Chicken Chow Mein

Today's dinner came from Chinese Food Made Easy. I know this sounds incredibly English of me, taking short cuts to make oriental food, but I have found the book really easy to follow and work from. I have never eaten Chow Mein from a take away (or restaurant) before, but I love chicken and I love noodles so I went for it! My only addition to the recipe would be the shred the chicken to make it go further. This is a super quick, and super yummy meal and fills you up.
75g of wholeweat noodles
a few drops of sesame oil
1/2 chicken breast, chopped
a dash of dark soy
1 tbs cornflour (I used plain)
sunflower spray
75g beansprouts
1 spring oion
1 tbs light soy

1. Boil the noodles for 3 minutes. Drain, refresh with cold water, and drain again. Drizzle with sesame oil and toss.
2. Season the chicken with the dark soy, and then lightly coat in flour
3. Heat the wok, then spray over the sunflower oil. Add the chicken and stir fry for 2 minutes
4. Add the beansprouts and the spring onion for 1 minutes
5. Mix in the noodles and light soy for 30 seconds.
6. Serve!

My Healthy Obsession.

Gizzi Erskine- My Idol

Above is a photo of Gizzi Erskine, one of my favourite chefs and women in general. I think she is not only stunning, but daring, passionate and extremely talented. She has helped me to turn my life from a dangerous place. Since moving to London, I seriously comfort ate, and as an ex-heffer, I seriously know that this is a bad place for me to be in...

At the age of 14, I got my first serious boyfriend. Despite our initial infatuation, he wasn't really reliable, and I found myself really comparing myself to other girls my age. You know how teenagers are. I began hating my lack of breasts and womanly-ness, and so I seriously over ate. Then I developed a taste for fried foods, easy pickings and lack of nutrition an my weight crept up and up. At the age of 16 I was a size 14 (originally an 8), and was the unhappiest I'd ever been. It took one small comment from the afore mentioned boyfriend, and another from my aunt, and I decided to quit this terrible cycle I had got myself into. I began going to the gym, cut out chocoalte, chips, pies, pizzas, danish pastries, pastries in general, full fat anything, ice cream, deserts, sweets, cake, fish and chips... and anything that was bad for me. In the summer of 2010 I was back to a petite size 8 and was super happy at my final Summer Ball, seeing myself as the prettiest and skinniest girl there.

Now, I'm not going to preach that being a size 8 is ideal for everyone, and that skinniness brings happiness, because now I live in constant self obsession over everything I put into my body. I don't drink alcohol, and I work out for 1 hour everyday. I am terrified of becoming that huge girl again.

This blog is a method of self-expression but it is also a place for me to vent my food worries. I do not have any mental illnesses or eating disorders; I am just incredibly passionate about food and eating. I do have treats! Don't get me wrong! Over my birthday I didn't count a single calorie for 6 days! I ate chocolate, a huge chocolate cake, cup cakes, fish and chips, monster pizzas, steak and chips... the list goes on. So that's my story...

Ellie

Prawn and Green Bean Couscous

Today I cooked... (which I how I think many posts on this blog will begin), prawn and green bean couscous. This recipe came from The Food Doctor everyday diet, and I must say I am really impressed with the flavours and textures achieved from such few ingredients. As my favourite cook, Gizzi Erskine says: flavour replaces fat! Speaking of fat, this meal is only 228 calories, yet is incredibly filling, refreshing, zingy and down right good to eat. I have served this with a basic salad of spinach leaves, cucumber and grated carrot.

50g (uncooked) couscous

100ml of stock (I used chicken, but fish/vegetable stock would work)

1/4 lemon juice

25g (one cup) of cooked and peeled king prawns

25g green beans

Fresh parsley

salt and pepper

1. Put the couscous into a shallow bowl, then pour over boiling stock. Cover and allow absorption
2. While the couscous cooks, cook the green beans in a steamer.
3. When the couscous is cooked, mix in the prawns, lemon juice, herbs and beans. Season with salt and pepper
4. Serve with a mixed salad

N.B. I had to microwave the couscous for about 1 minute to dry it out a little, so using a tiny bit less stock may help get fluffier couscous

Oat Topped Fish

Today's recipe is a super healthy one, taken from The Food Doctor's everyday diet book. Being a member of the library is really a joy, as I am expanding my knowledge and being able to try different foods! Yum!

1x fish fillet

lemon juice

black pepper

small handful of oats

1 spring onion

lemon zest

seeds

1. Put the oats, spring onion, lemon zest and seeds in a blender for 20 seconds
2. Put the fish onto a foil tray and dust with ground pepper and lemon juice. Cover the top with a genorous layer of the crunchy topping. Then press down
3. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes, then remove the foil for the last 10 minutes.
4. Serve with steamed runner beans and brocoli

Banana and Oat Muffins

Today's recipe is from Gordon Ramsey's "Healthy Appetite". I am a big fan of muffins, and baking in general, but of course I am always watching my waistline! So healthy muffins equals a very happy Ellie. These banana and oat muffins can be eaten as a snack, afternoon tea or even breakfast. Enjoy
100g oats
200g plain flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
100g brown sugar
4 bananas
1 egg
60ml oil

1. Preheat the oven to 180C, and lay out your muffin cases. I don't have a muffin tray so I just put the cases on a flat tray. It gives the muffins freedom to move, and so they look more homemade.
2. Mix the dry ingredients together. I'm lucky enough to own a free standing mixer so I used that.
3. In a large bowl, mash 4 bananas then stir in 1 egg and the oil
4. Add this to the dry mixture and fold.
5. Spoon equal amounts in the cases, then bake for 20 minutes
6. Allow to cool for 15 minutes and enjoy with a cup of tea!