Friday 28 June 2013

Greek Salad




A zesty salad that goes well with grilled meats, kebabs, fish or by itself as a light lunch.

Just one syn for 8 olives.
Cheese is healthy extra A


Serves 2

Ingredients

½ cucumber seeds removed and thinly sliced
12 cherry tomatoes quartered
16 olives halved
half a red onion thinly sliced into half moons
1 tbsp capers
small handful basil thinly sliced
small handful mint thinly sliced
45 g feta cheese
juice of ½ lemon
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
½ tsp sweetener
salt and pepper
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tbsp water

Method

In a salad bowl mix together the first 8 ingredients.
In another bowl mix together the rest of the ingredients.
Spoon over the dressing and refrigerate for 20 minutes.






Wednesday 26 June 2013

Smoked Salmon, Cream Cheese and Salad Sandwich



Ok so i don't need to tell you how to make a sandwich, but this was so good i had to add it!!


Ingredients

2 slices of wholemeal bread from a 400g loaf
A small packet of smoked salmon (yes i'm greedy)
½ tub of low low
1 tbsp capers
Iceberg lettuce
cucumber
salt and pepper

Method

Spread both pieces of the bread with the low low to hold it together, well as best it can!
Then layer how you like and enjoy!
Napkin at the ready would be good!!



Fruity Jelly Sweets



I can't take credit for these sweets, but i am going to share the idea, as they are fab!!!
So easy to make and are a great substitute for wine gums or haribos, with a lot less syns!!!

This recipe makes about 48 sweets and its only 3 syns for the lot on extra easy!!


Ingredients

2 sachets of gelatine crystal
180 ml cold water
2 packets of no sugar jelly crystals
½ pint boiling water

Method

Mix the gelatine crystals and the cold water in a bowl and let it stand for 10 minutes.
Mix the jelly crystals with the boiling water.
Mix both liquids together making sure everything is dissolved.
If you think the mixture will stick to your moulds lightly spray them with frylight. I find silicone moulds are the best.
Pour into the mould about ½ cm deep, put into the fridge and let set for about an hour, pop out moulds and enjoy!!!




Baked Potato with Chilli and a Fried Egg



I wasn't feeling very well and didn't want to be stuck in the kitchen cooking a meal, so i got a portion of Beef Chilli out the freezer and stuck a potato in the oven, while i was in the fridge getting the cheese, i noticed the eggs and suddenly had a craving for one on the top of my Baked potato. Well i was very pleasantly surprised, it went really well and was delicious, the richness of the yolk cut through the sharpness of the cheese and the kick from the spicy chilli!!

Syn free on extra easy, as long as you use the cheese as your healthy A.


Preheat oven 200c, 400f, gas mark 5

Ingredients

1 Large baking potato
1 portion of Beef Chilli
40g reduced fat cheddar cheese or 30g full fat cheddar cheese
1 egg (i used a duck egg)
Chipotle tabasco sauce (optional)

An afterthought, a handful of jalapenos would be good too!

Method

Wash the potato and prick all over, bake for about an hour, until the skin is crispy and the centre is tender.
Reheat the Beef Chilli on the hob for about 10 minutes till hot, or in the microwave for 5 minutes till hot.
Put the potato on a plate and cut a cross in it, then push down on the edge of each quarter, pour over the chilli and if using Jalapenos sprinkle them over, then sprinkle with the cheese.

Heat a frying pan sprayed with frylight and fry you egg to your liking, then lay on top of the cheese, sprinkle with the tabasco sauce and serve.




Friday 21 June 2013

Spicy Sweet Potato



Sweet soft potato with the kick of chilli and the warmth of Cinnamon and allspice and the saltiness of feta cutting through the sweetness.

I served it with roasted salmon, salad and Mint Yogurt Sauce

Syn free on extra easy as long as the feta is used as your healthy A


Preheat oven 200c, 400f, gas mark 5

Serves 2

Ingredients

2 large sweet potatoes
2 red chillies finely sliced
extra virgin olive oil frylight
2 tsp Ras El Hanout
1 tsp flaky sea salt
90g feta cheese

Method

Peel the sweet potatoes and cut into 1cm slices.
Put one potato onto kitchen foil, spray with frylight, sprinkle with 1 chilli and 1 tsp of the Ras El Hanout, and ½ tsp of salt. Wrap it up in the foil. Repeat with the second potato, and bake them for 40 minutes, serve and sprinkle with feta cheese.




Thursday 20 June 2013

Chilli Cheese Fries




This a pure comfort food, hot and spicy, full of what you need when you need a boost!

Syn free on extra easy if you use the cheese as your healthy A.


Preheat grill

Ingredients

1 portion of Beef Chilli
1 portion of Syn Free Chips
20 sliced jalapenos
40 g of reduced fat cheese or 30 g full fat cheese.

Method

Layer the chips in the bottom of a bowl, top with the chilli, jalapenos and grate over the cheese, put under the grill till the cheese has melted.



Beef Chilli



This is a tasty beef chilli, spicy, rich and full of vegetables.
Syn free on extra easy.
Great with rice, jacket potato and as Chilli Cheese Fries, or just by itself!

Serve 8

Ingredients

2 onions chopped
3 carrots chopped into small dice
2 red peppers diced
8 oz mushrooms chopped
1 kg extra lean mince beef 5% fat or less
2 garlic cloves finely chopped
2 red chillies finely chopped
1 tbsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tbsp ground coriander
1 tbsp dried oregano
1 tsp celery salt
2 tsp red chipotle powder or hot smoked paprika
1 tbsp tomato puree
1 tube passata
1 tin of chopped tomatoes
1 litre beef stock
salt and pepper to taste

Method

In a large pot sprayed with frylight, brown the mince then remove, respray the pot then fry the onions for 2 minutes, then add the carrot and red peppers fry for 2 minutes, add the mushrooms, garlic and chilli fry for 1 minute. add all spices and herbs, stir in then add the tomato puree, passata, chopped tomatoes and beef stock, return the beef to the pan and bring to a boil the simmer for at least 2 hours, season to taste, if the chilli gets a bit dry add more water.



Tuesday 18 June 2013

Tilapia and Lemon and Caper Dressing with Orzo and Salad



This is a light and zesty dish, with a kick of chilli, which compliments the soft flakes of fish and crunchy salad.

Syn free on extra easy and lots of superfree too.


Serves 2

Ingredients

4 tilapia fillets
1 cup of orzo
2 tbsp capers
1 red chilli deseeded
juice of a lemon
handful of basil chopped
1 garlic clove chopped
¼ tsp sweetener
1 tsp balsamic vinegar
2 iceburg leaves
2 handfuls of mixed salad leaves
10 cherry tomatoes
2 inches of cucumber thinly sliced and cut into half moons
4 radishes thinly sliced
half a red pepper thinly sliced
4 spring onions thinly sliced

Method

Cook the orzo as per packet instructions. When cooked drain and run under the cold tap.

Blitz the chilli and garlic in a blender, tip into a bowl and add the lemon juice, sweetener, balsamic vinegar, chopped basil and capers, mix together.

Make up the salad with the mixed salad leaves, tomatoes, cucumber, radishes, peppers and spring onion, pile it all in the iceburg leaves.

Spray a frying pan with extra virgin olive oil frylight and fry the tilapia for 2 minutes on each side.

Serve everything up and drizzle over the dressing.


Spicy Crushed Roasted New Potatoes




These potatoes are great with any meal, crunchy on the outside and soft and fluffy in the middle, with a spicy bite.


Preheat oven 200c, 400f, gas mark 5

serves 2

Ingredients

1 lb new potatoes
extra virgin olive oil frylight
2 tsp northwoods fire spice mix, or Cajun spice mix
salt and pepper to season

Method

In a large pan boil the potatoes till fork tender, drain and let dry.
Lay them out in a single layer in a oven proof dish sprayed with frylight and crush them with a fork, spray the potatoes with more frylight, then sprinkle over the spice mix and salt and pepper.
Bake in the oven for 25 minutes till golden and crispy, you may need to spray with frylight again half way through.


Tilapia, Shrimp and Tomato Bake



This dish is perfect before a weigh in as it's filling, but light. The tilapia is a white flaky fish that has a delicate taste and is very moist if cooked right. If you can't get tilapia, haddock or cod fillets will do.


preheat oven 200c, 400f, gas mark 5

Serves 2

Ingredients

4 tilapia fillets
20 raw shrimp
punnet of cherry tomatoes
4 spring onions sliced
2 tbsp capers
1 red chilli thinly sliced
handful of basil leaves torn
salt and pepper

Method

Line a baking tray with kitchen foil, spray with extra virgin olive oil frylight, lay out the fillets and shrimp, sprinkle over the cherry tomatoes, spring onions, capers, chilli and basil, spray again with frylight and bake for 10 to 12 minutes till the tilapia and shrimp are cook.

I like to serve it with Spicy Crushed Roasted New Potatoes and salad.



Smoked Salmon Pate



This a rich and tasty dish, perfect for parties and dinner parties or just to nibble on when peckish. Lovely on Melba toasts and crackers, or serve with crudites as a dip.

Plus if you find yourself eating the whole thing, it is only 1 syn on extra easy.


Ingredients

400g smoked salmon
2 tubs of quark
1 tbsp horseradish sauce
salt and pepper to season

Method

Divide the salmon into two portions roughly chop one of the portions. Put the other portion into a blender with the quark and horseradish sauce and blitz.
Stir in the chopped smoked salmon and season to taste.


Saturday 15 June 2013

Sticky Lemon and Garlic Pork



This is a gorgeous Asian dish, full of crunchy vegetables and tender pork.

Syn free on extra easy.


Serves 4

Ingredients

1 large pork tenderloin sliced thinly
2 tbsp light soy sauce
2 tbsp dark soy sauce
1 lemon juiced
4 garlic cloves
3 cm fresh ginger
1 red chilli
1 large onion roughly chopped
1 carrot shaved with a peeler or cut into matchsticks
½ bag of bean sprouts
1 tin of bamboo shoots
1 red pepper thinly sliced
1 punnet of oriental mushrooms
small handful coriander leaves
Rice or noodles to serve.

Method

In a blender blitz the garlic, ginger and chilli. Mix with the soy sauces, and lemon juice. Marinade the pork for up to an hour.
In a wok sprayed with frylight, stir fry the pork till browned then add all the vegetables and rest of the marinade, stir fry for 5 to 6 minutes till pork cooked through and vegetables are to your liking. serve garnished with the coriander leaves.


Creamy Coriander and Mint Chicken Curry



This is a lovely creamy curry without any cream or fat!
You can make it as spicy as you like by adding more chillies.
This dish is syn free on extra easy.


Serves 4

Ingredients

2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
8 oz cremini mushrooms quartered
2 onions roughly chopped
3 cloves
3 cardamom pods
1 cinnamon stick
2 cm ginger roughly chopped
2 garlic cloves
1 tsp chilli flakes
3 chillies roughly chopped
1 tbsp ground cumin
1 tbsp ground coriander
1 tsp turmeric
salt and pepper
large handful of coriander including the stalks
handful of mint leaves
300ml chicken stock
juice of a lime
4 ripe tomatoes quartered and deseeded
coriander leaves to garnish

Method

Chop the chicken into 2 cm cubes.
In a large pan sprayed with frylight, fry the onions with the cinnamon stick, cardamon pods and cloves. When golden add the mushrooms and fry till golden, then add the chicken and brown.

In a blender blitz together the ginger, garlic, chilli flakes, chillies, ground cumin, ground coriander, turmeric, salt and pepper, fresh coriander and mint with ½ cup water to make a smooth paste.

Add to the pan and cook out for 2 minutes, add the stock and simmer for 20 minutes and the chicken is cooked through.
Add the lime juice, tomatoes and more salt and pepper if needed. Simmer for 5 more minutes then serve with rice and garnish with the coriander leaves and fat free natural yogurt.


Thursday 13 June 2013

Asian Salmon Giant CousCous Salad



This is a very tasty salad, with all the Asian taste sensations of salty, sweet, spicy and tangy, you can have it with or without the salmon, or add any meat you like, plus any vegetables you like.


Preheat oven 200c, 400f, gas mark 5

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 inch of ginger  peeled and chopped
1 garlic clove crushed
1 red chilli chopped
3 tbsp light soy sauce
juice of one lime

300g giant cous cous
1 lb salmon
6 spring onions
half a cucumber, seeds removed and chopped
2 roasted red peppers
handful of basil leaves chopped
1 packet of edamame beans

Method

Cook the couscous as per packet instructions, then run under a cold tap to stop the cooking.
Roast the salmon sprayed with olive oil frylight for 18 minutes
Chop up the spring onions and red pepper.
Blend all the first 5 ingredients in a blender to make a dressing.
Flake the salmon.
Put everything into a large bowl and mix.





Mint Yogurt Sauce



This is a light refreshing minty sauce that goes well with Jerk Chicken, Kebabs and as a chutney with poppadoms.

Syn free on extra easy.


Ingredients

250 ml fat free natural yogurt
2 tbsp no added sugar mint sauce
¼ tsp sweetener
Handful of mint leaves roughly chopped

Method

Mix all the ingredients together, let it infuse for an hour and serve with chosen dish.


Jerk Chicken with Portobello Mushrooms



This Caribbean dish is sweet, spicy and tangy, with a smooth cooling dip. It tastes great wrapped in a crispy, crunchy little gem leaf.

2 syns per serving on extra easy.


Serves 2
Preheat oven 200c, 400f, gas mark 5

Ingredients

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
4 large portobello mushrooms sliced
1 tbsp sweet chilli sauce
4 tbsp light soy sauce
1 tbsp jerk seasoning
½ tsp sesame oil
1 red chilli
handful of coriander

Method

Cut each chicken breast into 8 pieces.
Put the rest of the ingredients except one tablespoon of the soy sauce, in a blender and blitz.
Marinade the chicken for at least 2 hours, overnight if possible.
Spray a pan with frylight and brown the chicken pieces on each side, put on a baking tray and bake for 10 minutes to cook through.
Fry the mushrooms in frylight and 1 tbsp of soy sauce, then add the chicken back to the pan mix together and serve.
Sprinkle with coriander and serve with little gem leaves and mint yogurt sauce.

Recipe for mint yogurt sauce in the side dishes folder.





Tuesday 11 June 2013

New Potatoes with Coriander, Chilli and Mint Dressing



These potatoes with a light and citrusy dressing make a great accompaniment to fish, and chicken or are great in a salad.
Simple to make and syn free on extra easy.


Ingredients

1 lb new potatoes
1 handful coriander
10 mint leaves
1 tbsp sugar free mint sauce
juice of 1 lime
1 green chilli
pinch of sweetener

Method

Boil the potatoes till tender.

Blend all the other ingredients in a blender.
Mix the dressing with the potatoes and serve.


Wednesday 5 June 2013

Eggciting Omelettes

Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese

Excuse the pun, but these omelettes get your taste buds salivating!

An omelette is so quick and easy to make, and the fillings are never ending!!

Here are a few to get you started.


Basic Omelette Ingredients

3 eggs (i like duck eggs)
salt and pepper

Method

Beat the eggs with the salt and pepper till light. Heat a frying pan, spray with butter frylight and pour in the eggs.
When they start to set, with a spatula pull the eggs towards the middle until its nearly all set.
Add your filling to one side and fold over and serve.


Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese

The title says it all, just fill your omelette with fat free cream cheese or you daily healthy A portion of cheese spread and smoked salmon, i like to add some capers to mine too.



Wild Mushroom and Low Low
Wild Mushroom and Low Low
Ingredients

2 Punnets of oriental mushrooms
½ tub of Low Low cheese spread (i used the red pepper and chilli)
Butter Frylight

Method

Spray the pan with the frylight then fry the mushrooms till golden, set aside.
Make the omelette.
Spread the low low on one side of the omelette then add the mushrooms.
Fold over and serve.



Asian Crab
Asian Crab Ingredients

Crab meat
1 chilli finely chopped
3 spring onions finely sliced
1 tsp grated fresh ginger
2 tsp light soy sauce
1 tsp fish sauce
1 tbsp oyster sauce (optional) 1 syn
Handful of coriander leaves
Tabasco sauce to serve.

Method

Make the basic omelette, but add the soy sauce and fish sauce to the eggs before cooking.

Mix the crab with the ginger, chilli, coriander and spring onions. lay on one side of the omelette and fold over, serve with the oyster sauce drizzled over it and sprinkle with Tabasco sauce.




Roasted Red Peppers and Goats Cheese

 Roasted Red Pepper and Goats Cheese Omelette

This is another "it does what it says on the tin" omelette.

Basically just chop up 2 jarred red peppers and lay on one side of the omelette, i added a few capers. Then add 30g of goats cheese (your daily Healthy A), fold over and serve.




Mediterranean
Mediterranean Omelette Ingredients

1 Tin plumed tomatoes
1 tbsp capers
Handful of basil roughly torn
45g mozzarella cheese roughly chopped.

Method

Make the basic omelette. Drain the tomatoes and cut them open to get rid of the seeds.
Chop the tomatoes, mix with the capers, basil and mozzarella, lay on one side of the omelette then fold over and serve.



Seafood Kedgeree



This has got to be one of my favourite dishes of all time, and when i realised i could make one syn free and it tasted just as good, if not better than before, i was over the moon!!
Again you can make it as spicy as you like, and add whatever fish and seafood you like.


Preheat oven to 200c, 400f, gas mark 5

Serve 4

Ingredients

2 eggs beaten
1 inch of ginger peeled and roughly chopped
2 garlic cloves
2 chillies roughly chopped (deseeded optional)
1 onion roughly chopped
2 tsp curry powder
1 dsp ground cumin
1 dsp ground coriander
1 lemon juiced
Handful of coriander leaves
3 cups cooked rice
8 oz salmon fillet
8 oz smoked haddock fillet
Tin of white crab meat (optional)
20 large raw or cooked shrimp
1 tbsp light soy sauce
Tabasco sauce to serve

Method

Spray a sheet pan with frylight and lay the fish on it, then spray the fish, season and roast it for 10 minutes. Flake and set aside.

In a blender whiz together the ginger, garlic, chillies, onion, cumin, coriander, curry powder and a dash of water till its smooth.

Spray a wok or large frying pan with frylight and cook the eggs by pouring the egg in the pan and swirling it around so it is like a thin pancake, toss it and cook the other side for 10 seconds. Roughly chop it up and set aside.

Spray the wok again and when its hot add the curry paste, cook it out for 2 minutes, then add the cooked rice and gently mix together.
Add the flaked fish, shrimp and crab meat, with the lemon juice, coriander, egg and soy sauce, Gently mix again, being careful not to break the fish up to much. Season to taste.
When the prawns are cooked through or everything is to temperature, serve.






Saturday 1 June 2013

Spicy Lamb Kebabs with Coriander and Chilli Sauce



These kebabs are great done on the bbq or indoors under the grill.
You can make them as spicy as you like by adding more chilli.
The lamb is so tender due to the marinating.
The sauce compliments the sweetness of the lamb and also makes a good dressing for an accompanying salad.


Heat the grill to medium high.

Marinade Ingredients

2 tsps ground cumin
2 tsps ground coriander
2 tsps grated fresh ginger
½ tsp salt
2 garlic cloves finely chopped
2 tsps water

Marinade Method

Blend all these ingredients together.

Kebabs Ingredients

4 lamb steaks cubed with all visible fat removed
1 red pepper
1 yellow pepper
1 red onion
8 oz mushrooms halved
Frylight

Kebab Method

Rub the marinade into the lamb chunks and marinate overnight if possible.
Thread the lamb and vegetables onto skewers and spray with frylight.
Grill on a bbq or under the grill turning every 3-4 minutes till cooked.

Coriander and Chilli Sauce Ingredients

½ cup coriander leaves
¼ cup mint leaves
2 spring onions chopped
2 tbsp water
1 tbsp lime juice
¼ tsp ground cumin
Pinch of salt
1 garlic clove
1 green chilli
Pinch of sweetener

Sauce Method

Blend all the ingredients together and serve with the kebabs and a green salad.






Seafood Casserole



This is a delicious light casserole, with lots of seafood, it has a slight aniseed taste which compliments the seafood and fish.
This dish also tastes good cold.

It is syn free on extra easy.


Serves 4

Ingredients

1 large onion roughly chopped
1 red pepper deseeded and chopped
8 oz mushrooms sliced
2 garlic cloves finely chopped
1 red chilli finely chopped
2 cans tomatoes
2 star anise
¼ tsp sweetener
2 tsp dried oregano
2 tbsp capers
400 ml fish stock
1 tsp celery salt
Freshly ground pepper
200g orzo pasta
24 large shrimp
500g baby squid prepared and ringed
500g salmon cubed
Handful basil roughly torn


Method

Heat a large casserole dish with frylight and fry the onions and star anise till soft, then add the mushrooms, peppers, garlic and chilli, fry for 3-4 minutes,
Add the celery salt, pepper and oregano, cook for 1 minute.
Pour in the stock and tomatoes and sweetener and simmer for 20 minutes.
Add the pasta and simmer covered for 10 minutes.
Stir in the shrimp, squid, salmon and capers, simmer till cooked through.
Sprinkle with the basil and serve.