Grilled Cheesy Leek Toasts

Do you remember a few weeks ago on Masterchef they had the 'Dude-Food' challenge? This is definitely 'Dude-Food'. Leeks. Bread. Cheese. Worcestershire Sauce. Stout (which I left out because on a Sunday arvo I wasn't going to go out and buy a whole can for 1/4 cup of it). I'm sure my ass was growing as I was eating it. It was just carbs and fat.

And tasted awesome.

I love leeks and the sweetness they have that onions don't. They're a beautiful substitute and are the best option for a dish like this. They marry so beautifully with the bechamel-like sauce that's flavoured with the sauce, mustard and copious amounts of cheese (and stout). Then grilled till golden.

Definitely a 'sometimes' food.

Yes, I know they're not the most appealing photos. They're dodgy rushed iPhone pics because the camera battery was flat.

But you get the idea.

Garlic Chicken

I love Garlic. Almost as much as I love Creamed Rice. But Garlic would be my top savoury love. I always use heaps in my cooking (probably why I don't get sick often) and could always use more. I grew up with my Dad eating pickled Garlic, straight from the jar. My poor Mum. I love Garlic a LOT, but not that much.

Pretty close though.

There are quite a few Garlic Chicken variation recipes in Seasons. I am so excited at this. I go through episodes where I just crave garlic, so I just had to try this one out.

Oh wow. It's so simple. Cut up Chicken - check. Cut up some Parsley - check. Crushed Garlic - chec....wait. No. I don't have a garlic crusher.

And I refuse to buy one. I don't mind that chefs use it, I completely understand the easiness of having a garlic crusher and if I'd never had one before, I'd go out and buy one. But I have. All I can say is, it's all well and good for a chef to use a garlic crusher. They don't have to clean the damn thing.

So I finely cut up my garlic instead.

Cook the chicken - check. Add the garlic and parsley - check. Breathe in deeeeeep and absorb the aroma garlic creates in my tiny little kitchen - check! Again, this recipe suggest serving it simply, but again I'm having it for dinner and need my veggies. So I chop up some Leek and Zucchini and after removing the Chicken from the pan, I quickly fry off the veggies in the remaining garlic fumes, with a little splash of Lemon Juice to help get all the yummy garlic flavour off the bottom of the pan. I eat it with the veggies and some polenta. No, I didn't serve it. Hubby was at footy training, so I just ate (inhaled) it myself.

And enjoyed every Garlicy minute of it. Definitely a recipe I will be making again. And again. And again......


And again!