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!>

Hartleys Jelly

One of my biggest downfalls is my sweet tooth so i'm constantly trying to find low syn things I can keep in my cupboard to turn to instead of chocolate! Hartleys kindly offered to send me some of their jellies to try and I couldn't resist! They are all 0.5 syns on SW and they're only 50p each in ASDA at the moment so they're perfect! You can have them on their own or even add spray cream and sprinkles etc and make mini trifles, so excited to give them all a try!

I went to stock up on some in ASDA and found they only had the below flavours left and the shelves were almost empty so it appears i'm not the only one loving these right now!

Thanks Hartleys!

Miss Slinky 2016

So now that I've got over the shock... I won this at group tonight.
I genuinely couldn't stop shaking I was so amazed to have gotten it. So many incredible people at my group tonight that inspire each other week in, week out. I've had a bit of a wobble recently I'll be the first to admit that so I didn't think I would even be nominated let alone win this.
An amazing taster full of low syn and syn free treats too, loads I want to remake, and my heads back in the game! 8lbs to go to target! Let's do this!

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!

Cupboard Staples... What Are Yours?

Since starting Slimming World I've picked up a lot of hints and tips and found myself picking up the same things in supermarkets just to make sure I have them in. Usually when they are on offer to be honest. Does anyone else do this? What are your cupboard staples?

Herbs & Spices - Since starting Slimming World my herbs and spices have grown massively as 99% of them are syn free.

Alpen Bars - I stock up when they are on offer. Alpen Light bars are 2 for your healthy B or usually 3 syns each.

Benefit Bars - these are the aldi version, and as far as I am aware, all varieties are 2 for your healthy B or 3 syns each.

Muller Lights - I love having some of these in. Syn values on these vary massively so always worth checking, but the majority of the ones you see on offer in supermarkets tend to be syn free. I also love the Cheesecake inspired ones, theres are lemon or strawberry, come in a 6 pack and are 1 syn each. I only buy these when theyre on offer too.

Pasta N Sauce - the new Pesto one is lovely and syn free, the spicy arribiata is also the same. The smoky pancetta one is 2 syns but so worth it for a quick and easy snack!

Mikado Sticks - usually 1/2 syn each for the choc/white choc/daim ones but depending on how recent this article is when you're reading it it's worth double checking!

Options sachets - these can range from 1.5 to 2 syns but are fab for hot chocolates or even to add to a massive tub of syn free yoghurt to give it some chocolatey flavour!

Passata, Chopped tomatoes, Stock cubes, Soy Sauce, Eggs, Worcestershire Sauce

You'll be amazed at how much you use some of these! I'd never used soy sauce before Slimming World and now I use it all the time! Especially to make Egg Fried Rice to go with my Salt & Pepper Chicken!

Slow Cooker Chilli

Slimming world, slow cooker chilli for tea last night. So easy and so yummy and full of speed veg and completely Syn free. Woo!

So easy to do, I just added 5% mince, onions, peppers, passata, chopped tomatoes, garlic, cumin, chilli powder, paprika, 1 beef stock cube, 1 tin of baked beans

Will most likely get a minimum of 4 BIG portions out of this, or 6 smaller ones for using with a jacket etc

Consultants support!

The last few weeks, or maybe I should say since November! I seem to have been stuck at the same weight and for one reason or another haven't been able to get past it. I've filled in a million and one SAS logs and will admit that some weeks were more off than on plan. Well last week I drew a line, and I'm feeling a lot more positive about this week. It makes it a 100 times better when you get home and your consultant has taken the time to write you a little card about your journey and tell you you'll get there ❤️ definately what I needed to spur me on! 

Chicken & Tomato Soup

For anyone interested in this here is the recipe...

You will need:-

1 onion, peeled and finely chopped
1 red pepper, diced
2 large skinless and boneless chicken breasts, cut into thin strips
800g canned chopped tomatoes
400ml chicken stock - I used 3 stock cubes to make sure it was relatively thick
1 tbsp chopped rosemary
1 tbsp crushed chillies
2 tbsp. tomato puree
Finely grated zest and juice of 1 lemon
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method:-

Place the onion and pepper in a large non-stick saucepan and stir-fry for 4-5 minutes.
Add the chicken, tomatoes, stock, rosemary and lemon zest, chillies and juice.
Bring to the boil, stir, then cover and simmer on a medium heat for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Season to taste and serve

This recipe is completely syn free and so tasty!

A bit of hindsight...

I spent a lot of time at the start of my journey comparing myself to others and feeling deflated. 

It took me a while but now I know the only comparison that matters is that between me before and me now. 

Lesson learnt.