Taster Treats

We had taster night at class this week and I couldn’t decide what to make so in the end went with a selection…Ferrero Rocher, Salted Caramel Brownie Bites with a curly wurly crumble and Coconut Choc Chip Cookies.  

Low syn taster treats!

Everything was low syn, under two each item.  Who said you couldn’t lose weight and still enjoy cakes and cookies! 

Give them a try over the Holiday season!

Enjoy

Kathy xx

Keema Cottage Pie with Bombay Mash

This syn free version of cottage pie is spicy enough for these cold nights but won’t blow your head off.  The Bombay potato topping give you your curry and side all in one dish, all you need to do is add extra veg!

Easy to make, not a lot of washing up I think this is the perfect mid-week comfort meal and even better it’s totally syn free.  You can swap the mash for plain if you’d prefer but I find spiced potato really adds an extra layer of flavor and sprinkled with mustard seeds just gives that little more depth.

Syn free keema cottage pie with Bombay mash

If you’d like to ty it, the recipe is here

Enjoy!
Kathy xx

Baked Oat Cookies

Everyone likes a cookie, let’s be honest but with a paltry one hob nob coming in at 3.5 syns I thought it was about time I came up with a better option than that!  My baked oat cookies are syn free as part of your HEB depending what you add to them, the chocolate chip and Christmas are my favourite at the moment but I’ll keep taking one for the team and trying new varieties and let you know how they go!

Baked Oat Cookies

If you want to give them a try the recipe is here, I want to say they’ll last 2-3 days but I’ve not managed to get them to last that long yet!

Enjoy!

Kathy xx

Courgette & Cheese Tots

Let’s be honest, everyone loves a good cheesy potato tot and I wanted to make a SW friendly version.  After a few attempts I settled on these cheesy courgette tots, adding some speed to my day whilst keeping the cheesy goodness!  Probably not the way SW intend for me to up my speed but it works for me.

They’re only ¾ syn each maximum (depending on what healthy extras you’ve got for the day) and if you use as your HEA and B they’re totally syn free!!!  Which, to me, is absolutely awesome as I sometimes miss that cheese on toast/melted cheese treat…not anymore!  

Low Syn Cheesy Courgette Tots

Give them a try, make sure to take all your angst out on the courgettes and wring them out really well, but do try them...even kids and picky adults give these the thumbs up.  The recipe is here

Enjoy!
Kathy xx

Syn Free Pork & Fennel Italian Meatballs

I’ve had pork mince in the freezer a while waiting for inspiration, when I finally decided to create Italian inspired pork and fennel meatball.

Syn free pork and fennel Italian meatballs

 Sometimes pork mince worries me as it can be bland and tasteless but not with these meatballs, the fennel gives them an almost Italian sausage flavor and there’s enough dried herbs in the recipe to make them really tasty.  

As they’re totally syn free I always think it’s a good idea to make a huge batch and freeze some for later, I made 35 and whilst I admit a few were tasters I’ve served this to friends, it’s my dinner tonight and there are still serval portions in the freezer for after work or when I just can’t be bothered to cook.

Pork & Fennel syn free meatballs on courgetti spagetti

You can serve with pasta, courgetti spaghetti or rice.  It all works…crumble some cheese on the top if you like and you’ve got comfort food at its best.  Also, they make great tapas or starter ideas for parities and tasters….our non slimming world friend never know the difference!!

For the recipe click here

Enjoy!
Kathy xx

Cous Cous Curry Muffins

These spicy cous cous muffins are only ½ a syn for the whole batch – which is 12 muffins!!!!  

They’re so incredibly easy and quick to make.  It’s literally four ingredients mixed together and baked and hey presto!  You have a really filling curry snack.

Almost syn free cous cous curry muffins

I served this as a side dish when my parents came over recently, Mum is a vegetarian and I have to say I never, ever struggle what to make for her and she absolutely loved them.  She’s cooking a Boxing Day curry and I know for sure these curry muffins will be on the menu.

Slimming world curry with cous cous muffins

It’s been a little tricky to get chickpea dahl at the moment but to be honest you could use plain chickpeas and add some curry sauce if you wanted, they’re pretty flexible…just don’t eb put off by the fact they look like a sloppy mess as they go into the oven!

The recipe is here, absolutely give them a try, you’ll be glad you did!

Enjoy

Kathy xx

Ryvita Ferrero Rocher

I think when you’re watching what you eat chocolate suddenly becomes more important, well, it does to me!  I like chocolate jellies but now the weather’s colder maybe I’m bored of them or maybe I just fancy something different so I tried making the ryvita Ferraro Rocher.  Now I know you can do them with scan bran and Weetabix but I went for the Ryvita ones as it seemed sensible that they would have the most authentic taste, and they do.  
 

These Slimming World friendly Ferrero Rocher come in at 1 syn each if you haven’t had your HEB or 1.5 if you had and they’re really, really good!  They taste very authentic and are definitely very chocolatey.  A real Ferrero Rocher is 3.5 syns so you can have four instead of one, that’s the way I look at it anyway!

1 syn Ryvita Ferrero Rocher

For a special occasion instead of rolling in chocolate options you could do that and sprinkle with gold dust.  It’s not a bad idea for the holiday season and our non-slimming world friends seem to find them just as good so they’re perfect to share.  If you want to give them a try the recipe is here

Enjoy!
Kathy xx

Syn Free Bombay Potatoes

These syn free Bombay potatoes take about 20 minutes from start to finish and are the perfect side dish for a curry feast or a filling lunch.  I think you could also make a very thin omlette and use it like a dosa, wrapping the potato mix up and having it like a wrap.

Syn free Bombay potatoes

Whatever you choose to do, this syn free version of Bombay potatoes is mildly-medium spiced and tastes super authentic.  Freezes quite well too if you have left overs (that’s quite the if!).

The recipe is here, I hope you like them!

Enjoy
Kathy xx

Onion and Carrot Bhajis

I love curry and there are so many you can make on slimming world that it’s always been a go to favourite for me, especially pulled chicken tikka or kofta (meatball) curry but I’ve never done starters before.  

My parents came over at the weekend and Mum’s always asking me what she can make that'll help me stay on track so we decided to set about and try the onion and carrot bhajis.  I was slightly scared when I saw the list of ingredients but don’t let it put you off, yes these do need a lot of spices but they taste exactly like you get from the Indian, just a LOT less oily.  

The bhajis are 1 syn each as they have chickpea flour in but they're really worth it as you only have a few and the curry is usually syn free.  The perfect way to have a really tasty low syn dinner plus they heat up perfectly the next day for a lunchtime snack!

Onion and carrot bhajis

Happily I can report that the taste test with my parents and friends who had leftover was a success all round and this will absolutely be on our Boxing Day curry menu!

Give them a try, the recipe is here and I hope you enjoy as much as we did

Kathy xx

Lemon Cous Cous Cake

I’m into cous cous at the moment, probably in part because I’m heading to Morocco soon and trying different recipe ideas to see what I like.  On my travels I’d seen a lemon cous cous cake and to be honest I thought it’d be horrible but I had a couple of spare lemons and a load of cous cous and decided nothing ventured nothing gained and gave it a go.

The whole cake is ¼ syn for the baking powder and I’m not counting that, so it’s free and as it’s cous cous you don’t have to use your HEB!

Syn free lemon cous cous cake

To be perfectly honest I was pleasantly surprised, it was a thicker texture than a lot of the slimming world friendly cakes and really lemon-y and tart.  I liked it a lot.  Tried it both hot and cold (couldn’t help it!) and to be fair it works really well either way plus it kept for three days in the fridge no problem.  I can’t comment if it would keep any longer because it all got eaten but it was definitely really tasty and something to do again.  Maybe I’ll try a salted caramel or lemon and blueberries next but until I do the recipe for a plain lemon cous cous cake is here

I served it sliced on it’s own but it would go really well with syn free lemon curd or some quark mixed with a white chocolate options and couple of spoons of sweetener.  

Enjoy!
Kathy

Piri Piri Chicken with Roasted Veg and Cous Cous

I admit that on first reading this sounds like a lot of flavours, or maybe like I had a load of leftovers and just dumped them on a plate but really not, it was inspired by a lunch I had at the pub the other day.  I ordered something similar thinking I was being ‘good’ but when it arrived I think it had more oil and butter than the burger and lasagna I’d considered combined! 

Piri piri chicken with roasted veg, cous cous and feta

Anyway, it was delicious (and probably worth the half gain!) so I’ve created a slimming world friendly version and have to say, for my taste, this is much nicer.  The meat has more flavor with the piri piri spices and everything comes together lighter and cleaner if that make sense?  I’ve made it without the feta, it’s better with but still good and I’ve tried it with prawns instead of chicken, that’s absolutely delicious as well.

Give it a try, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how flavorsome and filling this meal is and at only 3 syns for the feta it’s a great main course for hardly any syns.

This is a 1 syn portion of the piri piri chicken

Quick tip, roasted veggies and chicken can all be cooked in advance and frozen, if you do that just defrost in the fridge during the day, makes this meal a five minute throw together – even better!

The recipe is here if you’d like to try it for yourself

Enjoy!
Kathy xx

1 syn popcorn scan bran muffins

I’ve been missing ‘proper cake’ recently, I wanted something to go with my coffee that didn’t break the syn bank and ideally used up some of the scan bran in the cupboard!  I’ve made chocolate orange scan bran muffins recently but when I went to get the scan bran I found some popcorn in the cupboard that needed using too and decided just to combine everything in a more chocolate-y, denser cake.  Now I thought it would be like rocky road but that wasn’t the case, the popcorn sort of dissolves when cooked…it doesn’t leave air pockets behind, instead it seems to thicken the scan bran mixture leaving a firmer cake. 

Popcorn scan bran muffins - 1 syn each

Tried it out of my friend at the weekend and she said it’s great, maybe slightly biased but even so at 1 syn each and 1.5 if you already had your HEB they’ve got to be worth a try right?  The recipe is here 

Enjoy!

Kathy xx 

Chocolate Brownie Bites

Sometimes only chocolate can help and these brownie bites are perfect.   Let me be honest, there’s only 4 ingredients that you throw together and bake for 6 minutes – suddenly you have warm chocolate brownie bites that are less than 2 syns each.  It doesn’t get much better than that really!

I always make these when unexpected guests pop by, they’re like traditiuonal cookies and I can still have a few without totally losing the plot…she says confidently

Chocolate Brownie Bites - less than 2 syns each

Give them a try the recipe is here but I warn you, they’re addictive!

Enjoy

Kathy

18 Months Later

I’ve been looking through old photos and came across a ‘before’ I didn’t even know I had…it literally stopped me in my tracks to see it and realise that this was me, and me not that long ago.  I lost almost 100 pounds in less than a year and have kept it off for 6 months now, so this is 2015 and now....

Almost 100 pounds gone for good

I think on the losing weight journey we can forget where we started, I know for one that I’ve been a bit stuck as I’m at target and it feels like there’s no motivation, well there is – its right here in this photo.  I do not EVER want to look like that again and as important as that I don’t want to feel like that again.  I don’t want to look round and wonder if I can fit in a seat, if I’m taking up too much room and I like being able to cross my legs.  It’s so many small things that held me back, and now they don’t…but every day I  have to make the right choices and I know I always will, that’s the trade off.  A healthier lifestyle or not, but photos like this keep me on track and focused.

Whatever your journey, and wherever you are in it maybe it’s your time to take a breath and see how well you’ve done, we all support otehrs and it’s good to take a moment out and be kind to ourselves.

Kathy xx

Almost syn free chocolate drops

These chocolate buttons couldn’t be any easier…just four ingredients mixedup and frozen. Hardly a recipe at all really but they’re just like little frozen chocolate buttons and perfect for when you’ve got the need for a sweet treat.  I keep a few in the freezer all the time and just help myself as the day goes by.  At only 2 syns for 30 they’re definitely worth having!

Almost syn free chocolate drops

The recipe, if you can call it a recipe, is here – give them a try and I hope you enjoy!

Kathy xx

Syn free pasta crustless quiche

OK, I readily admit this sounds weird.  It’s not an omelette nor is it pasta…it’s some hybrid syn free mix!  No, that isn’t really selling it but it’s good, it’s very easy, quick and it’s different as well as being super filling.  You can use whatever packet pasta mixes you have to hand as well as whatever meat and veg is spare so really it’s a huge win when you don’t have the time or ingredients to do much.

Chicken & mushroom syn free pasta crustless quiche

I think I might try a tomato/Bolognese type one next and see how that goes...maybe make them into muffins for lunch.  There’s a couple of ideas to have a go at still, I’ll let you know but in the meantime the recipe for my chicken and mushroom pasta crustless quiche (rolls off the tongue) is here

Enjoy!
Kathy xx

Fruity Chocolate Scan Bran Muffins

Anyone that’s looked through the cakes and treats I’ve made knows at Easter I did a chocolate orange scan bran cake with golden chocolate eggs.  It was very, very successful and the other day occurred to me to give it a twist.  I made chocolate orange scan bran muffins closely followed by a chocolate strawberry version.   

Chocolate orange scan bran muffins

Chocolate strawberry scan bran muffins

I've written the recipe for the strawberry version but to make the orange ones just swap the strawberry essence for orange and decorate with orange segments rather than strawberries – it’s as simple as that!

These buns are 2 syns each and take 5 minutes in the microwave, they’re perfect to impress unexpected guests or take to taster night when you forget!  Plus for me they’re pretty much the only way I could eat scan bran, that stuff is like nibbling on a shoe!

The recipe is here, give them a try for nothing else it’ll use up that scan bran hiding at the back of the cupboard!

Enjoy

Kathy xx

Cherry Chocolate Fakewells

I admit it, these have only been made to use up quark!  I had some left over from making the apple and spice flapjacks and decided that I’d try making quark icing.  I had glace cherries staring up at me and decided to make a chocolate cherry fakewell baked oat muffin with white chocolate icing (as you do). 

Low syn cherry chocolate fakewell tarts

Basically it’s the ususal baked oat muffins but with icing and a cherry on the top.  Not rocket science I admit but it’s taken the humble breakfast muffing to a new level, without going made on the syns.

With the oats as your heb these are only 1.5 syns each (if you’ve had your heb they’re 2.5 – 0.5 of which is the cherry!).  

For me, they are really great little cakes and perfect to serve up to friends, especially with the gooey chocolate middles.  A not so indulgent treat!

Give them a try, the recipe is here

 Enjoy!

Kathy xx

Low Syn Apple & Cinnamon Flapjack

I bought some fat free quark the other day and had absolutely no idea what to do with it.  In the end I decided to try put it to good use and combine using it up with trying to make flapjacks, not an easy feat if you’re following slimming world!

Low syn apple & cinnamon flapjacks

To be fair, there isn’t really going to be a comparison to flapjacks with their syrup and butter but as far as a low syn version goes this is actually really good.  The whole cake is only 3.5 syns (if you didn’t have your HEB) and 9.5 if you did.  Depending on the size slices you cut it’s going to be 1-2 syns a piece – pretty good on reflection.

You don’t have to use apple, you can just have sultana, you could use raspberries – whatever you like.  I had apples in the house and they needed eating so they were thrown in on a bit of a whim.  Personally I don’t syn cooked fruit and never have, it has not slowed down my weight loss nor has it made me struggle to stay at target but to be fair I don’t eat a lot of cooked fruit, just what you see here and in Weetabix muffins.  If you do syn your cooked fruit (like you’re supposed to) please add that to the total.

Recipe is here, hope you enjoy!

Kathy xx

Low Syn Banana Bread

I think everyone likes banana bread, with a cup of coffee it’s the perfect way to take a few minutes out on a day.  Rather than miss out on my moment of peace and quiet I’ve created this low syn version which comes in at about 2 syns a slice depending what you add to it.  Unsurprisingly for me, I went all out adding chocolate chips, walnuts and sultanas but I didn’t add 25g of each…couldn’t decide which I wanted so I went with them all!!

Low syn banana, walnut, choc chip, sultana bread!

A word of caution – this is not the same consistency as a ‘normal’ banana bread but anyone that’s been on SW a while will expect that.  It doesn’t have any butter and there’s less flour and a higher egg ratio so it’s lighter, more airy if that makes sense.  But it is very, very good, just different. 

Comes in about 2 syns a slice for this banana bread

Because it’s so light the ‘extras’ tend to sink but again, that’s ok as the taste is absolutely spot on.

If I didn’t put you off (!!!!) the recipe is here – really, do try it … I shared it at class and was very pleasantly surprised how much everyone liked it.  Hope you like it too

Enjoy

Kathy xx

Low Syn Pizza Bites

I think it’s fair to say my favourite food is pizza, after all it is all the food groups!  I’m always looking for ways to have pizza and not use a years’ worth of syns in one mouthful.

This idea was a surprise and not something I made up in fact I came home the other day to find them in progress in the kitchen and couldn’t believe how simple the concept is and how you truly can have whatever you want and still have live a healthy lifestyle.  It’s really easy to do, quick and can be adjusted to suit whatever your personal tastes are and what you have to hand.  I also think it’s a great idea for homes with kids as you can share these and no one feels like they’re missing out…smiles all round!

Low syn pizza bites

The bites come in a about 1-2 syns a serving depending what you put in them and whether or not you’ve had your healthy extras for the day so they are a treat but that's what syns are for and I for one will happily use my syns on pizza!

The recipe is here, feel free to use what you like.  It can be a completely vegetarian snack or you could use tuna, prawns, sweetcorn and olives for a Mediterranean option!

Enjoy!

Kathy xx

Spicy Roasted Chickpeas

I don’t know about you but sometimes I miss crunchy food and I really miss peanuts.  Never really ate them a lot but I think when you want to have something you want to have it if that makes sense and at the weekend I wanted peanuts.  At around 8 syns for 25g that’s just not happening so I decided to make my own version….roasted chick peas!  OK, it doesn’t sound great but give them a chance.  It’s very simple and they really did taste like roasted nuts!  I chose to do piri piri flavour and have to be honest and that they were excellent.  Really spicy and crunchy and I served them still warm which was good too.  

Syn free Spicy Roasted Chick Peas

Going to try a few different flavours depending what spices I have in the cupboard and look for some inspiration in the peanut aisle but absolutely give these snacks a try, they’re totally perfect for when you’re watching TV.  The recipe is here.

Enjoy

Kathy xx

Cherry Clafoutis - 1 syn a slice!

Out shopping the other day I saw some really lovely cherries and got them to nibble on but just never got round to eating them so in the end decided to try making something different and created a slimming world friendly cherry clafoutis.  

Basically, it’s a bit like an apple Betty but without apples and with different flavours (so not really at all!) or an egg custard, sort of eggy - so if you don’t like eggy you won’t like this but if egg custards and sweet omlettes are on your 'yes' list then you'll absolutely love it

Almost syn free cherry clafoutis

It’s really simple and only a few ingredients, recipe is here.  With regards syns, the only syns are the cooked cherries which makes this 1 syn per slice but I never counted the syn value of cooked fruit, which I know is wrong but not everyone does so if you do this whole dessert is 6 syns and if you don’t then it’s free!!!

1 syn per slice and absolutely delicious

Give it a try, I think apple and cinnamon would be good, maybe with a few sultanas as would blueberries and almonds.  Just a couple of ideas for next time

Enjoy

Kathy xx

Crustless Quiche

At the weekend I went through my old Slimming World magazines, cutting out and keeping the recipes I liked or wanted to have a play about with and getting rid of anything else.  I’d been given a great present - a big polka dotty folder and loads of plastic pockets so off I went, paper and old magazines everywhere. 

Anyway, I came across a recipe for crustless quiche which I’ve always thought sounded disgusting.  I mean I’m from Yorkshire and to me the whole point of quiche is the pastry - it's the best bit…so I’ve never done it.  Anyway in the magazine it looked ok, but I wanted to try make it more to my style and taste.  At dinner that night I made loads of extra roasted peppers and onions so I wouldn’t  have to do them again and just threw that, lots more bacon than the original recipe allowed for and Italian herbs into the eggs, milk and (loads of) cheese and hey presto it worked!

Syn free (HEA) crustless quiche

Now, depending how many portions you make it is actually syn free.  There are three HEA portions of cheese and ½ in milk.  The whole quiche is 6-8 slices which means using your HEA it is totally syn free, if you don’t it’s going to be 3-4 syns a (huge) slice but you have to have your syns somewhere and trust me, this is a very decadent place to have them.

Bacon and roast veg quiche

You can change it up, adding whatever combination of flavours you like but to me this was a great start.  If you want to try, the recipe is here

¾ Syn Jaffa Cakes

Anyone that knows me knows I love a good cookie, ok I love a bad cookie sometimes too and every so often anyone on a diet really misses something specific….Roll round to me missing Jaffa Cakes, no idea why, it’s not like I used to eat them every day or anything but I really missed them so into the kitchen I went to see what I can do.

It doesn’t always go right, I started out with 16, tried a few different things and ended up with four that were spot on…but that was just fine as I had to eat them to check and yup, all four were exactly as I’d hoped (and the other four that fell into my mouth were ok but not as good!).

Low syn jaffa cakes - 3 = 1 normal cake!

Now making these is slightly more fiddly than my usual ‘chuck most stuff together and bake it’ method but for a change, and for a really good faux Jaffa Cake these will totally be worth the extra effort PLUS at only ¾ a syn each I can have three instead of one ‘normal’ Jaffa cake so I’m totally sold!  If you want to give them a try the recipe is here

Enjoy!

Kathy xx

Teriyaki Chicken with Egg Fried Rice and Veggies

I love this meal, it seems really decadent with the sticky sauce and sesame seeds plus the egg fried rice makes me feel like I’m having a treat when actually this is absolutely all on plan.

At 2 syns a portion for the teriyaki sauce and sesame seeds everything else is syn free and it’s so incredibly quick to make, in fact when I did this it took me longer tow ash and chop the veg than cook the meal!

Teriyaki chicken with egg fried rice and stir fry veg

I love the slightly more professional look of a timbale of rice with spring onions on top and had I thought about it I would’ve added a little red chilli for the colour too but regardless it was a great tasting and looking meal which I think is really important when you’re on a diet. 

If you’d like to give it a try the recipe is here

Enjoy!

Kathy xx

Syn free cheese and bacon scones

I love cheese and I love cheese scones.  Recently I had a cheese scone bigger than my head as part of an afternoon tea which, whilst very yummy, did contribute to a not tiny gain!  So it was time to get my tweaky hat on and make some from Smash. 

That middle plate could hardly hold the cheese scone - I ate it to help out!!

Let me get this out of the way - yes, I know they are a tweak but I’m not going to get hung up on that, I did not eat all nine at once, and whilst I did used the smash in a different way to the intention I still managed portion control so nope, I’m not counting it.  Smash is syn free…smash scones are syn free.The cheese is part of my hea and is Pilgrim low fat mature cheddar as I think it's really tasty for a low fat cheese option (a lot of low fat cheeses taste like licking a plastic chair and personally I 'd rather not, so I go with the Pilgrim one).

As some of you know, I’ve made syn free cheese scones before but I didn’t have a hand blender.  They tasted very good but the cottage cheese gave them a slightly lumpy consistency – which is ok, don’t get me wrong but this time I blended it all into a smooth paste/dough and shaped them in cookie cutters and the end result was a much smoother, more evenly blended scone without the cottage cheese bombs.    I preferred them although it could just as easily have been the introduction of bacon I liked!

Syn free cheese and bacon scones

Anyway, I made and shared them and apparently they’re delicious!  I didn’t try them cold, not sure how they would be but warm from the oven is great…really worth a try and they’re perfect to take if you’re visiting friends too…my non slimming friends love them! 

Much smoother with the blender although the bacon is a winner!!

Next I think I’m going to add some caramelized onions, see how that works but for now if you want to make them the recipe is here

Enjoy

Kat xx

Syn free cheese stuffed bacon burgers

I don’t think there’s much more I want to hear in a sentence than ‘cheese stuffed burgers’ and ‘syn free’ so when I saw a battered, deep friend version of this burger I decided to use the concept to create a slimming world friendly burger that didn’t compromise on taste but wasn’t a million syns a portion.

Instead of making inside an onion ring, battering and deep frying (as delicious as that sounds) I’ve opted to create hearty burgers stuffed with cheesy yumminess and whatever else you fancy.  I kept the onion ring but I could just as easily have put that in the meat mix, maybe adding roasted peppers, jalapenos, olives, a squirt of ketchup – anything really inside the burger.  

Syn free cheese stuffed bacon burgers

As long as you’re careful to seal them tightly the filings will warm through, the cheese will melt inside and be gooey and perfect when you cut into the burger.  Give them a go, they’re super simple to do and incredibly filling.  My recipe for syn free cheese stuffed bacon burgers is here

Enjoy!

Kathy xx

Pulled Pork – the Quick Version!

I usually make pulled pork from scratch using a dry rub and slow cooking in stock on a bed of onions and garlic for hours to do its thing, the result is a syn free, absolutely delicious shoulder of pork but I acknowledge that it takes about 7 hours to do and not everyone has time (or the dry rub ingredients) to faff about with that so I was interested to try a pork loin potential alternative recommended in class.  

As you know, I very rarely use prepackaged food but off to Aldi I went to buy this pork loin (and the wine that fell into my basket!).  It was only £2.99 and is an almost ignore-able 2.5 syns for it all, got to be worth a try right?  

Anyway, I decide in my infinite wisdom that I would not read the instructions and would in fact do my own thing and cook in the slow cooker after work and while I’m at class that way I could deal with it when I get home, which sounded like an excellent plan until I learned at class that you’re only supposed to bake it for about 45 minutes.  Oooopsie... too late by now, it was sat in two cups of chicken stock having been somewhat unceremoniously plopped into the slow cooker, I did add the extra BBQ sauce from the vacuum sealed bag but I did nothing else to it, just switched the cooker on low and left it.  

When I got back from class I turned it over (that’d be about 3 hours later) and left for another hour just hoping for the best…..  The result?  Pulled pork and I have to say it’d really quite good.  No, it’s not as flavorsome as when you leave overnight in a dry rub and slow cook for hours but as a quick and cheap, down and dirty way to get a lot of pulled pork for your syns I’d highly recommend giving it a go.  

Quick, low syn pulled pork - 2.5 syns for all this!

If you want to do the syn free, super tasty one the recipe is here.  Alternatively, a couple of squirts of BBQ sauce and you have a huge portion for under 4 syns, another really good way to do it.

Enjoy

Kathy xx

Breakfast in a (big) jar

I love breakfast, yes I agree that they’re commonly accepted as the most important meal of the day but I’m always hungry first thing and want something filling to get me through the morning at work.  
 

I’ve been having Weetabix muffins for months but recently seem to have Weetabix muffin fatigue and swapped to baked oats.  Even better I get six per portion but after a gain this week I fear my baked oats are stretching the jam/Nutella syns too much (either that or those two bottles of wine hit me!) and I’ve dialed them back slightly.  

So this week I started having overnight oats which were really good and super filling, almost like flapjacks but I’ve been missing ‘crunchy’ food if that makes sense?  I’m not a crunching on a carrot stick kind of a girl so I tried something new – a crunchy bran layer which is like overnight oats but without the oats, and well without the overnight as well if we’re honest.  So I guess I made something up and put it in my overnight oats jar…anyway….I layered lemon tart yogurts (weight watchers – no syns) with Weetabix crunchy bran and blueberries.  You can have 40g of the bran as your heb which is more than other cereals.  It was good, a bit weird as it’s basically having cereal without milk, using yogurt instead but really filling.  If I’m honest it wasn’t my favourite breakfast ever but next time I’m going to squish the Weetabix into crumbs and add some ground ginger/mixed spice and use that in the layers as I think it’ll make a cheesecake style treat.

Crunchy Weetabix bran with lemon and blueberry layers

It looks good, is filling and gave a great crunch so in that way it’s a yes.  It was a faff to assemble at my desk and a bit dry so that wasn’t so much of a yes but I’ll have it again and see how I feel…if you have a better idea for layers let me know and I’ll give it a try.

Enjoy
Kathy xx

Syn Free Fish Pie

I love fish pie but it can be such an enormous faff and super expensive to make so I created a new, simple version that can be from zero to on the table in about an hour.  

Basically I get the fish pie ‘mix’ at the supermarket which is pretty much available anywhere, it’s a combination of white fish, salmon and some smoked fish plus there’s the added bonus that it’s already cut into handy little chunks for me (another job saved).  I don’t pre-cook the fish, instead it steams in the pie which infuses flavor and saves the fish from over cooking and drying out.

To be perfectly truthful I’ve been making fish pie this way for years, long before I started on Slimming World and have served it to friends who absolutely loved it.  The smoked bacon is a lovely addition and gives a bit of extra texture.

For anyone on Slimming World the only syns are in the milk and cheese for the mash (hea) and a splash of white wine.  As most of my wine is going in the glass it really is just a big splash so I’m not counting it, even more appropriate when you think this pie serves four hungry people so it’s not even ½ a syn each.

Syn free fish pie

Try it, for anyone that’s poached, flaked, chopped, mashed, sautéed and stressed over a fish pie this will absolutely be your go to recipe!  It’s here to give it a try.

Enjoy!
Kathy xx

100 pounds gone for good!

I’ve been at my personal target weight for about four or five months now and when I go to class and we have lots of new people they don’t know what the ‘before’ me looked like, so when we go round and our consultant says my weight loss people sort of do a double take…it still makes me smile – yes, of course I can see the loss but to me I’m just me, so every so often I try to do a before and after comparison to see how I’m doing, remind me how far I’ve come and encourage me to stay on track.

This is my latest go.  I admit I look a bit knackered but I’ve been getting up at 5am to get some stepper time in as I’m focused on toning which, on the wrong side of 40, is not as easy as I thought it would be!  

100 pounds gone for good in a year

Regardless of how tired I was, I still think there’s a massive difference.  I’m a few pounds off 100 pounds down with Slimming World but I’d lost a bit before I started so I’m comfortable saying this side by side is easily 100 pounds difference.

It’s still incredible, I wake up (early!) and some days look to check I didn’t put it all back on overnight, but no I didn’t and I won’t ever put it back on.  I’ve got an incredible group of friends to support me, they helped me relax into target, which was far more difficult than I’d thought it would be.  We go out, eat out and buy new clothes.  We had my first afternoon tea and I ate the lot...trust me it wasn’t a hardship but it’s great to be able to relax, just a little, and enjoy the journey.

Personally I find being at target more difficult than ‘dieting’ as there’s more leeway for extra syns/calories/treats which is always a temptation…I like my treats so it’s all a new lifestyle but when I look at photos like this I know that I can do it and I’ll support all my friends to do it if they’re ready as it’s so incredibly worthwhile.

Wherever you are on your weight loss journey I hope you make time to take a moment and just look how well you’ve done, take a photo to track your weight loss and treat yourself.  Whatever you do I hope it makes you as happy as afternoon tea in my little black dress made me!

Afternoon tea...well, it was!!!

Kathy xx

Almost syn free Cottage Pie

I love batch cooking and often make a huge pot of mince in the slow cooker…it’s the base for loads of things - my shepherd’s pie, cottage pie, and lasagna plus I add beans and spices to make a chilli but everything uses the same ‘mix’.  It’s simple and easy to do and freezes really well.  

My cottage pie is 1 syn for the whole thing which I think pretty much classes as syn free as it makes about 8 portions and a real favorite of my dieting and non-dieting friends alike.  There’s a depth to the gravy mixture and the cheesy mash is a treat plus I admit I always have a really big portion because, well just because I can really!

Almost syn free Cottage Pie

Just so you know, I don’t freeze this pie as I don’t like the mash when it defrosts, I think it’s watery but I do freeze the mince mixture absolutely no problems.

Give it a try, it’s super tasty and the perfect thing when the weather is miserable out which right now is pretty much all the time! The recipe is here.

Enjoy!
Kathy xx

Mayflower Curry

I’ve always sworn against ‘pre made’ curries, spending hours making my own sauce using a huge box of spices I’ve accumulated over many months but sometimes I just don’t have the time.  I love a curry so I gave in to peer pressure, got myself to B&M and bought the Mayflower curry.  

Apparently it’s like a curry from the Chinese and at 4 syns a portion I was definitely interested in trying it.  I’d no idea what to expect and was quite surprised to find a plastic box filled with spices, not sure why but I was expecting a sauce.  It isn’t, it’s a pre done spice blend that you mix with cold water, bring to the boil and simmer for two minutes before declaring it done.

Now after reading these instructions I was even more skeptical and could see a dinner that tasted of smelly socks on my horizon but I dutifully boiled my onion, added a chilli, garlic and peas and popped in the raw chicken and simmered it all til cooked (takes about 10 minutes).  I drained the chicken/veg mix, added my now simmering curry sauce and sort of left it a few minutes while I faffed with the rice before serving.

The verdict?  Absolutely delicious...you could’ve knocked me over with a feather.  It’s tasty and spicy without being too overwhelming (I tried the medium but I’d added a red chilli).  The sauce is thick and tastes exactly like a curry from the Chinese, or the chip shop.  

Mayflower Curry - only 4 syns a portion

I’ve not put the recipe on here as it basically makes itself and I can’t claim credit for boiling stuff and adding powder but absolutely, 100% try this curry.  I’ve saved some of the extra sauce and frozen it with prawns in for something different.

A great idea for a quick, tasty dinner that’s low in syns and high in taste and I will be having it again, probably tonight!

Enjoy

Kathy xx

Strawberry Cupcakes

One of the ladies in class asked me if I had any ideas what to do with strawberry essence, I’ve been meaning to try the little strawberry cupcakes and as I had a friend was coming over for coffee I didn’t need any more excuses and I decided to try the strawberry cupcakes as a treat (they’re 2 ½ syns each which is more than my usual treats).

Strawberry Cupcakes

Well, what to say - they’re ok.  I think my biggest issue was the fact I got all excited and ate a couple warm and they really do better to be cooled (like the recipe says!)…for my taste they were a little bland and dense, more like a ‘normal’ cake so probably better for our non-dieting friends.  I decided to give them a flavor boost and made pink almond icing which I think saved the bun but I’m biased and I like almonds.  Maybe I’ve been spoilt as I’m finding it difficult to pick fault in the baked oat muffins (especially the Nutella ones!).

To be fair, once these little buns had a big dollop of almond icing, a strawberry and had been dusted with icing sugar they were a lovely treat with a cup of tea and yes, I’ll make them again although I may make them into lemon instead and add some zest for a little extra zing.  Give them a try and let me know what you think, the strawberry cupcake recipe is here

Enjoy!

Kathy xx