Finding inspiration in others...

Finding inspiration in others...

Today I was re-reading some of the nice comments that were said to me about my blog. Many of the comments talked about being inspired and this made me really think about the idea of inspiration. The dictionary definition of Inspiration is;

“The process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, esp. to do something creative: flashes of inspiration".

I often feel inspired to cook when I see others cooking. I am a massive ‘Foodie’ and I could easily spend hours upon hours watching the food channel. I love everything Nigella and I often think why the hell I can’t just look like her?

Well that’s not going to happen any time soon so I guess I will have to settle for looking like me! Getting back to what I was saying today about inspiration. I would like to post a fellow ‘Slimming Worlder’ and friend’s food. I think the first place I gained inspiration was at my weigh in group. Or as I sometimes like to call it Fat Fighters!

There are people from all walks of life at my group and I get a little inspiration for each and every single person.  I get hugs and encouragement from a lovely lady Sharon in my group who has lost close to 5stone in weight. Jackie has inspired me to continue and not quit slimming world as she has also suffered a leg injury. Lise is always there cracking the jokes and cheering everyone up reminding us all, that we are all human. There are so many more to list but I'm sure you will read about them later in my blogs.

It is actually a recipe by Lise that I have decided to post today as her food looks completely divine, but not only for that reason. I am also posting it as Lise inspires me to not be so lazy. With two children (another on the way) a husband and a director of her own business Lise still manages to cook such fabulous looking food. As do many of the other in the group. It just goes to show if you really want to you can find time to make healthy and delicious food.

So below is Lise's version of Jamie Oliver's 'Empire Roast Chicken'

  http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/chicken-recipes/empire-roast-chicken

Above is the link for  Jamies Recipe. However as we are on slimming world we have made some adaptions.
For example instead of using Olive Oil we substitute with Olive Oil fry light and  remove all skin (This hold a lot of fat!). We also omit any butter that is used or syn it. I would also swap the natural yogurt for a fat free yogurt. Everything else would be fine to use on Slimming World and is a perfect adaption to a Sunday roast. It is full of flavour and colour and that is the things I look for in my meals. None of this boring brown rice business. Bore off. 


Any way thank you for taking  the time to read my blog again. I thought it would be refreshing to post someone else's ideas. I hope to share many more of my lovely slimming world groups recipes. If you would like me to post a recipe of interest please feel free to message me on my Facebook or follow my twitter @_calliefornia_ . Again many thanks for reading.

Happy Monday!

Callie x x x

Hunters Chicken Recipe.

So as an example of this I am going to post what I just had for dinner. The recipe I have made is for Hunters Chicken, which is basically like a harvester bacon and cheese melt. I make this a low fat version by making my own BBQ sauce and I use bacon trimmed of all fat. I poach my chicken and  my topping of cheese is my 28g allowance of cheese for the day. I have served it with corn on the cob wedges made in my actifry (will explain more later) and a big salad! Right here it is!

This is my recipe for my Syn free BBQ 

1 onion, peeled and roughly chopped

1 tsp mild chilli powder 

227ml/8fl oz Passata 

3 tbsp Artificial Sweetener 

4 tbsp Balsamic Vinegar

1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

1/2 tsp mustard powder

salt and freshly ground black pepper

Spray a pan with fry light and saute your onion and Chilli powder over a low heat for 5 minutes until softened

Stir in the remaining ingredients, bring to the boil and simmer for 10 minutes until thickened.

For a smooth BBQ sauce like the one above, then blend it all up in a blender.

You can store in a glass Jar and keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks

The Moral of this Blog.... YOU CAN EAT FOOD ON A DIET.
Proof is in the pudding with my friend Anthony with 3 stone weight loss to date. 

Any way hope you have found this blog insightful. Look forward to posting more!

Nighty Night
Callie x x

Valencian Paella recipe.

Wowza dinner was so gorgeous tonight. In honor of my Spanish heritage I decided to make a low fat version of Valencian Paella. Spanish food is my ultimate favorite cuisine, its devilishly delicious and beautiful to look at. Just thinking about Aaoli, Patatas Bravas, Tortilla and Paella makes my mouth water. Can I just be in Spain now please? Thanks.

Well unfortunately I cannot be in beautiful Spain but I can try and bring a little of Spain to South West London. Here is my version of Valencian Paella.

Firstly you will need the ingredients here.

<---------- 1 medium sized onion, finely chopped

1 red pepper, sliced
1 green pepper, sliced
11 oz Paella Rice

1 pack of chicken thigh, diced
Packet of raw tiger prawns
Pinch of saffron
1.5 pt chicken stock
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
75g of chorizo (optional at 7 syns for the pack)



1. Fry onions and Chorizo over a low heat with fry light,  in a wide frying pan or wok  you will also need a lit. Then add your chicken thighs. (Putting the chicken in now coats it in the lovely flavour from the Chorizo)

2. Stir in the garlic and rice and then add the stock and saffron.

3. Cook over a medium heat for 20 mins with the lid off. What ever you do DON'T STIR. If you stir you will have a risotto

4. Add the prawns and cook for 5-10 more minutes with your lid on.

Serve piping hot.

Voila! Spain in your kitchen with a fraction of the calories!

         

Muchos Amor ...

Reduced fat Red Pepper Hummus recipe.

Well I don't know about you but I am glad to see the back of this week I think it has almost been a plan for Transport for London to sabotage me. I have been late nearly every day due to rude bus drivers not stopping and tube drivers striking its been a right pa-lava. To top it off it's been wet and miserable all week,  so much for the drought aye? Oh well in the words of Rhianna 'Here's to the freaking weekend' ♫♪.

Oh totally forgot to mention, I decided to dye my hair last night. I think the colour was deep Auburn, see I am trying out this new me, new attitude, new image thing. I guess I am trying to step out of my boundaries and be a bit different. Well it kind of worked I have got this Gingerish tone to my hair which is different to my normal boring brown. Its not much but its the step in the right direction I guess.

I thought I would share this recipe I have for a low fat version of Hummus. I love snacking and I whilst I am learning to be happy with body I am also keen to be healthy. 

Here is my version of Red Pepper Hummus:

  Ingredients:

 - tin of chick peas (drained) (free)

- Half a Jar of peppadew peppers in brine (free)

- 3 cloves of garlic

- Juice of half a large lemon

- 1.5 tbsp's of Very low fat fromage frais (Don't always use it if I don't have it still works well without)

- salt and pepper to taste

Blend all ingredients together with a hand blender and that's it! Hey presto a bloody lovely Red Pepper Hummus! Perfect with some carrot sticks or even some wholemeal bread sliced.