Food

Chinese takeaway-style chicken curry – Slimming World

minime2019Leave a comment

Ingredients

  • 2 onions, finely sliced
  • 3 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 1 tbsp medium curry powder*
  • 2 tsp turmeric
  • 2 chicken stock cubes
  • Low-calorie cooking spray
  • 4 skinless and boneless chicken breasts, cut into chunks
  • 3 mixed peppers, deseeded and cut into large chunks
  • 200g green beans, halved
  • 120g frozen peas
  • Plain boiled rice, to serve

Method

  • Place a non-stick saucepan over a medium-high heat, add the onions and a splash of water and cook for 8 minutes or until softened.
  • Stir in the garlic, curry powder, turmeric and another splash of water and cook for 1 minute. Add 1 litre boiling water and the crumbled stock cubes, give it a stir, then simmer gently for 10 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, spray a non-stick frying pan with low-calorie cooking spray and place over a medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 5 minutes. Add the peppers, green beans and peas and cook for 3-4 minutes.
  • Blitz the stock mixture using a stick blender (or use your food processor) to make a curry sauce.
  • Pour the sauce over the chicken and simmer for 5 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through, then serve hot with the rice.

Blackberry Drop Pancake Recipe – Slimming World

minime2019Leave a comment

I thought I’d do something new on the blog for a change. If you like this new style of blog, comment below to let me know. 🙂

Ingredients

  • 3 medium ripe bananas
  • 3 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • 25g self-raising flour
  • 1 level tbsp sweetener, plus extra to decorate
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 100g blackberries, halved, plus extra to serve
  • Low-calorie cooking spray
  • Fat-free natural Greek-style yogurt, to serve

Method

  1. Use a fork to mash the bananas in a large bowl. Add the eggs, flour, sweetener, cinnamon and a pinch of salt. Mix well, then stir in the blackberries.
  2. Spray a large non-stick frying pan with low-calorie cooking spray and place over a medium-high heat. Working in batches, drop equal-size heaped tablespoons of the mixture into the pan. Cook for 2 minutes, or until the bases are firm and lightly browned, then flip and cook for a further 1-2 minutes, or until cooked through. Transfer to a plate, cover and keep warm until you’ve used up all the batter.
  3. Serve 3 pancakes per person with a dollop of yogurt, a few extra blackberries and a dusting of sweetener to decorate.
Blackberry drop pancakes

My weight loss story (Trigger Warning)

minime20192 Comments

During the past year was tough enough for everyone! Some people gain weight as a result of stress, while others lose it. Me on the other hand, I ended up putting on more than I bargained for. My clothes were becoming tight, my coat was becoming harder to zip up, so I took the plunge and decided I’d join Slimming World. I have never looked back since.

While my confidence grew, weight started coming off slowly but surely. A pound here and pound there I couldn’t be happier with the results. Of course, it is hard, temptations and cravings are the hardest for me. What keeps me going is the supportive family, the centre that I attend and the consultant. I’ve learnt that theres easy swaps to food or drink that I like, and I can eat or drink them without all the guilt. Thats where ‘Syns’ come in handy.

Every ‘slimmer’ in Slimming world have a certain amount of ‘syns’ they can use within the day, and its up to them how they use them. Syns can vary between person to person, depending on their weight. Some people use all their syns, while others use very little or none at all. Myself like to eat ‘free food’ (syn free) some days, while on the other days I use all of my syns.

Joining Slimming World cannot be easier. If you would like to know more about Slimming World, go to their website.

**I am not a professional. All the information above is out of my own personal experience**

My top to do list – Coronavirus edition!!!

minime20191 Comment


Baking and cooking

  •  Rice Crispy buns
  • Popcorn
  • Chocolate Cake
  • Cookies

  • Chicken Curry
  • Vegetable soup
  • Lasagne
  • Shepards Pie


Arts and Crafts

  • Paper flowers
  • Finger puppets
  • Desk organisers (use old toilet roll holders for this)
  • Cardboard drink dispenser
  • Make your own photo frame
  • Paint / draw
  • Make up a card game
  • Knit

Have some Fun

  • Sing along
  • Take Goofy pictures
  • Call family and friends
  • Have some ‘me time’
  • Listen to meditation
  • Talk about your feelings and catch up with others
  • Watch tv
  • Make Finger Animals

Pineapple upside down cake

minime2019Leave a comment

I decided to do something different on my blog today. I seen this recipe for Pineapple upside down cake from BBC’s Good Food

I hope you enjoy it

What you need for the topping

  • 50g softened butter
  • 50g light soft brown sugar
  • 7 pineapple rings in syrup, drained and syrup reserved
  • 7 glacé cherries

    For the cake

  • 100g softened butter
  • 100g golden caster sugar
  • 100g self-raising flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • Baking powder
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 eggs

    Method:

  • Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4.
  • For the topping, beat 50g softened butter and 50g light soft brown sugar together until creamy.
  • Spread over the base and a quarter of the way up the sides of a 20cm round cake tin.
  • Arrange 7 pineapple rings on top (reserving the syrup for later), then place 7 glacé cherries in the centres of the rings.
  • Place 100g softened butter, 100g golden caster sugar, 100g self-raising flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp vanilla extract and 2 eggs in a bowl along with 2 tbsp of the reserved pineapple syrup.
  • Using an electric whisk, beat to a soft consistency.
  • Spoon into the tin on top of the pineapple and smooth it out so it’s level. Bake for 35 mins.
  • Leave to stand for 5 mins, then turn out onto a plate. Serve warm with a scoop of ice cream.