Frittata time

Ok so its a posh omelette, but I love them- very versatile, relatively quick and you can throw anything you want in them! Here is my pastrami version.

Ingredients:
100g Pastrami
2 Cups Spinach
1 onion
Couple of cloves of garlic
3 eggs
Dash of milk

Fry off the onion and garlic. Add the spinach and wilt down. Meanwhile beat together the eggs and milk and season, preheat your grill to a high heat. Shred the pastrami and add to the pan before adding your eggs and milk. Allow the bottom to set before putting the pan under the grill for 5 or so minutes until the top has set and just started to brown. Enjoy!

Another version- this time with Turkey

Great afternoon snack

Ok, not a 3 michelin star looker but it tastes good!

Don't believe the myth that snacking isn't good for you- it is! To go long periods of time (5-6hours) without food is not good for your metabolism and will likely lead to you over indulging at you next meal. You do however need to 'snack smart', making sure you focus on getting in some good protein and low G.I carbs if having carbs. Here is something I had today- quick and simple.

Imgredients:
100g Cottage cheese
1 Tsp Cacoa Powder
1 Pear
Handfull of grapes

Combine the cottage cheese and cacao powder. Then chop up the pear and add along with the grapes. Great on for those with a sweet tooth. Cacao powder is great for those needing to satisfy that chocolate urge, but had also been show to have mood boosting and hunger suppressing qualities- just make sure its plain un-sweetened cacao powder - a good brand to go for is Green&Black's.

Home baked healthy bread

I try to steer away from bread as much as possible- most shop bought loafs are full of a lot of stuff that I do not want to be putting in my body, not to mention all of that gluten!

However it is pretty difficult to resist sometimes and I find that resisting urges always leads to failure and over-indulgence in the end so I make my own to ease the cravings and make sure it is as healthy and natural as possible. Moreover I know what has gone into it!

This is a really easy recipe that makes a smallish loaf that resembles irish soda bread in taste and texture- in other words delish!!

Ingredients:
250g Spelt flour
250g gluten free flour
1 sachets easy yeast
around 350ml warm water
2 tsp Salt

Combine the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl then mix in the enough water until you have a nice firm dough then tip out onto a flour board and knead well for 5 minutes. Transfer back into you mixing bowl and cover with some cling film and place somewhere warm to rise- around 90 minutes or so should be enough.

After it has risen knock back the dough and transfer into a well oiled (olive) loaf tin and bake at around 180C fan for 40 minutes. When cooked the bread  should give off a hollow sound when tapped on the underside.

This bread is great toasted and smothered in butter, or fried in some olive oil and topped with a poached egg!

Pear, Chicken and Stilton salad

Salads are a great option for lunch or dinner. I particularly like them on a low activity day when I am trying to get some good fats in my diet as well as some protein without the carbs. This is one of my favourites. The sweet pears and earthy mushrooms go really well with the strong flavour of the stilton cheese and the almonds give a great crunch. Very hearty and satisfying!

Ingredients:
200g of cooked Chicken
1 Ripe Pear
30g Stilton
A few Almonds
Spinach
Rocket
2 Tablespoons of Greek Yoghurt
Handful of fresh mushrooms

Fry off the mushrooms in a very hot pan with some olive oil- ad the pear and sauté for a couple of minutes until browned and softened. Combine the rest of the ingredients in a bowl and give the salad a good toss. Once cooled to room temp add the pear and mushroom mix. Serve and enjoy!

Half Roast Chicken

I Love chicken!
A really simple idea if you have had a hard day and need something simple, rewarding and very healthy for dinner. Just smear half a chicken in Olive oil, place on top of a trivet of vegetable- I like to use low G.I ones such as courgettes, tomatoes, onions and sweet potatoes. Finally sprinkle over plenty of rosemary and oregano and roast for 40minutes or so or until you have a golden skin on your chicken!

Great, simple, low G.I, full of good fats and delicious!

Gluten free crepes/pancakes

This is a great lunch I made for myself today! Gluten free- high in protein and you can fill them with whatever you like!

Gluten free pancakes/ crepes:
1 egg
50g Gluten free flour
Enough whole milk for a loose batter.
Optional: 20g Protein Powder, Sugar

Combine all ingredients and pour the mixture in a hot non-stick pan and flip after 90 or so seconds- it's that easy! I find the amount here makes 3 good sized crepes.

They are seriously quick and simple and you can fill them with whatever you like- I had them for lunch stuffed with chicken and spinach, but they are great for breakfast also- I like to add chocolate protein powder to the mixture and some sugar and then fill them with cottage cheese and berries.
A great lunch or super way to start your day!