Crunchy Quinoa & Roast Aubergine Salad

Summertime calls for easy and fresh salads. Full of goodness and yumminess!  Here I bring you my new recipe made today.  Extremely healthy and incredibly tasty!  I am one happy lady!

INGREDIENTS

2 large cups quinoa cooked
1 aubergine
1 tin pinto beans drained
1 medium carrot grated
15 mini plum tomatoes quartered
Handful of coriander chopped
2 heaped tablespoons flax seeds

Dressing
6 tbsps olive oil
2 tsp whole grain mustard
Juice of 1 lemon
Salt to taste
4 tbsp water

METHOD

I roasted the aubergine directly on the gas of my stove.  Very Indian style!  I kept the gas on low and kept turning the aubergine as it was slowly roasting.  When the skin wrinkled and the flesh was tender.  I removed it and let it cool down

Gently removed the skin and then cut the aubergine into small chunks

Placed in a large salad mixing bowl with the rest of the salad ingredients.  I then combined all thoroughly.  Lastly the dressing was added and infused in

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A Beetroot, Feta & Quinoa Salad

I have a tremendously healthy salad recipe for today. One that we had last night and has left me vitalised! Low fat, high in protein and fibre and so very tasty. I felt so good eating it and I still have some left over for lunch.

Perfect for a summer’s evening with a cheeky glass of crisp white wine if you want 😉 I’ll be experimenting and creating more salads this season. Can’t wait to share them with you all.

I will be serving some @ Angie’s Fiesta Friday Party

Have a terrific day! Much love D x

INGREDIENTS

1 cup quinoa
1 raw peeled and grated beetroot
3 spring onions finely sliced
1 big tomato roughly chopped
1 tin roseca/borlotti beans rinsed & drained
Feta cheese crumbled (low fat)
Handful of sunflower seeds
1tbsp olive oil
Juice of half a lemon
1/4 tsp garlic granules
Salt to taste

METHOD

Put the quinoa to in a small saucepan and cook upon instruction. I tend to cook it like pasta. Bring the water to a boil and then simmer for 15 to 18 minutes. Drain and set aside

In a large bowl add the rest of the ingredients in order according to the pictures. Leaving the beetroot til the end..ish. This way you cab minimize the addition of the deep pink colour to the salad

Crumble in the feta last and fold in

Serve alone or with some buttered whole grain pitta bread

I will be serving some @

A Vibrant Halloumi & Quinoa Salad

Quinoa is one of my favourite grains   I wanted to make a vibrant colourful and extremely tasty salad dish as the sun is out here in the UK and wanted something fresh and light to keep me going all day.  This particular recipe has done exactly that! I have not had to snack on anything since I had it at lunch and I’ve just finished my dinner so it really works!

A few steps to prep and then just to mix all together, voila!  You have your healthy salad for the day.

INGREDIENTS

1 small cup quinoa cooked
Halloumi pan fried and diced
1 medium cucumber diced finely
2 tomatoes diced
4 spring onions slice
1 tin sweet corn drained
Baby spinach sliced
Salt to taste
Cayenne pepper
1 tsp cumin & coriander powder
Lemon juice to taste

METHOD

I fry the halloumi cheese by thinly slicing and then placing into a hot non stick pan with olive oil.  Fry off on both sides until golden brown

Place all the ingredients into a large bowl.  Mix thoroughly so everything is fused together

Ready to serve…How simple was that?

Instant Loaded Egg Paratha

My husband is always watching Indian street food videos on YouTube.  This is one particular dish that he was checking and that I was extremely intrigued by.
I think you all know me by now, in that I love to cook really, really simple food and am not embarrassed in taking short cuts to get to the final yummy result!

This is one of those easy than easier recipes, yet so satisfying and filling.  The protein hit from the egg and cheese really reaches the spot!  Make sure that you have some ready made parathas or frozen parathas like I used in this recipe and you are ready to go my friends!

Enjoy, see you soon! Much love, D x

INGREDIENTS

Frozen paratha/ready made paratha
Large eggs
Grated mature cheddar cheese
Spring onion sliced
Chopped fresh coriander
Chilli flakes
Butter
Salt and pepper to taste

METHOD

Place the frozen paratha in a frying pan and cook through on both sides to a medium golden brown.  Spread a little butter on one side

Crack one egg onto the buttered paratha and break the yolk gently.  Load on all other ingredients and seasoning

Cover with a large lid on a low heat for 5 or so minutes or until egg is firm

Fold the paratha and serve with a hot chilli sauce

Quorn Protein & Peas Curry

If you want something healthy, tasty and low fat, don’t go anywhere! I have created my non guilty version of the classic Indian matar paneer dish without the guilt! And the paneer?!
Fully packed with protein, which will keep you going for longer and stop you from snacking, especially if you have this curry for lunch. But don’t worry I know this maybe to healthy for some of you so my apple crumble recipe is coming up soon…

Enjoy, hope you’re all well…I am sooo excited as I have a lot more creative vegetarian dishes on the way!..until then, much love, D x

INGREDIENTS

300g Quorn chicken style pieces or soya chunks
2 cups frozen peas
1 medium onion diced
2 cloves garlic crushed
½ tsp minced ginger
250g crushed tomato passata
Pinch of mustard seeds
Pinch of cumin seeds
1 tsp garam masala
¼ tsp turmeric powder
2 tsp ground cumin & coriander
Salt to taste
½ tbsp sunflower oil
Water for sauce

METHOD

In a large nonstick saucepan,  heat the oil on a medium heat with the mustard and cumin seeds.  Once they start to sizzle,  add the onion, ginger and garlic into the pan.  Sauté until translucent

Sprinkle in the garam masala, cook through for a minute or so. Stir in the tomato passata along with all the seasoning.  Let the sauce bubble then place the chunks of quorn into the saucepan.  Mix well, you may need a little water to help the tomato coat the quorn

Reduce the heat, cover and simmer the curry for 10 minutes.  Add the peas, stir and simmer for a further 7 to 10 minutes

Serve up with some rice or chapati

Butter Bean Quesadilla

I make cheese and tomato quesadillas a lot but I’m trying to up my fibre intake and I thought beans were the way to go. I didn’t want to cook the beans twice over, so prepped a quick filling within minutes. This way the beans remain nutritious and I’ll have a happy healthy me!

They were really yummy that I ended up eating more than I should have. I really have to start controlling my portion control!…Today we are having chilli and mushroom penne. I’m already thinking about our next meal! I am terribly addicted to food! Lol!

See you all soon with the pasta recipe, much love, D x

INGREDIENTS

1 tin butter beans, drained & rinsed
1 onion chopped crescent shaped
2 plum tomatoes sliced thinly
2-3 handfuls of grated cheddar cheese
1 tsp cumin & coriander powder
Sprinkling of chilli flakes and garlic powder
Salt to taste
Olive oil to pan fry

Ready made tortillas

METHOD

Take all the ingredients apart from the oil and mix well, until all is combined and nicely coated/seasoned

Heat a non stick frying pan on a medium heat with a little olive oil. Place the tortilla in the pan, add a few tablespoons of the butter bean mix on one half and fold over

Cook on both sides until the cheese has melted and the beans have warmed through

Rosecoco Piri Piri Beans & Rice

A staple meal of beans and rice has and always has done wonders for me! I find it satisfying, comforting and most importantly healthy. Great on a winters cold evening after picking up the boys from school. Simple, efficient and delightful. There is not a lot I can say about this dish. Just go ahead and try it friends. Do let me know how you like them. You are free to change the bean but don’t forget the spices especially the piri piri!

Enjoy, Have a lovely day! Much love, D x

INGREDIENTS

1 tin Rosecoco beans drained
Salt to taste
2 Spring onions finely sliced
½ tsp ginger paste
5 tbsp tomato passata
1 tsp piri piri powder
1 tsp ground coriander powder
¼ tsp turmeric powder
1 tbsp olive oil

METHOD

In a non stick frying pan with the oil, fry off the spring onion and ginger with spices

Pour in the passata, season with salt and on a low heat…warm through

Add the beans, stir and cook for a further 10 minutes

Serve with some fluffy white rice.

I Am Soooo Eggcited!!!!

My Sunday buy at the local supermarket allowed me to come across this very funky egg timer.  Determining the type of boiled egg you would like to devour with some buttered toast.

All I have to do is put this gadget in the pan with the boiling water and eggs and wait for the orange colour to change to white.  Giving me soft..medium or hard boiled eggs!!

I seriously can’t wait to use it.  You’ve probably guessed I’m going to be having comforting soft/medium eggs for lunch!!!…Ummmmmm…

See you soon for a chickpea chapati recipe I made last week. Have a relaxing Sunday. Much love, D x

The Perfect After Gym Soup!

My younger brother came over today to spend time with myself and my 2 little boys. He had already planned in his gym session as the gym is close by. So I took this perfect opportunity to cook up a protein filled soup with plenty of vegetables and lots and lots of vegetable stock, for hydration and quinoa for protein.

The feedback was great, he found that it replenished his strength well and was a quick fix to fill him up but wasn’t too heavy. I found that it relieved my headcold really well. Most likely was the potent healing garlic, that works a treat for me everytime!

Give it a go friends and let me know how you get on…Have a beautiful day, evening…Much love, D x

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INGREDIENTS

1 large courgette grated
1 large carrot peeled and grated
1 clove garlic minced
½ cup quinoa
600 – 700ml vegetable stock
1 tsp dried coriander powder
1 tbsp sunflower oil
½ tbsp butter
2 tbsp cornflour dissolved in half a cup of water
Salt to taste
Chilli flakes to garnish optional

METHOD

Heat up the oil and butter together, gently place in the grated carrot and courgette into the deep saucepan.  Sauté for 2 to 3 minutes until soft

Season with the coriander powder and salt.  Pour over the vegetable stock, cornflour solution along with the garlic.  Bring to a boil

Slow the heat down to a gentle simmer and stir in the quinoa.  Cover and cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally

Serve up hot with chilli flakes to garnish

Spicy Spinach & Cheese Omelette

How lovely is it that the tables have turned and you are able to cook for your parents now. It was so lovely when my mum came to spend time with me last Friday and requested me to make her a spicy spinach and cheese omelette! She loves loves chilli, don’t know where I  get that from? 😉

So to heat up the flavours, I decided to shallow fry off the 2 chillies in the oil base.  This way the oil started to infuse the spicy heat and this then transferred itself to the whole yummy omelette!  Such a simple and tasty dish yet so satisfying.  Mum was happy and so was I!
Here’s to more foodie requests from our families for us to make for them!

INGREDIENTS

2 eggs
1/2 cup shredded spinach
1/3 cup grated mature cheddar cheese
1 green chilli finely chopped
1 tbsp milk
Salt to taste
1/3 tsp ground cumin powder
Pinch of turmeric powder
1 tbsp olive oil

METHOD

Heat the oil in a non stick frying pan on a low heat. Beat the eggs and milk with a fork. Add the rest of the ingredients and combine well

Pour into the frying pan and still on a low heat let it set. Once set, place a lid or plate onto the pan so that the top of the omelette cooks in its own steam

Wait a few minutes, making sure all of it is cooked through

Serve with some buttered toast and savour the spiciness!