Meal ideas and recipes

Breakfast:

Eggs and bacon, with spinach, rocket, salad, blueberries.

Scrambled eggs with smoked salmon. (I’ve had this for lunch too!)

Lunch:

Houmous with crudites.
Dinner from the night before, add more salad and GREEN veg.

Dinner:

Sausages and Brocolli, spinach, mushrooms, beetroot salad.

N.B. I use Debbie & Andrews Harrogate sausages.
They are wheat free, gluten free and dairy free.
http://www.debbieandandrews.co.uk/section.php?id=111
I usually get these from Sainsburys.

Chicory pan fried in coconut oil with grated ginger and garam masala and ground coriander….the rest of the plate….plain grilled lamb chops, masala quinuoa and pan fried brocolli stems.

Saw this pic in the Waitrose paper, pan fry some cherry toms in coconut oil, stir in somebrocolli, then when its cooked, add the eggs, season with paprika.

Pork mince, kidney beans, Cajun spices, chopped tomatoes & plenty of garlic & black pepper. wrapped it up in lettuce leaves with avocado & houmous – Marina Palmer

Recipes

Masala quinuoa ( I made this up):
Fry some cumin seeds and onions in coconut oil, chuck in the quinoa, and add the water as you do when you cook it normally, then bung in a bit of salt, masalla, chopped ginger and some kenyan beauties (green chillies) – chopped, then cook as normal. its yum!!!

Tomato and basil quinoa:
Fry a couple of cloves of garlic in coconut oil, chuck in some fresh / tinned tomatoes, and season with salt and pepper, cook for about 5-7 minutes, take off the heat and throw in some fresh basil.  Stir into pre-boiled quinoa….and bon apetit!

Masala Meatloaf (another one I made up ;-)):

2 packets (1kg) organic lamb mince

2 red onions – chopped

2 large organic, free range eggs

6 cloves garlic – chopped

3-4 tablespoons of tomato puree

3-4 tablespoons of quinuoa

2-4 tablespoons worcester sauce

2-3 green chillies – chopped (kenyan beauties)

salt

pepper

masala

ground coriander

dried red chillies

crushed dried curry leaves

Fry the onion and garlic in some coconut oil until soft and brown, add masala, ground coriander and dried crushed curry leaves. Leave to cool for about 5-10 mins.

Mix the mince with the eggs, tomato puree, quinuoa, worcester sauce, green chillies, dried red chillies, salt and pepper.

Add the fried onions to the meat mixture, place the mixture in a loaf tin, cover loosely with foil and cook in the oven for about 35-40 mins. Remove the foil for the last 10 mins, test if cooked with a skewer, ensure the juices run clear.

Serve with baby spinach/steamed broccoli, green beans, mange tout, kale – whichever you prefer!

Spiced aubergine and quinoa stuffed peppers

Chop and fry 2-3 cloves of garlic in coconut oil. Add in chopped aubergine, salt and pepper and cook on a low eat until the aubergine is opaque in colour.

Add 3 chopped tomatoes, and 2 chopped green chillies, let it cook for a further 10 minutes on a low – medium heat. Add 4-5 tablespoons of quinoa, stir and cook for a further 5 minutes.

Cut off the tops of the peppers, remove the cores, and stuff with the aubergine quinoa mix. Place in a deep baking tray/roasting tray, add boiling water to the tray until it reaches the halfway mark. Cover with foil, and back for around 20 minutes on 180 degrees.

Sticky Asian salmon (I got this from a sainsbury food mag, its one of me ol’ mate Jamie’s):

1 teaspoon coconut oil
1 red onion – chopped
1 clove garlic – chopped
small piece of ginger – grated
3 green chillies – chopped
3 large organic free range eggs
salt
pepper
masala
baby spinach
beetroot – chopped
sweetcorn
cherry tomatoes – halved
mushrooms – chopped
handful fresh coriander – chopped

Fry the onions and garlic in the coconut oil, until they are soft and golden.
Whisk up the eggs in a separate bowl, stir in all the vegetables, chillies, ginger and coriander.
Pour into the pan with the onions and garlic, cook until it sets, then finish off the cooking under the grill.
Serve with steamed broccoli, green beans, mange tout, asparagus, kale – whichever you prefer!

Spicy scrambled eggs:
Same as the omelette, just scramble the eggs in the pan!

Stir Fry:
1 teaspoon coconut oil
1 red onion – sliced
4 cloves garlic – chopped
large piece of ginger – grated
salt
pepper
masala
ground coriander
chicken/salmon fillet/prawns/tofu
bean sprouts
mushrooms
asparagus
mange tout
broccoli
fresh lemon
handful of fresh coriander – chopped
Fry the garlic with the coconut oil in a wok, add in the salt, pepper, masala, ground coriander.  Cook the spices until the aroma is released.  Add the chicken/salmon/prawns/tofu and cook until almost done.  Add all the vegetables, cover to steam cook them with the lid on.
When all is cooked, turn off the heat, pour over the juice of the lemon and garnish with the fresh coriander.

Lemony Snackit dip (Thanks to Ana Sanchez):
1 tin of butter beans, drained (or any bean – kidney, chickpeas, etc.)
A handful of toasted almonds or cashews
… 1 garlic glove
Juice from 1 lemon or 2 limes
A few glugs of olive oil
Sea salt
Freshly ground pepper
A handful of herbs (parsley, coriander, rosemary, thyme, chervil, … whatever you got)

Pop everything in a blender or food processor. Blitz till smooth, adding a splash of water or more olive oil, if needed. Taste. Adjust seasoning.

Spoon into a lidded pot. Gloss with oil. Cover and keep for 3-4 days in the fridge.

Prawn Stir Fry:(Thanks to my sis for this one!)
coconut oil
2 packets tiger prawns
3-4 cloves of garlic – chopped
handful of cherry tomatoes – cut in half
handful of fresh coriander – chopped
rind of 1 lemon
juice of 2 lemons
salt and pepper

Lightly brown the garlic in the coconut oil in a frying pan.
Add the prawns, stir and cook until they turn pink.
Add the cherry tomatoes, lemon rind and juice stir together and take off the heat.
Season with salt and pepper and garnish with the coriander.
Serve with plain cooked quinuoa.

Green Veg stir fry with moong beans and avacado:
Coconut oil
cumin seeds
Organic tenderstem brocolli
Green beans
Kale / baby spinach
courgettes
mushrooms
beetroot
mange tout
2 cloves garlic – chopped
1 red onion – sliced
rind and juice of 1 lemon
pre-cooked moong beans (pre-cooked by yourself)

Lightly brown the cumin seeds and garlic in coconut oil in a wok.
Add the brocolli, green beans, courgettes and beetroot, stir and cook for about 5 – 6 mins.
Stir in the kale/baby spinach, mushrooms and mange tout, cover and steam cook for about
5-6 mins.
Add the moong beans and lemon juice and rind.
Cook uncovered for a few minutes to dry off any water. Turn off heat.
Eat with avocado.

Chickpea curry:
Coconut oil
3 tins of chickpeas (organic) – washed and drained thoroughly
1 bulb of garlic – chopped
6 medium onions – chopped
1 tspn cumin seeds
1 small stick of cinnamon
2 cloves
2 green cardamon pods
1 1/2 tins of chopped tomatoes
2 tspns of organic salt
1 tspn turmeric powder
1 tspn garam masala
1 tspn ground coriander
medium piece of fresh ginger – chopped
small handful of fresh green chilles (kenyan beauties)
1 bunch of fresh coriander – chopped

Infuse the cumin seeds, cinnamon, cloves, cardamon pods in the coconut oil.  When you smell the spices then add the garlic and onions and cook until they are soft and brown.
Add the tomatoes and stir in ginger, chillies, salt and turmeric.
Cook this sauce on a medium high heat until the oil starts separating from the tomatoes, stir often.
Add the chickpeas, cook and stir a further 10mins on medium high heat.
Add boiling water to generously cover the chickpeas.
Bring to the boil and simmer for 20-30 mins, until they are a medium to thick consistency.
Add the garam masalla, ground coriader and chopped coriander, stir in and remove from heat.

This dish can be served with quinuoa, green veg, salad, any meat or fish …. its very versatile.

Yellow lentil curry:
Coconut oil
1 small cup of dried yellow and red lentils (1/2 fill with red and 1/2 fill with yellow lentils)
1/2 bulb of garlic – chopped
1 medium onions – chopped
1 tspn cumin seeds
1 small stick of cinnamon
2 cloves
2 green cardamon pods
1/2 tins of chopped tomatoes
2 tspns of organic salt
1 tspn turmeric powder
1 tspn garam masala
1 tspn ground coriander
medium piece of fresh ginger – chopped
small handful of fresh green chilles (kenyan beauties)
1 bunch of fresh coriander – chopped

Put the lentils in a medium to large saucepan, and fill with water, add the salt, and turmeric.
Bring to the boil and stir the froth into the lentils, then simmer half covered on a medium heat until the lentils are cooked.
Meanwhile in a smaller saucepan / frying pan.
Infuse the cumin seeds, cinnamon, cloves, cardamon pods in the coconut oil. When you smell the spices then add the garlic and onions and cook until they are soft and brown.
Add the tomatoes and stir in ginger, chillies.
Cook this sauce on a medium high heat until the oil starts separating from the tomatoes, stir often.
Check the lentils are cooked, then stir in the sauce, and simmer for 5 – 10 mins.
Add the garam masalla, ground coriader and chopped coriander, stir in and remove from heat.

This dish can be served with quinuoa, green veg, salad, any meat or fish …. its very versatile.

Roast salmon with asparagus (found this in the Sainsbury’s mag, changed it a bit to make it New Skinny Me compliant)
1 lemon – quartered
2-3 sweet potatoes halved lengthways
2 table spoons coconut oil (melted)
1 x 200g asparagus tips (organic)
4 boneless sensibly sourced salmon fillets
handful of watercress
pinch of chopped dill
Preheat oven to 220C fan, gas mark 7.
Put the lemon quarters in a bowl with 1 tbspn oil and salt and pepper, toss everything together, tip onto baking tray and roast for 25 mins.
Toss asparagus and salmon fillets in the remainder of oil. Remove tray from oven, turn the sweet potatoes and place salmon and asparagus in amongst the sweet potatoes. Cook in the oven for a further 10 minutes.
Before serving, scatter over water cress and dill.

Puy lentils, tomatoes, green beans, olives and I had a tiny bit of feta … but you could omit the cheese if ‘in the programme’.   – Angela Meade
Choose really nice tomatoes, maybe little plum ones (200g). In a baking dish place halved toms, 2 cloves of crushed garlic, some dried oregano and roast in oven for 25-30 minutes. even on its own that would make a lovely sauce once cooked. Meanwhile rinse 200g puy lentils and then cook for 15-20 mins or as pack instructions. Boil green beans for 3-4 mins then drain. Mix together the cooked tomatoes, lentils, green beans and add some olives. I used little spanish ones from waitrose that were already in some herbs. I had a very small bit of feta, but to be honest the tomatoes and olives were so tasty I could just as easily have left out. it really was yum, and ever so simple

Butternut squash soup: could change main veg to any of a number of veggies. – Angela Meade
Saute squash, onion, garlic and celery in a little healthy oil, a couple of minutes. Add your fav herbs spices. Today I had cumin, turmeric, chilli and ginger. Cook off for 5 mins. Add stock (I use kallo, organic veg one, gluten and lactose free; from sainsburys). Simmer until veg softened. Blend witha hand blender. hadnt thought of this at the time but would be nice with some coconut milk at the end. Carrot and fresh coriander particularly good with a tiny bit of coconut milk.

Asparagus al forno with cherry toms and basil: (serves4-6) – Angela Meade found this in the Metro
1.4kg asparagus spears,
500g cherry toms,
2 cloves garlic – chopped,
4 tbsp roughly chopped basil,
75ml olive oil,
salt and pepper
Preheat oven to 190degrees. Put all the ingredients in a bowl. Mix well so it is all covered with salt and seasoning. Tip onto baking tray and roast for 15-20 mins. Check after 15. Toms and asparagus should be tender but not soggy.

Artichokes with spinach, poached egg and smoked salmon (serves4) – Angela Meade found this in the Metro
4 globe artichokes – trimmed and stalks removed,
800g spinach – stalks removed,
4 large free range eggs at room temp,
white wine vinegar for poaching eggs,
4 slices of smoked salmon,
sea salt and black pepper.
Cook artichokes in a large pan of salted boiling water til cooked, 13-15mins. The recipe sautes the spinach in butter and olive oil. I would probably steam or sauté in a little oil. Suggests you cook for 5 mins, stirring frequently, season and keep warm. Poach eggs in salted boiling water with vinegar. 3min for runny yolk, 5 min for fairly firm. To serve, place the artichoke on the bottom, fill with a quarter of the spinach, sit a warm poached egg on top and then top that with a slice of smoked salmon. Grind over pepper and sprinkle with salt flakes. Yum!

Ingredients: Puy lentils, aubergine, spring onion, green beans, sun dried tomatoes, hazelnuts, salt & pepper.

Cook Puy lentils in water with half a fresh lemon, couple of bay leaves & a few peppercorns. Cook until lentils have a slight bite (30 mins ‘ish!!).Cut aubergine into chunks, swish around in olive oil, salt & pepper then roast until soft.

Toast handful of hazelnuts in dry frying pan. Rub skins off when cooling down.

Blanch green beans to soften. Chop spring onions and a few sun dried tomatoes.

When everything is ready toss together. Add some oil from the sundried tomatoes (or olive oil), season to taste.

Spread kale on baking tray. Season then bake in oven for 10 mins or until crunchy.

Nori Wraps

Clearspring Nori sheets

Ingredients

At least one hour before you’re going to cook, put the porcini in a bowl and cover with boiling water to rehydrate them. Squeeze the water out of them and add to other mushrooms. Don’t throw away the water!!!

Wash your selection of mushrooms and chop any big ones in half. Place on a baking tray and drizzle with olive oil, salt, pepper and chopped garlic. Roast in the oven until cooked (erm… maybe 20mins, keep looking at them. Sorry, I cook by instinct!).

Peel and cut sweet potatoes into chunks and steam (or boil) until soft. Season and mash. No butter or oil as sweet tatties are moist and yummy as they are!

In a dry pan toast a handful of sesame seeds (30 seconds’ish). Throw in a bag of baby spinach (if you use older spinach remove the central stalk as it’s tough), season with salt and pepper, mix through the seeds and let it wilt.

With the saved mushroom water from the porcini, pour some (just a couple of glugs, don’t drown them) on the baking tray with the mushrooms to moisten them and make a jus (gravy to you and me!!). Add a handful of chopped flat leaf parsley a few minutes before you remove from the oven to serve.

On a plate stack the spinach, then the sweet potato mash then the mushrooms.

Chicken, leek and mushroom pie (crust on the side for family/friends)

Using shop bought all butter ready rolled puff pastry, cook it in the oven on its own for about 10-15 mins.

Meanwhile, stir fry 4-5 leeks and a handful of mushrooms in coconut oil, season with salt and pepper, leave to sweat for about 5-10 mins.
Add in the roasted chicken (leftovers in this case), you could roast it fresh or just stir fry it in together with the veg.
Cook for a further 10 mins, add 25mls coconut milk and let it reduce for about 5-10 mins.

So a deconstructed chicken leek and mushroom pie is ready to eat!!

I came across a great recipe today in the metro, perfect for New Skinny Me, so I changed a few bits and here it is:

Nutty beluga lentils with chicken
2-3 chicken thighs/breasts
40g beluga lentils
30g quinoa
200ml veg/chicken stock
1tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cumin
2 cloves garlic – sliced
50g nuts  (pistachio/almond/cashew….any nut apart from peanut)
1 handful of fresh chopped coriander
Juice and zest of 1 lemon
25 ml coconut oil

Warm through the cayenne, cumin, ginger and garlic in the coconut oil.  Add lentils and quinoa, cook and stir on medium to high heat until mixture is almost try, then add the stock, let it bubble for a few mins, then turn down the heat and simmer for around 15 minutes.  Turn off the heat and cover the pan so the mixture continues cooking in the steam, for around 15 minutes.
Slice, season and cook the chicken in another pan with some coconut oil, remove and set aside.
Toast the nuts in the same pan for about 2 mins.
Check the lentil and quinoa mixture, it should be fluffy.  Stir in chopped coriander and chicken, add the lemon juice and zest. Sprinkle the nuts on top.
This is so easy and versatile, simple omit the chicken to keep it as a vegetarian dish, maintaining a substantial amount of protein with the quinoa content  or swap in any other type of nut and orange juice. (eg. Almonds) Fresh mint can give this dish another fresh zing!Amrit