Plant Based Pudding from Rudds...

A new plant based breakfast pudding to try out! At 1SP per 33g slice, it's great value points wise...

I spotted them in my local Tesco... Anyone tried it out yet? x

Rudd's plant based white pudding, per 33g slice - 1SP

Rudd's plant based black pudding, per 33g slice - 1SP

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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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Gourmet.. Popcorn...

OK firstly, not only are these goodies Gluten Free, Vegetarian AND Irish made but the sweet chilli one is SOOOOOO gooooooood! 

All the bags are the same size in shape but they all weigh differently... so weigh out your portions or wipe the lot out of your weeklies if you're a popcorn fan!

These are available in ALDI ... I've only tried the sweet chilli one but that's enough to get me to try the rest! Anyone else given these a try? Do let me know! 

The Gourmet Popcorn Co. Sweet Chilli Flavour

10PP per 80g bag - 3PP per 20g portion

The Gourmet Popcorn Co. Caramel Crunch Flavour

23PP per 200g bag - 2PP per 20g portion

The Gourmet Popcorn Co. Sweet and Salty Flavour

11PP per 80g bag - 2PP per 20g portion

The Gourmet Popcorn Co. Lightly Sea Salted Flavour

8PP per 60g bag - 3PP per 20g portion

You can find them online >>> HERE <<< 

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Balti house ready meals...

Balti House Biryani are stocked in the supermarket under ready meals in the fridges... These are 325g pots which in my opinion will give you two dinners if you bulk it up with veg as you're rice is included in these OR perfect for a Friday night take away at home without all the added bits!

I've tried the chicken one and its really yum! 

Veggie biryani - 12PP for the 325g pot

Chicken biryani - 15PP for the 325g pot

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Sushi...

I know chinese new year is over and technically Sushi is a japanese thing… but here's the PP for those still counting! These are freshly made with no additives and won't last in our cupboard till 2015! If you like sushi you'll love them… and if you don't try the veggie box to start you off you'll be hooked before you know it … DELISH! 

Hoisin Duck Sushi - 200g pack of 8 its 6 PP

Includes 8 duck maki with carrot, cucumber & hoisin sauce… 

comes with a very cute little bottle of soy sauce & some wasabi… 

Chicken Teriyaki Sushi - 200g pack of 8 its 6 PP

8 chicken maki marinated in Oishii Teriyaki sauce with red pepper & chives… 

again with a very cute little bottle of soy sauce & some wasabi… 

Sushi salad bento box 230g  - 10 PP

Includes 2 fresh salmon nigiri, 3 smoked salmon maki, vermicelli noodle salad… 

soy & sweet chill sauce, wasabi and pickled ginger… very filling for lunch!

Sakana fish sushi box 205g  - 6 PP

Includes 1 salmon nigiri, 1 crabstick nigiri, 2 inside-out smoked salmon maki,

2 inside-out tuna maki with carrot & mayo … 

soy sauce, wasabi & pickled ginger…

Vietnamese Springrolls 140g  - 9 PP

2 cooked prawn & pork spring rolls with ponzo sauce … 

Note: one spring roll is 4 PP but it rounds up to 9 PP if you have em both! 

ggrrrrrrrr!

Yasai Vegetarian Sushi 180g  - 6 PP

1 tamago nigiri, 1 sweet tofu nigiri, 1 red pepper nigiri, 

4 tofu maki with carrot & wakame, Soy sauce, pickled ginger and wasabi too! 

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