Sun Dried Tomato and Basil Muffins

The weather forecast isn't too bad for the weekend so why not take Mum out for a picnic on Mothering Sunday?  This savoury muffin treat is delicious either hot or cold - it's guaranteed to raise a smile!  Served with something chilled and fizzy, and a huge cuddle, even better.....

Ingredients: 

• Vegetable Oil (for lightly oiling stoneware muffin pan)
• 85 g/3 oz sun-dried tomatoes, packed in oil; drained and chopped
• 60 ml/4 tbsp fresh basil; finely chopped
• 300 g/10 1/2 oz plain flour
• 20 ml/4 tsp baking powder
• 1.25 ml/1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 85 g/3oz fresh Parmesan cheese; finely grated, using Course Microplane Grater
• 85 g/3 oz butter; melted
• 250 ml/9 fl oz milk
• 2 large eggs; beaten

Method:

1.   Preheat oven to 200 degrees C/400 F/Gas 6.  Lightly spray cups of stoneware muffin pan with vegetable oil using Kitchen Spritzer; set aside.  Drain tomatoes on absorbent kitchen paper.  Chop tomatoes and basil using Utility Knife; set aside.

2.   Combine flour, baking powder and pepper in Classic Batter Bowl; stir in tomatoes and basil, using Small Mix N Scraper.  Add grated cheese to bowl; stir to mix.

3.   Place butter in Large Micro Cooker.  Microwave on high 40-50 seconds or until melted. Whisk butter, milk and eggs in Small BatterBowl; gently stir into flour mixture.

4.   Spoon mixture into prepared Stoneware Muffin Pan using LargeScoop, dividing mixture evenly between each cup.  Bake 20-25 minutes or until risen and golden brown. Cool slightly; serve warm.  Makes 12 muffins.

If using Deluxe Mini Muffin Pan, do not oil cups, and use Small Scoop.

(Thank you to bbcgoodfood.com for this recipe)

 

Week 2 - weigh in, or weigh out?!

This week has been an adventure - I have been on a roller-coaster ride with work - Express Cooking Demo at the weekend as part of a Roadshow (I was so nervous and wanted it to be so right!)  Life - how was I going to create extra hours in the day to fit everything in!  Kids - activities, activities, activities..... and the thing that suffers is my food.  I don't know about you, but I go into reactive, snatch and grab mode!   I guess it's what we all do all the time.

Instead of the lovely healthy food I enjoy when I'm on the run I grab the first thing that comes to hand - crisps, cake, pasties .... and go .... not a good week although it only started to go wrong on Friday, then continued on Saturday and by Sunday, well I had given up and enjoyed some chocolate too!

So with a plan formulating I stepped on the scales in fear of putting all that "butter" back on.  To my delight that hadn't happened so, joy in my heart, I skipped back to the fridge for a no fat yogurt to celebrate!

What's your top tip for healthy food on the go?

Here's a really tasty and quick stir-fry supper dish.

Chilli Beef Noodles

Serves: 4

For Slimming World followers there are these Syns per serving:
FREE FREE* (*Add 6 Syns if not using steak as a Healthy Extra)

ingredients

• 12oz/340g sirloin steak, all visible fat removed
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• ½ tsp crushed dried chillies
• ½ red, yellow and green pepper
• 1 carrot
• 300g pack dried egg noodles

method

1. Prepare the stir-fry ingredients: on the Cutting Board cut the steak into strips using the Utility Knife, place in a Classic Batter Bowl with the soy sauce and crushed chillies and marinate in the fridge for at least 10 minutes
2. Slice the peppers and carrot; cook the noodles according to packet instructions, drain and set aside.
3. Heat the Stir-fry Skillet and stir-fry in soy sauce and chillies for 2-3 minutes. Add the peppers and carrot and continue frying until softened. Add the noodles, heat through and serve.

Tip: You can replace the steak with the same weight of pork without changing the Syns on any choice.

This recipe is not suitable for home freezing.

Vanilla Muffins

Ingredients:

• Oil or meled butter for greasing
• 280g plain white flour (up to 50% can be swapped out for plain wholemeal flour)
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• ½ bicarbonate of soda if using buttermilk or yoghurt
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 115g sugar (brown or white)
• 2 medium eggs
• 9 fl oz milk (can substitute buttermilk, yogurt, sour cream, cream, coconut milk, fruit juice or fruit puree)
• 6 tbsp sunflower oil or 85g butter, melted and cooled
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Method:

Preheat the  oven to 200oC or 400oF or Gas mark 6.

Grease 12 cup muffin pan or Muffin Pan and line with paper cases

Sift together flour, baking powder and salt into 4lt Stainless Mixing bowl.

Stir in  sugar.

In Classic Batter Bowls. beat together eggs, milk and oil.

Make well in dry ingredients and pour in liquid ingredients

Gently stir together until just combined using Silicone Scraper – it’s important not to overmix

Put a generous Large Scoop of batter into each well of the prepared muffin pan

Bake for 20 minutes until well risen, goldlen and firm to the touch

Leave to cool for 5 minutes and transfer to Stackable Cooling Rack

When muffins cold, split and spoon in some jam or icing if desired and dust with icing sugar.

(If icing required, put cream cheese and butter in a bowl and sift in icing sugar

Beat together until light and fluffy

Chill until ready to serve.)

Cooking Shows - live

Who do you know who likes to eat?

A Cooking Show is a fun, social event where your friends, neighbours, colleagues and family gather together to enjoy some live recipe demonstrations and get to taste some great food. They can try out professional quality kitchen gadgets and utensils and make purchases.

What's in it for you?

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Fundraising is fun

Our versatile fundraising programme can be tailored to meet your specific needs. There’s something here for every fundraiser, from an in-home Cooking Show through to a themed "Ready, Steady, Cook!", a Mexican Fiesta or a Pimms and Pud garden party! We can even take into consideration specific requirements for Vegetarians, Coeliacs and people with food allergy.

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To raise the profile of your event we recommend that you sell tickets (that will also provide us with the correct numbers to cater for). The ticket money goes straight to your charity or fund. Included in the ticket price you may wish to give your guests a drink (either wine or something softer) and some food. The food prepared during the demonstration will be added to your buffet. In addition, I am happy to provide a substantial prize for your raffle – again, a great way to raise funds during the event.

Our high quality kitchen and tableware is used during the demonstration, which of course your guests may wish to purchase. A percentage of my sales will be donated to your charity and for each Cooking Show booking I take you will receive an additional £2.50.

We agree the recipe(s) and I will advise you of the ingredients required. You provide the ingredients and the audience and let me do the rest!

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