Luscious leek and potato soup

Something so simple can be so so comforting when you are under the weather or the weather is getting you down. Shut the curtains, curl up on the sofa with this addictive soup, and the best thing is it is free and easy!

2 large baking potatoes (i find they break up easier, washed and roughly chopped)
1 large white onion (roughly chopped)
3 large leeks (washed and sliced roughly)
1 large clove of garlic
generous pinch of salt and pepper
(parsely or chives to top is completely optional)
2.5 litres of vegetable stock

In a large soup pot, in fry light, fry off the onion, garlic and leeks until they start to soften and colour a little.

Add a generous pinch of salt and pepper.

Add the potatoes and stock and cook until the potatoes start falling apart.

Turn off the heat and use your immersion blender to blend the soup to the texture of your liking.

Taste and season to your liking.

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.

Coleslaw

This goes with everything in our house.. from grilled meats, burgers, chicken, pork to fish or as a side salad. you can top it with what you want but we usually dress it with the dressing that i will add to the bottom of the slaw recipe. its also lovely with light salad cream.

1 red onion
2 large carrots
half a small white cabbage

we use a mandolin as we have always had it in our family but you could use a food processor or if you are good with a knife do it that way.

peel then grate the carrot into a bowl.

peel and cut the onion in half and slice as thin as you can.

cut the half of cabbage in half then shred it.

combine together and that is the basic slaw.

for the dressing we use white or rice vinegar and tesco extra virgin olive oil spray we use 20 sprays (2 syns) we coat the slaw in the oil then add the vinegar.

the slaw will last 3-4 days in the fridge if you DONT add a dressing. ( you could always individually dress the slaw on the plate)

Healthy Greek salad

This salad may not be slimming world or weight watchers but this is a relatively healthy salad that is delicious on its own or on a bed of salad leaves.

Serves 2-4
2handfuls of your favourite olives
1/4 cucumber in small bite sized chunks
3 large tomatoes or a pack of cherry tomatoes in bite size pieces
1small red onion, halved and finely sliced
Half a pack of feta crumbled into pieces.
3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive
2tablespoons lemon juice
1tablespoon white wine vinegar
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1small clove grated garlic
Generous pinch of salt and black pepper

Mix the garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper, oregano, lemon juice and vinegar in a salad bowl.
Add in the rest of the ingredients and toss in the dressing.
Let sit for at least 20 minutes, toss again before serving.

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.

Ramen (noodle soup)

comforting, soothing, delicious, warm noodle soup, healing to the heart, mind and soul and brilliant for leftovers.
use whatever topping you have but you can never beat adding a soft/medium boiled egg, the yolk enrichens the soup!

serves 1.
1 packet low fat super noodles (i use ko lee low fat chicken, beautiful in flavour before adding anything!)
1 grated garlic clove
1/2 tsp grated ginger
1/2 tsp sesame oil (1 syn)
1/2 tsp yellow bean sauce (optional but is so soothing, just add it to the broth)
good pinch of black pepper
I happened to use leftover turkey on my ramen today but you can use a couple of slices of ham or leave the meat out completely!
1 small shredded or grated carrot
2 leaves white cabbage finely shredded
1 shredded spring onion
handful of beansprouts (if you have them)

So the basics of ramen is the sauce and the noodles then you can add whatever toppings you like!
cook the noodles according to packet instructions. meanwhile, in the bowl you are going to serve in mix the soy, sesame oil, ginger, garlic and black pepper, mix thoroughly.
remove the noodles to the soy mixture coating them in it.
add the toppings then pour over the soup!

Easy or what?!

canape and lunch fillings

These fillings you can serve with lettuce leaves, with crudites or crisps or in my pastry cases that i just uploaded.

Prawn filling: mexican inspired- 1/2 cup freshly cooked king prawns roughly chopped, juice of half a lime, 1tbsp freshly chopped coriander, 1 tsp sweet chilli sauce, 1/4 tsp garlic paste, 1 finely chopped spring onion. combine together :)

prawn #2: prawn cocktail filling- 1/2 cup freshly cooked prawns roughly chopped, 1 tbsp tomato sauce (1 syns), 1tbsp 0%fat yoghurt, salt, pepper, 1/2 tsp paprika, 1tsp lemon juice, 1/4 tsp garlic paste, 2tbsp small diced cucumber, the finely diced green part of a spring onion. combine altogether!

curried chicken: half a cup f leftover cooked chicken, 1 tsp mild curry powder, 1 tbsp mango chutney (2  syns), salt, pepper, freshly finely chopped coriander (1 tbsp), 3 tbsp 0% fat greek yoghurt, handful finely chopped chives.
Combine the herbs, spices, mango chutney and yoghurt, stir thoroughly then add in the chicken, done!