Clare’s Tasty Tapas (2)

Here is part two of Clare’s Tasty Tapas. These are super as a main meal any evening, ideal for lunchtime leftovers and you will impress many a dinner guest if you were to sever mini ones of these as canapés.

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Today we have our simple mango salad, Mushroom bruchetta and Tomato bruchetta.

Makes: 4 servings

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Total Time:  20 minutes

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Ingredients

Mango Salad:

  • 100g Mixed Salad leaves
  • 1 sliced mango
  • 1 sliced red onion
  • juice of 1 lime
  • 2tbs extra virgin olive oil
  • pinch of black pepper

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Mushroom Bruchetta:

  • 8 slices of french bread
  • 200g button mushrooms
  • half a glass of white wine
  • 1tbs smooth mustard
  • 1tbs grated garlic
  • pinch of salt and pepper
  • handful of fresh chopped parsley
www.clarewiththehair.com
http://www.clarewiththehair.com

Tomato Bruchetta:

  • 200g vine ripe tomatoes
  • 2-3 chopped spring onions
  • 2tbs olive oil
  • 1 grated clove of garlic
  • 1tbs of sugar
  • pinch of salt and pepper
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http://www.clarewiththehair.com

PREPARATION

Mango Salad: Mix the salad leaves, mango, red onion and dress with the oil, lime juice, salt and pepper.

Mushroom Bruchetta: Cook your sliced mushroom in a pan for 4-5 minutes, until soft and tender, add the wine and cook until almost evaporated, add your mustard, garlic, parsley, salt and pepper. toast your bread slices and top with the mushroom mixture.

Tomato Bruchetta: Chop your vine ripened tomatoes, add your chopped spring onions, garlic, sugar, salt and pepper. Toast your bread and top with the tomato mixture.

www.clarewiththehair.com
http://www.clarewiththehair.com

❤ Clare with the Hair ❤

Aroi Restaurant Limerick Review

If you are planning a trip to Limerick City, then find time to visit Aroi! This review is based on my personal experience in their Aroi’s Limerick restaurant but just to let you know, Aroi are also based in Cork City Center also.

www.clarewiththehair.com
www.clarewiththehair.com

In Aroi’s words:

“Aroi is associated with the eating experience in Asia. Pronounced (Aroy) means delicious or tasty.

Aroi is a casual dining venue which offers a single course dining experience and service with the minimum of fuss.

Our ethos is to serve market fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Our healthy cuisine avoids the obscure chemicals and additives so common in our food today.

Aroi sources authentic herbs and spices and we do not use M.S.G. in any of our preparation.”

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www.clarewiththehair.com

In my words:

Aroi is one of my favorite places to visit for lunch in Limerick, they serve fresh, tasty, clean food at affordable prices with the bonus of a free ice cream afterwards.

I have tried many items on their menu but my favorites are (in order) the Pad Thai, Char-grilled Duck, Red Thai Curry and the must try for you all, their sticky rice, I love this with the Char-grilled Duck.

All main meals are just €10, which I really love, before you go in, regardless of what takes your fancy on the menu, it is always just €10!

www.clarewiththehair.com
www.clarewiththehair.com

Aroi also have a large selection of soft drinks, wine, teas and Thai beers.

The ice cream I referred to is actually their homemade Gelato, they have tonnes of flavors, I have tried their Cherry, Lemon & Coconut, and I loved them all, I will have to return “just to try the others” and report back 🙂 

www.clarewiththehair.com (image from Aroi)
www.clarewiththehair.com (image from Aroi)

I am a big fan of Aroi and I am not alone, this year Aroi won the Best newcomer in Munster from Irish Restaurant association. Well done Aroi, this is a super achievement because as you know, Limerick and Munster is filled with some super places to dine.

www.clarewiththehair.com (image from Aroi)
www.clarewiththehair.com (image from Aroi)

❤ Clare with the Hair ❤

Clare’s Warm Spanish Salad

Today’s #TastyThursday recipe was inspired by my recent holidays to Lanzarote. This is my take on a Warm Spanish Salad that can be enjoy all year round.

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www.clarewiththehair.com

Makes: 4 servings

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Total Time:  30 minutes

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www.clarewiththehair.com

Ingredients

  • 2 chicken Breast
  • 100g Chorizo
  • 200g Baby Potatoes
  • 100g Tomatoes
  • 3-4 chopped basil leaves
  • 1 Yellow pepper
  • 1 large white onion
  • 1 bag of mixed salad leaves
  • 2tbsp olive oil
  • pinch of pepper
  • pince of salt
  • pinch of sugar
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www.clarewiththehair.com

For the dressing:

  • Bunch of chopped Parsley
  • 1tbsp Grain Mustard
  • 2tbsp Ground Almonds
  • 1 grated clove of Garlic
  • 1/2tsp Sugar
  • 3tbsp Sherry Vinegar
  • 4tbsp Extra Virgin olive Oil
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www.clarewiththehair.com

PREPARATION

  1. Dressing: Mix all ingredients together, add a splash more oil if the almonds soak too much, set to one side for the flavour to develop while you make your salad.
  2. Pop the Chicken in a pan of water and bring to the boil, cook for 8-10 minutes and just leave in the pan to cool a bit.
  3. Slice your baby potatoes and place in a pan of water, bring to the boil and cook until tender, remove and drain once cooked.
  4. Place your tomatoes and sliced pepper on a baking tray, sprinkle with salt, pepper, sugar , chopped basil and olive oil and place in a  med oven for 8-10 minutes.
  5. Place the cooked potatoes into a large saute pan, add the sliced onion and chorizo and cook for 2-3 minutes.
  6. In a large bowel mix the potato mixture, roasted tomatoes and peppers mixed leaves in a large bowl, add 1/2 the dressing and mix well
  7. Serve and top with the remaining dressing
www.clarewiththehair.com
www.clarewiththehair.com

❤ Clare with the Hair ❤

RSVP Magazine with Claire’s Tasty Thursday

Today #TastyThursday was launched with RSVP Magazine featuring my food blogs 🙂 Look out for this today and every Thursday x

I initially began speaking with RSVP and a few other publications at the beginning of October and many telephone calls, emails and meetings later the decision was made to work with RSVP and today this went live for the world to see 🙂

I am beaming, I could not be happier with how this blog is going, Being nominated in the food category for a UK Blog Award 2015 (no news yet as to weather I have made the next round) was incredible and if I get to the next round I think I may actually burst with excitement and now this, My food in a real life national publication for the world to enjoy 🙂

RSVP choose a super simple, super christmassy food blog to begin with and I was thrilled with this as it is currently the most viewed this week and the one I am receiving emails and enquiries about daily 🙂 Here is the link to view this http://rsvpmagazine.ie/blog-claires-smooth-silky-bake-christmas-chocolate-tart/

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x x x Claire’s Smooth and Silky No bake Christmas Chocolate Tart x x x

It is a scrummy treat any time of the year but with the addition of Baileys and the lushness of this I think it should be saved for a super time treat 🙂

2014 has been an incredible year, I am actually emotional looking back at it and all the amazing moments and I can’t wait to see what 2015 brings 🙂 This year I began working with TV3, began my own weekly Radio show, Started this my new baby Clare with the Hair, became ‘The Face’ of Boudoir Darlings and we created a Charity Calender with monies raised going to Clare’s Wish Foundation (a charity who grant wishes to adults with life limiting illnesses), Nominated in the UK Blog Awards and now working with RSVP. So many changes, so many new ventures yet all enjoyed and loved so much.

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The cover of Boudoir Darlings / Clare’s Wish 2015 Calender http://www.boudoirdarlings.ie/

Thank you for reading you FABULOUS people

❤ Clare with the Hair ❤

Not so bad for you, Claire’s Banana & Blueberry Muffins.

I am not really a baker or making of many sweet treats but with easy meals being such a hit and many of our readers asking for snack idea’s in the form of sweet treats that are not all that bad for you, we came up with these little beauties 🙂 This as with all area’s of Claire with the hair McCarthy . com will develop over the days and weeks ahead.

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A low-fat muffin that tastes better 🙂 than it looks and they will keep in an airtight container for up to 3 days or you can even freeze for up to a month. This are very easy and almost impossible to get wrong. Lovely sweet treat when you are having serious cravings.

Makes: 12 Muffins

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Total Time:  30 Minutes

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Ingredients 

  • 300g self-raising flour, use wholemeal or half and half if you wish
  • 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • 100g light muscovado sugar
  • 50g porridge oats, plus 1 tbsp for topping
  • 2 medium bananas, the riper the better
  • 284ml carton buttermilk, remember if you can’t get this, use skimmed milk with a dash of lemon juice.
  • 5 tbsp melted coconut oil, this adds a fantastic additional flavour
  • 2 egg whites
  • 150g blueberries, use fresh or frozen.

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PREPARATION

  1. Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4 and line a 12-hole muffin tin with paper muffin cases. Tip the flour and bicarbonate of soda into a large bowl. Hold back 1 tbsp of the sugar, then mix the remainder with the flour and 50g oats. Make a well in the centre. In a separate bowl, mash the bananas until nearly smooth ( if you have a metal sieve you can press it through this),  Stir the buttermilk, oil and egg whites into the mashed banana until evenly combined.
  2. Pour the liquid mixture into the well and stir quickly  with a wooden spoon, do not over work this. The mix will look lumpy and may have the odd fleck of flour still visible, but don’t be tempted to over-mix. Tip in the blueberries and give it just one more stir. Divide the mix between the muffin cases ,then sprinkle the tops with the final tbsp of the oats and the rest of the sugar. Bake for 18-20 mins until risen and dark golden. Cool for 5 mins in the tray before lifting out onto a rack to cool completely and enjoy with a cup of tea or coffee , delicious 🙂

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❤ Clare with the Hair ❤

Clare’s Scrumptious Grilled Steak & Sweet Potatoes

Dinner does not get much simpler than this!! Claire’s Scrumptious Grilled Steak & Sweet Potato: Here we grill some spice-rubbed striploin steaks and serve them along side some sweet potatoes with onions baked in a foil packet . Serve with steamed greens, green beans, spinach or whatever leafy green you like. 🙂 I made a little crème fresh with sun-dried tomato sauce to go along side, but if you are being super healthy, then leave the sauce out.

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Makes: 4 servings

Preparation Time: 20-30 minutes

Total Time:  1hr

Ingredients 

  • 1 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, I leave this out.
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 2 x 8 ounces striploin steak, trimmed and cut into 2 portions
  • 2-3 medium sweet potato, peeled and very thinly sliced
  • 1 large red onion, halved and very thinly sliced
  • 1 teaspoons coconut oil
  • 1 teaspoon freshly grated orange zest

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PREPARATION

  1. Preheat grill to high.
  2. Combine allspice, cumin, ginger, cinnamon, coriander, cayenne and salt (if using) in a bowl. Sprinkle steaks with the spice mixture and leave to rest while you get the sweet potato ready, mix the sliced sweet potato and red onion along with oil and zest in a bowl and coat all the pieces with the oil and zest.
  3. Place two sheets of foil on top of each other (the double layers will help protect the ingredients from burning). . Spread the sweet potato mixture in the center of the foil in a thin layer. Bring the short ends of foil together, fold over and pinch to seal. Pinch the seams together along the sides to seal the packet.
  4. Place the packet on the hottest part of the oven and cook for 20-25 minutes, if the slices are thicker this will take longer. Cook the steaks on your hot grill, turning only once, cooking for 3 to 4 minutes per side for medium-rare and longer if required Transfer to plates and let rest while the potato packets finish cooking. Open the packets (being really careful of steam) and serve alongside the steaks and greens.

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Tip: For the Creme fresh sauce, all you need is half a tub of creme fresh, whizz up 5-6 sundried tomatoes, add some lemon zest, fresh black pepper and  combine for a super simple, tasty sauce to have along side many foods, works great with chicken and really good as a dip for chips.

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Thank you for reading you FABULOUS people

❤ Clare with the Hair ❤

Chicken Satay Skewers ‘Fake Away’

 ‘Fake Away’ Chicken Satay Skewers 

I use this tasty, versatile peanut sauce not only as a dip for grilled satay skewers, but also  for Stir Fried Rice or Noodles with Chicken and Peanut Sauce.. The sauce contains a little bit of heat, but you can cut back on it or eliminate it altogether if you wish. The sauce keeps for days in the fridge so make ahead of time for a simple go to sauce mid week. You also can thin the sauce with a little coconut milk, water, or chicken stock.

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Makes: 4 servings (main meal) 8 (starter)

Preparation Time: 30 minutes

Total Time:  minutes

Ingredients

4 Skinless / Boneless Chicken Breast Fillets

1⁄2 cup  peanut butter ( I used Almond Butter, reasons in week 6 Food & Activity Dairy)
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon chilli paste / I clove of minced Garlic (Fresh can be unpredictable heat wise hence opting for the paste option)      1⁄2 teaspoon fresh chopped  coriander
1 cup water
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice.

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PREPARATION

In a small saucepan, combine the peanut butter, soy sauce, ginger, brown sugar, chilli, garlic and coriander. Stir in the water. Heat the ingredients over medium heat, stirring to combine. Do not let the sauce boil or it will separate. The consistency of the sauce should be pourable, like double cream. When the peanut sauce is hot, stir in the lime juice. Taste the sauce and add a little more lime juice if you like more acidity. The sauce will keep, covered in the refrigerator, for about 1 week. Then take the  chicken fillets and slice  into finger size lengths.  Thread onto skewers ( you can buy these in your supermarket or pick them up in your butchers.) then smother the chicken in your satay sauce, leave to sit for 30 minutes, place on a baking tray lined with baking parchment and grill, turning after 6-8 minutes and brushing with remaining sauce as you go.

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Tip: Soak the Skewer Sticks in water while you prepar all the other bits, this will help them not to burn under the grill

I served these with some sweet chilli Prawn Skewers and Brown rice for our Saturday Night ‘Fake Away’ (I will add full details for both.

If you have a favourite Take away and would like me to create a ‘Fake Away’ version then please get in touch 🙂

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Thank you for reading you FABULOUS people

❤ Claire with the hair McCarthy ❤

Oven-baked Fish & Chips (with half the calories of your traditional Fish & Chips)

A classic combination given a  healthy makeover by oven cooking the ingredients instead of frying. All the flavour with a lot less fat!

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Makes: 4 servings

Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 40 minutes

INGREDIENTS

  • 880g of floury potato, scrubbed and cut into chips, (leave the skins on) for a healthier option use Sweet Potato
  • 2 tbsp olive oil, for me it is Coconut Oil but you can use one of the lite oil sprays
  • 50g fresh breadcrumbs, I use wholemeal but feel free to use breadcrumbs of your choice
  • zest the peel of 1 lemon
  • 2 – 3 tbsp chopped parsley
  • 4 x 140g/5oz thick  white fish fillets (up or down the numbers depending on your requirements) this is based on 1 per person,
  • 200g cherry tomato, I like to sprinkle a little black pepper onto these

I also like to add a green veg on the side of this but you can opt for your favourite and steam this.

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PREPARATION

  1. Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Pat chips dry on kitchen paper, then lay in a single layer on a large baking tray. Drizzle with half the olive oil , coconut oil or spray and season with salt. Cook for 40 mins, turning after 20 mins, so they cook evenly.
  2. Mix the breadcrumbs with the lemon zest and parsley, then season well. Top the cod evenly with the breadcrumb mixture, then drizzle, with the remaining oil again using your option. Put in a roasting tin with the cherry tomatoes, then bake in the oven for the final 10 mins of the chips’ cooking time.

As far as easy goes this is way up there. it tastes delicious and needs very little attention while in the oven, this is one of my families favourites

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NUTRITION

Per serving: 366 calories

  • Tip , Healthy benefits

    We have halved the fat and calories of this traditional favourite by cooking it in the oven instead of frying, and even better again with coconut oil of your lite oil sprays. Although potatoes don’t count towards your 5-a-day, they’re a useful source of vitamin C as well as B6, potassium and manganese and if you opt for a sweet potato you have seriously increased the health benefits, Remember to add a nice green vegetable with this to make it a truly great family meal.

Let me know how you get on with this and as always if there is something you would like me to make, then let me know in the comments section below or via the contact me page.

Thank you for reading you FABULOUS people

❤ Claire with the hair McCarthy ❤

Turkey & Lettuce Wraps (Tasty yet very low fat)

Based on a popular Chinese dish, these fun wraps also make appealing appetizers or canapé when entertaining. There are flavoured with five-spice and are ridiculously simple to make. you can add diced tomatoes, mango, cucumber or red onions to mix this recipe up.

This recipe is based on 4 servings so double up or half down to suit your individual needs.

Makes: 4 servings

Preparation Time: 30 minutes (max)

Total Time: 30 minutes

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INGREDIENTS

  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 cup brown rice
  • 2 teaspoons sesame oil
  • 450g 93%or better,lean ground turkey
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
  • 1 large red  pepper, finely diced
  • 1 8-ounce can water chestnuts, rinsed and chopped(this is a standard size can)
  • 1/2 cup reduced-salt chicken broth (shop bought or even better to make your own)
  • 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
  • 1 teaspoon five-spice powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt (if you must, I tend to leave this out)
  • 2 heads  lettuce, leaves separated, I use two as it is only the outer leaves that can be used here.
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh herbs, such as parsley, basil, mint or chives, (I use parsley, chives and mint)
  • 1 large carrot, shredded

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PREPARATION

  1. Bring water to a boil in a small saucepan. Add rice; reduce heat to low, cover and cook following the instructions on the packet. Once cooked remove from the heat.
  2. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large nonstick pan over medium-high heat( I use coconut oil here). Add turkey and ginger; cook, separating the mince with a wooden spoon, until the turkey is cooked through, about 4-6 minutes. Stir in the cooked rice,  pepper, water chestnuts, broth, hoisin sauce, five-spice powder and salt; cook until heated through, about 1 minute.
  3. To serve, divide lettuce leaves among plates, spoon some of the turkey mixture into each leaf, top with herbs and carrot and roll into wraps.

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TIPS & NOTES

  • Make Ahead Tip: Prepare the filling (through Step 2), cover and refrigerate for up to 1 day. Serve cold or reheat.
  • Notes: Hoisin sauce is a spicy, sweet sauce made from soybeans, chiles, garlic and spices. It will keep in the refrigerator for at least a year.
  • Often a blend of cinnamon, cloves, fennel seed, star anise and Szechuan peppercorns, five-spice powder was originally considered a cure-all miracle blend encompassing the five elements (sour, bitter, sweet, pungent, salty). Look for it in the supermarket spice section.

Per serving: 276 calories; 11 g fat (based on 6 leaves per person and the above quantities being divided into four portions)

Let me know how you get on making these and if you have any food’s you would like me to create a recipe for then get in touch and I will do my best for you x

Thank you for reading you FABULOUS people

❤ Claire with the hair McCarthy ❤

We have ONE #Competition with THREE prizes to #WIN!!

Here we go!!! COMPETITION TIME

Our 1st Blog Competition so to celebrate this new section of the Blog we are not given away One prize, we are not given away Two prizes but we are given away 3 prizes.

When you enter the Competition please state the prize that you would like, Prize (A), Prize (B) or Prize (C), you can of coarse enter more than once and the more times you enter the more times your name goes into the hat on Prize given day 🙂

So lets have a look at the 3 prizes:

This is prize (A) and in this you get Pre and Post Active Woman Shakes, Karora Tanning Mist & the Ultra Smooth Tanning MittPrize1

So if you would like Prize (A) then please pop Prize (A) in the comment box below.

Now lets see Prize (B)Prize2 Prize (B) has the beautiful, easy to wear, SO…? Perfume, Ryan Sheridan CD & the bran new Beauty UK Define FX Mascara.

If Prize (B) is the prize you would like then please comment Prize (B) in the comment box below.

And last but not least we have Prize (C): Here is Prize (C), This is the much talked about Denman Tangle Tamer hairbrush and Colour WOW’s One Minute transformation styling cremePrize3

We are delighted to bring you Three prizes to kick of the Competition of this Blog.

Now the RULES, How can you ENTER? Well it is pretty simple , you can enter right here, you can pop over to my Twitter https://twitter.com/ClaireBearMull or you can enter at Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Whats-Going-On-with-me-Claire-McCarthy/1443353879281643

  1. For FACEBOOK entries you muct: Like the post on Facebook, Share the post on Facebook and Comment which Prize you would like to Win on Facebook .
  2. For TWITTER entries you muct: Like the Post on Twitter, RT the post on Twitter and Comment which Prize you would like to Win.
  3. For WordPress entries you must: Like the Post Here, ReBlog the Post here and Comment which Prize you would like to Win.

Good Luck to Everyone

Thank you for reading you FABULOUS people

♥Claire With The Hair McCarthy♥