Salt And Pepper Chicken

So I know i've posted this recipe before but I thought it needed posting again as it's been so popular and I've had a lot of people asking for it...

 
To make this BEAUTIFUL dish...

Ingredients
Chicken breasts, cut into chunks I use 2 as theres only 2 of us so adjust if needed
Plain flour (25g is 4 syns)
Salt & Pepper
Garlic granules
One egg, whisked
Fry Light
A pepper
An onion
Soy sauce
White wine vinegar
Sweetener

Method

Preheat oven to approx 180 degrees.
Combine 25g of flour in a bowl (25g is 4 syns you can use more but please adjust syn value accordingly), with a teaspoon of salt and a teaspoon of pepper, along with a teaspoon of garlic granules.
In another bowl, whisk your egg and add a splash of soy sauce to season.
Pop your chicken chunks in the egg and then in the flour mix.
Once this is all done, arrange on a nonstick baking tray, sprayed with some Fry Light first.
Then spray the chicken with Fry Light - this will help it to brown.
Cook the chicken for 15 minutes, and turn over, and then give it another spray of Fry Light and then give it another 10 minutes, or until golden.
When the chicken is on the second round of cooking, in a non-stick pan, gently soften your peppers and onion.
I'd add a splash of soy sauce for extra flavour.
Once everything is soft add your cooked chicken from the oven.
Mix together two teaspoons of sweetener with two tablespoons of white wine vinegar and stir until the sugar has dissolved.
Add this to the pan and stir on a gentle heat.
This will be quite dry, as Salt & Pepper chicken is, but that vinegar/sugar mixture really makes the dish.
Taste and add some further salt and pepper if it needs it.

The only syns are for the flour - I used 25g so 4 syns and 2 of us had it so was only 2 syns each!

Orange Mousse - 0.5 Syns Each

Apologies for the gap in posting but I've had rough few weeks with unexpected gains and not really made anything new as such. But i'm back! and I have a few new things to post...

Starting with these little Orange Mousses! These work out at 0.5 syns per pot and the flavour can easily be changed. (the recipe I used was for strawberry but silly me didn't realise I had no strawberry jelly crystals!)

Ingredients
1 sugar free Hartleys jelly crystals sachet (1.5 syns)
250g fat free Natural Yoghurt
1 Muller Light

Method
Make up the crystals with 60ml of hot water and stir.
Once mixed add the Natural Yoghurt and the Muller Light and stir thoroughly.
Pour into your pots and pop in the fridge to set

It's that easy!

Obviously I used an Orange Muller because I used orange jelly, but these could easily be changed to suit what you have in!

Slow Cooker Spag Bolognese

The beauty of having a slow cooker... I managed to make this last night and I just need to reheat it later in time for tea, as I knew today was a busy day so wouldn't really have time to cook. The joys of being prepared...

Slow Cooker Lasagne

So I finally took the plunge and tried this Slow Cooker recipe for Lasagne that can be found here on the Two Chubby Cubs website

I tried a little bit last night and it tastes amazing, I'm excited for tea later. I made it for 4 large portions and it is your A choice (for the Mozzarella) and 1 syn for the extra cheese I sprinkled on top, but if you miss this off then it is just your A choice.
I definitely need to try some more of their recipes because each one I have tried so far I've absolutely loved!

SW Quiche

So I tried making little quiches at the start of my journey and I hated them. I couldn't stand the eggyness or the texture so they all went in the bin... almost 2 years down the line and I know my tastes have changed so I thought i'd make them again using the flavoured cottage cheeses you can now get.

Ingredients
1 small tub of fat free cottage cheese (with sweet chilli & grilled pepper)
6 eggs
Ham (sliced up)
Onions (sliced)
Mushrooms (sliced)
Chopped tomatoes

Method
Fry off mushrooms and onions and place in moulds
Combine eggs with cottage cheese and season
Add ham to moulds
Pour over egg/cheese mix
Add tomatoes to top if wanted
Cook on 180 for 40 mins
As easy as that!>

Campfire Stew

So i've been doing Slimming World for nearly 2 years now and I still hadn't made the famous Campfire Stew... well now I can tick it off my list! It's a really great, easy slow cooker meal and I would highly recommend it!

Ingredients
1 small gammon or pork joint
1 chopped onion
2 chopped peppers (or I just used some frozen ones)
3 crushed garlic cloves
1 tbsp paprika
2 tins of baked beans
6 tbsp tomato puree
1 chopped red chilli (or tsp or chilli powder)

Method
Place all ingredients in slow cooker and cook on low for 6 hours, separate the gammon with forks before serving

All syn free and really filling! Could easily be served on its own or with chips/rice/jacket etc

Chocolate Orange Baked Oats

So in my attempt to try new things... here's my Chocolate Orange Baked Oats.

 

Ingredients

40g Oats

Chocolate Orange muller light

1 Egg

Sprinkle of sweetener

Tsp of orange essence

Choc Shot orange spice 

Method

Combine all ingredients apart from the Choc Shot 

Pour into mould

Cook for 15 mins on approx 180

Take out and then syringe choc Shot into centre (or make a hole in the middle and pour in)

Cook in the oven for approx 45 mins on 150 approx

I find cooking it for longer at a lower temp makes it more cake like and doesn't go soggy.
Enjoy hot or cold

 

This recipe is 1 syn if you use the Oats as your b choice (the syn is for the choc Shot) or 7 syns if not using Oats as b choice

Lunch Ideas

I find the best things to take to work for lunch tend to be soups, I don't do salad and I get bored of pasta n sauces as well as mug shots and what not. Batch cooking and bringing last nights leftovers is also a good option but I rarely have leftovers :)

As you'll have seen from a recent post I tried the Pea & Ham soup and had that for lunch again yesterday but I've frozen the rest before I get sick of it like I do if I eat the same thing all week...

I whipped up a spicy tomato soup last night so I could have a 'speedy lunch' today. I love that I've picked up the basics of Slimming World and have the confidence to adapt them and make my own recipes up now.

For this I simply used:
Chopped tomatoes
Several pickled onions
Mini tin of baked beans
(like the speedy tomato soup uses)
Chicken stock cubes (as I didn't have any veg ones left)
Jalapeños
Tsp of Lazy Garlic
Tsp of Lazy Chilli

Just brought it all to the boil and let simmer for about 20 mins then used my hand blender to blend it all.
So Simple and it gave the usual tomatoey soup a lovely kick. All of it is syn free and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I've got enough for a second portion too which is always handy!

I find potato and leek and those sort of soups really bland and boring but if anyone has any recipes that have a kick to them I'd love to know about them!?

Slimming World Nacho Feast

So i've been doing Slimming World since March 2015 and I have only just got round to trying this recipe...I did make a few changes such as carrot chips instead of wedges and I had to substitute some spices as I thought I had them all then got home and realised I didn't... BUT! Here is the original recipe for anyone wanting to try it... I would highly recommend!

Ingredients

2 baking potatoes, cut into wedges
Low-calorie cooking spray
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
250g lean beef mince (5% fat or less)
1 onion, sliced
1 red pepper, deseeded and finely chopped
230g can chopped tomatoes
1 tsp cumin
2 tsp fajita seasoning
1 tsp paprika
2 tomatoes, roughly chopped
150g tube Primula Light Cheese
Fresh green Jalapeno chillies, finely chopped (optional)

Method

Preheat your oven to 200°C/180°C Fan/Gas 6.
Put the wedges on a non-stick baking tray, spray with low-calorie cooking spray and season.
Bake for 25 minutes, then turn, spray again and bake for a further 25 minutes until golden.
Meanwhile, spray a frying pan with low-calorie cooking spray and place over a medium-high heat.
Add the mince and stir-fry for 10 minutes, then add the onion and cook for 5-6 minutes, or until softened.
Add the pepper and cook for 2-3 minutes, then stir in the canned tomatoes.
Sprinkle in the cumin, fajita seasoning, paprika and a few twists of black pepper.
Cook for 10-15 minutes, until most of the liquid has evaporated.
Stir in the fresh tomatoes.
Remove from the heat.
Preheat your grill to high.
Tip the wedges into an ovenproof dish, spoon over the mince and squeeze over the Primula Light Cheese.
Sprinkle with the chillies, if using, and grill for 8-10 minutes, or until the cheese starts to brown.
Divide between 2 plates and serve.

This recipe would be syn free if you are using your A CHOICE for the primula light otherwise you would need to syn this so please amend accordingly :)

Porky Lights & Comfort Food

So I finally got hold of these Porky Light sausages that everyone is raving about. I even bought 5 packs because of how many people have raved about them... so I was hoping they would be good!
I decided to make Sausage and Mash for tea on Friday night. The total for this entire meal was 1.5 syns (for the sausages at 0.5 syns each) and I'd have thought I was eating full fat, meaty sausages. They were fab! I added some milk from my A choice to my mash and I cooked off some mushrooms and onions with stock and hot water which in turn acted like a gravy. I was thoroughly impressed with the quality of them and will definitely be stocking up my freezer!

I then had some more on Saturday morning just to make sure I was sure I liked them obviously... I can't fault them at all I just wish they were a little cheaper. But i'm more than happy to pay £2.25 per 6 sausages if they taste like that!

I may have also then had two on Sunday morning with my cooked breakfast... Definitely a winner in this house!

Pea & Ham Soup

So today I finally attempted Pea & Ham Soup, I've never once fancied it and I honestly never thought I would enjoy some green soup as much as I have.

Ingredients
1 bag of Frozen Garden Peas
Chicken Stock Cubes (I used 3)
Dried Mint
Salt & Pepper
1 Ham or Gammon Joint (I used a smoked Gammon Joint)

Method
Add peas to pan and cover with boiling water.
Add stock cubes and dried mint (do it to taste I added 1 tsp to start)
Add Salt & Pepper to taste
Bring to boil and then simmer for approx 20/25 mins
Leave to cool slightly and then blend
Add seasoning if needed

For the Gammon Joint I simply put the joint in the slow cooker and cooked on high for approx 3.5 hours and then shredded and stored in a separate container. This is so I can add as much or as little as I like.

All of this is syn free and perfect for an SP Day which is why I ended up making it to be honest! Will definitely be making it again at some point.

4lb Challenge Result...

Stayed on plan. 

Used my syns wisely. 

Upped my water intake. 

Tried new recipes and was never hungry. Couldn't be happier! 

Here's to another fab week, aiming for 3lb next week!

I'd be totally honest and say I didn't deserve it, if I felt that way. But I've made such good decisions and worked really hard that if I hadn't have got it I would have been gutted! My aim for the week is to mix up my healthy extras again so I'm not having the same everday. I also want to keep up my increased water intake & try some new recipes. So hoping it all works in my favour and I can get the 3lb I want next week while will take me back to where I was a few weeks ago (I lost 8lb in 2 weeks and then gained 8lbs over 3).

I have 4 weigh ins left of my 6 week countdown and then I go to Frankfurt with work, I want to aim to be on the stone mark (or even into the next stone bracket) by then, so from now I need 6lbs. Meaning I need 1.5lbs per week for the next 4 weeks to get it or a little bit more if I'm honest. It's totally do able as I've shown myself this week, I'm just glad that it isn't more so I don't feel as pressured to get it.

Currently 13lbs from target!

Low Syn Chocolate Cake

Obviously the one on the right above, I need to take a picture next time I bake it! Would highly recommend!

Ingredients:

• 6 eggs
• 1-2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 70g sugar substitute (eg. Splenda)
• 60g cocoa powder

 

Method:

• Preheat over to 185°C (fan)
• Spray a little Frylight in a loaf tin and line with greaseproof paper
• Separate the eggs and in one bowl, mix the egg whites until they form soft peaks.
• In another bowl, mix the other ingredients together – the eggs yolks, Splenda, vanilla and cocoa. You may find the mixture a little stiff so it’s OK to add a little splash of water at this stage.
• Fold in the egg whites, a little at a time.
• Pour mixture into your tin.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes.

 

One Year Statistics

March 12th 2016 marked my 1 year since joining slimming world. Decided to sit down and look at my stats today after not being well for the last week. Super happy with where I'm at, and the fact that I've kept it off. I've got 10lbs left to go to reach my target weight now. I'm the lightest I've been in about 10 years of not more! Massive thanks to you lovely lot for the support, tips, ideas and the friendships formed along the way! And a massive thanks to my other half for listening to me moan, being there to celebrate the losses and for helping me keep my head held high even when the scales aren't my friend ❤️ honestly never thought I'd find a 'diet' that I actually enjoyed!

I've still gone out, enjoyed birthdays, parties, nights out and everything else in between but food optimised during the week to make sure my gain wasn't massive. My biggest gain was 4.5 in two week and that was after 10 days on holiday in Javea, so I could live with that!

I've gone from a size 16 to a size 12, sometimes 10, which is something I never thought I'd ever do!

I couldn't be happier, there's so much to choose from with SW, you can make virtually any meal SW friendly it just depends on the preparation!
I'd recommend it to anyone, whole heartedly.

 

Today's food!

Breakfast was this...

2.5 syns for goodies yoghurt, strawberries and 2 Weetabix. Forgot half my lunch so only had a packet of Piri chicken, so used half a punnet of strawberries and a 0.5 Syn yoghurt to get me through the afternoon. 

Had 2 Hifi bars aswell as was doing an SP day. 

Made some chicken and tomato soup, will post the recipe and picture of that later!

Perfect for an SP day packed full of S and P foods! Was absolutely delicious! 

Drank 4 pints of water too and hex a was for milk!

Pancakes!

😍😍😍 I like that my boyfriend can make pancakes because I fail miserably. The pancakes aren't SW friendly but the toppings are :) 

I've had a big blow out this week so thought I'd have a treat!

Then I wanted more so I made some Syn free pancakes 😍😍😍 

Weigh Day Nerves

I'm currently the same weight I was on 28/12/15 having maintained at my last two weigh ins. Safe to say, another maintain this week would be gutting! 

Speedy soup, hex b bread, and some snacks to see me through! 

Tomato Soup

I seem to change the Heinz Tomato Soup SW Recipe everytime I make it, I've added extra passata and tomatoes this time to make it even more tomato-ey, and it's still completely syn free and lovely for when the weathers crappy like today!

Gingerbread Oat Cookies

I have made it my aim to mix up how I use my Hex B, so I'm not just having bread or hifi bars all of the time.

These Gingerbread Oat Cookies were super easy to make and just used my Hex B or 6 syns for the lot if you don't want to use your Hex B on them!

Recipe as follows:

35g Porridge Oats
1 egg
3 tbsp sweetener
1tsp mixed spice
1tsp ground ginger
1/2tsp ground cinnamon

Mix together and spoon into 5 portions - bake at 200 degrees for approx 25 mins - they are 1.2 syns each (I round up to 1.5 for ease, or free if using your HEX B)

DONE! Enjoy!

Spaghetti Carbonara

This is a recipe I have never tried, I saw it near the start of my journey but the lack of cheesy sauce and what not worried me. I don't even know why because I was pleasantly suprised with how nice this dish was!
It can be found on the website or in the new book the new members will recieve / the book we were given if we attended over Christmas!

the only syns are for the Parmesan and I can live with 1/2 syn per portion!! This recipe serves 4 so even if you had the whole lot it would only be 2 syns!

Would love to know your favourite recipes?

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