Oriental Salad Dressing

The weather does seem to be getting a little better. Well it's warmer, if not quite sunnier at least and salads will soon be on the menu again! 

This recipe is a light oriental salad dressing that can be thrown together in no time. Fantastic with a mixed leaf salad, the dressing also goes great poured over Soba / Buckwheat Noodles. It would also work as dipping sauce served along side Vegetable Spring Rolls, Wontons or Oriental Meatballs. 

Fajita Seasoning

Most of the large supermarkets offer fajita seasoning packets. Many are quite expensive and tend to contain lots of salt and flavour enhancers to make them last longer. This simple mix tastes great and can be kept in an airtight container for a couple of weeks.

The mix is just sprinkled over cubed chicken and fried with peppers and onions to make  fajitas. Add a little boiling water to the pan when the veg and chicken are cooked. This can be served with Wholemeal Wraps or Flour Tortillas or over Brown Rice. 

Parsley Sauce

This parsley sauce recipe is an ideal accompaniment for steamed fish or perfect with gammon or grilled bacon. The light creamy sauce also works great served with mashed potato or as a dip for vegetables.

When making sauces, many people worry about lumps forming. I find that warming the milk first, then adding the other ingredients eliminates lumps every time. 

Béchamel Sauce

This basic white sauce is a classic béchamel that goes great with grilled meat or chicken or with steamed fish. The calories are kept down by using low fat milk and butter.

When making sauces, many people worry about lumps forming. I find that warming the milk first, then adding the other ingredients eliminates lumps every time. 

Oriental Dipping Sauce

This oriental sauce is a fantastic accompaniment for Chinese starters. The classic combination of soy, sesame, spring onion and lime work great together.

The sauce is perfect to serve in dipping bowls with Oriental Meatballs, Vegetable Spring Rolls or Wontons.

It would also work well poured over boiled/steamed rice or instant noodles. Alternatively  drizzled over mixed lettuce leaves as a quick Asian salad. 

Low Calorie Pesto

Pesto is the classic Italian mix of fresh basil, pine nuts, parmesan, garlic and olive oil. To cut back on the calories, this recipe uses stock instead of olive oil, but it still retains all the flavour.

Fantastic stirred into pasta, it's also great added to sandwiches or a topping for a baked potato. 

Red Pepper & Sun Dried Tomato Cream Sauce

I've posted before that there are lots of stir in pasta sauces available but many of them are quite bland and can be full of salt and sugar. 

This is another healthy alternative that is ready in no time and will keep in the fridge on standby for a couple of days.

The recipe used roasted peppers. Jarred peppers work just fine, but you roast your own if you have a little more time.

Creamy Peppercorn Sauce

Peppercorn or pepper sauce is a fantastic accompaniment to grilled chops, burgers, or is simply at it's best served with a steak! 

Alternatively, you could stir in some cooked chicken, prawns or fish and serve it with rice or couscous on the side for a tasty dinner or lunch. It would also go great served with potato wedges.

It's usually available in sachets and tubs but this recipe is a lower fat version that costs very little to make and it will last in the fridge for a couple of days too. 

Tomato Pesto

There are lots of stir in pasta sauces available but many of them are quite bland and can be full of salt and sugar. 

This healthy alternative is ready in no time and will keep in the fridge on standby for a couple of days.

The recipe used roasted peppers. Jarred peppers work just fine, but you roast your own if you have a little more time.

Pasta Sauce

This tomato based pasta sauce is a great basic sauce to which you can add things to. Chicken, prawns or veg would all work. It's an excellent stand by and can be frozen and thawed out in a hurry. I've always found that jars of tomato sauce gave me bad indigestion, no problems with this sauce!