Easy School Holiday Meals with Birds Eye

When Birds Eye got in touch with me and asked me if I would like to try out some of their spring recipes I knew that the school holidays would be the ideal time to try one out. During the school holidays we all want to have meals that are quick and easy. When you have days out or have just had a busy day at home you want to be able to prepare a meal that is both nutritious and tasty.

Birds Eye do a great range of frozen fish, chicken, vegetables, potato products, pie, ready meals and even breakfast sweet treats. I decided to use some of their delicious fish products in a recipe. The Birds Eye Inspirations range allow you to feast on fish that is full of flavour and that has been paired with perfect extra ingredients. As you know I am following the Slimming World eating plan and will admit that it did play a part in what I decided to get. When I was looking at the syn value in the fish I was delighted to find that the Salmon in Lemon and Dill Sauce was syn free it went straight into my trolley!

I decided to make a meal based on the serving suggestion on the front of the box. The picture shows the salmon on a bed of pasta and peas.

This is what I did...

Quinoa Stir Fry Salad

Quinoa is one of those great ingredients that I just cannot get enough of. I love it! It is such a versatile ingredient. I can be used in sweet dishes as well as savoury and is so quick to prepare. I always have a good supply of quinoa in the house!

Not only is quinoa versatile and tasty it is also a super food. Quinoa is gluten free and a complete protein that contains all of the essential amino acids which helps your body to repair muscle, which is especially needed after exercising. Quinoa contains three times more iron than brown rice so it is an ideal addition to your diet if you suffer from anaemia. As well as amino acids and iron it is also a great source of folate, manganese, magnesium and zinc. When I cook quinoa I usually cook it in a bulk as once it is cooked it can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days!

My quinoa stir fry salad is a bit of a mixture of meals. It contains stir fried vegetables but it is like a salad. It can be eaten warm or cold the following day. It is such a versatile base to a meal. I have enjoyed it with smoked salmon and eggs, while the hubby had his the following day with mackerel in tomato sauce. The possibilities are endless!

This is what I did...

Kale and Egg Brunch

Since starting the Slimming World eating plan back in October I have been focused on good, healthy food to get my weight down. I have now lost 30lbs and now is the time to start thinking about toning up and getting fit. My weight loss has slowed down and this is due to me relaxing the eating plan a little and then need for more exercise. I was recently referred to the gym via my lovely doctor who could see how my belly was affecting me. During my twin pregnancy I got huge and my poor stomach was stretched more than I thought it was possible. I carried two, beautiful, healthy babies so believe me I am not ashamed of how my stomach looks now. It is a testament to carrying two 6lbs babies at the same time. But I do get very uncomfortable as I have been left with excess skin. After visit the doctor, who I will admit was so much more understanding than I was expecting she advised me to loose weigh, which I am doing, and improve my fitness. After waiting for almost 4 months I got the call from the gym! I have had my induction session and a tailor made workout has been set for me. This week is my second week of going to the gym. At the moment I have only been twice but I am hoping to up it to 2 sessions a week. 

Now that I am focusing on my fitness, the food, on my gym days, has changed. I am not concentrating so much on the 'syns' but eating what I know is good for me. Before I go to the gym I start the day with a bowl of my Full of Energy Porridge. This bowl of porridge is full of goodness from the oats, banana, cinnamon and peanut butter, just what my body needs before a good workout. What you eat after a workout is just as important. Protein is essential after exercise as it helps to repair your muscles. My go to protein foods are eggs and chicken. Today I am sharing with you one of my favourite post workout meals, Kale and Egg Brunch. This is such a simple meal that is full of flavour and full of goodness!

This is what I did...

Syn Free, Gluten Free Pancakes!

Tomorrow is pancake day and if you are watching your weight it can be a day of temptation. But if you want to enjoy pancakes without the guilt then I have the answer! Since making my Banana Pancakes last week I have been experimenting with eggs and yogurt and trying a range of different ingredients and I kept coming back to the most simple way of making a guilt free pancake. 3 simple ingredients, eggs, sweetener and flavoured essence. These pancakes are sweet omelette's and they are so delicious!

The beauty of these pancakes is that they can be made using a wide range of flavoured essence. So far my favourite has to be vanilla and salted caramel. To make them even healthier you can top them with yogurt and super healthy fruit.

This is what I did...

Cottage Pie Topped with Butternut Squash - Pressure King Pro Recipe

A couple of weeks ago I told you about my new favourite kitchen gadget, the Pressure King Pro. Since I received this product is has been used so many times I have lost count. As it is being used so much and how much I genuinely love the product I am going to be posting many more recipes that I have made in the Pressure King Pro.

Today I am sharing with you one of our most loved recipes, cottage pie. This is a recipe that I have tweaked a lot over time, I have added new ingredients, tried different ideas and it really has evolved over time. When I started to use the Pressure King Pro I knew that a cottage pie sauce would cook beautifully in it and I was not wrong!

This is what I did...

Smoked Fish Tagine - 101 Cook Books

One of my favourite Christmas presents had to this gorgeous, traditional tagine.

I have wanted to invest in a tagine for a while now and my lovely eldest son picked up on this and asked the hubby to buy me one for him to give to me as my Christmas present. This gift means a lot for two reasons, the first is that it is something that I have really wanted but secondly, J took the time to listen and realise this was something that I wanted and found this one for me himself. My first born is certainly growing up at a scarily rapid rate! As this is a traditional tagine a heat diffuser is needed to prevent cracking, so once I had one I could not wait to get cooking! 

You may also see in the title I have a new theme. This is the first, what I hope to become a weekly feature, 101 Cook Books posts. Like a lot of foodies I have a huge collection of cook books. I have had a count of the books that are in my kitchen, office and living room bookshelf and have actually accumulated about 101 cook books! Before I counted them I had no idea how many I had and yes, I was amazed by the number. My 101 Cook Books posts are my way of sharing the books that I love but I am also wanting the posts to encourage me to use my books more often. Each week I am going to use one of my cook books to make a meal and I am going to blog about it. My posts will feature the recipe, tell you what, if anything, I changed and tell you a little bit about the book. Over time I hope to tell you about all of my cook books and who inspires my everyday cooking.

Today's recipe is based on a deliciously slimming recipe that I found in Slimming World Free Food Feasts. Since I started to follow the Slimming World eating plan this has to be one of my favourite go to cook books. It contains 60 fantastic "free" recipes. If you do not know how Slimming World works, "free" foods are foods that can be eaten freely, no calorie counting, no weighing and no limit except from your appetite! My Smoked Fish Tagine has been based on the Slimming World Squash, Swede and Chickpea Tagine recipe. The majority of the recipe has been followed, I have not used the garlic as the recipe states as they are high in FODMAP's but have added carrots, red pepper and smoked fish.

This is what I did...

Smoked Salmon and Kale Pasta - An Aldi Recipe

Recently kale has become my favourite green vegetable to add to meals. When I serve it on it's own, as a side serving, the children are not keen but as soon as I add it to a sauce or mix it with other ingredients they all eat it with no questions asked. So any recipe that contains kale is an instant hit with me.

When I was looking at Aldi's Feed the Family for £5 recipes their Smoked Salmon Pasta immediately caught my eye. Smoked salmon is a fantastically versatile ingredient and thanks to Aldi it is a more affordable ingredient to use. The recipe is part of Aldi's latest campaign that is showing families that you can prepare healthy, tasty meals for under £5. Over the coming weeks I am going to be trying out some of their recipes and taking some inspiration from them to show you that it can be done. Sticking to a budget does not mean that you should compromise on healthy choices.

Today I am going to be telling you how I have taken inspiration from Aldi's Smoked Salmon Pasta recipe which is served with a spinach and walnut salad. I have not made the salad but have added kale and broccoli to the pasta and have even made it Slimming World friendly by making a few simple swaps.

This is what I did...

Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Soup

Soups are a perfect winters lunch. They are warming, super healthy and full of nutritional goodness. If you make your own they are even slimming! One of my favourite soups has to be a good old tomato soup. The tomato is such a versatile ingredient and it is an ideal base for soups. My recipe today uses the base of tomatoes but the other vegetables really are the stars of the show.

For this soup I have used roasted vegetables. Roasting vegetables gives them an added boost of flavour, their sweetness really does come through and transforms their overall flavours. Combined with the trusty tomato this soup is a bowlful of healthy deliciousness.

This is what I did...

The Ultimate Syn Free BLT

Who doesn't love a good sandwich? I certainly do but now that I am following the Slimming World eating plan I cannot always have bread. So to keep lunches exciting I have been thinking of ways to enjoy a sandwich type meal without needing to count the syns.

One of my favourite sandwiches has to be the classic BLT, bacon, lettuce and tomato. This recipe was created one hungry lunchtime when all I wanted was a BLT. I got thinking about how I could make it without using bread and, in my opinion, this is even better that the classic bread version.

My Ultimate Syn Free BLT is packed with speedy vegetables and protein so you know that with each bite you are getting nothing but goodness!

This is what I did...

Naked Coleslaw - Low FODMAP and Syn Free

For the next few weeks we are following the FODMAP eating plan.

For years the hubby has suffered from digestive discomfort and one day while he was looking on the internet he discovered the FODMAP plan. FODMAP stands for Fermantable Oligo-saccharides Di-saccharides Mono-saccharides and Polyols, otherwise known as FODMAP's. FODMAP's are carbohydrates that can be hard to digest and cause digestive discomfort and eliminating foods which contain these carbohydrates can ease symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain, gases and bowel problems. They are found in various fruits, vegetables, dairy and many other foods. After doing my own research and visiting various different websites I now have a list of FODMAP foods. The list is divided into two sections, high 'red' FODMAP foods, which I need to avoid in the hubby's meals and low 'green' FODMAP foods which he can eat.

This has meant that my meal plans need to be planned more carefully. Now when I write my weekly meal plan I am carefully looking at the ingredients that are needed for each individual meal and adapting them accordingly.

When I was planning this weeks meals I found a recipe in the Slimming World magazine that I knew everyone would love, but it was served with a homemade coleslaw which contained many high FODMAP ingredients. This got me thinking how I could make a coleslaw type salad that is both syn free for me and, of course, low FODMAP for the hubby. What I created was a huge success and is now a firm favourite.

This is what I did...

Chunky Root Veg and Bean Soup

At this time of year I love a good warming bowl of soup. I find it so comforting, on a cold day to sit inside, snug and warm with a big bowl of soup. Not only is it a great comfort food but it is also a great way to get plenty of goodness into our diets.

While shopping the other day I spotted a stew vegetables bundle reduced down to just 25p and I knew it would be ideal for a soup so popped it into my basket! The vegetables that are in this super chunky soup are cheap roots and full of flavour.

This is what I did...

Smoked Haddock and Black Tiger Prawn Fat Free Veggie Noodles

If there is one way of serving vegetables that I love it has to be in noodles. I love using my spiraliser and am always looking for new ways to use them in our meals. They are not only a great way to get more vegetables into our diets but a quick and easy way to prepare vegetables.

Today's recipe with Aldi is all about the delicious fresh products that are available in Aldi. In this recipe I have combined two different vegetables to create bright noodles. Paired them with some lovely smoked fish and black tiger prawns then used some great, fat free Quark to make a creamy sauce.

Now that Halloween and bonfire night are done for yet another year you know what is coming. Yes, as of next week Tuesdays are going to be all about Christmas with Aldi. Last year I focused on how to have a budget Christmas. This year I am going to be showing you how Aldi can not only help you save money this Christmas but how they provide top quality food and drinks at the bargain price that we have grown to expect from Aldi. Next week I am going to be telling you about the Christmas in July event that I went to where I had a preview of their Christmas range. I am not going to disclose too much today, but I was extremely impressed with what I saw and am excited to showcase some of their best products. You can have a sneak peak at their Christmas products here. I will also be telling you what I will be covering over the coming weeks.

Now back to today. This is what I did...

Lentil Lasagne

Recently I have been cooking more and more vegetarian meals and substituting mince for lentils. I have found that our meals which are lentil based have been a huge success with both us adults and the children.

We always enjoy a good lasagne but as I am trying to loose weight I decided that I wanted to adapt the usual recipe and make it a syn free lasagne. After looking a various meat based lasagne recipes on Slimming World I finally had ways to make it healthier but keeping the traditional lasagne flavours.

This is what I did...

Organic Carrot and Lentil Soup - Aldi Organic Range

September has been Organic month and I have trying to swap some of our everyday foods for organic alternative. During the month I have found that some ingredients have been expensive to swap and we simply cannot make a permanent change, especially when, like us and most families, money is tight and you need to budget. So when I was contacted and asked if I would like to try some organic products from Aldi I was curious and could not wait to see what they had to offer.

I will admit that I have never done a weekly shopping trip at Aldi before so this was going to be a completely new experience. I have, of course, seen the television adverts about their prices and have heard many people talk about how much money they saved. But for me, saving money is not everything, the quality of food is much more important. As a mum, wife and food blogger I am passionate about good food and good quality is everything.

When I heard that Aldi were starting to introduce their own affordable organic range this certainly sparked my interest. If I was able to buy organic, all of the time, at affordable prices I definitely would.

Sweet Mama Squash and Tomato Soup

During the cold months there is nothing better than a warming lunch of homemade soup.

This week in my organic vegetables box I received a Sweet Mama Squash. Squash is a perfect base for a wholesome soup. I often find that if it is cooked any other way my children won't eat it, but give them a soup with squash in and they will demolish it! Plus soups are a sneaky way of getting some more vegetables in them!

This is what I did...

Sweet Mama Squash and Tomato Soup

Ingredients

400g sweet mama squash, diced
4 shallots, chopped
1 stalk of celery, sliced
1 large red Ramiro pepper, chopped
1 400g tin of chopped tomatoes
1 vegetable stock cube

Method

1 - Place all of the vegetables in either a soup maker or a pan

2 - Pour over the chopped tomatoes

3 - Place the stock cube in the empty tin, fill with boiling water and mix until the stock cube has dissolved then pour into the soup maker or pan

4 - Either start the soup maker on a smooth setting or bring the ingredients to the boil then simmer for approximately 20 minutes or until the vegetables have softened

5 - If cooking in a pan, remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly before blitzing in a blender until smooth

This soup is delicious on its own, or why not add some fresh seeded bread. To make it a little bit creamier add a teaspoon of cream to each bowl before serving.

If you are following the Slimming World plan this is a delicious syn free soup!

Enjoy x

I am sharing this recipe with Honest Mum - Tasty Tuesdays and A Mummy Too - Recipe of the Week

Easy Vegetable Frittata - Family Favourites

Now that the chickens are laying again we have an abundance of lovely fresh eggs. As I cannot bake due to being "oven-less" they have really built up. We all love eggs! That is why I thought I would share one of our favourite egg meals with you for this weeks Family Favourites recipe.

This week I am sharing my Easy Vegetable Frittata. This is a quick and easy meal to make and a great way to sneak extra vegetables into your family's diet. This can be served with potatoes, chips, salad, or on it's own as a light lunch. If you are following the Slimming World plan then this is a great syn free meal.

In this recipe I have listed the vegetables that we enjoy in the frittata but as this is such a versatile dish, the vegetables can be change according to taste. It is also delicious with meats such as chorizo.

Here is this weeks Family Favourites recipe...

Vegetable Frittata

Ingredients

6 eggs
6 chestnut mushrooms, chopped
1 red onion, chopped
1 red pepper
6 cherry tomatoes, halved
6 spears of asparagus
1 medium courgette, chopped
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 tsp fresh parsley, chopped
Low calorie olive oil spray

Method

1 - Oil a large frying pan with the low calorie olive oil spray and gently fry the onion, mushrooms, courgette and red pepper until they are starting to soften

2 - Beat the eggs together with the black pepper and parsley and pour over the vegetables, cook over a medium heat for 5 - 10 minutes, or until the base has set

3 - While the eggs are cooking place the spears of asparagus in a pan of boiling water and simmer for 3 minutes, drain and keep on one side

4 - Once the base of the frittata has set place the asparagus spears on the top and arrange the cherry tomato halves and place under a high grill

5 - Grill for a further 5 minutes or until the top has cooked, remove from the grill, slice and serve

This is a deliciously light meal that can be enjoyed by the whole family. This is great served with potatoes and salad. For children who do not like salad try serving it with either their favourite vegetables or baked beans! If you have any leftover simply place it in the fridge and enjoy cold the following day.

I am sharing this recipe with A Mummy Too - Recipe of the Week and Supergolden Bakes - Cook, Blog, Share