A Matter of Choice

You have read that correctly,  the title of this post is indeed Slimming World Fruit Pasta.  You are also perfectly entitled to think that I have gone completely crazy as you wouldn't be alone in those thoughts.  Over my Slimming World years I've tried many things, some only once and others that have become a staple part of my diet even when I'm not following the SW plan.   Lots of them are very sensible,  things that many people like that I'd just never thought to try before such as butternut squash, cous cous, and spinach all of which I regularly enjoy now.  Some of the things are more 'diet-y'  like cauliflower rice or courgetti (not that I've tried that, but I would be happy to) and some are a bit more odd such as lasagne doritos,  or 'Smash potato scones'   but I've never been more amused by a suggestion than I was when I saw a photo of Fruity Pasta on pinterest yesterday.  The idea of fruit and pasta isn't new of course,...

Yes, you did read that right it's a 'half a syn' cake, and not only that, its really nice! Over the years of Slimming World I've tried many different dessert recipies and I've always been hard pushed to find a good one.   I find they are either not that nice, or not worth the effort or the syns but since trying this at a taster session in the group I attend I've finally found the answer! I'd put off making it for years, thinking it would be difficult but I've made it several times now and it's always turned out fine! Ingredients 4 medium eggs, seperated 1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp vanilla essence Fat free Greek yoghurt 3 tbsp of sweetener (level not heaped) Raspberries (or any other Syn free fruit) Instructions Add yoghurt, sweetener, vanilla essence & baking powder to the egg yolks Whisk until creamy and put to one side Take the egg whites and whisk until stiff Add half of the egg whites to the egg yolk mixture and s...

After a few very focused weeks back at Slimming World I fell off the plan in a spectacular fashion this week with a new record of a 4lb in one week! That's a week with no special occasions, holidays or nights out, my largest gain in all my SW years has been 3lb and that was after a two week all inclusive holiday. But, Slimming world works, when you stick to the plan and last week I can't say that I did - 2 days after weigh in and a Valentines evening celebration at home with pizza knocked me sideways and I went off the rails somewhat! Hey ho, after my shock on the scales on Wednesday I've been back on plan.  Superfree, scan bran and lots of water are my weapons this week, and of course my new favourite Slimming World muffins. After the success of my 'Magic Pancakes' I decided to try a variation I'd seen mentioned in a facebook group, they are fab and I've been making them every few days. Slimming World 'Muffins' Makes 24 mini muffins. ...

Since going back to Slimming World at the start of January I've been making an effort to try some new recipes and keep varying my food every day. Although there is an endless choice when it comes to what you 'can' eat with Slimming World, like anything it's all too easy to fall into a habit of eating the same things day in and day out.  I have many SW cookbooks as well as a folder with lots of recipes that I've collected from the magazine over the years, I've actually made very few though! Last week I decided to try a new one out, and I wish I'd made it sooner! Cheesy Meatball Pasta Bake was a massive hit with the whole family and possibly one of the best main Slimming World meals I've ever made! You need... For the meatballs - 500g extra lean pork mince 6 finely chopped spring onions Dried herbs ( I used about a teaspoon each of basil and oregano) 1tbsp Worcestershire sauce 1 tbsp tomato puree For the sauce - 1 finely chop...

Two weeks ago in a moment of apparent madness I decided to do the ' Scan Bran Challenge' along with several others from my Slimming World group. It's a bit of a craze sweeping the groups at the moment, the idea being that you eat 5 scan bran a day (either as a 'Healthy B choice' or counted as 5 syns) along with drinking at least the recommended 2 litres of water a day to help speed your weight loss. Its had mixed results in the group, some good weight losses and some no different to usual.  I did very well at the start of the 1st week, sticking to the challenge from Monday until Thursday, at which point I went out drinking Thursday evening and then it all went to pot! At the weigh in on Monday I'd gained a pound, but I blame the drinking and resulting hangover cures, plus the kids party I went to on Saturday where I found myself eating cake and such like all afternoon! They say that it will always catch up with you though and this week I was very surpri...

This week was a great week from a Slimming World point of view... I was really determined to reach my stone award so the previous week I stuck to the plan like glue, and even exercised 5 out of the 7 days!  It worked as I lost 2 lb meaning I've lost 1 stone overall and I also won 'Slimmer of the week'!  They say things come in three's which was certainly true on Monday as I then went on to win the raffle! I've been trying to find some new recipes so I don't get bored eating the same things so this week I swapped SW recipe books with a friend of mine.  I tried a couple of new things at the weekend when a few of us SW girls got together with our families for a BBQ,  the food went down very well even with those not following the Slimming World plan. BBQ recipes will be coming up on the blog soon but for now here's another recent dish I tried, which again was very well received by Aaron and my parents who are not slimming either. Slow coo...

I've made loads of Slimming World recipes over the years but with the exception of Weetabix Cake I've not found many 'sweet' recipes that really work for me.  They always seem to be missing something (that'll be the sugar and fat I guess!) and I generally find them not worth the effort or syns. Until today that is when I discovered 'Magic Pancakes' a recipe from my old SW consultant in the UK. They are so easy to make and are 'syn free' if you count them as a 'healthy B option. All you need is... 35g poridge oats (Healthy extra B choice or 6 syns) A Muller light yoghurt ( I used a Vitaline yoghurt as Muller lights are hard to find in Cyprus, hence the slightly pink colour as it was cherry flavour!) 3 eggs Sweetener to taste. Mix the porridge oats and yoghurt, and leave in fridge overnight. Add the eggs and sweetener and you have your pancake mix! I served mine with loads of strawberries and some low fat Greek yoghurt and they were...

My Dad has always been a big fan of Turkish delight, (although you can only buy 'Cyprus Delights' here!) so when I saw these Turkish Delight Cupcakes over at Cakes Photos Life I thought I'd make him some.  6oz self raising flour 6oz butter 6oz sugar 3 medium eggs Drop of vanilla essence Rose water - about 3 drops but according to taste Thinly sliced Cyprus (or Turkish) Delight Mix the cake batter as you normally would. Place a third of the mixture into the cake cases and add a slice of 'Delight' Cover with the remaining batter and cook as you would for a normal sponge cake.  (usually about 180deg for approx 20 minutes) Although it didn't show up well on the photo I piped pink butter cream flavoured with  little rose water onto the cooled cakes. You could also if you wish decorate with an extra piece of 'Delight' I was really pleased with the finished cakes, although they weren't quite a pretty looking as the ones I originally got...

Nothing says 'Christmas Desert' quite like a good old Christmas pudding but unfortunately I cannot stand them!    Without meaning to be difficult I also dislike Traditional Christmas Cake, and only realised that I like mince pies in the last couple of years,   this meant that Christmas day desert when I was younger meant Yule log  (always too dry)   or Arctic Roll (good but didn't really say Christmas to me!) Until I met Aaron that is and we realised that we both dislike Christmas Cake and pudding, along with his brother and sister.  He then introduced me to his Mum's alternative Christmas pudding she has made for years now, which I promptly adopted and have used every year since. Christmas is now NOT Christmas without Chocolate Chestnut pudding - (I've yet to see chestnut puree in the shops here but so far I've got someone to bring us a tin out each year!)  The first year my Mother in law introduced it as ...

I haven't done so well with regards to Slimming World this week, I knew I hadn't been following the plan 100% but I wasn't THAT bad and I hoped to get away with it. Unfortunately I put on 2lb, serves me right for picking at the goodies at the picnic we had in the park and the sneaky McDonalds I had the other day! After sulking about it for a bit this morning I've attempted to get back on track today, big jacket potato for lunch and huge homemade chilli cooking for dinner as I write. I also made one of my old SW favourites today.... Weetabix Cake. If you're a fan of fruity malt loaf, you'll love this terrific recipe Serves: 12 Syns per serving: 3½ Syns ANY DAY Ingredients 2 Weetabix 113g/4oz sultanas 142ml/5floz skimmed milk 142ml 5floz water 113g/4oz self-raising flour 1 teaspoon mixed spice 14g/½ oz artificial sweetener (optional) 1 egg, beaten Method 1. Preheat the oven to 180ºC, 350ºF or Gas Mark 4 2. Put the Weetabix and sultana...

I've been trying to get back on track this week so I've been making an effort to plan all meals to Slimming World friendly and cooking enough to eat them for the following days lunch where possible. We've had home-made meatballs and spaghetti, omelette and chips and one of my current favourites, Spaghetti Carbonara. I've seen many Slimming World recipes for Spaghetti Carbonara over the years but they all use Quark and apart from the fact I can't stand the stuff (have tried SO many different ways of using it but I still know it's in there!) it's not at all easy to get here. I found this one which uses low fat fromage frais in one of my SW recipe books and adapted it slightly It's quick and easy and doesn't taste like a 'Slimming' dinner. Fry roughly chopped bacon in Fry Light for 2-3 minute until cooked Beat an egg, stir in some 'very low fat fromage frais' and chopped herbs. Add to bacon with heaps of boiled spaghetti and ...

If I had to pick one product that helped me the most with Slimming World it would have to be Batchelors 'Pasta & Sauce.  Pre SW (and pre-children) I used to eat at lot of ready meals and processed food, 'Pasta & Sauce' being one of them. When I started the plan I was very happy to find they were 'free' on Green days (or very low in syns for some flavours). Although I started cooking most meals from scratch I found these to be a life saver many times and always made sure I had several packet in the cupboard. Not only were they quick and easy to make I actually really enjoyed them unlike most other SW friendly 'easy' foods.  Handily they are also in the shops out here and they are a sensible price unlike many other imports.  They are great on their own, or with the addition of some herbs or chilli flakes but I also use them to make a 'Slimming World Quiche' You need: One packet 'Pasta & Sauce'  any flavour but To...

Due to a run of birthday's in our family the last month or so has been very full of cake, this is obviously no bad thing (especially as I'm pregnant and not yet thinking about dropping a couple of pounds!) It all started in  May with a Cars cake for Leo's friend and   Leo's two birthday cakes and last week we finished off with a cake for my friend Sam's birthday. I don't claim to be a very good cake decorator, the actual making of the cake is fine but I have no patience, not a lot of imagination and a very unsteady hand so usually I bake and Aaron decorates when it comes to 'novelty cakes'  However as he's been working so much I've been giving it a go! I was most worried about the No.6 Cars cake as it was a present but it seemed to go down very well, I got very stressed whilst rolling out the icing as its so warm that I find it hard to handle, Aaron actually rescued me with this one as it was so big that every time I picked up the icing to...

Bananas and recipes including them are a recently new discovery to me, I grew up detesting them but actually  'taught' myself to like them!  When I started going to Slimming World I decided it would be easier for me if I liked them as they were a very handy and reasonably filling snack and so I kept eating the occasional one and eventually they grew on me - to the point where I'd have one every morning without fail and I'd be most upset if we run out! After I'd hit my Slimming World target I continued to eat my new favourite fruit but realised I'd probably be able to improve it by putting it in a cake.   I've tried several different recipes now but this one for some reason is the best by far... 110g butter 110g sugar (can add some dark, but I didn't have any) 2 eggs 3 or 4 bananas (I used 4 and left one for the end so it was less mashed up) 225g SR Flour 1/2 tsp bicarb of soda 1 tsp cinanmon 140g raisins  (I used less than this as Leo ate ...

Although I enjoy cooking I find I'm still not very organised about it, I buy the same things over and over again and rarely plan more than 24 hours in advance. I always have a vague idea in my head that I will make a plan and decide on a weeks' meals in advance therefore saving me the time of staring blankly into cupboards each day hoping for inspiration but I never seem to get round to it. Over the years I hate to think of how much food I must have thrown away, before the arrival of Leo it would often be a last minute decision to go to the pub from work and not eating a proper dinner or the bright idea of some healthy eating which wore off as the fresh veg brought enthusiastically wore off as it went bad. These days with money being tight I'm always racking my brains as to how I can save money, and make good meals inexpensively so I was excited to receive a copy of The Thrifty Cookbook.  Apparently over 6.7 million ton...

I'm usually quite good at finding a reason to make cakes, I mean you have the obvious birthday's, visitors coming or some other vague celebration but the other day I didn't even bother to create a reason. I was bored, hungry and really fancied something sweet, then I read that Jenny (Mummy Mishaps) had been playing with her new toy - a Cake Pop maker  and so suddenly decided I NEEDED cake. Bored of plain jam sponge cakes I dived for my new 'Cupcake recipe' book (well - it's not that new but I've only made 2 of the recipes so far!)  Unfortunately it appeared I didn't have the exact ingredients for any one of the 'different' cakes so for the first time ever I messed around with a sweet recipe (was always told you can do what you like to a savoury recipe but never mess with deserts!) That's the recipe.... and what they are supposed to look like. 125g soft tub margarine   (I used hard butter) 125g caster sugar          (I used granulate...

I've been on a bit of a domestic goddess fad lately, making enough Mince pie s to feed the village and  Onion Marmalde  but I took it to another level last week and made my own Lemon Curd, I'd even been saving jars to put it in! It was actually really easy to make, and a damn sight cheaper than buying it as I've not seen a jar for less than 4 euros here. I just need to find someone with a lemon tree and it would be cheaper still! You will need... Grated zest and juice of 4 large lemons 4 large eggs 350g golden castor sugar ( I didn't have any so used normal granulated, seem to still work!) 225g unsalted butter cut into small chunks 1 level desert spoon cornflour Lightly whisk eggs in a medium size saucepan then add the rest of the ingredients over a medium heat. Whisk continuously until mixture thickens, should be about 7 - 8 minutes. Then turn the heat to the lowest setting and continue to whisk for about another minute. Remove from the heat and...

Last night, feeling particularly organised  I decided to start the first of my Christmas cooking, I love cooking and particularly enjoy preparing things for Christmas, as a child I always looked forward to making Cheese Straws and Mince pies with my Mum, always to the sound of carols so it's usually the start of the festive season for me.  I decided it was a little too early to break out the Christmas CD so instead I opted for wine and Strictly Come Dancing on the TV in the background... obviously Aaron was out so I had control of the TV! Some time ago I found a recipe for Onion Marmalde  and thought it would be nice to go with cold meat and cheeses over Christmas. Aaron introduced me to the brilliant Boxing Day tradition of this meal and we always used to get some sort of onion relish.  You can buy it here in Cyprus but there is not a huge choice and it's not usually very cheap so I thought I'd give it a go. Despite collecting jam jars for a w...

I must apologise for bringing up the 'C word' so early.....Christmas is not actually that far away, but you probably knew that. I imagine that in the UK it's been everywhere you turn for weeks now? but here it's only the last week or so that I've seen or heard any mention of it. I'll soon be reading all the usual stuff online about Christmas stress and shopping in tweets and facebook statuses and be thankful that I'm out of it, don't get me wrong I LOVE Christmas but can't stand all the faffing about presents...  who everyone is or isn't buying for, how much it's costing etc etc I like to think that maybe people are going to worry less about it all with so many people now struggling for money but I'm probably being optimistic. This year, for the first time I'm doing home-made stuff, it may not be brilliant but it's the thought that counts and it's that or nothing!  I only be doing things for a very small amount of  peopl...

Last year I told you all about my first Halloween party  it was held by my friend Sam and it was great fun. Tomorrow we are going to do it all again so in a tradition we seem to have created for ourselves Aaron and I had a cake to make! Last year we made a 'Pumpkin cake' and so we've been debating what we could do this year. Aaron suggested a skull but I thought we shouldn't peak too early so we went with his second idea a Ghost cake. It was a joint family effort as Leo 'helped' me bake the cake and then as usual I handed the decorating over to the arty one. Leo and I made a simple Victoria sponge mixture but as we needed a lot we tripled the standard recipe. 300g castor sugar 300g butter 6 eggs 300g self raising flour I usually cream the butter and sugar first, adding the egg then the flour gradually but Leo didn't agree with that method and chucked it all in before I could intervene, including the eggs without cracking them! I retrieved the...