Gammon and Roasted Vegetable Pasta

I was going through the fridge trying to decide what to have for dinner, I was having a fussy day, but remembered i really enjoyed the roasted vegetables i made the other day, then i noticed some leftover pasta and a gammon steak, so i decided to put it all together. I'm so glad i did as it was yummy!!!!

This dish is syn free and full of super free.

Preheat oven gas mark 5, 200c, 400f.

Ingredients

1 onion chopped

1 pepper sliced

1 tbsp capers

2 tomatoes halved

1 gammon steak fat removed and diced

8 mushrooms sliced

2 cups cooked pasta

1 tsp Cajun seasoning

Method

In a tray sprayed with frylight place the tomatoes, and scatter the onions and pepper around them, then sprinkle over the capers, season and roast for about 20 minutes.

In a pan sprayed with frylight, fry the gammon until cooked through, then remove. Then fry the mushrooms until golden.

Warm the pasta in a covered microwave bowl for 2 minutes. 

When the vegetables are cooked add to the pan, with the gammon and pasta, crush the tomatoes and then stir together until all the pasta is coated, then serve.

Slow Cooked Italian Pot Roast

I love a great roast on a sunday, but most of the time haven't got the time to do it, so cooking my beef in the slow cooker really helped and the meat was so moist and tender too.
This dish is syn free on extra easy and there is loads of leftovers which could go great with pasta, rice or a jacket potato.

You need to make up a onion mix for the dish, it is very simple and makes the dish taste great. Don't worry about the amount of onion in it as you can't taste it in the end.

Ingredients

1 large onion sliced
8oz cremini mushrooms sliced
2 carrots roughly chopped
2lb braising steak all fat removed
300 ml beef stock
500 ml passata
3 tbsp tomato puree
1 tbsp italian seasoning

Onion Mix

8 tsp dried onion flakes
1.5 tsp dried parsley
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp turmeric
½ tsp celery salt
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp sweetener
¼ tsp freshly ground pepper

Mix them all together.

Method

In a slow cooker, layer the onion, carrot and mushrooms on the bottom, lay the beef on top, sprinkle over the onion mix and pour over the passata and beef stock, mix in the tomato puree and Italian seasoning. Set to cook on low for 8 hrs. Break up the beef and serve covered with the sauce.

Fiery Asian Slaw

This is a great side dish for fish, chicken, beef, pork anything really!!
It is crunchy, has a kick and is so tasty that it gets your taste buds tingling and your mouth begging for more as so many flavours bounce off your tongue!!

Unfortunately it isn't syn free, but with all these fantastic superfree ingredients and so much flavour it is worth the small amount of syns it is!!

The whole batch is 5 syns on extra easy and i reckon as a side or in a salad it served about 4 people.

Ingredients

1 bag of slaw mix, i got mine from Asda, it had a ranch dressing in it, which my hubby had on his salad.
100ml fresh orange juice  2 syns
1 tbsp rice vinegar
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tsp sesame oil  2 syns
1 tbsp hot chilli sauce (sriracha) 0.5 syns
1 tsp grated ginger
½ tsp honey  0.5 syns
handful chopped coriander

Method

It couldn't be simpler, whisk all the wet ingredients together, then mix in the rest. let it rest for at least 30 minutes to let the flavours infuse.

Sausage, Mushroom, Potato and Feta Gratin

This is a tasty comforting dish, quick and easy to cook. I used weight watcher sausages at 0.5 syns each on extra easy.

I used the feta as my healthy A but you can syn it 3.5 syns for 25g.

Preheat oven 200c, 400f, gas mark 5

Ingredients

8 low fat sausages, skinned and crumbled

1 large onion chopped

8oz cremini mushrooms chopped

1 tsp chopped thyme

1lb potatoes washed and diced

100 ml chicken broth

90g feta crumbled

Method

Spray a large baking tray with frylight and spread the potatoes out, spray with more frylight and roast for 30 minutes, tossing and spraying again halfway through.

In a large frying pan brown the sausages and remove.

Fry the onions, thyme and mushrooms until golden, return the sausage and stir in the roasted potatoes, stir in the chicken broth, then tip it all into an oven dish, sprinkle with the feta, cover the dish with foil and bake for 15 minutes, then uncover and bake for another 10 minutes and serve with a big salad.

Gammon, Hash Omelette

I cooked a gammon joint in the slow cooker and it came out amazing, i added nothing to it, just the joint and cooked it on low for 8 hours.
It was used for snacks, sandwiches, salads and this delicious omelette.
It is syn free on extra easy.

Ingredients

3 eggs beaten
salt and pepper
200g cooked gammon chopped
250g mushrooms chopped
½ onion diced
½ cup jalapeños
1 tsp Cajun seasoning

Method

In a frying pan sprayed with butter frylight, fry the onions and mushrooms until golden, season with salt and pepper, add the Cajun seasoning, fry for 1 minute, add the gammon and fry for 1 minute. Pour over the egg cook for 2 minutes, then place under a grill until just cooked through, and serve.

Sausage Casserole

An easy dish that you just throw together and let cook, it tastes terrific and is pure comfort food, you can have it by itself or with pasta, potatoes, rice.
The sausages are synful but everything else is free and it is full of super free.
I used Sainsburys Cumberland low fat sausages which are 0.5 syns each.

Ingredients

1 package of sausages
1 onion chopped
8 oz mushrooms chopped
1 red pepper diced
1 tin tomatoes
2 garlic cloves chopped
1 tbsp italian seasoning
2 carrots sliced
1 tin baked beans
200ml beef stock
salt and pepper


Methods

In a pan sprayed with frylight brown the sausages. put into the slow cooker. Fry the mushrooms until they are golden and add to the slow cooker, add the rest of the ingredients stir together and cook on low for 8 hours.

Chicken and Rosemary Casserole

I love the winter when all the one pot and warming comfort foods come out, just like this lovely chicken casserole, just what you need on a cold frosty night.

This is a cheats casserole though as it doesn't need hours of cooking.

Ingredients

4 chicken breasts roasted with rosemary

4 rashers of bacon with all fat cut off sliced

1 onion chopped

8oz mushrooms sliced

bunch of asparagus

600ml chicken stock

1 sprig rosemary finely chopped

1 tbsp flour 3.5 syns

½ tsp celery salt

fresh ground black pepper

Method

Fry the onions until they are soft, add the bacon and mushrooms and fry until golden, stir in the flour celery salt, pepper and rosemary and cook for 2 minutes, pour in the stock and bring to a boil, return to a simmer and add the asparagus and simmer for 20 minutes, until the asparagus is cooked and the sauce has thickened, and serve.

Sweet Potato, Tomato and Potato Bake

This is a lovely side dish that will go with anything, i served it with my Thai Crab Cakes, but it would be great with Cajun Chicken, Roast Pork, or a steamed fish fillet.

Syn free on extra easy....

Preheat oven 200c, 400f, gas mark 5

Ingredients

1 large sweet potato sliced

1 lb maris piper potatoes sliced

3 large tomatoes sliced

1 large onion sliced

1 tsp mixed herbs

salt and pepper 

Method

Spray an ovenproof dish with frylight, lay the onion out on the bottom of the dish and layer the vegetables  on top like in the picture. Sprinkle over the herbs and salt and pepper. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes, then remove the foil spray again and bake for another 30 minutes.

Cajun Bacon and Mushroom Cheeseburger

I already have a burger recipe on here, but i thought i would design a different flavoured one and add a few more toppings.
To say it went down well is an understatement, my husband went mad for them and they go so well with the cajun fries.

Makes 4 burgers

Ingredients

500g extra lean mince beef (5% or less)

2 tsp Worcester sauce

½ tsp garlic salt

½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
3 tsps cajun seasoning
2 onions sliced
4 rashers of bacon fat cut off
8 open cup mushrooms

4 small wholemeal rolls

4 slices of low low toastie cheese

Method

Mix together the beef, worcester sauce, garlic salt, 1 tsp of the cajun seasoning and pepper, make into 4 patties and chill for 30 minutes.

Heat a frying pan with frylight and fry the onions over a medium low heat until they are soft and golden for about 40 minutes.
In another pan sprayed with frylight cook the bacon and mushrooms, set aside and keep warm.
Wipe out the pan and spray with frylight again and brown the rolls on the insides.

Sprinkle the patties with the remaining cajun seasoning and fry the patties for 3 minutes, don't move or fiddle with the patties until they are to be turned over. Once you have turned them, cover them with a bowl to steam for 2 minutes then top the patties with a slice of cheese, cover again till the cheese has melted.
Put a layer of the caramelised onions on the bottom of the roll and add 2 mushrooms, top with the patty then the bacon and put the lid of the roll on, repeat with the rest of the burgers. Serve with synfree cajun fries.

Stir fried Vegetables and Noodles

This is a noodle dish i made to go with the Asian Flank Steak. It is full of superfree tasty vegetables, you can use whatever vegetables you want, i used what i like and goes well with Asian flavours.

You could have this as a vegetable dish by itself or add chicken or pork to it.

It's syn free on extra easy.

Ingredients

1 onion chopped

1 red pepper diced

a small head of broccoli 

a bunch of asparagus chopped into 4

1 cup edamame beans

8oz oriental mushrooms

2 portions of dried medium noodles cook as per packet instructions

1 inch ginger grated

1 garlic clove grated

¼ cup light soy sauce

1 tsp fish sauce

1 tsp chilli flakes

handful thai basil leaves

Method

In a hot wok sprayed with frylight, fry the onion for 1 minutes, add the broccoli with 1 tbsp of water, then add the asparagus, pepper, and edamame beans, stir fry for 2 minutes, add the mushrooms and fry for 2 minutes, mix up the ginger, garlic, soy, fish sauce and chilli flakes and pour into the vegetables, stir in and then add the cooked noodles, heat everything through, tear over the thai basil leaves and serve.

Chinese Lemon Chicken

A fake away to be proud of! This dish is light and refreshing with a kick and a lot less syns than from a Chinese Restaurant, and taste so much better too!

The whole dish is only 5 syns on extra easy.

Ingredients

1 level tbsp potato flour (3 syns)
2 large skinless and boneless chicken breasts sliced
1 tbsp shaoxing rice wine (1 syn)
1 red pepper diced
1 yellow pepper diced
8 oz oriental mushrooms
1 cup edamame beans
1 onion chopped
juice of 1 lemon
200ml chicken stock
1 tsp sweetener
3 tbsp light soy sauce
1 garlic clove grated
1 red chilli finely chopped
1 inch ginger grated
1 tbsp chilli sauce (1 syn)


Method

Mix the sliced chicken with the potato flour and season.
To make the sauce mix together the lemon juice, chicken stock, sweetener, soy sauce, garlic, chilli, ginger and chilli sauce.
In a hot wok sprayed with frylight stir fry the chicken until it turns opaque then pour over the rice wine and stir fry until liquid has gone, add the onion, peppers and mushrooms and stir fry for 1 minute. Pour in the sauce and bring to a boil then simmer until the sauce has thickened and the chicken is cooked through.
Serve with egg fried rice.

Slow Cooked Lamb Curry

If you have a lot of time and fancy doing some cooking with great results this dish is perfect, it will impress any curry lover and they won't believe it is so healthy!!

Syn free on extra easy!!


Serves 4

Preheat oven 200c, 400f, gas mark 5

Ingredients

3 onions finely sliced
3 inches of fresh ginger peeled
3 garlic cloves
3 green chillies, deseeded if you like
½ tsp turmeric
1 tsp cayenne pepper
2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp chilli powder
2 tsp cinnamon
4 cloves
3 cardamon pods
1 kg lamb neck fillet, all fat removed and sliced
5 tomatoes quartered
1 cinnamon stick
2 bay leaves
½ tsp garam masala
large handful of coriander leaves

Method

Blitz the ginger, chilli, and garlic in a blender.
Heat a large oven proof pan sprayed with frylight and fry the onions until golden, add the ginger, chilli, and garlic, and fry for 2 minutes.
Add all the spices except the garam masala, cinnamon stick, and bay leaves fry for 2 minutes, then add the lamb cook until the lamb is browned, gently stir in the tomatoes, cinnamon stick, and bay leaves, cover and bake for 2 hours, check that it hasn't gone too dry every 30 minutes, if it has add some water. When the lamb is tender, serve with rice and sprinkle with the coriander leaves and garam masala.

I also like to serve it with Mint Yogurt Sauce

Baked Shrimp in Tomato Feta Sauce

This dish can be served as a main course, starter or as a small plate Tapas dish.
The base sauce also makes a great topping for Patatas Bravas, which is why i serves the sauteed potatoes with it.

Syne free on extra easy as long as the cheese is used as your healthy A.

45 g Feta cheese is the healthy A


Preheat oven to 200c, 400f, gas mark 5

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 medium onions finely chopped
2 garlic cloves finely chopped
2 red chillies finely chopped
2 tins of chopped tomatoes
A small handful of thai basil leaves roughly chopped or basic basil leaves if you prefer, i like the slight aniseed taste you get.
2 tsp dried oregano
2 lb large raw shrimp
salt and pepper
A pinch of sweetener
180g Feta cheese ( free if using as you healthy A, 6 syns on extra easy if not)
Salt and pepper to taste

Method

In a large pan sprayed with frylight, fry the onions till soft, add the chilli and garlic and fry for 30 seconds more.
Add the tomatoes and 1 tomato tin filled with water, sprinkle in the dried oregano, stir together then simmer for 30 minutes over a low heat till the sauce has thickened.
Add the shrimp, thai basil and feta, and salt and pepper to taste then transfer to an oven dish and bake for 10 - 15 minutes until the shrimp are cooked.
Serve with Sauteed Potatoes, rice or pasta.

I also served mine with a Greek Salad and little gem leaves.

For the Base sauce, follow the instructions through to the sauce thickening, this sauce can be used for so many things, like a pasta sauce, as mentioned the Patatas Bravas and Ratatouille.

Beef Chilli

This is a tasty beef chilli, spicy, rich and full of vegetables.
Syn free on extra easy.
Great with rice, jacket potato and as Chilli Cheese Fries, or just by itself!

Serve 8

Ingredients

2 onions chopped
3 carrots chopped into small dice
2 red peppers diced
8 oz mushrooms chopped
1 kg extra lean mince beef 5% fat or less
2 garlic cloves finely chopped
2 red chillies finely chopped
1 tbsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tbsp ground coriander
1 tbsp dried oregano
1 tsp celery salt
2 tsp red chipotle powder or hot smoked paprika
1 tbsp tomato puree
1 tube passata
1 tin of chopped tomatoes
1 litre beef stock
salt and pepper to taste

Method

In a large pot sprayed with frylight, brown the mince then remove, respray the pot then fry the onions for 2 minutes, then add the carrot and red peppers fry for 2 minutes, add the mushrooms, garlic and chilli fry for 1 minute. add all spices and herbs, stir in then add the tomato puree, passata, chopped tomatoes and beef stock, return the beef to the pan and bring to a boil the simmer for at least 2 hours, season to taste, if the chilli gets a bit dry add more water.

Creamy Coriander and Mint Chicken Curry

This is a lovely creamy curry without any cream or fat!
You can make it as spicy as you like by adding more chillies.
This dish is syn free on extra easy.


Serves 4

Ingredients

2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
8 oz cremini mushrooms quartered
2 onions roughly chopped
3 cloves
3 cardamom pods
1 cinnamon stick
2 cm ginger roughly chopped
2 garlic cloves
1 tsp chilli flakes
3 chillies roughly chopped
1 tbsp ground cumin
1 tbsp ground coriander
1 tsp turmeric
salt and pepper
large handful of coriander including the stalks
handful of mint leaves
300ml chicken stock
juice of a lime
4 ripe tomatoes quartered and deseeded
coriander leaves to garnish

Method

Chop the chicken into 2 cm cubes.
In a large pan sprayed with frylight, fry the onions with the cinnamon stick, cardamon pods and cloves. When golden add the mushrooms and fry till golden, then add the chicken and brown.

In a blender blitz together the ginger, garlic, chilli flakes, chillies, ground cumin, ground coriander, turmeric, salt and pepper, fresh coriander and mint with ½ cup water to make a smooth paste.

Add to the pan and cook out for 2 minutes, add the stock and simmer for 20 minutes and the chicken is cooked through.
Add the lime juice, tomatoes and more salt and pepper if needed. Simmer for 5 more minutes then serve with rice and garnish with the coriander leaves and fat free natural yogurt.

Chicken Vindaloo

A Chicken Vindaloo, doesn't have to always be blow your head off hot, you can control how much heat you like, by the amount of chilli you add.

This recipe is syn free on extra easy.

Serves 4

Ingredients

4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
2 Onions thinly sliced
6 garlic cloves crushed
1 inch piece of ginger finely chopped
½ pint chicken stock
2 tsp turmeric
2 tomatoes skinned and deseeded

Vindaloo Paste

2 tsp cumin seeds
1 tbsp chilli flakes (about madras strength, adjust to taste)
1 tsp black peppercorns
1 tsp cardamom seeds
1 tsp fenugreek seeds
1 tsp black mustard seeds
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tbsp white wine vinegar
½ tsp salt
½ tsp sweetener

Method

To make the paste put all the whole and dry spices into a spice grinder and grind to a powder, mix with the rest of the paste ingredients.

Cut the chicken into chunks and rub the paste into it, marinade for at least an hour.

Spray a large pan with frylight and fry the onions till soft and golden, add the garlic and ginger, fry for 2-3 minutes. Add the stock and boil for 10 minutes, stir in the turmeric and cook for 2 minutes.

Add the chicken, tomatoes and ¼ pint water, bring to a boil then simmer for 45 minutes, until the chicken is cooked and the sauce has thickened.

Serve with boiled rice or on a baked potato, with a lovely bowl of salad.