Foodies!

Here's a couple of low-fat but very, very, tasty recipes that I've made this afternoon.

The first is Sweet & Sour Chicken and the recipe comes courtesy of the Hairy Dieters (Bikers) which you will find here

It's surprisingly quick and easy to make - and from all accounts tastes as good as a take-away:

Serve with a small portion of boiled rice.

Edit: This one went down so well with the husband (and that's a tall order!) that I'm going to make a quorn version of it for myself later in the week.  

The next one is a Baked Ratatouille and is a Weight Watcher's recipe, although I've tweaked it a little bit to my own taste.  Here's a photo before I cooked it:

Ingredients

1 red onion

1 clove of garlic

4 oz aubergine

1 courgette

1 small tin of chopped tomatoes

1 tsp mixed herbs

1 tsp capers

3 tbs breadcrumbs

1 tbs sunflower seeds

I didn't have sunflower seeds so I used pumpkin seeds and pine kernals instead - they both have a lot less calories than sunflower seeds so that's a win/win.  I also doubled up on all the ingredients as I had a huge aubergine to use up - so the ingredients above are for one very generous portion, whilst the photo shows at least two.

How To

1. Pre-head the oven to 180c

2. Slice onions, crush garlic, chop aubergine and courgettes into 1" cubes.

3. Combine these with the tinned tomatoes, capers and herbs in an oven-proof dish

4. Mix breadcrumbs and seeds and sprinkle a layer on top of the vegetable casserole.

5. Bake for 40 minutes. Cover with foil once the top begins to brown to save burning.

Serve with pasta or baked potato or eat by itself for a light meal.

Herbs & Spices 

Megarelly slow start to the day ... felt completely drained of energy and lacking in any get up and go. I've probably been too much of a busy bee over the past week or so. 

So took it easy until I started to feel better ... which was about 4pm!!! 

Still - burst into action once I was up to it and whizzed around the house. Back to work tomorrow and the only thing left on my week's 'to do list' is my ironing but I'll do that while watching telly tonight.

Was sorting through some boxes and found a big box of herb seeds I'd been gifted for my birthday. I hadn't exactly forgotten about them, more was at a loss as to where to plant them as the only available bit of garden seems to have morphed into Pepper Cat's toilet and ... well ... ratatouille a la cat pee doesn't really appeal. !!! 

Simon had the bright idea of putting them in a container so it was just a case of finding one the right size, as you have to plant them box and everything. Found a nice curver box in the garage which was perfect - so finally got around to planting them. Hopefully better late than never.

I look forward to reaping a tasty crop of assorted herbs! 

 Box 'n' all

 

All nicely tucked in for bed.

 NOW GROW !!!

PS - I lied about the Spices.

My very industrious and creative weekend!!

Friday. I re-painted the bathroom ceiling - not very exciting to look at but we get terrible mould - so I cleaned it all down, and have used anti-mould paint.  Shoudn't see another spec for 5 years!

Saturday. I refurbished my garden bench - 3 years out in all weathers has left it a little worse for wear.   Took me the best part of the day but I'm so pleased with the results.

Before

 

During

 

After

Sunday.  Linda, one of the nurses in our office is 50 next week.  We've had a collection and as her and hubby John are in Cornwall for their hols next week, we thought we would treat them to a meal at Rick Stein's Seafood Restaurant.  So it has fallen to me to make a nice little wallet and card to give her.  

Pretty pleased with that little lot - and feel like I've put my week off to good use!  In fact I'm off to put me feet up now and read my book!