Friday, August 31, 2007

Dinner Friday 31 August - Bella Italia pizza


I met up with Lisa and boys at Bella Italia restuarant in Covent Garden.

They were off to see "Lion King". Had a Margherita pizza (which had to be sent back as it was virtually cheese free!).
Then shared a "Godfather" ice cream sundae - nutty chocolate fudge brownies, vanilla and toffee ice cream with chocolate crunch, chocolate sauce, fresh cream & wafer curls.
Tasty, but a bit sick-making...

30 Henrietta Street
London
Greater London
WC2E 8NA
Tel: 020 78368396

Lunch Friday 31 August - Potato & Pea Tortilla with Sage


1 portion Potato & Pea Tortilla with Sage

plus a salad comprising
125g runner beans, steamed
160g cherry tomatoes, halved
1 shallot, sliced
dressed with
10 mls olive oil
juice ½ lemon
1 teaspoon sugar
10g mustard

Nutrition Data
Calories (kcal) 475.9
Carbohydrate (g) 46.5
Protein (g) 23.2
Fat (g) 22.8
Fibre (g) 8.1

Breakfast Friday 31 August - Plum Cobbler


And now for something completely diffferent. Sick of cereal, so made a cobbler and had a portion with a punnet of raspberries & coffee

Plum Cobbler
450g plums, halved & stoned
1 teaspoon ground mace
225g plain flour
½ teaspoon salt
50g sugar (or to taste)
1 large, free range, organic egg
6 fluid ounces soy milk
25g butter, melted

Arrange the plums in a non-stick 8" square baking dish. Sprinkle over the mace. You can add sugar if they are too tart for you.

To make the cobbler batter, sift togther the flour, salt and sugar in a bowl. In a jug, beat together the soy milk (or cow's milk), egg and melted butter. Add to the dry ingredients and stir quickly but thoroughly - don't over beat the batter, the dry ingredients should just be moistened (as if you were making muffins).

Spoon to batter over the plums and bake in a moderate over for about 20 minutes, until the top is browned and the cake tests done.

Invert the dish and turn out so that the plums are on top of the cobbler and serve.

Makes 4 servings

Nutrition Data per serving
Calories (kcal) 373.4
Carbohydrate (g) 65.5
Protein (g) 9.6
Fat (g) 8.3
Fibre (g) 3.3

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Dinner Thursday 30 August - Cous Cous Salad


Cous Cous Salad
1 teaspoon oil
2 cloves garlic
1 dried habanero chilli, crushed
95g cous cous
200ml vegetable stock
mixed red, yellow & green peppers, diced (about 185g in total)
2 ribs celery, sliced finely (about 65g)
4-5 spring onions, sliced finely (about 60g)
juice ½ lemon & 1 lime
handful each fresh mint & coriander

Mix the oil with the garlic and chilli. Add the dry cous cous and stir to combine. Pour over the boiling stock, cover and let stand for 20 minutes or until the cous cous has absorbed the stock and cooled.

Fluff with a fork and add the peppers, celery & spring onions and toss well. Squeeze over the lemon & lime juice, add the mint & coriander leaves and toss again.

Serve garnished with 200g sliced beet root and 1 tablespoon of sunflower seeds.

Nutrition Data
Calories (kcal) 563.2
Carbohydrate (g) 108.3
Protein (g) 20.4
Fat (g) 6.9
Fibre (g) 11.6
Alcohol (g) 0.0
Fruit & Veg 7.8
Water 0.0

Lunch Thursday 30 August - Fish & Chips (sort of)


Fish & Chips (sort of)
1 Young's Tempura Basa fillet
200g potatoes, cut into wegdes and baked with some spray oil
125g runner beans
2 tablespoons homemade spiced catsup

Nutrition Data
Calories (kcal) 520.1
Carbohydrate (g) 63.4
Protein (g) 34.1
Fat (g) 15.6
Fibre (g) 13.1

Breakfast Thursday 30 August - Banana & coffee


Had a HUGE banana and some coffee.

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Dinner Wednesday 29 August - Basa Fillet with Colcannon & vegetables


I had been reading about Basa (also called pangasius or Vietnamese catfish) as a sustainable white fish alternative to cod, so I went looking for some. Only thing I would find was some Young's frozen tempura battered Basa fillets, so I decided to try them out. It is a very nice fish - mild flavoured, with few bones and large flakes. I would like to find some plain fillets to try.

Young's website says:
Scientific name: Pangasius hypopthalmus
Market name: Basa
Common names: Basa, Vietnamese Catfish

Wikipedia says:
"The Basa fish - Pangasius Hypopthalmus, is a type of catfish in the family Pangasiidae.
Basa are native to the Mekong River Delta in Vietnam and Chao Phraya basin.
Basa is now farmed in large quantities. It is the most popular fish in Vietnam and consumed in increasing quantities around the world.
The body of a Basa fish is stout and heavy. The rounded head is broader than it is long, the blunt snout having a white band on its muzzle.
Basa fish can be found in large rivers, in rapids and in deep, slower reaches.
Basa fish feed on plants. These fish spawn at the onset of the rainy season.
It is white, pinkish and is available year round. Basa is a tender, mild and fine-flaked fish."


Anyway, dinner was:

1 Young's Tempura Basa fillet
served with

Colcannon comprising:
150g potatoes, boiled and mashed
50g kale, cooked and chopped
2 spring onions, sliced finely

80g fine beans, steamed
1 carrot, steamed

Nutrition Data
Calories (kcal) 487.1
Carbohydrate (g) 60.4
Protein (g) 30.6
Fat (g) 15.2
Fibre (g) 11.2

Lunch Wednesday 29 August - Potato & Pea Tortilla with Sage


1 portion Potato & Pea Tortilla with Sage
200g cooked beetroot
40g pepperoncinci
1 tomato

Breakfast Wednesday 29 August - Last of the Special K!

Yippie! another box of cereal from the food horde bites the dust. Finished off the last of the Special K with a nectarine and coffee.

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Dinner Tuesday 28 August - Mushroom Laab


Mushroom Laab
10ml oil
85g shallots, minced
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon galangal (or ginger)
250g mushrooms, finely chopped
3-4 kaffir lime leaves, shredded
1 stalk lemon grass, very finely sliced (tender inner leaves only - discard any tough outer leaves or reserve for another purpose)
1 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoons fish sauce
2-3 chillis, sliced
10g rice, dry roasted in a skillet and crushed in a pestle & mortar
1 lime

Romaine lettuce leaves
100g fine beans
handful coriander leaves
2-3 spring onions, sliced

Heat the oil in a wok or skillet. Add the shallots, garlic, galangal or ginger & mushrooms and stir fry over medium heat until mushrooms are cooked and have released all their moisture. The mixture should not be watery.

Add the shredded lime leaves, lemon grass, sugar, fish sauce, chillies and toasted rice. Continue stir frying, combining all ingredients well.

Remove from heat, add the lime juice, stir and taste - add more lime juice, fish sauce and/or chillis as you prefer.

Allow to cool to room temperature. Serve the laab in Romaine lettuce leaf "boats", garnished with spring onions, coriander and cooked fine beans.

Nutrition Data per serving
Calories (kcal) 330.7
Carbohydrate (g) 40.9
Protein (g) 16.5
Fat (g) 12.0
Fibre (g) 7.4

Lunch Tuesday 28 August - Potato & Pea Tortilla with Sage


½ bag spinach
1 tomato
1 portion Potato & Pea Tortilla with Sage

Nutrition Data
Calories (kcal) 312.1
Carbohydrate (g) 27.3
Protein (g) 23.6
Fat (g) 12.8
Fibre (g) 7.5

Breakfast Tuesday 28 August - Special K

Back in the groove (or is that a rut?) - breakfast was Special K & coffee.

Monday, August 27, 2007

Dinner Monday 27 August - Potato & Pea Tortilla with Sage



Potato & Pea Tortilla with Sage
10ml olive oil
1 medium onion, sliced thinly (115g)
3 cloves garlic, crushed
small handful fresh sage leaves, shredded
225g potatoes, lightly steamed or parboiled & sliced
175g fresh peas
100g half fat Edam cheese, grated
5 large, free range, organic eggs (about 275g)

Heat a 10" non-stick frying pan. Saute garlic and onions in oil until soft. Add the sage, potatoes and peas and turn carefully to that everything is combined, but the potatoes are not too broken up. Scatter over the cheese and then pour over the beaten eggs.

Cover and cook over very low heat until set and bottom is browned - about 15 minutes or more.

Turn out and cut into wedges. May be served hot or cold.

Makes 4 servings

Nutrition Data per serving
Calories (kcal) 257.3
Carbohydrate (g) 20.7
Protein (g) 19.1
Fat (g) 11.5
Fibre (g) 3.5

Just had this with some rocket leaves and a tomato.

Lunch Monday 27 August - Udon with Vegetables


Udon with Vegetables
1 pack seafood flavoured udon noodles
95g broccoli, in florets
85g baby corn
65g mangetout
1 carrot, sliced
5 spring onions, sliced
1 tablespoon soy sauce
½ teaspoon sesame oil
handful fresh coriander
chilli flakes

No recipe here - I just steamed the vegetables over the water in which the udon noodles were cooking, then added the packets that came with the noodles (plus some extra soy & sesame oil) and the veggies, coriander and a shake of chilli.

Nutrition Data
Calories (kcal) 445.1
Carbohydrate (g) 69.4
Protein (g) 19.6
Fat (g) 5.0
Fibre (g) 6.6

Sunday, August 26, 2007

Dinner Sunday 26 August - Fried Rice with Prawns, Peas & Peppers


Fried Rice with Prawns, Peas & Peppers
10ml oil
3 shallots, sliced thinly
3 cloves garlic
1 chilli
1 thumb garlic
2 baby yellow peppers, sliced
1 baby orange pepper, sliced
80g cooked prawns
200g fresh shelled peas
50g brown basmati rice, cooked and cooled.
1 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon fish sauce
3 tablespoon oyster sauce
handful coriander

Heat the oil in a wok and saute the shallots, garlic, chillies and ginger briefly. Add the peppers and continue stir-frying until they just begin to soften. Add the peas, prawns, cooked rice and stir fry for another minute or two until everything is heated through (the peas will not need much cooking time). Finally, sprinkle over the sugar, fish & oyster sauces and coriander. Toss well and serve.

Nutrition Data
Calories (kcal) 642.5
Carbohydrate (g) 95.5
Protein (g) 36.3
Fat (g) 13.7
Fibre (g) 13.8

Lunch Sunday 26 August - Fusilli with Simple, Savoury Tomato Sauce


Fusilli with Simple, Savoury Tomato Sauce
15g Butter
3 cloves garlic
100g tomatoes, skinned & deseeded
10g capers
10g anchovies
handful fresh basil
100g wholewheat fusilli

Melt butter and saute garlic & tomatoes until softened. Break up the tomatoes with the back of a spoon until they are are smooth or coarse as you like, then add the anchovies and capers and allow to simmer for a few minutes, until the anchovies dissolve into the sauce.

Toss with the freshly cooked fusilli and the basil and serve.

Nutrition Data
Calories (kcal) 520.8
Carbohydrate (g) 70.6
Protein (g) 15.7
Fat (g) 19.4
Fibre (g) 9.0

Breakfast Sunday 26 August - Apple & Gorgonzola


OK, so it is a bit of an odd breakfast selection, but crisp apples are in love with Gorgonzola and don't care who knows.

Saturday, August 25, 2007

Saturday 25 August - Heading home from Cornwall


Breakfasted on a cantaloupe, some blueberries, coffee

Left Hayle at 08:30 and arrived at Exeter to return AA Rescue loaner car at about 10:30. Fiona's mate Tony (father of the girls) met us there and drove us back to Fiona's flat in South London.

I snacked on an apple, a banana and a custard cream in car.

We drove back on A303 and stopped at a Burger King someplace along the motorway for lunch. I had some fries; not a lot else on offer for non-meat eaters.

We arrived at Fiona's in south London around 16:00. and I got mini cab home which set me back £25.00

At home had 4 ribs of celery, 2 carrots and 1 bag of REAL Cheese & Spring Onion crisps I had bought at the services.

My lower legs and feet very sore, puffy and itchy from sunburn compounded by prolonged sitting in the car. It is pretty uncomfortable. I applied some calomine lotion, which seems to help a bit.

No real dinner - snacked on some Gorgonzola and an apple.

A kind of "bitty", boring and tiring day.

But I heard a great line on the telly:

"Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves, they shall never cease to be amused."

Friday, August 24, 2007

Friday 24 August - Hayle, Cornwall

Sand crocodile with a fish in his mouth

Breakfasted on the usual 1/8th cheese loaf, coffee

Walked on beach from 09:30 -11:00 (to Gwithin's and back) then read from on hour or so on beach. Someone had sculpted a nice crocodile in the sand. He was more or less life sized and had a fish in his mouth - and foot prints all over his back where someone had tried to destroy him. Shame.

For lunch, had some leftover vegetable soup and a cheese & mushroom omelette with 2 tomatoes and 2 slices supermarket bread.

Went back to beach around 14:00 and walked the other direction to the rocks on Hayle beach. Sat on beach and read until about 16:00. Best day weatherwise so far - not so bloody windy!

Walked down to park shop and bought rock for Lisa's boys and a small bottle of scrumpy for Lisa. Had a pack of Walker Ready Salted crisps.

We are getting ready to head home tomorrow, so need to use up some of what is in the fridge. Lots of odds and ends of veggies. Fiona had made a pasta salad for herself and there was some leftover cooked pasta too.

So, for dinner, I made a salad of 100g spinach, ½ head romaine, 200g cherry tomatoes & ½ red onion dressed with oil, lemon, sugar & mustard.

For main course, I made some

Pasta with Veggies
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon oil
1 onion
2 garlic
½ red pepper
1 chilli
1 carrot
100g broccoli
100g asparagus
1 cooked cup pasta
50g half fat Cheddar cheese
½ teaspoon Marigold bouillon powder.

Melt together the butter and oil. Saute the onions, garlic, pepper, chilli and carrot until soft. Steam to broccoli & asparagus and add the the pan along with the cooked pasta and Marigold powder. Toss well to combine everything and scatter in the cheese. Toss again and serve.

Finally, had a punnet of blueberries for dessert.

I got too much sun today. I am OK pretty much everywhere but tops or feet, ankles and lower calves. All the walking by the water's edge meant reflected sun and washed away sun block. The skin is very tight and sore!


Sand crocodile

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Thursday 23 August - Cornwall and Mount St Michael's

Breakfast was another 1/8th cheese loaf & coffee. I ended up freezing it on day two, when it became obvious that I was the only one with a barge pole long enough to be interested in it. So, I just pop it in the microwave and nuke it to defrost. Plus, has the added bonus of re-gooey-fying the cheese.

Went for a long walk on the beach - 1½ hours, most of the length of Three Mile Beach and back again. I was surprised to see a dead rabbit in the surf at the waters edge. Wonder how he came to be there.

Stopped into caravan park shop to buy some odds and end - picked up some biscuits for the girls - Maryland cookies and custard creams.

Maryland cookies always make me wonder... I was born in Washington, D.C. and lived for many, many years in Maryland and we NEVER had "Maryland" cookies or "Maryland" style chicken that seem so popular in the UK.

Maryland is known for one thing - CRABS. When neighbouring Virginia launched the slogan "Virginia is for Lovers", Maryland retaliated with "Maryland is for crabs"



For lunch I made some vegetable soup:
1 onion , chopped
3 garlic , crushed
½ yellow pepper, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
2 celery heart, chopped
1 broccoli stem, trimmed and chopped
½ can corn
3 tomatoes, peeled, deseeded & diced
1 tablespoon Marigold vegetable stock powder
Add water to cover and "cook until done", as my grandmother would have said.

Then we all went to Mount St Michael - had to get boat out as it was high tide. Walked around the castle & grounds, then walked back across tidal flats.

View from Mount Saint Michael

Bought t-shirt with cat face on it and stopped for local ice cream on way back - 1 scoop mint chocolate chip.


Dinner was a salad to start - cherry tomatoes, red onion, mushroom, spring onion, spinach and hard boiled egg dressed with oil, lemon & garlic.

Then I had some noodle salad, which again, no one else wanted to try.
¼ red onion, sliced fine
100g mange tout, blanced and sliced
1 carrot, julienned
½ yellow pepper, julienned
½ green pepper, julienned
1 block Chinese egg noodles, cooked
2 garlic, crushed
1 thumb ginger, grated
1 chilli, chopped
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon sweet chilli sauce
1 tablespoon oil
mint
romaine leaves

Today's junk food: 3 Maryland cookies, 3 custard creams, 30g M&S Cheese Tasters.

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Wednesday 22 August - Cornwall



Breakfasted on 1/8th cheese loaf, some cherries, a nectarine & coffee

Walked down to camp recycling centre with stuff so far, then another good 40 minutes walking on beach. It is pretty obvious that I am the only early riser in this group. I am usually up and about by 8:00 at the latest and Fiona & the girls are in bed until at least noon, so I picked up 2nd key at reception due to the differences in our time keeping.

Went back to beach and read for an hour or so, then home for lunch which was the other portion of bean salad, some lentil soup and supermarket bread.

Went into Penzance again to get bus ticket for Analiese - all sold out, so had to get train ticket instead so she can get home for her results. Stopped into the M&S at the roundabout on the way back and picked up a few things, including Cheese Tasters. I can NEVER resist these in M&S.

For dinner, I had a salad of romaine, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, carrot & spring onions dressed with oil & balsamic vinegar. Then had a small baked potato with 50g of half fat cheddar, 125g mushrooms and ½ onion sauteed in a little olive oil with some garlic.

Had ½ kiwi and a punnet of raspberries for dessert.

More weird foods today - 1 "snack sized" Muller Choco/Vanilla Balls yoghurt - disgusting. and an M&S chocolate covered biscuit (not disgusting).

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Tuesday 21 August - Hayle, Cornwall


Some weird jelly fish washed up on the surf's edge

Breakfast was - you got it - 1/8 cheese loaf (plus coffee, a nectarine & 2 clementines).

Long walk on beach - about 1½ hours. Finally starting to feel a bit better from the car crash - leg, wrist etc easing off a bit

Lunch was a salad of ½ bag spinach, 3 mushrooms, ½ red onion, 1 medium avocado, 100g prawns and dressing made of 1 tablespoon oil, 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar, Colman's mustard, salt & pepper.

Then set about snacking on holiday rubbish - 3 chocolate toffees, 2 squares Cadbury chocolate, small Time Out bar, 1 bag M&S Sweet potato crisps, 1 M&S teacake, 1 chocolate cream caramel wafer thingy - all stuff I don't normally keep around! Bleugh - not good.

Went for another walk on the beach in the afternoon. Gotta work off some of that lardy junk food.

For dinner I made a

Bean Salad
Make a simple dressing of
1 tablespoon oil,
juice of 1 lemon,
2 garlic cloves,
1 teaspoon sugar,
1 teaspoon mustard

Combine and pour over
1 small green pepper
100g cooked fine beans
½ can kidney beans
175g cannellini beans
½ red onion, sliced fine.

Toss well and leave to stand for 30 minutes or more so flavours can develop. Makes 2 servings.

I had one serving on ½ head romaine,with some slow roasted cherry tomatoes and a hard boiled egg.

Monday, August 20, 2007

Monday 20 August - In Cornwall


Three Mile Beach is full of mysterious caves

Well, someone has to eat this "rustic cheese loaf", so I had another portion plus a nectarine, a clementine & coffee.

Still feeling quite sore from smash-up, but went for long walk on beach again this AM.

Lunch was a salad of
- radish leaves,
- romaine lettuce,
- ¼ tin tuna,
- 1 tablespoon mayonnaise,
- ½ small can corn,
- ½ small can kidney beans,
- ½ small red pepper,
- 4 spring onions,
- garlic,
- chilli,
- 2 ribs celery,
- 1 hard boiled egg,
- 1 handful roast tomatoes,
- 1 tablespoon oil and
- juice ½ lemon.



Drove in to Penzance and spent 2 hours wandering around the shopping precinct. Stopped into Renaissance Cafe on the waterfront. I just had an iced coffee (and nicked chips off the Fiona's plate).

Back at the holiday park, I went for a stroll on beach in the afternoon and stopped into bar near surf school for a pint of Kronenbourg.

For dinner, I made 100g prawns sauteed in butter with garlic, spring onions and asparagus along with 2 slices of supermarket bread.



Sunday, August 19, 2007

Sunday 19 August - Settling into Hayle


I got up early and had another 1/8 of the Rustic Cheese Loaf and some coffee.

Woke up very sore on left side - jammed wrist, sore shin, sore neck - sheesh. Went for long walk on beach - it was sunny but very windy.

Oh dear - ate a bunch of junk back at the caravan, waiting for everyone to wake up. One pack M&S Sweet Potato crisps, 2 chocolate eclair sweets, 5 Haribos, 2 Aero Mint Bubbles, 1 M&S teacake and a clementine (yay! not junk!)

Fiona and girls finally up around 12:00 noon. Went shopping at Morrison's in Penzance to stock up for holiday.

Made a big tray of slow roasted cherry tomatoes, only 2 find out that no one but me likes cooked tomatoes, Oh well!


Looks like no one else will eat the bread I brought as no one else likes
1) cooked tomatoes (except in Heinz Tomato Soup & maybe ketchup)
2) olives
3) Camembert

I have a LOT of bread to eat...

Lunch was as salad of ½ bag spinach, 3 mushrooms, sliced, 1 hard boiled egg, some cherry tomatoes and a dressing on lemon and olive oil with loads of black pepper.

After lunch, went exploring around the caravan park for and hour or so. Staying at St Ives Bay Holiday Park in a 3 bed caravan. Two bed rooms are teeny-weeny, one is large. Right on the beach - a bit windy (and then some!) while we were there, but a nice beach and a good site. Park has a small shop, bars surf school etc.

St Ives Bay Holiday Park

For dinner I made lentil soup, because others expressed an interest in trying it. But none one did try it.

Anyway, I had 2 bowls with some sliced supermarket bread.

Lentil Soup
1 teaspoon oil
3 cloves garlic, crushed
2 small onions
2 small green peppers
2 carrots
250g dry green lentils
1 tomato, chopped
2 pint vegetable stock

Saute the onions and garlic in the oil until softening. Add the vegetables, lentils and stock and simmer, covered, over low heat until the vegetables are soft and the lentils are cooked, about 35-45 minutes.

Puree or not, as you prefer (I like it chunky).

Saturday, August 18, 2007

Dinner Sat 18 August - Car crash on the A30/M5 and not a lot else


Three Mile Beach near Hayle, Cornwall

Drove down to Hayle, Cornwall with Fiona. Snacking along the way from Fiona's chilly bin - ate 2 packs M&S crisps, 3 oranges and a couple of sweets (a Percy Pig, & 2 chocolate eclairs) en route.

The, we had a big crash on A30/M5 interchange in Exeter. It was raining, we were a bit lost and next thing I knew we had smashed into the car ahead of us (which was stationary at a traffic light) . I sustained an enormous contusion on my left shin where it slammed into the under dash. Ambulance workers insisted on taking me to hospital as they thought my leg was broken.

Went to hospital in Exeter and waited AGES to be x-rayed, but swelling went down with ice pack from chilly bin and some pressure/elevation, so we left after a couple of hours of waiting and a quick once over by a gaggle of staff who were hanging around the A&E station, doing not a whole lot, by all appearances.

Fiona had gone to collect the rescue vehicle supplied from AA Recovery - Fiona and the girls (her god daughters) went to drop off totaled Rav4 and collect while I waited in hospital.

Carried on down to Hayes and arrived around midnight, shagged out, starving and in dire need of a glass of wine and a bed.

Ate 1/8 of the Rustic Cheese & Tomato loaf I made to take along.

Shitty day - Fiona broke her bridge on a chocolate eclair sweet, the first Little Chef we stopped in was run by morons who could not make a cup of coffee (we waited ages!), 2nd Little Chef was closing as we arrived and we were starving (post prang), then tried McDonald's - also closing as we arrived.

Managed to pick up some supplies at a petrol stations nearly there (bread, coffee, tea etc) and a bottle of wine for me. But of course - no corkscrew at caravan! Still, I strong armed the cork out with a knife and had a well deserved glass of plonk.

And we could not find the damn caravan for ages, driving about in the dark.


Rustic Cheese Bread
250g Camembert
3 tablespoons chilli oil
1 shot of brandy
3 cloves garlic, crushed
small handful fresh sage leaves, chopped
small handful fresh thyme leaves, stalks removed

25g black olives
100g mi-cuit (slow oven roasted) cherry tomatoes
500g strong white bread flour
50g softened butter
1 tablespoon dried yeast
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt

Poke the Camembert with a knife all over. Place it in a bowl and add the chilli oil, brandy, garlic and herbs. Roll the cheese around in the oil mixture until coated and leave to macerate overnight.

Add yeast and sugar to 50mls warm water and allow to bloom. Add the butter, salt and flour, then add water, 50 mls at a time, until dough is workable.

Knead the dough until smooth & elastic and leave to rise until doubled in bulk.

Knock down and knead again, adding the olives & tomatoes. Then press out with the heels of the hands into a large round.

Place the cheese and marinade in the centre of the dough. Draw up to sides to cover the cheese and seal the joins well - it should be a rough and ready round loaf.

Leave to rise until doubled in bulk and then bake in a hot oven (gas 8) for about 20 minutes, until browned and hollow sounding when tapped.

Makes 8 generous servings

Nutrition Data per serving
Calories (kcal) 424.9
Carbohydrate (g) 47.0
Protein (g) 14.8
Fat (g) 18.7
Fibre (g) 3.8

Lunch Saturday 18 August - Salad with Feta & Croutons


Getting ready to head off to Cornwall, so finishing off what it left in the fridge before I go.

Salad with Feta & Croutons
½ head iceberg lettuce
50g pea shoots
100g cherry tomatoes, slow roasted in the oven
50g feta cheese, cubed
80g white refrigerator bread, made into oven baked
croutons
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 teaspoon white balsamic vinegar

No recipe; just combine the lettuce & pea shoots. Dress with the oil & vinegar, then garnish with the tomatoes, feta and croutons. Season with salt & pepper and serve.

Nutrition Data
Calories (kcal) 421.7
Carbohydrate (g) 44.4
Protein (g) 20.5
Fat (g) 18.2
Fibre (g) 3.7

Breakfast Saturday 18 August - Special K

Still, not much more left!

Friday, August 17, 2007

Dinner Friday 17 August - Fried Rice with Pressed Tofu & Asparagus


Fried Rice with Pressed Tofu & Asparagus
50g dry weight brown basmati rice, cooked & cooled
100g asparagus, sliced and steamed until just tender
1 egg
2 squares pressed aromatic tofu
1 thumb ginger
2 garlic
2 tablespoons soy sauce
3 spring onions, sliced

Heat a non stick wok. Scramble the egg in it and set to one side.

Spritz with a little oil and add the ginger, garlic & tofu . Stir fry for a few moments, then add the cooked rice, asparagus and soy sauce.

Continue stir frying until everything is heated through. Add the spring onions and season to taste with salt & pepper.

Nutrition Data
Calories (kcal) 528.6
Carbohydrate (g) 45.2
Protein (g) 40.2
Fat (g) 21.0
Fibre (g) 4.4

Lunch Friday 17 August - Macaroni Cheese with Vegetables


Macaroni Cheese with Vegetables
80g Half Fat Red Leicester cheese
200ml vegetable stock
1 tablespoon cornflour
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon dry English mustard powder
30mls single cream
70g pasta (I had some boccoletti spirals)

Make to sauce while the pasta cooks. Combine the cold vegetable stock with the cornflour. Cook over low heat until beginning to thicken. Add the Worcestershire sauce, mustard, cream and cheese and continue to cook over low heat until cheese is melted and sauce is thickened.

Stir in the drained, cooked pasta and serve with a selection of vegetables. I had:
100g sauteed spinach with 1 clove garlic
100g sauteed mushrooms
130g steamed fine beans

Nutrition Data
Calories (kcal) 671.3
Carbohydrate (g) 70.9
Protein (g) 41.0
Fat (g) 24.9
Fibre (g) 8.6

Breakfast Friday 17 August - Special K

Special K and coffee again... eventually, I will finish this box and then never buy it again (until I have a coupon or some other offer I cannot resist).

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Dinner Thursday 16 August - Stir Steam with Peppered Tofu Fish Cakes


Stir Steam with Peppered Tofu Fish Cakes
75g mange tout
75g baby corn
1 carrot
½ pack (100g) Seabest Peppered Tofu Fish Cakes
50g flat oriental noodles
3 spring onions, sliced
1 portion Chinese Style Stir Steam Sauce

Nutrition Summary
Calories (kcal) 438.9
Protein (g) 24.0
Carbohydrate (g) 67.9
Fat (g) 7.3
Fibre (g) 4.5

Lunch Thursday 16 August - Wild Rice & Pressed Tofu Salad


Wild Rice & Pressed Tofu Salad
2 cloves garlic
1 thumb ginger, grated
2-3 chillis, sliced
1 tablespoon soy sauce
65g bottled black bean sauce

150g cooked wild rice
2 aromatic pressed tofu blocks, cut into slivers
60g pointed sweet red pepper, sliced
70g spring onions, sliced
100g fine beans

Make a dressing of the black bean sauce, garlic, ginger, chillis & soy sauce.

Combine the rice, tofu, peppers, spring onions and fine beans. Toss with the dressing and serve

Nutrition Data
Calories (kcal) 500.7
Carbohydrate (g) 60.0
Protein (g) 33.9
Fat (g) 14.4
Fibre (g) 9.6

Breakfast Thursday 16 August - Special K and blueberries


and a hangover.

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Dinner Wednesday 15 August -- Sleep


Dinner was suspended on account of way too much wine at lunch. I slept through dinner.


Lunch Wednesday 15 August - Crappy fish & chips too much wine



Lots of my bad food stories start with "I had a coupon...." This one is no exception.

Wetherspoon's pubs had leafleted the area with a advertsiement promotion which included lots of coupons for "Buy One, Get One Free" meals and deals on bottles of wines, pint & bottles of beer etc.

Anyway, after our gym work-out, we decided to use some of these coupons up. And used way too many of them.

Started off with one bottle of wine and some truly lousy fish & chips with peas. And one bottle of wine was enough get get us interested in a second and then a third.

Needless to say, we were totally hammered. I was very drunk - too drunk. Managed to make it home but not sure how. Oh, dear.

Brain - Nil
Liver - Nil
Wetherspoons - 2

Breakfast Wednesday 15 August - Special K & Blueberries

Well, the day started off well. I woke up and had Special K, a large punnet of blueberries and coffee.

Then I met Lisa and I took her to my gym with one of my guest passes.

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Tuesday 14 August - Grilled Prawns & Kumara Cakes with Thai style Herb Salsa


Grilled Prawns & Kumara Cakes with Thai style Herb Salsa

280g kumara
¼ red onion, minced (about 30g)
3 spring onions, trimmed & sliced
2 cloves garlic
Turkish red chilli flakes

Boil and mash the kumara. Add the onions, minced garlic and chilli flakes.

Spray a non-stick pan with a little flavourless oil and fry the cakes on either side until browned.

Thai style Herb Salsa
handful mint
handful coriander
2 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon fish sauce
2-3 green chillis, sliced
1 teaspoon sugar
50g cherry tomatoes, minced
In a pestle & mortar, pound together the mint, coriander, garlic & chillis. Add the sugar & fish sauce and mix well. Finally, stir in the chopped tomatoes

Serve with 100g grilled prawns and the kumara cakes.

Nutrition Data
Calories (kcal) 444.8
Carbohydrate (g) 76.5
Protein (g) 22.8
Fat (g) 15.0
Fibre (g) 6.5

Lunch Tuesday 14 August - Tuna Salad


1 portion Tuna Salad (see Lunch 12 August)
¼ head iceberg lettuce, shredded
1 bag mixed salad leaves with tatsoi (120g)
150g cherry tomatoes
30g black olives

Line a plate with the salad & lettuce. Mound tuna salad on top and garnish with olives & tomatoes

Nutrition Data
Calories (kcal) 418.9
Carbohydrate (g) 40.2
Protein (g) 40.7
Fat (g) 10.6
Fibre (g) 11.1

Breakfast Tuesday 14 August - Toast & Tartex

.... again

Monday, August 13, 2007

Dinner Monday 13 August - Wild Rice & Pressed Tofu Salad


Wild Rice & Pressed Tofu Salad
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 chilli pepper (or to taste)
2 cloves garlic
55g ready prepared black bean sauce (I used Sharwood's)

3 spring onions
100g broccoli, steamed, in florets
½ pack aromatic pressed tofu (about 112g - I had Mong Shang Lee brand)
65g sugar snap peas
1 pointed, sweet red pepper (about 60g)
150g cooked wild rice

Make a dressing of the black bean sauce, garlic, chilli & soy sauce.

Combine the wild rice, pressed tofu (cut into slivers), sliced sugar snaps, sliced red pepper, steamed broccoli florets and spring onions.

Pour over the dressing and combine well.

Nutrition Data
Calories (kcal) 514.3
Carbohydrate (g) 58.4
Protein (g) 38.4
Fat (g) 14.5
Fibre (g) 9.4

Lunch Monday 13 August - Greek Style Prawn & Feta Salad


Greek Style Prawn & Feta Salad
125g sliced iceberg lettuce
handful coriander leaves

150g 0% fat Greek yoghurt
1 clove garlic
handful fresh mint
1 teaspoon ground cumin
salt

110g cooked prawns
150g cucumber, thinly sliced
2 ribs celery, sliced (about 60g)
50g feta cheese, in small cubes
1 teaspoon chilli flakes

Combine yoghurt, garlic, mint & cumin. Season with salt & chilli flakes to taste.

Add the celery, cucumber and prawns and combine.

Arrange the lettuce & coriander on a serving plate. Mound the prawn salad on top. Garnish with feta cubes and more chilli flakes.

Nutrition Data
Calories (kcal) 374.6
Carbohydrate (g) 16.2
Protein (g) 45.4
Fat (g) 14.4
Fibre (g) 4.5

Breakfast Monday 13 August - Toast w Tartex and an Apple


Two sclices Refrigerator White Bread, Tartex yeast paste, an apple & coffee.

Sunday, August 12, 2007

Dinner Sunday 12 August - Peppered Fish Tofu with Chinese Vegetables


Peppered Fish Tofu with Chinese Vegetables (a Stir Steam)
100g Seabest Peppered Tofu Fish Cakes
60g baby corn
75g mange tout
1 carrot, sliced
100g broccoli, in florets
50g ho fan noodles
3 spring onions, trimmed & sliced
1 portion Stir Steam Sauce

Nutrition Summary
Calories (kcal) 479.6
Protein (g) 28.7
Carbohydrate (g) 73.5
Fat (g) 7.0
Fibre (g) 7.5

Lunch Sunday 12 August - Tuna Salad


1 50g bag pea shoots
30g black olives
150g cherry tomatoes
1 portion tuna salad

Tuna Salad
60g red pepper, chopped
60g spring onions, sliced
100g celery, chopped
1 can corn (about 270g)
1 can tuna, well drained
50g light mayonnaise
handful parsley
juice ½ ime
1 clove garlic, crushed
100g Kraft light Herb & Garlic dressing
Adobo seasoning

Combine all ingredients and mix well.

Makes 2 servings
Nutrition Data per serving
Calories (kcal) 309.3
Carbohydrate (g) 28.2
Protein (g) 35.5
Fat (g) 5.8
Fibre (g) 4.2

Breakfast Sunday 12 August - Toast & Tartex



Started the day with 2 slices Refrigerator White Bread, Tartex, Marmite & coffee.

Saturday, August 11, 2007

Dinner Saturday 11 August - Red Peppers stuffed with Goat's Cheese


Red Peppers stuffed with Goat's Cheese
1 sweet, pointed red pepper (about 80g)
75g soft, mild goats cheese
handful fresh basil
30g black olives, sliced
10g capers
1 teaspoon macadamia oil
1 large tomatoes
2 courgettes (about 300g)
balsamic vinegar to taste
25g pea shoots

Halve the peppers lengthwise and deseed. Mix together the goat's cheese and basil and use it to fill the peppers. Top with half of the capers & olives.

Arrange on a baking tray.

Cut the courgettes into chunks and spray with olive oil. Halve the tomatoes and spritz them with oil too.

Add the to the baking tray with the peppers and roast in a hot oven until soft.

Line a plate with some pea shoots and arrange the peppers and tomatoes on the plate.

Toss the roasted courgettes with the balsamic vinegar and add to the plate.

Garnish with the rest of the olives & capers.


Nutrition Data
Calories (kcal) 330.2
Carbohydrate (g) 25.6
Protein (g) 18.7
Fat (g) 17.8
Fibre (g) 8.6

Lunch Saturday 11 August - Cauliflower Cheese, Potato Wedges and Fine Beans


Cauliflower Cheese, Potato Wedges and Fine Beans
2 baby cauliflowers (about 200g)
100g fine beans
200g potatoes
Cheese Sauce

Just roasted the potatoes in wedges with a little spray oil and some of the Montreal steak seasoning and had them with the steamed cauliflower, fine beans and cheese sauce.

Nutrition Data
Calories (kcal) 499.1
Carbohydrate (g) 55.0
Protein (g) 29.8
Fat (g) 18.9
Fibre (g) 6.2


Cheese Sauce
10g cornflour
200ml vegetable stock
30ml extra thick single cream
65g half fat red Leicester cheese
1 teaspoon mustard
1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce

Mix together the vegetable stock and cornflour. Cook over low heat until thickened, then add the mustard, Worcestershire sauce and cream. Stir well then gradually stir in the cheese until melted & smooth .

Breakfast Saturday 11 August - Melon & Blueberries


Fruit feast - an entire Charentais melon, a large punnet blueberries & coffee

Friday, August 10, 2007

Dinner Friday 10 August - Crabs with Asparagus & Corn


4 crabs
140g aspargus
1 ear corn on the cob

Basically, just a repeat of last night's meal (and the end of the box of crabs).

Lunch Friday 10 August - Spinach, Avocado & "Bacon" salad


Spinach, Avocado & "Bacon" Salad
100g spinach
1 tomato (150g)
1 avocado (145g)
3 mushrooms
6 Morningstar Farms Streaky Strips

Dressing
1 teaspoon macadamia nut oil
1 teaspoon Manuka honey
juice 1 lime
1 teaspoon mustard

Line a plate with the spinach. Arrange the avocado tomato, mushrooms on top. Pour over the dressing and garnish with the "bacon".

Nutrition Summary
Calories (kcal) 547.0
Protein (g) 12.1
Carbohydrate (g) 26.2
Fat (g) 44.0
Fibre (g) 9.4