C is for Chheeeeeese, Chicken and Cola

Hmmmm so many things i could make with the letter 'C'. The decisions were endless but it all came down to my favourites: cheese, chicken and cola. After being back at work for half a week it was worth getting stuck into the kitchen to cook up a 'C. feast. What better way to start off, a cheese platter.

For my cheese platter i had the usuals: Cheese and Crackers (Camembert, Classic Cheddar, jatz Crackers, Captains Table Crackers, Cabanossi and Coriander and pesto dip) ((all bought from Coles). I'm sure you all know how to put a Cheese platter together so i won't go into the finer points. ENJOY!




Chicken Meatball Caesar Salad
For my main course I went with my favourite 'C' of all: chicken. Chicken Meatball Caesar Salad.   This little recipe i found in the Delicious 'Love to Eat' cookbook. What you need;

500g chicken mince
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 tbs finely chopped chives
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
a few drops of tobasco
1 tbs worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup of grated parmesan cheese
4 rashes of bacon or flat pancetta
3 thick slices of sourdough bread, torn into 
bite sized pieces
2 tbs olive oil
2 cos lettuce hearts, quartered lengthways
Finely chopped chives to serve
Dressing 
1 egg
1 garlic clove chopped
Juice of 1 lime
1 tsp American mustard
1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
150ml virgin olive oil
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 200C. Place chicken mince in a bowl with the onion, chives, garlic and tobasco, worcestershire sauce and 2 tbs of the parmesan. Mix and form into 20 or so meatballs. Place on lined baking trays, cover and refrigerate for 15 minutes to firm up.
Place bacon or pancetta on another baking tray in the oven for 10 minutes to crisp up. Reuse tray for the croutons, spread out bread and drizzle with oil. 
Drizzle meatballs with the remaining oil then bake for 20 minutes or until cooked.
Meanwhile for the dressing, whizz up the egg, garlic, lime, mustard and worcestershire sauce in a small food processor. With the motor running, slowly add the oil in a steady stream until emulsified. Transfer to bowl, season and stir in parmesan. 
To serve, tear lettuce onto a platter. Top with meatballs, shaved parmesan, bacon(pancetta) and croutons, drizzle with dressing and scatter with extra parmesan and chives.

Cola Cakes
I found this little dessert cake in the same book, 'Love to Eat'. You can bake these little cakes in ramekins as I did, or make this as one large cake.
1 1/2 cups plain flour
1 tsp of bicarbonate soda
1 cup caster sugar
65g unsalted butter
1/3 cup sunflower oil
100g mini marshmallows
1/4 cup cocoa powder
100ml buttermilk
2 eggs lightly beaten
vanilla ice-cream to serve

Preheat oven 180deg C, grease 6 ramekins or line a 25cm spring form tin.
Sift flour and bicarbonate of soda in a bowl and add the sugar to combine. Combine the butter, oil, marshmallows, cocoa and cola in a saucepan over medium heat and bring to the boil, whisking gently to melt the marshmallows  and dissolve the cocoa. Add to the flour mixture and stir to combine. Add the buttermilk and eggs, and stir to combine. Divide the mixture into the ramekins. Bake for 25 minutes. If in a cake tin bake for 45 minutes or until cooked.
Serve cakes warm topped with vanilla ice-cream.