There's an orange in my salmon

Salmon round two. This week there was an oriental twist with sweet and savory infusions from a little pre-marinade prep. It took 10 minutes maximum to prepare and most was done without supervision so if one wishes, multi-task away. 

Served with fragrant brown rice (trying to stick to wholemeal) that was perfumed with cinnamon and lemon juice stirred in with raisins and peas. 

For the marinade combine orange juice, soy sauce and minced ginger in a saucepan.

Reduce the marinade until there is 3/4 less liquid and marinade.

Cover brown rice, sultanas and cinnamon with water.

Boil until rice is tender and water is absorbed. Add more water if necessary.

Add peas in at the last couple of minutes.

The salmon was sweet and sticky and the rice was nice enough to eat on its own as a simple rice salad. We'll forget about the steamed spinach. Spinached out through binge eating it and especially not a fan of the steamed soggy variety.

I am now a lover of all things salmon and will never dismiss it as a boring mid week meal. All it needs is a little TLC. Or a simple marinade and rice side.

Calories: 625

Detox day

I woke up this morning feeling like a shadow of my former self but probably twice the size. Lack of fruit and veggies has made me feel under the weather. Detox sprung to mind. Three days of cheatings and food binges has had a disastrous impact on the old gut.

My porridge infatuation flourished through this strawberry and peanut butter jelly combination.  

I took full advantage of the strawberry stocked fridge, a rare but necessary occurrence. Halved and mixed in with the oats whilst cooking, it added a natural sweetness to wean me off the sugars.

It was like a hot summer pudding on a cold and miserable nearly summer morning.

Calories: 364

Lunch was a simple fruit salad from Cafe Nero. Getting my fruits in by the bucket loads I forgot how much I enjoy a munching of pineapple and mango.

Slurped on a SKINNY latte with SUGAR FREE vanilla syrup and I was like a dog on heat shopping in Leeds.

Calories: 193

Ok, so this isn't actually detox material but giving a girl celery and carrot sticks after so many naughty treats is just cruel. Slow and steady wins the race and this prawn masala definitely won my appetite round.

Compliments to Kate for dishing up this curry packed full of veggies and spices.

Ate with naan bread and onion bajis because every curry deserves it.

 

Calories: 460

Newcastle dining

Oh wow. These past couple of days I traveled to Newcastle and morphed into a piglet in the process. You would have thought I was a calorie collector. From pizza to cake to alcohol fueled with skittles, I have had it all and more. Much more.

This included a whole 18 inches of subway. One could say that it was for medical purposes to cure my sickness, in other words hangover from hell. I went for beef with all the salad (extra jalapenos and gherkins of course) smothered in south west sauce.  

Lunching at Nancy's Bordello I feasted on chilli con carne with chips and rice.

Being the healthier of meals on this little mini break, I went the extra mile and ordered a side salad. So proud but my taste buds were less than impressed when a small bowl of grass arrived at the table. Nevertheless, I ate it all.

Got back and nibbled on sweeties, whilst eagerly awaiting the night out that followed. By now I can see my thighs getting thunderous.

Lots of sambuca shots later...

I am home in bed recovering with ice-cream and cake. Uh oh.

Calories: TOO MANY TO COUNT

Fish dish of the day

The weekly ritual of salmon for dinner has arrived with an added little extra from Mexico. I like salmon, but with it's weekly occurrence being served with potato and veg I needed something new to accompany this sad and sorry fillet of fish.

The ye' old Mexican guacamole dip. A firm favourite cuisine offering plenty of spice, including in this dip.

Mash one avocado with the juice of half a lime and the not so secret ingredient Tabasco sauce to add a fiery kick.

Mix in spring onions and chopped cherry tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper.

The avocado is full of "good" fats. To me all fats are bad, but rest assured i'm told it's a superfood and is extremely health beneficial when eaten in moderation.

My salmon has been revitalised with it being roasted with chilli flakes and enjoyed with spinach, new potatoes with sour cream and low and behold that Mexican dip.

Not quite the Mexican fiesta but it sure gives it a good shot.

Calories: 494

S'mores salads

No I am not having déjà vu of meal times I am just over dosing on salads.

Late luncheon of leaves, pea shoots, cucumber and red pepper.












Drizzled with French dressing LIGHT style. The secrets s'all in the dressing.

Calories: 48

This salad by far trumped the previous salad. It is the don of all salads. I want it by the bucket full.

It destroys all conceptions that salads are boring with one swift mouthful. I for one am not a salad lover and more about the burgers and cheesy fries (such a lady) so this is very high praise indeed. The sweetness of the potato in comparison with the mustard and balsamic dressing is just the right balance and the nutty brown rice and spinach leaves work wonders. Now I'm getting emotional over salads and must move on.

I mixed left over brown rice and peas with spinach and spring onion.

Mixed 1 tsp of whole grain mustard, 1tsp of honey, 2tsp of balsamic vinegar and 3tsp of virgin olive oil. You now have the honey mustard vinaigrette dressing.

Roast your sweet potatoes in chunks with crushed garlic and drizzles of olive oil for 20minutes.

Whilst they roasted I took it upon myself to enjoy a Vodka Russchian and olives. Only to pass the time of course...

Top the leaves and rice with the potato and dressing and there you have it. The don of all salads.

Calories: 398

Burger Full of Beans

I think I have fell in love and gone to burger heaven. Without a doubt THE nicest bean burger out there. Morrison's spicy bean and nacho burger is where the party is at and at only 292 calories a pop everybody is a winner. Including the cows.

Did you know courgettes are also called zucchinis? No me neither but whether it's the courgette or zucchini that takes your fancy, my plate was full of them.

Grilled with peppers and mushrooms with Nandos HOT peri peri marinade and those pesky jalepenos.

I had a side salad because you must eat your greens and practice what your preach. Had a mild explosion of light mayonnaise on top too.

Oh and last night's ciabatta roll. It was stale. And I will be telling Kate.


Calories: 488

"Grubs Up" said Kate

One of the good things about being home is being able to lie on the sofa and complete your queenie duties and have home cooked meals a la Kate served before you! Living in a health conscious household it is a crime to even think of opening the biscuit tin so shoot me down. Cue misfit child who couldn't think of anything better than a Big Mac or a 12" subway because if you're going to do it there is no point in cutting corners right? WRONG. Gluttony is a sin for all things gluttonous maximus related!

On tonight's menu we had a carrot and sweet potato tagine with home made ciabatta rolls. 

To say it was all veg and no meat, I wasn't wanting more which is mainly thanks to the bread that was just the right amount of doughy stodge. It was just the amount of sweet and spice that kept it from being your old Nan Beryl's veggie stew.

Just don't burn your tongue on it because you will have a lisp and whoops there goes my street cred.

Calories: 480