No Wine (Wait, What!!) Risotto

Two posts in the same week I am spoiling you lol.

Also this is a cooking post yay - give the public what they want, even if they don't know they want it :)

So back from the Yummy Scrumminess of Scotland and with having all the fun and the drinks, it's back to the diet (Boo) but I get to try out new things so (Yay).

So I decided to make Risotto, I adore Risotto and I have a lovely summer recipe (which I will do this summer as I can take shots in my new Garden whoop whoop) of a Lemon Chicken and Spring Onion Risotto that I do  make with wine.

But as it winter and not the nicest weather here in Kent I wanted to stick with a more winter theme and because I was dieting I omitted the wine. 

So I decided to make Mushroom and Leek Risotto.

Actually a really easy recipe taking about 15-20 minutes but for the whole time you need to be on it.

For the ingredients I used, Risotto Rice, Stock Cubes , Mushroom (chopped), Quark and a bag of sliced leeks (Yes I know that make me super lazy) 

So for this recipe you need a bit of stock - I used three cubes in 1/2 Litre nearly a pint of water. 

So as usual I used spray oil and emptied about 200g of Risotto Rice in to the pan gave it a bit of a stir for 1 -2 minutes. This is when I would normally add a glass of wine and cook it down - 

Instead I just added the stock, bit by bit.

When it was around half way through the stock and about 5- 6 minutes into cooking time along with the stock I added in the chopped up mushrooms - I cooked the leeks separately in another pan as I like my leeks nice an tender. 

I cooked this for about another 10 minutes before adding the leeks, really easy but you have to keep stirring which is normally fine, but as any parent out there know that getting a toddler to behave for a few minutes is an achievement but 15 straight minutes without need to help them with something is hard. So memo to me next time making this either the other half needs to be about or he's in bed as I only managed to just save it from all sticking to the bottom of the pan doh. 

After I added the leeks I stirred in a spoonful of the quark to give it a slightly creamy texture then serve. 

Quick easy and yummy. I had so much that the next day I even managed to use the left over.

I roasted some skin free chicken breast which I added some chili and roasted tomatoes along with it. So still really healthy but another added twist to it. 

On both accounts a very filling tasty meal which is great when you're dieting as there is nothing worse than being hungry after dinner as I find for me that is optimum snacking time.

Although saying that I have now become obsessed with Muller light yogurts, I never had these two flavors before but they are supper yummy.

I even mixed in Raspberry with the Vanilla Chocolate Sprinkle one for a between meal pick me up. .

And my other favorite of their's the Banana and Custard, I had with Blueberries as a quick breakfast treat at work.

Bonny, Bonny Scotland

Great timing as this is going up on Burns night, Haggis for everyone :) 

But last week I was up in Scotland for my  father in law's (FIL) 60th birthday.

Had my first flight with the little one alone. British Airways were so helpful and lovely (Big Thanks to all the Staff you were brilliant) but I still need a drink after the whole ordeal lol..

We managed to surprise him, might not be the best thing to do, jumping out on a man just about to turn 60, don't worry he got a bit of a jump but he was okay.

As they had traveled back all the way from Malaysia and still on Malaysian time the first day was a bit quiet.

The second day we made up for it and I made Margaritas - 2 parts tequila to 1 part Cointreau and 1 part lime juice. Mix in a shaker full of ice and serve in a salted rimmed glass. 

Yes I know these a Champagne glasses but it's all we had and needs must.

They where so tasty, albeit a bit strong, they went down very well with the Mother in Law (MIL) - even though we were starting the celebration for the FIL birthday due to him still being Jet lagged he was asleep and missed out on the Margarita fun lol

On the third day we  it was officially FIL 60th birthday 

We had a yummy breakfast along with Bucks Fizz (Mimosas) and Cake the cake was in the shape of a Jammy Dodger on of the FIL favorite biscuits.

He got lots of lovely cards and presents we bought him a fit bit, which will help to burn off the cake calories lol.

It started to snow, proper snow not like the rubbish we get down south,  so we got the little one out to experience it. 

And obvs I had to go out and have some fun in it too. I know I'm a fully grown woman but don't care, I love snow and turn into a 5 year old whenever I get to experience it.  :)

I enjoyed it much more than the little one I think he preferred looking, he's more of a sun bunny which bodes well if we trying to plan a trip to Disney World as I doubt they ever get snow there.

We spent most of the day relaxing as the FIL wanted to watch the Cricket which England won. Yay go team..

Early evening we went o a lovely restaurant "The Boathouse" which is in the grounds of my favourite hotel Cameron House (it was the venue for our Wedding Reception) so hold a special place in my heart.

It was very snowy still so I had to modifiy my foot wear for going out, don't worry I took high heels in my bag as even though the Wellies were handy they didn't really go with my dress lol. 

Stared off the dinner with a lovely Wine a Da Luca Pinot. It was super yummy, dry and crisp just the way I like my wines. 

The food was equally exquisite as the wine.

My Hubby ordered steak and it came with Jenga chips - very fun and they were nice and Crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, as I insisted on trying one (For research purposes only of course).

The FIL ordered the Duck, he said it was nice but I think I would have liked mine a bit pinker.

My Hubby Steak was cooked to perfection too.

I had an utterly amazing Crab and Avocado pizza, stoned baked in a proper pizza oven. You could tell it was freshly made and the crab was so nice. I would say it a must if you visit this restaurant.

As it was a celebration we finished off the meal with a Moet - well a bit of Fizz is always needed when marking a big milestone.

Honestly I can say enough nice things about this place, it also right on the loch, to dark to take any good pics but it is an amazing location for a bit of amazing food. 

The next day it was still really snowy, but we found an ingenious way of getting the little one around the town. 

As we couldn't stay out in the cold for too long we took a visit to the Loch Lomond Shores Sea life center.

I think I made a new friend.

And I definitely found Nemo and all his buddies. 

We even on the break got to spend some time in the loch in the little town of Luss.

Which is a chocolate box picture of a town, but I would avoid the cats.

Another must when visiting that part of the world also very special as we got married in Luss Church - ah memories.

The MIL offered to baby sit so we got to have a night out. We went to the Great Scotts Bar in Cameron House, a very comfortable lounge bar with a very nice Scottish Theme, full of muted tartans and squashy wing back chairs and sofas. 

They also carried the same wine list as the Boat House so I got some more of that delicious Sicilian Da luca Pinot. Will have to see if I can get that in the Supermarket.


So on the last day we just milled about,  although I did find King Kong at Loch Lomond Shores Jenners enjoying a fun day out.

Oh and I found this fab farm shop - Auchentullich Farm Shop - yeah I have no idea how you pronounce it either lol :) 

I picked up some very spice but if you like that thought of thing, flavourful, Silver and Green Piri Piri Stuffed Olives

Which went fab with this fresh wholemeal bread food heaven.

So all in all a very fun and full week.

The only other Major highlight is I was name 10 in Foodblogs.co.uk  10 Food Blogs Taking 2016 by Storm.

Can't thank them enough, and is making me so excited for what I am going to do this year.

Honestly I really appreciate it, being dyslexic and dyspraxic it is very very scary writing stuff and exposing your quirks for people to see and for someone to write something so lovely and get what I'm trying to do means so much.

I do hope to take 2016 completely by storm not only in my blog but everything I do, so guys watch this space.

And I would also like to hear from some of you so please post a comment even if its just to say hi.

Slow blog start to a Mad New Year

Belated Happy New Year

Okay it been 3 weeks since my last post okay, okay I know that is a bit crap but I can explain..

It been Christmas, New Year back to work, back on the Diet oh and we nearly sorted out the move...

So I been very, very, very busy.

So not to bore you great Christmas with the family, Quiet New Years eve as I couldn't get a baby sitter and after putting on 4 lb (1.5kg) on through eating I've gone back to health living with a bang.

So I made a few of my favs:

Chicken, Pasta (Wholemeal) and Veg mixed with low fat cheese spread and hot sauce so yummy.

Low fat fry ups - using spray oil to cook and have all the fat cut of the bacon also absence of toast (boo)

For the potato cakes just par boil a potato cut in half for 6 minutes then grate, mix with Egg and add any veg up like I just added some onion but mushroom and peppers would have been nice too.

Throwing left over chicken in with store bought salads

Oh and one of my big winter favs - Cottage Pie as I'm using Beef Mince

So fry off some onions

Add some 5% fat mince and cook off

Then add some carrots and peas with some beef stock

Place into a dish then add a layer of carrot, swede and potato mash.

Throw in the oven at 200 degrees for 30 mins.

Server up with some greens 

and Viola a healthy but hearty meal to help in these winter months. 

I even managed to make some salmon Stir Fry

Oven cooked some Salmon then stirfry cabbage mushroom, beansprouts, carrot and onion add some cooked dried noodles and another health and supper yummy low fat meal.

If by now and if you read any of my previous post notice the stark absence of the lack of drink or the odd dessert. Well we have decided that we are definitely going to Disney.

As my folks are away towards the end of the year we thought this would be the perfect time for a trip so excited. But I want to be fit, healthy and looking good when I meet Mickey lol