Up at stupid o'clock!

24th September 2016

Gratitude turns what we have into enough.

Awake since 3am, thank you universe, I'm out all day and really could've done with a bit more sleep, my meeting this morning and an area meeting this afternoon, so a long day ahead, better get my caffeine fix on!  

Guess what I've just spent half hour doing!  I've just booked my Christmas food shop delivery slot and added £60 to it so I'm guaranteed the slot, I can add and change at a later day, we're having a ready basted chicken joint I reckon, can't be doing with cooking a massive turkey and bless Aunt Bessie, she will be assisting once again with the parsnips and roast potatoes.  I was too late last year for a slot, so I'm making sure I'm not this year, I don't want to be fighting the Christmas lunatics on Friday 23rd!

Mom's awake now so I'll be back in a bit, I'm off to make her a cuppa.

I'm back :) bet you didn't even notice I'd gone.  Anyways yesterday I put my beef mince in the slow cooker with some leeks, carrots, stock and topped with thinly sliced potatoes, I won't lie I wasn't looking forward to it when I got home but it was actually really good and I'm looking forward to some more when I get home tonight.  The only thing with something like that for me is I like bread and spread with it, I still have it but because I've switched to the 400g loaves I'll still have 2 or 3 slices as I would've with the 800g loaf so I'm still eating half as much.  It's all about those small changes that make the big differences long term.

I had fancied making kofta curry after one of my members suggested it but I didn't have all the ingredients in nor the time to fetch them, so it's on my to cook list;

Beef Kofta Curry

700g lean beef mince (5% fat or less) (17sp)

2 tsp peeled and finely grated ginger

2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed

2 tsp crushed fennel seeds

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp mild or medium chilli powder

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 tsp turmeric

2 tbsp medium curry powder

500ml carton passata

¼ tsp artificial sweetener

to serve, Fat-free natural yogurt (extra Smart Points)

Directions:

Place the beef mince in a mixing bowl along with the ginger, garlic, fennel, cinnamon and chilli powder. Season and, using your hands, mix thoroughly until well combined. From the mixture into small, walnut-sized balls and set aside.

Place the turmeric, curry powder, passata and sweetener in a medium saucepan and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer, season well and carefully place the meatballs in the sauce. Cover and cook gently for 15-20 minutes, turning the meatballs occasionally, until they are cooked through.

Remove from the heat and serve drizzled with fat-free natural yogurt

I found this on my computer when I was looking for something else, nice easy meal for when you want something cheap and easy;

Easy Sausage & Potato Casserole

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 15 mins
Serves: 4, 6sp a serving

A family feast at approx £1 per person!

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp vegetable oil (4sp)
• 500g new potatoes, halved (10sp)
• 1 pack Weight Watchers sausages 10sp)
• 1 onion, sliced
• 1 green pepper, diced
• 340g jar passata
• tsp mixed herbs

Method

1. Heat the oil in a large frying pan and fry the potatoes and sausages for 5 minutes. Add the onion and pepper and cook for a further 5 minutes, turning the sausages occasionally until browned.
2. Add the passata sauce & herbs to the pan with 1-2 tbsp of water, then cover and cook for 5 minutes before serving.

Right that's as good as I get this morning, need to reserve my enthusiasm and energy for later, have a great day BeYOUtiful, focus on the healthy and happy, it really does make a difference to your days.