Category Archives: Meal Ideas

[Recipe] Healthy Lemon Flavoured Quinoa

Ah Quinoa - which before I knew how to pronounce it, called it Quin-noa! (FYI it’s pronounced ‘keen-nwa’), It’s such a super healthy grain. Totally gluten free, full of benefits and is bursting with protein and vitamins! It’s no wonder it’s hailed a super food and for those who are sticking to a healthy diet have replaced rice with this funny sounding grain!

Now I’m always wanting to embark on a healthy eating regime but I do so well for a few days then stuff my face with the delightful bad stuff like… pizza, pasta, take away (all gluten free of course) but since I’m due to go on holiday to Florida in a couple of weeks, I was worried I’d look like Shamu the killer whale and get harpooned out of the pool! [fun fact: I’m actually terrified of Whales!]

For the first time ever, I have introduced Quinoa to my diet and I absolutely love it! I’ve had it alongside my curry and with my salads in the evening. Although some people may argue that it’s actually quite boring and tasteless, I have started to cook with a little hint of lemon, which makes it perfect for summer!

So if you fancy trying Quinoa, then here is my super easy recipe for Lemon Flavoured Quinoa

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup of dried Quinoa
  • 2 cups of Boiling Water
  • Pinch of Salt
  • 1/2 Lemon

 

Method:

  1. Measure out your dried Quinoa 
  2. Rinse the dried Quinoa in a sieve under cold water. Make sure you do this as the Quinoa can taste quite bitter 
  3. Add the 2 cups of Boiling Water and bring to the boil 
  4. Add the salt and reduce the heat until the water simmers. Continue to simmer until all the water has absorbed 
  5. Carefully pour the cooked Quinoa into a bowl, squeeze the 1/2 lemon into the Quinoa and mix to combine 

 

 

 

 

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[Recipe] Tomato and Grilled Halloumi Bruschetta

Well, I was planning on blogging more  but I have had a very hectic couple of weeks! I’ve ended up moving house, moving job and being poorly (story of my life!). My endometriosis is still causing me problems. I’m still having to take super strong ‘zombie-fying’ painkillers and on Tuesday I was admitted to hospital and given loads of morphine - which helped but is the reason why I haven’t blogged as often as I liked!

Anyway, since we have had a wash out start to the bank holiday weekend, today we finally got a little ray of sunshine which inspired me to have a fresh and healthy lunch. I’ve always loved bruschetta and if I could, I would have it every day! But today I wanted to shake things up a little bit and introduce some grilled halloumi to the party- which unsurprisingly turned out pretty delicious!


Ingredients:

  • Halloumi Cheese
  • Handful of Tomatoes
  • 1 Clove of Garlic
  • 2 slices of Gluten Free Bread (I used Genius Brown Bread)
  • Olive Oil
  • Pinch of Salt
  • 1 Spring Onion (optional)

Method:

  1. Put a tablespoon of Olive Oil into a grill pan or frying pan and put it on medium heat 
  2. Slice the Halloumi Cheese into 4 thin slices about 1cm thick 
  3. When the Oil is hot, place the Halloumi Cheese into the pan 
  4. Whilst the Halloumi is grilling, place the bread into the toaster and chop your tomatoes and sprinkle with some salt 
  5. Finely chop the stems of a Spring Onion and mix with the tomatoes 
  6. Once Halloumi has gone ‘golden’ underneath, flip over and fry the other side 
  7. Peel the Garlic, rub on the toasted Gluten Free Bread and drizzle Olive Oil onto the Bread. 
  8. Place Grilled Halloumi onto the Bread 
  9. Pour Tomatoes and chopped Spring Onion on top of the Grilled Halloumi 
  10. Enjoy! 

 

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Basic Chinese Stir Fry Sauce

Chinese dishes are one of those cuisines that us coeliacs have to say a heart rendering goodbye to when we’re diagnosed. Although I’ve pretty much forgotten what it’s like to eat Chinese food from a take out, I do miss the amazing Chinese restaurants in China Town, Manchester.

Another thing that proves difficult when you want to have Chinese food at home is finding a stir fry sauce that’s gluten free or is suitable for those on a gluten free diet. I’ve lost count the amount of times me, Mike and ‘Wheat Pete’ have stood in the aisle in Asda reading and re-reading packets of stir fry sauce to see if it contains any nasty wheat and gluten. Although I have yet to find one, I do know they’re are some stir fry sauces out there that are fine - but it’s like finding a needle in a haystack!

So the other day Mike and ‘Wheat Pete’ had planned to have a stir-fry; they bought their stir fry sauce, their noodles, chicken and a big box of stir fry vegetables.  I didn’t have the foggiest idea what I was going to have but as soon as I saw the Amoy ‘Straight to Wok’ gluten free noodles, I knew I had to have a stir fry as well, but what the chuff was I going to do about the sauce?!

Then it hit me… I could make my own easy gluten free stir fry sauce and that’s what I did!

So because I was cooking for both me, Mike and ‘Wheat Pete’, I had to use two frying pans in the end as to contaminate mine dear gluten free stir fry with gluten!

Ingredients:

For the Sauce:

  • 2 Cloves of Garlic [chopped]
  • A little Oil for frying
  • 200ml Vegetable Stock [make sure it’s gluten free]
  • 2 teaspoons Corn Starch [dissolved in a little water till you form a paste]
  • 2 tablespoons Gluten Free Soy Sauce [I use Asda Free From Soy Sauce]
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon of Lemon Juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon of Sugar
  • 1 teaspoon of Ground Ginger
  • Ground Pepper to taste

For the Stir Fry:

 

Method:

  1. Heat the Oil in the pan over medium heat and add the chopped Garlic 
  2. After a minute or so, add the Vegetable Stock and give it a good stir
  3. Add the Gluten Free Soy Sauce, Corn Starch ‘paste’, Lemon Juice and stir together 
  4. After a couple of minutes, add the Sugar, Ground Ginger and Ground Pepper and bring to a boil then take off heat. 
  5. In another frying pan, add a little oil and fry the chicken until cooked thoroughly 
  6. Now add the Stir Fry Vegetables and cook until wilted and slightly brown 
  7. Now it’s time for your home-made gluten free Chinese stir fry sauce! Pour over the top and fry for a couple of minutes 
  8. Add the Amoy ‘Straight to Wok’ Noodles and give everything a good stir 
  9. Serve and enjoy your Chinese Stir Fry! 

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