Summer Nights

This summer is the end and the beginning. Despite my initial distaste for Middlesbrough in the first year, no matter what I feel or say, I've become a little attached. For all it's faults, there are a hundred other things that make this place worthwhile and I will miss it. 

These next few weeks, I will be preparing to leave what has become another home. Everyone knows, but I will say this now, saying goodbye is poo.

I am glad I started writing this blog - initially, it was just a way for me to practice my writing and my photography. Not sure if I've gotten better, but when I look back through the posts, I'm glad I made them anyway. I enjoy remembering why or when I took the pictures, and it is a small comfort for me.

You don't realise how many stories your head can recall until you find yourself clicking back through over fifty blog posts. I've had such a good time here, home is lovely, and I really want to go back - but there is no right or perfect moment to leave.

We had a barbecue the other night, and sat outside until the breeze picked up.

I watched the sunset on the red bricks.

Shawarma Chicken Skewers

It's been sunny in England - gloriously sunny. As such, to celebrate, this week I've had not just one, but THREE barbecues! Incredible!

We had this recipe for Sharwarma Chicken a few times before but thought we'd try it on the barbecue :) The recipe is originally for making wraps, which you can find in Gordon Ramsay's Ultimate Cookery Course cook book that Dan got for Christmas.

I have to say, the marinade for the chicken is pretty damn amazing. I don't know if it's true to authentic Middle Eastern shawarma flavour but I promise you that it's really tasty and zingy. The marinaded chicken worked really well on the barbecue and I think it added a nice smokey flavour.

Making the marinade is quite fun - feels a bit like being a mad scientist. Sort of. But not really. 

Mmm. Smokey chicken skewers.

Dan said, "Why is cooking so fun?"

Because you get to eat THIS!

Here's the original recipe, if you can't get a hold of the book. 

You will need:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• 2–4 tortilla wraps or paratha breads
• Olive oil, for frying
• 2 spring onions, trimmed and finely shredded
• ¼ head of pointed cabbage, finely shredded
• FOR THE MARINADE:
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp ground ginger
• ½ tsp ground coriander
• Seeds from 3 cardamom pods, ground in a mortar
• Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
• 2 garlic cloves, peeled
• Juice of ¼ lemon
• Small bunch of coriander, leaves chopped
• Olive oil
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• TO SERVE:
• Mayonnaise
• Chilli sauce or sauce of your choice

Instructions

1. First make the marinade. Place the spices, garlic, lemon juice and coriander in a small blender or mortar and grind until smooth. Add 5 tablespoons of olive oil, along with a generous pinch of salt and pepper, and blend again to mix well. Transfer the marinade to a large dish. Add the chicken and rub in the marinade, making sure that all of the chicken is covered. Leave to marinate for up to 2 hours.
2. Preheat the oven to 200°C/Gas 6.
3. Heat a griddle pan over a medium heat. Remove the chicken from the marinade, shaking off any excess, and cook on the hot griddle for 3–4 minutes on each side until slightly charred but not burnt. Transfer to a roasting tray and finish cooking in the oven for 5–8 minutes. Leave the chicken to rest.
4. Meanwhile, cook the tortilla wraps in batches in a single layer on the cleaned, slightly oiled griddle pan. Toast on each side for 2 minutes or until the wraps are hot all the way through but still pliable. Keep warm.
5. Remove the chicken from the oven and slice into bite-sized chunks. Place some chicken on each warm wrap and sprinkle with spring onions and shredded cabbage. Add mayonnaise and chilli sauce to taste, then roll up the wraps and serve.