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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Sparkly Jelly...

Fed up of boring old jelly… but it's ZERO pro points… better than a cupcake (not really 'better' but 'better FOR you' than a cupcake… sigh…) but it's a bit like butternut squash soup… you can overdose on it… I'm actually craving salad weather… so c'mere, add a bit of fizz to the world… sparkly jelly! Soooo easy its not even funny! 

Two ingredients… sugar free jelly & 7up Free 

or whatever sugar free soft drink you like… 

Tangent… I've tried raspberry jelly with diet coke and 

if you're a fan of cherry coke, you'll love it! Play around with it… 

I have a friend who makes the orange jelly with diet orange soda every weekend its her treat and it satisfies that sweet tooth craving without massive calories! 

Put your jelly into a bowl and boil the kettle… 

Pour in enough boiling water to dissolve the granules … 

it should have the consistency of a gel…

Fill up to required level with your sugar free 7UP … 

Do it very slowly or you'll have a head on it like a pint of Guinness … 

Once you're sure it's totally dissolved then pour into your mould… 

fancy cocktail glasses, bowls, ice cube trays whatever takes your fancy … 

and experiment with the flavours and colours … 

I'm trying lime, lemon and orange for St. Patricks day!

Then into the fridge … 

Take it out a few minutes before you turn it out… 

et voila … sparkly jelly… simples … 

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Cauliflower & Broccoli Soup

Blimey… right you demanding lot! Here's the recipe for my version of cauliflower and broccoli soup as requested! Sorry I don't have the step by step pics but I wasn't expecting to do a post on it but it's VERY easy.. so here you go… 

What do I need?

onion
garlic
broccoli
cauliflower
Stock cube - I use chicken but there's some really nice ones out there now so experiment
500 mls of water
couple of table spoons of yoghurt
seasoning - salt, pepper & a dash of worcestershire sauce


For this I used left over veggies that had been steamed the night before so I added them last.. but if you're making it all from scratch here's how… 


How do I make it?

Fry your onion and garlic until soft with your spray oil… 

Add the broccoli and cauliflower (any extra veg too, celery is lovely in this!) and your stock.. your veggies should be covered so bring it to the boil, then simmer with the lid on until cooked… 

If you're using leftovers, then just add them at the end to heat them up or you'll just have mushy soup! I don't like my soup like baby food…. I'm a 'stew' kinda gal… 

Season as you go along as you fancy… the worcestershire sauce beefs it up a little.. try it … 

Once its done, I stir in a couple of tablespoons of fat free yoghurt.. currently using this one >>> HERE <<< it'll make it nice and creamy… I've also made this with creme fraiche and its lovely!

Total for the pot is 2PP, you could pro point it at 1PP per serving but even that is too high! Add some fancy wholegrain bread and you're stuffed for lunch! 

Enjoy! 

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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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H to the O... yo… week 4!

a little one bed I'm thinking I should do up and live in... 

Firstly, Apologies I'm a day late and all kinds of 'jet lagged' ... ahem ... chart will be updated on this post tomorrow... I want to go through all the comments and make sure I don't miss any body out … 

This week, week 4 (HOW did that happen so fast!) its all about water... 

The recommended intake for a healthy adult is generally a minimum of 8 to 12 glasses of water per day. Here's a  Hydration Calculator ... it's good as a guide..... 

Tap Tips… 

1. Find your source. In most places in tap water is just as good as most bottled water, so don't feel like you have to buy your water. If you do live in an area with lime or hard water or the taste of chlorine is strong then invest in a  filter jug… they're in most shops and keep it topped up… 

2. Drink and Drive!
Leave a bottle everywhere… by your desk, at the sink, beside the kettle, in the car beside your bed… there's no excuse not to have a glass or mug for your water intake so whenever you see it.. you'll drink some… its a great habit to get into!

3. How do you take it?  Cold? Get a jug for the fridge... Room temp? Leave the jug on the counter... Or drink from the tap if you like... Iced? Be sure you have some ice trays full every night... Be prepared... Flavor? Don't like plain water? If you can't stand water, try putting a slice of fresh lemon, lime, or orange in your glass. Get juicing.... Add some sugar free cordial.. whatever helps you to drink more then do it… if all else fails, just drink it and quit moaning! You'll get used to it... and feel better for it!

Freeze slices of lemon... I sound like the boy scouts but ALWAYS be prepared!

4. Every morning, first thing in your mouth before anything else, drink a glass of water. Your body WANTS it, 74% of you is water and feels so much better... Then, have a glass with every meal, it does help fill you faster and you tend to eat a bit less. Even if you are just sitting down to have ONE biscuit, have a glass of water first…  you'll snack less! Drink a glass when you *think* you are hungry or want to eat… you're not hungry.. you're thirsty!

5. Go one-for-one at happy hour... When you're enjoying a cocktail or three at happy hour, try to drink at least one glass of water (or, even just half a glass) for every alcoholic drink you take down. It's a great way to heal the hangover and munchies that come with it the next day too...

6. Drink a glass of water 30 minutes before every meal. Its not always easy to remember.. But when I do it, I notice that I don't hoover my food as fast when I sit down to eat my meal normally...

7. AND.. remember that when you exercise you need to replenish those lost fluids… all common sense!

Water increases your metabolism, flushes out toxins, gives you clearer skin, relieves tiredness, helps digestion and so much more all for ZERO calories!

New chart up tomorrow and back posting in full swing on Monday! 

From the posts I see everyones doing great!

   

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