Izelle Hoffman is helping us kill germs with this week's recipe!

We are in winter, flu season, and a global pandemic, and you know Izelle is going to keep us healthy and happy with this week's germ-busting recipe! 

With an approach to eating that is enlightening and educational, Izelle has the ability to take our favourite ingredients and turn them into delicious and nutritious meals for the whole family, even the vegetarians and vegans out there! Explaining the reasons behind each ingredient, the benefits to the body and mind, she is truly our very own 'Food Fairy Godmother'.

This week we are talking garlic, garlic, and more garlic! Good for both germs and vampires! 

Lemon and garlic glazed chicken thighs with peas

Prep time: 10 minutes

Baking time: 45 minutes

Servings: 3

500 g frozen peas (Green beans can work as an alternative too)

1 large red onion, diced

6 chicken thighs 

6 lemon slices

2 Tbsp olive oil

1 tsp Oryx desert salt 

1 tsp ground black pepper

1 tsp dried parsley

1 heaped tsp crushed garlic

2 Tbsp raw honey

juice of 2 lemons

a handful of chopped fresh parsley or

baby pea shoots for garnishing

1. Preheat the oven to 200 °C and spray an ovenproof dish with non-stick cooking spray.
2. Place the frozen peas in the bottom of the dish and add about half of the onion.
3. Place the chicken thighs on top of the peas and onion and place a slice of lemon on every piece of chicken.
4. Sprinkle the rest of the onion over the chicken.
5. Mix the olive oil, salt, pepper, dried parsley, garlic, honey and lemon juice in a small bowl, and then pour over the chicken.
6. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 15 minutes, then remove the foil and bake uncovered for another 30 minutes or until the chicken is cooked.
7. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley, thyme or baby pea shoots before serving with basmati rice and vegetables of your choice.

Impressive Dish with minimum effort!  #You’reWelcome

IF you would like to change this to a vegetarian dish, replace the chicken with cauliflower steaks,

For a vegan recipe just replace the honey with maple or agave syrup as well

Why are we making use of these ingredients:

Oryx Salt

What is the purpose of adding salt during cooking? It’s to enhance flavour, right? So why not start by using a good-quality salt to do the job? Sun-dried and unrefined with no additives will bring out the best in your food in the healthiest way possible.

Raw Honey

Salt needs sweet and vice versa to enhance taste and flavour. So when you add sweetness, choose a sweetness that has a healing effect on your body and health. Raw honey is antiviral and anti-fungal, and contains powerful antioxidants. Its helps ward off allergies, stabilise blood pressure and balance blood sugar levels. It also boosts the immune system and promotes digestive health.

Garlic

Antiviral, antifungal and anti-inflammatory, garlic assists in detoxification and boosting the metabolism, and is a natural dewormer that kills parasites. I use both black and white fresh garlic, and keep dried garlic powder and flakes in my pantry.

Olive Oil

We all have our reasons why we prefer certain oils, but without a doubt my oil base of choice is olive oil, specifically for its amazing health benefits. Olive oil helps reduce inflammation and prevent osteoporosis, and is essential for bone health because it assists in the absorption of calcium and the mineralisation of bones, all of which are qualities I look for in a product, given my hip dysplasia and related joint pain.

Onion

Onions are a natural antibiotic and antiseptic, so are a big YES, especially in winter. They purify the blood, regulate blood sugar levels and improve digestion. They are also anti-inflammatory. In addition to fresh onions, in my pantry you will find dried onion powder and flakes.

Ground Black Pepper

Why do we add pepper to our food? When I ask this during cooking demonstrations, I always get the most interesting answers, but mostly people cannot tell me why they add pepper to their meals. My reason? It increases nutrient absorption and improves digestion, so you can get the most out of every meal, every time.

Lemons

Although themselves acidic, citrus fruits such as lemons and limes have an alkalising effect on the body. They are also loaded with vitamin C. Vitamin C content is always highest when the fruit is freshly cut. A squeeze of love in the shape of a lemon or lime, who knew?

Parsley

It is so much more than just a garnish; it packs an unsuspecting nutritional punch. High in vitamins A and C and calcium, it is anti-inflammatory, improves bone health, is a blood purifier and boosts the immune system.

Thyme

Thyme boosts the immune system, is antiviral, antifungal and anti-inflammatory, and improves bone health.

Another one ingredient challenge: What's in your fridge?

If you would like Izelle to use your ingredient idea to create a recipe that the whole family will love, send us a message on our Facebook page or leave a comment here and you could win a copy of her eBook - 'Mindful Eating'! 

You can also buy your copy here!