Pimp your pancakes!

So I've had a few requests to do a post on pancake toppings JUST the toppings, you gotta point your pancakes separately! Nice try though!... Remember own brands may vary so double check if you're not sure... Enjoy! x

Nutella, needs no introduction really does it... 

5g - 1SP

10g - 3SP

15g - 4SP

20g - 5SP

30g - 8SP

Classic lemon and sugar

Lemon - 0SP

Sugar (Canderel/Splenda/Truvia) - 0SP

Real sugar per teaspoon - 1SP 

Stewed fruit... 

Stewing fruit and just adding your sugar substitute (Canderel/Splenda/Truvia) will keep the SmartPoints at zero, plus you can control how sweet it gets. Most of the frozen berries you get in supermarkets are sweet enough without adding sugar at all but it's down to personal taste... I stew my fruit in a splash of Diet 7up (or 7up Free) it gives it that sweet taste that I like... That age old argument as to why you can stew fruit and it's zero, but blend it and its 4SP per portion, is because of how you digest it. The body doesn't have to work at digesting a smoothie..  the sugar goes straight into the blood stream... That's the science bit... I just believe and that's that... you don't question Santa, don't question this! 

0SP jam! This is the recipe my leader has and it's yum! So easy to make, add a dollop to your pancakes for 0SP!

Meridian Smooth Almond butter per 15g - 3SP

Meridian Organic Crunchy Peanut butter per 15g - 3SP

Nutters or nut butters as they call themselves...  

Kelkin Smooth Peanut butter per 15g - 3SP

SmartPoints from brand to brand, so don't assume they are all the same... 

The Aldi/Tesco/Supervalu versions may be different... These are lovely with a chopped up banana and a bit of squirty cream! 

Maple syrup per 1 teaspoon - 1SP

Honey per 1 teaspoon - 1SP

For the chocoholics, Choc Shot is fab to give you that fix! 

There's also a coconut version which is lovely for more 'tropical' desserts when you're feeling all fancy... 

Sweet Freedom Choc Shot

5g - 1SP

10g - 1SP

15g - 2SP

20g - 3SP

25g - 4SP

30g - 4SP

This has just been launched so keep your eyes peeled ... there's a review >>> HERE <<< http://www.theskinnydoll.com/2017/01/choc-pot.html

Different to Choc Shot in that this is a chocolate spread, so you can't drizzle it on top!

Well worth looking out for if you're a choccie nut! 

Sweet Freedom Choc Pot

5g - 1SP

10g - 1SP

15g - 2SP

20g - 3SP

30g - 4SP

Squirty cream... cause sometimes that's all that will do... 

Lidl's Milbona Light Real Cream per 13g - 1SP

Anchor Light Cream up to 15g - 1SP

Anchor cream (full fat) per 15g serv -  3SP

Anchor cream (full fat) per 13g serv - 2SP

Elmlea Whipped Squirty cream per 15g - 2SP

Glenisk High Protein Greek Style Yogurt - Coconut flavours

2PP per 100g
3PP for 150g

'Bounty bar' pancakes... 

Drizzle some Coconut Choc shot into your pancake mix (Hello, chocolate pancakes!) 

and then top it with some of this and a bit of grated chocolate... Thank me later!

Glenisk High Protein Greek Style Yogurt - Mango Passionfruit

2PP per 100g

2PP for 150g

There are some lovely mangos in Aldi at the moment... if you want a tropical twist to your pancake Tuesday without the hula skirt, slice mango and pineapple on top with a dollop of this from Glenisk, the passionfruit kick is fab... LUSH! 

Don't forget your cinnamon if you're a fan! AND if you're an ice-cream fan the 0SP banana ice cream is a winner... The best recipe for it online is >>>  HERE <<<... ridiculously simple and uses up all those bananas that are just hanging around in the kitchen! 

Video is here!  http://www.thekitchn.com/videos/mjR2dUEn

Above all... if you like pancakes, just get creative and enjoy them! x

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Natural born fillers...

What contemptible scoundrel has stolen the cork to my lunch?

W. Clement Stone

Lunches... is one of the meals that really get to people.. and if you don't eat breakfast its a big deal... cause you're STARVING by the time it comes around and you'll just grab anything thinking you've got loads of propoints ... then those who have had breakkie, don't want to use too many points but you need all the energy you can muster to get you through the afternoon without choccie! A meal thats too heavy in the middle of the day and there'll be naps at desks... and its the one meal most of us at one stage or another need to grab on the go ... be it in petrol station or a corner shop where the selection isn't great and all we need is energy to get us through the afternoon... and really we all want to save points for the evening when the munchies attack!

First up .. SOUP.. I've posted on here a million times.. HERE's one that's yum, with loads of ideas for added flavour and zero pp.. it fills you up.. its good for you... experiment with it.. freeze it in individual portions and you're onto a winner... its basic staple!

If you have access to a kitchen try the 

Zero PP omlette!

Spray oil your pan and fry off some onions or shallots and use a tbsp of canderel or similar to caramelize them… add cherry tomatoes and mushrooms, some courgettes, peppers whatever you fancy and flavor them with garlic, chilli, pepper etc worcestershire sauce will beef it up a little as will a teaspoon of bovril.. 

I know I know.. but don't knock it till you try it!  

Whisk up 3 - 4 egg whites and get them fluffy.. 

this will give you a bigger omlette both visually and in your tummy… 

you could nearly double the size of the omlette from whisking alone... 

Add a tiny bit of mustard if you want to trick yourself that its yellow! This works! 

Then pour the egg whites over your veg in the pan.. 

turn the heat down and let it cook slowly through… when its nearly done.. 

pop your pan under the grill and brown the top of it.. 

and for 0.5pp met 3 laughing cow extra light triangles over the top! 

You'll be stuffed I promise! AND... only one pan to wash up!

Tricking yourself into think you have more on your plate at lunch time is the key!

For the sandwich lovers amongst us..  a mug of soup before you tuck into a sarnie can make you feel fuller and help cut down the PPs... but try wraps, bagels, Pat the Baker has his new Slims out which are great and different... try an open sandwich... variety is what's going to keep you interested and not just having the same old boring egg sandwich then grabbing a bag of crisps and hitting the vending machine mid afternoon!

Make lunch exciting... I can hear your eyes rolling from here... but take the time to do a lunch box and put it in the freezer... it won't kill you!

Yoghurts, mini cheeses, crackers and don't hit me.. FRUIT! Filling up on a variety of things will mean you'll feel full without rushing in the door and putting on the toaster, before you ever get to making dinner... and takes only minutes to assemble in the evening.. and if your office has a microwave.. when you're cooking in the evening.. add a little extra and bring it in for lunch! My lunch box has started MANY a cooking debate with some added recipe swaps!

BREAD... all listed on the page on the right...  >>>>>>>

THE ZERO/HERO FILLERS...
lettuce, spring Onion, white/red onion, tomatoes, cress, peppers - 
tip - if you roast these when you're cooking the night before .. YUM! 
cucmber, radishes, capers, gherkins, beansprouts, beetroot, the list goes on...
... all the zero PP stuff can go in here! GO FOR IT!

FOR THE DRESSINGS...
Capers, Curry Powder, Garlic, Ginger, fresh or ground, All herbs and spices – fresh or dried, lemon, low fat cooking spray, mint sauce, mustard, soy sauce, tabasco sauce, teriyaki sauce, thai fish sauce, fat or oil free salad dressing, Balsamic vinegar.. experiment... 

THE PROTEINS...
Tuna in brine/water = 2 pp
1 med slice of roast chicken = 1 pp
2 slices of dennis Crumbled ham  = 1 pp
1 medium slice roast beef 35g = 3 PP
1 portion of King Prawns cooked (100g) = 3 pp
1 medium portion of smoked salmon 60g = 2 pp
1 med boiled egg = 2 pp
1 large boiled egg = 3 pp


THE READY MADES

M&S 

Free range egg & cress = 9 pp

Fuller longer italian style chicken & pesto flatbread = 8 pp

Salmon & Cucumber Eat Well sandwich = 8 pp

Low Cal Ham Sandwich = 7 pp

SUBWAY

Turkey wrap = 8 pp

Veggie Delite wrap = 6 pp

6-inch Roast Beef on white or wheat bread = 7 pp

STARBUCKS

BLT = 13 pp 

Free range egg mayo = 10 pp 

Mature cheddar with pickle = 13 pp 

Oak smoked salmon and soft cheese sandwich = 10 pp 

Roasted chicken with herb mayo = 9 pp 

Toasted club sandwich = 14 pp 

Tuna gluten fee = 12 pp 

Turkey feast sandwich = 12 pp

TESCO

Cheese & ham = 8 pp 
Tuna & Cucumber = 7 pp

COSTA
BLT = 11 pp
Free Range Egg = 10 pp
Chicken Salad = 8 pp
Tuna Salad = 7 pp
Cheddar Ploughmans Roll - 12 pp
Ham Hock & mustard Pickle Roll = 8 ppChicken & Bacon Club = 13 pp
Chicken & pesto Panini = 11 pp
Goats Cheese & Caramelised Onion Chutney Panini = 6 pp
Ham & Cheese Panini = 12 pp
Mozzarella, Tomato & Basil Panini = 10 pp
Ragu Meatball Panini = 13 pp
Ham & Cheese Toastie = 8 pp
Ham & Cheese Croissant = 9 pp
Tomato & Emmental Croissant = 9 pp
Chicken Fajita Wrap = 11 pp
Chilli Beef Wrap = 14 pp
Sausage bap/roll = 12 pp
All Day Breakfast Bap = 19 pp
Bacon roll = 10 pp
Tuna Melt panini = 12 pp

Doll x

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Flippin' hell!

OK forget Valentines day.. secretly aren't we all really looking forward to PANCAKE HEAVEN DAY!?!?!?!? mmmmmmmmmmm

I love pancakes, which often surprises me as I really don't have a sweet tooth.. chocolate doesn't really bother me but if I thought there was a bag of crisps somewhere on the premises I'd HUNT them down! It must be the carbs.. or that kinda breakfast feeling you get with pancakes or probably the fact that its only one day a year, like Christmas and we lose the run of ourselves! This might help when you got shopping!

First up the ready made's...

Tesco mini American style pancakes - 1PP each

(and they mean MINI!)

Tesco Raisin & Lemon pancakes - 3PP each

Sunblest pancakes - 3PP each

Slightly larger than the Tesco Raisin ones above...

Mothers Pride pancakes - 2PP each

again the smaller thicker type

Tesco Chocolate filled pancakes - 4PP each

You heard me! They're are individually wrapped if that's ANY consolation!

Tesco LARGE pancakes - 4PP each

the larger crepe style... 

Tesco American style pancakes - 3PP each

again the smaller thicker type

Galberts Mini-pancakes - 27PP for the bag!

These evil things are in the fridge section near the yoghurts.. WALK AWAY!

Galberts large pancakes - 29PP for the pack

100g - 5PP, its roughly 4PP per pancake (rounding up)

Galberts large pancakes - 33PP for the pack - 100g - 11PP

Aldi American Style Pancakes are 2PP

Pat the Baker pancakes are 3PP

THE 'mix it yourself' BATTERS

Tip on the ready mixes - you can lose the PP for the egg if you just use the egg white to bind it.. and 2 egg whites are better than !!  

Betty Crocker pancake mix - 15PP for the pack - 3PP per pancake

You just add water to this mix so no additional PP for milk or eggs!

I'm making these over the weekend I shall report! Good old betty!

Tesco Pancake Mix - 12PP for the pack - BUT....

They are made with milk so you have to add those ProPoints...

Odlums Pancake Flour - 10PP per 100g of dry mix, 

remember with these you have to add the points for your egg and milk

Odlums 'Quick Pancakes" American Style - 33PP for the pack

Again you have to add your ProPoints for the milk... 

RECIPES

I've pointed out three recipes that are pretty basic... 

First one is the Weight Watchers recipe and to be honest its simple and for 3PP you can't go wrong..  like bread its not the pancake but what you put on them.. 

Weight Watchers ProPoint Pancakes

4 large pancakes - 3PP

Whisk together 120g plain flour, 1 large egg, pinch of salt and 1/2 pint of slimline milk until smooth

Spray your pan with 1 cal spray oil

Pour in small amounts of your mixture to thinly cover the pan

As the batter cooks it will start to come away from the edge of the pan and will slide more easily

Toss the pancake or turn over and cook the other side!

Simples!

This one is for portion control.. have 3 large or 12 small.. same PP value!

Homemade pancake mix

140g plain flour - 13PP

3 eggs - 6PP

200 semi-skinned milk - 3PP

TOTAL - 22PP

Makes...

12 small pancakes at 2PP each

6 regular pancakes at 4PP each

3 large pancakes at 8PP each

This is from one of the Weight Watchers cookbooks and how I love my pancakes! 

Pancakes with Nutella and Banana 

ProPoints® Value: 6 Servings: 4

Ingredients

125 g Flour, Wheat, White, Plain, sifted, 

1 medium Egg, Whole 

300 ml Milk, Skimmed 

5 spray(s) Cooking Spray, Calorie Controlled, 

for the filling; 

8 teaspoons Nutella 

2 medium Banana, peeled and sliced thinly 

Instructions

To make the pancakes, place the flour in a bowl and make a well in the centre. Crack the egg into the well and stir, gradually drawing in the flour. When the mixture is thick, add the milk a little at a time until you have a smooth batter – sieve the mixture if there are any lumps.

Spray a small non-stick pan with low fat cooking spray and heat until hot. Add a tbsp of batter and swirl to the edges of the pan. Cook over a medium heat for 1-2 mins until set and beginning to brown on the underside (lift the edge of the pancake to check). Flip and cook for a further 1 minute until brown. Remove from the pan, keep warm and repeat to make 8 pancakes.

Spread half of each pancake with a tsp of nutella, scatter over a few slices of banana, fold in half and serve 2 per person.

FILLINGS & TOPPINGS

The usual suspects...

Chocolate Spread 15g - 2PP

Nutella 15g - 2PP

Sugar, 1 teaspoon - 1PP

Fresh Lemon Juice - 0PP

Honey, 1 heaped teasp - 1PP

Jam, 1 heaped teasp - 1PP

Butter, 2 teasp, 10g - 2PP

Low Fat spread, 2 tease, 10g - 1PP

Best of all.. FRUIT is free.. so even if you had a pile of berries and a scoop of ice-cream it would still be good!

The top ten fillings are here... and you really can be very creative!

Remember you can have savoury pancakes too... but just be careful with the portion sizes.. if you're going to have them instead of your main meal and lets face it ... most of us have them as an extra on the day... then add ham.. cheese... chicken.. crab ... goats cheese.. the list is endless as pancakes are there to be dressed up.. just remember to point them!!!!  aaannnndddddd... spinach.. grated carrot.. onion.. mushrooms.. all your veg and all your spices are FREE!

And whatever happens.. enjoy a pancake.. life's too short not to have a bit of fun flippin' in the kitchen and squirting a bit of lemon!

Happy Pancake Day..

Doll x

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