Author: julessmithie

Filled Easter Egg

OK So this isnt going to be something you eat every day or every weekend but for Easter and a little bit of fun i think its ok to indulge every now and again.

The key to this is use low calorie ingredients – the egg is the small 65g egg, then i used a protein yogurt because they have a firmness to them that mimics cream cheese. For the icing sugar i used the Zero Calorie Zero Sugars version from Canderel i bought mine from Amazon ages ago but im sure i have seen it in the Supermarkets.

Most of these small 65g Easter Eggs are around 200 calories per half the shell so this is what i have worked the calories and syns out from. So yes you can have your cake or Easter Egg in this case and eat it.

The syn and calorie values don’t include the decorations on the top im leaving that to you to decided how you want to finish them off.

Syns = Half the shell 10 syns, Protein Yogurt half a syn, Icing Sugar syn free, cheese triangles HEa. Total 10.5 syns per egg. Add whatever you are going to decorate it with .

Cals = 337 per half a shell 25g Protein,  add whatever you are decorating it with

by julessmithie

Creamy Chestnut & Pancetta Sprouts

I was asked to create another sprout recipe so decided to go for something completely different and this was it. It sounds a bit bonkers even Graeme wasn’t sure but it worked so well and with the age old arguments over Christmas with sprouts try your family with this version im sure they will love it.

You need to use cooked chestnuts which you can buy from most supermarkets the packet i bought were from Home Bargains and all i did was run a knife through them to chop them into small pieces.

In the video you will see i shred / thinly slice the sprouts i just prefer them this way however you can just cook them in half and create the recipe that way however they will take longer to cook.

by julessmithie

Air Fryer Low Calorie Low Syn Goose Fat Roast Potatoes

You are probably wondering why i have made this and the short answer is i have been asked over and over again to create it. For me Christmas is a time to let go and enjoy the food regardless of calories and syns but i do understand those who have worked hard over the year may not want to feel they have let themselves down.

In this recipe i part boiled the potatoes to speed up the cooking time, however by accident i overcooked the potatoes to the point of them falling apart but it worked so well it cut down the cooking time which in turn stopped them from drying out.

Have patience and make sure you let them steam dry this will help with the crispy outer you are looking for. Did you know goose fat is approx 90 calories per tablespoon and that tablespoon coated all the potatoes in the video twice! Brushing the goose fat on is the key to keeping the calories down because you aren’t blindly pouring goose fat over your potatoes, so yes you can have your roasties and enjoy them.

I decided to cook mine in the air fryer and it worked really well but you can always cook them in the oven if you wish.

There is not written recipe for this one because its going to depend on how many potatoes you cook and how many tablespoons of goose fat you want to use.

by julessmithie

Slow Cooker Mediterranean Chicken Orzo Soup

This was my batch cook Sunday soup for lunches during the week and it worked perfectly it stores well in the fridge and reheats well too. There isn’t anything complicated about this soup at all the only decisions you need to make are how may stock pots you want to add and if its 1 or 2 teaspoons of Italian Herbs.

Both of this can be adjusted towards the end of cooking so if unsure always start with the least amount then before you add the orzo taste and adjust if needed. Basil would have been lovely with this soup but unfortunately i didn’t have any at the time of creating the recipe.

The slow cooker and vegetable chopper i use are both on my Amazon shop press the link it will take you there then look under kitchen Gadgets https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/julesthelazycook

by julessmithie

Slow Cooker ‘Greens’ Soup

This one sounds really bonkers but it works so well and all those green vegetables are really good for our bodies and our diets. There is nothing complicated about this recipe you just need to follow the recipe and video and you are done, i made this weeks ago as a batch cook for my lunches during the week.

How long will this soup keep?? you can pop it in the fridge in an air tight container for up to 4 days.

The slow cooker and chopper i use is on my Amazon shop press the link it will take you there then look under KITCHEN GADGETS press here https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/julesthelazycook

by julessmithie

Chicken Broccoli & Pasta Salad

This was a batch cook Sunday but it makes a brilliant lunch idea or even a light evening meal.

I used it as a batch cook for lunches during the week and it held up well in the fridge for up to 4 days.

If you have leftover cooked chicken you could use this and also add any vegetables that are heading for the bin. You will see i used a Pizzeria light dressing but you can use any dressing you like or one that fits in with your diet.

by julessmithie

Batch Cook Sunday Nando’s Chicken & Rice

Another easy batch cook Sunday which once prepped will last in the fridge for up to 4 days in an air tight container.

I tried the sweet potato rice but to be honest I didn’t like it and it was too watery for a batch cook recipe.

The sauce I buy is from Home Bargains its a fraction of the cost of the Nando’s sauces but tastes just as good.

by julessmithie

Batch Cook Sunday COUSCOUS

Another fantastic easy batch cook Sunday recipe usung couscous. For me couscous is really underrated as it can be tasteless if not rehydrated correctly and that for me is usung a vegetable stock pot.

In this recipe you can use anything you like any vegetables that are heading for thd bin will work well. If you are going to use a dressing add it at the point of serving or it will go soggy.

This recipe serves 4 and sits well in the fridge in an air tight container for 4 days.

by julessmithie

Slow Cooker High Protein Soup

This is a BATCH COOK SUNDAY recipe that makes 4 portions and freezes well. Adding high protein meals into your diet can really help with snacking and help keep you fuller for longer.

You can use chicken breast in this recipe if you want but leave it whole whilst it’s cooking.

by julessmithie

Slow Cooker Sausage Taco Gnocchi Bake

This is a take on a old recipe on my website which was cooked on the hob but i wanted to transfer part of it to the slow cooker – so here we are.

A very simple recipe which you can add any vegetables to making it perfect for using up those vegetables which are heading for the bin. I used chicken sausages in the recipe because they are low in calories and low in fat making them fab for Slimming World and Calorie Counting.

Lets talk Gnocchi – what is it??? its potato dumplings you can buy it in dry or fresh just the same as pasta and that’s where you find it in the pasta isle or the fridge with the fresh pasta, If you don’t want to use Gnocchi you could use pasta or top with potato the choice is yours.

I browned the sausages off as i think it helps them hold together better, my slow cooker can go on the hob so it makes it easier for me to do this quickly in my slow cooker. You can find the slow cooker i use and the vegetable chopper on my Amazon Shop press here and look under kitchen gadgets https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/julesthelazycook

by julessmithie

Air Fryer Garlic Butter & Thyme Potatoes

I have fallen in love with these they are just so tasty plus super easy to make which is always a bonus during the week.

Use any potatoes you like and if you cant get hold of the Garlic Butter Sachets just mix either butter or light margarine with garlic. You can use dry thyme if you wish but just add small amounts at a time until you get the taste you want, dry thyme is really powerful and can easily ruin a meal so be careful.

The air fryer i use is on my Amazon Shop press here https://amzn.to/48Zu8SG

by julessmithie

Slow Cooker Cheesy Bolognese Gnocchi Bake

I always get asked for ways to use up leftover spag bol or chilli so i have create this recipe and when i say it was amazing it really was delish.

What is Gnocchi?? potato dumplings, you can buy gnocchi in most supermarkets and it comes like pasta fresh in the chilled isle or dry where all the pasta is. The only thing you need to be careful of when cooking gnocchi is do not overcook it, as soon as it floats to the top of the water remove it from the pan.

This recipe uses my slow cooker spag bol recipe which appears in my cookbook MY SLOW COOKER MEALS which is on Amazon in paperback & kindle  https://amzn.eu/d/bxDzxmn

Or press here for the written recipe which is also on my website https://julesthelazycook.co.uk/2016/09/19/spaghetti-bolognese/

by julessmithie

Garlic Butter Gnocchi

I have cooked Gnocchi so many ways i used to cook it in the oven when the kids were little so they made mini roast potatoes but if you don’t cook them properly that can be rock hard. You can buy Gnocchi in two forms dry and fresh, the dry is where all the pasta is and the fresh is in the chilled isles in Supermarkets.

What is Gnocchi??? potato dumplings, the big issue with Gnocchi especially if you boil it it becomes mushy so you really need to understand how to cook it if you want to boil it. However we are not doing that today. In this recipe i used dry Gnocchi as i had half a bag leftover from a previous recipe half a bag serves 2.

The recipe below is just a guide and if you are dieting feel free to use garlic and margarine instead of butter however a the one butter pack i used was between 2 portions so worth the extra calories and syns in my opinion.

by julessmithie

Air Fryer Harissa Tinned New Potatoes

Tinned new potatoes are such an under rated food they are already cooked they just need reheating and you can add any flavour to them to take them to the next level.

In this version i have added Harissa paste which is a beautifully warming spice and it works really well in this recipe.

I have used an Air Fryer but you can use an oven if you wish whichever method you use they wont take long to cook remember they already cooked.

The air fryer I use is on my Amazon Shop press the link it will take you there then look under kitchen gadgets https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/julesthelazycook

by julessmithie

Creamy Lemon Chicken Pasta

This recipe appears in my cookbook MY LIGHTER BITES and it has had amazing reviews from everyone that has made it. The creamy lemon sauce works so well with the chicken its just a dream of a recipe.

Following a diet plan? no problem this fits with Slimming World Calorie Counting and Weight Watchers and its low in fat too.

Lighter Bites is all about getting you in and out of the kitchen in the least amount of time especially during the hotter months.

For you copy of MY LIGHTER BITES press here and look under COOKBOOKS https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/julesthelazycook

by julessmithie

Chilli Chicken & Mozzarella Quesadilla

This is basically a food waste recipe you know when you have packet chicken in the fridge ready to go out of date?? well thats how this started. You can use any flavour of chicken or even chicken leftover from Sunday lunch, add any sauce you like for me sweet chilli just works with so may flavours plus its favourite of mine.

I used mozzarella as i know Graeme will eat it but feel fee to use any cheese you like – if you are following Slimming World or Calorie Counting this recipe fits in with these diets.

You can have this as a lunch or a light evening meal idea i served mine with a huge salad.

by julessmithie

Slow Cooker Beef Tacos

A fantastic summer slow cooker recipe which you can make into many different meals which is what i did i used 2 portions then used the other 2 portions in a different recipe.

I appreciate you can make the base of this taco recipe in a pan on the hob in about 30 minutes but as you know that’s not my style and especially when the weather in the UK is playing ball and the sun is out. Spending time in the kitchen on warmer days just isn’t something i enjoy doing plus if like me you suffer from Chronic Pain or Fatigue getting dinner sorted at the beginning of the day is the way forward.

There isn’t anything complicated about this recipe other than deciding how much lime you want to add after the beef is cook and how you are going to serve them.

This recipe appears in my new Cookbook My Slow Cooker Meals which is available in paperback and kindle format press the link it will take you to my Amazon Shop then look under Cookbooks https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/julesthelazycook

by julessmithie

Orzo Nando’s Chicken Salad

Another fantastic lunch / packed lunch recipe or even a light evening meal this one ticks all the boxes. Remember orzo is just tiny pasta so you can swap it for any pasta you like.

You will see i didn’t use the original Nando’s sauce to marinate the chicken in the sauce i bought was from Home Bargins for a huge bottle and it was 89p (at the time of creating this recipe) and it tasted exactly the same as the original sauce. However use whichever sauce and your family like and enjoy it will still work the same.

For the dressing i used Nando’s Perinaise sauce now this stuff is expensive but i love it and and little goes a long way, but if you don’t want to buy it then use any dressing you like.

I cooked my chicken in the air fryer but if you don’t have an air fryer just cook it in the oven on 185 degrees for approx 15-20 minutes or until the chicken is cooked this will depend on how big the chicken pieces are.

This will keep in the fridge in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

by julessmithie

Chicken Gyros

Any type of kebab is my all time favourite food and Gyros i love. I fell in love with it in Greece about 5 years ago and that was it my obsession started. In Leeds we have some amazing Greek restaurants and Im happy to say they make a cracking Gyros.

This is a lighter version that will suit all diets Slimming World, Calorie Counting, Weight Watchers etc however don’t let the fact its diet food put you off its a fantastic recipe.

The recipe appears in my cookbook MY LIGHTER BITES which i created for the spring/summer months to get you in and out of the kitchen as quickly as possible – lets face it no one wants to spend hours in the kitchen cooking when we have a lovely weather here in the UK.

Find all my cookbooks on my Amazon Shop press the link and look under COOKBOOKS https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/julesthelazycook

by julessmithie

ORZO TUNA SWEETCORN SALAD

This recipe makes a fantastic lunch, packed lunch or light evening meal it will last in the fridge in an air tight container for up to 4 days.

What is Orzo?? its a tiny pasta and can be found in most supermarkets in the pasta isle, however if you don’t want to buy another type of pasta you can just use whatever pasta you have and your family like.

You can add any vegetables to this recipe you have that are in the fridge and need using up making it a perfect food waste recipe, because this is how this recipe was born using up what i had before we left the farmhouse in France.

For the dressing i used Pizzeria House Light Dressing, Lighter Than Light Mayo and lemon if you have a favourite dressing then use that but please try the one i used its really tasty and works so well in this recipe.

by julessmithie