Spicy Vegetable Bites

So I haven't done a cooking blog in a while which isn't great if you're supposed to be writing a cooking blog...

My excuse is life got in the way big time.

But calmer now but I'm off to Amsterdam tomorrow for weekend of fun (see the previous Amsterdam trip post and you'll see what I mean lol)

Any who I decided to make a quick, easy low fat and relatively cheap snack. That can be use for parties or in my case so I don't reach for something unhealthy.

You take some frozen veg and leave in a bowl to defrost (used just over half the pack) 

So when the veg is nice and defrosted take some dry rice and cook as per instructions. This can just be plain rice but this add a bit more flavour. 

Then get two potatoes and a sweet potato.

Peel

And dice. 

Then boil for about 20 minutes.

Once they're all nice and soft mash. 

Put mash into a mixing bowl.. Alright I know this is a pan but there was an unfortunate accident with my bowl so I had to make do. 

Then add in a chopped red onion

Add the defrosted veg 

The give it a good old stir 

Get about 4 tbsp of fat free yougurt and mix it with 2 tbsp of curry power

I like it hot but mild curry powder can be used instead of you don't like it too spicy. 

Add that mixture to the pot and stir in. 

Make sure it is mixed well together

Then add the cooked rice and a raw beaten egg (the egg can be left out if needed) 

Mix again till it is all combined 

Then make the mixture into balls and places them on a greased baking tray. 

Pop in a 220 oven for 40 minutes and volí a tasty health snack

Serve with a bit of tzatziki to balance out the heat.

Now they are super delicious and fun to make. 

So I hope a few of you give it a go. 

Right I'm off to back for Amsterdam so excited.

Also of course they be a blog, but do check out my Twitter account @dyslexiccooking or my YouTube channel for not only the Vlog this recipe 

https://youtu.be/XZV6jkZL5Rw but mini Vlog from throughout my trip. 

The Peri peri pork problems and Suspended Cocktails

So I decided to make the Slimming World Peri Peri Pork recipe.

so I tootled off to my local supermarket to get the ingredients and I'm not sure what locust got there before me but there was hardly anything on the shelves.

So instead of Pork I got Turkey and i picked up some winter veg and they were out of Onions, Nightmare

So my list of ingredients was:

Peri Peri seasoning

Chilli Flakes

Passata 500g

Chopped tomatoes 500g

Veg 

Turkey 

So I cooked of the turkey

and placed it in a big dish along with the veg. 

in another bowl I mixed the chopped tomatoes with the Passata adding in some Peri Peri season and Chili flakes (This part is up to you to make it as spice as you want so for me extra spicy lol). 

I also added a Veg Oxo (stock) Cube and 50 ml of boiling water.

Although I need to learn not to cook and look for a Holiday at the same time as the results can be a bit messy. 

I threw the tomato mix over the turkey and the veg and through in a 200 degree oven for 35 minutes.

Pulling it out all bubbly and hot.

I tried to be healthy and team it with Veg.

It was okay, but not amazing. The vegetables weren't as soft as they could have been. So it tasted a lot better the next day when I microwaved it for left overs lunch.

But not to be dissuaded as it was such a simple recipe with, I think, a lot of potential, I made it again.

This time I got pork  yay, I got Onion and I swapped the Vegetables for Sweet Potato and Courgettes (Zucchini).

OMG what a difference this was; now turn from Hmmm to Marvelous, I really liked it and as it was slimming world low in fat but honestly high in flavour. It's only really the prep as I par boiled the potatoes but it is one of those recipes where you can throw it all in and then stick it in the over. Quick, easy, tasty, Job Done lol.

Also in my travel over the past week visited a wonderful Cocktail bar, I only managed to go for one as we were heading on to another event.

But I went to the The Artesian Bar  located in the Langham Hotel in London.

My Cocktail was called Suspended in Time - Star of Bombay, Lime, Niaouli, Yarrow, Palmarosa

This wonderful cocktail came in a mesh bag which you can suspend over the table while wearing this fetching ring. So drink with a bit of Bling truly Amazing. 

It was more of a spectacle rather than drink in a bar, although a bit pricey definitely worth a visit. I for one will be saving up my pennies to give it another go and try some more of their works of art, sorry I mean cocktails lol...

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.

New Way to Poach Eggs

Hello

Just a quick update from me this time round as I'm off to Scotland tomorrow for a week's holiday.

Well as it's my little ones 2nd Birthday (Oh no the terrible 2s lol) we thought we'd head north to visit with some family.

I hope to spend the time walking in the stunning countryside, celebrating the little ones big day to the max and of course eating some nice and sometimes naught (Scottish Fritters - Amazing) food and having a wee dram or two :)

The only thing apart from the normal family cooking I wanted to write about this week is I've just discovered a great new way to poach eggs.

Can't take the credit, I saw a video on Facebook about it. Although this was when I was checking my phone in the middle of the night after the little one decided to get up; so when I went to check again (when I remembered it) I couldn't find it to add the link.

But if the person who posted the video reads this - Well done, you inspired me to try something new and I will now pass that knowledge on.

So what you need to do is get some Cling Film, I think Americans call it Sano Wrap?

Put the film it in a cup or a ramekin add salt pepper and oil. (In the Video they added extra herb, technically you could add anything. OMG just realized I could add cooked Bacon - Right I am doing that next time I have poached eggs.)

Then crack an egg into the center

Twist the top very tight

Then just add them to the boiling water

Cooking time is up to you depending on how runny you want them.

I normally put them in the water then put the toast in the toaster and when the toast pops my eggs are done.

Poached Egg On Toast

Now with writing this down I have realized the potential of this, adding cooked Bacon, adding Chillies, adding peppers adding anything you like;  I will definitely be doing this again.

Oh and it really helps with the washing up as you don't get that stubborn egg film in the pan and reduces the smell when cooking too.

Right signing off now as I need to get packed for my trip; but keep an eye out for next week's as it will contain all the fun and frolics I had north of the boarder.

Shortbread for everyone

Low Fat Shepherd's Pie

Been on a cooking frenzy this week to help with my weight loss 

So I've made a very low fat dish and if you're on a Slimming World it's Syn free..

Shepherds Pie:

Chop/dice

1 red bell pepper

1 yellow bell pepper

300g Mushrooms 

250g baby tomatoes 

In a pan boil up 1 potato a couple of carrots and a swede. 

While in another pan brown off 500g of Turkey mince. Adding in some red onion.

Add the chopped veg to the pan with some tinned chopped tomatoes. 

Simmer for 10 mins before adding it to a oven proof dish.. 

Mash up the potatoes, carrots and swede and spoon on top of the mince.

Bake in the over at 200 degrees for 20-25 mins 

Sever with some Salad and voilà you've got yourself a yummy health meal.

Also as you've made so much you can always reheat the leftovers the next day to say you cooking again..