Heaven...I'm in heaven.

Tonight's dinner is my all time favourite meal as if you didn't know...hardly any cooking is required as most ingredients are bought fresh and all home-made ingredients, with the bread being the exception, are prepared way ahead of time.

This is not an expensive meal as it is shared between many-it is the best meal to have with friends when you do not want to cook on the night and want to chill out with a glass of wine and chat whilst eating over several hours.

To give you an idea of prices, 30 slices of chorizo costs around £1, a large tub of olives between £1-£3, mozarella £1 with the cheese platter being the most expensive but a little goes a long way. There is a wonderful cheese shop in Glasgow called Mellis however, for all I love their cheeses, they need to be eaten almost immediately as oh are they ripe!

This is a lot of food and no matter how many people I have round, there is always some left to snack on for lunches, picnics or even another dinner.
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Ah, antipasti...the simple tomato, transformed with a little sea salt, black pepper, fresh basil, garlic oil and fresh mozarella. Thin slices of parmegiano regano. A plate filled with charcuterie: prosciutto, salami and chorizo. Fresh rocket with an olive oil, honey, herb and balsamic vinegar dressing. Freshly baked bread. Olive oil, drizzled with thick, aged balsamic vinegar and sprinkled with sea salt for dipping. Olives; fat, green, Queen olives with whole garlic cloves, little Spanish ones marinaded in lemon oil, glistening, Greek black olives with herbs. Sun-dried tomatoes and roasted peppers.

Then, a round of Camembert, grapes, crackers and Brie. A Dunsyre Blue and a strong cheddar. Homemade chutney and tomato chilli relish alongside caremalised onions.

It doesn't get any better than this.

Ritzy Chicken Nuggets or Battered Chicken!

I changed my banner. Yeah for Photobucket!

For years, I've been feeding my kids Nigella Lawson's 'Ritzy Chicken Nuggets'. They don't particularly sound fabulous but actually, they are and are just as tasty if not more so in an adult salad with a mustard dressing. They are very moreish and I always have to remember the old adage: 'Little Pickers Wear Big Knickers'. My advice? Don't make too many or you'll be squashing them boiling hot into your gub before the kids catch you.

The chicken is marinaded for at least a day so you need to buy the chicken and buttermilk in advance for tomorrow's tea!

Ritzy Chicken Nuggets
2 chicken breasts
1 tub buttermilk (usually 285 ml)
150 g Ritz crackers
125ml vegetable oil

Place the chicken in a plastic bag and get rid of all that pent up aggression by battering them with a rolling pin....very cathartic. Probably best doing one breast at a time or wee holes appear in the bag and the chicken starts trying to escape...not a fun sight.

Take out of bag and cut around 8 goujons per breast. Place chicken in a freezer bag or bowl and cover with buttermilk. Leave to marinade for 1 or 2 days. The chicken turns opaque and is very, very tender so these cook quickly.

Put the Ritz crackers into a bag and have another go at releasing that pent up anger by smashing them to bits with said rolling pin or shoe or even head...whatever takes your fancy that day. I must admit to adding a little salt and pepper but there is no real need. Roll the chicken in the crumbs and then heat oil in frying pan. These nuggets will take only a few minutes each side to cook...as soon as they turn brown, turn them over. Transfer to kitchen towel and blot dry.

I serve these with either rice, baked potatoes or potato salad and vegetables. Tomato sauce or mayonnaise is a pre-requisite. Watch kids devour them and look on in jealousy, hoping someone leaves you a morsel.