Zoodles... you heard me!

A quick recipe for ZERO PP noodles... 

ZOODLES... 

called so because they're made from zucchini and are noodles... 

Clue's in the name eh?!

For those who are wheat intolerant, celiac

or if you just ran out of propoints these are quick, filling 

and bulk up a strip fry or pasta dish without all the carbs! 

You will need... 

A courgette / zucchini ... of course...  

Salt... any kind will do... 

If you have one, a spiralising ?! (not a real word is it?!) type gadget... 

There are a few on the market... If you think you'll get a lot of use out of it, 

there's a fancy one >>> HERE <<< 

I went for the "I-won't-be-making-them-everyday-so-this-will-do' version on amazon... 

>>> HERE <<<

Or the good old veggie peeler is just as good! 

Wash, top and tail your courgette... 

Set your colander over a bowl... 

Set your gadget to thick.. the skinny side just kinda of dissolves the courgette.. 

and off you go!

into your colander... 

add your salt... and leave it for approximately 20 mins.. 

... the excess water will have drained off... 

If you're using a potato peeler... 

lay your courgette flat and make 'ribbons' going lengthwise... 

Stop when you get to the centre and see the seeds... this is where the most moisture is 

and it's the most bitter part of the zucchini... Chop it up and add it to your main dish... 

Et Voila... 

If you don't have time, you can skip the 'salting' step and 30 secs in the microwave and they're done... or you can just add them straight to your stir fry or pasta sauce but you won't need to add any liquid and the longer they cook the more likely they are to break down and get mushy on you.. You've been warned!

Great for ZERO ProPoints! 

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V8

Juicing... the word almost fills me with me with dread... I've tried lots of juice diets, cleanses, uurrgghhh, nearly ALL of the juice fads going... and to be honest I've never lasted the course... now I'm talking the kind of juices that you have to hold your nose whilst your downing it... I'm pretty sure everyone's given them a try... yes, I love smoothies... yes, including the skin and using the whole fruit makes them very low in ProPoints so I'm not against 'juice' per say... Now, before anyone shouts how delicious and yummy and good for you they are... I know... I know... I know exactly how good they are for you and honestly I'm not against the fruit or the veggies, for me it's when they're combined! I'm a probably a juice snob... and can I also note, I'm not going to down a shot of wheat grass ever again either... no way! PLUS cleaning a juicer is second only, to my other most hated chore, ironing!

I love fruit, I think it's one of the reasons I've been so successful on the ProPoints plan, I don't over dose on it but I love snacking on it, and using it to flavour other foods like porridge, making popsicles, and adding them to my baking, blueberry muffins anyone? 

Honestly, I admire people who can drink carrots and celery, not that I don't love carrots and celery in their natural form I love my veggies I just can't drink them! Until now... and I think that's because they're mixed with fruit! 50/50!

V8 have come to town with their V-Fusion juices and I'm giving them a go! There's two in to choose from... Raspberry & Beetroot or Passion Fruit, Mango & Carrot... The Raspberry & Beetroot one is just gorgeous... it's not gloopy nor does it smell like stewed veggies (see I'm a snob) ... the fruit really gives it enough sweetness, to drink it like a lady out of a proper glass! I'm a massive raspberry fan, I used to pick them as a teenager near my grandmothers house and most of the time I had hives from eating too many... This is sweet enough to drink and the hint of beetroot is just enough to give you the healthy buzz! 

1 PP per 100ml / 3PP per 250ml serving

Low fat and free of artificial sugars means you're still getting all the good stuff without the additives! PLUS you get two of your five a day in one 250ml serving! If you're looking for a more tropical taste... the Mango & Passion fruit one is DEFINITELY worth a try! I had this one the other night at a party as I was the designated driver and in a cocktail glass no one was any the wiser! Smells so good too... and so much better than bringing a litre of diet coke for the night... I know 3PP sounds like a lot but when you think of how good it is for your insides and if you struggle to eat fruit and veg, and many people do, it might be the way to start getting the goodness into you! Water it down if you're struggling, it'll be like a cordial! 

0PP per 250ml serving 

V8 Vegetable Original juice is big in America and that too is available here... it's been produced there since 1933 and the recipe hasn't changed from day one... 8 ingredients -  tomato, celery, carrot, beetroot, parsley, lettuce watercress and spinach... all the good guys.. 100% pure vegetable juice and 150ml glass counts as one of your five a day! Bonus!

The Original Vegetable juice, not really for me, like I said I'm a bit of a juice snob... BUT it's the perfect ingredient to make Bloody Marys! See the way my mind works! AND I'm going to add it to my Zero PP soup this week to see how that works! *crosses fingers and toes*

If you can't be doing with the peeling, chopping and all that palaver... and if you don't have juicer, or one that only needs to be cleaned for an hour afterwards or if like most of us you don't have the time to make your own... these are the business! 

These are available in Dunnes and Tesco... €2.69 for 1 litre of the Original and €2.99 for 750ml of the V8 V-fusion! 

check them out >>> HERE <<< www.v8juice.com 

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Veg out…. Week 12

Brussels sprouts are misunderstood - 

probably because most people don't know 

how to cook them properly.

Todd English 

This week… try a new veggie… just the one… something you've never tried before… something you maybe feel is a bit 'meh' and your mother always made you eat them… Sprouts… sprouts are my nemesis… teeny tiny wilty mushy cabbages… that I push around the plate at christmasI This week… its all about sprouts… I've googled… 

http://allrecipes.com/recipes/fruits-and-vegetables/vegetables/brussels-sprouts/ 

and there's tonnes of ways for me to try em… and I'm going to try… really try… so that this christmas the jokes about sprouts and my inner fears are a thing of the past! 

Everyones got their favorites… love a carrot I do… roast parsnips, I'm in… stir fried veggies, hell yes! But variety is the spice of life… and counting lettuce in your burger isn't a veggie… sorry! 

So… next time you're in the supermarket… or at the grocery shop… pick up something you've never tried before… or try something new with a veggie you're getting bored with… I bought courgettes this week to make this >>>

http://www.ericadhouse.com/tutorial-making-low-calorie-zucchini-pasta-without-a-spiralizer/

http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/pasta-recipes/beautiful-courgette-carbonara

If you don't eat any veggies… get some frozen or pre prepared packs… some people hate all the peeling and prep that goes into it… personally I love that bit, i find it therapeutic… and just have one for dinners…. if you love your veg and eat loads… then try something new or try to add a veggie to breakfast and lunch too!  Add some mushrooms to your scrambled eggs… spinach is lovely with eggs too, make an egg white omlette with peppers, mushroom and onion … delicious!!! as for lunch… the zero pro point soup is full of veggie goodness! and try to eat fresh.. if you hate veggies and you've only ever eaten them out of a tin, its understandable… fresh is the way to go… 

Experts say we should eat 5 a day to maintain a healthy diet, so this week… try to make at least 3 of those 5 veggies… its a lot easier than you think it is… and bonus - most of em are zero points! The more you can bulk up your plate with delicious veg the fuller you are of vitamins, fiber and all the goodness and no saturated fat! Win - win!

You don't have to be perfect to be a success… If all you do this week is go from eating NO veggies to eating ONE per day, you have done something good for yourself and your body … It is worth it, and over time, it gets easier and yes you CAN do it… 

Two weeks left on the challenge… everyone's doing so well! Skinny for Santa indeed! 

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Tis the season..

'As she planted, so does she harvest; such is the field of Karma.'

Sri Guru Granth Sahib

Don't panic.. I'm not going to mention the 'C' word.. although tins of sweets are ALREADY in Tesco! I kid you not! I'm talking about harvest season! We're always being told to buy local and seasonal food… but sometimes we get swept up in the bargains on offer!

Grocery shopping takes time… and if you're not a list person or you don't have meal plans for the week *raises hand*… it can be overwhelming not to mention pricey… If you buy seasonal foods they taste better and are usually cheaper than the food that's travelled thousands of miles to get to you…  I'm watching your carbon footprint people! If you’re unsure of what’s in season, google will get you there in seconds, but September is harvest time and fruits and veg abound, good news for us WW peeps! Good news in fact for everyone! Grocery stores tend to stock up on these items in bulk because they are plentiful, making them less expensive for you… anyone seen the mad rush of french and runner beans at the moment… even better too when they go on sale… You can whip up a batch of soup and freeze it for those emergency late nights at work or lunchtimes .. or stew your own fruit to make some sweet desserts that are point free…  

September is a ripe old month… juicy plums, apples & blackberries… *drools* 
I've added a few recipes throughout that are worth a look!

Apples - the cooking ones.. core them, put some splenda/canderel into them and roast them in the oven… a dollop of creme fraiche… you. are. welcome!

Artichokes 

Aubergines

Beetroot

Blackberries

Blackcurrants

Blueberries

Broccoli

Butternut Squash 
   - Dear God I'd be lost without it! Best 0 PP chips EVER! Recipe >>> HERE  <<<;

Brussels sprouts 
   - I don't allow these in my house.. one of the few veggies I don't eat!

Cabbage 
   - So much goodness in those green leaves… no turn your noses up.. give it a try!

Cauliflower 
   - I use this as half and half with my mash potato.. you can't even taste the difference! 
     Half the points! >>> Here's <<< another great recipe for cauliflower!

Carrots 
     - Make you see in the dark! again, lovely mashed with your potatoes for less PP 

Celery

Courgettes 
   - Amazing done as a gratin! Great recipe >>> HERE  <<< my cheese points this out at 3pp per serving but I leave the olive out.. but trust me its devine!

Cucumber 

Damsons

Elderberries

Figs

French Beans 
   - they're all over the place at the moment!

Garlic 
   - Who doesn't love it!

Horseradish 

Leeks - Part of the onion family.. great in casseroles, stir fries and soups.. 

Lettuce - Last of the salad days ahead… 

Mushrooms - Spray oil and crushed garlic… all the noms!

Nectarines

New Potatoes

Peaches

Pears

Plums

Pumpkins

Quinces

Raspberries

Red Onions

Runner beans 
   - These are getting cheap in the supermarket because they're now in season!

Sloes 
   - For the gin lovers amongst us… Yes I'm making my own sloe gin.. 
     I'm gonna need a different type of meeting soon!

Spinach - quick and easy and SOOOOOO good for you!

Squashes - Great for soups and roasting as a zero point carb

Sweet Corn - 1pp for 30g

Tomatoes - Roasted as a base for your pasta sauces

Turnip 
   - Great mashed but do it yourself the 'mash direct' pre packed versions 
     are 3PP for the tray!

Watercress - to fancy up your salad… I'm not a big fan but its very good for you… 

Have a lovely weekend x

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