Syn Free Hash Browns

INGREDIENTS
800g of raw potato
1 tsp of fine sea salt
½ tsp of onion powder 
Fry light

METHOD
Preheat oven to 230c
Peel potatoes
Place in a saucepan, cover with water
Parboil Potatoes for 5 mins, bring to boil, then turn off heat and leave for 5 mins.
Remove and Run under cold water
Grate the potatoes in a bowl
Place in a clean kitchen towel and pat to remove any excess moisture.
Place back in the bowl, add salt and onion powder and mix to combine
Now I use the silicone moulds used for mini quiches etc but you could just use a baking tray if preferred
Shape the hash browns, flattening down as you do.
I made 12 out of this 
Spray over the top with spray oil.
Place in the oven and bake At 180 for approx 25 mins, remove carefully flip over, spray again and place back in the oven for another 25 mins or until golden and crispy.

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!>

Italian Chicken And Tomato Soup

So in honour of FREE FOOD FEBRUARY starting this week in group I decided to make this for my first offering! Completely SYN FREE and amazing flavours!

Ingredients

1 onion, peeled and finely chopped
2 carrots, peeled and grated
2 lean back bacon rashers, all visible fat removed, finely chopped
2 large skinless and boneless chicken breasts, cut into thin strips
600g canned chopped tomatoes
400ml chicken stock
1 tbsp chopped rosemary
Finely grated zest and juice of 1 lemon
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, to garnish

Method

Place the onion, carrots and bacon in a large non-stick saucepan and stir-fry for 2-3 minutes.
Add the chicken, tomatoes, stock, rosemary and lemon zest and juice.
Bring to the boil, stir, then cover and simmer on a medium heat for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Season to taste and serve sprinkled with chopped parsley if you want to.

Spaghetti Carbonara

So after skimming through Joe Wicks latest book I got for Christmas I really fancied making a Spaghetti Carbonara... so here's my take on it using what I had!

Ingredients
1 chicken breast
2 bacon medallions
Egg noodles (dried - I had no spaghetti)
Light Philadelphia Cheese
Spinach
Garlic granules
Mustard powder
Fry light

Method
Spray a pan with fry light
Slice the chicken and bacon into little chunks
Add to pan and sprinkle with garlic granules and mustard powder along with a little salt and pepper
Boil spinach and egg noodles in a pan
Once cooked drain the noodles and spinach add a little bit of the cheese and mix
Mix the rest of the cheese with the bacon/chicken
Add salt and pepper to taste
Serve
Simple!

Spaghetti & Meatballs

So if Slimming World has taught me anything about food, it's that I don't need to rely on a jar of sauce to make something tasty. It is actually possible for me to just experiment and such and get a lovely outcome. The first picture here was Spaghetti & Meatballs made in about 15 minutes. I put the meatballs in a pan and I fried off some onions, added passata and a bit of tomato puree. Added seasoning and some chopped tomatoes and just let simmer whilst the spaghetti cooked.

This second one was actually done in the slow cooker, I spent the day wrapping presents and doing bits round the house so didn't want to have to stand around cooking. I simply added the meatballs to the slow cooker with passata, chopped tomatoes, soy sauce, oregano and 100ml of beef stock and left on high for about 90 mins then added the dry pasta for the last 30 minutes which helped soak up the extra stock etc. i was actually really impressed with the outcome it had loads of taste (despite sounding a little dodgy going off the ingredients) and was dead easy to do. I actually wish i'd made more!

Slow Cooker Stew

Now that it's getting colder I absolutely love making stews and casseroles. This was thrown together in the slow cooker and just left to cook for about 6 hours.
It's simply 800g of diced beef, a bag of casserole root veg (frozen) from asda and then some stock and 2 tbsp of Worcestershire Sauce. Browned the meat and then put it all in the slow cooker. Simple. Then seasoned to taste once cooked. All syn free and super filling with plenty speed foods.

BBQ Chicken SW Iceland Meal

This is highly recommended. I haven't had one of the meals in ages as I've been trying to cook from scratch but this was bloody lovely! Will definately be getting some more of these for the freezer! 

The current offer in Iceland is Buy 3 Meals and get a packet of the Crumble Muller Lights free. I'd highly recommend as the yogurts are yummy too!! 

Coming Soon to Slimming World

So these are coming soon to group. Safe to say I can't wait to try the new bars! 

Anyone else super excited?

Overnight Oats

Overnight oats are always a winner, when I remember to prep them!

Health Extra for the oats, frozen fruit and a syn free muller - NO SYNS in sight and super filling!

BBQ Friendly Food

Some of the easiest recipes can make such a difference. I used to spend loads on all these flavoured chicken drumsticks and thighs etc so I didn't have to do it myself. I made these syn free skewers to pop on my friends BBQ so we could both stay on plan, the burger is a SW one from iceland but you can easily make your own. 

I combined some syn free natural yoghurt with some tandoori powder and the juice of 1 lime, then cut up the chicken breasts and mixed together. Left to marinate for about an hour (the longer the better, overnight if possible) and then put them all on skewers. Normally I would add peppers/onions etc to the skewers but as it was last minute I hadn't been shopping. Then simply cooked on the BBQ and they were lovely, even my other half loves them!

Meatball Pasta Bake

Simple to throw together yet super tasty and filling. 

I made it up as I went along and it was really easy to do. 

I used approx 250g passata, paprika, oregano, basil, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper to make the sauce

Cut up 2 red onions and cooked off the meatballs then halved. 

Cooked off the pasta, strained and added to the mix. 

Mixed it all together and chucked it in a large oven dish then cooked for approx 20 mins

Grated half my hex a cheese on top. 

All done! 

Lunch time!

I made a soup using one of those prepped vegs packs from asda, and it was vile! would definately rather make my own! so having to use ALL my fruit, blancmange and yoghurt for my lunch today! Feeling good and staying on plan!

Weekends & Not Being Well

Saturday was my hardest day this weekend, I really wanted to just eat rubbish because I felt rubbish. Even though I knew it wouldnt make me feel better. Instead I managed to throw together some pasta and meatballs and made enough for 3 portions which have already gone! Packed full of speed and thoroughly enjoyed it. Desperately want to be in the next stone range on Thursday! Got a zumba class tonight, first time for everything!
X

Onion Bhaji Recipe

Ingredients

1 sweet potato
1 red onion
1 white onion
1 tablespoon of curry powder
1 egg

Method


Grate the sweet potato
Spray onions with frylight and cook until brown
Mix in a bowl with sweet potato
Add a pinch of salt and the curry powder
Add half the beaten egg and mix together
Spray a baking tray and spoon the mixture in balls
Cook in oven at 200 degrees for 25 mins turning halfway
Leave a little longer to get them crispy!

Mayflower Curry - Beef

My other half fancied a chinese beef curry, I have to say I was reluctant to make it as I don't often cook with beef but it was yummy! 4 syns each for the mayflower Curry Sauce but SO worth it! Everything else was free!

Breakfast

I don't always feel like having much for breakfast but I can never get bored of these.
Loads of sliced strawberries, yoghurt & an alepn bar broken up on top.
Absolutely yummy!

SW Beef Burgers

I was ridiculously skeptical about the quality of the SW Burgers especially when it said fry from frozen, but I was really suprised with them! They were lovely! My only comment would be that they were a little dry, but if you are putting relish etc on your burger then it is fine! Would definately buy these again!

Chilli Chicken Noodles

New recipe for me! Chilli Chicken Noodles.

Ingredients:
4 chicken breasts
3 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp crushed dried chillies
½ red, yellow and green pepper (I only had yellow)
1 carrot
300g pack dried wholewheat noodles

This recipe serves 4 so adjust accordingly.

Prepare the stir-fry ingredients: cut the steak into strips, place in a bowl with the soy sauce and crushed chillies and marinate in the fridge for at least 10 minutes; slice the peppers and carrot; cook the noodles according to packet instructions, drain and set aside.

Heat a wok sprayed with low calorie cooking spray and stir-fry in soy sauce and chillies for 2-3 minutes. Add the peppers and carrot and continue frying until softened. Add the noodles, heat through and serve.

SW Doner Meat

I wish i'd taken a picture to show you but I forgot! Oops!

It was lovely!

Ingredients:
1tsp dried oregano
1/2tsp dried herbs
1/2tsp garlic powder
1/2tsp onion powder
1/4tsp cayenne pepper
1tsp salt
1/2tsp black pepper
500g extra lean beef mince (can use turkey/lamb mince)

Combine all ingredients, can use a blender, I did it by hand
Shape into a loaf and place on baking tray
cook in oven (180c) for 1 hour, turning over half way through
Remove from oven and wrap in foil, leave for 10 minutes to rest

slice as thinly as possible and enjoy!

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