smoked salmon linguine

simple, quick, easy, tasty.. what more could you want?

serves 4 or is good the next day for lunch

200g smoked salmon, roughly chopped into bite size pieces.
300g spaghetti or linguine.
250g cherry tomatoes halved.
2 generous handfuls of rocket.
Juice of half a lemon.
1 bunch of asparagus, trimmed and in bite size pieces.
2 tbsp (i used tesco its 2 syns per tbsp) reduced fat red pesto (also works with green pesto)

Start by cooking the pasta for 2 minutes less than the packet says. About halfway through cooking add the asparagus (reserve about 1/4 tea cup of the water)

mix the lemon juice, pesto and water together with a generous pinch of black pepper.

drain the pasta, add back to the pot you boiled it in, pour over the pesto and add the salmon coating the pasta, add in the cherry tomatoes too.

Serve and top with the rocket.

Fried Rice

The essential thing for fried rice? precooked rice. when i make my fried rice i use a brand called veetee as they are only 1 syn. depending on what you get.
Another crucial thing? add what YOU like. this is just my basic fried rice.
the only things you keep the same is the garlic, ginger, soy, sesame, salt and pepper and of course the rice!

you will need
1 pack of veetee precooked rice. (do not cook it in the microwave!!)
1 small shallot finely diced
1 carrot finely diced
handful of thawed (prefrozen) peas
1tbsp soy sauce
1tsp sesame oil (2syns)
1 egg
1 grated garlic clove and the same amount of grated ginger
pinch of salt and pepper.

break up the rice (no we are not cooking as per packet instructions!) so all grains are seperate, coat in the sesame oil and spray and mix through fry light. (this helps if you do not have a non stick pan!)
bring a pan to a very high heat.
add some fry light and the carrot and onion, stir fry for a couple of minutes and add the garlic and ginger.
stir fry for 1 minute or until fragrant and add the rice.
stir fry for 5 minutes,
toss through the peas, salt, pepper and soy sauce.
toss to coat evenly.
push the rice to one side, spray the pan with fry light and add the egg. let it cook till almost set.
break up the yolk and put the rice on top
break up the egg in the rice. (bigger or smaller chunks, completely your preference)
serve while hot.

Easy family pasta/spaghetti Bolognese

So anyone that knows me, knows that i am OBSESSED with pasta, which is good because on slimming world the majority of pasta is syn free :D
Here is my family favourite of spaghetti bolognese, very filling, very easy. if you haven't got a food processor you could just grate the majority of these vegetables. If you want to make this meat free just replace the beef mince with quorn.
If you dont have much time, just fry off your mince grate your veg and bung it all in your slow cooker!

serves 6 people generously (good to take to work though)
500g pasta/spaghetti of your choice.
500g extra lean beef mince (or leftover beef or lamb from a roast)
2 large carrots
2 red onions
2 cloves of garlic
1 small aubergine
1 medium courgette
(you can always add mushrooms too!)
2 tins of tomatoes
1 large broccoli head. (cook this with your pasta, optional)
1 tsp garlic italian by schwartz
1/2 tsp salt and pepper
1 tsp oregano
fry light
2 tbsp tomato puree
Get your trusty food processor out, set it up to grate.  peel and chop your onion in small dice.
It a large pan start browning your mince until it gets crispy.
while your mince is cooking grate all your veggies  (other than the onion)
Once your mince is brown add all your veggies in and cook until they start to soften, add your tomatoes, tomato puree, salt, pepper, herbs and half a tin of water.
cook for 20 minutes.
after the 20 minutes is up cook your pasta according to instructions (but cook for 2 minutes less and save some of the pasta water)
Drain, add back to the pot you were cooking it in and stir through your mince.
if you are cooking this in the slow cooker just add the pasta to the slow cooker and stir through,.
Done!
i hope you enjoy this dish. :)

Vietnamese beef stew (my version)

Not long ago i became unhealthily obsessed with asian, vietnamese and thai food!
I came across this aromatic soothing beef stew, full of the herbs and spices needed to cure a cold!
Perfect for a cold evening!
It really is a slow cooked dish so if you dont have a slow cooker use a dutch oven!

4-6 people
1kg stewing steak.
4tbsp soy sauce
1tbsp fish sauce (yes i know it smells but trust me!)
3 lrge garlic cloves grated
1tsp grated ginger
1 tin of tomatoes
2 tbsp romato puree
200ml beef stock
1 bay leaf
6 carrots peeled and in bitesize pieces
3 spring onions in chunks.
2 star anise and 1 cinnamon stick
1 tsp 5 spice
generous amount of black pepper
2 large white onions (in bitesized chunks)
2 large green pepper (in bitesized chunks)
1tsp sesame oil (2syns)

Marinate the beef with the garlic, ginger, soy sauce, fish sauce and 5 spice over night. or 2 days in advance!
put all of the ingredients (just not the green pepper or onion and sesame oil) in the slow cooker.
Let it cook until you are ready to eat (i serve with rice)
Before you cook the rice, get a frying pan EXTREMELY hot and chuck in the onions and peppers let it sit for 20 seconds, flip it, let it sit again for another 20 seconds. Repeat and add to the stew with the sesame oil and stir through.
Serve whilst hot, sprinkle with spring onions (optional but adds another dimension)

Jambalaya

This recipe is brilliant for leftovers or if you just want to make a delicious dish!
serves 4-6
6 boneless skinless chicken thighs (in bite sized cube or use leftover roast chicken!)
4 heck chorizo style sausages (currently 2.5 syns each so 2.5 if serving 4 but 1.5 if serving 6, skin removed)
3 sticks of celery and 2 carrots (finely diced or grated)
1 large white onion (diced finely)
1 large green pepper (slightly larger dice)
1 large red pepper (same as green pepper)
4 large tomatoes (cut in half and grate into the stock, its the easy way to remove the skin!)
3 cloves garlic
1tbsp paprika (not smoked)
450ml chicken stock
250g long grain rice (basmati works well)
1 bay leaf
1tsp dried thyme and oregano
sprinkle of chilli flakes (optional)
(6 large prawns to serve ontop are optional)

okay it sounds like a lot of ingredients but its a very very easy recipe.
Fry the sausage braking it up while it cooks. when it is cooked add in the chicken. cook until the chicken is 3/4 of the way done. add all the vegetables and garlic. stir until the onion becomes translucent. add in the rest of the ingredients. stir thoroughly, sprinkle in some salt and pepper, cover, cook on low for 15 minutes, remove the lid give it a stir. cover and let cook for a further 10 minutes on low.
Done :D

enjoy.. i know it sounds like a lot but this recipe is pretty basic 4 tomatoes, 450ml of stock, garlic, paprika 250g rice.. then you can add anything else you want! any veg that is starting to go over (fry that first though to give it a head start)
and the best thing... its a one pot meal! yaaaahhh!

Enjoy!