beef hotpot (Slimming World friendly)

 

 Credit : http://vicki-kitchen.blogspot.com

This cold Autumnal weather I love to make real comfort food and make the most of my slow cooker too. This recipe is great as you throw almost all the ingredients apart from the topping in the slow cooker and let it get on with it. I just used carrots and onions this time with the beef but you can use root vegetables like swede and parnsip in it too if you like them and I serve it with peas and cabbage so you get your 1/3 superfree if on the slimming world extra easy plan . Its a good one to cook on low in the slow cooker while at work then when you come in just have to put the topping on and put in the oven.

Beef Hotpot

1 lb lean braising steak (cubed)

1 large onion (chopped) 

2-3 large carrots (sliced)

1/2 pint beef stock

1 tsp dried or fresh thyme

1/2 tsp salt 

1/2 tsp pepper

some dried potato powder (like smash)

2 large potatoes (sliced very thinly) 

spray oil

Put the steak, onions, carrots, stock, thyme and salt and pepper in the slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4 hours until steak is tender. Thicken the gravy with a little dried potato (syn free so an easy way to thicken a gravy without extra syns) Taste for seasoning.

Put the beef mixture into a casserole dish and top with overlapping slices of the potato then spray lightly with oil sprinkle with a little salt and pepper and place in the oven at gas 5/375/190 for about an hour until potatoes are cooked and browned on the top. Its a good idea to place the dish on a baking sheet you can see from the pic the gravy sometimes bubbles up over the top of the dish during cooking and will save your oven :  )

Serve with extra vegetables and is syn free on extra easy ...enjoy x

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Rustic mashed potatoes...slimming world friendly

 

 

Credit : http://vicki-kitchen.blogspot.com

When I was in the US at one of the restaurants we had some wonderful mashed potatoes really creamy but with texture and you could tell they had been mashed with the skins on, Looking into this it really does seem the variety of potato you use to do this makes all the difference. For mashed potatoes you need a floury type of potato not a waxy type. For example new potatoes are a 'waxy' type which is why they are good in dishes like potato salad because they hold their shape and dont break up. Mashed potatoes need a floury potato like maris piper which go fluffy and break up when mashed. In our local ASDA supermarket I found a variety called 'marabel' which said they were excellent for mashing and had a creamy texture  and as I wanted to mash them with the skins they looked like they had a thin skin which is what I wanted. 

I love sour cream and chive mashed potatoes but they are of course mega high in syns so there must be a way to make them that tasty but wthout the syns. Once again quark to the rescue this practically non fat soft cheese tastes of nothing but takes on flavours both sweet and savoury really well. It was a great success, very creamy tasty mashed potatoes with texture and the chives give it a slight oniony taste and all syn free :  ) 

I used my kitchenaid to mash the potatoes but you can easily mash by hand. 

Rustic mashed potatoes

2lb floury white potatoes like marabel or maris piper

1 tub quark 

1/2 bunch fresh chives (snipped into small pieces) 

salt and pepper

Cut up potatoes into smallish pieces with the skins still on and boil in lots of salted water until they are soft.

Drain well and place back in pan (or in kitchenaid bowl if mashing in that) . Add the quark, chives and salt and pepper. Mash well until everything is mixed well together, Taste in case you need more salt or pepper. 

Leftovers make stunning bubble and squeak or potato cakes too :  )

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Creamy rice pudding ..slimming world friendly

 

Credit : http://vicki-kitchen.blogspot.com

How much do you love rice pudding ? So delicious and not slimming world friendly but I saw this recipe on a slimming world Facebook page and had to try it .You don't actually use any milk or cream but as weird as it sounds you cook the pudding rice in ....wait for it.......diet cream soda!!!

Yep..sounds weird I know but it works... trust me :  )

Creamy rice pudding




6oz pudding rice (or use risotto rice like arborio if cant get pudding rice)
1 litre diet sugar free cream soda (got mine in ASDA)
2 vanilla flavour muller light yogurts
1 tsp vanilla extract (if liked)

Place rice in saucepan and add the diet cream soda and bring to the boil then simmer until almost all the liquid is absorbed and the rice is cooked and soft.

Take off the heat and leave for a few minutes then add the yogurts and vanilla extract and mix very well. I prefer to serve it cold but you can warm it up but dont re boil it.

Syn free on green and extra easy ...


enjoy!!

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Rigatoni alla amatriciana (slimming world friendly)

 

Credit : http://vicki-kitchen.blogspot.com

I love this pasta dish it's really savoury and tasty and it's made from things you usually have in the cupboard and fridge.

It's also pretty quick to make so great for a after work dinner . If you don't like chili just leave it out it's also good as a vegetarian dish without the bacon but I'm sure it would have another name then ! Of course also feel free to use any shape pasta you like too I like the rigatoni shape as it holds the sauce well.



Rigatoni alla Amatriciana

1x 500g pack of rigatoni
8 rashers lean smoked back bacon
2x tins chopped tomatoes
1/2 tsp dried chili flakes (more if you like it)
1 tsp dried basil
2 cloves garlic (crushed)
1 large onion (chopped)
Spray oil
Salt and pepper



Spray a little oil in a large pan , Place in onion,bacon, garlic, chili and basil and cook over medium heat until the onion is soft.

Add the tomatoes and bring to the boil then reduce heat and simmer for about 20 minutes until sauce has reduced and thickened . Season to taste with salt and pepper.

When sauce is almost ready cook the pasta according to packet directions. When cooked drain the pasta and stir it into the sauce and mix well.

Syn free on extra easy

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