The Fast Diet Recipe Files: Lo-Lo Turkey Meatballs

I made these yummy Lo-Lo Turkey Meatballs for a Fast dinner on week 17 of the Fast Diet. The recipe is from the Fast Diet Recipe Book and is totally delicious. I used turkey instead of pork, and made a double batch to freeze for later!

Serves two

For the meatballs:
200g lean pork mince (or turkey mince)
½ medium red onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, peeled and crushed
1 small carrot, grated
pinch of oregano
1 egg, beaten
salt and pepper
oil for spraying

For the tomato sauce:
oil for spraying
½ medium red onion, chopped
½ garlic clove, peeled and chopped
1 400g tin chopped tomatoes
50g fresh tomatoes, skinned and deseeded, roughly chopped
1 tsp tomato puréepinch of sugar
200ml water
chilli flakes to taste
dash of Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp dried oregano

Method:

1. Place mince in a bowl with onion, garlic, carrot, oregano, egg and salt and pepper.

2. Mix well and shape into 12 small meatballs.

3. Spray a large pan with oil and fry over a medium heat until gently browned – about 4 minutes – and set aside.

4. For the sauce, spray the same pan with oil and fry onion until softened; add garlic, and cook for a further 3 minutes.

5. Add the tomatoes, tinned and fresh, purée, sugar and water, plus chilli flakes and Worcestershire sauce to taste.

6. Simmer till reduced and glossy.

7. Add meatballs and oregano, cover and simmer for 20 minutes.

I served mine alongside fresh baby spinach and really struggled to stop eating! SO delicious! Low calorie, high flavour and very filling.

Psst!! If you are looking for a little more meg-made, I'd LOVE for you to follow along!

meg-made it to Le Cordon Bleu London (Part Un)

I am going to have to split this post about Le Cordon Bleu into two parts, I usually don't go into much emotional details on my blog, but felt like something almost transcendent happened to me at Le Cordon Bleu and I felt like maybe you would indulge me in going a little deeper just this once! Maybe make yourself a cuppa, we're going to be here a while!!

I had quite an emotional day being in the spiritual home of cooking. It just felt purely good to be there. I had a bit of a random D&M the other day with a friend about it, but this is the first time in my life that I have wanted to learn. 

In school I just kind of just plodded along, almost as if I was on someone else's path. I got through my work, never really doing outstandingly well, but well enough. I got through high school and wanted to be a Dentist. So went to Uni and had such a horrible first year in science that I then started a Business Degree. I then added a Commerce degree too, because at least I would be employable with both. But what does that have to do with me. Not much. Or so I learned over the coming years. I persisted as an accountant for 4 years, in HR for 2, but never found the right fit for me. Some days were better than others but I always knew in my heart of hearts it just wasn't wasn't the job for me, was never where I was meant to be.

And then I became a mum. And whilst it isn't really job, it certainly is me finding what I love, and what I strive to be better at each day. It can be the hardest day with Maddie, I can be wanting to tear my hair out by the time my husband comes home, but then she runs and gives me a big hug around my legs while I'm cooking dinner and all is forgotten. No matter what time of the day/night it has been, whenever that little girl wakes up and wants/needs me, I can't help but smile. And now that she actually calls for me, I find myself skipping a little to get to her room faster. I guess you could say that I am one of those women that find mothering a very natural passion. When I was pregnant I just wanted to have my baby in my arms so I could take care of her, because I knew she would teach me how to. It has been an entirely life changing and esteem building experience and the first time in my life that I have had some confidence in what I am doing. 

And then I arrived at Bloomsbury Square, Le Cordon Bleu headquarters in London.

I was such a mixed bag of emotions - more nervous than I'd been in a long time, and just SO excited! After registering and signing in we were taken into the demonstration kitchen/dining room for orientation where we met our Fish & Shellfish Chef for the day, Chef Eric.

As soon as we went into our kitchen I felt immediately calm. It was a very strange feeling but I just couldn't take the smile off my face, it felt so natural being in there. Perhaps I was a chef in my past life or something I don't know, but it just felt familiar almost!

When we were being taught various techniques and then went back to our stations to have a go I just loved putting what we'd just learnt to practice. My favourite moment was when we had all four burners going at once (making a white wine sauce, cooking clams, making a parsley/breadcrumb topping and reducing a citrus sauce) while prepping the scallops, squid and mussels, all the one time. On every CV in the past I've put my number one skill as being multitasking and time management. And FINALLY I've found where that is actually really bloody useful!! Ha!

This experience had such a profoundly positive impact on me that I have reevaluated my lifelong aspirations to include becoming a student again, a LCB student. I found myself so inspired and envious of all the chefs and student chefs, it just seemed to be a room filled with likeminded individuals who all have a passion for food. I know you don't have to become a trained Chef to enjoy food, but for me to achieve the dreams my Husband and  I have set for ourselves, this wholeheartedly makes my part possible. So for now (and probably a long while) I am still a home cook with a passion for food, but one day, I'll trade in my apron for White's. And I am giddy at the very thought of it.

Part two of my Le Cordon Bleu posts will actually talk about some food, so I'll get that post to you soon! I took some videos of Chef Eric at work, but apparently due to confidentiality reasons, we are not permitted to show any of the LCB Chef's at work, so I won't be publishing as many photos/tutorials as I was planning on, but don't worry, some french seafood recipes will be finding their way onto my blog soon, I am now the proud owner of the Le Cordon Bleu Cuisine Basics cookbook!! One step at a time! 

Psst!! If you are looking for a little more meg-made, I'd LOVE for you to follow along!

  

meg-made it to The Royal Horseguards Hotel for (a GF) Afternoon Tea

Dear Meg, 

Would you like to attend a lavish afternoon tea at The Royal Horseguards Hotel London with a group of lovely blogging ladies and be treated to an afternoon of champagne and gluten free delights???

Gee... let me hesitate one moment before responding..... Heck Yes!!!

The Royal Horseguards Hotel Afternoon Tea GF meg-made

It was a no-brainer! My kiwi friend Emma introduced me to Selena, who arranged a group of lovely blogging ladies to all meet for High Tea at the Royal Horsegaurds Hotel on a particularly lovely London Sunday afternoon (if you live in London, you'll know which one, there haven't been many to choose from lately!!). 

Located in a particularly "London" part of town, Thames-adjacent and in the neighbourhood of Westminster and Horseguard Parade, the Royal Horseguard Hotel is in a highly sought after locale. 

The Royal Horseguards Hotel Afternoon Tea GF meg-made

Being gluten intolerant has kind of made me hesitant to attend High Teas, because in general they aren't terribly gluten friendly. Well, thanks to Chef Ben Purton at the Royal Horseguards Hotel, not only am I no longer not hesitating, I am going to be jumping in with both feet!

The Royal Horseguards Hotel welcomed us warmly (and pretty much by name, or twitter handle!!) and had arranged the private terrace room just for us, with a menu specific to our #LDNBloggersTea!

Most High Tea's don't actually place much importance on the actual Tea, but after we finished our delightful glass of champagne, it was all about the tea! We had a few to choose from (I was craving some classic Earl Grey but Sarah next to me had actual pink tea... herbal pomegranate).

But I have to take some time to talk about the scones for a bit. Have you ever tried gluten free scones?? I had not. The idea of a fluffy and light scone made dense and heavy with gluten free products did not appeal to me one bit. But somehow Chef Ben managed to make the impossible possible - a light and fluffy gluten free scone! The raisins helped to keep them nice and moist and they tasted so similar to a regular scone I would never have known it wasn't! 

And because I was a little bit impressed, we talked about them for a while... which inevitably lead to the discussion about whether you put your cream or jam on the scone first... It wasn't until coming to England that I really knew there were regionally distinct ways of cream & jamming your scones, but it seems I favour the Cornish Tea with my jam on first (all those years of being served a Devonshire Tea back home and I've been making a mockery of it... apparently!). It does crack me up that this is not my first discussion about this too! Oh England! 

When our desserts came around, us gluten-intolerants had a special little arrangement of treats. I can't eat chocolate so donated mine to the groups' cake stands, and devoured my rice pudding and passionfruit-brulee.... or whatever on earth it was that was so divine. I've only just discovered that I like passionfruit, thankfully or I would have missed out on something special here. I really have no idea what it was, but I loved every spoonful! 

I had such a lovely time meeting and chatting to some new friends and enjoying some iconically British activities. And in typical British fashion the weather was the number one talking point... but seriously, look at this day (and view from our private terrace... I mean....)

I can't recommend the Royal Horseguards Hotel enough! If you're not fortunate enough to be born an heiress, spending an afternoon and being treated like royalty is a pretty nice back up! Thanks to Selena for arranging, Chef Ben for such delightful treats that even GFers can enjoy, and to The Royal Horseguards Hotel for hosting such a lovely afternoon! 

Psst!! If you are looking for a little more meg-made, I'd LOVE for you to follow along!

Fast Diet - Week 16 - #LoseDayTuesday

Week 16 of the 5:2 Fast Diet!! To find out more about it, read my original post here. 

Happy Tuesday! Week 16 of the Fast Diet and a moved set of goalposts! I have had a week or so of the Fast Diet while I celebrated my 30th Birthday high up in the Swiss Alps. My 30th was the original end point and whilst I wasn't the skinny mini I was hoping to be, I have been fit and healthy and not embarrassed to wear white ski pants again! I feel like now that my Birthday has passed it is a fresh start for me though, as though starting a new decade is a clean slate and a time for setting new goals.

I'm not sure if you are aware or not, but alongside the Fast Diet exists Fast Exercise. Fast Exercise is based on HIIT, which is High Intensity Interval Training, and is designed to be short and sharp bursts of high-calorie burning exercises that can fit into any time-poor schedules. My favourite description for who this book is aimed at is "for those people who don't enjoy exercise but want to lose weight and be healthy". Hello! I was talking to my Husband about this the other day, that if I didn't need to exercise I probably never would! I don't enjoy it but know I have to do it. I have not been blessed with a fast metabolism or a thirst for sweat, but I have a hunger for good food and penchant for cellulite, so for me to not be the size of a small wool mill, I have to exercise.

I have found the Tone It Up team and just love these girls! They are so cute and to me, super motivational. I wanted a workout that I could do while my baby had her nap, in our small flat, on the second floor (i.e. nothing loud, jumpy or with equipment). I am going to get Fast Exercise and give that a go too, but I wanted to get started straight away, and so got a few workouts during a very busy week!!

I will write more about this next week, but for now, here is my menu from last week's Fast Day!

Lunch - Minted Pea & Vegetable Frittata

I love eggs, in pretty much all forms, but eggs AND potatoes is the ultimate!

This frittata is from Lavender & Lovage, who has such a great range of Fast Day meal ideas.

Dinner -  Grilled Indian Chicken 

I based this recipe on a recipe I found from www.recipe.com but added a few extra components to make it a full meal.

I marinated the chicken in the yoghurt but added some garam masala to give it a bit of an Indian twist. I made a little Tomato & Onion salad and a side dressing with yoghurt, cucumber and mint.

If I had a BBQ or a griddle-pan I would have grilled the chicken properly, but as I have neither, I got a bit crafty with my oven. I lined a tray with aluminium foil and then placed the chicken on a cake cooling wrack on top of the bottom tray. This allowed the chicken/yoghurt to cool evenly and was the closest "Grilled" cook I could come up with!

Total calories for the day = 450

Exercise

I posted this photo from the Swiss Alps of the final day of my 30 to 30 Plank Challenge. 

I was pretty stoked to have met this goal, to me it was a symbol of how far my health has changed in the past few years. Whilst I may not be polishing my Olympic silverware each night, I am stronger and healthier than I have been in a very long time. Going gluten free, in conjunction with the Fast Diet have really changed my health and I am pleased to be relatively pain and symptom free these days. 

Other exercise that I completed this week was two HIIT workouts, and lots of snow walking! I didn't go out of my way to exercise this weekend, but got enough during the week leading up to our trip to allow me to relax and unwind. 

Weight loss?

Total loss to date = 3.5kg (7.7lbs)

I HAVE to assume that I gained weight from our week away (potato + cheese = heavy heaven) and so to be back at my pre-swiss weight is actually a huge plus for me! I'm hoping that from here I can reset the scales and start Phase Two of the Fast Diet and get some good results in the coming months. 

Goals for the coming week

My goals for this coming week are:

• 3 HIIT sessions
• One long walk
• Reformer Pilates

I hope you are having a wonderful week! Thanks for all of the Birthday messages, I feel so lucky to have had so many messages come from wide and far, thank you thank you thank you.

Psst!! If you are looking for a little more meg-made, I'd LOVE for you to follow along!


  

30 to 30 Plank Challenge: Completed

My apologies for being a little AWOL lately, I know you are probably not sleeping well without knowing the results of my 30 to 30 plank challenge (haha sure), so I thought I'd let you rest easy tonight and put your mind at ease!!!

In case you missed what on earth I am talking about, 30 days before my 30th Birthday I decided that I wanted to be able to hold a 90 second plank by the time I started my next decade. The plank itself was a symbol of strength to me. It wasn't so much about actually holding the plank but more about what the plank represented: that I was putting a focus on health, that I was strong, that my lower back and abs were finally healed, and that I no longer had to be the only girl in my classes to not try exercises because of fear of not being strong enough. 

I started out a bit rocky. And with terrible form!

But luckily, I am related to a physio guru who put an end to my terrible form and taught me how to do a proper plank. Joanne taught me the two keys to a strong and safe plank, which helped me no end!

As my Birthday got closer and closer I got more nervous about not actually being able to hold for the full 90 seconds...

After a spectacular Birthday lunch up in Gornegrat gazing out to the Matterhorn we got back to our chalet and I decided to get my plank done before the bubbles were popped! 

And Day 30 looked a little something like this....

WOOHOO!!! I did it! I was going to try and smash the 90 seconds and make 100, but as soon as I got to the 90 second mark, I just collapsed into the snow! There was no sense in over-achieving!!!! So instead I went back inside, got warm, and enjoyed a delicious bottle of bubbles with my Husband while we played with our little girl. It was the very best Birthday I could ever wish for, and achieving my Plank Challenge goals gave me a little sense of achievement amongst the bubbles and Matterhorn-gazing! 

Thanks for Birthday wishes and plank support, it's been a fun little challenge to set myself and I loved being accountable to the IG world, so thanks for following along! 

I have a serious backlog of posts to get going on, so I'll leave it there! Wishing you a great start to the week!!

Psst!! If you are looking for a little more meg-made, I'd LOVE for you to follow along!