Meal Planning Monday

Well what a week it has been. Chatting to my sister last night, she asked if I would be meal planning. My answer? It will have to wait until my Tesco order comes as I have no idea what will turn up.

Thankfully the majority of our shop came. It was also filled with keto products such as Greek yoghurt and eggs so I can carry on a bit longer. Last week was a big achievement for me as I have finally got into the healthy range BMI. I need to carry on a bit more but I feel I can now start experimenting more (especially with more time time at home) with some keto bakes. Keto brownies will be my starting point.

So I will list the main meals for this week and the order will depend on the date the food runs out. I also have to hope that the kids don’t raid the kitchen whilst I am at work!

KFC style zinger burgers. It is Mother’s Day and I’m not cooking. My son made these in Food tech a little while ago and they were delicious. So it was top of my list for a Mother’s Day meal. Who needs a fancy restaurant when you have a 12 year old son!?!

Fish Pie with vegetables. I may even have a go at trying to mash some celariac or cauliflower for me.

Coq au vin. This is basically using up the veg that I had bought to make beef bourguignon a week ago.

Spaghetti bolognese. Whilst we still have some pasta, this is a nice and easy meal to make.

Roast Chicken and veg. If there is any leftover then the chicken can be used in sandwiches or a salad. This may be wishful thinking though as it is much smaller than the one I ordered.

Chicken Kiev and chips. I will have Celeriac fries.

What have you got planned? Are you able to get the food you need? Stay inside and stay safe xx

Meal Planning Monday

Well it has been a funny old week and ir seems things are going to get stranger. Our Tesco delivery was full of substitutions - even down to no eggs. Maybe everyone else is moving to Keto too. This week my husband is working from home so it is even more important for me to meal plan, mainly so he doesn't eat the food I have planned for his lunch!

Smoked Salmon and Poached Eggs I am currently addicted to swoodles (really thin noodles of swede) so will probably have this rather than a bagel.

Courgette and Feta Fritters - I love these as they are great for a packed lunch the next day. Rather than using plain flour I will use some arrowroot and ground almonds to make it Keto.

Pork Stir Fry. I will have this with swoodles.

Spaghetti bolognase - which I with have with courgetti

Friday night Pizza. Emma from Bubbablue and me is also on Keto and recommended The Diet Doctor Fathead Pizza Dough. So I will have this and the rest of the family will have whatever is in the freezer. It is a great alternative and I used some today making a sausage plait which worked well.

Chicken Curry. A family favourite - providing I don't make it too spicy!

For Mothers Day I have asked my eldest to cook. He makes a mean KFC style zinger burger which I will have with salad. I think it tastes even better when you don't have to make it yourself!

What have you got planned?

Meal Planning Monday

I have been getting out of sync with my meal planning and it is time to get back on track so that food doesn't go to waste. As I have previously mentioned I am on a low carb diet at the moment and it is really easy to stock up on celeriac,courgette, cauliflower and broccoli, to then realise there is no way that would will eat that much before it does off! Generally all the meals I am just adapting to be ok for me.

So what have I got planned for this week?

Chicken with cheese and leak sauce and celeriac chips.

Garlic and lemon prawns. I love this with courgette ribbons and is a great use of our leftover lemons from pancake day.

Scrambled egg and chorizo. Love a quick and tasty dinner.

Keto lasagne and salad. Not a dish I have tried yet so hopefully it will be ok....

Chicken Korma - a firm family favourite.

What have you got planned?

Perfect Pancake Recipes Plus CookBlogShare 2020 Week 7

With pancake day on the way, I have some perfect pancake recipes for you to try. From English pancakes, savoury ones and even gluten free pancakes. There is something for everyone to try this upcoming Shrove Tuesday.

#CookBlogShare is my favourite weekly cooking linky. If you love cooking then it is a great place to share recipes and ideas as well as commenting on each others tasty posts.
There are regular hosts Lost in Food and Jacqui at Recipes Made Easy. With other bloggers like myself, hosting as guest bloggers.

If you are new to this link party please take a moment to read the guidelines below.  Joining in is simple and you are welcome to share your old and new recipes.

Last weeks link up was over at Lost in Food. There were lots of lovely recipes shared, and with Pancake Day on the way, I think that these recipes would be perfect for the family.

Perfect Pancake Recipes Plus CookBlogShare 2020 Week 7

It is always good to start with the basics, and Chloe from Feast Glorious Feast has a great step by step guide to making English pancakes.

Gluten free and think that pancakes are a no go? It's easy to adapt them according to Kate at The Gluten Free Alchemist.

These vanilla buttermilk pancakes look mouth watering and Kate has a number of tips to help you make them. There are also adaptations that you could use it you have a number of intolerences.

Chloe is back again with this savoury pancake recipe. These sweet potato and sweetcorn pancakes sound delicious and a change from the norm on Pancake Day. Chloe explains how you can use the microwave to cook the sweet potatoes so that they can be made into a puree. 

#Cookblogshare 2020 Week 7

Want to join in with Cook Blog Share this week? Here is how:Link up your recipe, sweet or savoury, or any foodie post to the #CookBlogShare link party.  Just click the blue ‘Add your link‘ button below and follow the instructions.
Include this party’s link in your post (so everyone else can find it).
Add the #CookBlogShare badge to your post (see the code below).

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Please comment on at least two other recipes.
You can also post your recipes on the Cook Blog Share Facebook Page. I’ll visit all the blogs participating in the link party and share your recipes across all the major social media channels.

If you tweet a link to your recipe to me, @astrongcoffee1 using #CookBlogShare I will retweet it. Please use #cookblogshare when sharing your recipes on Instagram.

Next week's Cookblogshare will be over at Recipes Made Easy. 
For GDPR purposes, please make note that by joining in you are giving the #CookBlogShare hosts permission to use your pictures in a round up and on social media, if your recipe is selected to be featured! Thank you for sharing your recipes with #CookBlogShare! 

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[AD] Low Carb Cajun Chicken Cups

These low carb cajun chicken cups are so packed full of flavour you won't even miss the carbohydrates. However, if members of your family aren't following the lifestyle then it work just as well by replacing the lettuce with a wholemeal wrap.

Low Carb Cajun Chicken Cups

One of the things I have found, by following a low carb diet recently is that I really haven't missed the high starch options. It is just a different way of thinking, and these lettuce cups are a really easy way of adapting a meal that the whole family will enjoy.

Many of the keto dishes I have looked up online have had rich and creamy sauces, so to have a lunch that is packed full of flavour is a welcome change.

The Schwartz Cajun seasoning is a fantastic blend that is easy to use and packs a punch. All you need to do is mix a couple of teaspoons with a little olive oil to make a quick marinade. You can either cook the chicken and allow it to cool or use it straight from the oven. Both taste fantastic.

I have also used the cajun season with my celeriac chips recipe in replace of the paprika and it tastes equally delicious.

Ingredients for low carb cajun chicken cups

The fresh ingredients for this dish complement the seasoning of the chicken. I found that one large chicken breast was enough to make 6 cups which would serve 2 people. 

In this recipe I have used frozen avocado pieces. If you haven't tried them yet, you should. I had lost count of the times I had bought a fresh avocado and went to use it only to find that it was not ripe. A day later? Over ripe. Frozen avocado solves this problem and is a must for your freezer if you are following a low carb or ketogenic diet, in my opinion.

Schwartz cajun seasoning

Low Carb Cajun Chicken Cups

• 1 chicken breast
• 1/2 a red onion thinly sliced
• 1/2 a lime with extra cut into quarters
• 2 teaspoons of Schwartz cajun seasoning
• A table spoon of olive oil
• Full fat mayonnaise
• 1/2 a teaspoon of dried chili flakes (optional)
• 6  little gem lettuce leaves
• 1 cup of frozen avocado chunks or 1 avocado sliced.

1. Mix the olive oil and cajun seasoning together and mix into the chicken breast. Leave for 10 minutes to marinade.
2. Add the avocado, red onion and chillies to a bowl and squeeze over the juice of half a lime.
3. Cook the chicken breast in the oven at 180C for around 20 minutes.(Time dependent on the size of the chicken breast.)
4. Pick the outer leaves of some little gem lettuces and was them.
5. Add mayonnaise, chopped tomatoes and the avocado mixture.
6. Thinly slice the cajun chicken and add to the cups.
7. Sevre with extra lime quarters and enjoy! 

Low Carb Cajun Chicken Cups

What are your favourite low carb meals?

Pin it for later:

This is a sponsored post for Schwartz.

Meal Planning Monday

Another week has flown by and I am managing to stick to my low carb diet even though there was a blip at a friends wedding. Roast potatoes and red wine were enjoyed and lets face it, sometimes we have to enjoy life.

Last week I bought a celeriac for the first time and made my own fries. Game changer. It makes low carb so much easier.

This week sees middle man turn 10. I have some special Crunchie cupcakes planned for the day itself and he is desperate to visit Taco Bell for tea after we went there when we were in Orlando last year.

So what have we got planned this week?

I have been trying out the Schwartz cajun seasoning for an sponsored post and have made these rather yummy cajun chicken cups - recipe to come soon!

Low carb cajun chicken cups

Monday is karate night so it will be a quick omelette.

Tuesday will be a roast and with lots of green veg.

Wednesday will be a trip to Taco Bell and a birthday fry up!

Thursday I will give Coq au vin a go from the keto slow cooker and one pot meals book that I have bought recently. I have no idea id the boys will like this but I am loving the sound of it.

Friday will be steak and chips. Well for the others at least. I will be having celeriac fries.

What have you got planned?

How To Make Celeriac Chips

If you have recently started on Keto or Low Carb diet then you have probably heard of celeriac chips. I have to say that I was rather dubious about them at first as I had never bought a celeriac before. Now, however, they are one of my favourite low carb substitutes.

Cutting a celeriac

Celeriac is lovely and sweet and if you haven't tried them yourself, I would say that they are similar to a roasted parsnip. They are more like sweet potato fries in texture than your average oven chip.

Eating with the boys, I don't want to stand out as having totally different meals to them. These celeriac chips allow me to eat my style of chicken and chips with them. Luckily they don't take long to make and are really simple.

There is no easy way to peel a celeriac. Just the use of a sharp knife. Once you have cut the celeriac, you need to cut it into 1cm batons. Then place on a non metallic plate and microwave for 3 mins on high.

Next place on an oiled baking tray and add salt, pepper, and paprika.

Uncooked celeriac chips

Bake in the oven until they are brown and slightly crispy. (They won't crisp up like a chip, as I said more like a sweet potato.) Then enjoy!

Celeriac chips

When I first started a low carb diet, I was very unsure about all the changes. but have found some great new foods including these celeriac chips. Have you tried a low carb or keto diet? What are your new favourite dishes?