Can I have Fifteen Minutes of your time and a Timeworthy Giveaway

Friday 9 November 2012



I'm sure you all recognize this cheeky chap!  Yeppers, it's good ol' Jamie Oliver.   No surprise to you I am sure but he's come out with a new cookbook to go with his new Series, Jamie's 15 Minute Meals.  I purchased it as soon as it came out.  One, I love Jamie Oliver recipes.  Two, I am often pinched for time.  Three, there isn't a new cookbook by Jamie that I can resist.

So any ways, I was contacted after the fact and asked if I would like a copy to review.  Good news is I already had the book, double good news is I have been given a copy to give to one of you!  And, I will send it anywhere in the world, as long as you don't mind it coming your way on a slow boat.  (It will get there in the end, I promise.)

 

So anyways, Jamie's book.  15 Minute Meals.  Last year I had the pleasure of reviewing his 30 Minute Meals book, which you can read all about that experience here.  Obviously I was impressed because I bought this newest one, sight unseen, and it's just loaded with fabulous, tasty, nutritious and quick to prepare recipes.  I haven't managed to get one done in 15 minutes yet, but in all honesty they are rather quick to do, so it's all good.



There's a wide variety of dishes, as you can see, for everything from soup to nuts . . . he even tells you how to cook fast, giving you an in-depth list of Kitchen tools and gadgets you will need and a full pantry list.  Of course the timings are figured out taking for granted that you will have all of your tools and ingredients at the ready.  Just doing that will take a bit of time, but they're still pretty quick recipes.

I have a really tiny kitchen, so I end up having to use the table in my dining room a lot as a work surface, so I do have to run back and forth a lot.  It would be grand to one day have more space to work in and all up to date and modern kitchen appliances of course! (*hint* *hint*)



Just look at this fab looking Mexican Tomato Soup, with Chilli Nachos, Veggie and Feta Sprinkles.  Looks delicious doesn't it???



Warm Chicken Liver Salad with Little Welsh Rarebits anyone???

 

How about Poached Fish with Coddled Eggs and Tomato Loaf?



There are even delicious looking vegetarian options such as this  Veggie Chilli with Crunchy Tortilla and Avocado Salad.



A tasty looking selection of Toasties . . . who doesn't love a toastie?

 

Breakfast Smoothies . . .



Granola and much, much more.



Included is a complete nutritional breakdown of all of the recipes, including calories, fat content, sugar and saturated fat contents.

This is simple food that is nutritious and a total joy to eat.  I just love this book.   Of course you know I can't tell you about this book without showing you one of the recipes which I prepared myself.  I chose to show you the Crispy Polenta Chicken Caesar Salad . . . for a few reasons actually.  One, I had all the ingredients in the house.  Two, I love Caesar Salad, and in particular Chicken Caesar Salads . . . and three, it's what I felt like eating, the most important reason of all.



This is how Jamie's looked.  Looking gorgeous isn't it folks?

 

This is how mine looked.  Scrummilicious!  I loved that crisp coating on the chicken . . . along with the toasted Ciabatta croutons . . .



Look at that crispy pancetta and those lovely salty flakes of Parmesan cheese . . . I added some sprouting radish micro leaves for colour and dash.

 

The dressing was a tad on tart side, so I added a pinch of sugar, but this salad was totally delish and something I will make again and again. It did take me a lot longer than 15  minutes, but that's because I didn't have everything ready to begin with and I got a few phone calls when I was working at it, not to mention the door bell must have rang half a dozen times.  Totally scrummy though!  (Just as you would expect from Jamie!)



*Crispy Polenta Chicken Caesar Salad*
Serves 4
Printable Recipe

Rumored to take only 15 minutes.  Not in my kitchen, but it didn't matter because it was gorgeous.  Adapted from Jamie's 15 Minute Meals.

Chicken:
2 X 200g boneless, skinless chicken breasts
(about 1 pound)
1/2 tsp sweet smoked paprika
2 heaped TBS polenta (fine cornmeal)
olive oil

For the Salad:
1 ciabatta loaf
1 clove of garlic
2 red chicory (endive)
4 slices of smoked pancetta
2 romaine lettuces
10 ripe cherry tomatoes
2 large jarred red peppers
balsamic vinegar
1 punnet of salad cress

For the Dressing:
1 clove of garlic
2 lemons
40g of Parmesan Cheese, plus extra to serve (1/4 cup plus extra)
4 anchovy filets
4 heaped TBS fat free natural yoghurt
1 splash of Worcestershire Sauce
1 TBS red wine vinegar
1 tsp English Mustard
1/2 bunch of fresh basil

To begin, have all of your ingredients out plus a large frying pan on medium heat, a griddle pan on high heat and a liquidizer (stick blender)

On a large sheet of greaseproof paper, toss the chicken with some salt and pepper, the paprika and polenta.  Fold over the paper, then bash and flatten the chicken to roughly 1/2 inch, using a rolling pin.  Add a TBS of oil to the heated frying pan, then bang in the chicken breasts.  Cook, turning after 3 or 4 minutes, until golden and cooked through.  Cut 4 thick slices of ciabatta, placing them on the griddle pan.  Char them nicely on both sides.

Squash the unpeeled garlic through a garlic crusher into the liquidizer.  Squeeze in the lemon juice.  Add the Parmesan and the rest of the dressing ingredients.  Blitz until smooth, then season to taste.  (I added some sugar because it was too tart for our tastes.)  Rub the ciabatta toasts with a halved garlic clove and cut into soldiers.  Quarter the chicory and add to the griddle pan with the pancetta to char for a couple of minutes.

Roughly slice the lettuces and arrange over a large serving board or platter.  Scatter over the ciabatta soldiers.  halve the tomatoes and slice the peppers.  Add to the board.  Slice the chicken, lay it around the salad.  Drizzle with the dressing.  Crumble over the crispy pancetta and snip over the cress.  Use a speed peeler to shave over a little extra Parmesan if you like.



Jamie's 15 Minute Meals
Published by Penguin Books
ISBN 978-0-718-15780-7
Hard Cover
Fully illustrated in Colour
288 pages
Suggested retail price £26.00 but you can get them at Amazon for £11.00

And, if you would like to have a chance at winning your very own copy, just leave a comment at the bottom of this post.  I don't require jumping through hoops or signing up to raffelocopter thingies, or twitter or anything else.  Quite simply tell me you're interested. I'll pick a winner on Sunday, November 11th, which is my wedding anniversary.  You might as well celebrate it with me! 

GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED.

Many thanks to Anwen at Riot Communications for supplying us with a giveaway copy!

55 comments

  1. I'm interested, I'm interested!! *waving frantically* First, because I do not own any Jamie Oliver cookbooks, second, because if YOU like it I MUST try it, third and fourth because those pictures are fabulous and I love a cookbook with great pictures and your salad looks delicious!! I think I might try it, and soon! How lucky we all are that you get such fun things to share with us, your loyal friends! :)
    Hugs from over here,
    April :)

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  2. I'm interested, as I love your blog (read it nightly) and Jamie Oliver. Thanks for all the posts you share, I love your commentary as much as the recipes, your comments always make me smile, and I feel like I'm reading a post by a friend. Thanks for what you do, and God bless both you and Todd :)

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  3. I would love to win a copy of the book! And congrats on your Wedding Anniversary. May you have many more to come. God Bless You both.

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  4. Hi Marie!

    You KNOW I am a cookbook collector like you, I have a couple of Jamie's books but not this one so I'd be a very happy girl if I should be lucky enough to win it!

    You also know how I can never leave comments on here, I have now changed my password yet again so hopefully it'll work from now on...we'll see!!

    Love, Pat xx

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  5. I love Jamie's recipes! I watch his tv shows when they come on here in New Zealand and got myself one of his cookbooks for my birthday this year. I would love to win this one because I could probably make these recipes much more easily than I do the other ones I have from him! (I have his "Jamie Does" cookbook from his travels around Europe). The photos are the best part of his cookbooks I reckon. The food is the yummiest.

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  6. I'm interested! It looks like a great book. Nice give away.
    Happy Anniversary!
    Love your blog. I read every post : )

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  7. I love, love, love, Jamie. I love his tv shows and would love to win his latest book. Happy Anniversary!

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  8. What a lovely lady you are,I would be interested in a Jamie boo. I enjoy your blog so much. And enjoy all your recipes.

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  9. I would love to win a copy of Jamie's book, he is one of those chefs whose books are both a godsend in the kitchen and wonderful to curl up with and read on a winters evening.

    Super blog!

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  10. Please include me, I love Jamie's recipes and anything that saves time is a godsend. Love your blog - it's the one I read in the morning with my first cuppa whilst the kids eat their breakfast.
    x Bev

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  11. I'm a huge Jamie fan and have been since his early cookery show days when he was young and single riding round London on his motor bike.
    I'm so enjoying his 15 Minute meals show every night on CH4.
    I'd love to win the book. Thanks for the chance.
    Margaret

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  12. What a great give away - I also have the 30 minute one and love it so this one would be great. It is my son's birthday on the 11th - maybe an omen.

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  13. oh my GOD!!! i am already on the amazon website. i get your posts on my email and love the food you make, the photos, the stories. . . really nice.
    well, now you got me seriously tempted to buy the book. problem is i have too many books and was planning not to buy too many anymore. but this is i think is really good. i've been watching the tv programmes. he is amazing. good you made the point that we need to get the tools.

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  14. awesome GA..and happy annniversary i would love to have thies cheeky lad in my kitchen..and ...oh,i just love youe chicken cordon blue..i turkey bacon..

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  15. Would love to be in with a chance of winning this as it would make the perfect pressie for my Mum!

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  16. Thank you. Would love to add this cookbook to me collection.

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  17. Would love to be included in this competition... 11th November is also my sister's birthday!

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  18. This is a jolly good coincidence, im glad you think the book is good, as recently i have been diagnosed with Diabetes 2, having watched some of his programmes on 15 min meals, i was a bout to buy it, it seems pretty compatible with the kind of diet i need, leaving out the bread and sweet things of course, but when i have it under control, i probably can include it all.

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  19. Am definitely interested - I caught the end of one of the 15min episodes the other night and it looked so tasty! Leanne x

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  20. Happy Wedding Anniversary :)

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  21. collecting cookbooks....it's in the blood....must...have....lol xxoo

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  22. What FUN... Thank you, Marie! I just love Jamie! I really enjoyed his 30 Minutes Meals a lot, and get a lot of inspiration and quick meals from it. I'm eager to try his even shorter take on meals, but have not yet bough the book. Here I was trying to cut back on cookbook purchases, and then both Nigella and Jamie come out with new cookbooks this autumn... LOL! ;o) Happy Weekend ((LOVE & HUGS))

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  23. Looks yummy! We used to get Jamie Oliver on the Food Network on Saturday mornings and I loved his no noncense way of introducing recipes and cooking ...he makes it look easy....he is delightful! Also Marie your anniversary is also my brother in laws birthday...It will be a happy day...and you and Todd and Mitzie enjoy it!

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  24. You had all of that in the house already?? I want your pantry! I love Jamie and his adorable dimples, sign me up please!

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  25. I'm very interested in winning this book! 15 minute meals with Jamie Oliver - fabulous! Thanks for the chance to win.

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  26. your salad looks as good or better than Jamie's, I just adore Jamie and have been watching his shows since the start, I have this cookbook Marie, so please leave me out of the draw, let someone else enjoy the great book.The Thirty minute meal show is running on our Canadian TV right now, he is such a great TV personality, so much fun, my favorite show was the the ones with him at home, then the Christmas specials, oh they are so good, great give away!!!

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  27. Looks fabulous, I'd love to win one, I'd probably give it to my daughter because she's got a little one with another on the way, as well as a part-time job she works from her home. She needs quick meal ideas, particularly ones that don't involve processed foods.

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  28. Count me in! I am an avid reader of your blog and still trying to hone my home cooking skills. I received a Jamie Oliver cookbook as a wedding gift, but do find his recipes rather involved. That, and I never seem to have the time to sit down and work through them. I would love to try out his quick recipes and really fall in love with his style!

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  29. I'm interested!
    Happy Anniversary to you both for Saturday!

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  30. I would really love this book! <3
    Happy anniversary! :)

    Diana

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  31. It's me:)

    Love him..his wife..kids:)

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  32. I'm interested in winning;) Fairly certain that with the amount of help 3 young grandchildren & 3 older cats provide, it will take a bit longer than 15 mins. in my kitchen as well. A happy anniversary!

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  33. of course I love Jamie Oliver and his recipes! He is such an enthusiastic, interesting kind of guy!Count me in, please!

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  34. Happy anniversary on the 11th! And I'd love to win this cookbook so please count me in! Fingers crossed! :-) Best regards, Camilla Wego Berg

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  35. Happy anniversary on the 11th! And I'd love to win this cookbook so please count me in! Fingers crossed! :-) Best regards, Camilla Wego Berg

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  36. Oh yes, I'd love to win this! Just put it on my Christmas list actually.
    Have a very happy anniversary!

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  37. Oh yes, I'd love to win this! Just put it on my Christmas list actually.
    Have a very happy anniversary!

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  38. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  39. I'm interested!! Happy anniversary for Sunday!

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  40. I'm definately interested. I love Jamie Oliver - his recipes are doable unlike many celebrity chefs.

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  41. Sounds great! I don't see as much of his stuff since I moved from Australia.

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  42. Firs time here (I was searching for a specific recipe but have bookmarked your site now). Why would I like to win? Basically because I can't do anything in 15 minutes! It take me that long just to peel and chop a few veg, so I'd be interest to see if thins can work a miracle on me!!

    Hugs
    Brenda

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  43. I'd love to win this! 15 minute meals is a wonderful concept and I'm a fan of his anyway!

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  44. I would love to win. The idea of making dinner in 15 minutes sounds great and even if it takes longer it would be ok because it's Jamie Oliver.

    ginger c at gmail dot com

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  45. Would love to have Jamie in my kitchen Marie, oops must quickly add, not in the literal sense!
    Millie xx

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  46. Jamie Oliver is a wonderful chef whomhas integrity and talent. I no longer have a television and his shows are ones I do miss. I loved his shows where he took on school lunches. His recipes are easy family friendly and nutritious. I would love to win this book.

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  47. Happy (bit early) anniversary!
    I wasn't going to submit a comment for the cookbook, but those toasties ... my goodness, I want to eat them all! That granola looks positively scrumptious as well.

    Thanks for offering a giveaway! :)

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  48. Happy Anniversary firstly! I too must confess to being a bit of a cook book collector including many of Jamie's other books. I loved sitting down in the evenings with a cup of tea and flicking through some cookbooks and in the mornings enjoying your blog with a cuppa. Keep up the great work!

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  49. Happy Anniversary Marie. I'm interested in winning a copy of Jamie's 15 minute meals, have been watching and enjoying the series. Really like the look of those breakfast smoothies.

    Nicole x x
    http://missfridaysfeast.blogspot.co.uk/

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  50. Happy Anniversary to you on Sunday!
    I love Jamie Oliver. He has tried so hard to get the school lunches to be healthier in the USA (and he was met with much opposition.)
    I really love his fresh food ideas!
    And I hear you about having a small kitchen, I do everything on the tiny edges of my kitchen counters! xx

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  51. I love Jamie's show and recipes and would love to win! Thanks for that!

    msbu26 at gmail dot com

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  52. I'd absolutely looooove to win the 15 min meal book. I'm a mother of a 2 year old, husband currently home due to unemployment and keeping up with their needs leaves me tight on time. This would be such a huuuuuge blessing for me to help me make quick nutritious meals for us. Even if I don't win, as one Canadian Expat to Another, I wanted to wish you and your hubby a very very happy anniversary.

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  53. I'm definately interested. Hope i'm not too late. I was away & in an area with limited internet so i missed this post. Hugs,

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  54. I'd love to win - as a shift worker, any proper food but fast, tips are very welcome

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  55. Congratulations on your anniversary!! So sorry to have missed the competition - was in hospital over the weekend. What a fabulous give-away. Congrats to the winner!

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