Quick Healthy Recipes For You

Archive for the ‘Biscuits & Afters’ Category

Today has been roasting hot again and we have come up with a fast and easy frozen treat that tastes divine and is healthy. Kids love this frozen popsicle even more when if comes in a rocket mold or in the long popsicle shape just like the bought ones but you know what is in your own home made frozen treats.

Plum Ambrosia Popsicles - ambrosia as it tastes so scrummy and delicious !

We were given some plums that looked mouthwatering but tasted “mouthwateringly” sour and made our eyes water. We left them on the bench in disgust until we hit on the brainwave of iced plums , then even better, iced Popsicles and the tartness just adds to the flavor. How can something so good for you taste so good ?

How to:

• Stew your plums
• Add either sugar - honey for a healthier version
• Take out the stones ( this is the most time consuming but stick with it as its so worth it when you taste it - besides they play havoc with your blender !
• Blend the plum puree ( blend for a long time if you want smoother or we like it more chunky to give it more body. Pour into your chosen molds and leave to set. These have gone down a treat today and we spent part of the afternoon reclining in the shade slurping and drooling.

We were so taken with the idea that we have expanded it to tart, stewed cooking apples but any fruit and apricot or berry fruit would be sublime and is only limited by your imagination. What about adding Lemon Grass or Ginger to the mix ?

Adult version of Plum Ambrosia

Serve plum puree over crushed ice in a tall glass with a long spoon, add a sprig of mint and a dash of Cointreau or your preferred liqueur.   Serve with pistachio nuts and if feeling decadent shaved dark chocolate.

Try Peach Schnapps with peach puree and crushed ice.

Enjoy.

Home made Hummus with toasted pita bread sprinkled with herbs and cheese and pineapple or cheese and gherkin bites on toothpicks

Today I had two invitations and was invited to take a plate - bring something festive they said ! I had done the obvious, club sandwiches, asparagus rolls, sausage rolls to death and I wanted a new twist and it had to be quick, easy, preferably healthy and look fantastic and delicious.

Go here to find 100 healthy raw snacks and treats

Since one of the occasions was an exercise class I didn’t want to take a plate of something we would all spend the next ten sessions working off and the other was a creative fiber group so it need to at least look artistic.

After a rethink here are some quick ideas for a festive occasion finger food that won’t involve slaving over a hot stove, can be prepared fast and will look great too - just remember its how you present it that makes or breaks it and you can get away with almost anything if it looks amazing.

Tooth pick pix:

Freshly sliced Brie cheese and slices of pear

Cocktail onions and cheese

Chunks of Pineapple and cheddar cheese

Polish garlic sausage and cheese

Apricots spread with cream cheese decorated with an almond

Ham and cheese roll ups secured with a tooth pick

Ham (or bacon if you want to cook !) roll up with a prune inside

Asparagus rolled in ham or any sliced meat

Chunky slices of chicken with sliced mango (or other fruit of your choice)

Creative Platters can go down a treat

Try a selection of various sliced meat, fruit, artichokes, curried eggs

Cheese straws with a dip - tomato dip goes extra well with this or an onion and cheese dip

Corn chips and a dip - a very quick dip is yogurt, sweet chilli sauce and a dash of pepper, or yogurt with chopped gherkins, or avocado with a dash of sweet chilli sauce, or avocado, lemon juice, salt and pepper - try some curry in it to give a kick, even non avocado lovers like this one.

Dates, sliced oranges, tropical fruits and some cheese slices

Lettuce “rolls” with a selection of what you have on hand, examples, cottage cheese, brie, sliced meat, artichokes

Go here to find 100 healthy raw snacks and treats

Crostini - you can go mad with a choice of spreads the most basic is olive oil and garlic, to any number of additions, we love smashed up tomato on top of the olive oil and garlic with fresh chopped basil.

Mini pizzas either make these very small individual ones or one large oblong one and cut into bite sized pieces.

Pita bread toasted or grilled with grated parmesan cheese or alternatively slice the pita bread into triangles and spray with olive oil and sprinkle with herbs before grilling.

Make your servings bite size and leave a supply of toothpicks to self serve and have some festive paper cocktail serviettes on hand. I like to serve my platters with fresh flowers or herbs and if you arrange them creatively then almost any combination will look mouthwatering.

For more cool ideas go to the Healthy Urban Kitchen

Do you whip down to the takeaway and buy some heavy, greasy and indigestible food that you later wish you’d not eaten ?

Here is a delicious easy to prepare meal that can be made quickly and is adaptable enough to switch ingredients depending on what is in the cupboard at the time.

This Butter Chicken dish that will melt in your mouth and is so delicious it will have even takeaway fans begging for more so make plenty.

• Butter Chicken Recipe
• 4 teaspoons butter ( or use low fat spread if you prefer)
• 480 grams chicken cut into small pieces
• 1 large onion, chopped finely
• 1 clove crushed garlic
• 2 teaspoons grated root ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon each of chili powder, tumeric, cinnamon, garam masala
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 cup mushrooms sliced (or switch to something else like slice peppers)
• 1/2 cup water
• salt and ground black pepper

Method

1. Melt butter and saute the chicken, onion and garlic until the chicken is cooked.
2. Add ginger, chili, tumeric, cinnamon and garam masala
3. Cook gently for 5 minutes
4. Add tomato paste, mushrooms, water, salt and pepper and simmer another 5 minutes until sauce has thickened.

Variations: add beans, or spring onions, switch the mushrooms for something else like asparagus, peas. Stir through some yogurt just before serving or sprinkle some herbs or parsley over - your choice.

This is a recipe we make often and it tastes deliciously different every time we make it according to what is in the pantry at the time and as you see from the photo, we have used peas not mushrooms this time.

The aroma of this dish cooking is enough to tempt the most die hard takeaway addict !

For more recipes and lifestyle ideas for vibrant health and fat loss click here

Vegetarian recipes and treats for afters click here