I don’t know about you but now that the festive period is over, all I can think about is how I need to get some serious fruit and vegetables into my system! We’ve had a wonderful time over Christmas and New Year but nearly 2 weeks out of our usual routines, food and meal plans has left me craving spending some time in the kitchen making fresh and veggie packed food.
Sticky Toffee Pudding is my all time favourite dessert but it is something that is firmly off the table when I’m trying to stick to plan, until now! I decided I wanted to try and come up with a lighter sticky toffee pudding that is both lower in points/calories but tastes just as good. The results speak from themselves – light, airy and sticky, this delicious dessert will make sure you never feel like you are missing out. The addition of some wintery spices make this the perfect Christmas Dinner dessert if you are trying to do a little damage control after a huge main course!
One of my husbands favourite meals when we go to an Italian Restaurant is Pollo Crema and so I’ve been promising him I’d make a healthy version that we could enjoy at home which would taste just as good but allow me to stay on plan. Tarragon is not something usually included in the dish but it’s a lovely addition to lift the flavour and add an element of freshness.
Nothing says autumn to me like the smell of cinnamon coming from the kitchen. Paired with juicy baked fruit, it’s the most delightful combination. This simple recipe is a lovely breakfast option as we start to head into the darker mornings and nights, it’s warming, tasty and oh so satisfying. I often make a bigger batch of the peaches at the start of the week so I’ve can reheat them for breakfast for a few days but you can equally use any left overs for a low SP pudding, served with some low calorie ice cream.
We are lucky enough to live on the coast which means we have access to some amazing fishmongers with the most incredible fresh stock. We visit as much as we can and pick up whatever takes our fancy but one thing I always have in the freezer is a giant bag of king prawns. For around £12 you get enough prawns for at least 4 meals (so 8 portions) which is great value for money. The prawns are always huge, fresh and juicy too. If you don’t live near a fishmonger, supermarkets also sell a great range of fresh and frozen prawns, either will do. Just make sure if you use frozen, the prawns are thoroughly defrosted before cooking. I defrost mine by popping into a covered bowl in the fridge the night before.
The Chicken Parmo is a classic, delicious takeaway treat originating from Teesside. Often associated with trips to the kebab shop after a boozy night out, in its hometown this famous dish is often served with lashing of garlic sauce after being gloriously deep fried. The result is delicious but off the scale in terms of points/calories.
Aubergines are a vegetable that until quite recently I could take or leave. They were never top of my fav list until I started making aubergine parmigiana for my little boy and he couldn’t get enough of it. I tasted it and knew I had been missing out! After this little revelation, I’ve set out to use it in more dishes where I can, and in place of meat if possible and that’s where this dish was born.
Burger and Pasta…two of my favourite foods so surely the dream combo? The answer is yes, yes it is! I saw this dish on a restaurant menu months ago and thought I’ve got to recreate this at home myself. Not only is it delicious, it’s all done in the one pan so it’s really easy and creates minimal washing up. Not only that but it’s a perfect dish for kids as it combines all the lovely flavours of a classic burger and makes 6 portions. Perfect to feed the whole family and still have leftovers.
You’ll find a number of different baked oats recipes on my site cos I can’t lie, I love them! They are such a lovely warming and filling breakfast that feel like a real treat for such a low number of points. This little number came about when I was trying to make some space in my cupboards and I needed to use up the last of a giant tub of PB2. Some frozen raspberries already stashed in the freezer meant this could be whipped up with store cupboard and freezer bits really easily. A great option if it’s getting close to big shop day and you don’t have much fresh left in the fridge! I’ve made my ‘jam’ with raspberries here but it would also be lovely with strawberries. Just make sure you use the same quantities, chop them into quarters, mash down once warmed and add the chia seeds to thicken. Lovely!
I adore Nduja. What is that, you ask? It’s the most wonderful spicy, spreadable pork sausage which comes from the region of Calabria in Southern Italy. Having tried it for the first time at an Italian restaurant in Manchester, it’s an ingredient that until recently, I struggled to get my hands on regularly enough to cook with at home (now we are back in the North east). You can imagine my joy then, when I discovered that my local deli now sells it! Cue me always having a pack in the fridge, ready to add to dishes whenever the opportunity presents itself.