Erm's Photo Diary
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blackwidow
Gold Member
thanks for all the recipes Erm, that stew looks wonderful! x
ermintrude
Gold Member
Saturday 10th - Green
Breakfast: Coffee 1 HEXA, mixed fruit salad with Mullerlight
Lunch: Leftover chicken & apricot stew, about 1 HEXB for chicken & apricots
Tea: Honey's veggie curry trio - Cauliflower & lentil dhal with cumin rice and a carrot & beetroot side salad 1 HEXB for cashews, 1.5 syns for raisins
Snacks: Apples, damsons, mixed veg (snap peas, baby corn, tomatoes), wine 40 syns , spicy cashew nuts 27 syns and MoPleez Mathri 46 syns
:sigh: I needed cashews for the recipe and I was pretty sure I had some in my Big Box Of Curry Stuff - so I went digging but there is oh-so-much-yummy-stuff in there. :drool: I couldn't resist opening the spicy cashews even though they went off in May
I thought Oh I'll just have ten, then Oh why not twenty, thats about a HEXes worth of syns, then oh why not half the packet... etc etc etc. They weren't even that good I worked out I'd had like 93g or summat so I had another 2 or 3 to round it up and taped it up. After about 20 min I was fine and put it away and felt really pleased I had managed to stop myself. But then after tea I could remember all the yumminess Id seen in the box and knew Id had loads of syns with the dinner, the wine and the nuts so I went and ate a whole packet of MoPleez So today I have had over 120 syns :whoopass:
Ah well, done now. Back on Plan - EXCEPT - I suddenly have the option of going away for two or three days the middle of this week! Too good an opportunity to miss but AGGHHHHHHH :sigh:
Oh well. So here's today's yummy stuff:
The curry was yum! This is Honeyoc's recipe which you can fine here. I dont generally go for dhal as Ive only tried takeaway versions which I find are just a mush and really, really bland. But this was great, much more flavoursome & spicy and you can keep a bit of a bite to it if you're careful on the cooking time. Cooked a *wee* bit too long, but better than the takeaway and I'll know how long for next time. Will definitely go for more home-made dhals!
The rice also worked really well. I usually have a problem with it all sticking together This time I didn't follow the instructions in the recipe but I did do it different from normal - rinsed rice as usual, added usual quantity of water, brought to boil but then turned off and left for 20 min. Also the Fry Light and shallot mix helped stop sticking. Perfect!
The salad I wasn't too sure about when I was making it but it was not bad at all. The OH loved it! I think my beetroot was too big I didnt eat all the nuts as Id already the spicy cashews - which would have been great had I not then gone on the munchies :sigh:
Soooooo I'm definitely gonna be On Plan til WI on Wednesday, but then might have to have 2 or 3 days semi-off if I go away, hmmmm. :wave_cry:
Breakfast: Coffee 1 HEXA, mixed fruit salad with Mullerlight
Lunch: Leftover chicken & apricot stew, about 1 HEXB for chicken & apricots
Tea: Honey's veggie curry trio - Cauliflower & lentil dhal with cumin rice and a carrot & beetroot side salad 1 HEXB for cashews, 1.5 syns for raisins
Snacks: Apples, damsons, mixed veg (snap peas, baby corn, tomatoes), wine 40 syns , spicy cashew nuts 27 syns and MoPleez Mathri 46 syns
:sigh: I needed cashews for the recipe and I was pretty sure I had some in my Big Box Of Curry Stuff - so I went digging but there is oh-so-much-yummy-stuff in there. :drool: I couldn't resist opening the spicy cashews even though they went off in May
I thought Oh I'll just have ten, then Oh why not twenty, thats about a HEXes worth of syns, then oh why not half the packet... etc etc etc. They weren't even that good I worked out I'd had like 93g or summat so I had another 2 or 3 to round it up and taped it up. After about 20 min I was fine and put it away and felt really pleased I had managed to stop myself. But then after tea I could remember all the yumminess Id seen in the box and knew Id had loads of syns with the dinner, the wine and the nuts so I went and ate a whole packet of MoPleez So today I have had over 120 syns :whoopass: Ah well, done now. Back on Plan - EXCEPT - I suddenly have the option of going away for two or three days the middle of this week! Too good an opportunity to miss but AGGHHHHHHH :sigh:
Oh well. So here's today's yummy stuff:
The curry was yum! This is Honeyoc's recipe which you can fine here. I dont generally go for dhal as Ive only tried takeaway versions which I find are just a mush and really, really bland. But this was great, much more flavoursome & spicy and you can keep a bit of a bite to it if you're careful on the cooking time. Cooked a *wee* bit too long, but better than the takeaway and I'll know how long for next time. Will definitely go for more home-made dhals!
The rice also worked really well. I usually have a problem with it all sticking together
This time I didn't follow the instructions in the recipe but I did do it different from normal - rinsed rice as usual, added usual quantity of water, brought to boil but then turned off and left for 20 min. Also the Fry Light and shallot mix helped stop sticking. Perfect!The salad I wasn't too sure about when I was making it but it was not bad at all. The OH loved it! I think my beetroot was too big
I didnt eat all the nuts as Id already the spicy cashews - which would have been great had I not then gone on the munchies :sigh:Soooooo I'm definitely gonna be On Plan til WI on Wednesday, but then might have to have 2 or 3 days semi-off if I go away, hmmmm. :wave_cry:
dirtydancing
Gold Member
do you have the recipe for the chicken and apricot stew please as it looks so yummy.
JackieN
One day at a time, one step at a time
I love them. I had never had celeriac but now I often pop in Waitrose and buy a couple
I much prefer them to normal sw chips.Erm I love your diary. I don't always get a chance to comment but just want to say I have tried so many new foods since 'meeting' you and I am so grateful.. had some amazing meals and new ideas which have stopped me going off plan, thanks sweetie :grouphugg: xxxxx
Honeyoc
Is a crunchy mama!
Looking good Ermie!! I often find myself sneaking in a couple of broken cashew pieces when I'm counting out my 20 lol. Well done for drawing a line and soldiering on. No point welling over something you can't change. Your cauliflower lentil curry looks so good, I wish I had some now!
Ermintrude I have just read right through your whole diary from start to finish and cannot believe I haven't bee here since you first started it and gave me the recipe for that gorgeous jalapeno houmous (which I now make all the time - thanks!).
All of your food looks absolutely heavenly and I can't wait to try out some of the recipes you have posted. I love the pictures too it's great to see how good the food looks
Thank you so much for having this diary! Also well done on your fab weight loss so far and the 4.5lb off this week. Try not to worry about the blip you've had today, these things happen to all of us you're only human! You've proven before that you can get back on the plan and still lose even after a holiday so one bad day shouldn't make too much difference!
Thanks again,
Becky X
All of your food looks absolutely heavenly and I can't wait to try out some of the recipes you have posted. I love the pictures too it's great to see how good the food looks
Thank you so much for having this diary! Also well done on your fab weight loss so far and the 4.5lb off this week. Try not to worry about the blip you've had today, these things happen to all of us you're only human! You've proven before that you can get back on the plan and still lose even after a holiday so one bad day shouldn't make too much difference!
Thanks again,
Becky X
ermintrude
Gold Member
Yep, here we go:
Middle Eastern chicken & apricot stew
1 large onion, chopped
1 tbsp ginger, grated
3 cloves garlic, crushed
500g chicken breasts, cut into chunks
3 tsp ras-el-hanout
100g dried red lentils
100g ready-to-eat dried apricots, finely chopped 11 syns
Juice of 1 lemon
500ml chicken stock
Handful of coriander, chopped
Seeds of one pomegranate
- Fry onion, ginger and garlic for about 8 min until soft and starting to brown.
- Season, add chicken and cook for about 5 min until sealed
- Add spices, lentils, apricots, lemon juice and stock and simmer for 15 min
- When you're ready to serve stir in coriander and pomegranate seeds and serve with rice or bulgur wheat/couscous
I got the recipe from here and didn't edit it at all except not using olive oil.
It's a very mild dish but very flavoursome and easy to cook. Don't miss the pomegranate seeds, they make it! :drool:
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ermintrude
Gold Member
Awww thanks for all the lovely comments sweeties, you've almost got me in tears Ahh you can make food so much better if you can make it *look* nice I reckon, you just *feel like* you're having something that little bit more extravagant, even if it is just a plain old stew. Yeah its turned into a little bit of a project for me this diary, never really intended it to be but I think its helping me along the way a lot. Cool.
Having said that Ive stepped on the scales this morning and Saturday has finally dared show its face - all 3.5lbs of it Which is obviously not logically possible even if I did pig out, so Ill take it with the usual bucketload of salt But yeah, looks like a gain on the cards this week. Its also coming up towards TOTM which wont help. Ho hum, superspeedy stews all round!
Ahh you can make food so much better if you can make it *look* nice I reckon, you just *feel like* you're having something that little bit more extravagant, even if it is just a plain old stew. Yeah its turned into a little bit of a project for me this diary, never really intended it to be but I think its helping me along the way a lot. Cool. Having said that Ive stepped on the scales this morning and Saturday has finally dared show its face - all 3.5lbs of it
Which is obviously not logically possible even if I did pig out, so Ill take it with the usual bucketload of salt But yeah, looks like a gain on the cards this week. Its also coming up towards TOTM which wont help. Ho hum, superspeedy stews all round!
ermintrude
Gold Member
Sunday 11th - Green
Breakfast: Coffee & Toast 1 HEXA, 1 HEXB, 2 syns
Lunch: Mung bean wrap stuffed with spicy cheese salad & mixed veg. 1 HEXA, 1/2 HEXB
Tea: Fusion Falafel Trio! Three types of falafel, served in toasted pitta with mango salsa and yoghurt dip, with salad and celeriac chips. 10 syns for pitta.
Dessert: SW blackberry & apple crannochan 1 syn for jumbo oats (you're having a larf if you think I'm adding syns for a QUARTER of an apple just cos its cooked ) Plus - this was CRAP, dont bother! A crime against cooking!
Snacks: Pears, peaches.
Mango salsa:
Fusion falafel trio:
The falafels on their own were nice enough, didn't blow my mind or anything, but better than your average falafel But in the pitta with the salad and stuff just made it YUMMMMMM!!! Dont overdo the salsa/yogurt tho, a smidgen is all it takes. Definitely worth synning the pitta. I could've gone to the Co-Op and picked up a HEX version but Im all outta HEXes anyway today so it didnt make any difference. (Also Im never sure why other pittas arent HEX, are they just too big? It's wholemeal pitta but 85g - if it was only 57g would it count?) 57g wouldnt be enough anyway, I only had three falafels in pitta, the other three I had on their own and they weren't so good. Toasted pitta rocks!
And for the finale:
SW apple & blackberry crannochan. Looks fantastic doesn't it? Bland as a bland thing! The only nice bit was one whole teaspoon (woah! ) of toasted oats and the Total 2% I added (substitute for fat free fromage frais which I wont use on the basis it insults my tastebuds).
The rest was just bland, bland, bland. And watery. Blackberries in Muller light, whoop-de-doo. Thing is, that is simple and it works, I LOVE blackberries in coconut Muller - but this one just sort of knocked out any nice taste it had. And I have no idea what the miniscule 1/4 of an apple was meant to add to it. It took ages, I couldnt taste it and they want me to syn it? :wave_cry:
K.I.S.S. - blackberries in coconut Muller. Simple, free, tastes great. Keep it simple, stupid.
Then again, other people have cooked this and Ive not heard anyone else complain, so maybe it's just my Cooking Skillz :sigh:
Breakfast: Coffee & Toast 1 HEXA, 1 HEXB, 2 syns
Lunch: Mung bean wrap stuffed with spicy cheese salad & mixed veg. 1 HEXA, 1/2 HEXB
Tea: Fusion Falafel Trio! Three types of falafel, served in toasted pitta with mango salsa and yoghurt dip, with salad and celeriac chips. 10 syns for pitta.
Dessert: SW blackberry & apple crannochan 1 syn for jumbo oats (you're having a larf if you think I'm adding syns for a QUARTER of an apple just cos its cooked
) Plus - this was CRAP, dont bother! A crime against cooking! Snacks: Pears, peaches.
Mango salsa:
Fusion falafel trio:
The falafels on their own were nice enough, didn't blow my mind or anything, but better than your average falafel
But in the pitta with the salad and stuff just made it YUMMMMMM!!! Dont overdo the salsa/yogurt tho, a smidgen is all it takes. Definitely worth synning the pitta. I could've gone to the Co-Op and picked up a HEX version but Im all outta HEXes anyway today so it didnt make any difference. (Also Im never sure why other pittas arent HEX, are they just too big? It's wholemeal pitta but 85g - if it was only 57g would it count?) 57g wouldnt be enough anyway, I only had three falafels in pitta, the other three I had on their own and they weren't so good. Toasted pitta rocks!And for the finale:
SW apple & blackberry crannochan. Looks fantastic doesn't it? Bland as a bland thing!
The only nice bit was one whole teaspoon (woah! ) of toasted oats and the Total 2% I added (substitute for fat free fromage frais which I wont use on the basis it insults my tastebuds). The rest was just bland, bland, bland. And watery. Blackberries in Muller light, whoop-de-doo. Thing is, that is simple and it works, I LOVE blackberries in coconut Muller - but this one just sort of knocked out any nice taste it had. And I have no idea what the miniscule 1/4 of an apple was meant to add to it. It took ages, I couldnt taste it and they want me to syn it? :wave_cry:
K.I.S.S. - blackberries in coconut Muller. Simple, free, tastes great. Keep it simple, stupid.
Then again, other people have cooked this and Ive not heard anyone else complain, so maybe it's just my Cooking Skillz :sigh:
blackwidow
Gold Member
thanks for the recipe for the stew - can I just ask, what is ras-el-hanout? Is it something I can get in the supermarket or will I need to visit a specialist shop somewhere?
sorry to hear your pud wasnt upto scratch.. was it a SW recipe? i find quite a few in the books I have tried have been really bland and I have had to adapt / give up on them x
sorry to hear your pud wasnt upto scratch.. was it a SW recipe? i find quite a few in the books I have tried have been really bland and I have had to adapt / give up on them x
ermintrude
Gold Member
It's just a spice mix, you can get it in most of the major supermarkets these days, Ive bought it in Tesco, Sainsbury's Waitrose. Bart's do one, Al'Fez, plus Tesco own brand.
Here's the Tesco one: Tesco Finest Ras El Hanout Rub 85G - Groceries - Tesco Groceries
You can just put the individual spices in yourself tyhough or make your own mix, just google "ras-el-hanout ingredients" or something. I found:
this and this.
The recipe also suggeted baharat which I've got in the cupboard but havent tried yet. It's basically just a case of picking spices common to Middle Eastern cooking which I lurrrrrrve
Yeah it was one of the recipes out of this month's magazine, the piccie looked lovely so I thoguht I'd have a go... even as I was making it I was thinking well this doesn't look all that exciting... but hey maybe I've eaten too many spices through my life, my tastebuds might need something a bit less, uh, subdued
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dirtydancing
Gold Member
thanks so much for that.
ermintrude
Gold Member
Monday 12th - Green
Breakfast: Coffee & Toast 1 HEXA, 1 HEXB, 2 syns
Lunch: Mung bean wrap stuffed with spicy cheese salad & mixed veg. 1 HEXA, 1/2 HEXB
Tea: Total randomness - I'm in on my own tonight so no point cooking owt special, and as I am overrun with veg and stuff thought Id better use a bit up. So the leftovers of Honey's dhal, with 3/4 of a BNS I had hanging about in the fridge, roasted, plus a whole bag of sprouts and two carrots. Mm. Every one of them very yummy in itself, but together... innerestin'...
Snacks: Peach, pear, box of blackberries in coconut Muller, Bovril.
The scales are not my friend. This morning they have given me another pound, the overgenerous barstewards There is no chance of two disappearing before tomorrow I dont think so expecting a gain this week. Still, to be fair other than the pig out on Saturday there was also really NO reason for me to lose 4.5 pounds after the holiday I had So with those two as well as the approaching TOTM I guess the scales are paying me back for letting me off a bit too lightly the last coupla weeks
Onwards and downwards!
Breakfast: Coffee & Toast 1 HEXA, 1 HEXB, 2 syns
Lunch: Mung bean wrap stuffed with spicy cheese salad & mixed veg. 1 HEXA, 1/2 HEXB
Tea: Total randomness - I'm in on my own tonight so no point cooking owt special, and as I am overrun with veg and stuff thought Id better use a bit up. So the leftovers of Honey's dhal, with 3/4 of a BNS I had hanging about in the fridge, roasted, plus a whole bag of sprouts and two carrots. Mm. Every one of them very yummy in itself, but together... innerestin'...
Snacks: Peach, pear, box of blackberries in coconut Muller, Bovril.
The scales are not my friend. This morning they have given me another pound, the overgenerous barstewards
There is no chance of two disappearing before tomorrow I dont think so expecting a gain this week. Still, to be fair other than the pig out on Saturday there was also really NO reason for me to lose 4.5 pounds after the holiday I had So with those two as well as the approaching TOTM I guess the scales are paying me back for letting me off a bit too lightly the last coupla weeks Onwards and downwards!
JackieN
One day at a time, one step at a time
I really must read properly rather than skim read things.... I read that you had blackberries in bovril :8855:
that stew sounds amazing. I must try it. Our tesco does not sell that rub though so will see where else sells it. when you say mild is it mild or mild for you I love spicey food but not hot spicey if you know what I mean.
Glad to see you are using up your veggies.
I am hoping to persuade the boys to clear a patch of my overgrown jungle to grow some veggies in. I want to grow squash and also celeriac definately, beetroot carrots that kind of things. You've got me into all sorts of veggies Erm
that stew sounds amazing. I must try it. Our tesco does not sell that rub though so will see where else sells it. when you say mild is it mild or mild for you
I love spicey food but not hot spicey if you know what I mean.Glad to see you are using up your veggies.
I am hoping to persuade the boys to clear a patch of my overgrown jungle to grow some veggies in. I want to grow squash and also celeriac definately, beetroot carrots that kind of things. You've got me into all sorts of veggies Erm
ermintrude
Gold Member
Blackberries in Bovril, mmmm might have to try that
Mmm no I thought the stew was pretty mild... it did have a bit of chilli to it but not much and the spices was sooooo flavoursome!!! You can always put less spices in. I think the recipe asked for 2 tsp but I used 3 rounded tsp and I still thought it was mild
Ive got another BNS on the go! Two down, three to go! Hurt me hip yesterday so Ive just bunged a load of veg in the slow cooker to do it for me - mommyB's Morroccan chickpea recipe that silly sausage recommended, but Ive chucked some lentils, apricots, lemon juice etc in too so no idea what it'll come out like!
Im supposed to be going away for a couple of days tomorrow and was gonna pop out and get some healthy food to take with me today, Ive even booked the train ticket! But now my leg is confining me to the bed so either Im not going and my ticket's wasted or if I manage to get out of bed tomorrow I'll have no time to get healthy food
Beetroot! What can I do with beetroot? I got some for Honey's recipe but it only came in bunches of five and Ive never cooked beetroot before! I've seen a stew I might try but beetroot in a stew? Is that normal? Wont it go purple? Purple stew, hmmmmmmmmmmm...
Mmm no I thought the stew was pretty mild... it did have a bit of chilli to it but not much and the spices was sooooo flavoursome!!! You can always put less spices in. I think the recipe asked for 2 tsp but I used 3 rounded tsp and I still thought it was mild
Ive got another BNS on the go! Two down, three to go!
Hurt me hip yesterday so Ive just bunged a load of veg in the slow cooker to do it for me - mommyB's Morroccan chickpea recipe that silly sausage recommended, but Ive chucked some lentils, apricots, lemon juice etc in too so no idea what it'll come out like!Im supposed to be going away for a couple of days tomorrow and was gonna pop out and get some healthy food to take with me today, Ive even booked the train ticket! But now my leg is confining me to the bed so either Im not going and my ticket's wasted or if I manage to get out of bed tomorrow I'll have no time to get healthy food
Beetroot! What can I do with beetroot? I got some for Honey's recipe but it only came in bunches of five and Ive never cooked beetroot before! I've seen a stew I might try but beetroot in a stew?
Is that normal? Wont it go purple? Purple stew, hmmmmmmmmmmm...
