We are rapidly reaching the end of the school holidays. The uniforms are all washed and ready to go. Stationary is labelled and hidden so they can't use it between now and next Monday. And new shoes have been bought.
The boys are excited about going back. Mr 7 can't wait to see his friends and Mr 4 is happy he is going to be a proper 'big school boy' and get to go to chapel each week with his class. I think that is because he is convinced they sing the Banana Song every week. Fingers crossed that Pastor Richard gets it in during that first week or I may have one very disappointed 4 year old on my hands!
It is wonderful they are looking forward to school going back but it does mean the hols are coming to an end and our summer adventures are over for another year. We are still trying to cram things in. Today we are off to the aquarium and yesterday we had an evening play, swim and barbie down at the estuary.
It was beautiful, we were the only ones there, the hint of a breeze made the 37 ºC day bearable, the boys ate every bit of food they were given, we had a sunset swim water fight before heading home for baths and sparklers left over from Australia Day.
Bundling two tired and mucky boys into the car with just their towels on, I managed to leave the boys clothes hung on a bush! But they were still there when Dad and I drove back a couple of hours later. The late night jaunt gave us a chance to spot a frogmouth owl, a very tame frogmouth owl as he sat happily whilst I grabbed a couple of shots with my phone.
So tired and happy we all headed to bed, with the temperature still hitting 30ºC we expected a warm muggy night ahead, but the summer rains fell and this morning I am sat looking out at beautiful blue skies and inhaling a clean fresh after the rain smell. Doesn't get better than that!
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Last night on the barbie we had the usual homemade extra large beef burgers and sausages but I also made some Jamaican chicken. I cooked it in the oven before we went and had planned to just place it on the barbecue in some foil to heat through, yes I am the crazy lady who has the oven on when the house is already struggling to stay cool! But in the end it was eaten cold and I can tell you it is as good cold with salad as it is hot with rice.
That makes it a great dish to make for dinner and then use leftovers for lunch. Stew has gone off to work this morning with leftover salad and leftover chicken! Don't feel too sorry for him, at least he hasn't got to go out in the heat and buy lunch.
This chicken is hard to describe, it is aromatic, sweet, sour and spicy, it isn't blow your head off spicy as I have tamed the spice quite significantly. No point eating something that is unenjoyable, but it still pretty spicy. If you love things as spicy as they come then add in 2 extra chillies. Scotch bonnet are the ones they use in Jamaica and if you can get them, they will definitely give you a spicy kick. But I warn you, this is not a gentle boot to the bottom, this is a flying kick that will send you into next door's garden! They are hot hot hot!
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Jamaican Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 spring onion
- 2 red chilli (Add an extra 2 if you love your food with a major spice kick)
- 2 cm piece ginger
- 4 garlic cloves
- 1 bunch coriander
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
- 2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 teaspoon ground mixed spice
- 1 teaspoon dried chilli flakes
- 2 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 teaspoon raw unprocessed honey
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 chicken marylands (see notes)
- 1 whole lime
Instructions
- Roughly chop the spring onion and chillies and place in the bowl of a food processor.
- Peel the garlic and ginger and add to the processor.
- Cut the stalks off the coriander and add the stalks to the processor. Keep the leaves for later.
- Give this a quick pulse then add the fresh and dried thyme, mixed spice, chilli flakes, lime juice, honey, salt and olive oil.
- Process this until you have a smooth(ish) marinade.
- Place the chicken pieces into a large non-metallic bowl and add the marinade.
- Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.
- Pre-heat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan forced/Gas mark 6.
- Line a baking tin with cooking paper and arrange the chicken so they aren't overlapping.
- Roast the chicken for an hour.
- Remove from the oven and serve sprinkled with fresh coriander and plenty of lime wedges.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition is per serving
Rikki says
What is mixed spice? Is it something I can buy in the U.S.?
Claire McEwen says
Hi Rikki, mixed spice is a spice blend of cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice.
I had a quick look and it looks like you can buy it on amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Schwartz-Mixed-Spice-28g/dp/B003BQH3DC (that isn't an affiliated link or anything, just one I found).
Not sure if it is available in grocery stores over there, although I think pumpkin pie spice is pretty similar.
Hope that helps.
Salma Navin says
Hello Claire, I made Jamaican chicken following your recipe with Indian red chillies. They were super delicious, perfectly spicy , moist and awesome flavor. Thank you so much for sharing the recipe. My family loved this version of roasted chicken !
Claire McEwen says
Salma, thank you so much for taking the time to come back and comment, I am so very pleased you enjoyed the Jamaican Chicken recipe 🙂
Amy @ Thoroughly Nourished Life says
Goodness me we have had a weird and warm summer haven't we? I can't wait until we are in our own home next summer and can move some of our cooking outdoors (I'm like you though, even if the A/C is struggling I have the oven heating up for something). I just know my partner is going to love this chicken dish!
Claire McEwen says
We really have. Summer was late coming but it is sure hot and muggy today again. But we have storm warning for tonight. Severe rain and hail. I'm still using the oven though...roasted cauliflower tonight 🙂
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
Loving all the spices and aromatics of this jamaican chicken. It looks incredible!
Claire McEwen says
Thank you Thalia. Your Mini Lavender, Champagne and Hazelnut Cakes will definitely be on my baking list. They look and sound amazing!
Michael says
Fantastic flavour to this chicken. Spicing was just right.
Carolyn. says
We had a great barbie. Chicken yummy and burgers delicious!