Creamy Cauliflower Soup

It seems like summer is on the way out today and as usual we've gone straight back to winter! Some soup on the blog today to banish the rain. Cauliflower and veg are gently simmered in chicken stock, then flavoured with white pepper and freshly grated nutmeg.

Like the other soups I've posted, this is great served with a slice or two of Weight Watchers whole meal bread and a little low fat butter, or 2 slices of wheaten bread such as Mc Cambridges. A couple of Ryvita crisp bread also go very well as an alternative.

Asparagus & Pea Soup

Some soup on the menu today! Asparagus and peas, simmered in vegetable stock and thickened with potatoes. This soup is perfect as a lunch time pick-me-up or would work well as starter. 

Like the other soups I've posted, this is great served with a slice or two of Weight Watchers whole meal bread and a little low fat butter, or 2 slices of wheaten bread such as Mc Cambridges. A couple of Ryvita crisp bread also go very well as an alternative.

Vegetable Frittatas

Frittatas are a traditional baked egg dish that originated in Spain. Great as a filling lunch or even as a starter, they are beefier than an omelette and can be served hot or cold.

You can add additional blanched veg or even throw in some cooked chicken or prawns to make them go a bit further. 

Wholemeal Sesame Bagels

A bit of baking on the menu today. Bagels are a fantastic lunchtime staple and are a great alternative to bread that would be perfect for a picnic now the summer seems to be finally here. 

Yes, they are a bit fiddly and yes, there are a few steps involved, but they taste great and are really worth the additional effort.

English Muffins

English Muffins on the menu today! English muffins are small white bread-like rolls that are delicious when toasted. Ideal with sweet or savoury toppings they are a great alternative to regular bread and are great for lunch.

Spicy Bean Burgers

These veggie burgers are a great combination of veg, breadcrumbs and mixed beans. Fantastic served on a bun with a little low fat mayo and ketchup, they also go great served with some thai sweet chili sauce on a bed of Brown Rice as a main meal. 

Alternatively, they also work with Wholemeal Wraps, Wholemeal Pitta Breads or Flour Tortillas as a filling lunch.

Aubergine & Tomato Bake

This Italian vegetable bake is a delicious mix of cooked aubergines and ripe tomatoes, baked in the oven with parmesan cheese.

Ideal as a light meal, or great as a starter. It can easily be assembled before hand and popped into the oven when needed.

Raisin & Oatmeal Scones

These raisin and oatmeal scones are very light to eat, yet are surprisingly filling and will keep you full for a good couple of hours. Ideal for a quick breakfast they also work well as a mid-morning snack.

Great served on their own, they are even better sliced in half with some low fat butter and sugar free jam.

Salmon Quiche

A quiche needs a crust! Many recipes for low fat quiche advocate making one without a crust resulting in a soggy eggy mix with no base. This recipe does have a crust, albeit a thin one. To keep the calories down, the base is made with a mix of plain and whole meal flour that's bound together with low fat butter and cold water.

The secret to making good pastry is work quickly and don't over handle the mix!

Wholemeal Wraps

Wholemeal wraps on the menu today! When trying to loose weight, wholemeal options are the best ones to chose. Wholemeal bread, pasta or cereals are better for you, fill you up more and keep you full for longer.

These wraps are kept on the light side by using low fat milk and only one teaspoon of olive oil. They are great served with some cooked chicken, lettuce and a little low fat mayo.

Mince Rissoles

Mince rissoles are a great combination of minced meat, spices, breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese, bound together with egg and a little low fat milk. Turkey mince would be best to keep the calories down, but lean beef, pork or lamb would also work well.

Great served with Mashed Potato or Roast Potatoes with a little gravy, they could also be served in a brown roll as a burger with some Spicy Potato Wedges and a little ketchup on the side. 

Wholemeal Pitta Breads

A little baking today with these delicious wholemeal pittas! As I've mentioned in previous posts, wholemeal options are the best way to go when trying to loose weight or just eat healthier. 

These pittas are a great alternative to bread when making lunches. They would also go great with Kofta Kebabs or Chicken Kebabs.

Broccoli Soup

This light creamy soup is a great option for lunch or would work well as a starter. To maintain the colour and vitamins, the broccoli is steamed over the simmering stock and then added at the end.

Like the other soups I've posted, this is great served with a slice or two of Weight Watchers whole meal bread and a little low fat butter, or 2 slices of wheaten bread such as Mc Cambridges. A couple of Ryvita crisp bread also go very well as an alternative.

Flour Tortillas

Flour tortillas on the menu today! Flour tortillas are a great alternative to bread and there's no need to touch the oven! They taste great, are very easy to make and are ready in no time.

These tortillas are kept on the light side by using low fat milk and only one teaspoon of olive oil. They are great served as a wrap with some cooked chicken, lettuce and a little low fat mayo.

Butternut Squash Scones

A bit of baking on the menu today to banish volcanic blues! These scones are a great stand-by that are fantastic with a cuppa. 

Mashed butternut squash boosts the nutrition factor and gives the scones a lighter texture and colour.

They are great served with a little low fat butter and jam, although you could serve them with more savoury toppings such as ham and cheese.

Sweetcorn Fritters

These sweetcorn fritters are a light savoury pancake that would work well as a starter or a great lunch. Alternatively, you could make two larger fritters for a main meal or to accompany some grilled chicken or fish.

The basic batter is the same as my Buckwheat Crepes recipe. Using half buckwheat flour keeps the fritters on the light side. You could add more veg such as chopped spring onion or chopped peppers to make them go a bit further. Alternatively, you could add a little low fat cheese or even some cooked chicken or ham.

Creamy Mushroom Soup

A lovely lighter creamy soup up today! The weather seems to be brightening up over the last few days and at the risk of sounding a thousand years old, there's a grand stretch in the evening! 

This soup is best when you use a mixture of mushrooms although standard button mushrooms would work fine. Fancier types like chanterelles, shitake or oyster give a woodier taste that's really delicious. Many of the supermarkets do a pack with mixed varieties that are perfect.

Serve with a slice or two of Weight Watchers whole meal bread and a little low fat butter, or 2 slices of wheaten bread such as Mc Cambridges. A couple of Ryvita crisp bread also go very well as an alternative.

Buckwheat Crepes

Buckwheat crepes are a light thin pancake that can be served with sweet or savoury fillings. This recipe uses a equal portions of buckwheat and plain flour to give a lighter mix that's better for you.

Ideal as a weekend breakfast or a light lunch when served with a sprinkle of sugar and lemon juice or some fresh fruit. Alternatively, the crepes would make a more filling lunch or starter when served with some extra low fat cream cheese and smoked salmon or a slice of low fat cheese with lean ham or salami. 

The batter will make smoother crepes if it's chilled beforehand for at least 30 minutes and can be stored in the fridge for up to 24 hours on standby. 

Beef & Butternut Squash Stew

This beef and butternut squash stew is a fantastic tomato based dish.

Packed with veg, but low on carbs, this stew is ideal as a warming dinner or even better the day after as a filling lunch. 

Great served on it's own or with some crusty bread, you could also serve the stew with some Mashed Potato to make it go a bit further.

Kofta Kebabs

Kofta kebabs are a traditional Persian dish made with minced meat, delicately spiced and served in warmed pitta bread. They are usually made using a mix of minced beef and lamb, this recipe uses turkey mince to keep the calories down.

The kebabs are served with whole meal pitta breads and can be topped with low fat mayo, fat free yoghurt, sweet chili sauce or even a little ketchup. The meat mixture can be prepared and shaped in advance, then refrigerated and grilled when you need them. They would also work well served with some rice or couscous if you wanted to make a more substantial meal.