Wednesday 22 May 2013

Skinny Roast Vegetable Quiche


A cheeky little cheat for all those that love quiche, but not the calories they contain.

I got this recipe from a Weight Watchers mini cookbook for meat free meals.  It really hits the vegetable quota and still give you a feeling of being slightly naughty.

Skinny Roast Vegetable Quiche
Serves 4
206 cals or approx 4 Pro Points per serving.

3 Capsicum peppers, 1 each red, yellow, green, de-seeded and sliced
1 red onion, cut into eighths
4 shallots cut into quarters
2 large carrots, peeled and sliced
450g potatoes, cubed
1 tbs horseradish sauce
1 large egg
150ml skimmed milk
30g Manchego cheese, grated (recipe called for half fat cheddar, but life is too short for that stuff, besides I love the creamy,nutty, salty flavour of Manchego)
One cal spray
S&P

Preheat oven to 220oc.  Place all the veg on a baking tray and coat in one cal spray and a little S&P, roast for 20 minutes.

Boil the potatoes until tender, drain and then mash adding in the horseradish.  Then place the mash into a loose bottom baking tin 20cm dia (mine was 24cm so my potato base was not as deep as it could have been) and press down.  Put into the oven for 10 minutes until the potato has formed a crust.

Pile to roasted veg on top of the potato and in a jug mix together the milk and egg then pour over the veg.  Scatter the cheese on top and a final S&P and return to the oven for 10-15 mins until the top is set and golden.

A nice little dish, but a bit tricky to get the quiche off the base of the pan, could be that I did not cook my potato base long enough for it to firm up, but it was nice enough.  Served with rocket and a couple of slices of ham, the horseradish really perks up the flavours.


Tuesday 21 May 2013

Chicken in Creamy Rosemary Sauce


This dish from last night was remarkably full of flavour and really light on the old WW Points.  Can definitely recommend and will be cooking again as it was quick and easy.

Chicken in Creamy Rosemary Sauce
Serves 2  Approx PP per serving 9

2 chicken breasts, no skin or bone about 165g each
50g low fat cream cheese with garlic and herbs
100ml chicken stock, from 1/2 a stock cube
1 onion chopped
one cal spray
250g new potatoes
Cherry tomatoes on the vine
2 sprigs fresh rosemary, leaves pulled from stalks
1 measure white wine or vermouth

In the oven roast the cherry tomatoes on a baking tray with one cal spray and S&P, about 20 mins at 180oc. Boil the potatoes until tender and drain.  Leave to one side until ready to plate up.

Take the chicken breasts and season.  Heat up a frying pan and spray with one cal, add the chicken and cook over a moderate heat for 5 mins each side until golden.  Add a little more spray and toss in the onion and the rosemary cook until soft.

Add the white wine and cook down.  Take the stock and cream cheese, whisk together and add to the pan. Cover and simmer for 15mins until the chicken is cooked through.

Serve up and enjoy.  I served with green beans.

Monday 20 May 2013

Sloe Gin & Ginger Beer Cocktail


A cheeky quick little post, mainly so I never forget this cocktail, missing out on this would be a tragedy! 

I tell you it is going to be favourite drink of summer.  An absolute glugger not too sweet, not to sour and so refreshing. The fruity sweetness of the sloe gin is counteracted by the lime perfectly

Sloe Gin & Ginger Beer Cocktail
Makes 1 Drink

2 Measures Sloe Gin
Juice of 1 Lime
Jamaican Ginger Beer


Take a tumbler of crushed ice pour over the sloe gin and lime juice, top up with ginger beer - not ginger ale, it needs the fiery punch of root ginger.  Enjoy.



I also have this little recipe from the time I was in Hong Kong.  It is a nice alcohol free drink, but makes you feel like you are actually having a tot.

Ginger Gunner
Makes 1 drink

Over crushed ice add ginger beer and ginger ale and finish with a few drops of Angostura Bitters

This one is best when you tinker around with the quantities to find what suits you best, I love lots of Angostura so I put in around 7 good drops.  If you don't like the snap of ginger beer add more ginger ale and vice versa.