syn free ratatouille

First of all, I’ve learned more today about vaginal pessaries today than I ever thought possible. Decency forbids me saying more but jaysus.

You know, it must be so easy to make a Gordon Ramsey cookery show. He turns up, you get a few shots of his face looking like an unmade bed, he huffs and puffs, they paint the eatery a shade of cream and chuck a few linen tablecloths around, and you’re done. His new show has to be the cheapest programme yet but still quite watchable, if only to laugh at posh people falling on their arse.

Anyway, that’s not why we are here, is it? Just a quick one from me today, as yet again I have been working late so it’s a quick supper. This is a perfect quick meal because you’re essentially just roasting veg, boiling pasta and adding a creamy sauce. You can beef it out with the usual superfree heroes – peppers, onions, most veg, peas, any old shite you can in the vegetable drawer. Recipe…

to make syn free ratatouille, you’ll need:

Paul and I are going to have a ban on chips next week, but they’re so easy with an Actifry!

Not going to lie, I’m not expecting to lose next week, I have done nothing but pick at sweets all day because my desk is surrounded by them and, working late, means I get so hungry! There’s no reason of course to pick at sweets, so next week I’m going to cover a few snacks.

Anyway. I’ve got to go to bed early as I need to be up again at 7am to take the car for a new tyre. I know what you’re thinking, it surprises me too that I’m so fat with this rock and roll lifestyle! Hey, do me a favour though if you’re enjoying this blog, and share share share! My readership is creeping up sons aim thankful to each of you for that! Sleep well.

simple tomato pasta

Want something delicious in your gob?

Paul’s tomato pasta, of course, which is bursting at the seams with enough cherry tomatoes to pebbledash a small house with. an easy two syn recipe this – here’s the card:swtomato

ingredients: pack of bacon medallions (unsmoked), a veritable United Colours of Benetton range of tomatoes, two sweet peppers, sliced olives, two onions, oxo cube, any scratty bits of pasta you have left over, spinach and reduced fat feta to serve.

recipe: finely chop the onion, chilli, bacon and peppers and chuck them in a heavy pot with a lid to sweat down, then chop the various tomatoes to different sizes and add them to the mix. Simmer for a few minutes and add two tablespoons of tomato puree and 250ml of chicken stock. leave to simmer on a reasonable heat for twenty minutes or so. Cook and drain your pasta, and do it well for goodness sake as nobody likes watery pasta. tip into the tomato mix, shake it like a Polaroid picture and serve on a bed of spinach (another superfree) and top with reduced fat feta. Paul adds anchovies to his because he’s a sick, sick man.

extra-easy: perfect extra-easy meal, given the amount of tomatoes, peppers and onions in the pot which all count as superfree foods – you could always chuck in some peas or shredded leek.

warning: we used frylight, but if you use oil to fry, make sure you syn it. one teaspoon of olive oil is 2 syns – blimey. If you decide to use bacon as we have done, buy the medallions without fat or trim everything off. finally, olives – eight black olives are one syn altogether.

top tips: although Paul doesn’t trust me enough to do this yet, after eight years of marriage, you can just chuck your pasta straight into the sauce and cook it in the sauce rather than water. It’ll make the sauce thicker and it works a lot better with decent pasta, but it’s brilliant. Try it with spaghetti when you next make spaghetti bolognese.

Cheers!

J