Almond trifle with berries

This quick and easy desert is a hit with the whole family and great for when hosting a dinner party.

Serves 6

Syns per serving
4.5 syns

Ingredients:
23g sachet Hartley's Raspberry Sugar Free jelly crystals
23g sachet Hartley's Strawberry Sugar Free jelly crystals
200g fresh or frozen blueberries, plus extra to decorate
100g fresh strawberries sliced in half, for decorating
250g ready made low fat custard
250g fat free fromage frais
6 tbsp sweetener
50g reduced fat mascarpone
500g quark
3-4 drops of almond extract
3-4 amaretti biscuits, crushed for decorating

Method:
Put the jelly crystals in a jug with 500ml freshly boiled water. Stir to dissolve and leave to cool completely.
Put the berries in the base of a medium trifle or a round dish and pour over the cooled jelly. Cover and chill for 2-3 hours or until it sets.
Whisk together the custard, fromage frais, 3 tbsp sweetener until smooth and then spoon over the jelly in an even layer.
Whisk together the mascarpone, quark, remaining sweetener and almond extract until smooth, then spoon over the custard in another even layer. 
Decorate with the strawberries and blueberries (like the picture) and scatter over the amaretti biscuits.

Enjoy!

Lamb Bizelli (Lamb stew with potatoes and peas)

This is traditionally made with lamb chops but as they are more fatty (and less meaty) I made them with lamb steaks (all fat removed)

Serves 4

Syns Per serving
FREE

Ingredients:
700g - 800g Lamb steaks or any other lean part of lamb (all visible fat removed) and cut into bite size
800g potatoes, cut in half or quarters depending how big they are
1 tin of chopped tomatoes
1/2 bottle of a 680g bottle of Passata
500g garden peas
1 medium onion, diced
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2-3 medium carrots, cut in bite sizes
1/2 pint of vegetable stock
salt and pepper

Method:
In a saucepan spray some fry light and lightly fry the onions and garlic until golden brown. Add the lamb and fry for 15 minutes, until sealed and slightly brown.

Then add the tinned tomatoes, passata, stock and seasoning and cook on low heat for around 45 minutes. Add the potatoes and carrots and cook until soft (approximately 30 minutes). Keep an eye on the sauce, it needs to be thick not dry so add water as you feel necessary.

Just before it's done, add the peas and cook for a further 4-5 minutes.

Serve on its own or with a fresh salad.

Enjoy!

PS: you can also cook with chicken. If you cook with chicken then you would add the carrots and potatoes at the same time as the tomatoes, passata and stock, as the chicken doesn't need that long.

Slimming World Weetabix biscuits

One word...... LUSH!

You will not be disappointed!

Serves 6-8

Syns per serving 

Under 0.5 syn per biscuit (add 1 syn per biscuit if not using the Weetabix as your HEB)

Total of 3.5 syns for all biscuits

Ingredients:

2 Weetabix, crushed

1 egg, beaten

90ml skimmed milk

2 tsp cinnamon

4 tbsp sweetener

13g dark chocolate chips

Method:

Preheat the oven to 200c. Mix all the ingredients together and shape into biscuits on a silicone baking mat. The mixture should make between 6-8 biscuits.

Bake in the oven for approximately 15-20 minutes or until they are golden brown.

Enjoy!

Fagi (green lentils with rice and onion)

One of my favourites :-) You can't get a more traditionally Cypriot dish than this. And healthy too. Hope you guys enjoy it as much as I do!

Serves 4

Syns per serving
Just under 1.5 syns

Ingredients:
1 cup of green lentils
1/4 cup of short grain rice
4 cups of water
1 large onion, finelly chopped
1tbs of olive oil
salt and pepper

Method:
Rinse the green lentils in water to remove any dirt. Bring to the boil for 10 minutes, strain and add fresh water (the 4 cups) and boil again.

In the meantime fry the onions with the olive oil (I use olive oil as fry light will not caramelise the onions, and this is what makes this dish so delicious) until they are slightly brown.

When the lentils begin to boil, add the rice and salt and pepper, reduce the heat and cook for approximately 15-20, until the lentils and rice are soft or until the water has evaporated. 

Once it's cooked remove from the heat and add the onions (including any olive oil left in the pan). 

Stir really well and serve with a fresh salad and a fried egg (optional).

Enjoy!

Garlic prawn with tomato sauce with linguine or spaghetti

I have fallen in love with this dish! I cannot believe that something so simple can be so delicious.  I hope you love it as much as I do!

Serves 4

Syns per serving
FREE

Ingredients:
525g of raw king prawns
800g of cherry tomatoes
5-8 cloves of garlic, crushed
1 bunch of parsley, finely chopped
1/2tsp dry chillies
400-500g of linguine or spaghetti

Method:
Cut the tomatoes in half, put in a bowl and crush with your hands so some of the juices come out.

In a pan fry the garlic with fry light for 1-2 minutes, add the tomatoes and chillies and turn down the heat so that the tomatoes can cook slowly and the sauce can thicken up. I cooked mine for about 15-20 minutes. Half way through, get a potato masher and gently mash down the tomatoes so that they can soften and more juice can be released.

In the meantime boil some water and cook the pasta.

Once the sauce has thickened up add the prawns and cook for 7-8 minutes or until they have turned pink and they are not transparent anymore.

Once cooked take off the heat, add the parsley and stir.

Serve immediately with the pasta and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese.

Enjoy!

Slimming World Campfire Stew

This is a syn free, deliciously hearty meal (and cheap too). 

Serves 8

Syns per serving 
FREE

Ingredients:
1 small gammon / pork joint (all visible fat removed)
1 chopped onion
3-4 crushed garlic cloves
2 tins of baked beans
2-3 chopped peppers
1tsp chilli powder
1tbsp smoked paprika
6tbsp tomato puree

Method:
Place all the ingredients in a slow cooker and cook for 5 hours on low. Shred the pork and cook for a further hour. (total of 6 hours cooking time)

Serve with any of the below:
Slimming world chips, mash potato, vegetables or salad

Enjoy!

Salmon fish cakes

I thought I would try something different with these fish cakes so rather than use bread to help bind it all together I used organic oats. Oats are a good source of energy and help keep you fuller for longer. They came out pretty good :)

Serves 4

Syns per serving
FREE (when using oats as your HEB, otherwise add just over 1 syn for each fish cake)

Ingredients:
2 tins of salmon (or other fish) in water
20g of oats
1 egg
2 tsp wholegrain mustard 
1 shallot
Small bunch parsley, chopped
Salt and pepper

Method:
Mix all the ingredients together and form into 4 even balls and gently flatten with your palm.

Spray a non stick baking tray with fry light and place the fish cakes on the tray.

Cook in a 200c oven for 15-20 minutes. 

Serve with a bean or vegetable salad.

Enjoy!

PS: If you want to get the top of the fish cake crispy, I would spray that with fry light before putting in the oven.

Slimming World Raspberry Roulade

I have been wanting to do this for a while now and I am so glad I did. It did not disappoint.

Serves 8

Syns per serving
Less than 0.5 syn

Ingredients:
4 eggs, separated
2 x 250g quark
3tbsp sweetener
1tsp baking powder
1tsp vanilla extract
200g raspberries
1 sachet Options white chocolate

Method:
Beat the egg whites until stiff. In another bowl mix together the egg yolks, 250g quark, 3tbsp sweetener, 1tsp baking powder and 1tsp vanilla extract. Fold in the egg whites carefully.

Cover a baking tray with baking paper (I used a silicone sheet, as its easier to peel off once its cooked). Poor over the mixture and bake in a 180c oven for 20 minutes.

Once cooked let it cool down. In a separate bowl use the remaining 250g of quark and mix in the white chocolate options. 

At this point you will have to peel off the sponge from the baking paper, very careful, and then flip it back over so that the side that was facing down, is still facing down (thats the prettier side and its the side you want to see once it's rolled up).

Spread over the quark/white chocolate mixture, spread over the raspberries and carefully roll up. 

Cut into 8 even pieces and enjoy!

Note: If you are not using a silicone baking sheet, you will need to spray some fry light on to the baking tray so that the baking paper sticks down, before pouring over the mixture.

Slimming World friendly Cinnamon, Jam and Nutella Swirls

I couldn't believe how easy and quick it was to make these. And I must say they are not far off the real thing 

Serves 25

Syns per serving
Cinnamon - 2.5 syns
Nutella - 3.5 syns
Raspberry Jam - 3.5

I have listed all the syns for each ingredient below so you can cut the pieces as small or as big as you like. As long as you take into consideration the syn values below as a whole. I managed to get 25 out of it

Ingredients:
1 packet of puff pastry light ready rolled (60 syns)
1 tbsp cinnamon and 2 tbsp sweetener mixed together (No syns)
2.5 tbsp nutella (10 syns)
10 tsp raspberry jam (5 syns)

Method:
Roll out the puff pastry and score into 3 sections.

In section 1 spread out evenly the cinnamon / sweetener mix.
In section 2 spread out evenly the jam.
In section 3 spread out evenly the nutella.

Roll it all up, cut and discard the ends. Cut in even slices and place on a baking tray.

Bake in a 180c oven for 15-25 minutes or until the pastry is lightly browned.

Enjoy!

WARNING: It is very easy to eat the whole lot!!

Slimming World one pot lasagne

This one pot lasagne recipe is a hit in any home, especially when time is not on your side but still want something as hearty as this.

Serves 6

Syns 

Free (add 6 if not using the mozzarella as your HEB)

Ingredients :

500g 5% mince beef 

1 onion, diced

2 cloves of garlic, minced

1 bottle of passata 

1 beef stock

1tsp Italian herbs

Up to 500g mozzarella light, grated

Method:

Preheat the oven to 190c. Brown the onions and garlic for about 3 minutes or until softened. Turn the heat down to a medium heat, add the mince meat and cook until brown.

Add half of the passata and stock and turn the heat up stirring occasionally for about 10 minutes. 

Remove from the heat and pan. Assemble the lasagne sheets in the same pan, cutting any pieces needed for the edges. Add the filling and more lasagne on top.

Next, add the remaining passata and sprinkle with the mozzarella.

Cover and cook in the oven for 20 minutes. Remove the cover and cook for a further 10 minutes to brown the cheese.

Serve with a fresh salad.

Enjoy!

Slimming World Weetabix brownie muffins

These are delicious and so low in fat/sugar/syn, you can please the whole of the family whilst staying healthy.

Serves 6

Syns per serving
Just under 0.5 syn (if using the weetabix as your HEB, otherwise add another 1 syn for each one)

Ingredients:
2 Weetabix
10g coco powder
6tbsp sweetener
1 small carrot, grated
2 eggs
1 level tsp baking powder
a dash of skimmed milk

Method:
Blitz the weetabix in the blender for around 1-2 minutes. Add the sweetener and coco powder and blitz some more until well combined.

Add the rest of the ingredients and again give it a good blitz until all the ingredients are combined well with no traces of any dry powder.

Give it a good stir with a spoon to create some air and divide into 6 muffin cups.

Bake in a 190c oven for approximately 20 minutes or until the knife comes out clean.

Let them cool down before removing from the muffin cups.

Enjoy!

These are nice served with some fromage frai or quark and rasberries. 

Slimming World Baked Vanilla & Clementine Cheesecake

I am not one for baking but I had some quark lying around and wanted to try something different. And boy was I pleased I did. This low syn gorgeous desert can be the WOW factor at any dinner party or for a quick desert on a Sunday afternoon.

Serves 10

Syns per serving
4.5 syns

Ingredients:
10 digestive biscuits, finely crushed
50g of Flora light (or the equivalent)
1 vanilla pod
750g quark
3 large eggs, beaten
1tsp ground cinnamon
2tsp vanilla essence
4tbsp sweetener
8 clementines, peeled and sliced horizontally
Finely grated zest of 6 of the clementines
200g fat free natural fromage frais
100g any vibrant fruit (to decorate) 
1/2 tsp icing sugar, to dust

Method:
Melt the spread and put in a bowl with the biscuits and mix well. Spoon into a 22cm diameter, non stick loose bottomed cake tin. Flatten using the back of a spoon, cover and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 180c. Split the vanilla pod lengthways and scrape out the seeds into a bowl. Add the quark, eggs, cinnamon, vanilla essence, sweetener and two thirds of the clementine zest. Beat until well combined.

Pour the mixture over the prepared cheesecake base and bake for 50-60 minutes, or until just set and golden.

Leave the baked cheesecake to cool completely, cover with clingfilm and chill in the fridge for 6-8 hours or preferably overnight.

To serve, mix the fromage frais with 1tbsp of sweetener and spread over the cheesecake, top with the clementine slices, the remaining clementine zest and vibrant fruit and dust with the icing sugar. 

Cut into 10 slices and serve. 

Always keep refrigerated and consume within 24 hours.

Enjoy!

Slimming World Chocolate Brownies

A little treat when you are short of syns but still fancy something sweet 

Serves 12

Syns 
0.5 syns per muffin

Ingredients:
30g coco powder
35g sweetener
3 eggs, separated
1 tsp vanilla extract

Method:
Whisk the egg whites until they form a stiff peak.

In a separate bowl mix the egg yolks, coco powder, sweetener and vanilla extract. 
The mixture will be vert dry so add a few spoonfuls of the egg whites slowly until it becomes moist.

Then carefully fold in the remaining of egg whites until smooth.

Grease the bottom of the muffin tray with a little fry light, separate into 12 muffin trays and bake in a 180c oven for 15-20 minutes.

Slimming World Lemon Drizzle Cake

This is up there with the pancakes for me. It is absolutely delicious and you don't even feel you are on a "diet" when you're eating it. And the best thing about it...... it's only 8 SYNS for the whole cake!!!! And yes I would eat the whole cake that's how good it is!

Serves 8

Syns per serving
1 syn 

Ingredients:

For the cake
50g self raising flour
2 lemons
5 eggs, separated
28g sweetener

For the drizzle
20g sweetener 
Juice of 1 lemon

Method:

Sift the flour first to remove any lumps. 

Mix together the flour, rind of 2 lemons, juice from 1 lemon, sweetener and 5 egg yolks.

Whisk the egg whites until stiff then fold into the flour mixture.

Transfer into a loaf tin and bake in a 180c oven for appx 30 minutes or until the knife comes out clean.

While that is baking, mix the drizzle ingredients together in a saucepan on a low heat.

Once the cake is done, take out of the oven, pierce with the knife a few times and pour the drizzle over it. Put back in a 100c oven for another 10 minutes.

Remove from the oven and let it cool down a bit before cutting into 8 pieces.

You can serve with a dollop of fat free vanilla yogurt and some fruit.
Enjoy!

Banana Loaf

This is a healthier version of a banana loaf, replacing flour with oats. You can use this for breakfast, a snack or even as a desert with a dollop of fat free fromage frais

Serves 6

Syns per serving
2 syns (if using the oats as your HEB - otherwise add 4 syns per serving)

Ingredients:
3 medium bananas
140g oats (blended)
2 large eggs
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
3 tbsp sweetener
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 banana, for the topping (optional)
1 tsp sweetener, for the topping (optional)

Method: 

Preheat the oven to 200c. Place the bananas, still in their peels, in a roasting pan.

Bake until bananas are soft and brown for approximately 12-15 minutes. Remove and let cool slightly, then scoop out the banana flesh and measure out 1 cup of mashed banana. 

In a medium mixing bowl, combine the blended oats, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and sweetener. In a separate mixing bowl whisk the eggs, stir together the mashed banana and vanilla extract.

Poor the wet ingredients into the dry and stir until just combined.

Poor the batter into a lightly greased standard (8 inch x 4 inch) bread pan. Bake loaf for approximately 45 minutes, until golden and a knife comes out clean when inserted into the loaf. 

Let cool for 5 minutes in the pan and then transfer on to a rack to finish cooling.

Decorate with chopped banana and a sprinkle of sweetener.
Enjoy!

Slimming World BBQ Pulled Pork with Cauliflower Rice

This gorgeous healthy version of an American classic will definitely be a hit with the whole family

Serves 4

Syns per serving
FREE

Ingredients:
1.5kg pork shoulder, all fat removed
5 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp mustard powder
650g passata
3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
4 cloves of garlic, crushed
2 tbsp sweetener
2 tbsp smoked paprika
small bunch of fresh sage
2 bay leaves
3 small chillies
Salt and  pepper
2 Cauliflower

Method:
For the BBQ Pulled Pork
In a small bowl, mix passata, Worcestershire sauce, balsamic vinegar, mustard powder, garlic, sweetener and seasoning. Transfer to a small pan and simmer for 15 minutes, or until the sauce thickens.
Meanwhile, trim and remove all visible fat from the pork, coat with salt, pepper and smoked paprika and sear all sides in a hot frying pan. Transfer to a slow cooker coat, along with the sauce, sage, bay leaves and chillies and cook for 8-12 hours on LOW.
After 6 hours or so, using 2 forks, shred the pork in the slow cooker and cook for the remaining time.

For the Cauliflower Rice
Cut the cauliflower into chunks, removing the root and place in a food processor.
Blend until it has a fluffy consistency (looks like couscous).
Cook in an 180-200c oven for approximately 30 minutes, stirring continuously.

Serve with a fresh salad.

Enjoy!

Potato and cauliflower rosti

These little delights are a great side to any dish. By combining the potato with cauliflower I have ensured that I get more speed food and less carbohydrates in each rosti. I have teamed these up with chicken paprika and green beans.

Makes 8 rosti

Syns per serving
FREE

Ingredients:
1 large potato - grated
A quarter of a small cauliflower - grated
1 egg - beaten
1 tsp dried mixed herbs
Salt and pepper

Method:
Mix all the ingredients together. Shape the rosti into small balls and flatten out on a board.
Place in a frying pan with some fry light and cook around 4-5 minutes on each side or until golden brown.

Serve with stir fried chicken paprika (again fried with fry light) and steamed green beans.
Enjoy!

SYN FREE pancakes

I am so excited to share this recipe with everyone 

These delicious pancakes are SYN FREE and taste exactly like the real thing. 

Serves 3-4

Syns per serving
FREE if using the oats as your HEB (otherwise add 6 syns)

Ingredients:
35g Oats
2 eggs beaten
2 tbsp fat free vanilla yogurt 
2 tbsp sweetener
1 tsp vanilla extract

Method:
Blend all the ingredients together until the liquid is consistently smooth.
Spray a frying pan with fry light and pour in a third of the mixture. Cook for 3 minutes or until lightly golden, turning over half way.
Serve up with any of your favourite fruit or topping
Enjoy!

Below is a slightly naughty version using 4 tsp of honey (4 syns)

Turkey ham, mushroom, onion and spinach omelette

Great recipe for breakfast, lunch or dinner
Recipe serves one

Serves 1

Syns per serving
FREE

Ingredients:
3 eggs
1/2 cup diced turkey ham 
1/2 sliced mushrooms
1 sliced shallot onion (it's sweeter)
2 cups spinach

Method:
Fry the onions and mushrooms with some fry light for a few minutes,  until the onions are browning and the mushrooms are softening. 
Add the turkey ham and spinach and cook for a few more minutes, until the spinach has soften.
Beat the eggs in a bowl and season well.
Pour into the frying pan and cook until the eggs have set on the bottom side. 
To cook the top, simply put the pan under the grill for a further few minutes until the egg is set. Be careful you don't burn your hand when taking the pan out. I would also leave the door of the oven open so the handle is not directly under the grill.
Serve on its own or with a big salad 
Enjoy ☺

Baked Oats and Rasberries muffins

Simple yet a delicious snack (can also be made into one and have for breakfast)

Serves 4

Syns per serving
6 syns If not using the Oats as your HEB 
1 syn for cooking the fruit

Ingredients:
35g oats 
100g rasberries (or any other fruit you like) 
1 small tub or 100g of fat free vanilla yogurt 
3tbs of sweetener (add as much or as little as you like)
1 egg
1tsp of vanilla extract

Method:
Mix all the ingredients together and separate into 4 muffins.
Bake in oven on 200c for 30 minutes or until set.
Serve with more fruit for extra speed food.
Enjoy  ☺

You can make this into 4 little muffins to spread out during your day or as one pot and have for a filling breakfast. Great especially after a workout.

Oats and carrot loaf

Great start to the day or as a snack with a cuppa

Serves 4 (double the recipe to get same amount as my picture)