There is nothing better than having a meal at Royal Palm Hotel, where you can enjoy brilliant breakfasts, leisurely lunches and delicious dinners. But for those days that you are on the home front, remember to prepare healthy home cooked meals instead of heading out to get takeaways.
There are loads of benefits of cooking at home, and it’s not as daunting as many of us think. And convenience food can generally take a significant toll on your mood and health. They are also high in additives, sugar, salt, unhealthy fats and calories.
By cooking for you and your family, ensure you use fresh, wholesome products, which helps you look and feel healthier, boost your energy amnd stabilizing your weight. When preparing food, you know exactly what you are putting in your body.
The best part about cooking at home is that it isn’t complicated, and using ingredients the way nature intended, including lots of vegetables and healthy sources of protein, ensures both tasty and nutritious meals.
Cooking at home can also be a great stress reliever, creatively fulfilling, increases resilience to stress, anxiety and depression and can boost your mood and super importantly, creates great bonding time.
When sharing a home cooked meal be sure to make it a social experience, switch off the screens and cook with others.
Some recipes from Executive Chef of Royal Palm Hotel, Qhawe Tshabalala, will get you back in the kitchen while staying healthy, and they include:
CHICKEN STIR FRY
Ingredients
- Sesame Oil
- 1\2 kg chicken breast
- 2 tbs brown sugar
- 11\2 tsp corn starch
- 5g white cabbage
- 1 x carrot, peeled and cut julienne style
- 3 cups broccolini florets
- 2tsp chillis
- 1 x cup egg noodles
- 6 tbs soy sauce
Method
- Heat up the sauce pan, and add the sesame oil
- Add the chicken, brown sugar & corn starch, and sauté until golden brown
- Next, add your vegetables but make sure you don’t overcook them, as they need to be al dente (meaning that they still have some crunch to them)
- Lastly, crush your egg noodles, and add to the pan, for 1 minute
- Plate and serve with a soy sauce
TACOS
Ingredients
- 1x onion
- 1 x red pepper
- 1 green pepper
- olive oil
- 1 pinch paprika and cumin
- 500g beef mince
- Organic beef stock
- Small size wraps/tacos
- Tomatoes
- Spring onion
- Corianda leaves
- Lime juice
- Avocado
- Crème fraiche
Method
- Peel and dice the onion and the peppers.
- Soften in 1 tablespoon of oil in a large pan over a low heat.
- Peel, finely slice and add the garlic, along with the paprika and cumin, and cook for 1 to 2 minutes.
- Add the beef and stir until it has browned.
- Pour in the stock, cover, and cook for 45 minutes, or until reduced and delicious.
- Preheat the oven to 180ºC/350ºF/gas 4.
- For the salsa, roughly chop the tomatoes, trim and finely slice the spring onion, then pick and roughly chop the coriander leaves. Combine with the lime juice, then season carefully to taste.
- For the guacamole, halve and destone the avocados, then mash the flesh with a fork. Squeeze in the lime juice, add the crème fraiche, season, and gently mix it all up.
- Spread the wraps out on a baking tray and place in the oven for 3 to 4 minutes.
- Fill the wrap with the meat, salsa and guacamole or lay everything out and let everyone help themselves
Both of these meals are great family meals!