Clare’s Warm Salmon and Potato Salad

Today I bring you a salad that I just adore, this is a warm, hearty salad that you can enjoy all year round and not just in Summer, This is my Warm Salmon and Potato Salad. This is fresh, home cooked food at its best and you can have this super supper on the table in 30 minutes

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Makes: 4 servings

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Total Time:  30 minutes

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Ingredients

• 400g Salmon Fillets
• 200g baby/new potato
• 100g Green Beans
• 6-8 Tomatoes
• 1 bag of mixed lettuce leaves
• 2-3 spring onions
• 1/4 of a Cucumber
• 2 tbs wholegrain mustard
• 2 tbs olive oil
• 1 tsp Cracked black pepper
• pinch of salt
• pinch of sugar
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1 tsp of clear honey
• 1 Vegetable stock cube

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1/ Cut your potatoes into 1inch thick slices and place in a steamer, cook for 10 minutes and now add the green beans, cook for another 6-8 minutes until potatoes are tender, once cooked, drain the water in the base of the pan and place the potatoes and green beans back in with the lid firmly in place, this will keep them warm while you build the rest of this salad.

2/ Cut your tomatoes in half and place on a lined baking sheet, I de core mine but I do not remove the seeds, sprinkle with salt, sugar, pepper and a drizzle of olive oil (use no more than 1/2 a tbs for all the tomatoes) Cook on a low heat for 10-15 minutes

3/ Place your salmon either in a steamer for 10 minutes or in vegetable stock for for 10 minutes.

4/ Cut your cucumber and spring onions into bit size slices.

5/ Mix the remaining olive oil, pepper, salt, honey, mustard and lemon juice together, add to the warm  potatoes and green bean, re place the lid for a few moments, add the warm tomatoes, flake the salmon, add the salad leaves, spring onions and cucumber and serve a big pile of this either on its own or with some crusty breads.

Top Tip: If you do not like salmon use any other meat , fish or opt for tofu of some squash to make this a veggie salad, this works incredible well with grilled peppers and feta cheese.

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Thank you for reading you FABULOUS people

❤ Clare with the Hair ❤

Clare’s Prawn Fried Rice

I am a big fan of Fried Rice and this is one of my favourites, it is simple, like seriously simple to create but packs a real flavor punch and so much better than opting for the take out version, if you are not much of a cook, you will be able to create this and if you are a whiz in the kitchen you may tweak to create a whole different flavor. If you are not a fan of Prawn’s then add chicken,beef etc and for a fab veggie option add tofu, broccoli and or mushrooms.

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Makes: 4 servings

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

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Ingredients

250g of Brown Rice (I used the boil in the bag type, feel free to use the 2 minute micro version)

400g of Fresh water jumbo prawns

150g Baby Spinich

1 med white onion Peeled and diced

100g button mushroom sliced

3-4tbs coconut oil

1bs Chilli paste

1tbs Garlic paste

1/4tbs Cracked black pepper

2tbs Mirin

1/4tbs sugar

2tbs light Soya Sauce

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PREPARATION

1/ Place the rice in a pan of hot water and bring to the boil and cook per packet instructions, or as per microwave instructions. Once cooked set to one side.

2/ Cook the onion and mushroom in the coconut oil until soft 3-5 minutes, remove from the pan and set to one side.

3/ Garlic, Chilli, Mirin, Pepper, Sugar and soya sauce in the pan and add the prawns, cook for 1 minute, add the spinach, mushrooms, onions and rice and mix well, cook for 2-3 minutes and plate up.

4/ Fry eggs in 2-3tbs coconut oil and place o top of your Prawn fried rice.

Enjoy!

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Thank you for reading your FABULOUS people

❤ Clare with the Hair ❤

Clare’s Basil , Lemon & Pepper Chicken

The last few weeks have been pretty cold so we posted a lot of curry’s, stews and comfort foods but now the evening are getting longer and the temperature outside is increasing we will look at fresher, lighter and more summer friendly recipes, still good for you, always using little or nothing in the way of processed foods, quick to get on the table after work and super for all the family. This first one is packed with flavor, is very low in fat and my family just love it, I hope you enjoy this as much s my family do.

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Makes: 4 servings

Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Clare’s Basil , Lemon & Pepper Chicken www.clarewiththehair.com

Ingredients

• 360g Skinless, Boneless Chicken Breasts
• 400g Peeled and diced Potatoes
• Bag of Salad Leave
• 1/2 a cucumber Sliced
• 12 Cherry Tomatoes
• 1 Finely Sliced red Onion
• 2 tbs Coconut Oil
• 16-18 Fresh Basil Leaves
• 3 tbs Cracked Black Pepper
• 1 tbs Smoked Paprika
• Juice and Rind of 1 Lemon

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PREPARATION

1. Place the chicken in between two slices of grease proof paper and bash to 3/4 inch thick, place the basil, lemon rind and 2 tbs of cracked black pepper in a pestle and mortar and grind, add to the flattened chicken and place in the fridge while you get the rest of the meal ready.
2. Put 1tbs of coconut oil on a backing tray and pop into a hot over to heat the oil, place the potatoes, 1tbs black pepper and paprika in a bowl and mix well, add to the heated over tray and cook for 15 minutes, remove and turn and pop back in for another 15 minutes.
3. Chop the salad leaves, add the sliced onion, sliced cucumber and cut the tomatoes into 1/4 and add these, mix well (I leave this dressing free as the potatoes and chicken are tasty enough but feel free to add any low fat dressing of your choice to this)
4. Place 1tbs into a large frying pan, heat this and add the chicken, cook for 5-6 minutes without shaking the pan or moving the chicken, turn and cook for another 3-4 minutes. Make sure the chicken is cook through (all times are approximate and will depend on how thick your chicken is or how small you diced the potatoes)

Plate up and enjoy!

Clare’s Basil , Lemon & Pepper Chicken www.clarewiththehair.com

Top Tip: Cook extra chicken , add salad and place in a pitta or a wrap for a super lunch the following day

Thank you for reading you FABULOUS people

❤ Clare with the Hair ❤

Clare’s Family Favourite Beef Stew

Everyone has their own take on what is the best Beef stew and today I bring you mine, it is Warm, a hint of spice , meaty, packed with good wholesome winter vegetables and I always make a big pot so we can have left overs the next day and I like it even more the next day , This is my perfect Family Favourite Beef Stew.

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Clare’s Family Favourite Beef Stew

Makes: 8 servings (for dinner on day 1 and left overs on day 2)

Preparation Time: 30 minutes

Total Time:  3 1/2 hours

Ingredients

• 800g shin beef, cut into large chunks
• 400g carrots peeled and cut into chunks
• 400g potatoes baked
• 350g shallots or pearl onions, peeled, half the larger ones
• 250g chestnut mushrooms (about 20)
• 2 garlic clove, grated
• 2tbs grated ginger
• 1tbs Chilli Flakes
• 1tbs mustard
• 1tbs each of finely chopped Parsley and Thyme
• 2 broken Bay leaves
• 1 tbsp tomato purée
• 250ml bottle red wine, any you like
• 750ml of good reduced sodium beef stock
• 1tbs cracked black pepper
• 1tbs coconut oil

Clare’s Family Favourite Beef Stew

PREPARATION

1/ Heat a large casserole pan , sprinkle the pepper onto the beef and fry until golden brown, about 3-5 mins, then turn over and fry the other side until the meat is browned all over, if you have to add fat, use 1tbs of coconut oil. Do this in 2-3 batches, transferring the meat to a colander set over a bowl when browned.

2/ In the same pan, fry the  shallots, carrots , mushrooms for 6-7 minutes, add the garlic, ginger and herbs until lightly browned. Mix in the tomato purée and cook for a few mins, stirring into the mixture. Then return the beef and any drained juices to the pan and stir through.

3/ Pour over the wine, stock  and top with a little water if you need to almost cover the meat, but isn’t completely covered. Bring to the boil and use a spoon to scrape the caramelised cooking juices from the bottom of the pan – this will give the stew more flavour.

4/ you can leave this on the hob on a low heat for 3 + hours or place in the oven, if after 3 hours you find the sauce is not thick enough, you can remove the meat and vegetables with a slotted spoon and boil the juices on high to reduce them down a little.

5/ Add your un peeled potatoes into a hot over for 45 minutes, removed , slice in half and scoop out the hot floury centres , place in a large bowl and top with your stew, enjoy!

Clare’s Family Favourite Beef Stew

Top Tip: You can replace all the wine for stock if your diet or taste requires. I added a few steamed green beans at the end, you can add any vegetables you wish.

Thank you for reading you FABULOUS people

❤ Clare with the Hair ❤

Clare’s delicious home made pizza

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Who does not love pizza , it is the perfect comfort food, carbs , cheese , meat, what is not to love and today I bring you my favorite home make pizza’s . as a mum catering for a family, what I love most about pizza is, one can be created for everyone taste with a change in topping , I love fresh basil with Buffalo mozzarella and cherry tomatoes, my husband wants ham, chicken, beef and pepperoni, a real meat feast style and my daughters like just one topping, pepperoni or chicken.

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Making the base take times but fresh homemade pizza base is really worth the time, if you make this once, you will never buy take out pizza again, you can use wholemeal or white flour and you can leave out the wine in the sauce, the best thing really is you decide on the finished flavor and calorie count.

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Makes: 4 servings

Preparation Time: 2 hours

Total Time:  2 1/2 hours

 Ingredients

For the base you will need:

• 400g strong white flour or wholemeal flour

• 5g salt

• 40ml olive oil

• 7g fast action yeast

• 250ml warm water

• semolina, for dusting

For the sauce

• 1 jar of pasatta
• handful of fresh ripped basil
• 2 cloves of grated garlic
• pinch of chilli flakes
• one glass of white wine (optional)
• 1 large banana shallot diced finely
• 1tbs of sugar
• 1tbs cracked black pepper
• 1 low sodium chicken stock cube

Topping , Use any you like , cheese, meat, tomatoes, red onion, peppers, egg or anything you like

PREPARATION

1. For the pizza dough, mix the flour, salt, olive oil, yeast and water together in a bowl.
2. Turn the dough out onto an oiled work surface and knead for 5-10 minutes, or until the dough is smooth and elastic.
3. Shape the dough into a ball and tip into a bowl.
4. Cover with a damp tea towel and leave to rise for an hour.
5. Divide the mix into four balls. Roll out on a surface dusted with semolina. Place each piece on a flat baking tray.

For the sauce:

1. place the shallot , wine and garlic in a saucepan, cook until reduced and you are left with only 1-2 tbs of wine in the base of the pan
2. Add the chilli, sugar, pepper and stock cube and top with passata, cook until this is reduced a little and has thickened , add the fresh ripper basil just before adding to the base (please allow sauce to cool fully before placing on the base)

Topping: (my Fresh mozzarella, cherry tomato and basil pizza)

1. Tear a ball of buffalo mozzarella and place evenly over the sauce, slice and add the tomato’s , add some fresh ripped basil and dust with fresh cracked black pepper.

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What ever your topping of choice , this will be super, The sauce is delicious and the bread base so fresh and light, you will love this and never want take out pizza again.

Thank you for reading you FABULOUS people

❤ Clare with the hair ❤

Clare’s Hot & Spicy Taco Potato

This is my take on one of the ultimate in comfort food, ‘Taco Fries’  yet its actually not all that bad for you when you swap the traditional greasy chips for 1/2 baked potato 1/2 roasted butter nut squash, use a low fat cheese and home made garlic and chilli sauce.

Clare’s Hot & Spicy Taco Potato

There are a few steps to this but one complete you will be delighted with the results.

Serves 4

Preparation : 20 minutes

Total time: 60 minutes

Ingredients

• 200g Butternut Squash, diced into chucks for raosting
• 200g unpeeled potato’s
• 50g low fat cheddar / mozzarella cheese
• 450g extra lean minced beef
• 1 large red onion finely dices
• 1 yellow pepper finely diced
• 1tbs coconut oil
• 1tbs cracked black pepper
• 1tlb grated garlic
• 1 hot red chilli, seeds in and finely sliced
• 1tbs of grated ginger
• 1tbs of Lemongrass
• 1tbs chopped fresh corriander
• 200ml of low sodium chicken stock

Clare’s Hot & Spicy Taco Potato

Sauces :

• 200g pot of natural no fat yogurt
• 2tbs chopped fresh parsley
• pinch of salt and pepper
• 1tbs grated garlic
• 2tbs red chilli paste
• 1tbs lemon juice

Directions

1/ Place the potato straight into a hot oven, no need to pace on a tray and bake until soft in the middle (this will take 30-45 mins depending on size) Place the squash on a tray, and place in the oven until golden on the edges and soft in the middle.

2/ Place the Onion, Garlic, Chilli , ginger, lemongrass and pepper in a large pan, fry in the 1tbs of oil until softened, add the mice and brown for 4-5 minutes, add the herbs, stock and cook until most the liquid has evaporated.

3/ Mix half the yogurt with the chilli paste and lemon for the pink sauce

4/Mix half the yogurt with the garlic, parsley, salt and pepper for the garlic sauce

5/ remove the centers of the potato and just gently crush, not mash onto your serving place, add the roasted butternut squash, mince and cheese and place under a hot grill for 1-2 minutes just to melt the cheese, add the sauces and enjoy!

TOP TIP: I love this with no beef , instead using mushrooms diced finely , this makes this very low in fat but still packed with taste, Try it and see just how how incredibly taste this is.

Thank you for reading you FABULOUS people

❤ Clare with the Hair ❤

Clare’s Family Favourite Beef Stew

Everyone has their own take on what is the best Beef stew and today i bring you mine, it is Warm, a hint of spice , meaty, packed with good wholesome winter vegetables and I always make a big pot so we can have left overs the next day and I like it even more the next day , This is my perfect Family Favourite Beef Stew.

Clare’s Family Favourite Beef Stew

Makes: 8 servings (for dinner on day 1 and left overs on day 2)

Preparation Time: 30 minutes

Total Time:  3 1/2 hours

Ingredients

• 800g shin beef, cut into large chunks
• 400g carrots peeled and cut into chunks
• 400g potatoes baked
• 350g shallots or pearl onions, peeled, half the larger ones
• 250g chestnut mushrooms (about 20)
• 2 garlic clove, grated
• 2tbs grated ginger
• 1tbs Chilli Flakes
• 1tbs mustard
• 1tbs each of finely chopped Parsley and Thyme
• 2 broken Bay leaves
• 1 tbsp tomato purée
• 250ml bottle red wine, any you like
• 750ml of good reduced sodium beef stock
• 1tbs cracked black pepper
• 1tbs coconut oil

Clare’s Family Favourite Beef Stew

PREPARATION

1/ Heat a large casserole pan , sprinkle the pepper onto the beef and fry until golden brown, about 3-5 mins, then turn over and fry the other side until the meat is browned all over, if you have to add fat, use 1tbs of coconut oil. Do this in 2-3 batches, transferring the meat to a colander set over a bowl when browned.

2/ In the same pan, fry the  shallots, carrots , mushrooms for 6-7 minutes, add the garlic, ginger and herbs until lightly browned. Mix in the tomato purée and cook for a few mins, stirring into the mixture. Then return the beef and any drained juices to the pan and stir through.

3/ Pour over the wine, stock  and top with a little water if you need to almost cover the meat, but isn’t completely covered. Bring to the boil and use a spoon to scrape the caramelised cooking juices from the bottom of the pan – this will give the stew more flavour.

4/ you can leave this on the hob on a low heat for 3 + hours or place in the oven, if after 3 hours you find the sauce is not thick enough, you can remove the meat and vegetables with a slotted spoon and boil the juices on high to reduce them down a little.

5/ Add your un peeled potatoes into a hot over for 45 minutes, removed , slice in half and scoop out the hot floury centres , place in a large bowl and top with your stew, enjoy!

Clare’s Family Favourite Beef Stew

Top Tip: You can replace all the wine for stock if your diet or taste requires. I added a few steamed green beans at the end, you can add any vegetables you wish.

Thank you for reading you FABULOUS people

❤ Clare with the Hair ❤

Clare’s Sticky BBQ Chicken

This tastes so good yet it is still super low in fat and packed full of goodness, a real family favourite, this is my Sticky BBQ Chicken, itis a little spicy, a little sweet but most of all it is low in fat and high in taste and goodness , it is a winner and one I will go back to more than a few times.

Clare’s Sticky BBQ Chicken

I am serving this with a little mixed salad, some cubed baked potatoes and roasted parsnip chips.

Makes: 4 servings

Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Total Time:  45 minutes

Ingredients

• 400g skinless , boneless chicken breasts (place between two sheets of grease proof paper & flatten with a rolling pin)
• 1tbs honey
• 1tbs mustard
• 2tbs tomato relish
• 1/2tbs of crushed chilli
• 1/2tbs grated garlic
• 400g Parsnips
• 1tb paperika
• 1tbs coconut oil
• 200g Potatoes
• 1tbs curry powder
• Mixed salad leaves
• Cucumber sliced and de seeded
• Cherry Tomatoes sliced
• Red onion sliced
•  1/2tbs cracked black pepper
• 1/2 the juice of a lime
• pince of salt

PREPARATION

1/ Flatten the chicken and place on a tray, mix the honey, mustard, relish, chilli and garlic and spread over the chicken, place in the fridge for at least 10 minutes but if you have an hour then leave it longer. One left to marinade remove from the fridge and place in the oven for 18-22 minutes, this will depend on how thick you have your chicken breasts.

2/ Peel and chop your parsnips into chip type shapes, place on a baking tray with 1/2 the teaspoon on oil and sprinkle with paprika, place in the over for 20-25 minutes until golden and crisp.

3/ Peel and chop your potato’s into cube shapes, place on the same oven tray (if large enough) as the parsnips, sprinkle with a medium curry powder and 1/2 the oil and place in the oven for 20-25 minutes until golden and crisp.

4/ Mix the salad leaves, cucumber, tomato’s, onions,  pepper, salt and lime juice

Serve as in pictures and enjoy.

Top Tip: Make a little extra chicken and sever in a baguette for lunch the next day , delicious.

Clare’s Sticky BBQ Chicken

Thank you for reading you FABULOUS people

❤ Clare with the Hair ❤

28 Day food Plan for Feburary 2015

So here we are , Week One of our 4 week food and activity plan.

Very like the four weeks we ran this in January but with so many asks and so many new followers and so many wanting to carry on beyond the initial four weeks, we just had to keep going.

The feedback from the 1st four weeks has been fantastic and I really appreciate you taken the time to provide me with this feedback, we are all busy so thank you.

Below you will see an activity challenge for the next 30 days, we are doing 28 here but you can keep going for the 30 if you wish.

Meal Plan, very like before with lots of new meal idea’s added and lots of pictures to go with these 🙂

Each day we will add full details on how to cook each of the main meals, links to follow exercise at home (but please if you have any reason’s at all to run this by your health care professional then please do)

Eating clean should be a way of life and not a diet, if you can aim to follow the plan even 50% of the time then this 50% more than last week, and on week two maybe aim to follow 60% of the time and you will find the better you eat the better you will want to eat, you will no longer enjoy or even want the take out’s or processed alternatives.

Make little changes each and every day and you will achieve things you never thought possible.

Below are the details for out food plan from Monday the 2nd of Feb until Sunday the 8th of Feb.

Clare with the hair Food Plan 2nd Feb 2015

Each week a new plan will be posted and daily I will post how to make the meal’s listed.

I will also add links to all the exercise routines I do and any other activities I manage 🙂

So The Rules:

Eat 3 main meals and 1 – 2 snacks EVERY day .

Drink lots of Water, if you drink no water right now then begin with 2 glasses a day, adding a glass each day until you are drinking 8 good glasses per day.

Cut out all surgery drinks, diet, non diet, it does not matter, non of them are good for you.

Move EVERY day, a 20 minute power walk is a 100 times better than nothing, take up a spinning class, try Zumba, I will post lots of things you can do at home right here, so check in daily!

Ban Take out’s and as much processed foods as possible, no frozen chips, pizza’s, pies etc

Swap your cooking oil’s for coconut oil, trust me it is worth it and I will post why over the coming day’s

Sit at the table with family for meals , it is good for your weight and your mind!

Over cook in the evening is you know you have a busy day to follow, pack and have the things you need on the go.

No Chocolate

No Booze

No Candy

No Cakes

No White Bread, Pasta, Rice, swap these for wholegrain

No Junk food at all.

This is a 28 day plan so look forward to an evening meal out at the end, or a night in with himself and a bottle of wine, whatever it is you will miss most in these 28 day’s then plan and look forward to the end, you will be so proud of the work you have put in and most of all you will have started 2015 in the best possible way.

Swap white potatoes for sweet potatoes

Swap butter / oil for Coconut oil

Each day I will add full details on how to make each meal and I would love if you shared some of you pictures with me, your food and yourselves.

Lets Kick Start  February 2015!!! with my 28 day plan x

Thank you for reading you FABULOUS people

❤ Clare with the hair ❤

Day 20: Clare’s Chicken Salad

Today I bring you my Hot and Spicy Warm Chicken Salad. Its so easy yet it is so tasty, really quick this one is too. Super for a day you don’t want to be stuck in the kitchen and because the chicken is so tasty you feel like you are eating more than a salad.

Clare’s Hot and Spicy Warm Chicken Salad 

Makes: 4 servings

Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Total Time:  30 minutes

Ingredients

• 200g mixed lettuces leaves
• 500g of skinned, boneless chicken breasts
• 3tbs of smokey paprika
• 1tbs cracked black pepper
• 1tbs salt
• 1tbs coconut oil
• 1 medium red onion thinly sliced
• 16-20 cherry tomatoes halved
• one carrot finely grated

REPARATION

1/ Place the chicken breasts between two sheets of grease paper and bash with a rolling pin to flatten them to about 1/2 an inch thick, once flat mix the paprika, pepper and salt together and press onto the Chicken, Place the coconut oil in the base of a heavy bottomed pan and place the chicken in on a med heat for 4-5 minutes , turn and continue to cook for another 4-5 minutes, leave to rest for 2-3 minutes before slicing as per image.

2/ Slice the red onions, tomatoes, and grate the carrots, mix with the salad leaves.

3/ Arrange the salad and vegetables on your plate and top with the chicken, you do not need an additional dressing as the chicken is very tasty but if you must have something, mix 1tbs lemon juice, tbs white wine vinegar, 1tbs of wholegrain mustard and 1tbs of cold water to dress the leaves.

Top Tip: This is great with pork of lamb chops and equally great with halloumi cheese.

Thank you for reading you FABULOUS people

❤ Clare with the Hair