Halloumi and vegetable biryani! If that doesn’t moisten your gusset, then you’re dead inside!
Now I’m not sure if this could be classed as a biryani, or even if I’m typing that right, so don’t shoot me – shoot Amelia, who provided this gorgeous recipe via our competition! Over to Amelia. Which, by the way, is possibly my favourite girl’s name ever. If she ends up jumping off a building in 1920’s New York I’ll be fizzing.
Our competition continues and today we have a guest writer and a guest recipe! Golden tickets for both, please. Before we get to the recipe, today’s story comes from Samantha. I’ll hand you over…whoosh…
My name is Sam and I am 46 years old. When I grew up I wanted to be a fighter pilot. Instead I became a teacher. Now I care for my dad with dementia. Most people see dementia as just forgetting things. It’s not – it’s heartbreaking and hilarious, sadly not in equal measure. For example, not many folk know that people with dementia can have no filter. None. So anyone who is different, be they too fat, too different, or have too many tattoos is a beacon of interest to people like my dad will comment – loudly!
I have nearly been smacked in the mouth in Maccies too many times to mention. He will also talk to his burger in a loving way. This also gathers people’s attention. Now, they might also have no inhibitions (the person with dementia, not the burger I hasten to add). Now we’re all smut loving filth mongers in the Cubs’ circle. But imagine it’s a kindly looking septuagenarian who’s being smutty, loudly…and probably in Maccies. Not as much fun then.
So, if ever you’re in Maccies (other fast food restaurants are available) and you see a tired looking 40 something trying to wrangle a seemingly lovely old man away from potential triggers, it’s probably me. Or any one of the millions like me who have had to learn the true face of dementia. Cut us a bit of slack. They don’t mean to be rude so when we apologise in a hushed aside. Just know, they can’t help it.
To lighten the mood, here’s an example of the more amusing side of dealing with dementia.
I took him to get his shopping – standard. On the way he suddenly started craning around in the seat to see something that we had passed. I didn’t pay much attention – usually it’s as he’s seen an attractive woman / a larger person / a person of colour / anything ‘different’ to him basically and if he starts, he doesn’t stop!
So I ignored him for about half a mile. He was still desperately trying to see behind him so I gave in and asked what he was looking at.
Me: What is it dad?
Dad: (still facing the rear windscreen) It’s a massive jet!
Me: Ok.
Dad: Wait! It’s 2! No 3…4!
Me:
Dad: NO wait! It’s 6, 7 – no there’s 9! There are 9 massive jets!
Me: (bearing in mind we live in the very far west of Cornwall – not many massive jets seen round these parts) Really dad? Which way are they going?
Dad: Hang on there’s two more, they’re going that way (pointing behind us)
Me: 11 massive jets.
Dad: Yes! you can still see them, pull over!
Me: :/
Dad: You have to pull over!
Me: (nowhere to pull over)
Dad: I think it’s Putin
Me: Could it be? Is he right? 11 massive jets flying over west Cornwall. Oh god, husband and daughter at work, other daughter at home with grandson, youngest is at school, what do I do? Actually started feeling a bit twitchy. Dad still craning to watch all this going on.
Finally pulled over, it was chem trails. Not war after all. Didn’t even get to ASDA.
Well it made me laugh, anyway. Samantha – I’ll call her Sam, she’ll love that, we’re like best friends now I know her email address and rough location. I do wonder how she feels about all the blog entries where I slagged off Cornwall, though. Like this lovely trip to Lands End.
And now food! Look at this and tell me you don’t want it in your mouth.
syn free halloumi and vegetable biryani
Prep
Cook
Total
Yield 4 servings
Looking for a vegetarian meal that doesn't leave you crying into your weak, child-like wrists? Don't worry, Amelia has you covered. And it's syn free!
Ingredients
- butternut squash - cut into slices
- 1 courgette - cut into chunks
- 1 onion - cut into chunks
- curry powder - mixed with water to make a paste
- a little spray oil
- peas
- flaked almonds - toasted (20g is a HEB)
- coriander - chopped
- pomegranate seeds
- halloumi - cut into slices. This can be your HEA (35g) for the day - I use a lighter version and we eat the whole thing - oops!
Instructions
- put slices of butternut in a roasting tin and spray with garlic oil or just normal oil and add a few garlic cloves and season with black pepper
- roast in oven for about 45 mins
- spray your wok with oil and add the courgette, once it’s got a bit to colour add the onion and get a bit of colour on that too
- add the curry powder and give it a good mix and cook through, then add the rice and mix again
- in a separate pan spray with oil and cook the halloumi
- with a few minutes to go add the peas to the rice mixture and give it a good mix
- serve with the butternut and halloumi on top and scatter with the coriander, pomegranate and almonds
Notes
- if you don’t wasn’t to use your healthy eating A or don’t like halloumi you could use chicken instead doesn’t have to be a veggie dish
- want more veggie recipes with a bit of taste and spice? I can't recommend this book enough!
Courses evening meal
Cuisine vegetarian
Yes! Want more vegetarian recipes? Of course you do:
- chips and cheesy garlic sauce (1 syn)
- absolutely perfect chicken korma (1.5 syns or 4.5 syns)
- baked cheesy courgette chips (1 syn)
- vegan avocado pesto pasta (1 syn)
- spicy carrot and coconut soup (2 syns)
- kalamata spread with tasty pitta chips (2 syns)
- spicy salty sweet potato fries (2.5 syns)
- orange and carrot mash (less than 1.5 syns)
- curried pumpkin soup (less than 1.5 syns)
- baba ganoush (2.5 syns)
- crunchy tomato feta dip (3 syns)
- strawberries and cream overnight oats (1.5 syns)
- the chubby cheesecake (2 syns)
Indeed.
J