to serve Method STEP 1 Make the marinade. In a large bowl, juice both the limes. Add the oregano, spices, olive oil and garlic,
STEP 3 Make your skewers. Carefully thread alternate pieces of chicken, peppers and onion onto your skewers. Smaller children might find this a little hard, so the best way is to stab the ingredients and push them up the skewers. When you’ve used up all the ingredients, set aside. Can be made several hours ahead and chilled until ready to cook.
STEP 4 Prepare the guacamole. Stone and peel the avocados, then tip into a bowl with the other ingredients. Get your child to use a potato masher to mash everything together and tip into a serving dish. STEP 5 Cook the skewers. Heat a barbecue or griddle pan. Cook the skewers for 10-12 mins, turning, until they are cooked all the way through. A child from the age of eight can watch over a griddle and turn the skewers with a pair of tongs. Serve the skewers on heated tortillas with the guacamole, soured cream, chopped coriander, lime wedges on the side and chilli sauce for those who like a touch of spice.
Good wine is one of life’s greatest pleasures. Whether you are a novice or a connoisseur, interested in simply sipping or expertly analysing, enjoying a glass of wine can be a sublime experience. Unfortunately, many people find wine and how to choose, serve, and describe it more intimidating than enjoyable. The very scope of the topic seems daunting. But never fear -you don’t have to take a class to appreciate the subtleties of fine wine. Still, as with many things in life, a little knowledge goes a long way. Just as a musical performance is enhanced by knowledge of the composer or the piece, a bottle of wine is more enjoyable if you know something about it. Learn to taste the story in the wine, and you can transcend the intimidation. To appreciate wine as somex===thing more than mere drink, all you’ll need is conscious, deliberate awareness. Let’s face it: It makes little sense to pay the premium for wines of character only to swallow them unconsciously. Each wine has a personality waiting to be discovered: You just need to decide whether you like it. This is a very personal endeavour. Responses to wine are as individual as fingerprints. An aroma or flavour that is pleasing to you may not be so to another. The trick is translating your preferences into words. Accomplish this, and you will add new dimensions to your enjoyment of wine. So, how to begin? You begin by understanding what’s in your glass, tasting what’s in your glass, and evaluating what’s in your glass. Sampling wine and recording your impressions is an effective (and festive!) way to gain confidence choosing and evaluating wine. In this article, you will learn about all the aspects of wine and wine tasting. You will learn about the various varieties of wine and how they are made, as well as how to taste and appreciate wine. In many ways, beginning a quest for wine knowledge is like entering a whole new world: a new language to learn, new techniques to master, and so many wonderful selections of wine to sample. Enjoy the journey! TO BE CONTINUED
