No Cook Ricotta Courgette Rolls

I have never made these before, and now I have just tasted one, I am actually very impressed. They would make great canapés or a dinner party starter, maybe served on a bed of mixed leaves with some smoked salmon. No cooking required as they are marinated in balsamic vinegar which softens the courgettes.

Ingredients 

• 1 courgette would serve 2 people as a snack or several people as a starter
• a tub of ricotta
• juice of half a lemon
• a handful of basil leaves
• I used chilli flakes as i like things spicy, but pine nuts would also be delicious 
• balsamic vinegar
• olive oil

Method

• chop ends off the courgettes
• slice very thinly using a peeler
• drizzle a tbsp of olive oil and balsamic onto a platter
• lay the courgette slices one by one on the platter 
• then drizzle with more olive oil and balsamic
• place in fridge covered for at least 20 mins and up to 6 hours
• Mix the ricotta lemon juice, basil leaves, chilli flakes and pine nuts if using
• season to taste 
• next take one courgette piece and at one end place a tsp of the mixture and then roll from one end to the other 

They can be placed in the fridge until needed.

Quick and Easy Tuna & Cous Cous Salad

I've been up since 7 with the baby, dropped her off at nursery and then took the toddler to messy play. It's now lunch time and I'm very hungry. Problem is I've just joined a gym to get beach ready, and I've got my induction at 2.30 today, so can't be eating rubbish beforehand.

I raided the fridge and made this, I think it's healthy!

Ingredients

• A little bit of Cous Cous as it only takes a couple of minutes to do.
• Chestnut mushrooms cooked in a tiny bit of something, we use soya spread
• Spinach
• Salad leaves
• Cucumber  
• Half a tin of tuna
• A drizzle of olive oil
• A squeeze of lemon juice

And I served it with a popodom. I know that sounds a bit strange but other than the fact I love popodoms it's great to pick up the Cous Cous.

Summer evenings vegetarian dinner

It worked! Can't believe it wasn't as difficult as I thought, and actually quite yummy! 

I know it's been a little while since I posted, children are very time consuming!

But I just had to share these fab homemade vegetable samosas.

Made with peas, sweetcorn, red onion and feta cheese, with a sprinkling of tikki seasoning and wrapped in filo pastry.

Reasonably healthy as baked in the oven and so yummy ! 

Both my 2 year old and hubby love them, and they're perfect for a picnic, or a summers evening dinner. My daughter has hers with steamed veg and new potatoes and hubby and I are going to have ours with some tabbouleh, which by the way I've never made before ! 

Bulghar wheat, red onion, tomato, lemon juice and zest, olive oil and parsley and mint from the garden! 

So there we have it, a perfect summers evening dinner!

Samosas, tabbouleh, tzatiki and halloumi

You can't beat homemade popcorn

Home made popcorn on a Saturday night, feet up and telly on, the joys!

I love homemade popcorn, not only is it cheap (80p a bag, which lasts ages), but I actually read in a health magazine that it is the most nutritious snack! Obviously that's without all the salt and sugar. And ever so yummy!

So thought I would look into this.........

According to the Daily Mail (not the British Medical Journal - but not bad on health info), popcorn IS good for you. Although unfortunately not the really tasty stuff you buy in a cinema!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2120346/Forget-day-Popcorn-antioxidants-fruit-vegetables.html

Plain popcorn has been hailed as a great diet food for its low calorie content, and now a group of scientists claim it may even top fruits and vegetables in antioxidant levels.

Antioxidants - known as polyphenols - have huge health benefits as they help fight harmful molecules that damage cells.

Popcorn was found to have a high level of concentrated antioxidants because it is made up of just four percent water while they are more diluted in fruits and vegetables because they are made up of up to 90 percent water.

Researchers discovered one serving of popcorn has up to 300mg of antioxidants - nearly double the 160mg for all fruits per serving.

They also found that the crunchy hulls of the popcorn have the highest concentration of antioxidants and fibre.

I often male a large bowl full (throw some in a non stick pan and cover for 5 mins) and serve with a sprinkling of sugar. I also put some in some tupperware - without the sugar, for the little people. Its also great for picnics.

What more reasons do we need ?