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
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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.

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http://www.clarewiththehair.com

❤ Clare with the Hair ❤

Clare’s Tasty Tapas

I am still in a summer sun kind of mood, so today I bring to you my Tasty Tapas

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www.clarewiththehair.com

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.

Today we will give you the Black pudding, Potato & Prawn Bruschetta Tapas recipes, come back next week for the Tomato Bruschetta, Mushroom Bruschetta and Mango Salad.

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www.clarewiththehair.com

Makes: 4 servings

Preparation Time: 20 minutes

Total Time:  55 minutes

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www.clarewiththehair.com

Ingredients

Black Pudding:

  • 280g Black Pudding
  • 2tbs of tomato relish
  • 8 slices of Dry cure Streaky rashers

Potato & Chorizo 

  • 200g Baby sliced potato
  • 1 med onion
  • 1/2 glass of dry white wine
  • 1tbs olive oil
  • 100g Chorizo sausage

Prawn Bruschetta

  • 8 ,1cm thick slices of French stick
  • 2tbs olive oil
  • 150g of Prawns
  • Large handful of fresh chopped coriander
  • 1 finely chopped red chilli
  • 1 grated clove of garlic
  • 1/2tsp cracked black pepper
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www.clarewiththehair.com

PREPARATION

Potato: 1/ Place the potatoes into a pan of water, bring to the boil and cook until tender, drain and set to one side, While these cook place the sliced onions in a large frying pan with the olive oil, cook for 2-3 minutes, add the wine and reduce until this has almost disappeared, you really just want 1-2 tbs of wine left in the pan, add the sliced Chorizo, cook for 1-2 minutes, add the cooked potato and cook for a further 3-4 minutes. Then serve.

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www.clarewiththehair.com

Black Pudding: 2/ Slice the black pudding, butter the relish onto the flat sides of the pudding, cut each rasher into 3 and wrap around the pudding and relish, place on a lined baking sheet and place in a moderate oven for 10-12 minutes. turning once.

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www.clarewiththehair.com

Prawn: 3/ Place the sliced bread on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil and bake until golden and crunchy. Place the prawns, chilli, garlic and coriander in a pan, (if using fresh prawns cook until they turn pink, if using already cooked prawns, then you are just warming them through) try not to over cook. Place the Prawn’s onto the bread, finish with cracked black pepper and serve.

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www.clarewiththehair.com

 ❤ 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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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
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❤ Clare with the Hair ❤

Clare’s Chinese Beef and Noodles

I am a big fan of stir fry’s because you can add what you like, you want a veggie stir fry, no problem , you want a mixture of meats, again no problem, you want a mix of meat, veg and seafoods again no problem, stir fry’s are fast, versatile, tasty and a great way to use up the end bits of your bags of veg in the fridge before you bin them and really good to cook more than you need for lunch the following day, I make many different stir fry’s but this one is one of my all time favourites, it is a little sweet, a little spicy and has the distinct aromatic flavour of five spice.

Clare’s Chinese Beef and Noodles 

Clare's Chinese Beef and Noodles www.clarewiththehair.com
Clare’s Chinese Beef and Noodles www.clarewiththehair.com

Makes: 4 servings

Preparation Time: 15 minutes (allow extra for marinating meat)

Total Time:  30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 400g Lean Beef (slice into 1cm thick strips)
  • 400g Wholemeal Noodles
  • 200g Green vegetables (I used Green beans and Sugarsnap peas but use any you like)
  • 200g Button Mushrooms
  • 1 large onion diced
  • 2 cloves of crushed Garlic
  • Thumb sized piece of grated Ginger
  • 1 med red chilli, diced finely, leave in the seeds for added heat.
  • 2tbs Chinese Five Spice powder
  • 1tbs Cracked black pepper
  • 2tbs cooking oil
  • 2tbs light soya sauce
  • 1tbs fish sauce
  • 3tbs honey
Clare's Chinese Beef and Noodles  www.clarewiththehair.com
Clare’s Chinese Beef and Noodles www.clarewiththehair.com

PREPARATION

1/ Slice your beef and place in a bowel with marinade (mix 1/2 the oil, chilli, ginger, garlic, five spice, honey, soya sauce, fish sauce and black pepper for the marinade).

2/ While your beef marinades (if you can do this 1+ hours a head of time great, of not 15 minutes will do) Chop your vegetables to bite sizes pieces, dice the onions and slice your button mushrooms also get your pan of boiling water ready for the noodles and cook these as per packet instructions, once cooked, rinse under cold water and place to one side.

3/ Place 1tbs cooking oil into a wok or large frying pan, add the beef plus all the marinade, cook for 1-2 minutes, remove from the pan, add the onions, mushrooms, greens and stir fry for 3-4 minutes, add the beef and the noodles back to the pan and stir fry for another 1-2 minutes, serve and enjoy!

Top Tip: The cheaper the cut of the meat, the longer you should marinade as this will result in a tasty and tender piece of meat.

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www.clarewiththehair.com

Thank you for reading you 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

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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
chicken101
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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!

chicken101
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 Quick and Easy Herby Mushroom Soup

Soup is one of those foods I can love or hate, I love a good home-made soup and I love the filled with cream and butter soups you can get at lunchtime in most placing offering a lunchtime carvery, Ideally we should opt for the home cooked low fat alternative 🙂

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Clare’s Quick and Easy Herby Mushroom Soup

Making soup is so easy, you do not need any fancy equipment, you do not need to be exceptional in the kitchen and you do not need tonnes of time to get a big pot of fabulous home-made soup on the table for you and your family.

Today I bring to you my super Quick and Easy Herby Mushroom Soup

Makes: 4 servings

Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Total Time:  45 minutes

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Ingredients

  • 600g Mix of Mushroom’s (I used Chestnut and Button)
  • 2 shallots Diced finely
  • 2tbs Coconut oil (or use a low fat oil spray)
  • 4 cloves of grated Garlic
  • 1cm piece Ginger grated
  • 1tbs chilli flakes (optional but adds a little heat in the colder months)
  • 2 spring onions Diced finely
  • 500ml Low sodium Vegetable stock
  • 2tbs Chopped Parsley
  • 2tbs Chopped Rosemary
  • 2tbs Chopped Thyme
  • 1/2tbs of Freshly ground black pepper
  • 2tbs of Flour to thicken (optional)

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REPARATION

1/ Melt the Coconut oil in a pan, add the shallots, garlic, ginger, chilli and cook until soft but not coloured, add the mushrooms, spring onions and herbs and continue to cook for 5-6 minutes.

2/ Add the flour and cook this off for 2-3 minutes , top with the stock and leave to simmer for 20 minutes, server on its own or with some crusty bread.

MS
Clare’s Quick and Easy Herby Mushroom Soup

Top Tip: I make 2 or 3 times this and freeze in batches, also I diced the mushrooms, you can slice them and blitz afterwards for a smooth soup, I personally like the texture of this un blitzed .

Thank you for reading you FABULOUS people

❤ Clare with the Hair ❤

Clare’s Baked Cheesy Chicken Fingers

So here we are flying through the week again, and as always I am looking for a meal I can have on the table for my family, nice and quick after a long day’s work. This is a great one for the kids to help with, always great as a finger food when you have people over and ideal to over make and pop next week’s portion in the freezer or to take to school / work with a wrap or salad the next day, these always go down a treat with my family and I hope you enjoy them too. In my opinion these are far tastier than any chicken take outs 🙂

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>>>>>>>>>> Claire’s Baked Cheesy Chicken Fingers <<<<<<<<<<

Makes: 4 servings

Preparation Time: 20 minutes

Total Time:  55 minutes

bakedchicken

Ingredients

  • 125g/4½oz fresh breadcrumbs using really nutty brown bread

  • 2 tsp parsley

  • pinch of salt and pepper to taste

  • 4 boneless and skinless chicken breast, cut into strips

  • 50g/2oz plain flour

  • 3 medium / 2 large free-range eggs,  beaten

  • 2 tbsp melted coconut oil

  • 4 tbsp of finely grated Parmesan cheese
  • 100ml of milk

bakedchicken

PREPARATION

  1. Preheat the oven to 190C/375F/Gas 5. Oil two baking trays with melted coconut oil.
  2. Mix the breadcrumbs, parsley in a bowl. add the finely grated cheese and mix well, add salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Place the flour in another  bowl.
  3. Dip the chicken pieces in the milk, then the plain flour, then in the beaten egg and finally coat in the breadcrumbs. Shake off the excess and lay the cheesy chicken fingers on the oiled baking tray.  This is much easier if you keep one hand clean from the egg and milk for dipping into the flour and bread crumbs.
  4. Bake in the oven for 30-35 minutes, turning once. Remove from the oven when completely cooked through and golden-brown all over.
  5. Serve the cheesy fingers with a variety of dipping sauces, use red sauce, barbecue sauce , the curry dip I used for chips, or any you like best. My family love these with a green salad in summer and with baked chips and beans during the colder months.
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This was done with a whole chicken breast but works equally well with the fingers

Tip: Over prepare these and freeze additional batches (before placing in the oven) in your freezer containers and over cook a few for your lunch the next day, to bring to work with a salad, or in a wrap or for the kids chopped up with some pasta in their lunch boxes.

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Thank you for reading you FABULOUS people    <

❤ Clare with the Hair ❤

Reminder, The UK Blog Awards 2015 Public vote is still running, it is free to cast your vote, if you like this post then please consider casting your vote for me in the UK Blog Awards 2015 here http://clarewiththehair.com/2014/11/13/national-uk-blog-awards-2015/

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

muffin1

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 ❤

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 ❤