Smash Scones

Another recipe that sounds horrible but really isn't! These go with anything and make a good substitute for bread with things like soup or stew (although I haven't tried it as a sandwich!) They are also one of my picnic favourites (picnic post coming next week...)

They can be made as little scone shapes...

Or as one big piece which you can slice up (good as soldiers for dippy eggs according to my friend Wendy, that is on my 'to try' list this week!)

Ingredients:

3 eggs

1 tub of low fat cottage cheese (I use the chive one)

1 packet of Smash (176g size)

Enough water to bring it all together

Method:

Preheat oven to 180 degrees.

1. Mix eggs and cottage cheese in a large bowl.

2. Add Smash and mix until it starts to come together as a dough type mixture.

3. Add water, a little bit at a time - you don't want it runny, just so it sticks together.

4. Spray a baking tray with Fry Light and either roll the mixture into balls and flatten slightly, or tip the whole mixture onto the try and flatten and compact it with a fork, scraping any bits that fall off back into the sides.

5. Bake for about 20 minutes (might take more or less depending on your oven and whether they are balls or one big piece). They should be firm and golden brown on top when they are done.

I've also used this mixture to make fish cakes, just added a tin of tuna, some finely chopped red onion and spring onions to the mixture before I put the Smash in. They also froze really well, wrapped individually in freezer bags after they had cooled down. I then let them defrost in the fridge overnight and just reheat in the oven.

Jen x

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Speedy Tomato Soup

Sometimes when it's cold and rainy outside I really fancy some Heinz tomato soup - but at 11 syns for one 400g tin I would rather eat a Twirl for half a syn more!

The other day I remembered a recipe I used to make a lot, syn free tomato soup that tastes just like Heinz. All of the ingredients are speed/super speed foods too - great for a weight loss boost!

The ingredients are a little strange but just go with it, much like the mushy pea curry, you won't be able to tell what's in it once it's blended! Takes less than 5 minutes too, so perfect for last minute lunches.

Ingredients:

1 carton passata

1 tin of carrots

1 tin of baked beans

1/2 pint of stock

1 large pickled onion (or I use 4 little ones)

Method:

1. Put everything in a blender and blend until smooth.

2. Heat!

And that's it. Easy peasy speedy tomato soup in a couple of minutes, using ingredients which are probably in your cupboard already. You can either have your Healthy Extra B allowance as wholemeal bread to go with it, or the amazing Smash Scones (recipe coming up next!)

Jen x

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Recipe: Mushy Pea Curry Sauce

Don't be put off by the name! It's definitely much nicer than it sounds and you wouldn't even know it has half the ingredients in it. This makes a nice thick sauce which you can add meat or poultry to, or have some with homemade chips for a chip shop substitute. It's full of speed foods so extra good for you :)

Ingredients:

1 or 2 onions, diced
Mushrooms, sliced
2 x tins of Mushy Peas 

1 x tin of Baked Beans

1 carton of Passata

1 tbsp Chilli powder

2 tbsp Curry powder

(I also added a bit of ground coriander & turmeric)

Method:

Using fry light and a little water cook the onions and mushrooms until soft.

Add the rest of the ingredients, bring to the boil and simmer for 15-20 minutes.

Leave to cool and blend until smooth. Recipe makes a lot so you can freeze any extra.

I usually cook any meat first and then mix into the sauce as it's reheating. The other day I coated some chicken mini fillets in curry powder and turmeric and roasted them in the oven, and just poured the sauce over when I was serving it. We had it with rice and runner beans (bit of an extra superfree/speed food boost!)

Let me know if you give it a try!

Jen x

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Cupboard Necessities

This week I have noticed that I don't have all my usual Slimming World staples in the cupboard/fridge, so I thought it would be beneficial to write down the essentials for anyone new to Slimming World, or anyone who needs a little reminder (like me!).

1. Frylight

Use Frylight instead of oil to cook anything from scrambled eggs to roasted vegetables. Completely free and in constant use in this house, even when I haven't been following the plan (that's the good thing about Slimming World - little changes stick in your head and become habit!)

2. Eggs

Breakfast, lunch or dinner. Great when you haven't got much else! I like to use up sad looking vegetables to make omelettes or frittatas. I try and keep a couple of hard boiled eggs in the fridge for snacks or bulking up salads. Good for syn free pancakes, or to go with a full 'fry' up.

3. Ham

Ham is syn free so once again good for omelettes, salads or snacks. If I'm out and hungry I often buy a packet of ham, some grapes and a banana to keep me going.

4. Ainsley Harriott Cous Cous

So quick and easy, and really tasty. Different flavours have different syn values so make sure you check! Roast some vegetables in the oven (butternut squash is superfree and very filling) and mix into the cous cous for a big lunch that takes very little effort.

5. Passata

I try and keep lots of passata in the cupboard and a pack of extra lean mince in the freezer - add garlic, onion and basil to the passata to make a quick sauce to go with homemade meatballs & pasta. Or make a quick chilli con carne, tomato soup, curry... I use passata a lot!

6. Smash

I don't know what I'd do without Smash! Mix with cottage cheese & eggs to make syn free scones or pizza base (I will post the recipe over the next couple of days), or make it up with water and mix in a Healthy Extra A of cheese for yummy cheesy mash to have with bacon, eggs & veg.

7. Mugshots

Again, different flavours have different syn values. Ideal for a quick lunch (with some fruit after for your 1/3 superfree) and all you need is a mug, a kettle and 5 minues.

8. Muller Lights

Quick breakfast, pudding or snack and easy peasy to make more interesting and filling by adding fruit. Also a good substitute for ice cream if you stick them in the freezer for a while.

9. Pickled Stuff!

I absolutely love most pickled things, the top shelf of my fridge is full of jars! I add gherkins, beetroot and pickled spicy peppers to salads, I eat them with cold meat leftover from roasts, I eat them on their own as snacks! All adds to the amount of superfree I'm eating, especially if it's before I've been shopping and we don't have much fruit or veg.

10. Cereal Bars

Hifi bars from group, Alpen Lights or  even the cheapy version in Aldi. I always choose ones that I can have 2 of for a Healthy Extra B choice (one for a snack mid morning, one before I pick the kids up from school, or when I am watching their swimming lessons etc). My favourite at the moment are the apple & sultana Benefit bars from Aldi (6 for £1.39, way cheaper than Alpen Lights and just as nice).

Jen x

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Back on Track

So it has taken a year but I'm finally feeling like I'm back on track properly!

The past 3 days I have been 100% on plan and I already feel so much better. I rejoined my Slimming World group in January after an accidental 4 month break (I only put on 4lb in that time, and it was over Christmas!)  Since then I have been losing a little bit, putting on a little bit, losing it again etc...

Also in January I launched my cake decorating business and have been completely overwhelmed with orders.  Along with working part time and looking after my husband & 3 children this has left little time for meal planning and cooking properly.  I've often been grabbing a pasty for lunch instead of spending 5 minutes making something like scrambled eggs or a salad.  I'm annoyed with myself as I have been doing this long enough to know the plan inside out, I know what is quick to make or what I can grab on the go yet I have been choosing not to!

For the past 3 days I have been trying to eat as many speed/super speed foods as possible.  I haven't been able to make it to group for the past 2 weeks so will probably still have a gain at weigh in tomorrow, but I know it will be so much better than it would have been! And if I keep it up next week will be a good loss :)

I am going to post a lot more on here, it will keep me motivated!

Jen x

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Weigh In 7/6/12

+4lb, weight = 12st 11.5lb, total loss 1st 9lb.

I am so glad I’ve been back on track the past few days – my scales said I was up to 13st at the weekend ooops… I’m not too worried, that gain is over 2 weeks and in that time I’ve been for 4 meals out, 1 wedding, 2 concerts and 1 family BBQ!  I’ve hardly had any time for meal planning which is the key to losing on Slimming World.

This is my meal plan up until I go shopping again on Sunday:

Friday:

Breakfast – Banana, strawberries, grapes & toffee Muller Light

Lunch – Wagamamas…. (my one naughty meal this week!)

Dinner – One Pot Chicken with Cous Cous (from SW All In One book)

Snacks – Wholemeal toast x2 (HexB), jam 2x 1tsp (1 syn), cheese (HexA), fruit.

 

Saturday:

Breakfast – Banana, strawberries, grapes & toffee Muller Light

Lunch – Scrambled eggs, wholemeal toast x2 (HexB), cheese (HexA), mushrooms

Dinner – Chicken curry SW style, rice

Snacks – Curly Wurly (6 syns), fruit

 

Sunday:

Breakfast – Bacon, poached eggs, baked beans, wholemeal toast x2 (HexB)

Lunch – Ham salad, fruit, Muller Light

Dinner – Probably a roast

 

I will be back later to post the recipe for the dinner I had on Wednesday: Cheese, bacon & potato hash.  Will also try and work out how to share a PDF download of the charts I made & laminated to keep track of my syns, water & healthy extras.

Jen xx

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Spicy chicken with lemon & coriander cous cous

One of my favourites!

Chicken breast coated in a mixture of turmeric, curry powder and salt and roasted for 15mins, I put the tomatoes in about halfway through. I cooked the cous cous with chicken stock then just mixed in some chopped coriander and lemon juice when it was done. Mint sauce is just fat free natural yogurt mixed with chopped mint.

Jen xx

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