 |
| Recipe of the week... ...Syn-Free One-Pan Prawn Pasta |
Ingredients:
Low-calorie cooking spray e.g. Frylight, 1 onion, 2 cloves of garlic, 3 fresh
tomatoes, 450g baby spinach leaves, 240ml passata, 1 vegetable stock cube, 2
drops tabasco sauce, 20 large peeled raw prawns, 200g spaghetti, salt and
pepper to season
Serves:
2 portions
Time
taken: 45 mins max
Dietary:
Pescetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free (and syn-free on Slimming World!)
--
Hi
readers,
How
are you all today? Is your weekend off to a good start? Do you have anything
exciting planned?
As
I write, it’s a gusty and rainy Saturday evening in June. Not at all the
balmy summer weather that we love to imagine here in the UK, as Storm Miguel
has blown in to spoil our barbecue plans. And it’s landed just in time for the
weekend.
As
they say – you really can’t rely on the weather, readers. I have a ticket to
attend an outdoorsy folk music event this evening and looking out of my window
right now, it’s not very tempting to go! Think of me this evening, readers, while
you settle in on your settee for the return of Killing Eve. I will likely be
wind-battered out in a muddy field somewhere up north. Standing as close to the
campfire as is feasible, in a bid to not freeze my tits off. Trying to catch faint
strains of folk music over the deafening sound of a gale force wind.
But
I’ve prepaid for the ticket. So, I’m going.
--
- Food
for thought -
This
week, readers, I can recommend you a few things. Lately, I’ve been…
Listening
The
song that we’d all love to hate! No one is supposed to admit they like Just
Bieber or, heaven forbid, they like Ed Sheeran. But I do like singing along to
their best songs on a sunny day, and I think this song is a summer smash! It’s
lifting me up when I hear it on the radio during a long commute, and powering
me on during runs around the park... it rocks my socks.
Watching
Again,
think of me what you will, but I was raised on Disney films and it’s exciting
when a new remake comes out. Me and the Mr made it to the cinema last week for a
date night to see Aladdin and, despite ending up on the very front row being
blasted by the aircon, we enjoyed it! A spectacular, upbeat, colourful evening
of light entertainment. I’ve been singing A Whole New World ever since –
much to the Mr’s joy. He wasn’t so impressed with the bad guy Jaffar in this
new 2019 version of the film – not bad enough, is the verdict. But,
otherwise, a fun and uplifting film that I’d recommend you all go to see.
Reading
I’m
squeezing in a read of my own between Book Club selections and have taken on a
whodunnit-type crime thriller, following a troubled young journalist with a
history of self-harm and a dangerous relationship with sharp objects, as she
reports on a double murder in her hometown. Right now, it seems like everyone
one of the characters could be the murderer! The plot has me gripped and it’s not
a big book, so I don’t think it’ll be long before I make it to the end. I’d
recommend this book as an easy read. If you’re not that big on reading and
looking for a slim page-turner to take on holiday with you. Or if, like me, you’re
in a monthly Book Club and like to squeeze in a shorter read between your meet-ups,
then Sharp Objects could be a spot-on addition to your reading list.
Enjoying
Walking a dog
If
you’re local to Sheffield and would love to own-your-own doggos, but can’t
right now, then Mill House Animal Sanctuary is the place to go. Located up Fulwood
way, the sanctuary takes in dogs and looks after them until they can be found a
new home. If you head on over, and pop some change in their collection bucket,
they’re happy for you to take a dog out on a walk around the local area. You
just need to be back by 3pm. I think this is a great idea! Free dog walkers for
the sanctuary, donations to keep them running, and lots of love and attention
for the dogs while they’re staying at Mill House. Plus, I imagine plenty of dog
walkers make it back to the sanctuary enquiring how to adopt their new
four-legged friend. We walked a little Jack Russell called Oscar, with a funny
skip as he walked and a dislike of most people that we crossed paths with. A
little character!
Wondering
Whether
I can shift the final 2 pounds in 2 weeks?
For
any regulars to the blog, you may have heard of me joining Slimming World just
after Christmas, in a bid to lose a little winter weight and slim down for a
holiday in June. That holiday is now a mere 17 days away (woohoo!) and this week at Slimming World I was handed my 1-stone certificate, which is a massive
achievement for me. I’ve 2 pounds more to go in order to achieve my target,
before we fly away on holiday, and 2 more weigh-ins to attend. So, I’m planning
on eating lots of speed foods this next couple of weeks!! Can I do it, readers?
Watch this space…
--
-
Feeding a friend -
My
recipe this week, readers, is one that my housemate cooked for me for Flat
Dinner recently. It’s so lovely to have my tea cooked for me, and my housemate’s
made us some excellent teas so I always look forward to nights when she’s
feeding me – the food is good every time!
On
the menu this week was a prawn spaghetti based on a recipe which she found on the Slimming
Eats website – you can read the original here. We’ve both been trying
really hard lately with our slimming as we’d quite like to call it a day soon
and be free of Slimming World, so this is a syn-free recipe. You can tuck in
with no guilt whatsoever.
I enjoyed this recipe so much, readers, that I've gone on to make it again. I can't get enough! To me, this pasta tastes how good food should. And it’s wonderfully easy to prepare – with only one pan required!
I enjoyed this recipe so much, readers, that I've gone on to make it again. I can't get enough! To me, this pasta tastes how good food should. And it’s wonderfully easy to prepare – with only one pan required!
Want
to give it a go? Well, check it out – here’s the recipe in just ten simple
steps…
--
- Syn-Free
One-Pan Prawn Pasta -
Ingredients:
Low-calorie cooking spray e.g. Frylight, 1 onion, 2 cloves of garlic, 3 fresh
tomatoes, 450g baby spinach leaves, 240ml passata, 1 vegetable stock cube, 2
drops tabasco sauce, 20 large peeled raw prawns, 200g spaghetti, salt and
pepper to season
1. Get in
the groove! Let’s make this enjoyable – set the radio playing and pour a tasty
drink. Crack open the window (if there isn’t a gale force wind blowing) and let
some fresh air in. Tidy around and set the table. Give your surface a quick
wipe and gather together the ingredients. Now, you’re all set.
2. Begin
with some veg prep – chop the onion and crush the cloves of garlic. Peel and
chop your tomatoes.
3. Set a
large frying pan or wok warming on a medium heat and spray liberally with
Frylight.
4. Add
the onions and garlic and cook until they’re beginning to brown.
5. Then,
add the tomatoes and cook until they’re just beginning to break down.
6. Fill
and boil the kettle, and make up your stock using 500ml of boiling water.
7. Add
your dry spaghetti to the frying pan, along with the stock, passata, tabasco, and
spinach.
8. Turn
up the heat under the frying pan and bring it to a boil. Simmer until the sauce
reduces, stirring often, for 5-10 minutes.
9. Then
add in the raw prawns and continue to simmer, stirring often for another 5-10
minutes until the pasta and prawns are cooked.
10. Season
generously with salt and pepper, then turn off the hob under the pan. Spoon
your pasta out evenly between two bowls, and serve up. Time to tuck in!
--
- Recipe
round up -
And
that’s all there is to it, readers! Would you have thought that you could cook
your spaghetti and your prawns in the sauce for your pasta while it reduces? It’s
not something that I’d have though to try and not something I’ve heard of being
done before – but somehow it works, and it comes out tasting delicious, I can
report.
If
you’re a fan of a prawn and you’re a pasta lover, too, then this is dish that
will float your boat, readers. It’s just simple home-cooked food, tasting great
and prepared in no time at all. Filling and delicious to tuck into. If you’re
considering pinging a microwave meal in tonight or sliding a tray of freezer
food in the oven… or calling the local takeaway! I say make that little extra
effort and prepare yourself, and your friend or your partner, a proper meal
from scratch which will be made with love and a total taste sensation.
Good
luck in the kitchen if you brave it, readers. And, for anyone trying out this
recipe, I hope you enjoy your pasta just as much as I did when you get to tuck
in. Here’s wishing you all a fab rest of your weekend – take care, stay dry,
and eat well, readers!
Simmer
safely,
Hayley
--
-
Closing thoughts -
If
you’ve been inspired to give this recipe a try, readers, whether I’m speaking
to you on the day of this post or you’re reading some far out time in the
future... please drop me a line to let me know whether it went okay. I’d love
to hear how you got on in the kitchen and your thoughts on this dish. Plus,
it’d be fab if you’re able to share any tips you have for success, or your
suggestions to improve the recipe? Please send your wisdom my way.
Thank
you for reading!
