Easy Salmon Salad for a Dry Summer Drinking

As soon as the sun comes out we all crave longer, colder drinks. A good refreshing beer is the perfect drink for a hot day. But we do not always want the alcohol that goes with the beers. Recently we have been trying a number of low and zero alcohol options. So when Krombacher got in touch to ask if I would like to try their new non alcoholic beers it was perfect timing!

Today I am going to tell you a bit about Krombacher non alcoholic beers, what we thought of them and share a recipe that is the perfect pairing for both beers.

Krombacher have recently released two non alcoholic beers, a pilsner larger and a wheat beer. The hubby is quite particular when it comes to beers so the Krombacher certainly had it's work cut out. The first beer that the hubby tried was the weizen beer, a wheat beer. When I gave him the beer he actually commented that he could not tell the difference between a regular alcoholic wheat beer and the Krombacher non alcoholic beer! This is definitely a beer that we will be having again. I definitely preferred the lighted pilsner beer. So for us they suited us perfectly, one being an ale connoisseur and the other, me, just liking a cold drink! More and more people are going from alcoholic beers to non alcoholic beers and drinks suppliers have noticed the consumer change and have even seen non alcoholic stores like Dry Drinker having a boom in sales! They even have alcohol free gin!

The foodie that I am I love to pair food with drinks and after doing some research I discovered that both the pilsner and the wheat beers both pair well with similar foods. So selecting the key ingredients was easy. Both beers go well with green vegetables and fish and as it is summer the green vegetables had to be salad items. This salad is not only deliciously healthy but is also so quick and easy to prepare.

This is what I did...

One Pot Fish Stew on a Budget

Who does not love a good way to save money on meals? As the prices of our everyday food goes up I am constantly trying to find ways to make both the food and our money go further. Back in March The Guardian reported that there had been a 2.3% rise in the price of everyday produce that we buy from the supermarket. I am sure that we are not the only family that is feeling the pinch! Despite trying to save money I also want to ensure that we are eating healthily. One food that is full of goodness but always seems to be quite expensive is fish. When I go shopping I always check out the reduced section and when they have fish I get stocked up! 

Before I tell you all about my Fish Stew on a Budget recipe let me tell you how I save money on our meals...

• Use less meat/fish and bulk dishes up with vegetables, beans or grains such a pearl barley or lentils
• Always check out the reduced section in the supermarket
• Freeze any leftovers as they can be added to future meals
• Don't always go for the branded items, try the supermarket own brand and value brands
• Check the price of loose fruit and vegetables and compare as they are often cheaper than the pre packaged ones
• Visit the local independent greengrocer
• Compare prices between the supermarkets
• Visit bargain supermarkets such as Aldi or Lidl
• Before buying household items and toiletries check out the prices at discount home stores such as Home Bargains and b&m
• Take any money off vouchers with you
• Meal plan before you shop and write a list of what you need

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...

Smoked Haddock Kedgeree - Cheap Budget Meal with Aldi

For many families sticking to a food budget is an essential part of life. However with the rising costs of foods and household products it can be hard. Each week I am delighted to be sharing with you a delicious, healthy meals, for the whole family, that can be made for under £5. Having three children and animals means that our weekly shopping bill can be high, but since I changed where I buy our food and household products from I have noticed a huge drop in our weekly expenses. Yesterday I shared my top money saving tips which include meal planning, writing a shopping list, using a calculator as you shop to name a few. But the one biggest influence on our shopping bill has to be switching to Aldi. Last week I posted a picture via my social media platforms showing what I had spent at Aldi for a weeks worth of shopping.

I was not surprised by the response. So many people also commented on how they had also switched to Aldi and were spending a lot less each week! I spent £55.92 and bought vegetables, cereals, free from milk, cows milk, a lot of fruit, cat food and even a box of dishwasher tablets that cost £5.99 so our food shopping actually came to under £50!

Today I am going to share with you a meal that was based on Aldi's Haddock and Kale Kedgeree. In usual Hijacked By Twins style I have taken the recipe and adapted it to taste and added extra vegetables.

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...

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...

Back to School Lunch Box Meal with #PowerofFrozen

Now that we are coming to the end of the long summer holidays it is time to start thinking about the children returning to school. The return to school also brings the return of preparing packed lunches. I don't know about you but making packed lunches always seems like a chore, it is always done at the end of the day and I often get stuck for ideas. So when Iceland challenged me to devise an easy recipe for a healthy packed lunch I knew that it would need to be a lunch that will not take long but that would also be full of healthy foods that the kids would love. The one way I find that my children tuck into a salad is if it is fun, colourful and with mayonnaise.

The beauty of this recipe is that the majority of the ingredients are frozen so there are no worries about whether you have the fresh ingredients to prepare. Even the bread rolls are frozen! One of my packed lunch fails has to be not having enough bread or forgetting to defrost some fresh bread. When I defrost bread that I have frozen it never tastes as good, so when I saw that Iceland stocked bread rolls that could be baked from frozen I knew that they would be a must have! I was not disappointed the rolls came out of the oven just like freshly made bread rolls do.

For my back to school recipe I decided to make a rice salad. Rice is full of carbohydrates so acts as a fuel for the children's bodies. The return to school can be tiring for them so they need all of the energy they can get to keep their bodies and brains going! The addition of an egg provides them with protein to help keep their energy level up. The tuna provides them with healthy omega 3 fatty acids while the vegetables give them their much needed vitamin goodness! When using frozen foods you are guaranteed to have a high amount of vitamins as the vegetables are frozen at the optimum time after picking to preserve all of the goodness that wears off as they ripen.

Today's recipe is colourful, fun and full of goodness. This is what I did...

Delish Fish - Plus a Delish Smoked Salmon Sandwich Recipe

This is the first of what will become a new monthly feature on Hijacked By Twins. A Delish Fish recipe. You will see I have a new badge to the right! I am now part of the Delish Fish Blogger Programme!

I love fish so when Delish Fish asked me if I would like to be part of their blogger programme I jumped at the chance. When it comes to fish it has to be fresh and it has to be good quality. This is something that Delish Fish specialise in. Delish fish have an online shop as well as a shop in Aberdeen and another in Peterhead, Scotland. The business is situated in Peterhead and they have the fish market right on their doorstep, so you know that you are guaranteed to have the freshest fish! Each morning, bright and early at 6am, they go to the market to buy the fish for their customers. As soon as they have the fish it is time to fillet, smoke and package the fish. Delish Fish use a unique way of packaging the fish to ensure it stays as fresh as possible.

The recipe that I am sharing with you today uses their limited edition mustard hot smoked salmon. Delish fish supply a wide range of smoked salmon and fresh fillets. But they do not stop at salmon, Delish Fish also stock shellfish, exotic fish, a catch of the day, gourmet selection such as langoustines and scallops as well as ready prepared, battered fillets.

All of their fish portions come in handy individual packs which are perfect for freezing. When freezing fresh fish you are not compromising on quality. With fish as fresh as what Delish Fish supply you are locking in the goodness.

Today I am going to share with you a Delish sandwich that really is the perfect way to showcase their delicious limited edition mustard hot smoked salmon.

When it came to selecting ingredients for this sandwich I knew exactly which flavours would compliment each other to create a truly posh sandwich!

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...

Vita Coco #SwearbyIt Red Snapper

When Vita Coco set a challenge to create a recipe using their fantastic coconut oil, I knew that I would accept. I love coconut oil and how versatile it is. Some may think that coconut oil is just for sweet treats. Let me tell you that it is so much more than that. Coconut oil is delicious in sweet treats but it is also an amazing addition to savoury dishes. With a pot of Vita Coco coconut oil you have a multi tasker in a pot. How many other ingredients can you use as a beauty product too? Vita Coco coconut oil is a fantastic lip balm and can be used as a face cleanser, oil pulling toothpaste and even as a deep conditioning treatment for your hair!

Today I am sharing with you my recipe that combines coconut oil with Asian inspired flavours of lemongrass, ginger, chilli and garlic. Mixed together they have created a delicious meal that shows you how you can easily incorporate this healthy ingredient.

This is what I did...

Iceland #PowerofFrozen - Honey and Mustard Red Snapper Recipe

As long as I can remember there has always been an Iceland on the high street. But I will admit to not shopping there a great deal. That is until now!

In 2015 Iceland kicked off their #PowerofFrozen campaign working with Holly Bell, Great British Bake Off finalist and blogger at Recipes from a Normal Mum. They created a PowerofFrozen cookbook containing 45 recipes to celebrate 45 years of business. Since then they have worked with bloggers such as Emily Leary from A Mummy Too and Vicki Psarias from Honest Mum. So when they contacted me and asked me to write them a recipe, I could not wait to get started!

It has been a few years since I have shopped in Iceland so I really was not too sure what to expect. I knew that I was guaranteed of finding family favourites such as fish fingers and potato waffles but I was surprised to find them alongside superfoods, rare meats and Slimming World meals. I was amazed by the wide variety and choice they had to offer. When choosing frozen food from Iceland you know that you are going to be buying food that has been carefully selected from around the world. Modern freezing techniques ensure that the nutrients are locked in the product, unlike fresh products that loose nutrients as the edge closer to their best before stage. Thanks to these new techniques you can be guaranteed to have the same taste and quality of fresh food, but with the valuable nutrients kept inside. Selecting frozen food also inevitably reduces food waste. I feel guilty every time I throw vegetables that are past their best into the compost pile. Using frozen produce allows you to use exactly the amount that you require, leaving what is left in the freezer for another meal.

When it came to selecting what food I would like to show you from Iceland, I really was spoilt for choice. They had the usual fish that I was expecting to see like cod, haddock and tuna. But alongside it I was surprised to see red snapper, squid tubes and whole sea bass.

Oregano Prawn Spaghetti

When it comes to herbs and spices I like to keep it simple. I like to use the best quality and not over power foods. It is all about finding the natural balance and combining herbs and food. Using herbs and spices can transform a meal if a second.

This recipe is a simple recipe, there are not a large number of ingredients but the go perfectly together and make a deliciously light meal that is not just tasty but is also a healthy meal.

This is what I did...

Lemon Courgetti with Grilled Tuna

As always January is the healthy eating month. However this year I am wanting to make this a permanent change.

So when Aldi asked if I would like to cook up a healthy meal I had a good idea of what I would make. Last year we bought a spiraliser and I really want to start using it more this year. Aldi always have a lot of lovely fresh fruit and vegetables in store so I knew that they would play a big part in the meal. I decided to go with fish to accompany the vegetables. 

This is what I did...

Merchant Gourmet Red and White Quinoa with Sweet and Sticky Cod

Did you know that 2016 is the year of the pulse? What a great excuse to try more pulses and grains!

Regular readers will know that I love trying new foods and have recently been adding a wider range of pulses and grains to my families meals. Grains and pulses are full of nutritional goodness and add such delicious flavours to a dish.

When Merchant Gourmet asked me if I would like to try some of their products and use them in one of my recipes I could not wait to get started.

To kick start the new year, Merchant Gourmet have teamed up with top chef Sophie Michell to promote their new, nationwide campaign "Eat Well, Live Well". They want people to start the new year as they mean to go on, starting and maintaining healthy eating habits and incorporating more pulses and grains into their diets. Over the year Sophie will be sharing some delicious recipes which she hopes will inspire the nation to eat healthier! Healthy meals which taste great are winning meals in my book!

To get you started I have created a quick and easy recipe which is full of flavour and ideal for a midweek meal when you are short of time. Thanks to the Chinese five spice and the Manuka honey it is full of flavour.

This is what I did...

Proper Pickle Extra Special Sandwich with English Provender

When I saw that Foodies100 were working with English Provender I was excited to see what delicious pickle they had created. I have got to admit that I do love a good pickle on my sandwiches. So when I decided to step up the the challenge of creating a Proper Pickle sandwich I knew that it would be fun.

Creating the perfect sandwich is more complicated than you think. It is easy to make a regular, everyday sandwich, but I wanted to go one step further. I wanted to create a sandwich that you can sit back, enjoy and truly appreciate every single mouthful. Now how many time have you been able to do that? I know, not many times!

Getting all of the core ingredients at the highest quality is fundamental when creating a perfect sandwich. That is why I decided to make my own bread. You simply cannot beat the taste of fresh bread. Once I had decided on the type of bread that I would bake I had my first ingredient ready. Next comes the filling. English Provender have created four deliciously different pickles. They have made two Traditional Proper Pickles, one that is chunky while the other is finely chopped, a Pickled Onion Proper Pickle and a Beetroot Proper Pickle. To say that I was excited to try the pickles was an under statement. They are all truly scrumptious and exactly what you come to expect from a pickle, and more. My favourite pickle had to be the Pickled Onion Proper Pickle. I love pickled onions and can sit and eat them from the jar. This pickle contains yellow mustard seed so gives a real kick of flavours with every bite!

Once I had my bread and the pickle my focus went onto flavours that would combine well and compliment the pickle. One of my favourite flavour combinations has to be salmon and cream cheese. I know that onions go well with salmon too so I decided to give smoked salmon slices, topped with cottage cheese and finished with a spoon of Pickled Onion Proper Pickle and, WOW, it works so well! I seriously had to stop myself from eating all of the salmon before I had prepared the sandwich in the pictures.

Let me tell you how to make this Proper Pickle Extra Special Sandwich!

Smoked Fish Bake - Family Favourties

Fish has always been a favourite of mine and I love finding new ways to add more to our diets. The down side of wanting to eat more fish is the expense. I think that fish has certainly got more expensive. That is why I always keep an eye out in the supermarkets reduced section as the majority of the fresh fish can be frozen. It is also a great way to get stocked up. The other week when we were out I found a lot of fresh smoked fish reduced.

That is how this meal came about.

I had some lovely smoked salmon and smoked cod and wanted to make a dish that would be both easy and one that the whole family would enjoy.

This is what I did...

Grilled Oriental Salmon

I love salmon and find that it is such a versatile fish to use in cooking.

Today I am sharing a recipe that marinades the salmon and fills it with Oriental flavours. Leaving the salmon to marinade over time allows it to absorb much more flavour than simply pouring over during cooking. When this salmon is paired with super healthy and super delicious quinoa and mixed vegetables you know that you are having a meal that is full of goodness!

This is what I did...

Grilled Oriental Salmon

Ingredients

4 salmon fillets
6tbsp tamari sauce
4tbsp pure maple syrup
4 garlic cloves, crushed
1/2 red chilli, chopped
10g root ginger, chopped
200g quinoa
1 orange pepper, chopped
1 large leek, cut into thin strips
1 large red onion, chopped
1 large courgette, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
2 hand fulls of spinach

Method

1 - Place the tamari sauce, maple syrup, garlic cloves, red chilli and ginger in a large dish (big enough to sit the salmon fillets in) and mix together

2 - Place the salmon fillets in the sauce and cover thoroughly

3 - Cover and marinade for about 2 hours

4 - Rinse the quinoa

5 - Bring to the boil 600mls of water and add the quinoa

6 - Cover the pan and simmer for 20 minutes

7 - Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a pan and gently cook the pepper, leeks, red onion, courgette and garlic for 5 minutes or until the vegetables are starting to soften. Remove from the heat, add the spinach and cover.

8 - Heat the grill to a high temperature

9 - Remove the salmon fillets and place under the grill and cook for 5 minutes on each side. During the cooking time keep on spooning over the remaining marinade sauce to ensure a deeper flavour.

10 - Once the quinoa is cooked separate and fluff up the grains with a fork

11 - Add the mixed vegetables to the quinoa and mix together

12 - Serve the salmon on a bed of the quinoa and vegetables, drizzle over any remaining sauce

The marinade give the salmon a real depth of flavours that go perfectly with the vegetables and quinoa. The sweetness from the maple syrup along with the sharp flavours of the ginger and chilli are perfectly balanced and go hand in hand with the salmon.

Enjoy x

Tuna Steak with Courgette Noodle Stir Fry - Family Favourites

I have recently bought a spiralizer. After seeing so many good reviews I decided to go ahead and get one. I have been looking forward to making vegetable noodles and spaghetti.

This week I am sharing a recipe that uses the spiralizer to make courgette noodles. They are a delicious and healthier alternative to traditional noodles.

This meal is not only extremely healthy but quick and easy to make.

Here is this weeks Family Favourites recipe...

Baked Salmon and Fennel

Salmon is such a versatile fish that can be combined with so many flavours to create tasty dishes.

Salmon can be cooked in a variety of ways. It can be pan fried, grilled, barbecued, poached and baked.

This recipe is using one of my favourite ways to cook salmon. Baked in wrapped in foil. This is not only an easy way to cook salmon but I also find that when the fish is wrapped in baking paper and foil, as it steams cooks, the fish really absorbs any additional flavours that you add.

This recipe combines salmon with fennel and lemon. I love the aniseed flavours that mellow out as the fennel is cooked but still lightly linger in the salmon.

This is what I did...