SWEET POTATO PECAN PIE TARTS

These beautiful little tarts make ANY dinner special. They are absolutely delicious tiny bites (about the size of a tassie) of cinnamon spiced sweet potato and pecans all baked in a pre-prepared mini-phyllo cup. They are impressive looking, great tasting, ultra-easy and (believe it or not) the recipe says they are only about 45 calories each!! It doesn't get much better than that!!!

1 cup cooked and mashed sweet potato
3 tablespoons white sugar
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup chopped toasted pecans
¼ cup brown sugar, packed
1 tablespoon dark corn syrup (I used light)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg white

2 (2.1 ounce) packages mini-phyllo shells

Poke sweet potatoes a few times with a knife and place them in a pie plate with 2 tablespoons of water; cover loosely with waxed paper and microwave on high for five minutes (mine took 7 minutes) or until tender.

Mash and measure out 1 cup of sweet potato. Add sugar, cinnamon and salt and stir well (I used my electric mixer to really mash the potatoes). Set aside.

In a small bowl, combine toasted pecans, brown sugar, syrup, vanilla and egg white. Stir well and set aside.

Set mini phyllo shells on a baking sheet and put about 1 teaspoon of the sweet potato mixture into the bottom of each shell (gently push down-in a little). Spoon 1/2 teaspoon of pecan mixture over the sweet potato mixture. Bake at 350F for 20 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack.

ENJOY!!!

NOTE: Our super-store sells these little pre-made phyllo shells in the ATHENS brand.

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TENDER SHRIMP

I don't know about you, but I have ruined a LOT of expensive shrimp over the years by not cooking it properly. I have been known to turn $20 dollars worth of beautiful raw shrimp into a bowl of shrimp that has the texture erasers!!  Very frustrating for sure!!

Well, not any more, my friends!! I have found the easiest, quickest, most fool proof and certainly most delicious way to cook RAW shrimp. Where has this recipe been all my life?? Am I the only one who didn't know this trick?

A QUICK 30 MINUTE BRINE
1 cup cold water
2 cups ice (I just used an ice cube tray full)
1/4 cup kosher salt
1/4 cup white sugar

Mix the brine ingredients well, then add 1 pound of large raw shrimp (roughly 25 shrimp to the pound) that have had the heads, shell and back vein removed (leave the tail on if you want).

Stir the shrimp GENTLY into the brine and make sure it reaches all of the shrimp evenly, then chill (shrimp in brine) in the fridge for 30 minutes.

After 30 minutes, drain the shrimp and RINSE WELL UNDER COLD RUNNING WATER.  Drain and BLOT DRY with paper towels. Keep shrimp cold while your broiler heats up.

Put a DRY (no grease) cookie sheet (with a rim) under the broiler (about 6" from the flame) and preheat it for FIVE FULL MINUTES.

While the pan is heating up, put 1 tablespoon olive oil in a bowl and add 1/4 teaspoon black pepper and 1/8 to 1/4 cayenne pepper (but no salt because the shrimp will still have a little salt from the brine on them). Stir until well mixed and then add the shrimp and GENTLY toss to coat all sides of the shrimp.

After the pan has pre-heated under the broiler for FIVE MINUTES, put the shrimp on it (they will sizzle). Quickly put the HOT pan full of shrimp under the broiler.

Broil (6" away from flame) for 2 minutes, then flip the shrimp over, and broil for 1 more minute.

Remove the shrimp from your broiler, AND TAKE THEM OFF OF THE HOT PAN IMMEDIATELY(or they will continue to cook and get rubbery). That's it!! Easy as pie.

Shrimp cooked with this method are extremely tender and flavorful. This is a great technique for ANY recipe that calls for pre-cooked shrimp.  It is also a GREAT method to cook shrimp for a big crowd!!

ENJOY !!

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Eating American Cuisine the Healthy Way

One of the problems about trying to eat more healthily is that, apparently, it means that you can’t enjoy all of your favourite foods. One cuisine that takes a hit is the food on offer across the pond, over in America. American food is famously delicious. Unfortunately, it’s also famously full of sugar, salt, fat, and all things nice. Isn’t it?

Is this reputation earned? Or is it the same kind of fallacy that suggests that all British food is bland and tasteless?



Image Credit.

What Is American Food?

When someone says “American cuisine”, what do you think of? Burgers, hot dogs, barbeques, and so on? But if you go back in time just a couple of hundred years, then it becomes abundantly clear that it’s not quite as simple as that.

America is a new country, and the food that makes up American cuisine is essentially a mix of all the cuisines that were taken over there and the food and produce that is native to America. You can even track events in American history through classic food if you were so inclined.

But what does this mean for us? Well, it demonstrates that “American cuisine” is a far more varied beast than we give it credit for. So, for every unhealthy meal you spot, there are likely more perfectly healthy meals that are eaten every day. Maybe it’s just a case of finding a new favourite American food. Rather than always going for the well-known American food that you know and love, consider some lesser-known classics.

The thing is, you can still emulate your favourite American flavours in a healthier parcel. Let’s say that you love the classic Southern barbeque taste, but you don’t love the idea of eating a lot of fatty meat to get to it. Well, there’s a way around that.
Making Unhealthy Food Healthy

When you make food at home, you have control over whatever you put into it. For many people, the first step to eating healthily is to cook more meals, rather than ordering in or buying ready meals. Once you can see the amount of sugar, salt, and whatever else going into your dinner, you tend to use a lighter hand than a restaurant would.

When it comes to American cuisine, this principle doesn’t change. For example, the Philadelphia Cheesesteak is a classic American sandwich, filled with a delicious mix of steak, cheese, fried vegetables, and spices. When you make it yourself, you can dial down on little things, like the amount of cheese or oil that you use. It’s just as delicious, but that bit healthier.

What if you want to go a step further? Maybe you want the feel and flavour of your favourite dishes, but in a far less calorific form. In this case, you can use the seasonings and building blocks of flavour, but for a different kind of meal.

If we revisit our delicious barbeque, you can always replicate the flavour by using a spice mix in your meal. Even something very basic like chicken breast, rice, and steamed vegetables can be leveled up with good seasoning.

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STRAWBERRY TEA CAKE (KNOWN IN MY HOUSE AS THE BEST COFFEE CAKE IN 10 YEARS!) (Seriously!)

Usually, when I hear the word "coffee cake" I think of a sweet treat that is only "at it's best" right out of the oven and it usually needs either a cup of coffee, tea or glass of milk to wash it down. Well, dear friends, this coffee cake IS the exception to that rule. My husband and I finished this cake in a single day with NO trouble (a cake this size usually lasts us several days). We just couldn't stop snacking on it!

I used all strawberries, this time, which added to the sweetness of this buttery cake, but we seriously enjoy this recipe with a raspberry filling as well. I sure hope you give it a try, you will NOT be disappointed.

Make the fruit filling first and let it cool a little.

In a heavy bottomed sauce pan, mix:

12 ounces of frozen strawberries (I used 12 ounces of frozen strawberries that I chopped finely in my food processor).
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch

Heat the above ingredients, over medium heat, stirring until it is thick and bubbling. Set aside while you make the batter.

Cake Batter
2 and 1/4 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup COLD butter sliced in to thin pats

Put the flour, sugar and butter in your food processor and pulse until you get fine crumbs. Remove 1/2 cup of these fine crumbs and set them aside for later in the recipe.

NEXT:
To the remaining crumbs in the food processor, add:
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 egg
3/4 cup buttermilk (no substitutions)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Pulse a few times until everything is good and moist (but don't over-mix).

Preheat your oven to 350 and grease and flour a (2 piece) 10" round tart pan. Using your fingers, press 2/3 of the batter into the prepared tart pan, pushing the batter evenly across the bottom and one inch up the sides of the pan (flouring your finger tips helps here).

Once you have the batter spread out and pushed up on the edges, gently pour in the fruit filling and spread it around the bottom.

With the reserved 1/3 of the batter, place small pieces in an irregular pattern on top of the fruit (I used a one teaspoon measure to get the right size). Be very careful not to push the batter pieces down into the fruit, you want them to float on top of it as much as possible. Finally, sprinkle the reserved crumbs over everything.

Bake in a 350 oven (Important tip; place a cookie sheet under the tart pan) for 30 to 35 minutes (my electric oven takes 35 minutes). 

The finished cake will be golden brown and smell heavenly!! I am certain that just about any fruit would work with this coffee cake.

When the cake is done baking, place it on a cooling rack for 15 minutes before you take it out of the pan.

 

ENJOY !!!

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Sweet Chilli Pork Rice Bowl Recipe | Low Calorie

A delicious lower calorie pork mince recipe that is delicious both hot and cold. A big bowl of pork and veggies.

Scroll down for the full recipe!

This was absolutely delicious! I love a colourful plate like this. I always like to try and find new pork mince recipes too, and this is going to be my new favourite!

It is really easy to prepare, and the best part is that you can add whichever veggies you have in the house as a side. 

I used sweet potato, sweetcorn, cucumber, black beans, avocado, tomato and brown rice. 

I pickled the cucumber for an extra bit of flavour, and because I am obsessed with anything that's pickled! 

This dish is enough to serve 4 people, and I promise you, you will absolutely love this!

Scroll down for the full recipe

Fancy some more recipes?

Like the look of this recipe? I have loads more for you to look through as well! Click the links below for more:

Slimming World Friendly Dinner Recipes

 Slimming World Friendly Breakfast 

Slimming World Friendly Lunch Recipes 

 Slimming Friendly Fakeaways

Sweet Chilli Pork Rice Bowl Recipe | Low Calorie 

pork mince recipe, low fat recipe, rice bowl, buddha bowl

dinner

British

Yield: 4

Author: Latoyah Egerton

Sweet Chilli Pork Rice Bowl Recipe | Low Calorie

Prep time: 20 MinCook time: 20 MinTotal time: 40 Min

A delicious lower calorie pork mince recipe that is delicious both hot and cold. A big bowl of pork and veggies.

Ingredients

• You will need:
• For the Pork:
• 500g 5% fat Extra Lean Pork Mince
• 1 red chilli pepper, deseeded and finely dice
• 1 finger sized piece of ginger, peeled and chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, finely diced
• 50ml white wine vinegar
• 1 tsp sweetener
• For the veggies:
• 1 cup of cooked brown rice
• Handful of green beans
• 1 tomato, chopped
• 1/2 tin of sweetcorn
• 1 small sweet potato, peeled and finely cubed
• 1/2 cucumber, sliced
• 2 tbsp white wine vinegar
• 1 tin black beans
• Salt & pepper
• Smoked paprika
• Optional: half an avocado and some chilli flakes
• Sesame seeds to top

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 180
2. First, get the cucumbers pickling. Add the slices into a bowl with the white wine vinegar.
3. Next, add the sweet potato chunks to an oven proof dish, spray with low calorie cooking spray and sprinkle with a generous amount of salt, pepper and smoked paprika.
4. Put in the oven for 25 mins, or until they start to look crispy. They actually crisp up a little more once you remove them from the oven.
5. Mix together the chilli, ginger, garlic, white wine vinegar and sweetener, this is the sweet chilli sauce.
6. Fry off the pork mince on a medium heat, then once browned, add the chilli sauce and leave to reduce slightly.
7. Heat the black beans and sweetcorn as per the tins instructions, and boil up the green beans.
8. Drain the cucumber, then layer up the bowl with the pork and all of your veggies.

Notes:

When I prepared this dish I used up veggies that I already had in the house. You can literally freestyle with any veggies you fancy, and this dish would still work.

Nutrition Facts

Calories

544.12

Fat (grams)

22.60

Sat. Fat (grams)

13.59

Carbs (grams)

44.11

Fiber (grams)

10.08

Net carbs

34.02

Sugar (grams)

5.67

Protein (grams)

43.76

Sodium (milligrams)

671.92

Cholesterol (grams)

142.70

All syn and calorie calculations are for guidance only, and should be double checked if following a calorie specific plan.

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https://www.latoyah.co.uk/2021/10/sweet-chilli-pork-rice-bowl-recipe-low.html

I am not affiliated with Slimming World in any way. These are meals and recipes that I have followed myself. All images and content on Sugar Pink Food is copyright protected. If you wish to share this recipe, then please do so by using the share options provided. Do not screenshot or post recipe or content in full

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SWEET BACON-CHICKEN BUNDLES

We discovered these delicious little bundles over the holidays. They are quick to fix and are absolutely perfect for potlucks, buffets, or a quick supper. They are totally addicting, so make lots of them!!

SWEET BACON-CHICKEN BUNDLES
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast (we like thighs better)
2/3 cup dark brown sugar
2 teaspoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon salt
bacon (regular, not thick)

 Preheat oven to 375° and bake the bacon for 10 minutes only. After 10 minutes, drain the bacon and set aside. You will need one half slice of bacon for each chicken bundle.

 Cut the raw chicken into 1" cubes, then wrap half of (a partially cooked) slice of bacon around each cube of raw chicken, and secure it with a toothpick. Next, mix the brown sugar, chili powder, cumin and salt together and roll the bacon-chicken in this mixture. Make sure you get it into all the folds of the bacon.

Place the bundles on a baking screen or cooling rack that you've liberally sprayed with vegetable spray. Set the sprayed rack on a rimmed baking sheet that you have lined with foil (important for easier clean up). If you have any sugar-mixture left over, spoon a teaspoon or so on top of each bundle.

Bake for 30-35 minutes. Delicious hot or room temperature. If you like a little heat along with your sweet, add some cayenne to the sugar mixture.

 

ENJOY !!!

 

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Roasted Tomato Soup Recipe | Low Calorie Slimming Friendly

It's officially soup season! I do love a good soup, and this is one of the easiest, and tastiest soups that you will ever make!

I posted this as a Reel on my Instagram, and have written out the full recipe below. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Latoyah | Sugar Pink Food (@sugarpinkfood)

You will need:

As many tomatoes as you can (I used cherry and normal tomatoes)

1 red pepper

1 red onion

2 garlic cloves

Salt

Pepper 

Smoked paprika 

Balsamic vinegar 

Olive oil

Method:

Bake in the oven at 180 for 25 minutes

 

Fancy some more recipes?

Like the look of this recipe? I have loads more for you to look through as well! Click the links below for more:

Slimming World Friendly Dinner Recipes

 Slimming World Friendly Breakfast 

Slimming World Friendly Lunch Recipes 

 Slimming Friendly Fakeaways

 

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Sticky BBQ Dirty Rice Recipe | Low Calorie Slimming Friendly Fakeaway Recipe

A delicious 'dirty rice' recipe that is vegetarian, low calorie and slimming friendly. Bursting with BBQ flavours.

I feel like I have said this before, and will probably say it again. This is one of those meals where I didn't have much food in, but wanted to make something tasty from scratch. 

Scroll down for the full recipe and instructions!

I wasn't planning on writing up this proper recipe for it, but it tasted sooo good! I put a picture on my Insta stories, and LOADS of you requested the full recipe. 

If you love this, you'll love my other Fakeaway Recipes too!

I have a few Dirty Rice recipes which I know you all love, so this is an veggie version of the classics. 

The term 'Dirty Rice; may not sound that appealing, but it gets it's name because the rice changes colour when it soaks up all the flavours of the dish. 

Sorry if these photos aren't the best, I was hungry and it smelt so good that I had to tuck in!

This is a great weeknight meal as you can throw it all in the one pan. 

Pin this recipe for later:

Fancy some more recipes?

Like the look of this recipe? I have loads more for you to look through as well! Click the links below for more:

Slimming World Friendly Dinner Recipes

 Slimming World Friendly Breakfast 

Slimming World Friendly Lunch Recipes 

 Slimming Friendly Fakeaways

 

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AU JUS BURRITO

"Au Jus Burrito", is there such a thing? I didn't know what else to call it 👍

This is a new favorite at our house. Even "picky-picky husband" gave it 2 thumbs up and asked me to make it again soon!! I KNOW!!! I was shocked too!! 😲

This quick and easy "sandwich" can be put together early in the day (or even the day before) and finished off with just 20 minutes in the oven...it couldn't be easier.

Au Jus Burrito   

Makes 4 large sandwiches

(4)  12" flour tortilla's (room temperature)

3/4 pound of VERY THINLY SHAVED roast beef

1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese (loosely packed)

1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese (loosely packed)

1 cup finely diced sweet onions(sautéed) *see note below

salt and pepper to taste

If your torilla's are cold, either let them warm up a little (so they will be more flexible) or microwave them for a few seconds so they don't crack when you roll them up.

Sauté the finely diced sweet onions (in a little butter) until you see golden edges, then drain on paper towel. Scatter 1/4 cup of onions over each of the 4 tortillas. 

Mix the shredded Monterey Jack cheese with the shredded cheddar cheese and sprinkle 1/2 cup (loosely packed) of this mixture over the cooked onions on each tortilla. 

On top of the shredded cheese, place 1/4 of the of thinly sliced roast beef and season with salt and pepper to taste. I like to make these with left over tri-tip roast beef or some other super tender roast beef. The meat is very easy to slice thinly when it is extremely cold (great use of leftovers).

OK...time to roll it up: fold in the sides just a little, then roll up tightly (in the opposite direction) and place on a foil lined pan that has been lightly sprayed with cooking spray...make sure you let the rolled up "sandwich" rest on the seam side.

Lightly brush the sandwiches with a little melted butter and sprinkle with a salt and pepper.

Bake in a 425° preheated oven for 20 minutes (if you are cooking them right away) or 25 minutes if they are cold right out of the refrigerator.

AU JUS DIPPING SAUCE

(1) 10 ounce can of beef consomme or beef broth

3/4 cup water

1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon low salt soy sauce

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Mix all of the dipping sauce ingredients together and simmer on LOW for about 10 minutes. Serve hot Au Jus dip in a cup with the hot sandwich.

ENJOY !!!

NOTES: Use whatever kind of cheese you like. We think the monterey jack + cheddar combo is a good one, but any easy-melt cheese will work well. 

NOTES: You can use French's Crispy Fried Onions (chopped up a little) instead of fresh onions, but I never seem to have those in my pantry.

NOTES: Make sure you layer the onions next to the cheese, so they "melt into" the cheese and don't fall out of the sandwich when you eat it.

NOTES: If you slice the beef too thickly, the sandwich will be hard to roll up tightly.

NOTES: I think mild green chilies and Pepper Jack cheese would be very tasty in this sandwich, but my "picky-picky husband" would have a virtual heart attack if I tried that 😁 

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Updating Your Wardrobe After Weight Loss Without Breaking The Bank

You’ve done amazingly well, losing weight and achieving your weight loss goal - or moving towards your final goal - but you’re finding it difficult to know how to go about updating your wardrobe. Don’t worry, you’re not alone - it’s not easy to know how to upgrade your wardrobe post-weight loss. There’s a lot to think about, after all - including how to ensure that you don’t break the bank.

When your body shape and size has changed, it can seem difficult to know how to dress and what to wear. All of the clothes that you had before can feel like they don’t look good any more, leaving you feeling unsure about what your new sense of style should be.

Losing weight and becoming healthier can feel amazing, but it can make knowing what to wear a little difficult. The good news is that there are lots of steps that you can take to make the process of updating your wardrobe after weight loss, a little easier and less stressful to do.

Photo source: Pixabay

Wondering what the best steps are? Have a read of the guide below!

Get inspired

The first step to updating your wardrobe after weight loss is to take the time to think about how you might like to dress. What you don’t want to do is rush into buying some items and them not looking or feeling right for you. So, instead take the time to find some inspiration and ideas for some looks that you might like to try.

A great tool for this is Pinterest. What’s great about Pinterest is the fact that you’re able to pin any looks that you like, so you can create a board and then pin any looks that you like to that board. This means that it’s easier to return to them and refer to them when picking outfits to wear. Pinterest is a great tool for creating a new look, so it’s worth trying out.

Seek help from a personal shopper

If you’re feeling like you need a little bit of extra help with your look, consider taking the time to source a personal shopper who can help you with your look. By seeking out professional guidance on your sense of style, you can make finding new outfits that you feel comfortable in a little easier.

To source a personal shopper or a stylist, look for local department stores that have them available to work with in-store. Or, alternatively have a look online for a personal stylist who can work with you to source the perfect new look.

See what’s salvageable

Don’t instantly write off all of your clothes; instead take the time to determine what can be salvaged. Okay, so a lot of your clothes are too big, but can they be repurposed or refitted to be used again? There’s no point wasting clothes that you love, so instead of chucking them out, consider having them altered instead.

You would be amazed at how amazing altered clothes can look; just because something is too big that doesn’t mean that it can be adapted to fit your new size and shape. Always speak to a professional about this as the chances are that a lot of clothes can be adapted to fit you.

Sell your old clothes

If you want to keep costs down when it comes to updating your wardrobe, consider selling any of the old clothes that you no longer want. You can either sell these online via sites like eBay or you could utilise Facebook Marketplace and use the social media site to help you to sell your clothes. The other option is to take your old, unwanted clothes into a second-hand clothing store and ask what the store would be willing to pay for them.

Your old clothes, if they’re in good condition, can make you a good profit, so it’s worth taking the time to try and sell them, so that you have more funds to work with when it comes to updating your wardrobe.

Don’t be afraid to shop second-hand

When it comes to updating your wardrobe, don’t be afraid to shop second-hand. If you don’t want to spend too much money, consider taking a look in second-hand clothing stores and at selling sites like eBay and Facebook Marketplace to find clothes that are a good fit for you.

Often, second-hand clothes can be of an extremely high quality and cost just a fraction of the amount that you would pay for them brand new, so it’s worth taking the time to see if you can bag a bargain. After all, you never know what gem you might come across when searching in second-hand stores.

Utilise deals and discounts

When it comes to treating yourself to some new clothes, it’s a good idea to utilise any deals and discounts, so that you can keep the cost of your new wardrobe down. There are lots of websites and apps that share deal and discount codes, so it’s worth taking the time to have a look on these to see what discounts are available.

You might also want to source discount and outlet clothing sites, like THE ICONIC Outlet for instance, so that you can have a browse of lots of on-trend items available at lower prices. Outlet stores can be a great way to keep prices low when shopping, without having to worry about buying clothing that lacks quality.

Build a capsule wardrobe

One of the best hacks for updating your wardrobe without breaking the bank is to create a capsule wardrobe. A capsule wardrobe is a fantastic choice as it allows you to ensure that you look stylish, but only requires a few garments. A capsule wardrobe is a wardrobe that contains a couple of key items, along with a number of essentials that can be paired with said items.

For example, you could invest in a high-quality pair of black jeans, a pair of blue jeans, a denim pinafore dress, a smart pinafore dress, and a couple of skirts as your key items. You could then add a number of versatile tops to your wardrobe that can be worn with all of the key items to create a range of different looks. Creating a capsule wardrobe is a great way to stay on trend without breaking the bank.

There you have it, a guide to how you can update your wardrobe after weight loss without breaking the bank.

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