Recipe: Chicken surprise

T0 start, an admission.

There is no surprise in chicken surprise.

It is just an affectionate name that it has been given over the last 5 years in which it has become a staple meal. My boy, or friends, will say to me "Can we have chicken surprise", generally knowing I'd rather cook chicken than other meat and that I can throw something together with the contents of the fridge/cupboard for a last minute gathering. This dish is one which requires very few ingredients, and ones I normally have in the house or within 2 minutes of it (i.e.at the corner shop). Hence, when they request chicken surprise they now know this is what they will get. They ask for it a lot, so I can only assume it is good.

That is not to say you cannot include your own surprise, maybe a favourite spice or spirit to give it an extra kick...I'll just give you the basic recipe and you can add your own twist if desired!

Ingredients (serves 2)

2 chicken breasts

4 shallots

200 ml single cream

1 lemon

French mustard

Bunch of tarragon

White wine

Thinly dice shallots

Fry shallots in frying pan with layer of olive oil

Once shallots are browning add chicken, sliced into thick strips

Fry chicken until cooked through (about 20-25 minutes)

Add half the cream and chopped tarragon, to taste.

Add splash of white wine, squeeze of lemon and tsp of mustard.

Continue cooking and stirring and add cream as desired.

As a guide, there should be enough sauce for a couple of large serving spoons worth on top of each portion.

Serve, with roasted potatoes and butternut squash (well, that's what we do!)

Enjoy, with the remainder of the wine.