Chicken Goujons ..

Just come back from an hours workout at the gym, getting ready for another great week. Didn't majorly push myself this evening, it was just a good workout. And I feel great for it.

 

Before that I had an easy meal of chicken goujons, SW chips and peas.

 

Ingredients:

4 portions of mini chicken fillets (about 16 pieces)

1 egg, beaten

25g golden breadcrumbs

A few potatoes, cut into chips

Fry Light

 

1. Preheat oven to 190c.

2. Spray a baking tray with Fry Light, place chips on baking tray and lightly spray again over the top.

3. Dip each mini fillet in the beaten egg and lightly coat with the breadcrumbs, place on another baking tray sprayed with Fry Light and pop both in oven for 30 mins turning once halfway through.

4. Serve with veg or a crisp salad.

 

This recipe serves 4, and is 1.5 syns each serving.

I have worked out that 25g of golden breadcrumbs is 4.5, so this dived by for and rounded up would be 1.5. If you want it syn free you can use wholemeal bread blitz in a food processor to make breadcrumbs and use this as your Healthy B choice.



On It Like A Car Bonnet ..

Just come back from a great work out at the gym with Gareth, broke a personal best! I go on the treadmill for 30 min's at the start and my record has been 8 minutes of collective running, today I did 9, and couldn't be prouder of myself, ha ha. I seriously had to push myself and get motivated but I did it. After that it was bike and cross trainer then onto the weights, we called it a night after that, feeling much better for what we had done!

 

Also food intake has been brilliant today. For lunch I had leftover chicken curry on a jacket potato, fruit for afters and for dinner I had gorgeous cheese salad, getting my Healthy A in. Now I'm just going for an after workout snack of a Hi-fi bar to get my Healthy B in. My head is really in it this week. I have completely changed my attitude and I'm ready for the scales next week.

Weigh In .. A Little Late ..

Just got back from the gym with Gareth, and now I feel great. Always feel better after the gym, feel like I've contributed to my weight loss. Today is a great start to the week, got my superfree in and my Healthy A and B. For lunch I had left over chili with 2 slices of wholemeal bread followed by fruit. For dinner I made a favourite of Spaghetti Bolognese. Completely syn free, I had my Healthy A left so I popped a bit of grated cheese on top! Lovely!

 

 

 

Ingredients:

Fry Light

1 onion, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, crushed

340g extra lean minced beef

230g button mushrooms, thinly sliced

400g can of chopped tomatoes

280ml beef stock

1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

seasoning

280g spaghetti, dried

 

1. Spray a pan with Fry Light and cook the onions and garlic for 2-3 mins until just softened. Stir in the mince and cook until browned.

2. Add the mushrooms and cook for 1 minute. Add the chopped tomatoes, stock and Worcestershire sauce. Season lightly and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 15-20 mins until reduced and thickened. Check the seasoning.

3. Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti according to packet instructions. Drain and divide between 4 plates. Top with bolognese sauce and sprinkle with cheese if you want.

 

So easy, syn free and filling!

 

Also I haven't informed you of my results of this weeks weigh in. I stepped on the scales thinking of a gain and received a maintain! I'll take it, after the week I had, of alcohol, apple pie and just random snacking I'm pleased with that result. I really thought I'd blown it, I would like to keep losing every week but at this stage anything is better than a gain. So I am set for a new week, still need 7 1/2 pounds for my Christmas target. In 5 weeks, can I do it?



SW Works Without You Knowing It ..

 

I am on it this week, went to the gym yesterday evening to get my body magic in, tread mill, bike, cross trainer and weights. really felt it last night as well, I always feel better when I feel it. I think that I've actually made a difference then.

My son was off school for teacher training day so I got my body magic in today as well. From racing home from the shops with him to dancing to Gangnam Style around the house, now that dance is a workout!

 

To quench my appetite after dancing I made spaghetti cabonara, the easiest one I have ever made. I'm not lying it literally took 15 mins, and tasted amazing, not to mention so filling and syn free.

 

 

Ingredients:

400g dried spaghetti

Fry Light

400g back bacon, all visible fat removed, cut into short strips

4 garlic cloves, finely chopped

3 large eggs, lightly beaten

120g Parmesan, finely grated

seasoning

A small hand full of fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped, to garnish

 

1. Cook the spaghetti according to packet instructions. Drain and keep warm.

2. Meanwhile place a large deep frying pan sprayed with Fry Light over a medium-high heat. Stir-fry the bacon for 2-3 mins, or until lightly golden. Add the garlic and stir-fry for 30 seconds, then remove from heat.

3. Add the spaghetti, beaten eggs and half the Parmesan, season and toss well (the heat from the spaghetti will partially cook the egg, but still leave it moist and creamy).

4. Divide the carbonara out, sprinkle with parsley and the remaining Parmesan and serve.

 

This recipe serves 4 and is syn free if using the cheese as your healthy extra. I also put about 200g of thinly sliced mushrooms to mine to bump it up a bit, and it was just as gorgeous.

 

 

Also an inspirational story today, my mother has been dieting as long as I have, but she sticks to the diet of calorie counting since it has been successful for her. She's just recently got to a nice weight she is okay with and decided to take a break a couple of weeks ago, in this time I have been cooking more meals for the household so my mum has hardly had any of her own meals.

She informed this morning that without even trying she has lost 5 pounds, there is nothing different about her lifestyle except for the one fact that shes been dining on Slimming World low syn or syn free meals. If there is any need for proof that Slimming World works, this is definitely it!

If my mother can lose 5 pounds with out even trying or knowing, I can definitely lose the 2 pounds I have put down for next week! Congrats to my mum!



Weigh In (Insert Sad Face) ..

Weigh in was last night, and it did not go well for me at all. I gained 1 1/2 pounds. Obviously I'm not happy about it. Nothing much has changed over this week food wise. The only thing I can think of is the extra gym training I did Sunday afternoon. I've been feeling aching and my muscle are really hard from the circuit training I did. So I am hoping its that and I've got some water retention, which would mean that it all comes off next week! 

 

Since Gemma had me doing circuit training, I am blaming her. Ha ha. The question is now though do I keep doing some sort of circuit training every week and make my body get used to it, or just scrap it all together. Gemma just put up a great little home exercise as well for toning, be sure to go check that out here. Looks like a great little work out that you don't even need to leave the house for!

 

So today is the start of a new week, I have my meal plan that I will stick to. Tonight on the menu is Tuna Pasta Salad, quick, easy and completely syn free, might even have a Weight Watchers petit pan for my Healthy B as a side. My head is completely in it this week. Nothing is going to stop me and I will get my Christmas target of 3.5 stone weight loss!

Aching & Cheesecake ..

Ow. I am in some pain, on my legs and stomach. Gemma had me and Gareth doing circuit training in the gym yesterday afternoon and I can feel it. I mean it was a great workout, I was panting by the end of it but my god I hurt today. I've just come back from doing a few lengths in the pool to maybe ease my muscles, it helped a little.

Last night I made vanilla & chocolate cheesecake so it would be ready for lunch today. The dish serves 10 and each slice is 6 syns. Not bad for a lovely dessert. Here's how its made.

 

 

Ingredients:

10 digestive biscuits, finely crushed

50g low fat spread (suitable for baking), melted

50g dark chocolate

2 level tbsp powdered gelatine

3 x 165g pots Müllerlight New York Style Cheesecake yoghurts

100g quark

1 tsp vanilla extract

4 tbsp sweetener

 

1. Mix the biscuits with the spread in a bowl, then spoon into a 20cm diameter, non-stick, loose-bottom cake tin. Flatten with the back of a fork, cover and chill in the fridge for about 30 mins.

2. Meanwhile melt the chocolate and allow to cool a little.

3. Sprinkle the gelatine into 75ml of boiling water and stir to dissolve. Put the Müllerlight, quark, extract, sweetener and gelatine mixture in a food processor and blend until smooth. Pour in the mixture of the biscuit base and swirl in the melted chocolate. Cover and chill in the fridge overnight.

4. Serve by cutting into 10 slices, try adding some raspberry to add a little fruit.

 

 

 

 

Before I went out swimming I made Grilled Lamb Cutlets with sautéed Rosemary Potatoes. Absolutely delicious and syn free.

 

Ingredients:

1lb 5oz potatoes, peeled and cut into 1.5cm cubes

seasoning

Fry Light

1 tbsp finely chopped rosemary

2 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped

2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

2 tbsp dark soy sauce

12 lean lamb cutlets or chops, all visible fat removed

 

1. Bring a large pan of lightly salted water to the boil and add the potatoes. Boil for 8-10 mins or until just tender. Drain thoroughly.

2. Spray a large, non-stick frying pan with Fry Light. Add the rosemary, garlic and potatoes. Stir-fry over a medium heat, turning the potatoes regularly for 6-8 mins or until golden.

3. Meanwhile mix together the Worcestershire sauce and soy sauce and brush over the lamb. Season well on both sides and place under a medium-hot grill. Cook for 5 mins on each side or until cooked to your liking. Remove from the grill and serve with the sautéed potatoes and vegetables.



Steak & Mushroom Casserole ..

Tonight I had a gorgeous steak and mushroom casserole, at just 2 syns per serving. This one pot serves 4 and really easy to make. 

 

 

 

Ingredients:

600g lean steak, all visible fat removed, cut into large bite-sized pieces

300g mushrooms, roughly chopped

1 level tbsp cornflour

1 large onion, peeled and sliced

1 large carrot, peeled and cut into large bite-sized pieces

2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed

300g passata

100ml red wine

100ml beef stock

seasoning

 

1. Preheat oven at 180c/Gas 4.

2. Toss the steak in the cornflour to coat evenly then place in the casserole dish. Add the mushrooms, onion, carrot and garlic and toss to mix well. Pour in the passata, wine and stock and season well.

3. Cover with a lid, bring to the boil then transfer the casserole to the oven and cook for about 2 hours or until the meat in tender.

4. Serve immediately with potatoes and veg of choice.

 

A truly great low syn meal, and you could also substitute the mushrooms for the same amount of kidneys to make a great casserole take on a popular pie.



Achievement Unlocked ..

So today's meal was a simple but tasty syn free steak and chips. I made the SW syn free chips, grilled the steak and served with dry fried mushrooms and peas. Lovely.

 

Also this evening I went to the gym with fellow slimmer Gareth and Joanne, started off on the treadmill and did 30 mins on there. I ran today a collective number of 7.5 mins, that's 30 seconds more than I have ever done so that is an achievement to me! Then moved onto the bikes and rowing machine and once again ended on the weights.

 

Always feel much better after going to the gym and now its time to write my meal plan for the coming week.

Back To The Gym ..

 

 

It was back to the gym tonight with Gareth, I've missed a whole week of exercise so it was slow going tonight, plus the stitch didn't help. Tonight I only did 2 and a half mins of running, 30 mins on treadmill, 10 mins on cross trainer. Then I went onto the bikes and rowing machine. Lastly we finished up with some weight and ten mins of hilarity of Gareth trying to sit ups with the weight ball. He succeeded in the end but the trying was amusing. I feel better now I've been to the gym, feel like I have actually done something to help with my weight loss and can't wait to get back there on Friday evening.

 

Before I went out I had cooked home made lasagne. Just 1 and a half syns per serving. I put mine with chips and peas.

 

 

 

Ingredients:

397g/14oz extra lean minced beef

2 onions, peeled and finely chopped

200g mushrooms, roughly chopped

4 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed

400g can chopped tomatoes

397g/14oz passata with herbs and garlic

2 tsp dried mixed herbs

seasoning

511g/1lb 2oz fat free natural yoghurt

2 eggs, lightly beaten

a pinch of nutmeg

Fry Light

12 dried lasagne sheets

4 level tbsp grated Parmesan

 

1. Place a large, non-stick frying pan over a high heat. Add the mince, onion, mushroom, and garlic and stir-fry for 6-8 mins. Add the tomatoes, passata and dried herbs, season well and cook for 12-15 mins, stirring often.

2. Meanwhile mix together the yoghurt, eggs and nutmeg until smooth. Season well.

3. Preheat oven to 200c/Gas 6. Spray a medium-sized lasagne dish with Fry Light. Spoon half the mince mixture into the base and top with half the lasagne sheets. Spread over half of the yoghurt mixture and top with the remaining mince mixture. Top with the remaining lasagne sheets, spread over the remaining yoghurt mix and sprinkle over the Parmesan.

4. Bake in the oven for 25-30 mins or until the top is golden. Remove from the oven and serve immediately.

 

You can also build up the superfree by adding courgettes or peppers, or to give it a kick some chili's.

Now the lasagne is beautiful but the yoghurt topping didn't really go with my taste palette, so I have been looking at alternatives. Tesco white lasagne sauce is 11 syns for 200g, this divided by 4 servings is 3 syns, so all in all a serving with jar of white sauce on top will be 4.5 syns. This I am still happy with and I believe it will taste creamier. Also I have to point out that with this recipe I added 500g of mince to bulk up the meat, and I could actually serve 6, so the lasagne was actually 1 syn each serving.

 



Chicken Curry ..

 

 

I have had a really bad week this week. I have no idea what's wrong with me, I've just been snacking so much, I can't stop. I've hardly got any exercise in as well. This week has be a total write off, which is upsetting because I only needed 2lbs for my 3 stone award. I know only have myself to blame but there has been no motivation in me.

 

When I woke up this morning I had to give myself  a stern talking to, I've started a new week from now. I'm not prepared for what the scales are going to say tomorrow but I will just have to deal with it and move on. I'm so disappointed in myself. So today I went for a syn free meal of quick and speedy chicken curry. Absolutely no snacking today.

 



 

 

It's real easy to make, for something quick but also delicious. If you own the SW iPhone app the recipe is on there. If not here it is.

 

Ingredients:

3 onions, thinly sliced

1 chicken stock cube

1 garlic clove, crushed

1 tbsp curry powder, whatever strength you like

624g chicken, cut into cubes

400g can chopped tomatoes, drained

 

1. Place the onions in a frying pan with 1/4pt/142ml water and the stock cube, then cook, covered, for 10 mins. Add the garlic and curry powder to the mixture and cook for a further 5 mins.

2. Add the chicken and tomatoes plus another 1/4pt/142ml water. Bring to the boil, cover and simmer for 15 mins.

3. Boil some rice and serve.

 

Makes 4 servings, or if like me, makes one and 3 for the freezer.

 

So all in all I am now back on it, and this week needs to be forgotten. Also as an added bonus here's a pic of my son this evening, enjoying a sparkler. Ha ha.

 



Frozen Soup Cups & Bolognese ..

 

I made gorgeous SW syn free mushroom soup today, I had plenty left over so had to freeze some. My friend and Slimming Worlder Gemma informed us of this great idea of pouring the soup into flexible silicone muffin trays, then putting these in the freezer, once frozen pop them out. I put mine into freezer bags, and put back into freezer. 2 cups should be enough for a bowl, so just heat up when you want. Such a great idea.

 

 

 

This soup recipe is really easy and tastes delicious.

 

Ingredients:

2 Onions, peeled and chopped

500g Mushrooms, finely chopped

2.5 pints Vegetable stock ( I used a little less for a thicker consistency)

Seasoning

200g Low fat fromage frais

 

1. Fry onions and mushrooms until softened.

2. Add stock and bring to the boil.

3. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.

4. Remove from the heat and blitz with a hand blender or food processor.

5. Add the fromage frais.

6. Blitz again, and serve.

 

 



 

 

Tonight for dinner I tried a new recipe of Bolognese Pasta Bake, and I'm glad I did because it was delicious! Really tasty and filling. This is 2.5 syns on Extra Easy. Unless your using your Healthy A for the cheese. I had mine with a Weight Watchers petit pan (free if using it as your Healthy B) but you could have some greens instead, or it can be a great meal on its own. Here's the recipe.

 

Ingredients:

250g dried pasta shapes

1 onion, peeled and finely chopped

2 celery stick, finely chopped

1 medium carrot, finely chopped

3 garlic cloves, peeled and finely sliced

250g mushrooms, roughly chopped

500g extra lean minced beef

400g can chopped tomatoes

250ml beef stock

1tsp dried oregano

seasoning

110g reduced fat mozzarella cheese, diced.

 

1. Preheat oven to 180c/Gas 4.

2. Cook the pasta until al dente (tender but still retaining a bite). Drain well.

3. Place the onion, celery, carrot, garlic, mushrooms and minced beef in a large non-stick frying pan and stir-fry over a high heat for 6-7 mins.

4. Add the tomatoes, stock and oregano and bring to the boil. Season well, cover and cook over a medium heat for 20 mins, stirring occasionally.

5. Remove from heat.

6. Spoon half of the bolognese mixture into the base of a medium-sized baking dish and top with the cooked pasta. Spoon over the remaining mixture and sprinkle with cheese.

7. Bake in the oven for 25-30 mins or until bubbling. Remove from oven and serve.

Feeling Better ..

 

So I'm finally getting over tonsillitis, I can just about manage solids and I've got a little more energy, meaning I can actually walk around without leaning on the wall for aide. The anti-biotics they gave are working amazingly, plus they're great for food managing since I can't eat with them, I can't eat hour before or after taking it. I knew I could find a plus for an illness!

 

Weigh in is tonight, which I will drag my body to, to attend. I hoping for a loss since I've been ill. But I also have to factor in that my body will have gone into shock and probably stored some fat, not to mention I haven't moved that much in a week! My lack of exercise is what scares me, but my food intake has been minimal. From low fat ice cream, soup and on Sunday I manged lunch with mash potato, soft veg and chicken cut up into little pieces. I felt I was eating my 5 year old meal but I just about manged it. Yesterday I had some pasta with  a Dolmio express sauce, cabonara. I hardly ever have them these days, but it was something quick and easy since I didn't have the ingredients in to make my own sauce. So I should mention that this pouch was 150g and is 8.5 syns. Very high but really quick and easy when you don't feel good.

 

I will go to weigh and face my fate, hopefully it's a happy result, but if not tomorrow is the start of a new week, and a healthy one at that! I will keep you informed...



Quick Gym Sesh ..

 

Had a quick gym session this afternoon, and even though it was only 50 mins long, I feel better for having it. We usually stay for over an hour but time was restricted today. Started on the treadmill to warm up, I did 30 mins on there, while running collectively for 7 mins, moved over to bikes then finished off with some weight trainer, where I learn every time I have no upper body strength.

 

For dinner tonight I cooked Hunters BBQ Chicken with Paprika Wedges. Syn free meal as I use the cheese as my Healthy A. Also I don't like BBQ sauce so I leave that off.

 



 

 

If you don't know what it entails it's real easy. Cook a chicken fillet off, add a rasher of bacon on top, and cook that, then add cheese and melt. The wedges were sprinkling with paprika or some sort of spice, spraying them with Fry Light and cooking in oven for about 30-35 mins turning a couple of times. Add with some veg or a nice crisp salad.

Weigh In, Pizza! ..

 

So yesterday was weigh in day, no point going around the houses to tell you I maintained. Which is much better than gaining but I was half a pound away from my 2 and a half stone award. It's frustrating but its my own fault, I had too much bread this week, I know this. I have to cut down on it, not to  mention them cheeky snacks. Last week my motivation was shot. Sometimes you just get those weeks, the weeks that are harder than others. I needed a boost, some sort of shot of inspiration. Today is a brand new week, and I have my inspiration. I have made before and after pictures for my friends and a couple of others but never for me, I didn't think there would be any difference, but today, with my inspiration gone I thought why not? So here it is, my inspiration to keep going!

 

 

 

So the weigh in came and went, and it was time for something to eat, Tuesdays I always say is treat night, I like to have a bit of chocolate or something, but with my maintain I by passed that and went straight for my dinner (another treat). Pizza, garlic bread and chips, now I know what you're thinking, 'one slice of take-away pizza is 25 syns!' But don't worry I had a full plate of these things and it was only 7 syns!

 

I had a gorgeous homemade chicken pizza, SW chips and petit pan garlic bread.

 

 

To get this meal to 7 syns I have to use both my Healthy A and B. Also you can't eat the whole pizza, I have a quarter, or if you can have half for 12.5 syns, which still is acceptable. Really easy as well, all takes under 30 mins.

 

Ingredients:

 

150g basic pizza base

tomato puree

any free toppings you wish

reduced fat mozzarella ball

Weight Watchers petit pan

1 tbsp of Flora Extra Light

1 tsp garlic powder

1.5 tsp mixed herbs

couple of big potatoes, peeled and cut into chips

Fry Light

 

To make the pizza spread the tomato puree on the pizza base, add topping of choice and cover with sliced mozzarella. Put in oven at 170c for 10-15 mins.

For the garlic bread mix the Flora, garlic and mixed herbs in a bowl. With a knife make slits in the petit pan and spread a little of the garlic butter in each one. 1 tbsp is 1.5 syns so make sure you don't go over. Bake this in the oven with the pizza for 10 mins or until browned on top.

To make the chips I spray a small baking tin with Fry Light, add the potatoes and spray Fry Light on top, put in oven at 170c for 20-25 mins, then raise temp to 190c for 10 more mins to brown them a little.

 

Here's how I work it out because I think a few people will be a little dubious.

 

Quarter of the basic pizza base is 5.5 syns.

I use my Healthy A for the cheese.

My Healthy B for the full Petit Pan.

A tbsp of Flora Extra Light is 1.5 syns.

 

All together a healthy option for a take away night and a very satisfied Charlotte!

PB Best Record Broken!

So just got back from doing some exercise in the pool. I have just broken my personal best of 50 laps and done 60, I'm ecstatic, I really am. I have never done this much swimming, I don't even like swimming that much. Ha ha.

I was lagging when it came to 55 but me and Gareth really pushed ourselves and really tried and I am quite proud of us. I am hurting and I'm most likely going to feel it tomorrow but it will be worth it!

Before I went swimming I made Beef and Bean Hot-Pot Bake for dinner. Yes it's the return of the one pot but I love them, I really can't stress enough how easy they are.

 

 

 

Ingredients:

 

750g lean stewing beef, all visible at removed, cuubed

2 large onions, peeled and roughly chopped

450g carrots, peeled and rougly chopped

1 level tbsp plain flour

salt and pepper

200ml boiling hot beef stock

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

400g can baked beans

2 bay leaves

600g potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced

 

1. Preheat oven 180c/Gas 4.

2. Place the beef, onions, carrots and flour in a baking dish, season and toss to mix well.

3. Pour in the boiling hot stock, then add the Worcestershire sauce, baked beans and bay leaves. Stir to mix well and arrange the slices of potato on top of the meat mixture.

4. Cover with foil then place in oven for about 1 and a 1/2 hours or until the potatoes are cooked and tender.

5. Remove foil, then turn the oven up to brown the potatoes, or finish under grill for 5-8 mins until brown.

 

I served mine with some greens and it was gorgeous, serves for and it's 1 syn each serving.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Meal Plan for the Week ..

 

So, normal Sunday protocol today. I had a scrummy Sunday lunch of chicken, veg, small Yorkshire pudding and gravy. I've done well with my snacking today, I chose grapes instead of anything fattening. I unfortunately couldn't get any exercise in today so I'll have to push myself tomorrow at swimming.

 

There is something I have tried different today and that is a meal plan, I have set out meals for the week and worked out the syns for each meal.

 

 



 

 

Sometimes when it comes to dinner I haven't thought of anything and I'm rushing to find something or I throw something easy together that I didn't really enjoy, and then that is when I snack on something that isn't good for me, so hopefully this will help with that, and working out before will give me some knowledge of what I can have for lunch or as a treat/snack. 

Body Magic? ..

 

 

Today was meant to be a body fitness day, gym and swimming.

Unfortunately things went wrong, 40 mins into the gym session I was feeling sick, maybe I had done too much already or not had enough water. I think mostly though it was because we went early and I hadn't eaten. This is my downfall, no breakfast. Admittedly I have never had breakfast, it is not something that sits well with me, but now I'm being active more and having longer days maybe I should invest in it?

 

So that was the gym cut short but then we went forward onto the swimming pool, unfortunately that did not go as planned either, only half of the pool was open so we couldn't really do lengths or for Gareth's sadness we couldn't go on the flumes. So all in all a pretty poor day for body magic, but I know I'll get 50 lengths in at the pool on Monday so looking forward to that.

 

When I got back it was time for dinner, not really planned anything today so it was pretty much throw something together. I decided on ham pasta salad with a jacket potato, I haven't had Healthy A today so I used that on cheese for JP. Sometimes its just really easy to throw a salad together for dinner, can be really filling and depending on what your vital ingredient is can be really flavourful. And don't forget completely syn free!

 



Pushing It In The Gym ..

I've just got back from the gym, my arms are quite tied but I'll try and get through typing this!

Me and Gareth did an hour work out tonight, mainly cardio with 10 mins of weights at the end. We both want 2lbs, I want it to get in my new number and to get a new award.

 

I think I pushed harder at the gym tonight. Anyone who knows me, knows I am not a runner, but tonight I ran for a collective 6 minutes. I know it doesn't sound like much but it was for me. An achievement almost. Before that it was 10 minutes to warm up, then after 15 cycling. I also like to get some rowing in there as well, I can always feel it on my arms. Then the weights to try and built some muscle since I have no strength at all.

 

I got through it and now I feel much better for it. Before going to do any sort of exercise I have this internal groan and question if I really have to, but as soon as I'm working out the rush of adrenaline gets to me and I feel amazing afterwards!

 

Before I went out I made dinner. This is what I would call a nice stomach warmer; Rich Banger and Bean Casserole. This is the first try for me and I can definitely say I will be having it again and not because there is leftovers in the freezer. ha ha.

No its really nice and just completely warms you up. Easy to make, all in one pot. As you can tell by now I love my one pot recipes, so easy but so flavourful!

 

 

 

 

Ingredients:

 

Fry Light

8 Quorn Sausages

6 large shallots, peeled and finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped

1 tbsp finely chopped fresh sage leaves

500g pumpkin flesh, cut into large bite-sized pieces

1tbsp white wine vinegar

400g can chopped tomatoes

400g can cannellini beans

300ml vegetable stock

salt and pepper

4 tbsp chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

 

1. Preheat oven 180c/Gas 4.

2. Spay a large casserole dish with Fry Light and place over a medium heat. Stir-fry the sausages for 4-5 mins or until golden brown all over.

3. Add the shallots, garlic, sage and pumpkin and fry for 3-4 mins.

4. Increase heat to high and add the white wine vinegar, tomatoes, beans and stock and season to taste.

5. Bring the mixture to the boil then transfer the casserole dish to the oven and cook for 1 hour, or until the sausages are cooked through and the pumpkin is tender.

6. Serve sprinkled with the flat-leaf parsley.

 

Great meal, really easy and only 2 syns per serving (serves 4). I just boiled up some carrots and green beans that I had left over to put some more superfree in there. Also I didn't have pumpkin so I substituted it with potatoes and it worked just as good. You could also have low fat pork sausages instead of quorn, just remember to syn them correctly.

Weigh In ..

 

Okay so it was the dreaded weigh in day today, and I lost 2 and a half pounds! Woohoo ha ha.

I was quite surprised by that and also ecstatic, I am now 14st 1lb, I need 1/2 a pound for my 2 and a 1/2 stone award and a 2lb to get into a number that I haven't been in years. I know I can achieve that next week!

 

Today was taster week to start the 12 weeks to Christmas countdown, some lovely things to try. I made and brought in aromatic chicken bake. It consisted of a walk into town to buy ingredients so I got some body magic in today. Then I got cooking, really easy one to make again since it all takes just over 30mins and it is all baked in one pot. I think it went well down at group since I made a full casserole pot and there was only about a quarter left. I thought it tasted great and I will definitely be making this one again!

 

Also won the raffle tonight! First time ever, was quite excited. I won ingrediants to make a nice casserole or a chunky soup.

 

 

 

Ingredients:

Fry Light

800g Skinless and boneless chicken, cut into large bite-sized pieces

1 large onion, peeled and chopped

2 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped

1 red pepper, deseeded and diced

2 plum tomatoes, roughly chopped

1 carrot, peeled and cut into 1cm dice

200g green beans, trimmed and cut into 1cm lengths

3 cardamom pods

2 cloves

1 cinnamon stick

1/2 tsp smoked paprika

250g dried paella rice

500ml chicken stock

salt and pepper

chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, to garnish.

 

1. Preheat oven to 180c/Gas 4.

2. Spray a large casserole pot with Fry Light. Add the chicken and stir-fry for 10-15 mins until golden on all sides. Add the onion, garlic and pepper to the pan and cook for 5 mins.

3. Stir in the tomatoes, carrot, green beans, cardamom pods, cloves, cinnamon stick , paprika and rice.

4. Add the stock. Season to taste, and bring to the boil.

5. Cover with lid and transfer to the oven and cook for  20-25 mins or until the chicken is cooked through and the rice is tender.

6. Fluff up the rice, sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve.

 

Amazingly easy and syn free!

 



Productive Day? ..

 

Today was what I would like to call a 'productive one'. Sold a hell of a lot of old clothes on EBay over the week so it being the first business day after, I had to package, stamp and post them all. I have found it to be a really easy way of making money.

 

Next I was putting a ham in to cook so I can have a nice ham salad in the week and some thick ham sandwiches, they are the best!

 

I even tackled my ironing pile today, I was on a roll.

 

Yes a very productive day indeed. It was next onto dinner, minced beef hash with petit pan.

 



 

 

 

This is what I like to call comfort food, it just so warm and delicious and is all made in one pot so it's easy to make and there isn't many pots to wash up after.

 

Ingredients:

 

Fry Light

2 onions, finely diced

2 garlic cloves, crushed

1 tsp ground cumin

450g extra lean minced beef

2 carrots, peeled and diced

300g potatoes, peeled and diced

400g can of plum tomatoes

100ml beef stock

1 tsp dried oregano

4 tbsp finely chopped flat-leaf parsley

salt and pepper

 

1. Spray a large lidded frying pan with Fry Light and place over a medium heat. Add the onions and stir-fry for 2-3 mins.

2. Add garlic and cumin, stirring for a few moments to release the flavours.

3. Add the minced beef and cook on high, stirring all the time and breaking up any lumps, until all the meat is sealed and brown.

4. Add the carrot, potatoes, tomatoes, stock and oregano and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer, covered, for 12-15 mins.

5. Remove from heat, stir in parsley and season to taste before serving.

 

You can add more veg to get more superfree in, or some green chilli to maybe give it an extra kick. I served it with a weight watchers petit pan and used it as my healthy B.

This is a completely easy and syn free meal.

 

After the gorgeous meal had settled it was off to do some laps at swimming to get my body magic in. I usually do 50 lengths but got sidetracked chatting so only managed 32.

 

Got talking to Gemma (friend and fellow slimmer) about a great idea to freeze soup, so she gave me some to take home and try. She has her own great blog with more wonderful ideas and recipe Here. Go check her out!

 

Tomorrow is weigh in day and also taster session, looking forward to it, I'll let you know how I got on.