Lemon and Lime Meringue Pie - A kMix Recipe

One of the hubby's favourite desserts has to be lemon meringue pie. He often moans that I do not make this a lot and he is right. I could not tell you the last time, before now, that I made one. So when I mentioned to him that I wanted to try out the balloon whisk attachment on the Kenwood kMix stand mixer he suggested a lemon meringue pie without hesitation. As I was baking for father's day I could not refuse.

When I made the pie it was one of the hottest days of the year so needless to say I did not want to be in the kitchen for hours so I did cheat a little. Instead of making my own pastry I did buy some pre made shortcrust pastry. Unfortunately it did not turn out as well as when I make my own. I must confess I did wonder whether or not to share this recipe simply because of the poor pastry but the pie tasted amazing and the meringue was the best I made! Plus I am only human, not every single meal or recipe I make turns out Instagram perfect, but hey that is life!

When it came to making the meringue the Kenwood kMix did a fantastic job and I was able to hold the bowl upside down in no time! The meringue has to be the best meringue that I have ever made. It was so light and fluffy and once baked had the perfect crispy topping combined with the softer centre.

This is what I did...

Savoury Egg Muffins - Gluten Free and Dairy Free #FreeFromEaster

When it comes to Easter we immediately think of chocolate eggs. But, believe it or not, not everyone likes or can have chocolate. So if you are looking something that is definitely healthier that chocolate and a savoury option then look no further.

Eggs are such a fantastic source of protein, contain various vitamins and minerals and are such a versatile food. Eggs are an essential part of my kitchen and thanks to our chickens, something that we always have in. So when it came to thinking of a savoury recipe for Easter I kept coming back to eggs. Eggs are a traditional Easter item and the perfect ingredient to base a recipe on.

These savoury egg muffins make a fantastic addition to either your party buffet or to just keep in the fridge for when you or the kids are wanting a snack. They can be packed with fillings that please everyone and tailored to individual taste.

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...

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...

Cheesey Courgette Fritters with Cathedral City Cheddar

I will hold my hands up, I am a cheese lover!

I simply adore a good cheese and love how cheese can transform a meal in minutes and, with my children, when cheese is added they will eat anything!

Cathedral City, the nations favourite cheese, have recently started their "Love Cheese? Join the Club" campaign. The campaign features adverts that state the rules of cheese. Here is an example of just one rule...

Being a family of cheese lovers we often have arguments over who gets the nacho with the most cheese! Cathedral City have come up with a list of cheese rules. I thought I would share some of them with you along with my cheesey confessions...

• The bit of cheese that is too awkward to grate must be eaten - This is one that I always follow!
• Crispy bits are irresistible, absolutely no effort should be made to resist - I will admit to often pinching those bits before serving dinner!
• You might feel guilty after multiple visits to the cheeseboard, don't! - I never feel guilty for enjoying a good cheeseboard and enjoy it even more with a glass of wine!

For me and my family cheese is an essential product that is always found in our fridge. Adding distinctive, smooth and creamy Cathedral City to a dish is the perfect way to get reluctant children eating a a meal. It is amazing what some melted cheese can do! Whether it is grated on top of a cottage pie, added to fajitas or melted onto a pasta bake, cheese adds something special to a meal.

Today I am going to share a quick and easy dish that is perfect for a light lunch or to serve with jacket potatoes and salad for an evening meal.

This is what I did...

Smoked Salmon and Mixed Grains Salad

I don't know about you, but as soon as the sunny, warmer weather comes I love to eat healthy salads. So now that the sunshine is here I thought that I would share with you a favourite salad recipe of mine. This salad is perfect to enjoy at home or to pack up and take to work. Whenever I make one for myself at lunch time I always prepare one for the hubby to take to work the following day. I love to use the blue clip top Kilner jars that we have. They are just the right size and ensure that there are no spillages or leaks and they look so pretty too!

This salad combines regular salad vegetables with a mix of cereals, pulses and grains with smoked salmon and eggs. Giving you a perfectly balanced meal, vitamin goodness from your vegetables, protein from your eggs, essential oils from the salmon and fibre from the grains. I have used The Food Doctor easy grains which are ready to eat which makes preparing this salad super easy and quick! The cereals, pulses and beans mix that I have used is a lovely mixture of quinoa, lentils, spelt and kidney beans. They really do add a lovely texture to your salad as well as some wholesome flavours.

This is what I did...

Root Veg and Bacon Hash

I love buying stew packs of vegetables. They are such good value and full of delicious root vegetables. There are so many different meals that you can make with one simple bag of vegetables. Today I am sharing one of our favourite meals. This dish can be made using any left over vegetables that you may have after a Sunday dinner or you can pop to Aldi spend just £1.39 on a stew bag and make a hearty meal that is well within budget!

This is what I did...

Mushroom, Egg and Avocado Brunch - #CookBlogShare Week 7

Hello and welcome to week 7 of CookBlogShare 2016.

Before I hand it over to the lovely foodie bloggers who return each week I thought that, today, I would share with you a delicious brunch recipe. I say brunch but it would be perfect as a lazy Sunday breakfast, or, as I enjoy it, as a light lunch.

You will probably know that I am currently on my own weight loss journey with Slimming World. If you know the Slimming World plan you will know that avocado's are a high syn food. But I am eating them without counting because they contain a good fat that our bodies need, monounsaturated fat. Monounsaturated fat helps to protect our hearts by maintaining the levels of good cholesterol while reducing the bad cholesterol. So it is not good to cut out all fats in our diets. As I always say, everything in moderation

This dish is so quick and easy to make and is a lot tastier than a boring sandwich or a piece of toast!

This is what I did...

Breakfast Frittata

Watching what you eat doesn't always mean you have to miss out on the foods that you love. Following the Slimming World plan has shown me this. By adapting and swapping a few ingredients you can enjoy meals that you love, and what the whole family will eat!

So when I really fancied a good old fry up I decided to make it with a healthy twist!

This delicious, traditional English breakfast inspired frittata contains just 1 syn per average serving containing 2 vegetarian sausages. I replaced the higher syn content sausages with tasty vegetarian ones and replaced bacon with healthier turkey rashers which are syn free!

I also found that this was a great meal to use up a lot of eggs! We have recently had lot of eggs that needed using up. Having three chickens mean that they soon mount up!

This is what I did...

Tapas Tortilla with Chorizo and Cervezas Alhambra Reserva 1925 - Recipe and Giveaway!

When I was 20 years old I moved to Gran Canaria. I lived there for 7 years and one of the things that I fell in love with the most was the food. In particular the tapas.

When I go out I really do struggle to select what dish I am going to eat, that is why, for me, tapas is the ideal meal. As the portions are small you simply select a little of everything that you want to try! 

The best way to wash down tapas has to be with an ice cold cerveza (beer!). So when I was asked to create the perfect tapas dish to be served with Cervezas Alhambra Reserva 1925 I could not wait to get started. 

I have so many tapas dishes that I love so choosing just one really was difficult. However I decided to make a Tortilla with Chorizo. I have used a hot chorizo so really do need an ice cold beer to go with it. When adding chorizo to any dish you do not need to add any other herbs and spices. The chorizo oozes out delicious smoked paprika and garlic flavours as it cooks. It really does make a flavoursome meal!

Full of Veg Crustless Quiche - Family Favourites

Now that the hot weather and summer has arrived we long for lighter meals. Quiche is great for summer but as we all know pastry is not great for us and contains a lot of fat. But you can still enjoy quiche without the pastry! 

This week for my Family Favourites recipe I thought I would share my crustless quiche recipe. This is a great meal to cook if you need to use some eggs up. Now that we have three chickens we have an abundance of eggs so this really is a great meal! It is also great of you grow your own vegetables!

Not only is this an easy summer meal to make but is also full of vegetables and goodness.

This is what I did...

Cheese and Onion Quiche - Perfect for the Picnic Season!

Summer is on it's way! Which means picnic and eating al fresco time is coming!

I love being able to prepare food to eat outside. Whether it is a barbecue or a picnic, as soon as the sun is out so are we!

This week I am sharing with you a super easy cheese and onion quiche. Quiche is a perfect summer pie. It is ideal to pack up for a picnic or to serve along side some salad and barbecue meats or fish.

As well has having delicious food for a picnic you need those all important picnic essentials. From tableware to hampers to drinks chillers to the blanket. Having a picnic to impress can be had with these beautiful picnic essentials from House of Fraser.

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

Extra Special Scrambled Eggs with The Happy Egg Company

With this week being Breakfast Week I thought it would be the perfect time to share with you a scrambled egg recipe that is extra special.

Scrambled eggs are a great easy meal that is full of protein from the eggs. There are so many different variations but the majority of the time we make the good old cheesy version.

The Happy Egg Company have challenged their Happy Egg Taste Makers to come up with a new scrambled egg recipe. We were told that we must incorporate the following into our recipes:

• A vegetable or a source of fish/meat
• A herb or spice
• A surprise ingredient

This got my taste buds going and this is what I came up with...

 Smoked Salmon and Asparagus Scrambled Eggs

Ingredients

2 eggs
1 slice of smoked salmon, chopped
3 spears of asparagus, chopped
1 tsp soft goats cheese
60mls milk
Sprig of dill, chopped

Method

1 - Place the chopped asparagus in a pan of boiling water and simmer for 3 minutes before draining and putting to one side

2 - Beat the eggs in a bowl

3 - Add the milk, smoked salmon, goats cheese and 1tsp of chopped fresh dill

4 - Place in a pan and heat over a medium heat stirring continuously

5 - After the eggs have cooked for 2 minutes add the asparagus and continue cooking until the eggs are cooked

Serve immediately on a slice of seeded bread with a little smoked salmon and a sprig of dill.

The goats cheese adds a creamy flavour to the smokiness from the salmon. It transforms regular scrambled eggs into something extra special.

Disclosure: I am part of The Happy Egg Company Happy Egg Taste Makers bloggers group. This post is my entry to the January Scrambled Egg challenge. I was sent a voucher for the eggs.

I am sharing my recipe with Honest Mum - Tasty Tuesdays.

Fresh Vegetables & Eggs

One of the things that appealed to us when we bought our house last year was the garden. We are extremely lucky to have a big, long garden. I am also extremely lucky to have a fantastic hubby who loves gardening :-)
We have always wanted to grow as many vegetables as we could and have them growing throughout the year. It would be amazing to become more self sufficient with our vegetables.
As soon as our long, terribly cold winter decided it was time to go and let spring time come hubby started making plans for the end of our garden and I started thinking about chickens.
With the continuous increase in food prices I am all for saving money in anyway that we can. I have also become a lot more aware of where our food is coming from. For me it is essential that I prepare meals using the maximum amount of fresh produce that I can. I am not a fan of processed food and am very wary as the majority of the ingredients are additives and preservatives. I want our children to grow up happy and healthy and to appreciate where their food comes from ie not from a tin!
In the end hubby gave in and let me get the chickens. He even built a big run for them. In April we got our 2 birds and from the day we got them we have enjoyed 2 eggs a day and regularly get huge double yolk eggs! Looking after the chickens has become part of our daily routine and the twins enjoy going down the garden to see the chickens, or "bock bocks" as Isabella calls them. I enjoy keeping the chickens so much more than I thought I would. They certainly are little characters.
While I am down the garden in the morning I enjoy seeing how our vegetables are getting on. Thanks to hubby's hard work we currently have potatoes, carrots, kohl rabi, broccoli, leeks, turnips, sprouts and courgettes growing. Our potatoes are just flowering so they will be ready soon. Down with the house we have a couple of greenhouses where we have got 6 different varieties of tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers growing. Hubby has also built me a couple of raised beds for my herb and salad garden.  I get great pleasure and satisfaction from being able to just pop outside and cut off whichever herbs I need to the meal I am cooking. We have recently been enjoying a good harvest of strawberries which we want to increase next year.
Not bad to say we only moved in 7 and a half months ago! I am so looking forward to seeing how our garden grows in the future :-)